Search the Community

I brought more than needed, bc my hospital provided alot(Chapstick, hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner and soap, tooth brush and paste and a small travel type pillow) Here's what I actually used: A few pairs of clean underwear(they allowed me to wear them the second am) PJ bottoms for under my gown which I was required to wear House cost for walking halls My own pillow from home(different color pillow) Travel pillow(I brought a firm small pillow for coughing and standing, but the gave me the perfect one too) Brush, deodorant iPad, IPhone & chargers A magazine The BEST thing I brought was my ear plugs!!!! So happy since I was outside of nurses station! Also not sure if your doctor used Lovenox post op for you at home, but learn my lesson no one informed me it needed to be ordered, I figured they'd give me a script at discharge, thankfully the office had enough samples for me! They dropped the ball BIG TIME! I was not permitted to use any gas x strips they provided me with simethicone there(liquid if I remember)

I know there's the Mirena that's low hormonal but I don't qualify for that because my daughter was a c section. I never went into labor. So my ob said that the Mirena was a no go. I know there's the one you put in for 3 weeks and take it our for a week. But I don't think I can be putting it in and taking it out. It's just weird to me. I hate side effects of BC. But i don't wanna risk getting pregnant so soon after my surgery. That's what scares me.

If I get lots of the minced okra in it I will be very happy and leave off the Beans. I have been planning my gumbo since my surgery. As little as you will be able to eat, actually I think you can have some rice. My husband is a 35 year diabetic sleeved 12/2, and he will get NO rice. his BS was averaging 350 a day and is 100-120 since surgery.

Patience is a virtue, but at 73 the rest of my vitue is long gone, living on grit, determination, 12 hours of TPN a night and hoping my story will end as well as my Bari-Bud 🐭🐱(aka MouseCat), so so proud of Her success! Oh got to believe it's only a Matter of Time, never planned to be like this 5 months out from surgery. And oh it started out So Good , 2 weeks in. my stoma strictured, the ulcerations started , they should have known , I already had a gastric ulcer I named Hector in the stomach part bypassed, went in with DX of Gastritis, took me off my PPI Dexilent, put me on their ineffectual Omeprazole, may work for many, never did for ME and I have been hanging on the tail of a tornado every since! And when will it END, IDK but sure wish I did! So I chug-a-chugging along on a limited Stage 2 diet, liquids and thin purees once a day, sustained largely on the calories and nutrition from TPN fed through a PICC line in my upper Left Arm. Been there for 2 months yesterday, possibly for 2 more months, at least that was the last recommendation I was given last Friday at my EGJ, 9th endoscopy lifetime, 6th at OSU. Well to be technically correct Transnasally July 2013 EGD June 2015 EGD December 2017 those 3 were at my local Community Hospital KCH in Mount Vernon EGD immediately prior to RnY surgery September 5 2018 by Dr Needleman EGJs because post RnY duodenum is no longer accessible, only your jejunem, the 2nd section of Small Intestine Those were October 12, October 26, November 9th, November 28, that's when I was bad enough I was hospitalized and PICC l8ne inserted next day, all these done by Sabrena Noria MD, my surgeons partner who just 💞doing endoscopies. And lastly January 25 2019 by their Senior Resident Noah J Stinson MD, Dr Noria was over- booked, I guess. He wasn't too bad, this time they attempted stretching my stomal stricture part way, did it work permanently? Doubtful, Dr Noria tried in October, snapped right back where it was before, a virtual pinhole that lets only liquids through. Does THIS happen often? Oh I am so dang special I nearly stink, and I did not request to be! I WANT to be like all the others out there, my surgery day twins are on Stage 4 or Normal diets, and I'm lagging behind. Wahhh!😪😥💦

I had to stop my BC 6 weeks before my surgery (so a few days ago). I haven't had my period in over a decade because I take my BC continuous cycling since my period gives me so many problems. I'm so scared of getting my period again and I don't know when it will come. I travel a lot so I'm going to have to start packing tampons. And I throw up a lot with my period... that is not going to be fun while traveling... I hate being female....

Hello, I am 6 weeks post op and have no idea what to eat. I was so nauseous for the last 2 1/2 weeks and now I'm starting from scratch. I am scared to eat anything bc I throw up so easily. I am having a very hard time with fluid intake also. Nothing tastes good, even the flavored water I drank with no problems before surgery. Any advice is appreciated!!

Ask at your goodwill in particular bc they are all different! I like to go on Sundays bc that's the day a new color tag goes on sale at half price. Mine also has a "new items" rack and they put an entire new rack of stuff daily except for Friday-Sunday so I can drop in if I'm grocery shopping next door and just look at that rack!

