Valentina

You just answered one of my questions-----Ablilify is usually given in combination with another med---for you it is Paxil. Ablilify is seldomed prescribed solo. Perhaps a serious sit down to discuss a new "cocktail". ---and keep at it until you find the cocktail that works for YOU. Now before I go any further,---Welcome back! You've been missed. Welcome "home". I went totally off track when my SO committed suicide the morning of my WLS. After four years of therapy, I restarted from scratch. I made appointments with: my bariatric surgeon, my Nut, my bariatric therapist, my gym/pool consultant and of course BP itself. I found that my sleeve is still viable---just waiting for me to "rejoin the march". I had to learn to listen to my body, my sleeve's restriction---to work with it---not against it. In concert to my body, I had to rewrap my head around why I had WLS to start with. I had to learn to forgive myself---to care enough about myself to want to try again. It can be done, my friend. It is not easy, but it can be done and is well worth the effort. Just remember that you will not lose weight at the rate you did when you first had WLS. Weight loss is slower, but it is consistent with the effort given. Forward---one step at a time. Again, Welcome back. Post often--letting us know how you are doing. We CARE. We are here and listening. Sometimes, I hope that is enough.

You know what I'm going to say, but I'll say it anyway: Call your bariatric team, Friend. They will know exactly what you can do about leg cramps. Hurt like hell, don't they? Sorry for your pain. There can be several reasons: dehydration low sodium low potassium low magnesium over exertion blah, blah, blah To ease them? (after you've called your team, of course) Hot bath light message stretching exercising "relaxing" that individual muscle---not an easy thing to do. This practice is taught in child birthing classes----any experience???? I know how badly leg cramps hurt. Please, take care of yourself. Yourself is the only "yourself" that you have. Please, post and let us know how you make out. Nosey? yep. Care? sure do!

I was sleeved in June and waited until Christmas the same year. I had brandy in a vanilla Protein shake. It was like a Brandy Alexander---bariatric style! Now, when I want a social drink, I am back to my beloved dirty martinis with three olives. Olives have some nutritional value, right??? That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. If you really want the RIGHT answer for YOU----ask your surgeon. Sit down with him/her and have a serious conversation about when/if it will be OK for YOU to have alcohol. Remember, some of the answers you might get on an internet site are just "smoke and mirrors"----not real.--just posted for "shock value". Be forewarned, Friend. Want the right answer to any serious question? ASK YOUR TEAM.

Yes, you are normal---well in this incident anyway. Your body isn't awake yet from general anesthia. You just had a serious surgery that your body may take 6 months to "normalize". Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Rest, sip, walk, sip and then......REPEAT. (don't forget a bit of peeing and pooing ) Your journey will get better. I promise.

You know what I'm going to suggest-----CALL YOUR BARIATRIC TEAM!! Enough is enough, don't you think, Friend. 26 days out and your are this ill?? Call your team and GET SEEN. FEEL BETTER!!! Post back and let us know how you are doing and what your team said and did. We care, really we do.

Can you get ahold of the physican on call? The itching around your incisions could also be thrush? Itching and the scratching that follows can do real damage to your skin. Your team really failed you today. I would consider going to the ER. Thrush is nasty and can spread and worsen. If your ER is an associate of your bariatric team I would certainly have them document your turmoil of this day. Good luck and please post and let us know how you made out. Feel better, friend.

Welcome, Ryan. It's refreshing to read a posting from a new member who is having a wonderful experience with their WLS journey from the "get go". So many first posts are unfortunately from folks who are struggling. Keep posting---not only when the good times are rolling, but in the rare occasion when you might hit a bump in the road----I know---not going to have any bumps, right? Again, Welcome!

Great post. Thank you. I can't wait to get back into the Water. I was pulled from the pool last May when my back became unstable, but just as soon as these last two drains come out and all of the sutures removed----I'M HEADING FOR THE WATER!!! ---just like an old goose.

