Helen the Cat

Hey Jasleeve! SO good to hear the wonderful news! Answered prayer is always wonderful news! Can't say how happy I am for you! Hopefully now you will be feeling better everyday, and can resume your life. I know you had some issues/problems unrelated to your leak. Am praying that these resolve for you also. At least now you should soon have the energy/physical strength to deal with them. Nothing is harder than having problems and not having the energy to deal with them in any constructive way! You continue to be in my daily prayers! Hope that the leak is gone for good, and all the nausea, pain, vomiting, etc is soon a DISTANT memory! God bless and Keep you safe in His tender care and Mercy! Love and Hugs and Prayers!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Hey diverdiva, Welcome to the group. This is the most supportive group I have found! I had my surgery in Mexico (insurance wouldn't pay anything towards my surgery) so there is no support group sponsored by my surgeon that I can attend. And when I have had problems, questions, etc. this is where I have come! And there have ALWAYS been helpful individuals here who gave me the best advice they could. It is a wonderful group. One word of advice for you. Get off the Diet Pepsi as soon as you can. My surgeon told me (don't know if it is true or not, but I am not taking chances!) that carbonated beverages tend to stretch out the sleeve and allow for increased food intake. Also Diet Pepsi seems to increase some peoples craving for other sweets. So search around for a substitute drink and get going on it now. So that by the time you have your procedure, you won't be going through withdrawal from the caffiene in D.P. at the same time as the pre op diet, or the post op diet and recovery period. I waited and gave it up post op (cold turkey) and had a headache and craving for weeks after. I was a true D.P. addict! Drank 6-8 twelve ounce cans daily. Sometimes more! Best of luck in getting everything arranged. for your surgery. Sounds like the medical system there can be frustrating. We are glad to have you as a new member of our group! It is a life changing (and Life Long) journey. Best of luck as you take your first steps in that journey! Please don't be a stranger. Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

I am SO happy for you. It is the greatest feeling isn't it! I absolutely loved it when I crossed the line from 200 to 199! It is just fantastic! Congratulations! I am now 8 months post op and have lost 100 pounds. Am 8 pounds from my goal. Can't wait to get there, but the last few pounds have been SO slow! But reading everybody's success stories here keeps me trying! Again, Congratulations! It is a "one"derful feeling!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

I started exercising (swimming) shortly after my surgery (last June) and was so exhausted that I was seriously afraid that I might drown in the pool. I went back to work ten days post op, working 12 hour shifts in a busy Labor and delivery unit where I was a nurse. I was SO exhausted! I can not begin to tell you how deep the fatigue went! I called my doctor's office (Had my surgery in Mexico, so follow up visits were not a possibility) and was told to take it easy for at lest 6-8 weeks. That walking was OK, but should limit my exercising to walking for at least 6-8 weeks to allow things to heal internally. They emphasized that even though I did not have a huge incision (the surgery was laproscopic) that it WAS major surgery, removing the majority of my stomach, and that there was lots that had to heal internally. So I backed off the exercising and immediately felt better. Today am eight months post op and have lost 100 pounds. The last few pounds have taken FOREVER(!) but I am 8 pounds from my original goal, and working hard to get there. Hang in there, and remember that this is a life long (and life changing) journey. Enjoy the journey and don't wish to be done with the trip. It continues as long as you live! And P.S. welcome to the Losers Bench! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Dooter, Big congratulations on getting through the surgery OK! And welcome to the losers bench! Am sorry to hear that you got off to such a rocky start. But it does get better. Be patient and take it one day at a time. Easy to say, tough to do, I know! Hope everything goes well, and the rest of your post op course is smooth sailing all the way. Keep us posted so we know how you are doing! Best wishes, and again, Welcome to the Losing Side! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

First of all, I want to extend a huge "Thank You" to everyone who gave me such wonderful advice! I REALLY appreciate it. I have read and re-read every response, and think that you are all SO wise! Next, I just want to say that I think things are actually getting better at our house. We have had several really good heart to heart talks. And I secured a promise from Bill to talk with his primary care physician about being evaluated to go on some anti-depressant medication. I am so encouraged that he is willing to take this step. This doesn't mean all our problems are solved by any means, and I know that! I am committed to working hard to make Bill feel more comfortable in our marriage. In return, I have promised him that I won't take a contract to work more than one day's drive from home. That way I can always come home on my days off, and he can come to visit more easily when he is lonesome! I know all isn't perfect yet, but I see that by making an effort, prayer and determination, things ARE improving. Thanks to all who helped!