Well, folks, when I grew up I lived in North dakota. I lived in Maryland, where for some reason it likes to blizzard around Washington's birthday. I remember being an essential employee, so digging my car out, and being one of the brave souls who drove an hour to work and spending the night there because someone had to. Living in the Washington,D.C. area noting really shuts down, even when the Fed. Govt. isn't at work. So, my hubby and I chose Florida to retire. We love watching the other's who have to be to work. (It was sad news yesterday when the snow plaw killed the 8 month pregnant mother. But the y were able to do a cs on teh mom and bring the baby out alive! ) Best wishes to all my Northern Friends, including carolinagirl who got hit by the storms too! Karen..aka..kll724 PS: I don't feel guilty living in Florida, I paid my dues!

I don't think it is moving too fast either. That is pretty much expected behavior from a man that is seriously trying to court you. Men ask you on casual dates when they are trying to be casual. I have certain expectations on how I want to be treated and I expect a man to meet those expectations. I feel like if you ask someone out and they don't want to do that kind of date, then they are not the person for you. People should date like minded compatible people. The issue is, no one courts or dates like civilized people anymore. I am not with that Netflix and chill or sit in Starbucks like it is the library BS. Back to OP. Dating is a numbers game, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. If you are serious about dating you need to date 2 to 3 guys at a time and let the best man win. Dating one guy at a time is a huge waste for a lot of reasons. I always think after WLS we blame a lot of issues on WLS, when really it is just hard to find someone period.

My FIL says I should just back away from the table. What BS!

See, when I don't lose, it messes with me so much. From Feb to March 7th, I only lost 8 lbs, which messed with me so much. It triggered a binge where I just ate crappy foods for like a week until I came to my senses. But now I am terrified of the scale bc I don't want to fall into that horrible mental state again. So, for now, I am just keeping it away until next month. I do agree with everything you said and feel I can definitely lose much more if I just stay consistent and on track. I appreciate your kind words. ❤️

Hi and yes just like u.I am four days from my surgery and I feel the same way. My shoulders hurt so bad. I didn't even think about it being gas till my sister in law said that that's what it was. Yes I am tired and hurting still on my right side. I wana be able to sleep soon bad. I tried to not have any medications today so I wouldn't over do it. I have two kids that I am also attending to while I'm healing. For me I'm starting to get agitated because what if I made the wrong choice. My family had a get together and ate Chinese food and all I wanted to do is have one bite.but I know where that would of lead me. Plus making my kids meals today were so hard bc I kept trying to lick my fingers! This is hard and I know that.one day at a time. This is for us!I'm sure ur just like me and put urself last often. I want to wear leather boots with jeans one day. That's my first goal!good luck keep me posted

@@gowalking - When I dug deeper into the numbers, I think this is total crap. They are comparing apples and oranges. They were damn lazy. They have huge gaps. They don't know if the population of self pay (since this data from Canada where a very large segment of the population would rather self pay than wait for socialized medicine). If you add in the self pay WLS patients, that would lower the percentage of self-harm down to the population at large. There is no control for demographics. He's comparing unemployed self-soothing fat people to the total population and saying this proves the surgery will make you four times more likely to kill yourself. Sorry, total and complete BS. However on FOX news or CNN the headline will be "Have stomach surgery? You will probably kill yourself." Absolutely irresponsible.

Wow reading this breaks me heart. I had gastric bypass 2 weeks ago and had to stay 8 days in the hospital because my hemoglobin was low and jp bag was draining to fast. Was sent home with jp bag. On the 4th of July I decided to eat a hard boiled egg but make it watery just so I can get some protein in me since I can not swallow the liquid protein they give you . Well- 5 minutes after the egg I started having sever pains in the upper center of my belly. 6 hours of crying and screaming praying for it to go away. Had to come back to hospital where I have been since then:( so far they tell me my intestines are swollen. So giving me steroids. Yesterday I tried drinking water and same pain came back . So they put me on a nothing by mouth diet. Today I wet for upper GI and they made me drink contrast .it killed me. Dr then says it could be a bacteria or an ulcer along with the swelling of my intestine. They don't know what I have. Tomorrow I guess I will get results but now ive developed horrible diarreah that smells like death and looks like it has worms. Sorry TMI... On antibiotics ,steroids,anti- inflammatory , pain meds, etc. I have 5 kids and the smallest is 4 months. My hubby has been awesome but theirs so much he can do. I did this bc I was so disgusted with myself and didn't know what else to do. Now I'm wondering if I made a mistake- and theirs no turning back now:( I pray for your honey and that he will regain his health back. ????

