Angelmom

i wrote you a message and it did not send...bummer. Try to have your shake nearby...even a little that you can sip. I just put some cinnamon in a vanilla one, and it transformed it! I hope I'm allowed to do that...I think I'm not, come to think of it. If you are far enough out, you can try that...it tastes like rice pudding, kind of. I made my children lots of frozen meals....like a gallon of cooked meatballs that could be gotten out and put into sauce in the crock pot, and precooked noodles that could be heated up...and wala. No cooking for me. They do the clean up, too. I wonder if something like that would help you.

What I did with my twins was made a bunch of meals that were frozen, and they can pick stuff out to eat that is easy to prepare...such as a gallon size bag of meatballs that they can take half out and ut in the crock pot with sauce and let stew. I even boiled them spaghetti and froze it...so they can use that or make a new pot of noodles. Then I don't have to be involved. They also have to do the clean up...I can't bend anyway to be doing dishes. I did what I could to simplify MY life...and theirs...but really mine. Maybe you could have a little glass of Protein shake nearby when you are cooking for them, and sip on that...use it as a reminder of what you are doing for YOU.

Don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. I have been looking for free samples online for months. I have managed to get by, but I have no job--not for lack of trying...I have no family, no help, and two special needs children at home. I have managed to get by, but truly wish I had some of the real bariatric foods and samples. They don't have them anywhere around where I live or go to support groups. If anyone has anything that they would like to pass on, I would be very happy to take it off your hands. I can really use it. I am hoping to find some chicken soups and things like that, as well as other shakes and maybe even some meats and things...vitamins, supplements, whatever is available. I'm interested in anything, really, and would be willing to cover shipping costs. Please message me privately if you have anything you'd like to pass on. Sincerely, Cindi

I'm 7 days out, and every time I put something in my stomach, I get gas moving around, and it makes it tough to take another bite. I think there is still gas from the surgery in there. I am moving around often enough that lack of walking is not the issue. Anyone else experience anything similar? I sure hope it isn't the liquid diet foods causing me gas--or if it is, that it's temporary and gets better.

samsmom...didn't you post that before...and i said i was interested...i sent you a message... i think it was you.

GNC total lean vanilla, strawberry. Had Bariatric Advantage vegetable soup sample, today. Yoplai Greek low sugar yogurt, Propel Zero water, regular water, a couple calcium chews, Carnation s-f chocolate pkt with organic skim. That's about it. There are a bunch of other things on the stage 2 diet, but these are the basics for me...and I have to work at getting them in. I reached about 50 proteins, today...and tomorrow, I hope to reach 60. Getting the protein is very important to me...i just wish I had something with a lot more protein in it in one or two spoonsful...then i wouldn't have to worry about eating at all.

That's good to know...I wondered how long the gas sticks around. I thought less than a week, but at least I feel assured it's gas and not some kind of intolerance forming. It's strange how I feel the presence of the gas when I eat.

We will pray for you. I have asked for prayers, too, because I thought I was going to die from the pain and the lungs that remained partially collapsed. I think it's great to reach out! I, too, have special needs children, and really no family, and one or two friends. That's it. Thank goodness you have each other, even in tough times...you still have a great treasure in each other. It takes a team to get a person through to healing from the surgery. Have you considered getting a credit card, even with say, $500 on it? You could then go to GNC and get the gold card and use that for discounts during the first 7 days of the month--stupid but still good. If you buy the Total Lean premade strawberry and vanilla shakes...they are buy one get one free, and there was another coupon too...I bought four cases this month. If you are able to get food stamps, you can buy the Carnation s-f instant breakfasts. Weis carries the variety pack. Add a pkt to a cup of organic skim milk...or two pkts for more Protein. and buy the stuff off the stage 2 diet...and you'll be prepared. You don't have to have all that fancy and even more expensive stuff from bariatric sites. GNC will take anything back that you don't like...but they don't have much in the way of samples. I have no job either, and have two special needs children at home...no family, etc...like I was saying, and this is how I manage to get by If there is anything free out there, take it. Sign up for food banks. There is no shame in it. Rite aid has the special k and designer whey protein powders that go into Water...so you can buy those there and not have to pay shipping. They're helpful to have. Hope that helps. cindi

