Rootman

Welcome! Yep, DO call, and get it in writing too! Better safe than sorry, the forum has more than one story of insurance companies backing out or changing coverage at the last minute.

Nope, didn't happen. YES, your STOMACH (VSG'rs do NOT have a pouch) will stretch a little as it heals but no where to it's capacity pre-op. You will always have restriction but your adherence to a good diet will ultimately determine whether you succeed with this WLS or not. ANYONE with WLS can NOT lose weight or REGAIN lost weight if the constantly cheat and graze on high cal, high carb foods all day long. You will CHEAT the sleeve and bypass it's benefits. Don't worry you haven't ruined your sleeve, just surprised yourself in the quantity you can eat and drink. And as always if you you have questions and concerns please ASK YOUR DOC. Try and measure your portions and stick with them.

Thanks again for all the well wishes. Man is the house quiet now! We actually slept with the bedroom door open last night for the first time in years, normally we kept it closed with the doggies in their crate out in the living room - the moment they heard either of us stir, even turn over in bed they would bark. We both slept through the night and didn't have to get up 3 or 4 times to comfort them, it was getting pretty bad the last week, both of them were pretty inconsolable at night. I am now feeling such guilt, I KNOW it was the right thing to do, HE was suffering as his tumor had grown to the size of an apricot and was doing some harm pressing on his anus and colon, he could not poop and could not eat and was having a lot of discomfort. She was getting practically frantic as first her eye site failed then her hearing started to go. I feel so guilty ending their lives but I know as a good steward of these little beasts I have to take on the responsibility of their lives in total. There was nothing we could of done for HER while HE would of required pretty extensive surgeries. I know I was wracked with guilt at the last time we put down a dog and then we waited too long and he really suffered with a brain cancer or some disease that caused him neurological damage. He would look right at you and seem to say "I think I know who you are but I'm not sure". I took all their stuff to the local animal shelter today and donated it, it hurt so bad just to look over and see the empty crate and their blankets and stuff. I knew the shelter could use it all. Man I cannot even imagine what it would be like to lose a child, just losing a pet is so hard. Thanks again guys, the notes you've posted meant a lot to me.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/115-vst-social-groups-forums/ It looks like you just jump in and post, I guess post a request to be added to the group although I frankly don't know what benefit JOINING actually gives you over just jumping in and posting.

I wish there was a wolf whistle emoticon because these pics surely warrant it

Ummm, not sure what you mean, AFAIK ANYONE can just jump in and start posting as long as they register and login.

I read this article, it specifies a RNY bypass but one has to wonder if it would be true for ANY WLS. I think the key here that it largely unspoken in the article is that the pancreas is damaged by obesity and having to overcompensate for our hideous diets that after WLS it hums along doing OK till age catches up with it again and the person again succumbs to diabetes. Interesting read anyways. http://www.inquisitr...isitr%3A+All%29

YES, but ONLY AFTER THE DOC OKS IT. Don't just start popping stuff. PPI's can have long term effects with Calcium uptake and may cause other issues. Excess acid and reflux SHOULD clear up after the stomach calms down after the trauma of surgery, after all you did just lop off over half of him The stomach swells in AND out. And what few proton (acid) pumps are left post-op can over run the tiny swelled space that is left. A PPI can help. I started them post-op and have been taking them over a year and a half now, I am now taking them only once every 3 days till I run out then re-examining how I feel and will go back to the doc if need be for a new scrip. I also found that a few saltine crackers helps soak up acid too - that's what pregnant women have been doing for a century or more for morning sickness. I find 3 or 4 crackers clears it right up and they don't have that many calories. Remember see the doc FIRST before increasing your dosage. And prescription omeprozol (generic Prilosec) is TWICE the dosage of the OTC brand and may actually be cheaper even without RX insurance.

Well I was surprised when I went home for lunch (I work only 2 miles from home) and my wife was not there. I called her on her cell and she said it was already done, they were both gone. The vet said HIS tumor was likely invading his anus or bowel and causing him a lot of pain and a few quick test showed that SHE was indeed getting hard of hearing. She made the decision that it was best just to let them go than to subject them to further operations or procedures. I was shocked my wife didn't call so that I could come join her and say goodbye to the two wee beasts. I'm really struggling with feeling resentful towards her for not calling me. This noon wave after wave of grief came over me - more than warranted for a couple of dogs, I'm afraid like most guys I've kept things bottled up since way before my mom passed away about 3 years back. I think it started when I had a few weight related health concerns (ALL fixed via the VSG) and through the operation itself and subsequent life change afterwards, my mom's death and a life changing crisis of faith about a year ago. It all caught up with me this noon. Here I am at work trying to choke back the tears and not doing such a good job of it. Well it feels like a little relief to just write about it. Thanks for the well wishes. I don't think there will be any more pets for us for a long while, it takes a while to heal from the loss of the old one to properly bond with a new one. Being childless they were all we had.