I had gastric bypass 5-14-20....it took about 3 months for me to feel what I would consider “normal”. The soreness and fatigue was gone after 4-6 weeks. I had some depression after my surgery due to not feeling like I could participate in family functions bc everything in my family was centered around food. Also most of my family didn’t know I had WLS. So lots of factors (that were my choice) played into that. But as of today I am 9 months post-op and have lost 130 pounds! I have more energy and I am happier than I have ever been. ❤️ Congrats on your surgery!! Wishing you happiness and a speedy recovery!

Appetite Increased By Action Of Ghrelin Hormone Leading To Accumulation Of Abdominal Fat 5/21/09 Appetite Increased By Action Of Ghrelin Hormone Leading To Accumulation Of Abdominal Fat The ghrelin hormone not only stimulates the brain giving rise to an increase in appetite, but also favours the accumulation of lipids in visceral fatty tissue, located in the abdominal zone and considered to be the most harmful. This is the conclusion of research undertaken at Metabolic Research Laboratory of the University Hospital of Navarra, published recently in the International Journal of Obesity. Ghrelin is a hormone produced in the stomach and the function of which is to tell the brain that the body has to be fed. Thus, the level of this secretion increases before eating and decreases after. It is known to be important in the development of obesity, given that, on stimulating the appetite, it favours an increase in body weight, explained Ms Amaia Rodr?guez Murueta-Goyena, doctor in biology and main researcher of the study. However, researchers at the University Hospital of Navarra have discovered that, besides stimulating the hypothalamus to generate appetite, ghrelin also acts on the tabula rasa cortex. They observed how this hormone favoured the accumulation of lipids in visceral fatty tissue. In effect, it causes the over-expression of the fatty genes that take part in the retention of lipids, explained Ms Rodr?guez. It is precisely this accumulated fat in the region of the abdomen that is deemed to be most harmful, as it is accompanied by comorbilities, visceral obesity being related to higher blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Moreover, being located in the abdominal zone and in direct contact with the liver, this type of fatty tissue favours the formation of liver fat and increases the risk of developing resistance to insulin. It is associated with hypertension, high levels of triglycerides, resistance to insulin and hypercholesterolemia: visceral fat favours the metabolic syndrome, the researcher pointed out. Ghrelin can show itself in acylated or deacylated form, the difference being in the octanoic acid present in the composition of the former, according to Ms Rodriguez. Previously it was thought that only the acylated form was active in the process of weight increase, but many studies point to both hormones being biologically functional. Future development of pharmaceutical drugs This discovery of the twin action of ghrelin on the organism opens the door to future treatment for obesity and which, for the time being, is limited to in vitro studies in cell and animal models, the University Hospital researcher pointed out. This inclusive perspective of the functioning of a hormone is necessary in order to design effective pharmaceutical drugs. There are many hormones that intervene in the control of appetite in the hypothalamus and, at the same time, can act on other organs, such as the liver, the muscles or fat, for example. Thus, the medication developed should block the action of ghrelin both on the hypothalamus and on the accumulation of abdominal fat. At the same time, stated Ms Rodr?guez, it has to be taken into account that this hormone also acts on the liver and favours the capturing of glucose in the muscle. They observed that the concentration of acylated-form ghreline in the blood increases amongst obese persons and particularly when these, moreover, suffer from diabetes. Thus, obese persons with diabetes have greater tendency to accumulate visceral fat than normoglycemic obese persons. This is a little-studied field which has to be investigated in order to develop pharmaceutical drugs which annul this action of ghrelin. Blood analysis and stimulation of adipocytes The research undertaken at the Metabolic Research Laboratory of the University Hospital of Navarra principally involved the analysis of the blood of 80 patients, both obese and thin, and in the stimulation with ghrelin of the fatty cells from surgical operations. First they analysed the ghrelin levels in the blood. Then, based on the biopsies of visceral fat obtained from 24 patients subjected to various operations, the adipocytes or fatty cells were separated and subsequently stimulated with hormone, which enabled the researchers to evaluate the changes generated in the genes that favoured the lipid accumulation in these isolated adipocytes, explained the researcher. Source: Oihane Lakar Elhuyar Fundazioa

