iggychic

Keep beating yourself up. If you can't manage to stick to just two weeks the next several months are going to be too hard for you.

I had mine done in Washington state for a total cost of right about $20,000 (insurance only covered a couple of nut visits and the psyc exam so it wasn't the flat 20 grand that was normal for the doc). I would never have left the country for surgery, but completely understand why people do. I don't leave the country because I can't risk bringing stuff home to my little boy. But given how horrible my care was, you couldn't do much worse anywhere LOL (and I researched my doc, it was a bariatric center of excellence etc). It sounds like you have a great option close by for a great price.

Laura I agree that diets can differ. But tell me how many diet programs that you've seen have a sandwich (PBJ as well as Cheese) within the first two weeks? Not to mention the chips and chicken nuggets...but bread is NEVER allowed that early out because it can swell and cause leaks. And for those who feel a staple can't loosen because it's titanium....Ya they probably don't break in half or even stretch, the staples, but your freshly cut tissue does stretch and tear very easily. A leak isn't because staples didn't hold (unless done improperly which is unlikely) it's the tissue pulling away from the suture line and tearing a small opening that is the issue. The other issue is of course infection caused by foods that get stuck in a freshly sutured stomach like corn etc. Which is why we aren't allowed to have that early out. Skins are a real risk to a recently sutured stomach.

I'm not sure you're fine but I'm glad you are on the straight and narrow now. When you have a leak you don't get instant symptoms. That only happens as organs start to shut down or begin getting damaged. It does not matter if you ate a lot or a little, one bite can do it. So now you just have to closely listen to your body. If you develop a low grade (or higher) fever, left shoulder pain, nausea, weakness, heart racing, shortness of breath, any one of these symptoms, you need to get tested right away. Do not delay, don't come here for medical advice, and call your surgeon asap. You might consider meeting with your nut as soon as the snow clears because it sounds like you went into this and left surgery woefully uninformed. I don't want to see that you've wasted your money and risked your life only to come out of surgery chowing on carbs and inappropriate foods. Hopefully all is well, but listen to your body. You might be fine, you might not. What's done is done. Don't do it again

My doc said two months, but not one single drop until then as you are still healing. You will have many more birthdays and many opportunities to have a glass of wine. Having one prior to fully healing isn't a great option.

Sannah, I'm sorry you are having med issues. I am hoping that when you get to meet with the specialist that they'll get you more leveled out. Heart issues are so scary! People often don't understand how dangerous a leak is. It's not what it does to your stomach...it's all the poison it sends out in your body and what it does to the other organs that really causes the danger. The "leak" didn't take me near death...it was the shutdown of my lungs. That's why I have to stay away from all of the "can I have crab legs and walnuts on day three" questions because they make me rather mad. To risk this kind of pain...it's beyond ridiculous! And then the people who don't do that...us here, we don't deserve it LOL it's not fair! Hold onto that feeling that you are coming back...that you are going to be ok! I know that when it finally hit me it was amazing. Even though I had a few setbacks after finding it, I still did better emotionally and physically once I realized this wasn't going to kill me. Argh.....my costumes. I got about a dozen done yesterday and lots of accessories. The twinkies (you all remember the dancing twinkies in the wiz of oz right?) are all done as are the trees and the two good witches. Just 18 or so to go....argh I'm flying off to alaska on Sunday through Tuesday to do some design work for the company, which takes me away from costume land. I'm almost glad LOL I'm sick of costumes! Sannah your darling is a red head!!!! A beautiful one at that My dear heart is as well. Curly red hair (which you can see in the first pic where is he showing me he lost a tooth...that was sent to me when I was in hospital) then the second is him steering a big schooner this summer. Sannah does your blood pressure fluctuate when you take pain meds? I know mine would tank dangerously low with every dose so they were very conservative until they realized while it appeared low I didn't have any bad symptoms. As soon as it wore off my bp would go back up. I know they can effect people in the opposite way as well and just wondered if that was an issue as I think you're still on some aren't you? Keep your chin up darling. We are here for you. I'm glad it helps to talk. People were very good to me when I was at my worst here, which is why I try to talk with folks like you and liz and others who are going through the same thing. It's such a different road than others take and people who have an easy surgery just don't get how bad that road is quite often. I know they sympathize, but I'll never forget a pm I got from another leak victim who experienced much of what I did. She told me about her deepest worst moments and told me to keep my chin up She said she had reached the "I wish I'd just die" moment more than once. It's not hard to get there when they're hurting you so much to heal you I never got there, but I did get to the "I wish I didn't have to stay alive to be there for my son" moment....he kept me going I had to get through this to be there for him. You need to do the same. Use her strength if you can't find your own. Those kiddo's are powerful things!

