Cococat

Bouff, I got my sleeve in Naples.

Hello, Bouff, Dr. Bass and his staff are beyond excellent. Totally understanding and respectful. They have everything down pat. My hospital stay was practically painless due to good meds and Dr. Bass' technique. I brought a robe but did not have to wear my own nightgown - just the hospital nightgown. You get booties so you will not need slippers, except to go home with. The robe I needed because they make you go for walks as soon as possible. I wore Depends and needed it because surgery does strange things to my ability to hold my water. Things are much better now. You will not feel like eating anything although you will get broth and Jello in the hospital. Before surgery I told EVERYBODY - the doctor, the anesthesiologist - the nurses - that I get nauseous with surgery. The anesthesiologist put an anti-nausea medicine in my I.V. during the procedure. It worked for me! Post-Op - I got prescriptions for nausea and acid reflux. Stomach hurt after surgery but was better because of meds. My incisions are practically invisible by now. I went back into my pool - to exercise - a couple of weeks after surgery. I did not overdo exercising as I am an old bean. Ask Dr. Bass when you can get some exercise in. I like the support groups that Dr. Bass provides. Stick to their advice, especially his nutritionist, post-op. Prepare yourself to have your tastes change. Those sweet Protein drinks might taste very, very sweet post-op. It is hard for me to get them down now - and I was a sugar freak. I bought Vitamins from Dr. Bass because I was not sure what kinds were good. I bought extra Biotin for my hair. Prior to operation, get and prepare jello and buy protein drinks and chicken broth (I made my own chicken Soup and froze it in ice tray cubes so I could access them quickly). Dr. Bass and his staff have done so many of these procedures (Vertical sleeve gastrectomy) they really know how to handle everything. Dr. Bass is outstanding. Go along with the program - they know what they are doing.

Yes, Finediva, I anticipate a turkey neck, too. I have made peace with the fact that I might need plastics. I am an old coot (67) and probably will wrinkile up more than most will (!) but my husband is on board with my getting plastic surgery at some point in the future. I have heard that one must wait a year and a half to think about having plastics. More time to save money! Considring that Medicare and my supplemental paid 100% of all tests and costs so far, it still is a good deal for me. PLUS, the main thing is that my sleeve addressed my co-morbidities and will improve my health.

Yes, I know what you are saying - that her entire industry about one's physical appearance meaning a lot less than one's spiritual self. Let's see how long she can do that until her knees and her Spanx give out! I always hated the way my neck got fat. No Spanx for that!

I did not know that she had had an entire gastric bypass AND then revised it to a Lap-band. She always seemed like a person who enjoys excess ... but boy, that is really overdoing it. I guess if one has the money....

Yes. Sharon had a Lap-band done ... maybe 4 or 5 years ago ... maybe even longer ago than that. Anyway, I heard her discuss it on TV. She lost tons of weight and did lots of plastic surgery afterward. Things went well but she eventually developed colon cancer that was not related to the bariatric surgery. She had her Lap-band removed. That's all I know.

I did not know she had a bariatric procedure. Good for her! I wish Oprah would go that route. At some point, most of us just have to admit that we need HELP! But I guess if you have more money than almost anyone else - frig the world and pass the carbohydrates.

I lived in NJ for 20 years. Loved it. Great state. I think the Gov. has done a good job of losing weight, but I think you may be right about the sleeve.

Thanks for your list. Also add, Chris Christie, Gov. of NJ. He looks better.

Some people say that hair loss is a part of the bariatric surgery experience. You might be interested in reading more about it. To those who are experiencing hair loss after sleeve gastrectomy, Google: Telogen effluvium. You will find many explainations about hair loss, some of which are connected to shocks to the system, severe diets being one. There is information there about the nutrients needed to keep our hair follicles "awake" and growing.

I just remembered that young man on that Pawn Show - The show that is located in Las Vegas. Well, the guy's name is Hoss and he is the pawn shop owner's son. I recall him saying that he got sick of being overweight and walked into a bariatric clinic. He paid on his credit cards. He got a Lap-band. I have not heard for sure but it looks like his friend, Chumlee, has also lost a lot of weight.

