iggychic

BTW I do wish you the best.

You don't feel a leak hun...you feel the symptoms and shoulder pain (left sided) is one of the big symptoms. If your doc isn't worried don't worry, but if you haven't mentioned it, do. Leaks kill.

My scars look like bruises and I'm five months out. Would medera help that? BTW I used bio oil at the advice of a plastic surgeon on a severe injury on my wrist. My scaring is pretty awful...I look like a bad suicide victim LOL (but my cuts go up and down verses side to side). I have a foot long scar going from the middle of my hand to the inside of my elbow. It was very painful because of the debth of the surgery (I have donor bone, plates, screws and pins) so the healing includes a lot of the skin pulling. The bio oil was suggested because it is effective in softening the skin which reduces the pain. My scar is not pretty, but it's not red and awful nor was it ever after the surgery (well long term...I was in a cast for a couple of months). That scar looks better than the little ones on my stomach and I didn't have the plastic surgery on it (yet). It's good stuff. I would have used it on these scars if I wasn't too sick to care afterwards.

Have you had this pain since the surgery? Left shoulder pain is a very common symptom of a leak. You should phone your doc about it if it's a new pain or if it continues for more than a day or so.

Yup it is. You made this decision for you, knowing your circumstances. You don't know theirs. They might not be able to afford it. They might not want to take the risks because they have small kids at home. They might be ok in their skin. They might have a medical condition that precludes them having surgery. The trouble with VSG is that people think it's magic and it's for everyone. It's not. In fact that kind of thinking is dangerous. My mother is over weight and she is very clearly NOT a good candidate for this surgery because she knows she won't stick to the rules and would snack her weight back on. She also knows someone who nearly died having it, so she'll just be one of the people you see. But my mom is happy and healthy in her life, so don't wish this on her Just take care of yourself.

I don't want you to blow it, but I will say this...my preop diet was stay below 40 carbs a day. Easy stuff. If you are going to "blow it" than consider doing that with a HEALTHY low carb meal. A gorgeous steak and a salad or something verses eating high carbs or high fats. Its really important that your liver be in good shape for the surgery. I had complications (not liver) and when you have them with this surgery they get bad very fast, like dead bad, so if you break do it wisely with healthy food, not krispy creams or something. My comment about your future challenges is because you used the word binge. THat's not the same as missing a meal and wanting to chew. It's a difficult psychological problem that needs to be addressed because even after surgery you can binge...maybe not with such large amounts, but you can blow it and endanger your life. You really want to get your head around that food issue ASAP to be successful long term.

LOL I'm already on carbonation...but i save that for champagne heh heh No the stricture thing isn't helpful here. Basically if you think of how our stomach is left the size of a sharpee marker (ish) my suture line ended up half rotted out, and I have a small (short) stomach anyhoo, so I lost even more. What is left isn't stretchable...it's just very small. Ironic...I"ll end up on the cheeto's and m&m's diet to gain weight in the end (eyes rolling).

I've always heard I do the tongue thing well heh heh You do the : and then without a space do a little p (so those two together) and that turns into a smartie pants tongue thing

I think the dress or the cream top. It depends on the formality of the event. Is it at a fancy place or is it casual. You look lovely in the blue but it screams day out doing nothing to me verses dressing for a party. Grandma deserves to have you dress up for her I'm a black tights girl myself, but when I wear capris with heels I actually wear black hose verses tights or no hose. I think the hose and shoes dress the outfit up where as the tights make it less formal. I am deeply in love with booties right now though, and wear those with tights all the time Anything you choose will be good. I like that you have chosen attractive clothing that isn't hoochie mamma, which we see here FAR TOO OFTEN after people have lost weight! You show it nicely without showing it all! That takes a lady

I wish a sleeve could be stretched. My stomach was so badly damaged by the complications that my restriction is significant. So much so that I am now facing needing to supplement my calorie basis for life due to the restriction. If drinking a few soda's could fix that you betcha I would be doing so. That just isn't the case.

This will be worse after surgery so now if the time to get your head wrapped around your food issues and find a way to vanquish them. Find an over eaters anon group or something...call a doc, do something but remember, it does not really get easier from here. They only do surgery on your body, not your brain.

