Valentina

Why are you hiding ANYTHING from your surgeon??? I just do not understand why you would hide information about an issue that you have concerns about? How is she/he supposed to help you if you don't give she/he the information that is needed for that help to happen? Call your bariatric team's office and get the resolution to your issue. You trusted these people with your life, remember?

You should have lost exactly the amount that you lost. Our weight loss journey is a personal one that shouldn't/can't be compared to anyone else's. WLS programs are as different as the individuals who participate in them. From time to time we probably all have had to hit the "reset" button or have deserved a wee bit of a kick in the bum to "re-motivate" . I still believe a chat with your Nut., and you will be "full bore ahead". WLS is not a contest, it is a journey. Relax. Take a deep breath.. You got this! I know it, so I know that YOU know it!

Shouldn't happen. What is going on in our hospitals these days? What happen to "sterile technique"? So sorry. Feel better, my friend.

Did your surgeon say why?? Scar tissue??? what?

yuck! Did the ER folks tell you to drink more?

Can you talk with your Nut. before then? I'm thinking that you might not need a surgeon other than to get acquainted since he/she is new to you (which is a very good thing) . I'm thinking your diet/menu routine needs some tuning up. DO keep your appointment with the surgeon by all means, but I'd advise you to speak with your nutritionist as soon as you can so you can get the train back to full steam! Like " The Little Engine That Could"-----"I think I can. I think I can". You Know you can!

Get back touch with your Bariatric team. They will be able to analyze what's going on with you and your journey. Please, give them a call, make an appointment and come back here and let us know their recommendations. We really care. We're just not familiar enough with your program to be of any real help. We can only generalize. You and your journey probably just need a little "tweaking". You can do this. You already are...

Quest products are my favorite. The numbers are correct for my program and I love the taste of the shake powders, Protein bars, and chips.

This past Monday?--like two days ago? Patience, please. Surgery scheduling is no easy task. It is extremely specialized and intricately difficult. Many surgeons all wanting the ORs at the same times---overlapping surgeries---surgeries that require different times, different teams, different everything. --and everything has to be scheduled to the minute detail. You'll have your surgery. Just pray for patience. It is better to wait another day than having the scheduler make an error in estimating ORs and or surgeons and staff, therefore having to cancel your surgery and reschedule it.

I only had to have a 4 month pre-op regimen, but even so, I would NOT have just gone ahead and scheduled my WLS. It took me that long to do all of the reading, questioning and prepping myself as well as "my world" for what was coming. WLS is life changing. What's the rush? Do your research so you will never have to say, "if I had only...".

"Back in the day" of early of early WLS the mentation change after WLS was a huge concern. That was and is one of the main reasons for the psych evaluation prior to surgery. Many WLS patients were caught off guard, were not aware of, or simply didn't expect their reaction to the "hormonal flushing" that takes place post op. Some became extremely promiscuous were before surgery they were not. One article related that one male post WLS patient remarked that he would, "F***k a snake if he could get low enough". Women were leaving their husbands and children for whoever whispered sweet things into their ears. Still today, the divorce rate for WLS patients far outnumber divorces generally. I believe there ARE definite changes that happen "inside" not only our bodies, but in our brains as well. It is just that now we have more information about what to expect and how best to handle not only hormonal changes, but chemical changes within our heads. Where and how mental health changes effect each of us is greatly individual and personal. Hell, I think we're all crazy! (But I'm OK with that)

Just keep reminding yourself that kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray. YUCK!!

Call your surgeon. Any pain at that level needs to be addressed. Call and then Please, let us know. We really do care. Prayers going up for you.

Ever go to a baby shower where sooner or later, it ALWAYS happens. All of the soon to be mom's friends take turns describing in infinite detail just how her labor and deliver was by far the worst, the bloodiest, the longest, the most excruciatingly painful experience in the history of womanhood. Why so called friends would do that to a young woman facing her first labor and delivery experience has always been a bizarre and dreadful thing to do. Yes, EVERY surgery has its fatalities. My cousin died having her tonsils out many years ago. A friend of mine bled out while delivering her son. No one can give you certainties about your WLS. The odds are by far in your favor, but they are still, "the odds". You have to do the research yourself--for yourself. Talk to your therapist, your clergy, your God and mostly talk with yourself--up front and honestly. If you are truly paralyzed with the idea of having surgery, maybe the time is NOT right for you to have WLS. You will need all of your head, heart and determination to be successful after WLS. You don't need to go into surgery with any doubts. Be sure. Be very sure. We all can give you our thoughts on what worked and/or didn't work for us, but the final decision is YOURS. Prayers going up for you.

My question: What is your bariatric surgeon willing to do for you??? Is he/she going to insist on a doctor to doctor conference call with your insurance company? Remember that most of the time an "approval" or a "denial" is already "templated" for whoever receives your request onto their station/desk--usually not a medical doctor of any kind. Your surgeon can take the easy way out and just accept your self pay offer OR she/he can and should have the facts and figures to stand behind his diagnosis and plan of treatment, then be willing to pick up the phone and "fight" for what he/she thinks is what is in your best interest. That takes the $ out of the equation and replaces it with what is best for YOU. If you truly think that a RNY is not for you, than stand firm and fight---being damned sure your surgeon is willing to do the same. Otherwise, in my opinion, you need a different surgeon. You can always self pay (your words), but here and now, you have the opportunity to do the "right thing". Others following down the same path for years to come will be grateful that you fought the fight not only for yourself, but for them (who probably would not have the privilege of self paying). "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching"

Right now, I am staying with my daughter and her family, so at mealtime, I put a "balanced" meal onto my small plate. I want the boys to see "Granny" eats her veggies. We all should take "one bite" of everything before we decide we don't like something.--just trying to set a good example, I guess.

Feta is my favorite, then any REALLY seriously sharp cheese. I have a woman nearby who makes cheese and stores them in a cave under her root cellar. How cool is that??? As far as cheese being constipating--- here's the plan: Dried prunes dipped into seriously sharp rosemary cheese fondue. Problem solved!!!

I live 1/2 yr in Laurence Harbor. The other 1/2yr I'm up here in the Catskill Mts. of NY.

After I got myself moving, the back ache eased. Whenever I stood still for any length of time, the ol' back would start whining. Moving really helped. Of course, whenever I am surf fishing I feel no pain at all!!! You'll feel better soon--I promise.

The infamous back ache. It was the only post surgery pain I had.

Interesting--very interesting. I re-read it several times and picked up a new "aaahhh-haaaa" moment with each read. Thank you for the posting.

I can't imagine that the aunt and uncle would want to come if they knew you are going to be "post op" for whatever reason. Maybe, "some one" needs to gently tell them that you are have a "procedure" done and would enjoy their visit SOOOO much more later on in the Spring. That would be my "Plan A" suggestion.

For me, "that moment" was when we (fourth graders) were weighed in the front of the class by the school nurse, who announced our weight--having the teacher record it. I was the only one in the class that was "100 and something). EVERYONE else was under 100#. It was then that I felt different. That was the first time I actually remember feeling "ashamed".

Great job on your weight loss journey. That been said, I find that I am reading your posts like I used to watch soap operas when I was home recuperating from spinal surgery--I hated myself for watching them, but watch them I did--every day. I keep waiting for you to wake up from a coma, find out that everything in the few months have been a dream and now you have amnesia! I hope you find happiness in your life--soon. You're far too young to have such drama on an ongoing basis. Best wishes on your WLS journey.