measureofme

I was pretty surprised how right she was. But also a little peeved at how right she was... It does not seem fair! LOL

**by thinking HOW euphoric I was

Thank you for posting this. I don't feel so alone now, at this moment. Your words could be mine. I added insult to my feelings by thinking who euphoric I was right after surgery. Hugs to you.

Hey Leo... Funny enough, I have had terrible back pain most of my life (weight and genetics)...I was loathe to give up my ibuprofen. However, I highly recommend a product called BioFreeze that many many chiropractors sell. Also, the hospital bed was really very comfortable and adjustable... I was great the whole time. Even the hotel bed was a good support level, not too hard or soft. As for side sleeping, I will sleep on the side that did not have the drain, sometimes it feels good to curl up around myself. I will admit to being chicken to try it on the drain side, but I think it's psychological more than anything. I only ever had heartburn when I was really binging, so between my new tiny tummy and the PPI Dr. Kelly has me on it is a non-issue. I did NOT wear or have compression socks, I didn't really think about it and did not have any ill affects. I did do a fair bit of muscle exercises- isometrics- just to be safe though. Don't fear the drain, remember my reaction was largely psychological, still is. It gets the nasties out of you and helps recovery. I am just a ninny! As for the pre-op diet, what helped me was to remember that it was temporary, turn off the television food porn (cooking channel, commercials, etc), and use a site like MyFitnessPal to track your food. I used prepared meals, like LeanCuisine to help cut down portions and calories. It was an "eyes on the prize" process. I hope this helps!

Agreed 100%. I had a companion but have still needed to re-ask a few questions. My doctor also read my essay on the experience as I recall it and had a few chuckles on places I was totally out of it and remember things amusingly wrong.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery!

Thank you for the great feedback and support everyone!

LoraLee that is a GREAT point about doctor LOL. I am glad to know that you're dealing we'll, it gives me hope! I have a great counselor too, so seeing her will help with this frustration. food was nothing to me but an activity and a protector... A way to ignore the real world. That buffer is gone and though I have a great support system, I do feel raw. Eyes on the prize.

Hey AmandaRaeLeo! Thanks for asking. The euphoria is definitely worn off, the emotional dam broke two days ago when we had a crisis at home. But, when I am objective, the joy is still there, just overshadowed a bit by head hunger and some mourning of old ways. Physically, I am really doing great. Most of the aches and pains are about gone, and the incisions are healing really well it seems (a real fear of mine had been infection). Sleeve still let's me know it is there and working when my sips are too big or too much and my first Protein drink yesterday went down easily. Don't know about weight loss, I think I am in a stall but could not prove it... Not going to the clinic to weigh in until next week. Now, if I can just make it to day 22 when I start transitioning back to "real" food, I will be golden. I cry when I think how far away that feels.

All this and more... I am a classic "stuffer"... When faced with an emotional situation that was difficult, I'd eat rather than get mad or upset and deal with it. This was a huge part of my pattern in addition to practically everything else you noted. Funny enough, in prep for my Sleeve, my care providers agreed to let me go off my anxiety meds with monitoring. I am now forced to really deal with my emotions, own them and work through it without eating... making my sleeve even more of a tool. Amazingly, this makes me feel more whole than I have in years. Not for everyone I know but working for me right now.

Where do I find the group?

I have had a couple of doozies too in the last ten days. I talked to others about it and I think that it is the result of several things... Mostly it seems to be my subconscious working through various things. We've had a self inflicted trauma, there's so much change in a short time, rewards, hopes, fears... It's is all great dream fodder. I think we're normal, but I agree it is disconcerting and NOT restful!

Best wishes! May it be an easy procedure for you and speedy recovery.

Juny: you are probably on to something there if you we're an emotional eater. I worked on this fact a lot in my counseling sessions leading up to surgery. It is a new behavior for sure after the sleeve.

I have read many times and was warned by my coordinator that at about ten days from surgery the emotions can kind of catch up with you... You're feeling better but still tired, hormones running rampant can mess with you, stuff like this. I was just caught by surprise because it didn't creep up over time, just all of a sudden. I suppose it is anecdotal observation, not a hard rule of what to expect.

I went the "better safe than sorry" route and got my passport.

I posted when I was still in hospital that I was feeling a euphoria and was it ok. LOL I have finally had a few weepy moments but otherwise feeling ok. I am not as far out as you but I will hope to follow in such positive steps! I think it is practical to assume a bump will come but hold on to these moments and you have something to help you through.

I've just gotten my surgery date! I'll be in for a VSG on February 2nd of 2013 (not so far away!) with Dr. Kelly at the florence Clinic. Anyone else?