Oh, yes. I do recall seeing her on those Weight Watchers commercials. Good luck to her whatever weight loss program or procedure works for her. She is a lovely girl. I really liked her attitude when she was unceremoniously voted off American Idol. She was fantastic - She had the certainty of the truly gifted and determined. She knew she would be a star, and a star she is. Another Lap Band user was Ozzy Ozborn's wife - Sharon. She had it removed eventually.

Of course, Randy Jackson. How could I forget. Starr Jones, too. Hey, we are accumulating quite a list here. I love Randy Jackson. He still looks strong and formidable.

Lisa Lampanelli - Yes, I remember. Thanks. And Jennifer Hudson!? I knew she got thinner but I did not know she did it the bariatric way. Best wishes for all of them ... and US!

Thanks for filling out the picture for me. Yes, I do recall that Al Roker, Rosie O'Donnel and Carnie Wilson had had procedures done. Now that I think of it Rosanne Barr also had some kind of bariatric surgery done many years ago. Kudos to them all. May it improve their health and make them happier.

Do not post any of your photos anywhere online, even here. As in most places on the Internet, photos are not secure. Even with a crummy photo program, your photos can be lifted and placed into ANY ad, or as someone wrote, on to Craigslist advertising sexual favors. If you notice, I do not even put my photo alongside my postings. I am a graphic artist and photoshop specialist and know what I am talking about. Take this information seriously.

I am 67 and was sleeved on Sept. 10th. I am only a few weeks out, but I do not regret it so far. My motivation for getting sleeved was for health reasons. The tests that I had to go through before surgery uncovered a severe sleep apnea problem, which is now being addressed with a CPAP machine. I had high blood pressure which even at this early date is in the process of lowering. My arthritic knee no longer hurts. I can actually move! I have high cholesterol, which is being monitored and hopefully will come under control. My quality of life was nil, but after surgery seems to be getting better. I have a great doctor and his staff is helpful. All give nutritional guidance and a positive outlook. I had a few semi-rough days following surgery but I absolutely HAD to get this surgery because nothing else worked! I do not want to have knee or hip replacements, as some of my family members have had to get. Thankfully, I have a supportive husband who has helped me 100% on this journey. I could not walk anymore. Now we are planning vacations again. I am down 34 pounds since the surgery. I have no regrets.

sleep apnea is a co-morbidity. If you want to qualify for Medicare, you need three co-morbidities. (Do research on the Internet) I had/have severe sleep apnea. I LOVE my CPAP machine and feel great after using it. Medicare just began covering sleeve operations about a year and a half ago. Apparently they must feel as if cutting down a person's weight surgically lessens the chance of more expensive procedures in the future (knee and hip replacements, plus rehab. and physical therapy). I am all for it! I was sleeved on Sept. 10th and am down 30 pounds. My bad knee can be walked on! My blood pressure is near normal. I don't know about my cholesterol yet, but time will tell. So, having sleep apnea is not so bad if you get a good CPAP machine, AND it partially qualifies you fro Medicare. I would not be surprised if sleep apnea helped qualify peiople for Medicare - but of course that goes by state.

I am 67 and had my sleeve surgery on Sept. 10th. I am down 30 pounds so far. Even just losing that amount has made a great difference. My bad knee feels better. I went on a half-mile Nature walk at a local park. Just enough excercise for now. I hope to get better. I had no gas pains after the operation. I find it somewhat difficult to get in all my Protein and Water, but I am determined to follow instructions. Prior to surgery, I had to take many tests. Cardio. Pulmonary. X-Rays. Scans. It is great to know I am now in pretty good shape. The tests I took now form a baseline for tests I have in the future. Medicare covered all tests and also the operation, since I have three co-morbidities: High Blood Pressure,High cholesterol, Severe sleep Apnea. I love my CPAP machine. Brain cells die when they do not get enough oxygen. I hope losing weight will improve all of my co-morbidities. So far, so good. My blood pressure appears to be lower already. Medicare has only been covering gastric operations for weight control since January 2013. I guess they figure by taking the weight off, it might forstall the need for knee and hip replacements and therapy, and maybe even heart attacks and strokes. Good call. My advice to all people over 65 on Medicare who are thinking of a sleeve gastrectomy to help with their co-morbidities is to look into bariatric procedures while they are still covered by Medicare. .