Hi. I have contacted people who are in charge of things, and haven't gotten a response back. This website is incredibly slow to load. Every single page takes several minutes to load. I hate it. I don't want to see any of the advertisements, either, and I think that's what the problem is. Is there a way to disable ads? Is there a fix? Any help anyone can offer would be appreciated. Ty, Cindi

Your sense of humor is priceless, though. Have you tried using a long sleeved leotard? Maybe that will hold the skin tighter and help it to shrink a little better...by not allowing it to dangle freely in the first place. I plan to use this belly binder during my walks--when i get back to that, and over the top of my clothing when at home, to try and assist with shrinkage. Use lotions all the time, too....Sally Beauty has a good one with Mango and Aloe Vera.... the ingredients say cocoa butter, too, I think. Try that, and Vaseline, and Johnson's baby cocoa butter. All of them are soothing and replenishing. I use them on my whole body and hands/arms/elbows especially because I have very dry skin.

Found it, switching now.

How do you do in private browsing?

I got in almost 300 calories today. I wanted the procedure to put a screaching halt to the diabetes that were impending, to the arthritis, degeneration of my joints, fatty liver, metabolic syndrome,...etc. I'm not nearly in as much pain, and spent the morning into early afternoon on only Tylenol so that I could drive my daughter to the store and she could go in and get stuff the twins need. I did ok. I'm still tired, though managed to get a knap, and I took the binder off while I slept and let air get to my belly...seemed to help. I'm tired, tonight from the commotion of going to the store...there were some glitches. I wish some of my favorite tv shows were on to kill some of the time. I'd also like to upload resumes and letters of reference into education websites to look for a job...but to heck with that! I can sit here, but if I start moving around, my belly gets giggled and could be bumped off the edge of the desk...and my arms push on the belly, which makes me have more pain. I'll just wait to look for a job. It's not like my info isn't out there. I'll stick to walking and resting. I also lost 3 lbs. more today. My daughter says my backside looks a lot smaller. I can see my knuckles and veins again, and we put the anti-embolism stockings back on--the right way. I do wish I could eat regular food...even just a little...but there is no way in hell I'm going to risk another surgery...NO WAY! I'm still black and blue from the attempts at iv's, and my stretch marks are still red from being blown up so much during the procedure, and from the binder. I put thick medical pads between the slices and red parts of my skin and the binder, and that helped. The nurse was no help on Monday after I got home, and now that I'm moving around and my little girl nursed me to this point...the nurse wants to come back. I don't think so! What I needed was help going to the bathroom, getting meds, getting up and down out of the chairs, getting a shower....I can take my own blood pressure, and don't see how nurses can make $163 an hour (or how services can charge that) just to take my bp and look at my booboos. The nurse wouldn't even get my meds for me. It's a bunch of crap. I told her not to bother coming back here tomorrow--at the crack of dawn, no less!...and told her that what I needed was not fought for...no waivers were requested from insurance...and she informed me that she told the insurance company that my drain incision was "not deep!" They would have covered more if she said it was! How could it not be deep when it went directly to my stomach! She's a flake, and was from before she walked in here. I don't want her back, anyway. My brothers who have come around this summer...never bothered to see if I was ok, or needed help, even though one of them promised to help me...he was simply silent. Now he claims he couldn't call me these last 7 days because he was in the hospital over night for a faint. What happened to the other 6 days? Aren't there phones everywhere?...like his wife's phones checked on me is my pal, Diane, who voluteers with us at a local museum. She's bringing us soup on Sunday. My mother who lives a short way from me, but who never has an interest in us, was not at all interested in anything I wanted or needed....she is so selfish, and the three of them disgust me. I am amazed how you find out who your friends are when you really need something. My daughter is going to get paid $20 for her hard work helping me at home between cyber school classes and days. My son has a chest cold, and has been very faithful in wearing his face mask and staying in his room...so since that is his part, I will pay him as well...less, though, because he hasn't done the care that my daughter has for me...then again...not being infected with a serious lung infection, cough, cold, flu...is probably worth $20 for helping mom in her tough time of need. He's a good boy. I'm worried about the chores and things I have to do, and that I am not going to be able to do them for a while...oh well...of bigger concern is the air conditioners are still in the windows and I have to figure out what to do with them for the cold times until I can get them out of the windows...honestly, that is a HUGE feat for me to put them in, let alone take them out, because of my arthritis and things. I'm going ot have to research how to weatherize and leave them in the windows...and maybe find a strong man to take them upstairs ac's out of the windows for me. We'll see. I'm thankful I have a house to be in, a chair to sit in, the comforts of a home...not a rich home, but a pleasant and secure one. I hope I always have a home for the rest of my life,a nd that we are ok....and that means that sometime soon, I have to find a job. Hiccups, and gas are an issue, still, pulling pain in the stomach is a bit of an issue, and the headache seems to have dissipated. I keep the fans on, and my slippers on, and prop my arms on the recliner arms with extra pillows. I am looking forward to my post-op visit, as well as writing some letters about some of the lack of care I have received.