Congrats on your joyful and successful journey so far. From time to time our bodies need a breather to catch up with what our brains are telling them to do. After so many years of eating "x" amount of calories everyday, and now all of a sudden----WHOA!! Your body is just can't keep up with the change that your brain is swirling at it. Keep with your regimen. Be patient. Your "sand is shifting". Have you noticed your clothes fitting a bit looser? Are you breathing a wee bit easier. There are many stages of WLS. You know that If you insist on being a worrier, call your bariatric team and make an appointment to brainstorm with your Nut. Perhaps some tweaking is in order. You are doing a "Maaaavelous job, Daaaaling".

Now I share my experience with anyone who asks---up front and factual. You know as well as I that a group of friends who as a group, want "information" about a "secret" that another friend is keeping from them, they will walk through a bed of hot coals to find out the "nitty gritty". Worried about FB and /or any social media? It's all "smoke and mirrors", my friend. ---all nothing but "smoke and mirrors". Don't worry yourself about somethings or somebodies who are not really real at all. Enjoy your decision, whatever it is. It is yours to make.

As our bodies change, so do our tolerances and intolerances. Allergies can come or go at any time our bodies are changing. If YOU didn't recognize your body's allergic reactions , how would ER doctors know? Unless you were lucky enough to see a doctor that you've seen before, ER doctors are professionals that you probably will only come in contact with once. Their main objective is to "stabilize and ship". They are to treat your acute symptoms and then once stabilized, transfer your care. Have you been seen by an allergist? Do you have an appointment to see one soon?? They will be able to "allergy test" you and pinpoint exactly what is causing your reactions. I am extremely allergic to anything containing SOY. Over the years I have had to be intubated in an ER several times. Not so much in recent years because I have learned to read EVERY label because the damned cursed stuff is in EVERYTHING---even tuna fish (except solid albacore). ---And soy is the base for many anesthias. Makes surgery a wee bit tricky. Anyway, I guess I'm suggesting that taking a deep breath and not be quite so quick to "blame" ER doctors for not diagnosing your allergies. Give 'em a break. Now that you know you have an allergy, the ball is in YOUR court----go have your allergy pinpointed and then listed on all of your medical records. If need be, you should carry an " EPIPEN" so you can self inject Epinephrine when you feel a reaction coming on. Feel better, friend. You know what's wrong. Now you can get a handle on it. All will be well.

I would probably do the same, BUT after I had a face to face with my surgeon. He/she needs to know how you feel, hopefully so they can delvelope a "plan of correction", and YOU need to vent your frustrations.

And when you keep losing and losing and losing? Do you tell them that you were mistaken. They weren't crabs. They were piranhas????

It would be so entertaining to give out about 14 completely preposterous stories like you are taking tums with Coronas and radishes, the Mexico Water diet that makes you poop everything out at an alarming rate, that you combined the raw and the Adkins diet and now you eat nothing but raw meat or you could always claim that you volunteered to by probed by aliens. Oh no! I actually do love eating raw meat and have dreams about alien probing...

Thank you, Friend. One day at a time. I'm sure I'll be less cranky when I heal from this skin removal surgery. This surgery is a tough one. But, I'll get there.

That has always been a tough question for me. Of course I regret with every cell in my body, John's suicide the morning of my WLS. I miss him every day. But the surgery itself? No. I can not honestly say that I regret having the surgery. I needed it to stop my weight from destroying my spine and knees. My regret is that I never could get John to understand how having the surgery would only benefit our life together. My advice? Be sure that you are strong enough to have WLS ALONE, because we never know what tomorrow will bring or who might be taken from us. I realize that my journey is different and extreme. I wish you all a joyful WLS journey. It really can be. It's taken me five years, but now my journey is also a joyful one.

Ask yourself, "Who am I having this surgery for? --for "them" or for "me"? " It's tough and it's disappointing to find out such nonsupport at this time, but you HAVE to be strong enough to have this surgery FOR YOU, and YOU ALONE. Will your "friend" come around? Who knows? Whether that person is who you consider a "friend" that you want in your life is a decision for another day. For tomorrow? GO FORWARD, my friend. FOREVER---FORWARD.