Right on SKgirl27! I doubt you will have anything to regret. . It will be great and you'll be on the other side soon!

Glad to have given you some insight Amy. The journey really does start before you ever pick a doctor. Going the self-pay Mexico route does add some extra thoughts to the planning, but for some its the only way and quite viable with research and full disclosure of risk and reward. Good luck to you!

Excellent! How exciting. Can't wait to have the chance to share such good news myself. Way to go!

Glad you posted this... Sitting here under blankets and sweaters with a hot pack across my incisions! Hot pack (like the rice or buckwheat filled kind) is helping me a lot.

Love this update! Thanks for sharing it.

I will HIGHLY recommend Dr. Kelly and his crew to anyone now. All the YouTube, Message Boards and personal references I got were all correct. Their experiences prepared me for mine and I never once felt like I’d been led astray. My experience was as I had been told to expect it to be. Dr. Kelly is a passionate physician and from the way he spoke of frustration with medicine for not being able to figure out why diets fail to his willingness to talk about his life and family, it’s clear he cares about his patients. I think Lora Lee’s addition to their staff is brilliant and I’m still grateful to her for the long phone calls and replies to email that she made in those last days before I made my flight south. But mostly, I’m just feeling blessing-filled and lucky that God/Universe saw fit to put me on this path. I don’t know what the days ahead hold but I’m hanging on to the new feeling of control and, most of all, the hope it gives me. I apologize for the novel, it’s just how I write. I hope this helps another person. If you have questions, ask away! --MeasureOfMe (AKA Amber) Highest Weight: 529lbs Pre-op Diet Loss: 21lbs Weight at Hospital Angeles: 505lbs (though I don’t know if I “trust” this) Next Weigh In: February 20th.

Tuesday, after checking out my incisions and asking how I was doing with eating and drinking, Cecy (remember she’s a nurse too) invited us out to explore downtown Tijuana, she has other places she likes to take folks away from Revolution Street (tourist trap she said! LOL). I elected to stay at the hotel. Remember, I started this adventure with some pretty extreme body pain as my chief complaint and though I’d had surgery, I was/am still very obese. I was concerned I’d just be slow or lose my energy, need a bathroom or come under ridicule. And, truly, as an introvert, a few hours of alone time would do me good. MIL reports a great time was had… exploring an award winning Mexican coffee shop (a must for any Seattle-ite), a great big Bodega and even their premier “United States-Style” mall. Cecy was a lovely tour guide. That night another bowl of broth was ordered and all was well and comfy. Dr. Kelly came Tuesday night for one more visit. He asked how I was physically and emotionally. He was satisfied with how my incisions were doing, he used Dermabond on me rather than stitches thankfully! I was worried a little about blood clots and flying and Dr. Kelly takes the travel into account when administering Heparin (blood thinner) during and after surgery, noting that I’m protected for a long while after surgery, it is not gone from your body at a fast rate. I asked him about this happiness, near euphoria I felt. I’d been prepared for a depression or at least just a “I feel the same” kind of attitude, happy feelings were a surprise to me. He asked me to describe it more and he smiled and said, “Amber, that’s just you… IN CONTROL!” And he’s so right. I am in control of this now. I have a tool that will help me reshape my life and I AM IN CONTROL. This may not be the reactions of others, but this is my truth right now. Our adventure was almost over now, we were picked up at 9am on Wednesday morning to begin our border crossing and process through the San Diego Airport. Our border crossing was smooth, there’s a short cut on the Mexican side for those with a medical pass and the US side then was only about 20 minutes. I did use my passport and they asked about the nature of the visit. When I noted a hospital stay and surgery they did inquire about pharmaceuticals I was bringing over but Cecy described the three and the agent was satisfied. We were not even asked about souvenirs! We were early to the airport but that was just fine with us. We even arrived back home to Seattle half an hour early! If I could give my other Mexico sleevers some advice that they may not have seen or what really made the difference for me, it would be to 1. Have wheelchair service both going to San Diego and definitely coming back from there. It’s easy to order and VERY VERY helpful. It even may get you through the TSA lines faster and 2. That hot pack made me just that much more comfy and I’m using one here at home to not only comfort me but to protect my incisions as my curious and lovable cats explore around me. Six days out now from surgery, I’ve only had one bout of nausea and I think I figured out it was because I was genuinely hungry. Sipped Gatorade and had a few spoon-fulls of Jello and I was right as rain. Celestial Seasonings Mint Mix tea is my go-to beverage now too. Broth is okay, I like the “Better than Bullion” brand but I’m starting to notice the saltiness of things. I’m only using the pain pills at night so I can get a full night of sleep comfortably.