BitterSweet*

Clear liquids means anything that you can pour into a glass and be able to see through.

LMAO @ Miss Mac and the gummy bears!!

My program also requires attending at least one support group and I did one and that's all. When I walked in the ladies were chatty and seemed welcoming. All of them were big ladies, most of whom were bigger than me, so I was interested in what everyone had to say about reaching "bottom" and what type of WLS they planned to have. Imagine my surprise when the introductions began and all of these obese women were in fact post-op, not pre-op, and most of them were one year and some change beyond surgery. I was astonished. On top of that, most of them looked at me like I DIDN'T BELONG! I have 90-100 lbs to lose. I'm only 5'1, with a BMI of 44. Seriously.... It was fat shaming at its best AND I knew more information from reading threads on this forum than post-op folks did from having experienced it. It was not my cup of tea and I haven't been back since.

Put your mind at ease as best you can. When a lab is slightly abnormal, phone calls like that are made. But if the lab result is critical, meaning urgent or emergent, they have you go in immediately; there's really no delay, so rest assured it is not a life or death type of matter.

Getting a call regarding lab results and needing to follow-up with a doctor is common. Getting that call on a Sunday is weird and I would be slightly concerned as well. I've gotten a call like that before, but never on a weekend (seeing as though the offices are closed on weekends), and I just about panicked. I couldn't get an appointment sooner than a week and that was just not going to fly with me. The solution? I simply went to the hospital's medical records department and got a copy of my lab results and read them myself. It was quite clear that the alarm bell went off because of my H&H; I was anemic. All of my fears subsided and then I kept my appointment the following week. So that's my suggestion to you for first thing tomorrow morning. Do you know which labs they drew on Thursday?

@@Miss Mac, I don't find that the Flexees roll but only when it's the right size. All of them roll when they're too small.

Lift weights, stay hydrated, take your vitamins, and keep moisturizing. That's it. Nicely toned muscles makes loose / flabby skin on arms (and everywhere else) look a hundred times better. And a spray tan. Tanned skin hides many, many flaws.

Why did you overindulge right up to the cut off point of getting your EGD done? Your chances of success and adjustment to a new lifestyle after VSG will be easier if you begin making some changes now, before surgery, and overindulging doesn't fall into that realm.

@@ArthurTower, I don't know how long you've been on this forum but I've been perusing threads here for over 8 months and @RJ'S/beginning and Diane are the only people I've seen who have experienced stents repeatedly. RJ's advice to you is dead on. Leaks are very difficult to correct and what she's telling you is that your doctor will subject you to procedure after procedure in an attempt to correct this problem, and the chances of the stent working are very small. I agree with her that they should absolutely try it, but if it fails, please remember her words and advocate for yourself. In the end you may end up being in the same place you're trying to avoid (a gastric bypass), and your route to get there can either be a straight path with a slight deviation in the beginning (trying the stent), or a very long, winding, and exhausting path (multiple stents, clamps, TPN etc.), and still end up having to get a bypass. Knowing that information from someone first hand (RJ), I would definitely heed the advice. I'm terribly sorry you are going through so much. Good luck with your procedure tomorrow. Sending a little prayer your way. =)

No, it won't go away on its own. The yeast infection is likely due to the antibiotics you received from surgery and your dietary changes. I can't live with a yeast infection for two days, let alone for 11, especially right after surgery. I would get OTC cream and try it for today, but call your doctor first thing tomorrow morning and ask them to call in a prescription for Diflucan.

@@GenaW828, thanks for this update. I hope that you're on the mend soon enough.

Hilarious!

Flexees are really nice. They smooth and hold in without feeling restricted. The key is to buy the correct size.

Dermabond is waterproof. Showering is absolutely fine. When you get out, pat those areas dry instead of rubbing the towel over it. Avoid putting any ointments or lotion in the area of the Dermabond and you'll be fine.

I feel terribly bad for you. I hope that discharge plan includes infusing parenteral nutrition (TPN or PPN) and not just IV fluids. You are at a high risk for developing malnutrition if you haven't already. Why won't they repair your sliding hiatal hernia? And how is your wife?

@, you've received a great deal of feedback on this thread. Without even engaging in the discussion about your nutrition, I can honestly tell you that no one, not a single person on this Earth is healthy at your height and weight. Part of the blinders obese people tend to wear is that they are "healthy fat", when there is really is no such thing. It's an oxymoron. Internal damage is being done to your body every single moment. It is 100% guaranteed that your weight will "catch up" with you, and those internal problems that have been ignored, overlooked, or assumed to be non-existent, will appear with a vengeance. It is that vengeance that many refer to as their rock bottom. With probably 150 extra pounds on your frame, your heart is forced to function at a capacity it is not designed to do, nor can it withstand doing infinitely. Your joints are under massive and excessive pounds of pressure that cause permanent damage. The list goes on and on.... I have no idea if WLS is right for you. I have no idea how problematic your PCOS is for you. Yes, PCOS makes it difficult to LOSE weight, but how you GAINED your way to 300 lbs is what needs to be examined in your process of considering surgery. Even with PCOS, a person eating balanced, nutritional meals with correct portion sizes and consistent engagement in physical activity, doesn't gain an excessive 150 lbs. I don't know you or anything about you other than what you've shared here. I would implore you to not only work with a nutritionist but perhaps a therapist as well. The majority of us have (had) an unhealthy relationship with food that has nothing to do with an underlying medical issue, and that warrants examining to some degree. Whatever you decide, I wish great things for you.

Even though you think you are mentally prepared for hair loss, it is quite devastating. Yes it grows back, but that day-to-day struggle of dealing with the massive loss causes a great deal of stress. For me, being thin and having my beautiful hair is like oil and water; they don't mix.

@@ready2livenow, drains for 12 days??? Why?!?!

Lol!

So you have an infection but it won't be treated? That does not sound right. Fevers do not always accompany an infection. Was your WBC count normal? Did your infected wound get cultured? I would never advise anyone not to listen to their doctor, but mistakes happen all of the time, even with the most prudent of doctors. If I had just had major abdominal surgery seven days ago, had severe pain, and an open infected wound, I would insist on being treated with antibiotics. Infected wounds can get real bad, really fast. Was your wound even debrided by the surgeon? What treatment DID they do?

@@Elode, how did your exams go and what are you studying?!

Yes, this a very common practice.

Simply infuriated for you. I said it days ago when you were admitted the last time that the hernia needed to be repaired. A sliding hiatal hernia means that the top portion of your stomach (right by your esophagus) keeps sliding through that weakened spot of your diaphragm. That's why you couldn't breath well before and that's why nothing will go down or stay down. I am officially declaring your surgeon an @ss. A total and complete @ss. Without reparing your hernia your symptoms and problems are not likely to get better, so please go through with the surgery. Everytime you vomit, that hernia is worsened because now there's excessive swelling and inflammation and that part of your stomach will be too enlarged to slide back through. I really want you to be ok. Please ask a friend to go and be there with you. I'm praying for you.

This is utterly ridiculous and now I'm pissed for you. Something is obviously not right and it is their freakin' job to figure it out and to effectively manage your symptoms while doing so. I pray that you go back and when you get there, please ask to speak to the nursing supervisor of the hospital (not the unit you may get placed in) and demand to speak with the Patient Advocate. Someone will listen to you. We are so worried about you.

May I ask who diagnosed you with this condition?