Rootman

I'm not sure where to post this but I just got an email from someone at http://www.medicaltourismco.com/ stating they wanted to send me a "token of appreciation" for just confirming my street address to them - which they had (correctly) listed in the body of the email. Forever be cautious I didn't respond an deleted it - it just sounded too much like a hoax, the email address it would of returned to was genuinely at the medicaltourismco.com domain do it was not being redirected somewhere else. Anyone else get one of these emails? I am listing this as a warning being that it was unsolicited and I can imagine a dozen ways this could go wrong.

Sorry in advance, this is a long rant. I wanted to write it out to try and calm my nerves as well as advise people to report suspicious behavior whenever they can. All of us have been rocked by the recent school shootings, there has also been a mall shooting (no one was shot) and ANOTHER movie theater shooting where the gunman was shot dead by an off duty cop. All of this within the space of about a week. What is the world coming to? The reason I write this is that I had a mere brush with a nutty person yet again and want to not only vent but to remind people to REPORT SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR where they think a person might be a real danger to others. We certainly don't need to become a "spy" society but we need to make sure stuff like the above shootings DON'T happen again. I have been swimming for the last 2 years at our cities wonderful Adult Wellness Center. I went again Monday night. All 4 lanes were occupied and everyone who swims there knows you MUST share a lane when space is tight. A lady was trying to get a hold of a mans attention in the far outside lane that she wanted to enter his lane and swim. He was ignoring her. A man in the lane next to it spoke to her and said he was getting out soon so she abandoned her efforts and moved to his lane and started swimming. I moved to this remaining lane and waved and shouted to the guy to try and get his attention, he ignored my too and turned around and continued swimming. I hopped in and got my gear on and looked to the far end of the lane. The guy was standing there so I waved at him to let him know I was going to start swimming. Now I've shared a swim lane with dozens of people, these lanes are more than wide enough to accommodate 2 people. So I was swimming and hugging the wall to give him as much room possible and half way down the lane he hits me. I pop up removed my snorkel and mumble "Sorry" and continue on. At the end of the lane I reverse course and about half way down he hits me again, he hit me in the face nearly knocking my swim goggles off and popping the snorkel out of my mouth. I popped up and tried to remind him that there were signs everywhere stating that 'LANE SHARING IS REQUIRED" and that he should move over. I was tight against the wall actually brushing my arm against it with nearly every stroke. Well EVERY time we pass, he made sure and poke me in the side, arm or leg. After 10 laps or so I was growing tired of it. Thankfully the lane 2 lanes over opened up and I grabbed my stuff and moved over, I was glad THAT was finally over. About 50 laps or so out I look up and see that he is getting out. I just continued swimming and not really wanting to get into it again with him I just ignored him. He had to cross my lane to get out - he could of just gotten out the end of the pool but some people can't get up and over the edge so they cross the other lanes and use the steps. He stopped and lingered in the final lane next to mine next to the stairs. Now, I just want to swim, not fight, not argue not "make any point", just swim. I heard him shout something when I turned for another lap again and just ignored him. Another 10 laps I took a breather and noticed he was finally gone. I breathed a sigh of relief and continued on. Well after about 80 laps I was again taking a mini breather when he comes BACK to the pool room. He had left, showered and dressed and came BACK into the pool room fully clothed. He started screaming and pointing at me and said "If you ever run me over again I am going to KILL you". I tried explaining how I tried to let him know I was in his lane and how he ignored me. I also let him know that he bumped, jabbed and poked me EVERY time we passed. BTW, the end lanes (which he was in) are about 8 feet wide, actually a lane and a half wide as the pool never puts the lane dividers up on each END side only between the actual lanes. It went back and forth, I told him I was going to report him and he said he didn't "Give a **** what I did". At this point I was really frustrated and told him to "shove it up his ass" and tried to continue swimming. He went on again, reminding me "If I ever run into him again he was going to kill me". I again told him to "shove it up his ass" and swam away. He then left. I really wished I had kept my mouth shut, but I just could not take it any more and said what I said. I finished up my 100 laps and got out. I reported the issue to the management. Unfortunately I didn't know his name and could only provide a description. It's behavior like this that unfortunately some times proceeds violent actions like we've seen recently with the shooting. Antisocial behavior and taking perceived "slights" to unhealthy conclusions. I was concerned this guy was going to jump me in the the locker room or outside, or worse yet follow me home and threaten my wife. Please report it if possible any time someone threatens you, whether in real life or on a forum like this. Mental illness is very real and can lead to violent behavior So in the days to come if you read about someone getting shot at a city pool in Arkansas, it might just be me who gets shot when and if this nut comes back.. Thanks for letting me vent. It feels good just to type it all out.

2+ years out, over 170 ponds lost, still keeping them off. More active then ever before. Best thing I've done for my health EVER.

Trolls, huh, yeah. What are they good for. Absolutely nothing. Uh-huh.

I simply did NOT want my digestive tract cut TWICE, which is what a RNY does. I've also seen first hand issues with malabsorbtion of vitamins and anemia because of bypasses. The sleeve works, is simpler and CAN be changed to a full blown bypass if necessary, while a bypass cannot very easily be converted to a sleeve.

Nope saved my life, lost, 170+ pounds lost and healthier than EVER before.

WHOOP! WHOOP! CUTE CHICK ALERT! Seriously, good job, looking very good. You'll be a long tall drink of Water before you know it. Congrats.

