Spatters3

nice :-) I had an unexpected NSV yesterday. My grandson was playing on the kitchen floor and he managed to bunch up the rug in front of the sink. I was at the stove, didn't realize there was a hazard behind me, and backed up to get to the sink. I *almost* went down but was able to catch myself with the counter midway to the floor. My husband was impressed :-) I have hurt myself several times by slipping and not being able to stop myself from falling. Woo hoo!

I think sometimes my tone of love, sympathy, and encouragement gets lost in the ether. I don't like being attacked, tumblersmom. I don't know what you're going through right now but please, cut me some slack. Nothing I said was meant as an insult or an attack. Heck, I know all about spellcheckers too - I was just razzing you about the "riotous". Did you miss the smiley face? Get happy !

Ah, so all you "smokers" didn't have the VSG to get healthy, you just wanted to look better? I'm not self righteous (or "riotous" :-) by a lonnnng shot but hey, even if you just want to look better do you understand that smoking ages your skin and makes you smell bad to most of the rest of the population? Yep, you're right, it is your choice. Write a note to your future self about all the reasons you are still smoking so when you're suffering with cancer or emphezema or are just plain old looking at 40 you can justify your choice.

Please, consider your question carefully. I know the addiction is strong (I smoked for over 30 yrs) but you had 85% of your stomach removed so that you could live a long, happy, healthy, and more active life and now you want to start smoking again? The reason they have you stop smoking is because it interferes with your healing. You won't be totally healed from the operation for another month. After the 3rd day you no longer have a physical addiction to the nicotine. It is ALL in your head. Love yourself enough to not start smoking again. And yes, it is hard. I haven't smoked since 2005 and I still want one every once in awhile. Hang in there *HUG*

I hated having to do WLS. It was recommended to me for years. "No no, I can do this the right way." And I got fatter and older and had to have my knees replaced and my one foot rebuilt and still, I didn't think *I* needed WLS. Plus, all that was available was the band or gastric bypass - both of those options scared the heck out of me. My 3rd knee replacement was the convincer - I couldn't find a surgeon to do it because I was too heavy. I ended up in a power chair and almost on long term disability until a friend of my brother recommended me to an orthopaedic surgeon friend of his. He fixed my bunged up knee and then told me, "You know, you really should get WLS so you can start living again." And, he was right. It STILL took me 2 years after that to finally start the process of getting the sleeve. So, yes, it is a very traumatic and emotional thing to have to go through. But I did and you will and we'll both start living again :-) A couple of months after I got my sleeve I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and have been through hell for the past year BUT a hundred pounds lighter which made a very big difference in my treatment and recovery. Let's start living again, stop worrying, and enjoy the journey!

tb: yep. Nurse: yep. tb: I am glad you were able to eat something without being miserable. I was a little concerned when I saw the title of your post but after reading what you said I understood what you meant. I think NurseGrace was mostly responding to her and probably other's reaction to the title. Keep on getting better !

Absolutely can relate :-) I have been very fortunate to not have gained any weight but if I keep on behaving like I have been, I will. We know what we have to do: limit ourselves to actual meals & planned Snacks (no grazing! we are NOT cows!); limit carbs; move our bodies more. Now that we know what we have to do, let's DO IT !

