iggychic

We had a couple of dinners because...ok we like having parties LOL Saturday we had a huge group over and DH made chicken. We had folks bring side dishes so I had a little chicken, some artichoke dip on rye toast and half of a cravory cookie (chocolate and cyan pepper). A couple of glasses of wine, and still I stayed below my calorie goals because I can't seem to eat above them LOL Christmas Eve we had filet mignon. I had the steak and some cauliflower mashed potatoes (we rarely have real potatoes anymore because we love these). DH made a sauce so I had a bit of that on it. We had several tarts as options for dessert. I had a few bites of a pumpkin puree tart. Very good but that's all I can handle. Christmas morning my mom made me bread pudding, which is a breakfast on christmas since I was a child. I had a small serving and she did make it with less sugar than normal because she knows that bothers my tummy. I ate it slowly, about 1/4 a cup and must admit it was yummy. Then we had traditional dinner (for us...what's with you lasagna eaters? LOL). Ham (we buy a naturally made product which does not have a bunch of additives in it) sweet potatoes (which are my specialty...made with brown sugar, butter, cognac and whiskey) brussel sprouts (made with garlic and bacon), red cabbage, and pumpkin pie. Oh and dh made a lovely spinach salad, which I had a bite of (my first since surgery and it was yummy). I had ham and sweet potatoes as well as a little pumpkin pie. Whipped cream was not comfy to eat so I just had the puree...it was a lovely dinner and I didn't feel I was missing out on a thing Christmas was special because I had such a bad medical year. I've never been totally focused on the food, more enjoying the company and the family, but I still used to eat more than I did this season. I bathed myself in the joy of my family, who were almost lost to me, instead of the nectar of whiskey soaked potatoes LOL It was heaven

There can be two causes for this. The most likely is that your skin is healing. You have to remember that beneeth those small holes are larger areas that need to heal because they were pulled, stretched and damaged during the surgery by the tools that were in them. We can't see that so we tend to forget that they exist. For some this area around a wound can be quite large, depending on how hard the surgery was for the doctor. Your tummy is basically surrounded by wounds if your doctor used a four or five point approach, so this can feel like your whole abdomen is itching. I used liquid benedryl (which is fine for about anyone) itch cream and it helped me out. Until the itch got worse and worse....for me, I was facing the other kind of itch. If you have this itching and it is accompanied by weakness, sickness, pain, fever, chills, etc, meaning you don't feel fine except for the itch, you could be dealing with a leak which is sending poison into your body. The itch is a sign of toxic fluids within your body. I've experienced that twice. It tends to start where the fluids are concentrated then move throughout your body as the infection spreads. (Eclampsia does this as well to pregnant women). This does not sound like what you are experiencing That's a good thing! So, if the itch is concentrated in the general area of your wounds (even out several inches from those) then get some cream and it will go away soon. It is a sign of healing...not a fun one, but a sign If the itch is spreading or can not be relieved with the cream, AND you have other symptoms, go to the ER right away and get a leak test.

This foolish behavior deserves consequences. Maybe not as bad as a life threatening leak, but something...I suppose I can be happy knowing that if they are so silly as to push their program directly after surgery, despite the horrific medical consequences they could face, I should be at least happy knowing they weren't committed enough and they will likely be back in two years whining about their weight gains. Really, you ripped out most of your stomach and now you want to see if you can pop the dang thing because you feel you are immune to consequences. Smart...very smart! Edited to reflect a grumpy post in the middle of the night

I was rushing through the airport last night because I found out I wasn't going to get home and had to book a hotel on the other end when I encountered the longest ID review possible. The dude then asked for a second ID which fortunately I had, then he grilled me about my ID information.... Then after calling a supervisor he approves it, leaving me about 3 seconds to book the hotel and he says...ma'am, this ID is really inaccurate and the picture barely resembles you you need to update it before your next flight. I've only lost 45lbs but my face does look a lot different. I hadn't looked at my DL lately Guess I have to go back and get a new one LOL I was kind of laughing as I rushed to the plane Which was then held late of course, so all that rushing for nothing...but a nice NSV heh heh

