BitterSweet*

I can't wait to put socks on my feet without having to perform a maneuver to hoist my fat thighs up and grab hold of a foot. I haven't been able to cross my legs in 4 years....can't wait to do that either. Lastly, I can't wait until people feel safe traversing a staircase next to me. For 4 years now, if I am going down a staircase and someone needs to go up, they wait at the bottom until I'm all the way off before trying to acsend. When I lose weight, I'll stop avoiding people and places like I do. I HATE being invited anywhere and having to dress up my fat to look nice and minimize my size. Lastly, I can't wait until i can go to get a pedicure and have the technician not be petrified when it's time to hold up my leg to scrub the bottoms of my feet. That person gets tired, as do I from trying to keep my leg in the air. #can'twait

Truly happy for you. =)

Check with your doctor. If you can't go in for an appointment, take a pic of the area and email it to them. They can take a look at the pic and can advise you better. Phlebitis is common from an IV. The treatment is typically heat, elevation, and NSAIDS (the latter of which you can not do). The heat causes vasodilation (increased blood flow) and allows your body to begin healing the inflamed area. Please check with your doctor. Leave a message with the nurse letting them know what's going on, and that you can email a picture of the reddened area. Best wishes to you.

@@snowkitten, poor adherence does not mean a lack of a standard protocol exists. Perhaps the practitioners are simply making a judgement call that "A LOT" of the women getting Paps are not at risk. That does not eliminate the fact that an FOBT is supposed to be done. Perhaps it's an issue with insurance only covering the cost of the test for a population of women that fall within certain parameters, wherever it is that you do your job involving coding. Whatever the case may be..... The fact remains that an FOBT is the only screening method that can be used to detect early, serious problems such as cancer, in those of us not yet old enough to get a colonoscopy. Just because your practitioner chooses not to perform this test on you (for whatever reason) does not mean that it isn't a standard of care that is not being met - and is supposed to occur. Best wishes to everyone on their journey to health and their next Pap smear! Lol!

Describe the red patch a bit more. Is it in the same spot where your IV was? Above it, below it? Do you have a fever? Is it painful?

@@Ginger Snaps, exactly! Colonoscopies are not done until we're much older; when there are symptoms presenting that warrant the scope, or diseases such as Crohns, IBS, or Diverticulitis. The only early screening method available is that slip of the finger to do a FOBT. If you are not a teenager or person in your early 20s, that is supposed to be a part of your Pap exam. Any practitioner (and it sounds like there are plenty) that doesn't do this as part of your exam is doing you a disservice and decreases early detection of a potential problem. But hey, what do I know. I just live for that every 2 year slip of the finger! Lol!

@@beachgurl84 Nope! No need for me to get a different doctor. That's actually a standard procedure done with a Pap smear, unless you're really young (teens, early 20s). If your practitioner is not performing a FOBT at your Pap appointment, you aren't getting a complete physical exam, and perhaps YOU may want to find a different doctor. @@HaddocksEyes, your explanation is very heart felt and I totally get it. Wishing you nothing but the best in whatever journey you end up taking.

Easy. Part with your scale. If you are doing everything you're supposed to do, the scale will be your friend only when it reflects something you want to see. When it doesn't, it alters your mood and can make you feel as though you're wasting your time. I just would't get on it. Use clothing a size smaller as a measure of progress. Best wishes.

Btw, if the FOBT is what you're speaking of, they'll give you the card / slide to take home. After you wipe your butt, just use a piece of tissue and LIGHTLY rub a TINY, TINY amount on the card. Close it and mail it as instructed.

Is it just an FOBT (fecal occult blood test) or something else? If you are old enough to have had a Pap smear, I hate to break it to you, but you've already had one of those. It's done while your doctor or practitioner is palpating (feeling your abdomen for unusual masses) and they stick a gloved, lubricated finger up your @ss. Happens to every female. That finger is then smeared on top of the FOBT card and it's sent off to the lab. If that is not the test you are speaking of, it's highly unusual that they want to do anything more than that......unless something else is going on and they want to rule everything out. Best wishes to you.

