Cococat

Constipation is routine. I think most sleevers have experienced it. I did not go fro 5 days. Ask your doctor about a Fleet Enema. It moves the last part of your intestines, the part closest to the blockage. BUT you must ask your doctor.

I am an old Long Island Girl living in FL now. Sleeved in FL on Sept. 10th. Good to see you are going for bariatric surgery. I have cousins on L.I. who are interested in my operation. I will tell them about Brookhaven. I don't know if they will ever do it. It it is not for everyone. Wishing you good health and great happiness.

Everyone on this board has gone through most of what you are going through right now. I was sleeved on Sept. 10. I was also perplexed at the number of hoops that the insurance people make you jump through. My doctor's office made it as easy for me as possible. The faxes went flying from every doctor to every doctor! Somehow I managed. I was at a point where I knew my health required a vertical sleeve. I resolved that I would get all my ducks in a row, so to speak, and if the insurance people did not approve of my surgery, I was going to get the surgery anyway and pay for it myself. I was desperate. I also had second thoughts! YES! I was lying there one night after all of my approvals came through, with an operation date settled, and suddenly I felt that I was being taken on a rollercoaster ride. I was strapped into my "seat" and felt as if everything was set in motion and ready to go. A bit scarey. But then I thought of my hypertension, my sleep apnea, my cholesterol and my poor old knees (which I never want to replace) and kept focused on regaining my health. I have a closet full of clothes that I want to wear again. I want to be treated like a human being instead of a tub of lard. My operation went well. I explained to my anesthesiologist that I get nauseated by all anesthesia, and he put some anti-nausea meds into my I.V. Result: No nausea. No gas bubbles. Some pain. Got over that in three or four days. Husband was and remains supportive. Also: Just to make things a tad more miserable - I broke a tooth a week before surgery. I did not change the date. Surgeon agreed. I was able to withstand the tooth pain (minor) and accompanying headache. I had the tooth removed on the 25th of September. I have been taking pain meds and they caused me an epic experience in constipation. Drink water! BUT, it has all been worth it. Stuff happens. Doubts arise. But keep your mind focused on the prize - a new life - a new you. You will become your own hero. Everyone here knows what you are going through. Good luck and hang in there!

I hate to throw cold Water on this topic but never post your photos online. The photos on this site are not secure. Anyone with a simple photo program can copy them off. Your photo may be used by anyone in the world for any reason, legal or illegal. There is a chance that some flim-flam artist from Nigeria, posing as a nice person (you) will use your photo to cheat another person out of money. There are a lot of ways to do it. Never post your photos online. I hope Bariatricpal can either make the photos that appear here secure or they will take them down.

This might be off topic but I do not know where to post this. The photos that you post on this site are not secure. That means anyone in the WORLD who wants to use a photo of a sweet looking person and who has even a rudimentary program, can lift your photo(s) and use them any way they like. You might want to think twice about posting a photo of yourself anywhere at any time on any site on the Internet. I hope this site has a feature where you can remove your photo if you wish. Ask. You might wonder who would lift a photo? Maybe some flim-flam artist from Nigeria who sends people a letter saying that he is a 35 year old female from South Africa in need of funds. Scam artists will use whatever photos they can get a hold of. Don't ever post your photos anywhere.

I am 67 and I can't be bothered telling half truths. To mince words means those people who presumably would not be in favor of my decision, have an opinion that counts. They do not. In my mind, I am proud to take this step. I am not ashamed to admit I need surgical help. Anyone who ventures a negative opinion, I listen to politely ... the first time. After that, if they bother me with their unsolicited opinions, I tell them that they are welcome not to have the surgery if they like. These people often are bent on undermining your confidence and sabotaging your weightloss. Maybe it is unconscious, maybe not. I expect to loose friends because I will be slimmer than they are. So what?

