LAN2k

I don't know exactly what I'm doing by blogging this post except that I feel the need to save it and be able to read it over and over again. That is all I can say about it at the moment..and this is what I'm feeling as a result of reading it... I stopped taking the antidepressant I was on for a couple of months post op. and those feelings of despair are seeping into my reality. I am trying to deal with things with less medication and more of me or should I say reliance on God, (my higher power). I'm tired and weary and yes still afraid of the unknown. Not having food as my coping mechanism produces all sorts of stress reactions in me. I feel isolated and lonely and I've life and death fears randomly running through my mind. I am trying so hard to be OK, to find my way of accepting my altered world. I went to an OA meeting today and it was packed with all sorts of people who spoke their feelings good and bad. I wanted to put my stuff out there with the rest of them but was just stuck in my body, unable to move--feeling too weak, too hopeless. I still can't believe what I did. I forced myself to change, and like it or not I've got to face life and learn how to live it without the much cherished food of yesterday. It's like I need a road map to help me make my next move. It's like I've lost my way and like a kid lost in a huge department store I don't know where my parents are.

Yuck, I think I'll pass and go on the advise of those of you who've tried it!! I figure there must be something weird about a food substance with 0 calorie/nutritional value...but was a little curious thinking that it would taste like udon noodles or something like that.

Sorry about your children...looks like you have a lot to contend with at this time. I hope that they recover quickly. I just want to mention that my boughie is a 40...and I was so relieved when my surgeon told me! I'm 7 months out now and my restriction is still (by comparison to pre-surgery), huge. I can not eat much more than around 4oz of dense protein, like chicken, or steak, even cheese, in one sitting. I am able to get in a bit more if it's a yogurt or very soft/mushie type food. It still freaks me out a little.:001_huh:

Denial, or pretension, I don't know what it is about people who mock and ridicule truth...it's self serving and self deception at the expense of the vulnerable. Thanks Ryansgirl for reminding us that you are someone who had complications after your surgery with the aforementioned doctor. I hope more people WHEN THEY ARE ABLE, will come out and tell their story.

Why so low on the caloric intake? 400 seems a bit extreme. I was only able to get in about that early out of surgery and I felt like I was not getting in enough nutrition.

I'm assuming you are referring to post surgery and your asking if it's normal to be able to eat a bit more further out. If I've got it right from my experience I'd say yes --but, not all that much more. For me it varies from day to day. But at 7 months out I eat between 2-4 oz. of dense protein, and up to 6 oz of stuff like yogurt, cream of wheat, soup...etc. Hope that helps.

I have not tried nor heard of this stuff but I just went on the website and I think it's worth giving those noodles a try! Thanks for the post.

This is true and vital that people recognize these points. When stuff like this happens in the states it's a long and difficult fight to hold a surgeon accountable. Having something like this happen outside of the US, not only is there no recourse but w/o medical insurance it can be financially devastating.

Thanks. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I might add that xanax gave me a greater feeling of wellbeing than does the Clonazepam, however that feeling was short lived making it necessary for me to take it more frequently and/or at higher doses. Also after being on xanax many years ago while on a doctor supervised weight loss program where I had to take oodles of Vitamins and the drug Phentermine, I suffered horrible withdrawal symptoms when I ran out of my xanax and my doctor was away. I'd been on a daily dose (I think it was 30mg) but I don't recall if it was once or twice a day. Recently after WLS I tried the xanax again but that feeling of well being was short lived so I switched to the Clonazepam and its working for me. Thanks again and continued health, happiness and success in your WL journey.

Tiff I'm sorry your going through this now but I think it is very prudent of you to be concerned. Thank you so much for sharing, I think of you as a sort of "mentor" for us all. I have not reached goal weight but it's not hard for me to understand what you are encountering. Mini-Me's suggestion may be a good place to start. It would be helpful if anyone out there who is further out in surgery and has had these struggles would come forth and offer some advise? I just want to say that I am confident that there is a solution and you will find it. I will hope that you will keep us informed as things progress. Needless to say...your in my heart and my prayers. xx

Hey Les, I thought it was spelled with a "K" Klonopin...I do take it and I agree it does help with anxiety, and it's long lasting without projecting a false sense of reality. Thanks for sharing your personal experience, I'm really glad you did. BTW, I take the generic brand: "Clonazepam", do you?

I haven't noticed this when taking a Bcomplex however I did feel that way while on a generic of an antidepressant called Remeron. It felt like I could eat the same amount in volume as I used to, but in reality I was unable to put away the same amount so I found myself grazing. Weight loss was nearly at a stall but came down a few lbs.

Great question. You may pay a small fee by checking online resources that generate reports on doctors for any medical malpractice lawsuits and other stats, etc. Maybe you can call a law firm that handles med malpractice cases and get advise on how to do your own investigation. I agree with you in getting the facts from sources outside of the surgeon practice and affiliation. Hopefully someone here can chime in with some resources you can use. If you do come up with a method of getting the facts on a surgeon please post it so we all can learn from your research. I'm thinking of plastic surgery down the line and I want to be very sure of the surgeon I use before I have anything done.