My belly was so distended with gas from the surgery, that my old stretchmarks are bigger and itching! I also have 6 incisions which are much bigger than I thought they'd be...and two of them are under the breast, with another one close to the breast. All of them are itching and driving me crazy. The support device they give you that wraps around your belly, becomes like a sock that has been on too long...annoying, and leaves marks on your skin...which for me, itch! I have to use a rash cream for some of the redness that is raised and itchy, and have put large gauze pads in the sweaty areas, and over the wounds, but under the device, so as not to aggravate the incision lines. Seems to be helping. And the gas....ugh...hurts as it rolls around trying to escape. I had the device off today, and the insides of me were none too happy about it! I'm happy to have it, despite the itching and tugging, etc. I am reminding myself that despite my feelings thus far, that there are supposed to be benefits to having the sleeve and restriction...so that should mean that my puffed up, uncomfortable, stretched to the brim belly will soon be much smaller! Looking forward to that, and wearing my pink skirt.

Even if the doctor gave me permission for eating eggs post op, and sex...I STILL wouldn't do it. Logically, if you weigh the risks...they are NOT worth it. With the nursing training, and medical background I have in the military, and afte nursing two very ill children for many years, my conclusion is that it is not worth it...even for those with less pain...a suture line in the gut is a suture line, and for sleevers, that line is bigger than what all the other surgeries get....why risk a leak?...and then another surgery??...NO WAY!

Yep...it's out there, and has happened. For me, I worked to lose weight, but moreover increase my lung fitness. I did the GNC shakes...Strawberry and Vanilla...life savers right there...and much better than that nasty slimfast gmo crap. I think you should look into GNC...and sugar free carnation pkts with skim milk. Also try active jello puddings at 60-70 calories a container...all allowed. Try Yoplai greek yogurt...very good...100calories. You don't have to do that slimfast.

I find myself getting hungry too...but I still cannot eat/drink much liquid shakes...I think some of it for me is still that gas...when that's rumbling, I feel hungry...because when the pain of the gas stops...so does the mad hungry feeling. but then again, I have only reached 375 calories today...so maybe there is hunger...but I took in as much as I could.

I suggest you have insurance approval, 100% before you plan when YOU want to have the surgery. I did that, and got denied...ruined my whole summer, and now school started--and THAT'S when I ended up with the surgery! If you are approved, go for it! Otherwise, enjoy some foods you love and do the diet the rest of the time. Exercise twice daily...walking a mile each time...and you'll be all set..and well occupied.

Thank you. I'm trying. Just know, and prepare yourself for the hell you are about to face. Preparation and state of mind are everything, sometimes. I just long to be able to eat regular food. I don't want to eat so much that I gain weight...I just want to be normal, again....for what that's worth.