Gosh I'd love to say that I don't have a god to worship, but unfortunately during a long hospital stay with my son (we spent about two years worth of nights in hospital between birth and age four) when asked about religion I thought for a second and then replied....We (my son and I) are Sleeptopians. The gal looked at me with that "what the hell are you talking about" look that they get but can't ask questions because it's not PC...and said "Is there anything we can do here to assist you with your prayer?" To which I replied that we Sleeptopians commune with our god through REM sleep. If we do not achieve this deep sleep state daily we stray from the Sleeptopian path and sadly many do not return Which got us a "do not disturb" sign on the door and let us skip the every four hour nurses rounds After all, they have to do everything they can to assist in your religious path If there actually is a god...I know he was laughing as I said that all straight faced! My grandfather was a baptist preacher....he could pull crap like that out of his arse like nobody's business. I guess I'm a chip off the old block LMAO I shall "pray" for ya'll tonight...I took some liquid nyquil which should keep me in touch with the sleeptopian god all night long heh heh

LOL you look like your mother in the first pic. WHat a great transformation You lost a few decades and pounds!

I couldn't sleep laying down for some time Liz and when I returned home I returned to the guest room again with dozens of pillows to recreate the incline in my hospital bed as well. I thought I hated that thing, but my body had gotten used to sitting up I guess. I would also get nauseous when lying down flat Sorry love

lol i knew who you meant but just couldn't resist

my doc said no frogs til month four

oh don't do that hun. you are obviously trying to figure this out. My advice would be to think like a carnivore for a while. Eat heavy Protein and see how that sits with you. I personally can't even finish two prawns in a sitting, nor a whole filet mignon (six ounce...I eat half). Stay away from the vegies for a bit and no carbs like rice and see if you get more restriction. I can go over my half cup if it's something like Soup or cottage cheese, so the restriction does vary. I don't eat much of what you posted due to docs rules, but maybe if I did I'd be able to eat more...who knows, but I'd just suggest you find yourself a moist chicken breast and drown your concerns in that See how that feels in comparison to what you've been doing....I bet it's a lot different.

I'm four months out from the first surgery and three from the second....I can't eat more than half a cup of anything without feeling bad. I certainly can't eat a cup of rice and Beans or vegies. I haven't had salad or nuts yet on the advice of my doctors. Your program (if there is one) sounds a bit too losey goosey for long term success frankly How do you develop good habits if you have no restrictions to help you along the way? I'm not beating you up, since you are following what you were told...but sheesh, I'm just amazed you can eat any of that LOL

You know there could be two schools of thought here. Picture a person considering a sleeve reading this thread. If it was filled with "oh poor you, try again tomorrow honey" they would not take seriously the threat of a leak. If sally did it and lived why can't I? If you see thread after thread like that, how would you understand the magnitude of what they are doing to themselves? But if instead they read this and go "wow, this must be serious....given the passion displayed here" they might think twice about having their internal organs cut off if they can't manage to say no to a bowl of popcorn for a month or two. If the OP choses to continue on this route, she will be one of the people that the sleeve either kills, or is not successful for. They do exist and I can almost list people who have posted things like this who I can see posting back in two years....why am I gaining weight, given they didn't kill themselves with popcorn or something similar. Gman I don't know if I'm even kind anymore. I'm kind of peeved off actually. I suppose...no I know, that I don't want anyone to experience what I did, even people I get peeved off at due to posts like this, because it's just a hell no one deserves. But what really peeves me off is the parents of young children who post stuff like this. Kill yourself, slowly with food or quickly with surgery and nonadhearance to the program your doctor set out for you, but do that if you're single and have no one depending on you. If you can't avoid a cookie to be around for a few more years for your child, where is your head????? You have a responsibility to listen to what the doctor says if he cuts out chunks of your body for gads sake or that child might be without a parent sooner than they should be. This angers me. Enough that I do bite the hand that reaches out for help on occasion. My hope is that someone who never posts something like this reads this type of thread, that has gone in this direction and then never posts something like this because they got the message! Or because guilt about their children held them back, or because they didn't have the surgery because they realized they weren't ready. I'd rather read that than another story of a leak and the torture a family was put through, both emotionally and financially. I hope the OP understands the seriousness of what she's done and toes the straight and narrow line (or is that tows?) anyhoo, I hope she gets it, or someone does, because nothing is worth it.

Call someone else if you get the same response and BE FIRM with him. Don't let one doctor's arrogance delay you from proper care.