Thanks! I was taking 30mg of Remeron, every day before I went to sleep at night, an SNRI, (Serotonin-Norepinephrine-Reuptake-Inhibitor), It helped to lift me out of that dark place of doom I was in while stimulating my appetite (I'd been repulsed by nearly everything)...It really did help me but my desire to eat increased too much (about the same as before I had the sleeve). I recently stopped taking it altogether, (since last week). I hope I'll be okay and not go through extreme withdrawal symptoms. I am hoping that now that 7 months have elapsed since I had my surgery my innate coping mechanisms have kicked in and I'll be able to mentally handle...my life, naturally. I'm still taking a small dose of Klonopin in generic form, (.5mg as needed for anxiety), and I take pharmaceutical grade fish oil and Vitamin D3, 5000IU daily. Thank you for sharing with me what is working for you. All the best-Lis

Oh my God Donna, I suspected it was that bad but did not want to push the issue with you. We both had our surgery back in September and I recall you feeling great about your sleeve and where you had it. I hope your daughter is doing well. I'm so sorry for the grief and suffering you and your sister have been through. My prayers are daily including your sister's full recovery. Thanks so much for posting what happened.

I Laughed Out Loud just now Tiffy... I know what it's like, (the neti only helps some), both my mother and I have sinus stuff going and its becoming more than just seasonal. I'm going to see if my mother will give the neti pot a go. I hope you'll find relief. Let me know how you do with whatever works for you.

Tiff I have been suffering with a sinus condition for a while now and I bought myself a netty pot and I use it religiously, (before I go to bed & in the morning after brushing my teeth). Here is what I add to the luke warm Water that I fill the netty pot with and a glass I gargle with. I first boil some water then adjust the temperature by adding in some cold water to bring it to a luke warm temp. I add a pinch or so of sea salt and a dropper full of colloidal silver (it is anti-fungal/viral/bacterial), I don't taste anything but gargle first. Then I take the netty pot with same solution in it and run it through each nostril. I am able to go without nasal spray day and night. Before that I was using Rhinocort. Naxonex and Flonase did not work for me. There is a machine you can buy but it's alot more expensive than a netty pot. It is a really good contraption though to thoroughly cleanse the sinus cavities using the same solution mx I gave you. Here is a video ...[nomedia=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrG_KJJpC8]YouTube- SinuPulse Elite - Advanced Nasal Sinus Irrigation System[/nomedia] Here is a link where you may purchase but you can search yourself for the best purchase price-http://www.natlallergy.com/prod/1761/sinupulse-elite-sinus-irrigation-system-for-nasal-washing-and-misting.html?sid=GOOGLE&eid=GOOGLE&tid=g_csrs_p_sinupulse_system&gclid=CNTk_snUhqECFV1-5Qodw12Jyw This is the best antimicrobial etc...silver I think. It is the one I use and this is the link where I found it to be sold at the lowest price. I get 3 bottles at a time. Invision Intl - Silver 100 - Optimal Health Concepts The first time it came to me with two bottles broken. I called the guy and he sent them to me over night no problem. I get the 2oz dropper bottles. In any case I hope you find a good solution that will work for you. -Lis

Keep up the good work. You look great.

Hi Lisa, thanks for detailing the "scope" procedure you had. I too was sprayed with that numbing stuff a couple of months post surgery when I had an upper endoscopy to check things out. The thing that FREAKED me out was the spray the anesthesiologist sprung on me right before they put me into the "twilight" zone. I felt like he was an exterminator streaming insecticide down my throat and I was so upset because I felt like I could not swallow-but before I went into an all out panic, I was asleep. Prior to my sleeve surgery I was required to be examined by a gastroenterologist. He did an upper endo without having my throat hosed down and I just went off to sleep...no problems. Anyway....All the best to you...I hope you get the clearance you need for the sleeve surgery.

You nailed down the questions that need to be addressed. For the benefit of those contemplating having their surgery at the facility that she represents, I hope that Sandy will provide answers.

Yay Aetna & congrats to Vibris! Best wishes along the way. Keep us posted.

I am taking biotin and evening primrose oil along with bone and joint liquid formula...I hope it will help.

I am an outsider with regard to having my VS outside of the US. Considering the nature of this procedure and that there is always a measure of serious risk, researching my surgeon outside of the US (nomatter what country), would be critical, (not to dismiss the need to research any surgeon anywhere). That said, to my knowledge, the people who have had complications on this and OH message boards have been fearful yet humble about their situation, most have been gracious with regard to their surgeons while citing where they felt the conditions were poor. Many have been on these message boards for months before having their surgery. I'm not sure what this ongoing argument is about and perhaps there is some truth to what you are posting, but it seems that by generalizing all reports of complications with labels such as "hearsay", you are insulting those of us that have established communications through this venue but worse you are literally adding insult to injury to those who've suffered from such complications. It's sad that a person who has had a complication due to negligence is then dismissed as being disingenuous or fraudulent.