I have many regrets and wish I'd never have done this. I am likely to be one of the people who can't stop losing weight because my stomach was so badly damaged by the complications. I will never be able to eat more than half a cup of food most likely and will need to supplement my calorie basis medically for life. In addition my lungs were badly damaged and will take years to recover. My son is afraid if I go to a doctor they will not let me come home again. He hangs on me and worries constantly that I will leave for a long time again. It was so not worth it! And that doesn't even take into account the level of pain I dealt with for two months...worse that I could ever imagine. Worse than most can. But the personal stuff pales in comparison to what it did to my family. I have many regrets. It's not all sunshine and roses for all of us, and when it does go bad, it's not just "a little" bad...it's life threatening.

OMG Mine was hell! Chardonnay for Breakfast, Pinot Gris for a snack, Cabernet for dinner...it went on and on and after the first several meals the days seemed to run together in a bit of a fog... Oh wait, I was just told to stay under 40 carbs a day...I "chose" to make those wine based Really....hugs! I was one of the lucky ones, with an easy preop, but my post opp was hell. Maybe a stricter preop program and a great surgeon along with that would have been a better option!!! And by the way, you can have 8 glasses of wine and stay under 40 carbs Not that I know stuff like that...but umm just saying....

Just a note from an employer. After having this surgery I am one of those evil employers who want to see a significant validation for this surgery, like the five year rule, and no surgeries for low BMI without comorbidities. From a financial view point, this surgery cost my company half a million dollars. I certainly don't want to encourage that kind of risk financially for any company, but more importantly, it nearly killed me. This surgery needs to be carefully considered before the step is taken. It's not for short term weight issues, nor low BMI nor lack of comorbidities. It's far to drastic for that. I know that sucks, but that's reality and if it keeps someone from going through what I did, I would feel nothing had been done wrong in having those restrictions.

I guess I never made it back Life has been crazy lately. So I guess I just want to say this. Read Sannah's story (Leak is the thread title I believe). Her heart has been damaged because of complications. Yup she's lost weight, and lost a well functioning heart, her gallbladder may have to be removed and she's still having other issues. My lungs are damaged which will take years to repair themselves. And as it turns out the leak damaged my stomach tissue so much that I may never get over being able to eat half a cup of food at a time. This means that I will have to take medically approved supplements to my calorie basis or I won't stop losing weight ever. I may never have the capacity to take in a balanced diet. I didn't die, but was close. I had a full life, socially active, good friends, etc, I was just overweight. For this stupid surgery I nearly threw it all away. My son almost lost his mom. My husband his wife. Half a million in medical bills...no comorbidities, no risk factors, this was to be easy peasy.....I would not do this if you have no other issues. The risks are not worth the reward of wearing smaller jeans. Get off your butt and start moving. Think of what the options are....that's an easy fix in comparison to what others have to go through to live through this surgery.

Basically when you are on liquids it is like a baby...liquid in, liquid out. The constipation from pain meds varies (they don't cause me that issue and I was on them for quite some time). For me, I was on liquids or IV TPN for a couple of months and I lived that liquid in saying for all of that time. Then you start on solids but you're not able to get in enough fiber (not a balanced diet) and a lot of Protein which causes the opposite effect. I take a daily colace tablet at night before bed and am not bothered by either problem, but until I can eat a better diet it's part of my daily routine. Some people take miralax daily, or fiber pills, but early out you can't take the fiber pills and for me miralax works FAR TOO WELL if you get what I mean LOL My doc recommends the stool softener approach (colace or other store brand) because it's easier on your body, but your doctor might have another idea. I'd suggest chatting with them about it, but also stocking up on the colace

i was in alaska last night...you missed a great party

because you can no longer eat a balanced diet. there isnt anything you can do aside from knowing its an issue and maybe starting colace regularly until you can eat a balanced diet....MONTHS out.

I just caught up on everything Sannah. I was so happy to read of your great recovery continuing and then heart broken to hear you hit another bump (such a nice phrase for sheer hell...but that's what people like to say.....I used to think "bump???? It's a fricking sink hole you ididt" but I never said it). I hope your labs had some encouraging news. No opening of the leak though and no new ones (that's rare...really rare) so that's good. But dang girlfriend, another night away from your baby That's sad and frustrating. I will be traveling again this weekend (DH and I are taking turns in alaska LOL...never at the same time though) but hope to read something like "I feel better" from you when I return! Hugs dear.