Pugmadkate is correct. The sleeve is only covered if it's done at a military installation that does them. MOVE is their pathway program to WLS, though the name varies from facility to facility. 1). Referral from PCP to the program. 2). Enrollment in the next "class" which can vary. They limit the class sizes to about 20 people. I waited about 6 wks after being enrolled before my class opened. The first orientation class lasted about 3 hrs. You are introduced to the whole team of people: Surgeon, Nutritionist, Bariatric RN etc. Then you'll get a person-to-person visit with the surgeon that same day. 3). You are required to attend one support group meeting. They are only held once per month. 4. Two meetings / classes are required with the MOVE Program. They are about 6-8 weeks apart. 5). After the two MOVE classes, you'll have a one-on-one appointment with the dietician / nutritionist. You will be required to bring in your food journal and fitness journal to every appt you go to. You will be weighed at every appt. ..........The requirement is simply that you do not gain weight. You must either maintain your starting weight or lose weight - again, the latter not being required. You will have to do a 2 week liquid diet before surgery in order to shrink your liver so that the procedure can go smoothly. 6). If you have been compliant, the dietician usually clears you for surgery after one visit. If not, you'll have to continue individual nutrition classes until you demonstrate the ability to comply with a new way of eating and journaling. 7). Once cleared by Nutrition, your Psych Eval will be scheduled. Only one appt is required unless you are not cleared due to any "red flags"; if so, you'll have to return for another appt. 8). Once cleared by the Psychiatrist, your EGD gets scheduled and lab work repeated. If you have known medical problems that you see a specialist for, you'll need medical clearance from them around this time. 9). If your EGD is fine you are scheduled for a final appt with the surgeon to answer any last questions, then you are scheduled for surgery. If you are positive for H. Pylori, you will have to be treated with antibiotics until it is cleared; usually 2-3 weeks and they'll do a blood test to confirm that its presence is no longer in your belly before they will perform your surgery. 10). If your surgeon is NOT scheduled to deploy overseas or go TDY, and if you make every single appt and are compliant, surgery can happen about 4 months after beginning the process. Hope this helps!

I am so perplexed at the moment....... If your allegations are founded, Omar has some predatory behavior, and the women definitely need some counseling. I know exactly what patients look like post-operatively and attractive is FAR from it. If these women are alleging the inappropriate contact occurred while they were under the influence of drugs post-operatively, you don't need to be on this forum with this story, you need to be at a police station helping victims file a report. I've read a lot of posts and it seems that patients show up either the day before surgery or the day of surgery; so the opportunity to prey upon women while they have their wits about them is really limited; otherwise it occurs while they are hours or a day out of surgery and under the influence of medication. That is serious. It is a crime and should be reported. Only the people who experienced it truly knows what happened. If a crime occured, he should be reported whether it's one female or fifty females. I'm sure all of the details are not in your post, but I must tell you it almost sounds like he may use his position to pick up women. It would be no different than an athlete picking up women at a sporting event. Obese women (not all) often times do have low self esteem and can be vulnerable; however, women have fallen for men's pick-up lines and bullsh!t for a millennium. It's no different anywhere you go. Why in the world would an obese woman traveling to Mexico possibly think she has found love after a two day hit-and-miss encounter with a charming, helpful employee?

Don't quit weight training and throw away that scale. You do need to up your calories and increase water intake. Stay focused on keeping your skin tighter as opposed to the number on the scale. The weight training will not betray you and when you come out on the other end, you will be lean with tighter skin, instead of a low scale number with loose, hanging skin.

I would be equally frustrated under the circumstances and I'm so sorry this delay has happened to you. The issue really is one of liability. If you have a known medical problem such as sleep apnea and your pulmonologist does not clear you as safe for surgery, the liability of risk falls on your surgeon. There are many people who have undiagnosed sleep apnea and have surgery all of the time. If something untoward were to happen to them, it is unfortunate, but it's a risk the patient assumes when undergoing any kind of surgery. Prior to an operation, it would be considered negligence for a surgeon NOT to obtain medical clearance from any specialist (cardiology, pulmomology, renal etc.) a patient typically sees for medical care for a known disorder. It's a matter of policy, decreases lawsuits (malpractice), and ensures the safest circumstances for patients.

Slower weight loss coupled with great exercise = LESS loose, hanging skin. I'd say that is a huge plus, not a negative thing. Keep pushing, keep your head up, exercise, and throw out that scale. Today. If you're like most of us, you probably have clothes in different sizes that weight gain prevented you from wearing. Take out the next smallest size and try it on maybe once per week to see how it fits. The scale can be such a terrible and discouraging thing. Use clothes to monitor your progress instead. Best wishes to you.

Details on what worked for you please. Do tell! Lol!! And CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

If you set your life up for failure, you will be 100% successful at it. Saying "f it" is part of what got you into an obese state to begin with. You owe it to yourself and those that love you to quit shitting on your own progress. Reverting back to who you were and what you did prior to allowing your body to be cut open and having the majority of your stomach removed, is not cool, and frankly speaking YOU KNOW BETTER SO STOP IT. Many factors play into why one person drops weight quicker than another; only part of it has to with the sleeve. If you were the type to get on a diet and do well but quit and start self-sabotaging because ithe weight loss is just not fast enough - then maybe you are a yo-yo dieter who has wrecked your metabolism. Getting your stomach removed does not cure pyschological issues with food addiction. Getting your stomach removed does not fix your wrecked metabolism. Revisit the emotional turmoil you felt that led you down the irreversible path of WLS. Is it the surgery failing you or is it you failing the surgery? Be honest with yourself. Throw out your scale and your "f it" self sabotaging thoughts and do what you KNOW you need to do. This is your journey, not anyone else's and only you know how much damage you've done to yourself in the years leading up to the decision for surgery; knowing that, you can not possibly compare yourself to another's journey. You are worth so much more than purposefully choosing to go back where you came from - which for most obese people is sheer misery. I truly hope you despise what I wrote but realize its the truth and will be grateful for it later. Best wishes to you.