4/22/13 : Time to start a new blog. One without chemo or radiation or surgery :-) It feels like it has been a long time since February 11 but it's not even May yet. Spring has sprung here in the bluegrass and it's such a balm for my spirit. Life abounds! I have been busy living - my strength is back, I'm even doing a bit of morning stretches and more walking. I'm soooo out of shape! I also haven't lost any weight in a few months but I know how to make it happen. I have to stop eating the goodies at night with the kids, unless it's a protein snack. We're planning on driving down to Florida in Julyl to see my family. Need to find a house to rent (with a pool!) that isn't a ridiculous price. I was going to drive down by myself but realized that my husband just couldn't handle the kids on his own for a week. He is 70 and just can't do it anymore. I am 56 and *I* can't do it anymore either! hahahaha oh well, together we manage. 7/26/13 : Right before we were to leave for Florida (what a fabulous 2 weeks!) I had a sonogram from my primary care physician because I had a pain under my right rib cage. He called me that evening and told me I have gallstones for sure but that there was what looks like a lesion on my liver that he was concerned about. I was scheduled for my post-cancer MRI the following Tuesday so I mentioned that to the oncologist. Right after getting the MRI, the oncologist was able to review the results and her verdict is that I have a tumor growing between the top of my liver and my diaphragm (which is why it hurts when I yawn or take a deep breath) and it is in the worst place possible and is inoperable. We both cried a little and she said she would talk with the radiologist about perhaps using targeted radiation to shrink it. So what did I do ? Heck, I went on a 2 week vacation to the gulf side of Florida :-) Had quite the time, although I did slip and fall on my right leg (water + tile = hazard). After the fall, my entire right leg started swelling and it hurt. Didn't stop me from having fun with my family. When I got back home I told the oncologist about it, just in passing, and she ordered a "doppler" (I guess it's just a sonogram) and the vein specialist found that I have massive amounts of blood clots in my right thigh. Now I have to inject myself twice daily with blood thinners (lovenox) and in 5 days start taking cumadin and keep my feet elevated all day long. The doc said I am very fortunate that I am not dead. See ? Cancer is NOT going to kill me... something stupid like a blood clot is going to get me ! hahahaha Anyhow, I have an appointment next Tuesday with the radiologist. We'll see what she can do and if that doesn't work, I will find someone who does know how to remove this "inoperable" tumor. I am fully prepared to die just not right now. God is good all the time. 8/21/13 : The results of the 2nd opinion I got at the Markey Cancer Center at University of KY yesterday weren’t good. My case was reviewed by a panel of cancer researchers and surgeons (among the best in the country, I hear). The large tumor on my liver is not alone – I have many tumors growing in my abdomen. So, there will be no surgery and no cyber knife radiation. The liver specialist at UK is going to discuss what kind of chemo would work on this type of cancer with my oncologist (he even told me congratulations on having such a rare and aggressive cancer) but that would just be to slow their growth. I’m not sure I am going to do chemo. If I could make this all go away, I would. I am very thankful I have had all this extra time to get everything in order.

You will be just fine. And won't it be sweet when you lose weight and you're looking fine. Then what will they be saying? ha ! Actually, I am sure the negative people in your life will find something else to try to hurt you with. Be strong, be happy !

We should all treat our family members with atleast as much respect and kindness that we show total strangers. I think everyone is correct in guessing that your mother is being passive aggressive due to her concern. Then again, we don't know your mother Back off a bit, give her a few "Yes, Mama" and "I love you Mama" and don't fall into the argument traps that she is setting. The decision to get the VSG and to radically change your life should be lauded! Embrace the power you have taken hold of and enjoy the ride! WEEEEE !

What was your starting weight? How much more do you have to lose to reach your goal? How many calories are you eating a day? How many carbs? How much are you exercising? How much Water are you drinking? I bet if you answered those questions you would be able to analyze your "stuckness" for yourself. I have been stuck at the same weight for a few months and I know it's because I have not been eating low carb, taking in too many calories, and not exercising (I have been dealing with chemo, radiation, and surgery for cancer so I cut myself some slack). Even so, I have found that my clothes continue to get larger. Remarkable how they do that,,,,, Analyze, adjust, go forward!

capeciw: are you following your surgeon's recommendations? At a little over a week post surgery your sleeve is still numb. Please be careful with what you're eating. Make sure you drink your Water and try to get in atleast 70 grams of Protein a day (your body needs the protein to heal). And yes, you will lose weight :-) gigi: liquid in = liquid out . It WILL get better as you add solids back into your diet. Please drink your water! Especially since you are having diarrhea. You may want to add a probiotic once a day until your system recuperates.

When you're at the "mushie" foods stage, you can just about eat anything if you chew it a LOT. As for skinless pickles: my mother used to make the absolute best, world class bread & butter sweet pickles with skinned and sliced cucumbers. Perfection. I wonder if she still has the recipe.... I will ask her tomorrow. I am soooo blessed to still have my mother so I can ask her silly questions :-)

congratulations for getting sleeved and for de-lurking :-) Are you eating solid foods yet? If so, some good protein snack would probably chase those hunger pangs away. If you're still on mushies, maybe a snack of cottage cheese.