Since being in the hospital, my lungs have been at least partially collapsed. I worked to be strong beforehand, given my hefty asthma, and worked to lift my chest and deep breathe, try to tolerate some coughing to clear the lungs of gunk. Until last night, that was extremely painful, and exhausting. I managed to take a relatively deep breath and give two coughs on the exhale. I'd swallow, since it would not come up to be expelled, otherwise. Then I learned to just carefully take another breath instead of swallowing, and let the product of another breath and double cough push the first junk up higher. Through doing this repeatedly, through to this morning, and at some points, somewhat against my will--since my body was sometimes coughing on it's own...I'm managed to clear my asthmatic lungs and feel that there is very little left unexpanded. I still have more coughing to do, but my lungs have gotten stronger, finally. I've been taking my rescue inhaler about 3 times per day to help expand and keep open the bronchioles so that they are not stressed and weakened. I am now exhausted....the coughing takes great effort, and the pain sucks the life out of you. My nose is still producing bloody gunk from the O.R....but I think it is close to all cleaned out now...not sure why there was all that blood in my nose. I'm starting to feel a lot less upset about some of the treatment I got in the hospital, such as when I was left for hours in supine position with half collapsed lungs, asthma, extreme pain, and needing to void. I am apalled at that! Also, I'm less bothered by how half of the nurses would not give me a boost in my bed--so that I could elongate my chest cavity and not have the bend in my back be matched with the bend in the bed, rather have my hips in the bend. There was constant not listening to me about that and other stuff...and about how I wanted the door shut to lessen the noise...etc. I found out that it was extra noisy by my room becaus the kitchen was right across the hallway from my room! You would think they'd give a darn about that. The other half of the nurses lilstened to me, and actually came to visit with me a bit, and were so kind it made up for what the others were doing so wrong. I don't feel as strongly that I would never have done this surgery if I knew of how it would make me think i was going to die. I think if I had been properly informed of how bad the pain really is, then I would have possibly gone forward. I am still at the point where I don't give a rat's arse whether or not I lose weight now or ever, at this point. All I care about is trying to feel normal, again...out of all this pain, caring for my stomache, and trying to get outside to take my peaceful walks....given that I can barely walk around in the house, God only knows when that will be. Other than that. I just don't care. Maybe my give-a-damn will fix it self over time. I really need to get to the store for some things that I did not know I can have but which help...so I need to get better than this, soon. The surgeon's office took me off the liquid Diocto....I don't even know why they gave me that...and the discharge form has "continue taking" for that...but I was never taking it...and it's horrible. And I don't have to take the aweful Zantac liquid either....I can take the inside of a Pepcid capsule. Just those two things have made it possible to fit food. Add to it that I can have greek yogurt, and now I am able to get some protein in, but it takes me 2 hours to eat a 5.3 ounce container. I sure want to go to the fair, this month. Is that even going to be possible? What I'd really love to be able to do is mash up a meatball from there and eat that for dinner. That would be so cool, but if it doesn't happen, I honestly don't care. I think about food, but my drive to eat it is just about nothing. I could sit here and not eat....I'm thirsty and would drink a little...but I have to force myself to eat shakes or yogurt. I guess that's ok. The motivating factor for eating is that I need protein to heal and keep my hair (what there is of it, since it falls out already from all the other times I gained and lost weight) in my head....oh yeah, and the sheer horror of the thoughts of ending up back in that hospital with those nurses, again!...and in more pain! Let's all pray for each other and no complications. I do lean on our group here, and shall pray for everyone, as well. God's will be done....which brings me to another point. Before the surgery, and for a very long time, I looked into the procedure, planned for it, got very involved with the programs, researched everything, and prayed daily about it when I took my walks, and had the notion to do so, and never once did I feel apprehensive about it...only once I had the procedure done and over with did I question my decision at all. I prayed for an answer...and the sleeve was the answer...without reservation...thee answer. Then I remembered this guy who said he felt God wanted him to be a trucker and get out on the road. Then he went and got a truck and went on the road and began hating it....he told his family about it and they said that if God intended for him to do that, then he must stick with it to learn what God has for him to learn and do...perhaps that's what I am experiencing. Anything good, comes with a price, and I am paying the price...in the end there will be great healing, which is what I pray for.