Dear lbarksdale1 Congratulations on your decision! I too researched the thing to death before making a decision. I had to, in order to convince my husband and family that I was doing the right thing. I am so pleased with my decision. I have lost around 100 pounds (varies by a pound or two depending on the day) but essentially am 8 pounds from goal. I am struggling right now with an issue of emotional eating, but am trying to work on the problems that have caused it (it isn't a new problem by any means!) and resolve it. Good luck to you as you are beginning a journey to a new life! Am happy for you that so far it has been without complications. I share your excitement over those gorgeous clothes! I have an entirely new wardrobe, and LOVE IT. I went from a 26/28 top to a 12/14, and a 22/24 slacks to a size 8! (I love to say that, so I'll say it again, I wear a Size 8 in jeans!) Best wishes. I know you are going to be successful in your journey! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Oh Lyra, We must be twins that were seperated at birth! You describe so perfectly my feelings about food! It has always been my BFF. Hey! Kathy, are you stressed out? Go whip up a batch of cookies and eat five or 10 of them (after eating at least 5 or 6 raw ones!). Hey Kathy, are you feeling nervous over something? Why don't you fix a huge meal, invite all your friends/family and pig out on Beef Wellington, Twice Baked Potatoes, Broccoli with cheese sauce, Asparagus with Browned Bitter and Cracker Crumbs, Creme Brulee, and a couple of wines to match each course. Poor Kathy, did you have a fight with the hubbie, you should make yourself a cheese cake from scratch and eat half of it while sobbing in front of the TV while watching your favorite chick flick. Etc., Etc., Etc....... And of course the praise and recognition I get from all our friends and family because I am a good cook/baker (or so they say) just makes me feel so much better about myself, until I get on the scale (well pre op anyway). I have been having a REAL struggle with emotional eating the last couple of weeks, cause my husband and I have been having some problems. in our marriage So I am making horrible choices about what I eat. It is constantly on my mind right now, how soon can I eat again? What can I eat? What am I hungry for? Oh the stress and pressure! And the thing that I really don't understand is, when I KNOW all this, why I can't get control of it!!! Of course, I knew all of this pre-op also, and couldn't get control then either! Such a puzzle! But now at least I can't go too far over the edge, as my sleevie stops me when I get full, and starts to protest LOUDLY (with pain) when I continue to eat after I am full. I just don't want to take any chance of stretching out my pouch/sleeve with overeating and start to gain weight. I have done so well up to now. (Have lost around 100 pounds! Only 8 pounds from goal!) And now the emotional eating thing kicks into high gear! Oh the frustration of it all. I am SO thankful for this board and web site, so I have somewhere to come to read, vent, question, talk, and get answers. Thanks to all for everything!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