I haven't decided on having surgery just yet, but when I casually mentioned the idea to my mother, I was met with the "your cousin died from weight loss surgery." Very disheartening, not just to hear, but to hear it coming from her - the person who taught me everything I know about having a raging food addiction. If I decide on the surgery, my husband will be the only person I tell. I have a lot of time to make a decision, and in that time I'm going to drop as much weight as possible. My goal is at least 40lbs over the next 6-7 months; enough that it's very noticeable to everyone. I have a hiatal hernia that needs repairing that I've already talked about at work. So if I have surgery, my hernia will get repaired along with the sleeve and nobody needs to know about the latter. I'm not telling anyone else because I'm not interested in their feedback.

Definitely bring it up to the doctor at your next appointment. If it is your gallbladder, that's actually a good thing because they will most likely remove it at the same time as your gastric sleeve surgery; it won't hinder your pathway to surgery. When you get further in the pre-op process and have an EGD done, that will also help to diagnose the health of your gallbladder. Your initial recovery would be a bit rougher, but it would be better than undergoing a second surgery. What everyone else has said is correct; back pain is very common when a gallbladder attack happens. When it happened to me, I couldn't breathe and had to call 911; I just KNEW I was dying! Lol! Best wishes to you.

Lean on us for any rough moments post-operatively. It'll be easier on her to not see you suffer / struggle after surgery, given her concerns. I think your response after surgery can either lessen her fears or heighten them. My prayers are with your baby girl and that you have a textbook surgery and recovery, free of complications. Best wishes to you. ❤

Reflux / GERD.

One last thing.....vomiting is a common side effect with any narcotic any often times antibiotics when taken on an empty stomach. If you are not in a phase where you're able to eat anything, I'm not sure how you could buffer your stomach from the effects of the meds any other way.

I'll just address the parts about the vomiting, infection, and antibiotics since everyone has covered decorum! 1) As I'm sure you're aware, vomiting post-op is extremely common and can be caused by many, many things; including meds, lactose intolerance, refulx / GERD (even if you're raking a PPI), as well as dehydration to name a few. If you are really low on fluids, vomiting can occur and will continue until your fluids and electrolytes are normal. 2) It is quite possible to aspirate small amounts of stomach contents or fluids and develop pneumonia as a result of reflux / GERD. 3) Despite the TYPE of pneumonia you have, be it from a viral infection like a common cold or food aspiration - pneumonia is pneumonia. Once an infection is in the lung tissue (EVEN IF IT BEGAN AS A VIRAL INFECTION), a co-infection develops that IS BACTERIAL and must be treated with antibiotics. 4) You need a chest X-ray. 5) Good luck and I hope you begin to feel better soon.

Hey, Nikkitierney, it's very wise of you to consider these factors before surgery. You do have the option not to take pain meds after surgery but many people don't realize that pain medications are also given during surgery. Gastric Sleeve is a surgery requiring general anesthesia, and although you are fully asleep and unaware of what's going on, your body is not. Your brain still senses pain as the surgeon performs the work, and the nurse anesthetist will give you Fentanyl during the surgery for your body's response to pain; which typically includes fluctuating / elevating blood pressure, heart rate, and respirations, or fidgety movements. So please be aware that you most likely can not escape at least the intra-op pain medications that are given. Although, you can ask / request that narcotics or sedatives (Versed) not be given at all. It is possible that they may abide by your request. Good luck to you and congrats on your sobriety and your next victory against food. ????

This may be more about him than you. If both of you struggle with obesity there's comfort in numbers. There's an understanding and support about food addiction that other people just don't get (co-dependency). Your choice to change your lifestyle alters more than just your size. It may make him wonder about the future in a negative way......that maybe your interests and likes will change and he will no longer be who you desire to be with. He may not be ready to deal with your decision not because he doesn't support you, but how much that may affect him and his relationship with you. That being said, my best suggestion would be to stand firm in your decision - with ready words to defend / explain your choice at any given moment. If you waiver, he may feel as though there's a chance he can get you to change your mind. Assuming you two live together, I'd start cooking only healthy meals and purposefully exercise everday. Include him in the process while focusing on what you need to do. Hopefully he will come around and may begin losing weight along with you. Prayers to you for peace, success, and happiness. ????