Sannah you keep getting bad news, but the good thing is you are finding out the news...which means you can deal with it verses being kept in the dark as you have been. I'm SO GLAD you are changing docs. I wanted to make you do that LOL but that's hard on the net Your relationship with your physician isn't healthy right now. You have no trust, and well I won't talk about her...but the change is good. And I'm so glad you are seeing the cardiologist. You need to get to the bottom of this stuff. As to my guy...he's rarely sick now. We were told he would likely grow out of his syndrome by the time he's about 9. The testing is pretty intensive for him so we won't do that until he's 9 but we know he's getting better each year He's a happy little monster now, not the sick little monster he was years ago How's your dear daughter dealing with this? Can you cuddle with her much (he spent evenings in my bed when I was really sick). Those little touches mean so much don't they? We are all going to get through this. I thought I might not Sannah...you have probably had your moments as well I'd guess, but let's walk the road together and get you on the other side of the healthy tracks ok? You are making steps in the right direction. I knew I was getting better Sannah when I demanded better care! That takes energy and you're starting to feel it, even if just enough to be grumpy about things It's a step in the right direction!!!!

Love, I did not have any eating issues (ie emotional, etc) I was just like you, snacked a lot and on high carb crap. I also did not eat huge amounts, never have, but I could eat more than I can now. I used to go out a few times a week and we'd likely share an appetizer, have a small salad, which I might eat half of, have a meal, which I normally didn't finish but ate 2/3 of and often had a bite or two of dessert, oh did I mention with wine? For each course? Ya, I drank calories too Good calories LOL I like wine When DH is out of town (our main home cook) I ate cheese and crackers, premade meals, etc. Highly processed. I also ate MacDonalds on occasion, maybe half a fries and a small burger or fish sandwich with a diet soda, not seven of them, But those calories really add up! So after the sleeve I have to say, those foods have zero interest for me, and while volume wasn't a huge issue, volume goes down significantly anyhoo after surgery. I'm four months out and only eat half a cup of food at a time MAX! Processed foods sit on my tummy like a horrible rock and while I can drink wine, I can't drink as much as I used to because I drink much slower so from three glasses at a meal/social event is down to one, maybe two (I don't get drunk easily like many do though...that varies). I couldn't drink a high fat latte if my life depended on it and sugar is uncomfortable. I can eat perhaps a tablespoon of icecream or a bite of a dessert, never a whole one. So the surgery does change how you eat and what you eat. As I progress further out I do find that now is the time to watch myself. I was eating beef Jerky as a quick Protein on the go, but it goes down too easily and I tend to want to nibble on it all day, which is a habit I won't pick back up so I've gotten into measuring it and eating it all at a "meal" verses a bite here and there. I do monitor every bite on MFP and while I do eat and drink mostly what I want, I make sure it fits in my daily goals, so you do have to do some work as well Mindset changes as you mentioned. So all of the above said, the surgery will likely help you out, and I think it's easier for those of us who don't eat huge amounts because we tend not to push the sleeve causing vomiting and sliming which I never have. But, I also had major complications and nearly died having this surgery not to mention half a mill in medical bills for an elective surgery, so I personally don't recommend it if you don't have comorbidity issues and you could do anything else to change your life. I shouldn't have had it but you can't turn back the clock so here I sit. Just my opinion Best of luck whatever you do!

i guess at 50 I qualify and I have talked about this surgery with my mother who is 70. I would be HORRIFIED to see her have this done to her, particularly if she was such a low BMI. I don't even have words for this. The risks are NOT worth the rewards at my age, let alone yours. Love your family and live your life with some normalcy.