I guess I can understand why some people give you an "oh, ok, sure, that's nice" reaction, without any enthusiasm. Everyone has their own life, their own concerns, their own problems, etc., etc., etc. BUT what I don't understand is why some people actually try to talk you out of having the WLS! I mean especially thin people, who couldn't POSSIBLY know what it is like to struggle with weight issues your entire life! I initially didn't tell anyone at work about the surgery I was planning on having. Wanted to keep it private. Then the one individual who I trusted to keep it quiet told EVERYONE! I had many people who came and asked me "why?". "Like---DUH--- why would you think? I weight almost 260 pounds, it's not healthy, it's not attractive, its killing me! But I had one individual who came to me and spend hours trying to talk me out of the surgery. She wasn't even a close friend, and really I don't know why she even thought she should have any input into my private life! She out and out told me she was making it her "mission in life" to talk me out of the surgery! I just can't figure out some people! I have to echo Isrealjustice's thoughts above, Thank goodness for this site! where the positive energy is so abundant! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Royboy, What a great post! It sounds like you have a fantastic attitude,a nd I know you are going to do absolutely great! I am 8 months post op, and it seems like once I got past the initial "shock" of the post op period, things have gone so well. I can so identify with how you feel about activityt getting so much easier. It was hard dragging around 100 extra pounds of self. Congratulations! Keep rockin' your sleeve! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Thank you all for your words of wisdom! You all have given me so much to think about. When I re-read my original post, it dawned on me that I might have painted Bill as the entire problem. And he isn't! He is such a good man! He has ALWAYS been dependable during the years of our marriage, a hard worker, someone I could always depend on. He has NEVER been a drinker, gambler, womanizer, etc. He has always put our family first. He has been a wonderful provider, and always generous to share his time, talent and resources with me and our children. I have always been SO proud to call him my husband! So these last 8 weeks (since I moved home) have really thrown me for a loop. I am so thankful for all of your responses. I was uncertain if I should post here about this topic, as it is SO personal, and Bill would probably kill me if he knew I was sharing something so personal on a web site where anybody can read it. However, from frequenting this board for the last year and a half (I was a lurker for months before I joined this site!) I know you all to be compassionate, caring, loving individuals, whom I trust to give me your best advice. And you have given me SO much to think about. Sandyd, you pointed out that we have probably grown apart, and I think you are correct. We both got used to doing whatever we wanted to do, when we wanted to do it, without taking the other individual into consideration, since we were apart and could do just that. I think we both need to start considering the other person before we make plans; before we make decisions; before we do things; especially things that potentially involve both partners. Bill has undergone so many changes in his life in the last five years. He retired from a life long job of driving a truck for the same company for 35 years. He has had two heart attacks, a stroke, was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, got another job after he retired, changed to a different job, and then his wife starts traveling around the country without him for months and months on end (sometimes years) without him. And then to top it off, I go off and "remakes" myself over into a totally different looking woman. (Although deep inside, I am THE SAME person I always have been.) When I look at it from that point of view, he has had a tremendous amount of major stuff to adjust to. I guess it would stand to reason he might be a little depressed! Thank you all again for your wonderful advice. I am going to talk with Bill about going to his next doctors appointment,which will be in the next 1-2 weeks for his diabetes check up. Am going to ask the doc to evaluate him for some anti-depression medication, and also ask him for a referral to a counselor, if Bill won't go, I will go by myself. We will just HAVE to find the $$$ to pay for it! Also am going to try and convince him that we need to start trying to "reconnect". I am NOT going to let go of this marriage after all these years without a fight. I have loved this man since the day I first saw him, and my feelings have only intensified since then. Again, thanks to all of you who have read and offered your thoughts! God Bless you all. Kathy D

Chigga77, that is WONDERFUL news indeed! 35 pounds! WOW, WOW,WOW!!! The is so great! And to know that your health has improved so much so fast is absolutely the best reason to celebrate. I didn't lose that much that fast, but my medical conditions also resolved fast, like yours did. It is SO great to know that you have done something so positive for your health and gotten such great results! Keep on rockin' that sleeve honey. You are doing Fantastic. Be sure and keep us posted! Kathy D (Alias Helen the Cat)

Oh Autumn, I feel so badly for you! I hate to vomit, and with your new sleeve, it must be so uncomfortable (painful) to vomit. I feel so lucky that my recovery was so uncomplicated! Sending hugs and Prayers your way!!! Keep us posted! Love and Hugs and Prayers!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

I think you described something we all have problems with! I mean, how else did we all get in this situation? Haven't we all struggled with our weight, most of us for a LONG time? I know I have dieted for most of my adult years, unsuccessfully. And for years I beat myself up over it. Currently things are tense at my house, and I am having a REAL struggle NOT to eat everything in site. I have had some really bad days lately, and my old friend, my tried and true comfort, FOOD is always just sitting there in the kitchen waiting for me to come and partake! And I have to say, lots of times lately, I do indulge, and then feel guilty. But like LilMissDiva said, "Everyday is a new beginning!" And I am thankful for that!

