Fluffnomore

Oh, good! Afterward I realized this was an older post. But I am so glad for you!

Wow, then I'm already at 29.5%. Then again, I never really thought I was going too slow. Thanks for being all math-y, even though I understood this to be a math-free zone.

Also BCBS IL, by the way.

I hate to say this, but I was in your same boat. I let myself gain a couple of pounds right before my last appointment. I just squeaked over 40 and was immediately accepted. Just go in and do it. Your doctor can make the argument that you were within a normal fluctuation. Do you have the higher weight documented on any other doctor visit (the surgeon or otherwise?)

On my surgery day there was an empty room next to me in pre-op. The nurse told me it was a no-show, and that they had no-shows almost every week. Can you talk to your bariatric coordinator about what days they do surgeries and possibly be "on call" on a surgery day?

It's amazing what I can come up with at 5 am!

Time of the month.

I think it absolutely could be TOM. Mine really messed with my weight fluctuation this week, I think. However, if you really were hungry (and maybe you were!) you did the right thing. You listened to your hunger, right? Were you able to sleep afterward? I know that sometimes that has happened to me pre-sleeve and usually a little milk does the trick.

The best pre-surgery advice I got was to bring an extension cord to the hospital so that you could charge your electronics. Do it; you'll feel like a genius.

I lost really quickly the first week and retained no Water in the hospital. This week, I swear, it's been down two, up 1.8, down 4, up 3. etc. But I'm down 3 pounds overall, this week. I'm somewhere around 3 weeks including 5 days of pre-op. If you graph out the trend, it is a downward slope with blips above and below where the general "trend" is. I'm eating about 700 calories per day, no cheating, getting all of my Protein and fluids in. It has got to be metabolism driven. It's hard not to freak out about it but as long as the general trend is down we're doing what we are supposed to do. And this is to be expected.

Someone else wrote somewhere else that you'd be crazy if you weren't nervous. Fact: most of us are on some level. You are going to do great. Think about what you are doing for yourself and try not to read too much into the negative feedback.

My doctor originally said lap band for me as well. After really researching it I went back and said that I wanted VSG. My feeling is that it doesn't make sense that he would be willing to do one, but not the other…unless he doesn't have as much experience with VSG. Co-morbidities that will get you the surgery are diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure. Others that are important but might not count with your individual insurance company are metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and GERD (although be aware that GERD is sometimes contraindicated for the sleeve; I had GERD and felt the benefits outweighed the risks). Good luck and I'll be pulling for you! ETA that my starting BMI was around 39. I didn't work at losing weight at all for that reason until the approval. I was approved on the first try.

Way to go! I also find the vet forums the most helpful.

Ugh. My husband who is planning to be sleeved in December had to go visit his family this weekend. I got a text last night that they're all making numerous comments about his weight and he's "really taking a beating." Considering this comes from a group who are or have all been a) overweight, diabetic, and c) suffering from their own damned health problems it really makes me see red. I hope for him that he will be able to tell them all to kiss off the next time we see them. Angry? Yes. Because I'm the one who has to deal with the fallout from every visit. I do not understand families…even my own.

Mindijean, you're pre-op, right? Because it's early in the morning and I'm all froggy I'm going to give you unsolicited advice. You're absolutely right that what works for one person doesn't work for others. The other thing I'm going to say as a surgery veteran (gallbladder, lady parts, VSG, ankle) is that you should be vocal about getting your painkillers. I tend to be soft-spoken in person, and I learned the hard way during the GB surgery 5 years ago that sometimes when you're soft-spoken, nurses don't take your pain as seriously as they should. I happened to have a very difficult GB case but I understand now that it's not usually as big of a deal. But as a result my pain was out of control and my being polite didn't help matters. Once you get caught up in a pain cycle it can be twice as hard to relieve it. I don't know why that is, but it is true. So for me, this time, what really worked was making sure I was on top of when my medications were available to me and asking for it every time. Overall, I felt so little relative discomfort and the whole hospital stay felt like a breeze compared to the last one. So if something's not working for you, be vocal about it. Scream like a little girl if you need to. I am serious as a heart attack about this. Best case scenario, the painkiller will help you sleep, which in turn will help you heal much faster. Oh, and bring an extension cord to the hospital so that you can charge your phone. The outlets aren't always close to the bed. My nurse told me I was a genius for that. I modestly agreed with her. (/Skipping off to sprinkle unsolicited advice around the threads…wonder why I'm so awake this morning!)

You should check for signs of infection: if there is streaking around the incision site, low grade fever, etc. Sorry to be graphic, but oozing…if those are present, get to a clinic or ER today. If those are not present, you're probably fine. Steri strips are designed to fall off. If you're still worried, see if you can't drop by your surgeon or PCP's office Monday to have them take a quick look at you. I was in bed this morning obsessing over my incisions "Oh, they're still a little painful! I wonder if I should be touching them to help break up the scar tissue! Maybe I should put the abdominal binder back on today…" And then I realized that I am crazy. (It's been 2 weeks.)

That is awesome news!

In the early stages (liquid diet) when you're barely cracking 600-700 calories, there's not too much in terms of calorie wasting to worry about. I liked the G-2 because the flavor was easier to drink than plain water the first week, and like Alene I felt I was less likely to dehydrate.

I think as long as you're not uncomfortable it should be fine.

I was 10/24 and had a little trouble swallowing for 2 or 3 days. Now that I'm two weeks out, regular drinking doesn't bother me. I'm not chugging anything but I can drink a cup or so of liquid in 15 minutes or less.

G-2 Gatorade is on my approved list for Clear liquids. The G-2 is lower in sugar. You can cut it with Water or drink it straight. It was very good for the times I couldn't take water. I've also been experimenting with teas, both hot and cold.

I'm a pretty average looking person, I think. Very casual style, minimal makeup when I remember to wear it. I see a HUGE difference in how I'm treated when I put makeup on, and I do know how to put makeup on, as a performer. I have been told by one of my former colleagues and mentors that she believes that one reason I haven't gotten certain jobs I've tried for is that there is still a pervasive prejudice out there for women in their 40s, particularly, who give the impression of having "let themselves go" in any way. It gets in the way of presenting oneself as competent. It is incredible.

Off topic-ish. I really hate the Costco milk bottles. So easy to spill.

I was Fluffy on another internet board years ago. I'm dying here, I should have gone with my stripper name. Tiger Stratton.

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