Tiffykins

This is going to sound ridiculous, but I bought a bunch of word search puzzle books at the dollar store. I had forgotten how much fun they were. I didn't use them before surgery, but post-op, when I was home alone, or when I could not sleep, I would do a few puzzles and then crash out. I also played lots and lots of computer games on pogo.com I love Word Womp, and Bookworm. I also like the Bejewel type games. I still play them a lot when I have nothing planned on certain days. I can only clean my house so much, ya know? And, when the husband is at work, the kiddo is at school, and I'm not out with my girlfriends, bowling, having lunch/coffee/shopping, and volunteering on base, I have to do something to occupy my mind. Blogging also helps. I also journal (not online) because that is an escape for me. I've written poetry for almost 20 years, and find that to be a fabulous outlet for my thoughts and emotions.

I also just realized that I have been super stressed lately. Before I would gain weight when I was stressed probably because I ate more. But, even now, I'm eating more to maintain. The stress is not going to resolve until I get back from Texas next weekend. This stuff with my mom has sent me on an emotional roller coaster and I remember back in late December, early January when I had a falling out with my best friend from TX, I experienced the same thing. I kept losing even though I was eating. When the stress was gone, I was able to maintain and even gained a couple of pounds. So, maybe there is hope once my stress level drops back down to normal.

I hate my scale now. I just complained a week ago about how much I missed that high of seeing the numbers drop, and now this happens. The low bp seems to be resolving with increased fluids, but I still have to be careful getting up to quickly. I can go a few days without any episodes and then bam, they come back. Thank you all so much for the encouragement. I'm considering going on high calorie/high carb protein drinks if I can find one that I can tolerate just to get in extra calories. Since I literally don't feel like I can eat anymore. I eat from mid-morning (9am-10am) to almost 11pm every 2-3 hours. It's like I'm more obsessed with food now than I was before surgery.

Bernadette, I agree you have always been extremely pleasant and very supportive. I have never once bashed anyone or anyone's particular surgeon's choice. I simply stated over and over based on what my needs and requirements were, and that I would choose one surgeon over another for my choice. You, Bernadette, have always been respectful, and kind to all here. I promise I don't want anyone to justify their good experience, just as I don't think I should have to justify why I would only choose Dr. Aceves for my revision if insurance would not have come through for me. I did my research on Mexico surgeons, I weighed the options while trying to figure out if Tricare would cover/approve a revision. So, when asked, I tell people my opinion on who I would have chosen. I know a lot of people have wonderful experiences with Dr. Almanza, and it isn't personal when it comes to me not choosing him. It was simply a matter of facility, experience with band revisions, and my own personal requirements for a surgeon. This should not have ever been turned into a surgeon vs. surgeon war or personal opinion vs. personal opinion war. And, this thread has been dead forever and it gets dug up and it all continues. Edit to add: I think it's just as wrong to have to justify the bad experiences, or have members blame the patient for complications as it for any of the members to feel that their good experiences be justified. It's no different than having lapband lovers tell us that we failed the band when you and I both know that is the furthest thing from the truth when it comes to having to seek a revision.

Hey there, and it's kind of weird not eating and drinking at the same time, but then like any other habit, it just sticks. I was great at losing weight too, but it was the "keeping it off" that was my problem. I wasn't skeptical about the sleeve, and have zero regrets. It's been the absolute best thing I could have ever done for myself and my family. It's truly worth it to make the little changes in our old habits to be living the life I have now thanks to the sleeve. Sorry, I can't help you with the Kaiser stuff. But, there is a lot of Kaiser patients that will hopefully chime in soon.

Many congrats Lydia ! ! ! You'll love the sleeve. Let us know how orientation goes and when you get a date. . . We'll all be scootching over on the loser's bench to welcome you.

Connie, you're doing great so far, keep it up. And, those are really wonderful NSVs especially about the potty stall. Many more victories are gonna come your way ! ! !

Definitely exciting times ahead ! ! ! Best wishes in the decision-making process.

Hi and welcome to the forum ! ! ! Fingers crossed for you on getting a surgery date soon. I saw that you had asked how to get a ticker in your signature. Here's the Ticker tutorial link that will help you edit your signature to have a ticker in there. Also, to edit the signature, all you'll do is make sure you set up a PIN so you can edit, once you are ready to change your weight for your ticker, you'll click back on your ticker, it'll open a new window for you, and you'll enter your PIN and then hit edit/update weight. You can actually get to the Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy... by clicking my ticker in my signature, and then design your own. If you need any help with it, just let me know. http://verticalsleevetalk.com/vertical-sleeve-talk-forum-assistance-suggestions/267-vst-tickerfactory-ticker-tutorial-pictures.html

Just my personal experience with reheated/microwaved meat has been troublesome. When I have had something either not go down right, or not chewed it well, or swallowed too fast, and I had to do that weird creeper/vomit thing. Yes, my sleeve hurt afterwards and I was not able to eat anything solid for a few hours. If you can call your surgeon's office, and see if there is anything that will help. I typically stick to super warm Soup and warm liquids when this happens for a few hours. Be safe in your travels, and let us know what transpires.

I lost half my hair. It's extremely common effect of most traumatic surgeries. Our rapid weight loss contributes to it, but a lot of women experience hair loss post pregnancy as well. You can take Biotin, or other hair/nail/skin supplement before surgery and post-op to help with new growth. Unfortunately, nothing will prevent it. My hair loss started around 3.5-4 months post-op, and continued until I was about 6.5 months post-op. I didn't take anything, but I did use a high quality shampoo/conditioner combo, and used Folicure extra care shampoo as it promotes near growth as well. You can find it at most beauty stores like Sally's or online at amazon.com Remember, it's only temporary, and the hair grows back. I have 5-7 inches of new growth because I started getting new growth before the actual losing stopped.