Missmarbee Welcome!!! We are so glad you choose to join us. A lot of us had our surgeries outside the United States, so don't have a support group to attend. This site takes the place of a support group for many of us (me included!) Also this site has to have the most loyal, enthusiatic group of encouragers anywhere on the planet! It is full of terriffic people who offer help, encouragement, advice, prayers, whatever is needed. It is a place to ask questions, address concerns and just vent frustrations. We are so glad you are here! So did you pick a date for the surgery? How soon? Be sure and keep us posted so we can follow your progress! Looking forward to hearing more from you! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

It is funny how your tastes change after the surgery. Even from day to day after surgery. I mentioned, quite casually to my husband how much I like the additive "Mio" that you put in water to flavor it, and he went out and bought like ten containers of it. A couple days later, I couldn't stand the taste of it anymore, and haven't used it since! Tastes WAY to sweet for me. Best tip I can give you is to experiment..... try drinking your water iced, if that doesn't sit well, try room temp water, maybe flavored water, maybe some kind of fruit juice. Or iced tea, there are so many flavors of tea now. Just keep trying different things and you are bound to hit on one that your sleeve will tolerate and you will like soon. I ended up drinking Sugar Free Lipton Citrus flavored Green Tea. It still tastes good to me 8 months after my surgery! But it took me a couple of weeks trying different things to get there. And remember, it is a journey. We don't get there the first day or even the first week. It is a whole new life style, one that I struggle with some days, but still an exciting journey! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Laney, Surgery affects us all differently. Hang in there, it will get better. I had such a complication free post op course. Hope you will also. The aches and pains from the procedure and the gas they use to inflate your abdomen will soon be gone, and you will feel SO much better. Concentrate on the end result, when you are at your goal! God Bless, I'm praying for you! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Carbgirl, Lots of us out here praying for you. Please keep us posted on how you are doing! The swelling WILL go down, so hang in there, it will get better. Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

