iggychic

I am so lucky. There are some foods we keep around here as staples for the little guy (who has a feeding disorder). Cheetos, Cheeze its, M&M's, Oreo's, gad almost anything bad for you LOL And I really don't like them. I could easily have eaten my weight in Wheat thins prior to surgery (I have to really work at 8 now LOL) but never a cheeze it

Wow, I know people freak out about the stories but they need to be shared. This is the first time I've seen a leak survivor who agrees that it wasn't worth it. And for me it's for all the same reasons. What I did to my family was terrible And you just can't take that back.

I've always worn spanx, even when I was a size 2 previously I wore some sort of spanx like product. I don't exactly hit the gym daily and I like to rein in the jiggle factor as much as reasonable. Typically I wear the high waist tights under cloths. Funny thing though....my danged spanx are getting too big LOL You KNOW you've lost weight when your spanx start slipping down on ya heh heh

Laura smokes crack....ers (Laura I'm kidding...we're ok with that now right?) I can eat 8 wheat thins and I often do that with spreadable cheese (kalualka?) but I can eat so little it does not matter or is that a

Honey can I adopt you? LOL I want a child that grows up as smart as you My complications were rare and you shouldn't expect them, but the fact that you're looking to answer the "what if's" impresses me. I think given you are your own insured, you'll be ok and your parents won't be on the hook legally (morally...if my child died during a surgery would I cover it?????? probably) but again that's a conversation for your family to have. I just like reading your thought process. It's responsible and tells me you'll do well with this. You are a 40 plus bmi with one comorbidity...you should be covered hun. I was 35ish with none and while I'd like to make it not legal for people like me to have the surgery, (and no one in my company will because we set the policy) I highly feel that the standards (40 + or 35+2 ) are fair. I hope to hear you find you're covered. If you do end up going MX please think through the process and co insurance because (for instance) my insurance specifically would not allow coverage for anyone who had a non - US elective surgery with complications. We pride ourselves on very high level coverage...so we are very lenient, but that's not something I'd add to our policy if I had the option. You want to differentiate carefully. Anyhoo....are you available for adoption? LOL Ok maybe not, but I wish you the best darling. You sound like your parents have done a lovely job raising a smart young lady I mean that as a compliment

I just had the lecture on calories from my doc...let's see if this makes sense. My fats are too low, calories too low, carbs too low...umm this is so NOT ME lol anyhoo if I pop over 800 I feel I've gone nuts, and that takes three glasses of wine. So 2000? I don't think I could do it actually. This is what started the conversation with doc....he's worried about me doing well in maintenance because I don't hit calorie goals in the weight loss period Who'd a thunk it?

I was self pay in the US and I had severe complications. My total bills were near half a million for the recovery care due to the complications. My insurance does not cover the surgery for low BMI (nor will it ever) so for me this was "elective". But my insurance covers any life threatening medical needs. Fortunately? Ok only for insurance purposes, I did have life threatening medical needs. I went through the ER for all extra visits and was admitted via an ER each time, this makes a difference in our coverage verses having the PCP see me and then send me to the hospital. You're going to want to find out what the specific rules are. There are funny twists, for instance ambulance coverage was 100% for me from the ER and yet if I'd had called them to the house it would have been a minimum $500 per trip. One trip was five hours so that's A LOT of money! Nutrition visits are covered but blood work has to be ordered by my PCP for coverage verses the surgeon. Silly stuff, and in my case I just pay verses using the second (PCP) doctor because we are self insured (so the money comes out of my pocket anyhoo over time) but you need to know the rules inside and out. Like someone said, read the policy and KNOW IT! I didn't read my policy. I went in paying cash and was clear I wasn't going to have any complications as I was low BMI with no comorbidities and no issues with anesthesia....ha I was wrong!!! I wouldn't have been ruined (it would have hurt, but wouldn't have forced us to sell a kid or anything) by having to pay cash if the complications weren't covered, but that's not typically the case so DON'T go in blind for gads sake! As to your parents responsibility. Is your insurance through your parents? They could actually have some responsibility if they insure you, much like a spouse does when their insurance covers you. So you are taking the responsible road by checking that out. Ordinarily they wouldn't be if you are over 21...but that isn't always the case for someone on another person's policy. You'll want to be sure to have that conversation with them. Were you my child I'd be appreciative of how much you're researching this.

She likely had a duoadel switch or a gastric bypass, both of which change how your bodies process alcohol. The sleeve does not do so. Size of stomach isn't an issue, it's how it's processed through. We don't lose function with this surgery.