At your local pharmacy (CVS etc) there is a spray that is used to remove bandage residue. It's medically stable (so safe around wounds) and won't sting or dry out your skin like rubbing alcohol will. I can't remember the name but we used it constantly on our baby when he had a feeding tube. It never damaged his tender skin. I always have some around...it's great on price tags Peanut Butter works as well but I wouldn't use it near a wound.

Being afraid is healthy and normal. Honestly those who say "do it all right and it will be fine" are the people who will likely be a mess if they do have complications because they aren't prepared. Use your fears to educate yourself. Write down each fear and then research what you can do about it. If it's a leak, look up symptoms so that if you have them you can be proactive and get help right away. Delay is what kills with leaks. It nearly killed me. Don't trust your doctor to know what's wrong. If you have symptoms and they feel you're fine, insist on a barium swallow anyway. This could have saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars...but more importantly, saved me from intense pain...more than I can ever explain. If you fear strictures than look up those symptoms...again know what they are and listen to your body. REport any concerns and insist they be checked out. Check out your doctor and the hospital you will be at (and for gods sake do this at a hospital...I went to a day surgery center...COE and all...it was a mistake as they couldn't treat the bleeding properly). Know who your doctor is, your anesthesiologist, your nurses...ask about them all and their credentials. As your doctor how they deal with a leak or a stricture. Ask for SPECIFICS and ask about early leaks and late leaks. Ask how many they have dealt with and the outcomes. A doctor who is good will be frank with you. I wish I'd have done this! Have a network in place so that if you aren't a quick healer you can take the time you need to heal properly. Think about things...lifting a basket of laundry or vacuuming should be avoided for six weeks. Don't shop and carry heavy bags...don't over exercise and for gods sake after surgery follow your doctors orders! Be smart so you heal well Fear complications. With this surgery they are BAD. It's normal and right to feel those fears, but use that fear to lead you down the path to a great recovery and worst case...know that leaks or strictures caught early on are not nearly as bad as those that are left too long. Those are what kill, or severely damage your life. Knowing about them...everything you can learn will help you move forward and face those concerns. Knowledge is always the key!

I wasn't sleeved when pregnant but wanted to just share some "reality" with you on being over 40 and pregnant. First...I got naturally pregnant at 42 and 45. I had the first baby as a preemie (eclampsia) and only lost the second because of an accident not under my control. She would have been fine if I hadn't been hurt badly. I then went into fertility treatments because the clock was ticking. I found that I could get pregnant but not hold onto the pregnancy and after losing six more gave up on it. That said, remember I had two healthy ones up until the age 45. I would advise that prior to trying you go in and see a good AR specialist. Mine was a nurse (she's a dear friend of mine) and she put me on some medication that made my period timing spot on so that when we were ready we would be a leg up on that. Those can take a couple of months to work so it's nice to start early. You could do this while losing weight. The other thing we did early was to start monitoring hormone levels. That's another valuable thing to do in advance. Make sure your thyroid is all good, estrogen, etc. That way if you do get pregnant you can start on any necessary hormone therapy right away verses waiting til there are signs of trouble (which is common over 40 and much much more so each and every year past that). I don't know how you feel about a pregnancy with a special needs child so I'll just share my choices. They're a fact of life after forty and increase significantly again each year after that. At 45 I was something like a 70% chance of Down's syndrome so with each pregnancy we had genetic testing early on in the pregnancy (and then while they were embryo's). The risks are very low and you then have a chance to either "fix" an issue if possible or to prepare yourself for your future path, either with or without continuing the pregnancy. We wouldn't have continued one ourselves, but for those who do, knowing in advance what you need to do is very valuable! Pregnancy after 40 is harder to achieve successfully...that's just a fact of life, but it is possible for many women. I wish you the best at achieving your dream!

I guess what i meant is you are being very realistic, conservative even. I bet you lose more but the goal you have set is a VERY realistic goal for weight loss so she should be...if anything...chewing you out for being too conservative verses not conservative enough.