There are so many of you out there who are so wise and educated on the whole subject of weight loss surgery. Today I am reaching out to those of you who might have had experience with the subject that I need help on. First a little history...... About a 18 months ago, I started to think that WLS might be for me. I actually went and saw a bariatric surgeon locally and he and I discussed a VSG. He convinced me that it was the procedure of choice for me. When I investigated my insurance, I found out that they wouldn't pay $0.01 towards the surgery, so I started thinking about cashing in one of my 401Ks to pay for it myself. I approached my husband, who was 100% against the whole idea of surgery. But after hours and hours of research, and sharing what I learned with him, he (reluctantly) agreed to support me in my Quest to become healthier through Weight loss Surgery. In June of last year, we traveled to Mexico and I had a VSG. I have been SO happy with my results. I am within 6 pounds of being at goal, and love the way I feel and look. Have been able to go off most of my medications, have lots more energy, and just love the thought that I have done something positive to make myself healthier. For almost a year prior to the surgery, and for 6 months after, I was living and working in California. I am a travel nurse. My husband does not travel with me, preferring to stay home in Iowa. We see each other every month or so for about a week at a time, but really don't live together when I am traveling on an assignment. (I want to stress that I have never taken a travel assignment without discussing it with him first!) Near the end of October last year, he told me he was tired of living alone, and wanted me to come home at the end of my current contract, and live and work in Iowa for a while. I readily agreed, even though I would prefer to live in CA. (I hate Iowa winters, and the pay in CA is SO much better!)But my marriage is of the utmost importance to me, so I agreed, and moved home the first week in December. Since I have been home, Bill has gotten more and more irritable. He gets mad over almost nothing. He seems depressed and has outbreaks of anger and sometimes almost cries. Sometimes it seems like I can't do anything to please him, and no matter what I do, I make him mad or angry. I finally got him to admit to me today that he is feeling threatened by my weight loss, and feels he is "holding me back" (his words, not mine. What he is holding me back from, I don't know!) I tried to re-assure him that when we married 42 years ago I said "till death do us part" and I mean it as much today as I did then. I have no desire to "trade up" husbands. I love him more than ever. But he can't seem to accept that fact. A couple of times he has said things like "I suppose now that you are thin you want a thin husband!" When he says this, I tell him that I wish he would loose some weight for health reasons, but I love him no matter what he weighs! I don't bring the subject of his weight up, he never threw it in my face when I was overweight, and I wouldn't do that to him! Due to health problems (his) we have been unable to be intimate for several years, and although I miss this part of our marriage terribly, I have tried to reassure him that it is him I love, not just sex with him! I am about at the end of my rope. I don't know what to do to reassure him that I love him. I have suggested that maybe we should see a counselor, but he is against that idea. I feel like we are falling apart and I can't run fast enough to pick up the pieces and put them back together. Have any of you had problems like this since your weight loss, or am I the only one? If you have, how did you reassure your partner? Any ideas? Also, is there a forum here for discussions of problems similar to this? I really need some advise. I don't feel like I can talk to any of our children about this, and I wouldn't want to worry my Mom (she is 90 and doesn't need me to dump my problems on her.) Don't know who else to talk to, especially since Bill denies we have a problem and won't go to a counselor with me. Have comtemplated going alone, but currently finances are tight at our house, and our insurance won't cover any type of counseling. Any ideas would be appreciated so much!!! Thanks! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Believe me Teatime, it is a life long struggle! I too was on the road called "Eating Myself to Death". I love to cook and bake, and of course, I love to eat! That is how I got to where I was. I had my procedure almost 8 months ago, and the weight just seemed to melt away after my surgery. Now the weight loss is slowing down, and I am (trying) to come to terms with eating in a correct fashion. I still love to cook and bake, and it is SO hard not to EAT! I fixed desssert last night (at my husbnad's requst) and ate it myself (he didn't even eat it after I fixed it for him!) and when I got on the scale this morning, I had gained 4, Yep that's right FOUR fricking pounds!!!!! I know that one desset didn't do that, it was a combination of the food choices I made yesterday. So today I have made a decision to get serious about my weight loss. I HAD lost 100 pounds, now I am only down 96 pounds. The last 15 pounds have been SO slow. I have really struggled. And now I am gaining, so I HAVE to get serious! (I think my 100 pound weight loss lasted all of twenty minutes. I was lucky that I happened to get on the scale during one of those 20 minutes!!!) I used to drink alcohol on a fairly regular basis. (I don't mean go out and get drunk drink, just a cocktail before dinner, or a glass of wine with or after diner.) But, I have found that alcohol doesn't sit that well with my sleeve. So I have pretty much given up on drinking. ~Good bye margarites that I love, ~ Goodbye chocolate martinis that I crave.~ Goodbye Peach Bellinis that were so much fun at Lunch occasionally!~~~ Goodbye. And now I am saying goodbye to desserts that I love. Oh how I love to read those receipes for Red Velvet cupcakes with frosting an inch deep! How I love to read a new Beef Stroganoff recipe that is loaded with sour cream and calories. How I love to read (Oh Hell you get the idea!!!) Instead, I am choosing to be healthy and fit! So, Excuse me, now I have to get up off my butt and go get busy, my treadmill is just around the corner!!! By the way, Congrats on your weight loss, and thanks for letting me vent! Best of luck on your journey!!! I mean that, good luck. It is a journey, and it can be a life long struggle, But as my Dad used to say, nothing good comes easy!

What specific codes do you need? Procedure codes or diagnostic codes? There are literally THOUSANDS of codes out there, procedural codes, medical condition codes, etc. Wikipedia has a list of the ICD-9codes for different medical conditions. They also have a current listing of the currently used CPT (Common Procedural Terminology) codes. But to ramdomly pick your codes would be a crap shoot. Have you considered speaking with the billing office of your physician/surgeon? They could tell you which codes they used in billing your procedure. It is very complicated. I am a nurse and worked for a surgeon for 8 years. I used to do some of his billing so I used the codes, and belive me, it is very complicated!