Mine likely happened because of seizures after the surgery. No guarantee but that's my docs best speculation (not the surgeon who did the sleeve). Vomiting is something you want to try to avoid as it causes the same stress as the seizures I had, but many many many people vomit and don't get leaks. I had seizures over and over and over again for over 24 hours...so constant stress on the suture line. Yes avoid vomiting...that's one of the reasons the doc will push you so hard to stick to a program that eases you back into foods, because stressing the healing process with foods too early can cause vomiting, as can overeating, but honestly one sneeze or vomit isn't going to likely cause you to develop a leak. You don't "feel" when a leak happens. You feel the side effects of the leak days later as the toxic fluids build up in your abdomen stressing your organs, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver...different issues for different leaks. But I can tell you that you DO NOT feel a leak happen. There is no instant ripping of tissue...if there was it would be such a huge failure of your stomach that you would likely be near death in an ER now...ever heard the term "gut shot"? it's a long and painful death because when you break into the stomach in a big way it destroys your body. That isn't what a leak is So don't worry. Listen to your body during the healing process, and yes try not to vomit a lot, but a sneeze won't kill you most likely

i'll elaborate tomorrow more, but for today, I had it done when I had a six year old (who has since turned seven). I had horrific complications and was unable to care for him for two months. If I didn't own my own company I wouldn't have been able to return to work for three too four months. I don't recommend this surgery to many, and definitely would say that for you, it's not the time. I wish I'd have done anything else. I hurt my family doing this and no justification covers more than that this was a vanity surgery I didn't need to have when I had a small child to care for. I like your other views, telling people etc, but I'd wait hun. It's actually not worth it, not at all IMO

Anestesia does as much damage as the danged weight loss and since I had it three times I have to say my beautiful hair is a wreck. I'm seriously thinking of going Michele Obama style just to cut off the horribly damaged stuff and start over. My hair has always been too thick for a cut like that so it might be kind of fun. My losses didn't start until last month so four months or so....and they're bad now but I do have really good family hair genes LOL and yet still...it's bad, though as I said, likely worse from the anesthesia sadly. Fortunately it grows back and likely my arse won't so I'll have to take the trade heh heh

LOL Laura he's all yours

BTW leak symptoms are varied but can include a low grade or higher fever, vomiting, left shoulder pain, shortness of breath, racing heart, weakness, a general malaise (as if you have a flu). Most leaks do not include all of these symptoms, but any warrant a call to your doctor if they take place within six weeks of your surgery.

I'm just getting into a six now and have about 25lbs to go to my weight goal which makes me thing I'm going to be a zero or double zero 8 years ago when I was maintaining 108 I wore a pretty solid 5/6 so I know that the sizes are significantly different now. I'm finding it in both expensive cloths and cheaper ones. My new NYDJ are 6's and I know I'll be down another size or two from there (so I'm buying them on ebay). It's kind of annoying LOL I never had a size goal because it's so random from brand to brand, but I really don't want to end up being a 0/2...that's crazy in my book LOL

WOW Sannah, I take a couple of days off to wallow in the frozen tundra (ok I had work in Alaska) and you go and get all better on me Look at you girlfriend!!!! You're rocking the mashed foods LOL I totally get that fear you have BTW. I was so afraid to progress because I didn't want the leak to open back up or something. I think that's natural and you'll get over it. I actually did ok going to purees, but was scared to death of the next couple of steps. Mind you I had that claw thing in me for six weeks so I was fearing that it would open daily LOL I'll check back later but I must say it's good to read the positive vibes in your posts now darling. Woo Hoo!!! You're gonna make it baby!!!!!

I can't hit send, reply, or edit, etc, any functions if I'm not looking at the ipad in horizon mode. This might not matter to many, but I, like many, use a keypad with my ipad, which requires the ipad to be in landscape mode so I have to take it off the ipad and turn it, hit the button I want, then put it back on the keypad and type then take it back off and hit send.....This is frustrating