I'm sorry you, your Mom, and your family have to go through this. This past year I was diagnosed with carcinosarcoma of the uterus ("unique, rare, and extremely aggressive cancer") and have had to deal with soooo much - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. And not just me, my entire family has been on the same ride. In the end the only thing that is really important is love and it sounds like you and your mother have that. Praying, reading, singing, writing, and History channel TV viewing (or your fave) are good alternatives to overeating. Remember, not ALL eating is bad and it is ok to enjoy food. Give your Mom a hug and a kiss from all your online friends.

I never had a problem with being physically hungry - I never allowed myself to ever get to that point! With the sleeve, I definitely get full (animal Protein gets me there quicker, with less calories & volume) and if I dare to eat one bite more, I feel ill. Haven't thrown up yet, but got the slimies once (uncontrollable salivation with nausea). So, I don't over eat and I eat slowly, not mindlessly. Otherwise if I try to wolf something down I may miss that "stop! stop now!" message :-) The only time I had trouble with my sleeve was right after surgery and that was due to the anesthesia - I couldn't even keep Water down for 2 days. Never had heartburn or reflux, but I didn't have it prior to surgery either unless I ate a donut or some other total-sugar-pigout food. There is a forum group for "band to sleeve revision". Go check out some of the stories there. I think after what I've heard others say about their suffering with the band, you will love having the VSG.

Welcome aboard the weightloss train! It took 3 total knee replacements (yes, 3), a foot rebuild (4 plates, bone graft, 16 screws) and multiple attempts at losing weight for me to finally admit to myself that there was no way I could lose this excess weight without surgical intervention. I almost denied myself right into being an invalid! The power chair is now a towel rack

and make sure you sip sip sip that water !

You definitely need to go out and buy yourself some nice church clothes! No more breakdowns in your closet, ok? I am slowly redesigning my "look" . I have never been a girly fashionista type - jeans & t-shirt or black slacks & non-tailored top (i.e. baggy). For right now I am sticking with the black slacks but the tops are getting more feminine. I have found that I really like the cardigan over tank top look - two or three nice cardigans or jackets and lots of bright colored tank tops or camisoles aren't too expensive and you can wear them through a lot of "down sizing".

I quit in 2005, prior to getting my first total knee replacement. It was required for that surgery too. I had smoked atleast a pack a day (Kools or, when I got health conscious (HA!), Marlboro Menthol Light 100s) for 35 years. It will definitely kill you to keep on smoking plus it makes you stink (trust me, you don't notice it until you quit). If you're getting a VSG to be healthy, why would you continue to smoke? If you think quitting smoking is too difficult, what makes you think you'll be able to handle living with only 15% of your stomach? I know, I am being rude and mean. I'm sorry. It really is hard to quit and even 8 yrs later I STILL want a smoke every once in awhile. I just don't. You can do it! And lordy, they are so expensive nowadays! With the money you save you'll be able to buy the new wardrobe you'll need when you lose all your excess weight! woo hoo!

I'm 56 and had surgery Feb 13, 2012. I am feeling great, enjoying life, and really thankful that I was able to get the VSG. I wish my husband could get it but he failed his psych eval - they felt he would not be able to follow the regimen. Isn't that sad? Now he's 70, about 150 lbs overweight, and is in terrible pain all the time from his knees (which he refuses to get worked on). Sometimes i think he just likes being miserable so he has something to complain about :-(

congratulations! WOOT ! It is exciting, isn't it? Keep up the good work and definitely try to slow down your eating :-)

wow, what a nightmare ! I am so sorry your are going through all this horribleness. Are you under a nutritionist's care? It seems that you will have very special nutritional needs and you need to have professional assistance and maybe even custom made supplements. I pray to God that you heal completely and that you can move on with a healthy, happy life.

no need to worry, really, aside from being worried about having surgery period I had a total hysterectomy 3 months after having my VSG and just had other surgery a month ago, just a year post-op. Just make sure the surgeon and staff know you only have 85% of your stomach, in case they need to do any stomach scopes or anything to do with your stomach. Good luck!