former_vbg

So, did they postpone your surgery then?

Thank you for sharing. That was brave to post that. I can definitely sympathize and I'm sure others here can too.

So sorry to hear this. Are you on a pre-op liquid diet?

Well probably unfortunately for me, I have worked for one of the largest medical laboratory testing facilities in the U.S. and I am aware of how long various things are "testable". Nicotine tested by blood is typically only going to show up in the last 5 days from testing. If they take a hair sample it can be up to 10 to 12 days. Now, it's our own health we are messing with and will have to suffer the consequences if there are problems for not following Dr. orders. Even reading this thread makes me crave one, but I'm holding out.

That is really wonderful about the plans you guys have made. I haven't had my surgery yet, so will have to defer to others on whether it is advised or not. But, I would suspect that part of that depends on what (if any) health issues either of you have currently that could require special care afterwards. Also, your Dr. might offer some good insight on this as well. I can comment though on the use of the request for double rooms, etc. Your insurance company will typically only pay for 1 or 2 nights of stay at the hospital unless there are complications and so if you wanted to stay longer, I suspect it would be on your dime. That being said, I am betting you would have a more romantic stay in a hotel room (cheaper too). Way to go though!

I just had to chime in as someone who TOTALLY can relate to what you are going through. I was told to quit 30 days before surgery and I'm not sure what the time frame would be after surgery- but probably the same. Although, I'm sure the Dr. might think I wouldn't start back up again if I quit.... Like you, I know I need to quit but I also never have really wanted to quit either. The combination between going through the food funeral stuff and quitting smoking is tough!!! REALLY tough! I'm pretty sure I will have to up my ticker for the start of this journey because of it. Leslie- I had no idea that smoking after surgery could cause the stomach to not heal- ever. Do you think she was trying to scare you by the feeding tube story to make it more dramatic? I'm not saying one should even think about smoking after surgery, it's just hard. I'm not using any aids either- just trying to remember the reason I'm doing it. Hang in there! When is your surgery?

I hadn't, but did go look at the link- there are only 2 members in there and I think both are from Houston. I have posted in some other links labeled Dallas. It will work out, just would be nice to hook up with some fellow sleevers while I'm hanging out after surgery waiting to get clearance to go back home.

Thank you. I suspect I may have a little breakdown once I get down there and am all by myself. I do worry a little what I would do if I started feeling weird on the trip home- mostly because I am what most would call a "tough bird" and I tend to have such a high tolerance for pain that I will have to try and pay better attention to any signs of problems. I think my biggest fear is having a blood clot on the way home- but I'm going to ask to be on a blood thinner for at least a couple of weeks after surgery to help with that. It would be nice to try and meet up with some fellow Dallas or area sleevers while I'm there- but so far nobody has responded to any requests. :-( I have figured out the "check out" issue from the hospital- but will be in town for a few days afterwards until I get cleared to go home.

June 22nd, Dallas, TX

Oh yes I am driving. I will be solo on this trip. I am used to making long drives. I routinely make a 1,500 mile round trip in 48 hrs once a month to go visit one of my horses in training right now and this will be about 300 miles less round trip. I'm kind of like a guy when it comes to getting in the car..... stop for gas, potty and eat when you gas, and gooooo.... So, stopping just to get out and stretch will be something I will have to make myself do. The pillow is a good idea- thank you!

This is just my 2 cents, but.... I am having surgery out of state and ALL of my pre-op tests have been local for me. I had to actually switch Dr.'s 2 weeks before surgery scheduled and the new Dr. never even hesitated on reviewing my results done locally- neither did the first Dr. My point is that you shouldn't have to redo all those various tests they had you do because having them done under a different Dr. won't change the outcome of your results. I worried about the same thing because taking so much time off of work is an issue for many people. You didn't mention who your ins company was, but most insurance companies have their policy bulletins online and they also usually have searchable databases where you can check yourself which hospitals are in network/ out of network, etc. I've never heard of a hospital being "in network" but not for a specific procedure. That sounds a little odd to me. Good luck!

I'm glad you are working with your NUT and Dr., but I'm a bit surprised that your NUT told you not to even worry about your carb intake until you exceed a set number of calories. Something that is interesting is that if you really look at a lot of the lite or low fat foods, most of the time they make up for it in sugar additives. So, something low in fat is often higher in calories and vice versa. My NUT told me that the carbs are things that contribute to the addiction of sugar and constantly feeling the need for more. Something else, just an observation from other people who have posted here that when their weight loss is low that not eating enough calories can be a part of the reason why people have difficulties because the body is turning to the fat reserves (starvation mode). Just sharing some observations- keep working with your NUT and Dr.