Here is a link to a tutorial LilMissDiva wrote that tells you how to put the weight loss. Hope this helps! Go to your internet browser and type in www.tickerfactory.com 2. Scroll down the page to halfway and click on Weight Loss, in the Weight Loss/Fitness section. **See above screen** 3. Choose your ticker ruler, there are many to choose from. Check all the pages! Once you have chosen one you like, click next. Do the same for your ticker Slider, and click next again. 4. Fill in your personal information on this page. Once completed, click next. 5. This page will show your finish product and will leave a code for you that you will need later. Do not shut down this page, you will need to go back once you complete a few more steps. The correct code to use has been circled. 6. Go back to VST/LBT. There is a drop down menu at the top left of your screen. (Circled) Next, click on My Settings. ***Please Note*** VST and LBT both function exactly the same. For demonstration purposes I’m using my VST account. 7. On your options page, you will need to navigate to your Options tab (circled). 8. On your options tab, you will need to click on the Change Signature option (circled). 9. This is what your page will look like. Have the cursor in your Edit Signature text box. 10. Go back to your completed Diet ticker web page. Highlight and copy the entire code, circled in the photo above in step 5. 11. Once again go back to your VST/LBT page that you just left. In the text box, paste the code you copied from the ticker factory website. Click Save Changes. 12. Once you have done this, it should reset the page to show you what your new signature looks like. Congratulations!! You now have your ticker set to show others your progress.

I think it was around 5 to 6 months post op that the weight loss started to slow down. Up until then, it just seemed to drop off without any effort from me. Now it is more slow, and I have to work at it. I HAD lost 100 pounds (the last five pounds taking almost two months!) but I ate dessert last night and when I got on the scale this morning, EEEK!!! I had gained four, Yes FOUR FREEKING pounds!!! I almost dropped dead right there and then, naked and cold on the bathroom floor!!! BUT I know they will come off again. Dessert is not something I usually allow myself, but my hubbie specially requested it, and then I couldn't resist. (In the end he didn't even eat it himself!) Anyway, Congrats on your weight loss. And keep up the good work!

I can feel your pain! I wasn't going to tell anyone either, except really close family. I did tell my sister, as we are really close. I asked her not to tell anyone though. Low and behold, when I got home from my surgery, I had an email from a college classmate who said she had seen Caroline (sister) and Caroline told her all about my WLS! I was stunned. I wrote back to the friend and said "Well I wonder what part of "Please don't tell anyone about my surgery! my sister didn't understand?" But Melinda (friend) had already told about 8-10 of our other classmates, so the news was OUT big time. Since then, when anyone askes me about my weight loss, I just tell them, "I had a bariatric procedure." If they ask questions, I figure, I guess I will be the one to educate them on WLS surgery. That's what nurses do anyway, teach their patients about their conditions, how to handle it, what their meds are for, etc. A big part of being a nurse is educating your patients, so I just consider anyone who asks me questions about my weight loss as a sort of "quasi patient" of mine, and tell them what they want to know. I guess it has turned out to be easier that way. And nobody is off in the corner speculating about how I lost weight, and talking about me behind my back, they just come right up to me and ask. Which I guess I would rather they did anyway. I felt the same as you when I went back to work. I work 12 hour shifts, and went back when I was 10 days post op. My surgeon told me I could go back to work in one week, but I had the ten days off, so I took them all. I was SO tired, this deep bone weary tired that just wouldn't go away. It took me like two months for the fatigue to wear off or go away or whatever. But I finally did start to feel better again. And now I feel pretty good. I have lots more energy than I used to have. And I don't need nearly as much sleep as I used to need (before loosing 100 pounds!). Anyway, Congratulations! I think you are doing wonderful. Keep it up! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Yeah, one of my ports popped open too. It was gross! I didn't even butterfly it. It was the one in my navel, and was such a hard area to butterfly. So just kept it covered with some gauze. Showed one of my daughters who almost threw up! Obviously, she isn't a nurse. but it healed OK, just left a bigger scar, but it's in my navel, and trust me, NOBODY gets to look at my navel! So who cares! Anyway, hope you are doing OK, and have no further complications!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)