w2ben

Anyone from Texas...I'm south of Fort Worth.

How long should I crush my medications? My doctor seems very caring but no real answers about such things and his nurse is no better. Can I take ibuprofen for arthritis? I'm just curious what others have heard as I don't see him again for another month at which time I plan on getting some concrete answers. I'm about 90 days out from my sleeve...done 12/8/2010.

Boy, have I been there and done that! Even went out and bought new scales because I just knew the old ones were wrong. Recently, we went on vacation for 10 days and I had no scale. besides we were in Nevada, New mexico, and Arizona and I had no time to worry about weighing. Well, I cheated a couple of times at those casino restaurants and dreaded coming home to my scale and seeing that I had gained weight but to my surprise I had lost 4 pounds and 2 more since getting home. I guess I'll always be one of those "weigh everyday" people but not weighing for 10 days sure did boost my ego when I got home!

Congratulations! I started at 307 and am now at 230 so I know how happy you are!

Well, haven't been on here for a while but I was 60 in 12/2010 when I had the surgery. As of this writng I will say I had a rough start with some complications but those have faded away. I'm 77 lbs. lighter and looking forward to 100!

Well, started feeling bad about 6 days ago and at first thought I had a flu bug. Got so bad Thursday night that I went to the ER. I had one of those do nothing doctors and was sent home after being pumped full of morphine for the pain. Called the surgeon's office and was goven a Monday appointment...had I not been so out of it from pain, morphine, and lack of sleep i might have had enough sense to explain what had happened. The pain got so bad late Sunday night that I went back to the ER. Again tests were run and I was told there was nothing wrong with me. As I rolled around on the bed holding my gut and crying with pain I was told that abdominal pain was not a reason for admission...so much for the Harris Methodist hospital system. I asked them to call my doctor and they refused...guess I should have done that myself and feel rather stupid now. Anyway, today my surgeon was livid...don't want to know what he said to any of those people but I had a barium swallow soon after that. Seems my stomach/sleeve is swollen inside and that's why I couldn't eat and could barely drink. Elevated WBCs I guess show something is infected. I just don't get it...everything was great. Drinking, getting all my protein, working out, shed 53 pounds, and a happy camper until this started. Has anyone had this kind of problem?

Yes, but was told by the surgeon that it is done as they do your surgery. They cut some sort of veins that supply the upper spleen! I was never told any of this pre-op and have been through hell for 3 weeks. I'm, finally. feeling better but not so sure this surgery was for me. Anyway, I always preached to my kids about taking responsibility for your own actions, etc. so I have come to accept that I did this to myself...it has not been easy but at least I've lost 60 lbs. since 12-8. Hope you are better.

Well, it won't be the first nutritionist saying non-supportive things. It never ceases to amaze me why we were required to see these people. I was given info that was just flat false by one at a majir hospital and plenty happy that I questioned what she had to say. I think I've learned more on this forum than anywhere else. Averages are just that...averages.

I hope your friend is doing better and hope her recovery happens quickly. I've been in a similar situation with no-one able to say why. Some sort of infection with the sleeve swollen. Had to have IV fluids Sunday morning but able to sip fluids the last few days. It is all sooo disappointing and painful ...just hope your friend does better soon.

Nope ...ate my regular stuff so not sure what started all this. I will tell you that after drinking the dye I threw up a lot and all the pain went away after that. They started me on Flagyl today and put me back on clear liquids which is what I was doing anyway. The other odd thing is that when I woke up this morning I needed to "poop" for the first time in a week and boy did I go. Now I'm wondering if I had some kind of a blockage that was missed by 3 doctors and by 3 radiologists who did 3 dye tests!

I'm an old RN ...ha,ha! Practiced for abt. 30 years until I retired a few years ago. Glad to see others on the site.

Boy , I thought it was just me! Started sleeping with a humidifier in my room due to the dry nose and mouth and that helped. Have brushed my teeth to the point of being silly but the thing that helped the most was this dry mouth mouthwash. Hate to mention names but theyadvertize a lot on TV and the name starts with a B.

Started out with an exercise bike that I could only pump 1 or 2 rotations....now I do 100 and very little pain. Anyway, bought weights for upper body and the hanging skin on the arms are getting smaller! I'm 60 and never thought this could happen. Now I'm looking for a complete set and bench I can afford...weights become an obsession though I've discovered but a good one.

I told people I knew or was close to and they were supportive. Those people that I didn't know well I just said I was having stomach surgery...it wasn't a lie.

I looked into 5 surgeons before I made my choice. I knew I wanted NOTHING rerouted and wanted no complications from the lapband. I was pleased when this surgeon said the sleeve was his favorite of all the WLS. He began by telling me the newest statistics on WL through surgery and that the sleeve people have less complications and WL comparible to bypass patients. He said his experience was that sleeve patients actually kept it off. So don't give up but DO find a different surgeon. I read so much I was kind of frustrated before I found this fella and when he started mentioning some of the newest articles I had read I knew he was for me... haven't regretted that decision. When you meet a doctor who is up to date it gives you a lot of confidence in them.

Took 2 weeks for that shoulder pain to go away and I was so glad to get off the hydrocodone. They put air in your abdomen to have room to manipulate their instruments, etc. It gets trapped around the diaphragm and there is a nerve there that goes to the shoulder that is effected. It i horribly painful but does go away.

My feelings exactly when comparing the sleeve and the lapband. I'm a retired RN of 30 years so did a lot of homework. Recently, I was complaining to my surgeon that I thought I should have faster weight loss...he laughed and said this is a marathon and not a 50 yard dash and you're lucky you didn't choose a lapband. So many of those people are lucky to lose a lb. a week, have major problems, and many end up having a second piece of surgery to have done what you've done. Thank your lucky stars that you did your homework first. Enough said I guess.

I'm in Texas south of Fort Worth so kind of a long drive. I'm retired and not broke but not rich either. Love to meet and greet unless it is too far and I can't afford it.

I know this is a late post but I found yoplait light lemon meringue yogurt covers up the taste of a lot of meds.

I'm 60 and had surgery 12-8-2010. The first 2 weeks I thought I would die with the pain and nausea but since that passed I'm great. I've only lost 30 lbs. since surgery but that's 30 lbs. I wouldn't have lost at all so I remain optomistic!