I never hear anyone, doctor, nurse or nutritionist talk about peristaltic action. Peristalsis is: A sequence of muscle contractions that progressively squeeze one small section of the digestive tract and then the next, to push food along the tract, something like pushing toothpaste out of its tube. This is the normal way our digestive systems work. When we have a gastric sleeve, we still have peristaltic action but because we have reduced our smaller stomach to the size of a "tube", we feel it more intensely. I am no doctor but I think it might be necessary to reteach our newly sensitized digestive systems to accept food, albeit a limited amount, and reteach our minds to be cognizant of our new limitations.

Last things first: Your husband. You have unreasonable expectations of his ability to think beyond his own needs. Think of him as a wonderful pet - like a nice, big fuzzyfaced German Shepherd. You would never surrender your dinner to your pet, no matter how wonderful he was or how much he begged, right? Do not do it to a man. If you want to share, give him the part you want him to have. Better yet, say sweetly, "No, I don't want to share this with you." No explainations. You have the right. Then if you do not finish it, throw the remainder into the garbage can. You might run it around your plate until it looks like an awful mess and then spit into it before you throw it away, too. Blowing your nose on your plate also works to deter him ... almost always, but with men you never know. As for the first part of your posting: Eat really slowly. The same thing happened to me today (sleeved Sept. 10th). I knew I ate my dinner too fast. Our digestive systems have to get used to their new states. Do not surprise your new stomach.

I wondered about the same things. After surgery, if you get the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, you will have less than 40% of your original stomach left (depending on the doctor. Ask him.). The remainder will be removed permanently. Your remaining tiny stomach (shaped like a bannana) will feel full with a very small portion of food. I eat three teaspoons of yogurt and I stop eating. You must also eat and drink a lot slower. So, "Does it function NORMALLY"? Yes and no. It is a LOT smaller. As for the staples: I asked my doctor and he said that they are very tiny and stay in place forever. He has never heard of them getting loose and causing problems. My doctor told me they do not cause problems going through airport screening devices, for example. They are made of titanium, which is non-ferrous - not steel or Iron. They never rust. Removing a big section of the stomach has been done for many years as a result of having an ulcer, for example. Doctors noticed that those who had sleeve gastrectomies also lost weight as a result of the operation. So they eventually used sleeve gastrectomies to curb appetite and facilitate weight loss. As with all information, ask your surgeon. He/she is the authority. Do not be shy to ask. It's your body.

I take a thyroid medication first thing in the morning, as usual, post op. I don't take it with 8 oz. of water at a time. I could not manage that much water in that short a time. Ask your doctor. So far, I have lived.

Nice to see Disney has such compassion for people who do not fit their mold of perfection. Not. Somebody ought to get on their case. If that isn't discrimination, nothing is. Kudos to you for putting up with such insulting treatment with grace and style. You will take those qualities into your next "incarnation" into the world of the sleek and slim. You will be slender AND have compassion and grace. I have learned quite a bit being a fat woman. I will use my experiences in being overweight to be more understanding of others. I will use being fat as a life lesson.

As far as what you might like, I can only tell you what I like and what I might choose. Applesauce. They make several types which come in sealed cups. I usually get two or three nibbles out of one cup. My nutritionist says to get the non-sugar kind, but of course, I like the kind that has a bit of sugar. Applesauce is light, filling, and does not leave an aftertaste. I suggest that you buy both the sugared kind and the non-sugar kind and do a taste test. Second choice: Yogurt. Of course you might like either one or both to be a bit chilled. That's the reason God made cold packs. Put a cold pack in the bottom of your carry-all and load it with applesauce and yogurt. Just a suggestion.