So, he will no longer be attracted to you if you lose weight? Tell him that if he misses your fat so much, he can get a can of Crisco and he can cuddle up to that. Seriously, he married you for your inner qualities, didn't he? What has fat got to do with it? Someone else said that he is an insecure man who is trying to control you so that only he finds you attractive, so he can keep you. He really is threatened by the thought of losing you once you get trim. I do not know how to make him feel less threatened. He needs counseling. He sounds as if he has been "sharing" with other male friends who have planted within him scare stories about wives who have left their husbands after becoming fit. That guy needs help.

The only thing I can suggest is a "doughnut" pillow. I had to take the stress off my bottom after delivering a 10 lb. baby boy, and experienced tail pain, so I think I know what you are talking about. A "doughnut" pillow is shaped like a doughnut, a pillow with a large hole in the middle. (Shaped like an old life preserver) You sit with the sore area not touching the pillow. Where to get one? Maybe at a surgical supply store. Some are inflatable and not expensive. You can probably find many different kinds, including memory foam ones.

To Karen: My doctor prescribed Protonix (Generic name: Pantoprazole DR 40 MG Tab) for acidity. I take it evey morning. Result: No acid reflux and no pain. I also take: Zofran (Generic name: Ondansetron 4 MG Tab) for nausea. I am allowed 1 to 2 tablets for nausea every 4 to 6 hours. I have taken it once a day. He prescribes these as a matter of regular practice. Every one of his patients gets these meds, knowing that most people will not take meds when they do not need them.

67 years old sleever. Got sleeved on 9/10 - late AM. The doctor did a leak test on the surgery table immediately folowing operation. No leaks. Stayed overnight, and checked for leaks the following day. No leaks. Left hospital noon, 9/12. Groggy the first day. Got up with nurses' help several hours afterward. No gas at all. No gas pains. Some abdominal discomfort, managed by pain meds in hospital and afterward at home. Am taking zofran for nausea - no nausea as a result. Am taking Protonix for acid - result: no acid problems. Am still a little sore, but I am taking it slow. Had an epic episode of diarrhea on the day I returned home. Had Depends. I recommend using Depends after surgery until things calm down. Living on protein drinks and water. At this time I am also eating clear homemade chicken soup, which has lots of protein - no noodles, tiny bits of chicken. Mushed up soft carrots and celery. I have gone out on long drives and no worse for wear. I take a liquid vitamin/mineral supplement which I seem to be tolorating well.

Cococat replies: First, you are not alone. You have US. Your husband is unconsciously or consciously trying to torture you for having the courage that he lacks, to get this operation. I feel sorry for him that he is so narcissitic and fearful. Men like that who are obese but do not want to do anything about it (and who sabotage your efforts) are also afraid of losing their spouse when their spouse gets thin. WHEN you get thin, you will get a lot of attention ... which he will resent. Your husband is a child. When you join the gym, (as you should) he will feel even more threatened because you will be meeting new people (read that as admiring men) and have a new life, apart from his obese one. If there is a light at the end of the tunnel it is that he might eventually see the error of his ways and join you in a healthier lifestyle, or he will eat himself so large that he will stuff himself to death with food. At which point you should make a beautiful, and thin widow. Make sure he has LOTS of life insurance.

I will be having the sleeve in Sept. If you are in Medicare (age qualified) and want to know what qualifies you for Medicare approval, Google: "Medicare, bariatric surgery." There should be a list of co-morbidities that if you have (3 on a list of seven or eight) qualifies you to be covered by Medicare. CHECK FOR YOURSELF. Things change, as we all know. For all I know, their requirements may have changed by the time you read this! My family doctor and my arthritis doctor were all gung-ho that I get this surgery. My bariatric doctor's office was very helpful in going through all the Medicare things with me. I believe that my sleeve procedure will improve my health and be cheaper for Medicare in the long run. Funny, but at the point where I said to myself, to heck with the cost, I need this surgery, I found out Medicare will cover it if you qualify. Advice: Check to see what the requirements are. You may be pleasantly surprised. Your bariatric surgeon and his staff have been through it before and can give you the best advice.