Double dirty with THREE olives--no more/no less! Then---I'm in!

So true. Does anything smell better than home made chicken Soup simmering on the stove??? Yum!

Time to "Daddy up"? Afraid of looking foolish? Ha! Believe me, my friend, looking foolish to our children ranks right up there with the ability to embarrass them at the drop of a hat. Those ships sailed long time ago. When I was raising my two daughters alone, I always found that actions speak "their" language, where as words are as effective as spitting into the wind. I remember one incident when my eldest absolutely refused to put her clean clothes into her dresser. She just lived out of her laundry basket. I had asked her again and again and again. I finally had "spoken" to her for the last time about putting her clothes away. The next day when the school bus pulled up in front of our house, there hanging in the two Locus trees in the front yard were All of her bras and panties! Ya know? I never had to ask her to put her clean clothes away again. Why am I telling you this? --just to say that she knows. You don't have to point out the elephant in the room. You're actions will save the day. How about a quiet dinner, or just meeting for a cup of tea or whatever? I'm sure she will ask you "how are you, Dad?". There's your opening, my friend. You can explain to her how your WLS decision has changed your life for the better, and how you consider having WLS a life saver, etc. You know---the truth. Then: Take her hand and say, "If there is EVER a time when YOU decide that you want to talk about having WLS, it would make me the happiest Dad in the world if you would include me in your conversations. I am here for you now, whenever and forever." "A son is a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter for the rest of her life." I would just let her know that you are here for her---when SHE is ready. My opinion, my friend. I hope it helps you, Dear Ol' Dad.

I've always found that the easiest way to get co-workers "poking and prodding" into your personal business is to NOT answer their questions. Doing so makes finding "the nitty gritty" details a fun challenge for the "gossip mongers" who thrive in every workplace. I've just answered each question as factual and to the point and "dry" as possible. Doing so, I have found takes all of the fun out of finding out "the real truth". Having WLS was my decision. So what? I'm not ashamed of it, so why keep it a secret?(my opinion). Some one want a question answered, ask and I will give an honest and direct answer. That ends the "I know The REAL story about Valentina's sudden weight loss. She had an abortion and now has CA because God is angry with her", bullsh*t. Facts stops that nonsense every time. Facts are soo uninteresting. On this day, the above is my personal opinion.

Have you discussed your concerns, depth of anxiety, fears and depression honestly with your therapists? What are their opinions ? Do they think you should wait until you are more "comfortable"? You're right. WLS is not easy. It is a physical and emotional rollercoaster from the get-go. My suggestion? I would have a serious sit down with your entire bariatric team and "round robin" the pros and cons. Together, you should be able to answer your concerns. I wish you nothing but the best and for you to be "at peace" with whatever decision you come to. Please post and post often. I am looking forward to following your successful WLS journey.--whenever it happens. You're in my thoughts, Friend.

So, Friend, what are the deciding factors? Why would you postpone your surgery? I'll help if I can. If I can't I'm positive that there is some member who will be able to. --just need a wee bit more info, please. We're here and we're listening.

There is much research, reading, watching, discussing, listening, and then the whole list repeats and repeats and... in your near future. There will always be "road blocks" if you're looking for them. The idea is to "overcome" and/or work through the road blocks. The first thing to do is to find a bariatric team whose mindset is the same as yours. These are the folks who will be your new "closest friends" for the foreseeable future. Take one concern at a time. Research it until you are satisfied with the outcome. Then move on to the next. As far as coffee/caffeine? It was never forbidden to me. Never/ever. I worked with my surgeon and my Nut.. Together we came up with a plan that allowed me my coffee. (for every oz. of coffee I drank, I had to have an oz. of water) It worked for me and still is. Don't overwhelm yourself. One step at a time, my friend. One step at a time.