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CamaroGal

LAP-BAND Patients
  • Content Count

    32
  • Joined

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About CamaroGal

  • Rank
    Advanced Member
  • Birthday 09/27/1974

About Me

  • Gender
    Female
  • City
    Schaumburg
  • State
    Illinois
  • Zip Code
    60193
  1. I had my surgery on 2/22/11. I was 295 lbs on Jan. 1, 2011. I was 264 lbs on date of surgery. I'm about 195 lbs now. I went through the Kane Center in Hoffman Estates. My surgeon was Dr. Guske. Surgery was fine. I like Guske to a point. I think the exterior staff (receptionists, nurses, insurance coordinators, etc) are over worked and thus make mistakes. It was very hard for me to get in to see Guske when I had some vomiting issues a couple of months ago. I finally just went through my PCP...which was a good thing because I now need to see a neurologist so I can say my recent medical problems have not been due to the surgery.
  2. My shocking comment had nothing to do with telling people about the surgery. I'm 4 months out and have lost 65 lbs since surgery and a total of 85 lbs due to pre-op diet (and stomach flu, ha!) I started this journey at 285. I'm 5'2". I had strangers at my front door twice this past week. One was Comcast trying to get me back as a customer and the other was an insurance guy who had the wrong address. Both times I answered the door I was asked "Is your mom home?" Please note: I'm 36 years old!
  3. CamaroGal

    Hey how long till PIZZA

    Hungry Girl on Cooking channel made a chicken pizza. Instead of pizza dough, used a chicken as the base. I modified.. I cut the chicken breast in half, after I baked it, I put on the bit of pizza sauce and miny pepperoni and for me a bit of goat cheese. I got the taste but not the bread/crust which I have a hard time handling and I'm 4 months post op.
  4. About two months after my VSG I fell into a deep depression (mainly due to over 6 months of stress at work, but the stress of surgery did not help). I am bipolar, had been very consistant with my meds. I ended up in an outpatient program to treat the depression. I started having vomiting episodes every once in a while. As my bipolar meds were being adjusted, it was just attributed to them. Then when the meds were stabilized, I continued to have the episodes. Then they became more frequent and then became several times a day. I first went back to my bariatric surgeon just to make sure it wasn't something with my vsg. They gave me an H. pylori test. It came back positive. This is the bacteria that causes ulcers. I also went for an upper gi to confirm there was no blockage. I was prescribed Helidac. The upper gi was negative for blockages or ulcers. It only showed some reflux, but I have been dealing with that even pre-vsg. I continued to have the vomiting. Sometimes after the meds, sometimes after I ate. There has been no pattern. I went back to my surgeon a week later. He prescribed me something to help with the nausea (so he said). I continued to vomit. I then went to my PCP. He said the anti-nausea med I was prescribed was actually an anti spasm med. He took me off of that and put me on Zofran which I have had before when I used to have nausea with migranes (migranes gone after being put on cpap). He stated he had to calm my stomach before trying a different route. I have felt much better as the vomiting has stopped the last 5 days. I go back to my pcp on Tuesday for the next course of action and just wonder if any one else has suffered with this post-op. My biggest concern is that I haven't been able to keep my bipolar meds regular and the work I've done to get out of my depression the last 3 months will suffer.
  5. Bilka, Come stai? Sorry.... don't know much more Italian than that and Sono Americana and Mi chiamo. Thank you for your post. It has been a number of years since I was in Torino for work, but I'm do for another trip. At least this way I can be prepared if my colleagues want to attend such a place for dinner. If I were you, I would just eat the best that you can. I have no shame in pulling apart a sandwich and only eating the interior and not the bread. Also, are you doing this on a nightly basis? Probably not, so don't be too rough on yourself.
  6. CamaroGal

    Had sleeve this morning

    Congrats and I hope you pass gas soon! Most doctors and hospitals won't let you go home till you fart... Ha! I had to stay an extra day cause I couldn't. I got my sleeve on Feb. 22 and doing fine. Time passes quick... and so do those first pounds!
  7. CamaroGal

    Sleep Study -- check

    I have a CPAP (Actually a BiPAP as I need two different pressures as I sleep). I got mine in August 2010, long before I thought about VSG. I had the sleep test done in 08 and was told I didn't have sleep apnea but disruptive snoring. The dental device was going to cost me about $500. That was $500 I didn't have. When I went back in '10, I had gained about 50 pounds thanks to my mental meds. My sleep doctor said he has NEVER seen such a severe difference between two sleep studys. I have the ResMed Nasal Pillows. I am a stomach/side sleeper. It did take several weeks to get used to the mask, but waking up rested really helped. No matter how bad it seems.... the alternative is much worse! There was an auditor that worked with our company that died in his sleep due to undiagnosed apnea. I wear mine every night and for every nap! I'll take the annoyance to wake up!
  8. CamaroGal

    My Story

    Thanks Luanne. Before the bipolar diagnosis, I was using a beer or two a night just to shut off my brain. When I was first on the Abilify and then the Stavzor/Seroquel combination, I was in such a mental fog that I almost said enough of this and went back to drinking! I couldn't believe that it took 3 months to get out of the hazy bubble. I think my doc thought I was "crazy". Have you had any side effects with the Pristique? Energy is one of the things I struggled with before the surgery. Right now the energy level seems better but I'm always worried about the lack of energy coming back.
  9. CamaroGal

    How to avoid the 6 month diet requirement?

    Double check with your insurance. My insurance did not require a 6 month diet plan. I did have on record my weight loss attempts with my GP.
  10. CamaroGal

    PREGNANT BEFORE VSG

    I didn't even have the chance (tubes are tied) but just because I'm the right age, I had to do a test before anyway. I also had a D&C done by my gyn right after I had my sleeve. Got to love surgeons who will work together so you only have to be put under once!
  11. CamaroGal

    Cold Drinks/Food

    I'm about 6 weeks out now and can just barely tolerate cool items. I try to avoid ice like it's the plague. Cold causes me pain/nausea.
  12. CamaroGal

    Sleeping on Stomach

    It took me about 3 weeks before I could sleep on my stomach again. As far as food, I did buy baby food. I did add a bit of salt since most baby food has no salt. I also would take mashed potatoes and add the baby food meats together. It was almost like eating mashed potatoes and gravy. It also helped me to get my protein.
  13. I too am bipolar. I did clear the psyc exam. My suggestion is your psych dr. monitor you very closely. Mine is having me do extra blood tests to check my medicication (lithium) levels. As you may know, even a few pounds can change how the meds stabilize your mood. I've recently had some issues with increased anxiety and depression but I think it is because I'm very stressed about my eating (I had surgery on 2/22/11) and I've had a lot of stress at work.
  14. My surgeon was also Dr. Guske. I also went to St. Alexius. Wonderful surgeon. Great facility. I've had several surgeries there. The Kane Center is also a Bariatric Center of Excellence. For BC/BS of IL they are a fast track center.
  15. Welcome. I hope you can find the right med combo.

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