I had my surgery at a day clinic in the US. They were unable to do blood transfusions and couldn't handle the complications I had so instead I suffered immensely and nearly died. I would NEVER recommend having this anywhere else but a hospital! (or the option below of going right to one after surgery, but even that would scare me....I went through hell waiting for them to send me to a hospital).

I had my second surgery around then (I am not sure when it was actually) and am down 50. I have lots of long stalls...weeks worth where I lose nothing then a little drop, then nothing. But I track my food and make sure I"m under 800 calories daily and around or below 50 carbs. It will come off eventually. I had less to lose so that slows me down as well. But in time...for both of us, it will come off if we stick to the program.

I thought the inventor of the segway drove himself off a cliff in Dover or something? Perhaps that would have been better than inventing this....

At sixteen months my son spent most of his time in hospital. He had aversions to things like changing tables (too much like the blood draw table), malls (too much like a hospital) and even his dad's office. This lasted for several years but after he was about five it gradually went away (he also quit spending large amounts of time in hospital at age 3 1/2). He does not remember hospital much except he says on occasion that he "always wanted one of those" when he sees an electric wheelchair (the kids used to race them LOL). I think he now just says it cuz he always has and doesn't remember why. She'll never remember all of this Sannah. And it's nice that grandma is there to fill in where you need her. That's special for grandma and her really I was sad to read you were having issues and very happy to see that things have improved over the day. I really wish you'd get a second opinion hun. This is going on too long!

I had major complications which were very difficult for me and my family so yes, I have many regrets. Yes I've lost weight but IMO it wasn't worth the risks I took with my life. I was going to keep quiet about it but as the date approached I was finding I had to tell people or get lost in a web of lies, which I wasn't going to do. I am so thankful I told my friends because I was literally bedridden for two months and their help was beyond beneficial to our family. I think if I'd have not told them they would have been terribly hurt to find out after the fact because of a long hospitalization. They were all very supportive even though they noted their fears and concerns. I think it's unfair for me to say they couldn't voice those, as they are my friends and I care what they think. No one was super negative, but the worry was evident, and as it turned out, they were right! So had I booted them out the door for voicing those concerns I'd have looked pretty stupid My friends and family didn't think I should do this. They didn't think I needed it, and they were right. But they also held my hand when I was in pain and hugged my baby when I couldn't. I regret the surgery, but I will never regret that I shared what I was doing with them. They made a hard road much easier. I knew if I didn't make it home my husband and son wouldn't be alone. That means a lot and says a lot when you're sick.

Devils advocate...or is that gemini's advocate I think what she was saying is that it becomes challenging to make excuses verses just saying whatever it is you need to say. I personally wasn't going to tell anyone that I was having surgery but as the dates got closer I was finding that in order to keep it a secret I was going to need to lie to my friends more and more as I couldn't do some of the things I normally would have with them (ie dinners etc). I did the "we're busy" a couple of times, but it was going to turn out looking like we just didn't like people or we were going to need to lie like a sheet, which I didn't feel comfortable with. That said, at a meal you can say you're just not that hungry, etc (which is true) when it's a situation you don't want to share in. But I was recently in a situation like that and I still found that saying "I literally can't eat that because of a recent surgery" was much easier than mousing around the subject as food was passed. In this case they were all recent acquaintances and likely are people I'll never see again (aside from a couple) but I still found it easier to say what was up verses fibbing my way around the subject. When it's multiple meals with the same people you can't really get away with the "not hungry" thing more than once or twice. I'm looking forward to the day when I'm able to eat a reasonable amount (ie a cup) so I can eat a bit more normally in social settings. At my work everyone knows I had the surgery, so it's not an issue, but I'm also the boss so that helps I totally get someone not wanting to share too much in those circumstances. It's a hard road early out and both ways have their merits. I'd just say that sticking to phrases that aren't lies is going to be easier than saying "I've got the flu" or something similar. But one thing I wouldn't do...is worry about portion sizes (ie the fish issue). I would stick to whatever I am able to normally eat and not push it because to do so might end up with you barfing up your pretty fish which would be a lot worse than just eating a bit less! I personally find that the way something is cooked makes a huge difference in how much I can eat. Overdone salmon...I can eat a bite and know it's not going to sit well, but cooked perfectly...I can eat a decent amount. So to plan to eat a certain amount would be difficult for me unless I really knew the restaurant.