Thank you! I got the results of the pre-op blood work back Friday and everything looks pretty good. Cholesterol was a bit elevated, Iron a little low- but nothing my PCP said was to be real alarmed about. I went and did a little "pre-surgery" shopping today, and stocked up on the sugar free Jello, broth, crystal lite, lite applesauce, etc. I bought a light and comfy robe, and some new sweat pants (old ones were getting pretty old). I figure I will be wearing sweats for at least the first several days. Especially for the drive home. One thing I find a little interesting is in the paperwork for the post-surgery diet is my doc seems to be ok with pretty much any kind of Soups (non-chunky) but no reference to calories, carbs or sodium. Since I am an out of state patient, I will be meeting with one of his nutritionists the day before surgery to cover things in more detail and I wonder if she/he will zero in on the restrictions a bit more. So, I held on on buying any soups knowing sodium causes people to retain Water, and of course high carbs wouldn't be good either. For the drive home after my post-op check up w/my Dr., I was thinking I would plan on having plenty of Crystal Lite handy. It is about an 8 1/2 hr drive, but I'm wondering if it will take me longer if they ask me to stop every 2 or 3 hrs to get out and walk about for a bit to avoid blood clots.

Thank you! Do I read your ticker right that you have lost 50# in one month!?!?! That is outstanding!!! I hope the #'s shed as quickly for me.

Thank you so much! The VBG is basically the older version of the lapband with the difference being that the band I had done 13 years ago was not designed to be adjustable. The Dr. used a mesh to create the band and then stapled half way down my stomach- which I'm not sure why he did that. I actually didn't have any complications and lost most of the weight I wanted and maintained for several years but then starting 2 or 3 years ago started experiencing lots of issues with stricture. It came on so slow that I didn't put two and two together that I was starting down the path of "soft food syndrome" and it was causing me to eat foods I knew wouldn't get stuck and subsequently causing me to throw it back up shortly after eating it.

Can anyone point me in the right direction where the pinned thread is at for the list needed before surgery? I've been looking everywhere and can't find it. I leave for surgery 2 weeks from Monday!! I have been looking at the list of foods at the different stages my Dr. recommends and find it odd he only wants me on Clear liquids for 2 days and starting mooshies within 8 days.... just seems early to me.

There are no skilled surgeons in the KC or surrounding area at revisions, particularly with experience of revising from a VBG unfortunately. I hate to say it, but most of them only want to do virgin surgeries here or at the most converting a lap band to the sleeve. I've been to 3 seminars locally and they are all pretty much scared of the VBG due to high risk for leaks. It's frustrating, but at the same time- at least they recognize their limitations. I even went to Topeka where they do DS procedures thinking they would have more skilled surgeons there and they just wanted to convert me to the GB- said I was too high risk for them. So, off to TX I go.

Since I'm traveling out of state for this, it's going to take me a day to drive there, have to be there for a pre-op appointment the day before surgery and then after I get released am going to have LOTS of down time for the next few days while I hang around town to be re-checked. I'll figure something out I guess, not sure what.

So, I will be traveling out of state for surgery and will be bringing my laptop- nothing else really of "value"- maybe my purse I guess. I do not know anyone where I will be having surgery and so my options would be to leave my laptop in the trunk of my car or bring it to the hospital with me. Personally, I would rather not leave it in my car for several days. Plus, if it gets hot in there, that would also not be good. I will have to stay in town for a few days before I go home to get re-checked and so the idea of not bringing my laptop I don't think I could handle. I guess my question is, has anyone ever had a way to lock up something while at the hospital? I will be calling this hospital Tuesday and see what they may have- just looking for other people's experiences/ suggestions.

Thanks, that isn't an option there either. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Hey TX Sleevers, I'm not from TX, but Kansas City. I'm scheduled for surgery in Dallas on Wed 6/22 and will be traveling alone. I should be discharged either Thursday or Friday (probably Fri) and I need to find "someone" to check me out. I will have a place arranged close by to stay, but I don't think they will let me take a taxi. Do you guys know anyone in the Dallas area that might be willing to "check me out"? I will reimburse gas money. Any help/ suggestions would be appreciated. Just trying to work through the many challenges of traveling out of state to have surgery in an area I don't know anybody. Thanks for any help/ suggestions. p.s. I have posted this on a couple of TX Sleevers threads just trying to find someone willing to help. Thanks.

Hey Texas Sleevers, I'm not from TX, but have a surgery date in Dallas on Wed 6/22. I expect I will be discharged either Thursday or Friday. I'm traveling alone and trying to figure out a little glitch. I have to be "checked out" by someone. I'll have a place to stay arranged close by, but they aren't sure the hospital will let me take a taxi - going to check on that next week. Just wondering if someone in the Dallas area might be willing to "check me out". I'm pretty sure it could be arranged towards the end of the day for anyone working and I'll have money for gas to reimburse you. If you or anyone you know might be willing to help out a future sleever, please let me know. Thanks.

Awesome! Thanks for doing that. I'll look it up!

I have come across one other person on here in the KC area, but thought maybe I would see if there was anyone else on this board that is from or around the Kansas City area. Just thought it would be nice to see if there is already a group here. One of the biggest challenges when I had my VBG 12 years ago was no support group, and didn't really know anyone else who had gone through the procedure. The internet has definitely changed that.

Why do you not recommend the depo shot?