1st let me say I am glad to have found this Forum. I found it yesterday after google 'ing bariatric support groups at the suggestion of my nutritionist. Along with a list of "what to start doing to get used to it" items she said I should find a support group for obvious reasons. I have very little knowledge on the subject bariatric surgery other than what I have learned from my visits with my surgeon and his group so far and what very little i learned from my brother having lap-band several years ago. Well gotta figure no better way to learn than to ask those that have gone through or are going through what I plan to.

I've been reading topics here since yesterday and have come across some things I didn't know or even think about. So I figured I'd give details of my current situation and see if others have anything in common and if they could give me some ideas of what to expect. It's been just over a month since I first saw my surgeon and came to the decision to go through with the sleeve surgery. I did not initially go to see him for it though. His name was on a list I received from my primary care doc after she told me the lump on my belly button was an umbilical hernia. When I went to see him he said he could repair the hernia but there was a high chance of either it reopening or another opening somewhere else due to my weight and big ass gut (not his words). After his, what I 1st felt was a sales pitch, He showed me some videos gave me some info to read and suggested I take some time to think about it and talk it over with my wife. We read, I showed her the video, we talked about it and decided it was probably the smart thing to do. Over the past few years I've put on a significant amount of weight and it seems every time I try to diet it off, I pack more on.

A little bit of medical history for ya...... According the old trusty BMI system I've been heavy since my late teens early 20's but that is because of my height. I was pretty fit and muscular back then. Stayed pretty fit but did gain weight heading into my 30's and put on more the older I got. I've had back issues since my late teens due to a vehicle accident but it was never anything more than a good cracking my back couldn't relieve. My line of work has always been very physical, so along with getting older and the weight gain my back issues became worse. Now about to hit my mid 40s I've been out of work for going on 3 years due to osteoarthritis, slipped/herniated disks and sciatica. I have very limited movement and seem to be stuck in my "snowball". Also because of the weight I am on blood pressure, cholesterol and get happy meds. I do not take pain killers other than occasional 800mg ibuprofen. I have an addictive nature and am terrified of getting hooked. Speaking of which I am an "alcoholic". On the wagon and have it under control but still might as well mention it. Damn I am one F***ed up specimen.

Well, I'll leave it at that and hope for any feedback, experience or suggestions/advice that any of you care to give. Thanks so much in advance for reading and feedback. Sorry this turned out so LONG.

J

Frust8,

Tell me more about this tibia fracture. I injured my knees while attempting to jog in 2015. X-ray of right knee, stated I needed immediate treatment due to a well oscillated bone. My Dr. and the nurse I saw in orthopedics decided it was congenital. I insisted on the referral to ortho after my Dr. diagnosed my injury as arthritis, it is the VA so I never saw an ortho doc, just the nurse. I know exactly when I hurt myself, but did not hear any popping sounds. Long story short, our bodies do eventually heal without medical intervention. When the swelling improved you can actually see the bone chip. It is about the size of a dime and a quarter inch thick. Plus when my knee is bent there is some change in skin color. Needless to say I have been shaving my legs since the 5th grade, I think I would have noticed if I was born with that. Plus my daughter noticed it when she was visiting and asked when it happened. Admittedly, one knee did not hurt more than the other, they both hurt. They said it was hip knee petella syndrome and my cartilage apparently looked good on the X-ray. At this point it doesn’t hurt, but it took forever to heal and there was no over the counter meds that helped with the pain. I guess I am just always going to wonder what I actually did to myself. Also, now I don’t trust them to tell me if it is safe to run again. I feel they did not recognize how swollen my knees were or give me pain meds because I am fat. Maybe if I know how you mangled yourself I can figure out what I did. Thanks!

Edited April 19, 20188 yr by okayestmom
Grammar

@ J San one of my even better tales is the one about,the day I ran the size 10.5 knitting needle through my foot, even beats the evening RD deliberately kicked her foot through a glass storm window or when she kicked backward, she claimed reflexively, and broke,my nose. As the old comedian said once "I've got a MILLION stories" One of the even more recent ones. I was sitting outside of Wal-Mart waiting for Public Transportation bus, She was out shopping with her MIL, who she doesn't realize "has her number" also. we are about the same age and chat often, she doesn't know that either. Anywhoo she runs up to Tomkitten and I , throws her arms around each of us and gives a big hug. "Hmnn" I said "and what is This For?", literally had not seen her for,months. Oh , she announces, I've got Early Onset Dementia and I thought I'd hug you before I forgot who you were! Sometimes being around her is like being in the presence of a coral snake, attractive but keep an eye on them because they are poisonous.
one thing we don't share is the Alcohol addiction it does run in Daddy's side of the family. How devout were they? My great grandpa Priest had a keg , big honking one from what I hear, out in his barn of Hard Cider. Christmas morning he and the male relatives went marching out to said barn. Drew off,what didn't freeze and took turns drinking it. It does get cold in Ohio so,imagine what proof it must have been! Only,had drank,3-5 times in the my,live. Blended drinks make me sleepy, if I'm going to be taken advantage of, I want to be awake and enjoy it. In your checkered imbibing career have you ever tasted White Lightening? Well,i have, the dreaded corn-based moonshine liquor. Shoot Daddy's side of the family had stills,not all of them but a high%. Ever heard Joan Baez song about it? I'll give you the lyrics at the end, okay? I had a jelly glassful once and it only took once! Warm going down, well they did pride themselves on the smoothness, hits the bottom of your stomach,with a thud and within 15 minutes at least for me, the migraine from Hades arrived. Sat down on the tree stump, both eyes and nose running, and tried to shake my head. Bad maneuver, only made it worse. Did I throw up? Nope wished I had, but I was too much a lady to do it in front of relatives and I didn't want to find out what it does to clothing and shoes. So I sat there an hour or 2 until my eyes stopped streaming, the world stopped spinning and I could trust my legs again. Okay the lyrics I promised.
Get you a copper kettle
Get you a copper coil
Cover with new-made corn mash
And never more you'll toil
Just lay there by the juniper
When the moon is high
Watch them jugs a-fillin' in the pale moonlight
(verse) My daddy,he made whiskey
My grand'daddy did too
We ain't paid no Whiskey Tax
Since 1792
We just lay there by the Juniper
When the moon is high
Watching them jugs a'fillin'
In the pale moonlight.
Yeah you're welcome, I come from a long line of. Buckeye Small Business Men, don't I???

My advice is to literally take this one day at a time. On one hand, it's very helpful to know what others are experiencing beofre and after the surgery, but on the other hand it can be really overwhelming reading the various experiences, opinions etc. You are in the beginning of a crazy journey so focus on what you need to do now, and don't get too freaked out about the future. You will do fine, just being able to reach out for help and feedback is great! A supportive family is very helpful.

We all have issues otherwise we would not be here. Just taking this first step proves you want a better healthier life for yourself and that is the opposite of crazy!