KS Fort Worth

If your surgeon is out of state but agrees it needs attention, any competent local doctor should be able to apply new sutures. Yes, it's surgery-related, but at this point it's just a belly wound. I would imagine even an urgent-care clinic could take care of that.

Agreed, but the poster I was responding to (tamantha0) is only 4 days post-op. Healing is more important than weight loss right now, IMO.

Definitely call your doctor. I do find it interesting that my doctor's instructions also said neosporin, but the discharge nurse emphasized leave it open to air. My surgeon used staples to close mine, what did yours use?

Lots of water, and just keep telling yourself it's only one day. Keep your eye on the prize and don't worry too much about the moment. You WILL make it!

If you have an open wound, it's a no-brainer. Tell your boss you still have an open wound, take some extra time, AND talk to your doctor to find out why it hasn't closed. After almost three weeks, that does not sound right.

Calories are not the most important thing right now, PLEASE make sure you're well hydrated. Dehydration can also make you feel lightheaded, and slows the healing process. get your liquids in first for now, and add calories and proteins later.

You must decide what is more important to you - instant gratification, or your health?

I learned recently, when your body is losing weight rapidly and goes into ketosis, your mouth actually makes acetone. Seems reasonable this would affect the way things taste. If you have that icky white film on your tongue, get a tongue brush or scraper. I also recommend Therabreath mouthwash. It helps cut the 'film' that seems to form on the teeth.

I feel fortunate in that my massage therapist also has a sleeve, and has been an invaluable source of information! She's quite the inspiration too. She was sleeved last September, has lost over 100 pounds and runs marathons!

We used to have the same insurance, but switched to Aetna in 2011 because BCBS was playing games with one of our providers, and we did not want to have to pick a new doctor. If BCBS does give you problems, you might consider Aetna during Open Enrollment. We've been very happy with them, no runaround at all, on anything.

You should kick those anyway. Even the artificial sweeteners of the diet versions screw with your blood sugar levels, from what I've read.

@Justine13 - If you're using it and have less than a year, that's great! You clearly have a good employer who's going above the requirements of the law. But legally, FMLA requires 1 year service AND at least 1,250 hours worked in that year AND the employer must have at least 50 employees within 75 miles. There's nothing in the FMLA act that requires them to give you PAID leave beyond what you're entitled to otherwise, they just cannot fire you for taking the time off. You still must use sick leave, vacation days, PTO, or whatever you have to avoid losing pay for the time you are off.

@@@ HAPPY DANCE ! ! ! ! @@@

That is correct. There are some other stipulations as well. How long have you been working there? Are you past any probationary period? If not, bear in mind an employer needs NO REASON to fire you if you are in probationary status. If that is true, it may be worth putting it off a few months. http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmlaen.pdf

Awesome! I'm sure you'll have many more great milestones in short order. **happydance**

As a supervisor, she should respect your right to privacy. You're right to want to tell her in advance, and that shows maturity on your part, and respect for your coworkers. I can't advise you exactly on the timing, but I told my supervisors about two months out (since our schedule is not 9-5) and told my coworkers two weeks out. That being said, if your six-month process is one that has to start over if you miss an appointment, and you think there is a chance of someone sabotaging that process, you might wait until you have approval and then tell her. Adjusting a surgery date is much easier than starting over. When you finally DO tell her, be confident in your tone. You KNOW it's the right thing to do, that attitude should come through in your conversation. I think your decisiveness will impress your boss. I received nothing but encouragement from my bosses and coworkers (save one) but I don't work with a bunch of high school mentality folks. (JUNIOR High sometimes... )

Well, that IS one of the goals of any WLS, and that's why most surgeons order a sleep study. If weight loss didn't make any difference, OSA would not be considered a comorbidity.

Feel pretty darn good! I feel blessed that I've been fairly pain-free, only using my prescription the first two nights at home so I could sleep easier. The only nausea I had was the morning after surgery, and only lasted a few minutes. I'm sure it was just a post anesthetic reaction, but they gave me some nausea medicine in my IV. I've already progressed from clear liquids to full liquids, thank God! I'm not sure how much more broth mixed with protein powder I could stand.

I did manage a few successful nights with CPAP, so I know it CAN work. Most of my nights would start out OK and then I would get leaks at the eyeballs that just would not quit, so I'd give up. Fortunately I've lost enough weight that I sleep through the night now anyway, so I know that losing weight works as well!

I was sleeved last Tuesday, and my best preop diet advice is to start cutting your meal size now if you haven't already, and work on getting as many carbs out of your diet as you can. My surgeon required a strict 2 week preop diet of protein shakes for all the nutrition, with unlimited zero calorie liquids. I SO want to succeed that I have been slowly cutting back since March, and it was not nearly the shock to my system going to all liquids that it might have been. Even at my "last meals" I avoided gorging myself, savoring the flavors and keeping my eye on the prize. When your body enters ketosis, your mouth will taste and feel funky. Therabreath does help a lot; I found that recommended here.

After hitting 330 for the second time three years ago, I told myself this was the last time. I lost 55 on my own by my 49th birthday. I told myself I would be below 250 by my 50th birthday. Instead I put on another 20. I had been considering WLS of some sort for a few years, so at my annual physical last November I told my doctor I was considering it. He handed me a business card for Dr. Kim and told me to give him a call. It took me two more months to make up my mind, but I finally got the ball rolling in February. I'm only 5 days postop, but still glad I chose the sleeve.

That's what we have to do, sister, one day at a time. As the swelling goes down your ability to swallow will improve. My surgeon fixed a hiatal hernia when he was in there and I imagine there was some swelling right there as well as the stomach itself. I found it helpful to straighten my torso to drink so it didn't feel like it was "hanging" on the way down. Just be patient; as long as things continue to improve, you're doing ok. Any doubts, call your doctor or the hospital, that's what they are for. Have faith, you CAN do this!

I weighed 293 when I got diagnosed with OSA, bought a machine, and was fittef with three different full-face masks. I could never get the leaks to completely go away around the eyes, so I eventually gave up. I noticed about a month before surgery, after I had lost 30 pounds, that I was suddenly sleeping through the night, and my wife hasn't noticed me snoring. One of the goals of weight loss surgery IS to cure sleep apnea, or they wouldn't consider it as a comorbidity.

I would suggest you contact Dr. David Kim or Dr. Wade Barker. They are both in the DFW area and do a LOT of these, so their people are very experienced at dealing with insurance. (I chose Dr. Kim but did one consult with Dr. Barker, and have nothing against their practice.) There are several other bariatric surgeons in the Metroplex who also do a large volume. I have Aetna and had no problems, but I do know that the same company can have different policies with different employers. The insurance experts at one of these surgeon's office can help you wade through the "jungle." If you've already done a lot of the prepwork, you have a RIGHT to copies of everything you've had done, sleep studies, blood work etc. Could save everybody some time. You should also be able to get a copy of your health insurance policy from either Aetna or your husband's company. Sometimes, Insurance companies play games and will deny something just to see if you will go away, and approve it on resubmittal. Good luck, and don't give up!

You're going to be quite the inspiration to other young people to take control of their eating lives, and stop letting it control you. I considered weight loss surgery years ago, but convinced myself I could lose it on my own. I failed. So, like so many others here, my only regret so far is not doing this sooner.