On 4/11 I walked into the hospital to begin my pre-op/ pre-admission testing. Just a quick one and a half hours later and I was walking out a bit perplexed. I know surgery is a very serious thing and of course understand that I have to explain my medical history to the hospital so they can properly treat me. However, do I have to repeat myself 2-4 different times?!?!? Is it wrong of me to have been annoyed by this fact? Now don't get me wrong EVERYONE was super nice and professional and great to talk to. I just wish we could have sped the process up and done one big gigantic group interview. I mean you guys are asking almost the same exact questions. Then filter out the questions no one else needs and you can come into the room by yourself and ask those. Otherwise, let's get this show on the road here people! Nothing beats the next part of my day - going to my surgeon's office for my pre-op appointment.There were times during this appointment when I wished I was a ninja :ph34r: so I could sneak out of there without him looking. He made me so nervous. I swore at times it felt as though I was being interrogated. "Remember Kristina, if there is anything you need us to know, now is the time to tell me." OMG what do I need to tell you. Do you want intimate details of my life?!?! Do you want to know that I stole a make-up compact when I was 14 years old? That I cut classes in high school and got caught. I mean I felt like this was SUPER over done here. "Ok well if anything comes up, if anything changes, you let us know right away." Maybe he was being this way because I am a fairly healthy person besides the fact that I have about 100 pounds of FAT sitting all over my body of course! Which in the long run does not make me very healthy at all. I have high cholesterol but it is not being treated bc my primary doctor didn't think it was necessary with the surgery in the works. What do you want me to tell you Doctor Chau??? Needless to say I walked out of the office feeling a little strange! Most importantly, I found out that I will need to be a participant in the wonderful Liver Shrinking diet for at least one week. I have already begun the diet in a small way and switched my breakfast for a protein shake. I am undecided as to when I will incorporate my lunch in the mix. I went food shopping over the weekend and bought a ton of fresh fruits and veggies to start using those as snacks as per the diet. I EVEN TRIED COTTAGE CHEESE FOR THE FIRST TIME! MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!!! It really isn't that bad. All these years I was afraid of it due to it's appearance. And they say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. SHEESH man am I guilty of that. I am sorry to have judged you Mr. Cheese.

Most insurance companies will pay, but they all have diffrent bennifits. Some pay more than others and others have some real stupid things that have to be done before surgery will be approved. I do have one piece of advice DO NOT go with Humana. That is who I haev and when we got Humana they had great benns, but they have changed my benns 3 times since Jan 1 08 and now they suck really bad. I am in the middle of getting everything done and all of a sudden I have to start a 6 month sup diet by my doctor. So I was going to have my surgery done like next month and now I am going to have to wait till Aug or Sept. Anyway it is BS so for your own sake dont go with them.

I love Bison! (Buffalo) so lean and has so much flavor. I also love beef, but I buy all my beef from a lady that I split a cow with. All her beef is grass fed and no hormones so the flavor blows what you can buy in the store away. I was out of beef and waiting on my next side, and decided to try some Bison at our local health food store, it was also grass fed, organic. So now I'm hooked. :thumbup:

I wonder if this place only ever gives 1.2 ccs or less bc I once again got 1.2 cc. Oh well. I guess I will just stick it out. I got a different lady this time and she let me schedule for 2 wks out this time. So, if I have no restriction it is not too long before I go back. Hopefully I will feel something...

Hi there, I had my band done in May 2007. I weighed 205 and am 5'2. I was turned down from BC/BS but had it done anyway. I don't regret it at all. I had some other physical problems but for me I came to the decision because of all the emotional ups and downs. Good Luck to you! Michelle

Ewwwww - a tub of butter!!! Gross! Wasa - I'm fed-exing you a birthday cake or two. Fav flavor(s)? Please don't forget the 1M calorie Burger King bkfst monstrosity with 3 large orange juices! That would be tasty in a blender! (I'm pre-surgery so unfortunately I can still eat a lot. Moo)

For some reason (I've got to think on it), I've been "hungry" all day; in quotes bc it's not really hunger, but "wanting to eat". Being able to put a label on and identify each was a big, fat epiphany for me. Clearly I'm not in need of food bc I've eaten at the same times and in the same amounts that I have been for the past 2 months. I'm dancing with my demons today. But you know what? I'M LEADING! I haven't given in. And for that tiny miracle, I am grateful and proud.

Ask. I had read all these warnings on here so I asked and they said sure no problem. The pulse ox worked and they didn't need to check my toenails bc I had the pulse ox

I almost reached that weight and I realize how fortunate I was to have a second chance. BMi is based on height and weight and at 5'6 488lbs my BMI was 78.8 the day I walked in and met my Surgeon. He told me if I could lose 5% of my weight and put the work in and if insurance approves it he would give me a tool to use to help turn my life around. It is unfortunate help is not easily as accessible for others as it was for me. I think all insurance companies should cover bariatrics but I agree with educational side of it. Blindly approving people for it without proper education would be a huge mistake. Fear of death is a huge motivator it is just unfortunate it came to that but it also taught me a life long lesson that there is no "fix" for obesity and it will forever be work in progress until the final day of my life. Edit: Not a complaint but rather an observation....I have lost 325+ pounds and I am still in the overweight category. I am sure if I had all the loose skin removed I would be in the norm but let's face it those BMI charts are a joke. My Surgeon even told me they're BS.