BitterSweet*

Lovenox is given to a great majority of patients after any kind of major surgery. A lot of people don't realize they've been given the injections after surgery because it's frequently done in the recovery room when you're not fully awake from anesthesia. Anyway, the needles are extremely tiny - the same size as insulin needles. If you do have to do injections for a few days or a week, that's much easier than remaining overweight, developing diabetes, and possibly doing insulin injections for the rest of your life. =)

Cut your pill into fours. Whatever kind of flavored beverage you're allowed, pour a bit in your mouth without swallowing, then quickly stick 1/4 of the pill in your mouth and take another sip. It should float down. Flagyl is a large pill, but if it was prescribed for you, I would do just what you're doing now - and that's finding any way to get it down. Good luck.

H. Pylori can be resistant to treatment in people who have moderate to extreme usage of antibiotics over time, for one infection or another. You clearly don't fall into that category, so you shouldn't have any trouble. Good luck to you!

Under the circumstances....... 1. Do not consume anything with salt. 2. Drink nothing but water. No juice. No shakes. 3. Drink Magnesium Citrate. 4. Take a very long walk...... My bad. Do the long walk BEFORE the Mag. Citrate ????????. 5. Do not wear heavy clothes (ie. jeans) or shoes to your weigh-in. Cotton & flip flops that you can kick off. 6. Good luck. You'll easily meet your goal.

Sounds like her quality of life is really being affected. I'd suggest that she pay for her full medical records at the hospital that did her surgery. When you request a copy of your medical records from anywhere, you're only given a fraction of the whole record. Have her request the ENTIRE file from medical records; they will charge a per page fee, but she will get all handwritten notations from nurses, doctor etc, including if she really is part of a study. If they have done something inappropriate, it'll be in her file. Best wishes

How old are you, is your heart rate elevated, and do you feel lightheaded, shaky or dizzy when you wake up?

Which one of the suggestions worked for you?

Bring your CPAP with you to the hospital. You may need it after surgery, not during surgery. Your vital signs will be monitored while in the hospital and receiving pain medication so don't worry. Once you are discharged, you should use your CPAP as instructed, as well as for naps the first day that you're home and/or if you're still taking pain medication. Good luck to you.

Blondebomb, thank you for sharing your story. I can certainly appreciate all of your struggles. I am one of those people that considers more than just today. Part of it is my type A personality, and the other part is because I have a medically fragile child whose life is very unpredictable. So considering and planning for "what ifs" is second nature to me. It's taken a great deal of courage to even admit that I need help with my food addiction, and reading others' stories solidifies for me that getting therapy is more important than having surgery. I've read so many threads of people wishing they had prepared more mentally for this huge change versus focusing just on the sugery. After surgery, the only thing different is the size of your stomach. Every mental hang-up, angst, and ounce of depression is present and accounted for. I think once the excitement wears off and especially after stalls begin to happen, the potential to fall back into old habits is strong. Just because we physically can't eat pounds of food after surgery, doesn't mean that our minds got that message. Many people seem to get it and truly change their lives for the better, but I know myself. I know how bad my depression can get. I know that food fills a void like nothing else for me, and the last thing I want to do is trade a food addiction for some other problem, like alcoholism. There's a distinct reason why many people who have WLS end up tiny and healthy weight wise, but also quickly pick up another vice......issues that haven't been dealt with like you've done by seeking therapy, are thrust in our faces after surgery; I believe people's stories when they say how much harder it makes the recovery and adjustment process since food can't be used for comfort anymore. All that being said, I think the gastric sleeve is an exceptional tool that can cause permanent, positive changes. My opinion is just that it's not as important as mental health. We all became overweight by one simple reason. We have an unhealthy relationship with food, even if there are other factors present that makes weight loss more difficult. It is a fact that I readily admit and accept about myself, which is why I'm here seeking support from others. Best wishes to you. ????

It's always better to be cautious and seek help if you are really concerned......that being said, if you can point to where it hurts on your chest with one finger, it's not your heart. True chest pain is very difficult to ignore. As we get older, everyone gets premature ventricle contractions (PVCs) and some people can actually feel them when they occur; that may explain your feeling. If you are dehydrated and change your position (sitting to standing etc), your heart rate will speed up to sort of catch up and compensate for a low blood pressure (due to dehydration). That can also cause a weird or funny feeling. Lastly, reflux will create a funny feeling that can be misconstrued as chest discomfort. Trust your instincts when you really feel like something is wrong.

I can relate 100%. I still have not decided if I'm going to have the surgery or not, and my excitement about the idea of it pales in comparison to others. I don't think there's a right or wrong way to feel. For me, I view this sort of like a marriage. If all of my focus is on the big day, I am less focused on the rest of my life, which is what really matters. I am all about getting my mind prepared for a change, one way or another. Cutting my stomach out of my body does not and will not cure my addiction and emotional attachment to food. Once I have a better handle on why I have no control over food and my weight, I'll seriously consider the surgery.