I thought I was going to die. The nurses were not nice or suportive. My iv pain med was one where I had to push the button "when the light turns green"...but I would be sleeping when the light would turn green...then they'd come in a say I didn't push the button. I couldn't move, and coudn't see the button anyway. They should've just given me the med, period! As I said in my blog posting, they left me for hours witih my but in the hole of a stretcher, and laying completely on my back. I have asthma and my lungs were in dior straits...though I had been working on them...all was lost when they did that. My lungs were partially still collapsed...not good. I have been coughing junk up like crazy, and my body is using all my might to do it...which is tearing up my guts. The most calories I have been able to get in are 375, with 22 Proteins...and that's with sipping much of the day...when I don't want to eat anything at all. The docs took away the large amount (for a sleever) liquid meds, and that made me able to eat the shakes, then....but not much. They also said i could have the greek yogurt, and that helped a lot, but it took me 2 hours to eat one. I have lost the 14 lbs of Fluid i gained while in the hospital--and some fat poundage (hopefully not lean muscle). All I can think about is being out of pain, and the shower I managed to get today, with my daughter helping me a lot, made me feel worse. I had been coughing a lot and that weakened me first...but I had to get a shower. I honestly thought I was going to die, and asked my friend who looked after the twins for me...and my children heard me say it...then they were upset...ALL the nurses fault, if I must say...since they left me to rot in the hall in a stretcher in the basement of the hospital! So far, the only thing that makes me feel nauseas over and above the nausea meds, is the smell of eaten food on my children's breath...and scented lotions my girl has put on. One thing that has gone well is that though I had my period for a month straight before the surgery, it stopped in time, and did not come back until now...when I can barely wipe myself a little. My girl had to help me put underwear and a pad on...not what I would want....but at least I had a break from that mess. I don't get how people can risk everything with eating eggs and having sex now. I wouldn't dream of taking those chances. You all have more guts than me, that's for sure...but I think I had a lot more pain than most...so much pain that i was shaking uncontrollably, and my jaw was chattering like I was in a blizzard...or worse, from the pain. I had to hold it still with my hand. I couldn't stop crying from the pain either, and even now, 6 days later, I still have a tear or two from pain...and I yell out in pain too. I can't help it. There is only one way to go now...can't get my stomach back...not sure I would want it back. I know I was sorry I got the surgery for at least the 4 days I was in the hospital...not sure how i feel now...except that I want this pain over now.

Finally showered. Was tough. Needed my girl to help me in and out and to dry off...so not fair to her. Shower took a lot out of me, made my belly hurt more, between the stairs--up and down--and having to wash myself, as well as take off the binder. That binder is a must. I also spent last night and this morning coughing a lot of gunk up, sticky, clumpy brown and other colored mucus. Apparently, that's normal...especially for an asthmatic. My body tried to cough before, but the pain was so bad, I couldn't. Now that pain has gone down quite a bit, I could cough and try to repeat it over and over until the junk came up....which made my pain significantly increase, but made my lungs feel cleared out. I am getting close to my pre-surgery lung capacity. Still can't get the protein in, but working at it. Very tired, though, and weak...couldn't really nap either. Wishing I could go outside and exercise...missing my walks...and even having a little food. Such is life, and I chose this...must move forward. All I want to do is be better, feel normal.

If one of you slips and you get squished in the gut, it could do severe damage. What if you get pregnant now too, when you are supposed to be healing the next 2 months. I understand the urge, but mind over matter is probably wiser in this case.

Elevation and ice would be what I'd try. maybe wrap it a little in gauze, for comfort. I ran out of veins. They were stabbing me in the underside of my forearm...and I do not mean the anticubetal area that is traditionally used (on the other side of elbow). They stuck me in the veins in my wrist where suicidal cuts go. I mean, I was a general pin cushion! And, they put me on insulin and stuck my fingers every two hours around the clock to check my sugars....it seems that a lot of people's pancreases go a little nuts when getting surgery, so that's the new thing they do. I am black and blue and holed-up all over my hands and arms. Next would have to be my feet. My swelling from the pushing like you mentioned, went down, and I've just taken it easy. I think drinking helps the body to get rid of fluids...so that might make your hand hurt less.

We have the fair coming up on September 22...if I cannot eat, I am going to buy a ton of these really good, and small meatballs, and put them in a tupperware container to bring home. I'll freeze them in sandwich bags, and get them out when I can eat. I love those meatballs and wish I could have them year-round. I cannot seem to duplicate the best meatballs I've had, either...and that would be one of them. I'm so terrified of ripping my new stomache, I would never risk it...but I, too, am wondering what the general time frame is for having real food...like if I could must a meatball all up and eat that at the fair.