As mentiones, to jump start the weight loss and empty not the stomach but the colon. I would HIGHLY recommend it as it does NO harm and my make you more comfortable and shrink your liver a tad and reduce the chance of it being nicked during surgery. Be sure to ask your doc first.

I too had Almanza and everything turned out fine. However the things others have brought up like too many surgeries a day and the Hospital Jerusalem being less than optimal are true. Had I done more home work I probably would of gone somewhere else. Everything was just "OK", not great, not poor either, just "acceptable".

Yep, more is generally better. Walk till you are moderately tired and try to build up your stamina till you can walk for like an hour or so if possible. STOP walking if experiencing pain, more than mild discomfort or anything else that you deem not "normal". Walking will help you burn calories, ease post-operative discomfort by keeping your mind off the surgery and help your cardio and fitness levels. As always consult your doctor before starting any fitness regime.

As stated, water weight, in your bloodstream, colon and bladder. Also waste retention in the colon. It happens to all of us so don't sweat it, it'll come off.

The "air" (actually CO2) is gone in the matter of hours, your body adsorbs it. However there can be irritation from the nerves being stretched and pulled when your abdomen is blown up with the gas - this pain can persist for days and weeks. I would also check with the doc and see if you perhaps have kidney stones. Given the location you mentioned - left middle back - is close to where you might experience pain from kidney stones. Any reddish tint to your urine? I had about 4 bouts of them, they can be very painful - again see your doc.

Yes, at first it is comically loud, it settles down after a bit (SOME). I'm over 2 years out and when empty my stomach still gurgles loudly, not quite loud enough for others to hear but I do AND feel it as well. Perfectly normal, I suspect that it's like you suggest, everything getting funneled into that narrow space.

Yes, you are correct in being concerned, it is very easy to slip back into old habits. I too still struggle over 2 years out. While I can't eat like I used to I still find myself snacking in grazing sometimes out of boredom. Keep busy and keep track of your caloric input. It's so much easier than pre-op but still easy to defeat. All it takes is a hundred or so calories a day extra - thats like 2 Oreo Cookies and all of a sudden you're putting on a few pounds a month.

Nope, me too. All the holiday food, gym was closed most of both weeks and I was just terminally lazy after a hectic year of work. I sat around and snacked constantly. Not sure how much I gained but I know it is at least 5 pounds. Back to the gym this week and hopefully riding my bike if fair weather visits us again some time soon.

Wow this is depressing - arrggh another side effect too! - seems that ghrelin boosts learning and memory, and something else, but I forget Wikipedia: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Ghrelin#Learning_and_memory I was poking around Wikipedia and found it. I wonder if anyone can report anecdotal evidence? It SEEMS that I am having one hell of a time expressing myself verbally these days and my spelling has gotten atrocious lately too, I see red squiggly lines all over the place when posting and often have to correct dozens of word's spelling. It sees that I am getting a little more stressed out lately too, things really bother me more recently. Seems like I am now more like Homer Simpson that Homer of the Odyssey.

I am not sure but probablyt 100 to 150 lbs, my full face mask just would not fit any more, a large was too large andything smaller was not wide enough. I SHOULD of gone back for another study but I have a high deductable insurance and I would of had to pay for it out of pocket and my wife said I was not snoring any more - just a light buzz now and then - and did not appear to be snorting and stopping breating sO between the mask not fitting and my "symptoms" disappearing I elected to just stop using it.

I would say geberally NO, unless it produces a state of malnutrition or dehydration, if you maintain your Vitamin regimine and keep hydrated then you will lose as fast as your coloric intake is under your base meabolic rate and extra caloric burn. Weight loss will slow as your caloric intake comes closer to matching your caloric needs to maintain. So keep sipping, taking your Vitamins and keep up with the doctor visits and you should do OK.

Guys will understand this too. Being an "official old man" I have to say that when WE do this to a younger lady we all get laughed at or branded a dirty old man

I'm out over 2 years and the PHYSICAL hunger is still gone, when I get "really" hungry I amd just the slight bit peckish, just a tiny bit of stomach emptyness, nothing like pre-op. That being said I am now having more of an issue with psych hunger, the holidays, being bored at work and stressed out, reduced sunshine due to time and not enough good weather to bike I find I want to snack even though I am NOT hungry and don't want to eat and eating makes me bloated and uncomfortable. I've gained about 5 pounds and am going to work extra hard in the New Year to lose them again, being 5 pounds over weight is a LOT different than being 200 pounds over.

I had moderate eczema on my arms and a few scaly patches on my forhead and neck, all were gone about 6 months post surgery. My arms were rough and bumpy, now they are smooth. It just goes to show how differently we react to the surgery, in part by the change of diet and if the diet was a significant factor to our skin conditions.

It might be you would have to pursue it with your company. I would suspect that they may require documentation from your doctor to start with. Being elective is one thing but this surgery IS life saving, it's not like a nose job or something like that.

They will do it but you could do it yourself if you want.

The stomach like most other organs has no sensory receptors as far feeling their presence goes. You feel funny at first because of the surgical trauma. After that's healed the only indication of it not being there is that you can't eat as much and if you eat TOO much you can get nauseas and may vomit. You do not feel it being "smaller".

Although in this day and age it's rare there is also iodine deficiency which presents like this, since we eat mostly iodized salt it is not a common milady, although with your reduced diet perhaps it's a possibility.