It's amazing that the portions you are eating NOW are far closer to the portion size that we SHOULD OF been eating all along. The wife and I go out once or twice a week. Last time we went out we had some nachos as an appetizer and split a small pizza. We took the rest home and had a total of SIX meals (3 each) off what most would eat in one sitting. Portions are getting WAY out of control. Saves a lot of money though, our bill came to about $20 with drinks and a coupon we had. SIX restaurant meals for $20, AMAZING!

Yup, pretty much, although I prefer to "grin and BEAR it". Now, it is possible and quite likely that they may have stomach gas, the poor little stomach is so swollen and sore that any amount of gas causes discomfort, just as it did for us when we had full stomachs, the pain is amplified by the sore and swollen little guy. In that case strips or pills can help. But the truth is the surgical carbon dioxide does not remain, or "travel" or "settle" and cause "gas pains" that are relived with anti-gas meds.

Well, very small amount of gas (carbon dioxide) is adsorbed totally within hours, there is NONE left to "settle" anywhere. What is happening is that the action by the gas expanding the abdominal cavity and stretching things all out to give surgeon room it has irritated nerves going through the abdomen. This discomfort (even pain) cannot usually be helped by pain relievers as it cannot relieve the irritation. Most commonly the effect is felt in the arms or shoulders but feeling it in the gut or lady parts is also possible. Just give it time. GasX or other anti-gas meds will have NO effect, it just takes time.

I too doubt that any EMT or Dr would plug the thing in. I would think that they would be more for you to carry the information for YOURSELF for reference, then again finding someone willing to allow you to plug in an unknown USB drive into their computer might be a challenge.

Great idea for ANYONE with or without WLS or any health issues, just having the contact info handy can make a difference in an emergency. one the subject about NSAID'd I too take them, baby aspirin and naproxin. I think they're OK if you take a COATED version that should pass THROUGH the stomach / sleeve and it should not cause any issues. But listen to your doc and take their advice.

Fuggidaboudem! Do what's right for YOU. You have your partners support, no go for it!

What ROUND isn't a shape? I too had the chipmunk cheeks and hated them, I would actually slap myself while looking in the mirror, I hated them that much. This and seeing daylight between my legs when my knees touched were two of the greatest NSV's ever!

Congrats, expect more NSV's on the way! I hadn't noticed the napkin not falling off and I remembered when I read your comment how often I would have to pick it up off the floor and now I don't. Just actually HAVING a lap is a big change

Simply put, NO SOLIDS just liquids. Protein shakes, juice and Water. SF Jello is OK too. If your doc or nut didn't tell you to please call and make sure it's OK, while I can't think of a reason it wouldn't be just be sure it's OK first. Almost everyone can stay on this diet for 2 or 3 weeks, especially when we know ht operation is coming up. It's trying to do this on your own as a sole means of weight loss that it fails, we all start to cheat and then gain any loses back. When we have the WLS in our sites it makes it easier to stick to and you can reap the benefits of some weight loss, smaller liver and cleaner bowels post-op.

They CAN be, everyone's different. Normally they should be fairly solid no matter WHAT your diet, the large bowel does a good job of adsorbing excess liquid to make semi-solid excrement. Sometimes it takes too much liquid out - constipation, sometimes it leaves too much in - diarrhea.

@Lowe,There really is no rules foe a preop diet or even if you need one at all. It can't hurt and is generally beneficial for you as it may reduce the size of your liver making surgery easier, keeps your bowels from being packed full post-op when going may be difficult and gives you a jump start on losing. I did mine for 3 weeks, it was just after Thanksgiving so I decided what the hell, let's just start it now.

Simply put; NO INPUT, NO OUTPUT If your diet is drastically reduced then you poop less. If they are stiff, sticky or hard then increase your Water consumption and think about taking something to help you along like Miralax or Benefiber.

Very cute! Good job too, looks sharp!

Along the same lines I went to my nephews 14th birthday party. He and his guests were making fun of the "skinny kid" - I remember when I was a kid we made fun of the "fat" kid. How times have changed, some of our social mores are reversed.

On the same topic I wondered about excess calcium and heart blockage. I just had a calcium cardiac test that showed a little blockage in my left descending artery - sure enough a few days later I saw a medical blurb on TV about calcium supplements possibly leading to calcium deposits in the arteries. The blurb left it completely open and never gave a definitive answer, and neither did any of my online research either. So is taking more calcium citrate leading to possibly heart problems down the road? The doc started me on a baby aspirin a day to try and reverse it. My cholesterol is already low at 133 and 64 triglycerides so nothing to do diet wise. I didn't know about the possible calcium supp. / heart blockage concern then so I didn't ask him.

Hey Marty, my eyes are up HERE