Kelly, tell your co-worker thank you. . . I think that's why I'm so frustrated because I never imagined being here. I never imagined wanting/needing to gain weight. My husband has now become the scale obsessed one, and today when he got home, he asked "whatcha weighing today", I told him " I'm not sure" so he asked me to jump on the scale. Well, low and fricken behold, it read in at 127. I'm sad because this is really bothering me emotionally. I consumed over 1500 calories yesterday, not including 4oz of wine. It doesn't help that I literally can't eat more. I mean I can only put so much into my body throughout the day. I hope no one has to experience this issue, but I know how difficult the battle was before surgery. I'm grateful to where I'm at today, but I'm ready for my body to just get comfortable.

Hey Carol, Is your inter-nasal B12 by prescription? I've read a little about it, and have considered talking to my PCP because I wonder just how effective and if the sublingual B12 are really highly absorbed by our bodies? If you need some of the more recent research links that others have successfully used in their appeal letters, let me know I can send them to you. If you have to go that route, I hope you don't have to fight long. Fingers crossed for approval ! ! !

It seems that most patients that I've been reading about get to 3 or 4 years out, and they are just busy living life. I searched the failed WLS board(just to check out if anyone had shared a negative experience further out) on OH, couldn't find any, and couldn't find anyone more than 3 years out VSG or Revision board. If you haven't seen this presentation, it's a 5 year study from Lapsf Dr. Cirangle. http://www.ssat.com/video/2008/SSAT%2049th%20Annual%20Meeting%283%29-Cirangle_files/error.htm Here's some 3 year VSG experience, good and bad from obesityhelp.com Three years out Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy My Story A quick 2 year and 3 year VSG update Third Year Surgiversay Not always easy but always worth it Very Discouraged 3 years out These were all posted before June 2009, so maybe you could contact some of these members and get some personal experience from them. I'm 9 months out and can eat way more than 2 shrimps. Early out, I couldn't eat more than 1 shrimp, but now I could eat probably 6 regular size shrimps without issue. For the first couple of months, I really couldn't eat more than 2-3 ounces. But, now that my sleeve has relaxed, and I've learned how to eat food, I can eat plenty of food. Grant it, the portions are 1/50th of what I ate pre-op, but I can eat a wide variety of foods.

For every surgeon's name to become a hyperlink for The Almanza/Betancourt outfit? ? ? It would different it was the proper doctor/program, but all them lead to Almanza/Betancourt? ? ? Just wondering, I mean the "band" advertising is one thing, but for several of the other surgeon's names to show up in a thread, and then the name become a hyperlink for more advertising from this program? Are we on a support forum, or a constant, buy from me, used car sales lot? ? ? Edit to add: IS there any possible way to turn that feature off in our USER CUP? I looked, but didn't find anything.

Hey Donna, and welcome. Bariatricadvantage has some really great products. Some were out of my price range, but I found comprehensive and high quality Vitamins elsewhere. Here's a Vitamin comparison chart so you can see which ones give you the biggest bang for your buck. Bariatric Advantage Calcium citrate lozenges are yummy, and I'm probably going to get some of those when my capsules are out. You can click on the spreadsheet icon, and there are 3 of the bariatric advantage vitamins on there for comparison. VitsComparison.xlsx - Windows Live Good luck and best wishes on your upcoming surgery ! ! ! I took my vitamins religiously, got in Protein as soon as I was on soft solids, but still lost 1/2 my hair. Luckily, it grows back.

Getting Your Health Insurance to Pay for Your Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, Page 2 of 3 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com Because we have a normal functioning stomach, instead of a pouch like band and RNY patients NSAIDS are approved. I take Aleve a few times a week, and have been doing so for months. I also take Advil cold/sinus on occasion. I was just scoped on February 4th, and absolutely no signs of damage. I do not and will not trust full strength Tylenol. During the rapid weight loss stage, our livers are already being tasked double time. I'm not willing to add acetaminophen.

Your pics are fabulous, congrats ! ! !

Nopers. We can take NSAIDS. I wasn't allowed to do so immediately post-op so I took children's Tylenol instead.

I'm really happy you're taking the time you need for yourself. I hope you find a new job that gives you the hours you need while making you happy.

Great attitude, and you'll get your surgery. I hope the time flies by for you, and can only imagine the frustration with being denied time off. Keep blogging, it's fun, it's an outlet, and it's a great place to dump all of emotions and thoughts out.

Zero regrets. I would definitely do it all over again. Immediately post-op is tough, no denying that one, but it's totally worth it. You're gonna do great, and you'll look back after a bit and be so happy you did it.

No offense at all. I think it's great that you and many others have had great experiences with their choice in surgeons and facilities. Again, my opinion simply stems from my own needs and requirements based on my medical history, and health. There's only a couple of US surgeons that I would have chosen for my revision for the same reason. I would have gone to them if my insurance would allowed it, but we actually have mileage restrictions on our insurance based on where we are stationed. Plus, VSG is not covered by Tricare with civilians. So, if I would have not been able to get approval through our military hospital/surgeon, I would have had to go either to Mexico, or choose a US surgeon that had a decent self-pay option, and could meet my needs.