Glenda, this isn't normal. You need to go to a hospital and figure it out. I listened to my doc try to placate me about my issues for a few weeks too long and nearly died because of it. This is NOT normal! And if such pain was normal darling, then taking a muscle relaxant, valium etc, would be ok and something the doc should prescribe. You don't need to suffer torture. Get some help aside from him. He's not helping and you still don't know why you are having these issues. Fresh eyes saved my life.

Do you have any idea what they have to do to save you from a leak? I had knitting sized needles stuck down my back into my lungs, with only topical anestesia where they cut in. A garden hose with a suction machine attached to it rammed into my lungs, and kept their for a week..intense pain, again while awake. I nearly died from my lungs constantly being crushed by Fluid from the leak in my body. It was horrible...worst experience I've ever been through not to mention the most costly. A mistake is you ate a cookie when you were allowed Cookies but found a nut in it, which you aren't allowed. That's a mistake. Putting popcorn into a newly sleeved stomach...that's not a mistake, it's someone who should not have had this surgery until they were ready to commit to healing safely and changing their ways. It's a complete disregard for their health and their families well being. It deserves a hard response. No pats on the back work for this kind of illness.

I'm starting to get so sick of reading these threads I don't enjoy signing on anymore. People care so little for their health...why on earth do you even have this surgery when you are willing to risk killing yourself for a freaking cookie or popcorn? It's not cheating. Such a sweet little word for risking your health and well being. My leak (not caused by stupidity) cost half a million dollars. If your health and the horrific recovery process from a leak isn't enough to scare you from eating, how about a huge amount of debt???? Next time you're tempted ask yourself how many extra dollars that cookie is worth to you? IF it's worth that much to you...what the hell, go for it. And get some counseling as well please!

LOL Liz I went to our alaska house last week after several months absence. The dust had dust on it! There were no dust bunnies, they were dust camels...and they roamed the sides of the rooms in herds! It's still home though Which is a great place to be isn't it? You did keep the yellow suit right?

You mean the lung tube drain? I hate to say it but mine still hurts on occasion. They had to spread my ribs a bit and that hits right where my underwire does . But I had to wear padded bandages over that site for a few weeks. I also had to remove the wire in a bra so I could wear it. Skittle . My gowns hand pink flowers. I looked like grandmas comforter . Any word on going home?

I will discontinue my psychotic drugs......

MRSA can happen to anyone and is sadly getting more common in hospital. It spreads like wildfire But Liz originally went in for a leak, which was post op of course. Liz, do you look good in yellow? It makes my red hair and pasty white skin look like a sallow lizard... Good news that the door is open. That's a sign you're not so scary dangerous now A good thing right? I'm glad mom has done ok and Liz that fiancee sounds like a keeper Smooches!!!

But kids...no boot camp this early. Thats for folks out some months. In a quick nutshell, because I'm heading to the ballet with a hot date (my 7 year old LOL) Remember that diet you did to shrink your liver? Your liver shrank..and then you traumitazed your body with surgery and it went all gaddly goop. Then you started feeding it Clear Liquids and maybe even solid liquis or puree's but not your normal routine. At three weeks your body says....wooooo baby, what the hell is going on? It then sends fluids to the liver to fill it back up again, and tries to find balance. This is the "three week stall" which is common to 99% of patients. No need to panic Keep the course and you'll see a drop next week.

Mason while that all sounds nifty keen, you are actually encouraging people to eat improperly after having this surgery. Leaks can occur two ways. One is that they develop early at the staple line from an open area within the line. These typically happen within the first three weeks and are the most common. But you neglect to mention the other type of leak. These occur after the suture line is healed, but the healed wall is still thin enough to erode causing a late leak. They can occur any time after three weeks and have been known to occur as far out as nine months. Stressing a recently healed staple line, or one not healed is never a smart idea. Encouraging it by saying all that will happen is you'll cough up the food is not a responsible approach to take. That piece of steak could stress a newly healed line and kill someone. Rarer than leaks prior to three weeks, but still they happen which is why we are told not to eat steak at three weeks. Nor pepperoni, nor Cookies, cake, candy, etc., Leaks are serious business and something that we should all try to avoid. Putting food in your mouth that you are told not to can lead to death. Don't be stupid. It's not worth it!

Search for week three stall. This is so common I'm surprised anyone does not expect it.