I'm not understanding the question given what you say you're eating? What are you eating that's "fat"?

Actually Stef, for just this once I have to disagree with you. I find denser fish (halibut in particular) much harder to eat than salmon or rock fish or even cod. Then if you go with cheeks, gad that's like eating scallops and I might get one down. For halibut I tend to have about an ounce to an ounce and a half, but for salmon I can eat three if it's moist (cooked correctly).

I'll reply later in depth but I have a meeting to head to so I want to be quick. Sannah....if your beautiful baby were a young lady and a doctor made her feel stupid what would you tell her to do? I would be surprised to read that you would let her sweat it out and torture herself over it...I think you'd say "darling, no one should make you feel stupid, especially with everything you are going through" wouldn't you????? You're not my daughter (If you were you'd be dressed up in enough pink and purple tulle and ribbons to make yourself dizzy...but that's a mom of a son's imagination talking...) umm anyhoo, you aren't my daughter so I'll just smack you lightly upside the head and say "Girlfriend, I know you talk to bananas, but you're not stupid! You're just goofy and NO ONE should be talking to you as if you are, let alone actually tell you to your face that you are!!!!!!!" NO ONE!!!! The best move I made was to fire my ever so nice doctor and move on to another doctor. Fresh eyes are so important when you go through such an all consuming medical disaster like this. I don't think you'll regret the move darling and you might just end up being very thankful, as I am, about making that kind of a move! But don't call them on the banana....they're typically wire tapped

I was low bmi and like you I was doing this mainly for vanity reasons. I wanted to look better and do it the easy way, not to mention permanent way most likely. I had zero risk factors and paid cash for the surgery here in the US. I had massive bleeding on the operating table that lead to a leak. I was hospitalized several times, several ambulance rides, visits with the Chaplin about the end of my life twice and was completely unable to care for my son or myself for two months. My lungs are damaged now, I have a risk of hepatitis from the blood transfusions, I got blood clots, went through unimaginable pain several times, had two surgeries, all to look better in jeans. There is a reason that insurance companies don't pay for this surgery with low bmi people, because it's risky and it might kill you. My twenty grand surgery turned into half a million give or take a few bucks. I was hospitalized for several weeks. It was hell. I'd like to see that it's not legal to even have this surgery if you don't have a reason to take the risks (ie comorbidities or high bmi) but fortunately for many who want to look good in jeans, I'm not a law maker. I would advise you to do anything else before you take a step as drastic as having 3/4 of a vital organ removed. I almost lost my entire stomach due to the complications....wouldn't a feeding tube for life be a hoot? This surgery is becoming more and more popular with lower and lower bmi folks doing it for vanity reasons. Having an organ ripped apart to be pretty makes very little sense IMO. To be fair, I've lost weight...but if I had known then what I know now, the toll it would take on my family and myself....no I wouldn't say it was worth it. I should have joined a gym, or done the band (which has a high success rate if you don't have an eating disorder, which I don't). While complications are supposedly rare (there are an awful lot of people who are going through them now on here) they are significant and long lasting. They don't fix you in a week and you go back to life. The fixes are very painful, long to take effect, and then you have to hope you don't lose another organ in the process. My opinion mind you and whatever you do I wish you the best, but don't go into this thinking it's going to be a simple surgery and an easy process. It could be devastating.