Sannah, know that you do not have to post daily. We'll still check back and watch for you. Some days I was just too tired so I get it. And I know they lovely supporters you have here will as well. Just don't leave us too long as we worry. I'm laying in bed in Alaska and the northern lights are giving me a show. I'm so damn tired (I was up at 2am) that I just want to sleep, but hate to miss it LOL You made me cry my dear. The story of the lovely doctor. What a wonderful man. I had this "horrible" nurse. Brusk as all get out. NAGGED me to breath in that damn breathing thing constantly. I yelled at her and told her I was just trying to survive for gods sake (this was right after my first chaplin visit LOL) so to get off my back. (This is not how I am normally LOL). She walked to the door and closed it, then came back and stood over my bed with her arms crossed (wearing a puppy love smock...I can still picture it LOL) and very fiercely said "No body dies on my watch missy. I don't care what those guys say, you're going to stay alive until you do what I ask you to do!" I think I laughed for the first time in weeks She did too, and sat down on my bed and helped me breath in that stupid thing then squeezed my hand and said quietly, "You aren't going to die honey, I won't let you". OK now I'm crying again....damn old woman...I don't even remember her name but she was lovely. I had my son's stuffed dog "Charlie" with me all of the time. He is with all of us when we're sick and when I was being shoved in the ambulance a friend gave it to me. I cried over that stupid dog daily, but he reminded me of my son's need every second of the time I was away. I will always have that dog. Find a memento...I know you're home, but keep something of her with you every second honey. Those kids give us strength we never knew we possessed. You're finding out your strength is much more than you probably thought. I'm impressed by it. I know what it takes to keep it up. You are doing this baby. I know you have good and bad days but you are taking the steps. True baby steps at times honey, but steps! The fact that you are discovering things that happened in hospital means you're well enough to care. I have many blank moments that I learn about here and there from friends I saw and don't remember seeing to things DH says. But you're caring now and filing it all away as you search for the next step forward. My son Sannah is HORSE MAD! I got to go shopping today to pick up a treat because he had a milestone at school today while I was gone. I actually thought of you and your little darling as I was shopping....in a few years Sannah you're going to be standing in front of the "horse" isle at the toy store, because aren't all girls horse mad? and you will be picking up the perfect one for her. Hours of play will follow on your hands and knees...and you'll not be thinking of all of this horror. Your life will be better and this will all have passed! When you're there, think of me and send me a mental smile. Oh and on a lighter note...tooth fairy! Oh yes we do all magic...santa, tooth fairy, Easter bunny....and no we're not religious, but I take the fun from all holidays LOL I think magic is a wonderful part of a childs life and frankly, sneaking into his bedroom to take his tooth and replace it with...whatever you do....is incredibly fun He actually had his first two teeth pulled due to an accident. It was such a sudden thing that I hadn't thought of the fairy and we were staying at a hotel. I'd tipped every red cent on me and had nothing but 20's. He put his head on the pillow and said how excited he was going to be to see what the tooth fairy left...talk about an "awe chit" moment! Alone with a kid just getting over anesthesia I couldn't leave obviously (he was 5) so I called the front desk and they sent up a stuffed bear to which I attached a 20 with a note that said the tooth fairy knew he was going by a train store in the morning and she wanted him to pick out his favorite train. He was so impressed she knew our plans LOL (She is a smartie LOL). The second loss was when I was on a business trip overnight. My darling nanny called and asked what to do....I remembered we had a stuffed toy hidden that I forgot to put out at Christmas (in the wine room where we hide all the kids toys LOL) so she had to creep down the dark steps to the cellar and find that stuffed dog He was entranced. At that point I'd set a horrific standard for the tooth fairy! The third tooth I left a beautiful 1.00 coin in the little silver box he leaves his teeth in and he was happy with it, but asked if the tooth fairy was on a budget LMAO (apparently he's been listening to daddy!). I have stuffed toys in reserve now heh heh Lesson learned...Sannah you never know when they are going to lose a tooth. BE PREPARED and DON'T SET THE BAR TOO HIGH DUE TO LACK OF COINAGE LMAO Smooches darling. You are getting better....one step at a time. We'll all walk it with you hun. All you have to do is fight and that's easy for a mom! Practice for the teen years

See there ya have the diff between my surgery and yours . I had it so I wouldn't be on a diet for the rest of my life (off plan). While I log my foods and wine it is an important part of a lovely meal. Nothing is "off plan" as long as I get in my Protein and take in enough other fluids. I have as glass of wine or two regularly and stay easily below 800 calories daily. Not at four weeks out mind you...but certainly at four months I do and I'm losing weight just fine while I enjoy life.

My doc said never before two months. Picture your arm....now picture you broke it and have a huge suture line down it where they sewed it up.....want to pour rubbing alcohol on it???? Probably not, even at four weeks it's not fully healed so the alcohol is going to hurt that new skin that's forming. That's what you're doing to your poor cut open tummy At four weeks you are not fully healed (it takes a minimum six and up to eight which is why my doc says two months). So skip it tonight. On the "gets drunk easier" thing. I drink wine, not hard alcohol so the results might be different, but I don't get tipsy on one glass of wine. Actually I find if I get even a tiny buzz it goes away very quickly but that takes a couple of large glasses, where as previously two larger glasses of wine would make me a bit happy LOL I don't drink to get drunk so I kind of like that it does not bother me But at four weeks...save it for home later. Also...first glass of wine I had tasted like vinegar and it gave me terrible heart burn. I had actually waited four months or so because of complications and I totally lost my palate. I find that the tannins in some red wines bother me now so I only drink reds that I know are lower in tannins. This sucks because we collect pinot noir.

It will continue to bother you for months because we can't eat a well balanced diet. I take a colace (nightly stool softener) every night and that keeps things moving as they should if you get my drift I'd suggest you buy them in bulk LOL One a night is all it takes.

I was told no abdominal focus for three months but I had complications which required my ribs to be spread and holes cut into my chest so that might be why mine was further out than most. I will say that at four months I went to a Pilates class with a friend which I thoroughly loved because it worked all my focus areas, but the day after I was in so much pain in my rib cage I had to call the doc and ask if I'd screwed anything up. He said to go ahead and continue if I wanted but not to push the abdominal area as hard as I had, and to phase it in, listening to my body. Sore is ok Pain is not.