WLSResources/ClothingExch

One of the three beauties named above has already refused to show his legs. @@OKCPirate, maybe? Not that I'll name names. @@KindaFamiliar @@OKCPirate @@Dub I just don't see the men showing off clothing styles here.(That is what my apology was for ). Men please prove me wrong and post photos modeling your clothing styles... Yes we look we appreciate Yes, edited and messed up on the process.

@@jenn1 -- You are one hot babe. I hope the tears didn't douse the birthday candles.

I'm so surprised that it's done on a preventive basis. Thirty years ago I had what seemed to be acute appendicitis. Routine ultrasound at the ER showed gallstones, but all other tests confirmed appendicitis. If it hadn't been for the appendix, I wouldn't have known about the stones. The surgeon wouldn't take both organs, saying it would mean too much chance for infection. He suggested doing the GB six months later. My choice was to keep it, as it hadn't been problematic and perhaps I could go through life that way. About 25 years later, around the time that I began the pre-WLS process, mild GB symptoms began and increased gradually. A general surgeon (not WLS) told me that the pain I described didn't match the usual GB complaints and to go ahead with band surgery. As WLS got closer, the GB pain was still increasing, but still not so bad. I nagged my WLS to do banding and let the GB wait. Banding in October. Then I had no choice but to do GB two months later. My band surgeon did it with an "I told you so" grin-smirk and with affection. We really do like each other.. .

A list of abbreviations was just posted. It looks as though the poster will ask that it be pinned. It could probably be include in FAQ when the time comes. Another suggestion from me: Ask new participants at least to put their chosen surgery procedure and the date/expected date in profile. The info is often pertinent when trying to give useful responses. This would be part of the "welcome, here are tips for getting started" communication from BP, but highlighting it elsewhere would help. Many leave blanks.

@@James Marusek -- you are wonderful

@@tfarr -- Is not to worry.

@@lovelylala -- You don't have to tell anyone you don't wish to tell. If your med plan from work is covering your surgery, people in your benefits office will know, but they are required to keep the information confidential. When co-workers and family comment on your weight loss, simply tell them that you've been eating differently and exercising. They may be suspicious and badger you into revealing surgery. If that occurs, some probably will say that you're taking the easy way. They are wrong. We do the same things anyone does -- again, make great changes in eating habits and exercising. The surgery is an aid to the effort, but we are the ones doing the work.

That's a forum for people who've had problems? No problem is good, but mine wasn't the worst and I found a way through it mentally and emotionally. A 10cc lapband (I'm sure none of you is talking about banding) was placed on Monday afternoon. The rest of the day went well, sipping Water and Clear liquids and no more than the expected discomfort. In the morning I went to radiology for esophagram; my plan requires overnight stay, which was fortunate. I swallowed the barium; it came back up immediately.. After that I couldn't tolerate even the smallest sip of water and I was in constant pain from the tightness of the band. My surgeon could only speculate that there'd been enough fat on a part of the liver not visible during surgery or swelling or both. My thought: "Get this damned thing out of me and let me go home." She ordered IV, as I needed to be hydrated, and recommended waiting a while to see if things changed spontaneously, i.e., swelling does down. I was on IV and made full use of the self-controlled synthetic morphine dispenser (don't recall the correct names for these things). It was probably Wednesday that I evolved from "Get it out" to "After all this, no way am I leaving here without a band." On Thursday, with no change, she reserved the OR to replace the band with a 14cc. Friday success and Saturday, after esophagram, return home. I love my surgeon and don't think she was negligent. Six years is enough distance that I rarely recall the incident.

Had to read that twice. First time I thought you'd married someone half your age. Hm, this arithmetical genius now realizes that if she were half your age, it would have been a very recent wedding.

Not everyone is hit by doubts once the door to the OR is opened, but many are. While we're going through the rigmarole of requirements -- diet, psych eval, RD consults and whatall else -- our minds are occupied with the details. Surgery is some nebulous thing in the distance. Once all the pre-nonsense is out of the way and the mental occupation is cleared, "Uh-oh, what am I doing What was I thinking?" Some may feel discouraged, as @@Fat2Phat2016 mentions. I think that, in general, it's more about recognizing that the requirements no longer obscure the view of the OR. When people are ambivalent, I suggest a making a list of the reasons to lose weight. I skip the "cons," as I think they are few and obvious. (Pro and con lists work wonders in other areas.) Write out the things you want that surgery will enable in the most specific terms. Examples: Get on floor to play with kids; sit in a theater seat with room to spare; size 7 knickers; not be stared at by other diners in a restaurant; feel sexually desirable, feel more sexual, bed looks larger when I'm in it, no longer have signs of diabetes 2, to sweat less. Include the serious and the vain and whimsical. No reason is shallow or foolish. Add to the list as new "I wants" come to mind. Then, when the time comes, check them off as you achieve them. The list isn't a sales pitch to one's self. Surgery must be a free choice, not the result of bombardment. The list is for taking stock of who we are, where we came from and where we want to go. It's a basis for choosing surgery. Or deciding against, if that's the case (I'm no proselytizer). What do you want and will surgery be effective in helping you get there? I suppose it's that simple, simple, but not necessarily easy. You have to be willing to do the work. You have to want to do the work. If you've been doing the work, you likely have the drive to follow through. I got there only because I tiptoed in backward, a most clumsy gait. When the possibility of surgery came to me, it was accompanied by "Huh? Do I want that? Could I want that...do that?" I was nowhere near ready to see it as something real, but I didn't want to drop the idea. I invented a trick on myself (which has worked a couple of times since when I was facing other, seemingly monumental things). The first step, the info seminar, was coming up: "Go hear what they have to say, just to see what the seminar is like, and then I'll never have to do anything else." Next, the consult with the surgeon: "Make the appointment to see what she has to say and then I'll never have to do anything else." I continued the pattern with each subsequent step. Because of my age, my medical plan (I think it was the plan rather than the surgery practice) required endoscopy and colonoscopy. I made appointments and that's when I knew I was serious. What sort of weirdo has a colonoscopy just to see what it's like? On the day of surgery a nurse brought a wheelchair to take me from the prep area to the OR. I chose to walk. As I entered, the nurses and anesthesiologist, surgical masks in place, looked up and called out loud, friendly greetings. The surgeon walked in while tying her mask. i I felt as though I'd arrived at a surprise masquerade party being held in my honor. I'd never have guessed that a surgery could have a fun start.

I understood that. The last time it was socially-acceptable to talk about [whisper] such matters, or maybe just overlooked, was when we were being toilet trained. I was being half-serious and half-teasing, but apparently flopped, .It's not the first time and no doubt it won't be the last. Anyway, if you have time, do take a look at that link. I think you'll get a kick out of it.

@@fairgge -- the neurologist suggestion is excellent. Muscles and nerves are a package deal. What you've been experiencing shouldn't be happening.. Hitting your head on concrete just registered with me. Did you black out? Since it happened, have you experienced any dizziness or headaches? Nausea? Vision changes? Confusion? Speech difficulties? Numbness, especially on one side of your body? Was your head bruised at the contact spot (which would be no surprise)? Even if the answers are "No," let the neuro know about the head-bangs. If any are "Yes," tell the person you speak with when you call for an appointment. Asking for ideas here is step. Next is to seek further medical attention. You don't want to be falling and, the sooner you find out what's causing it, the sooner you'll be done with it. P.S. I have no medical training. I asked about all those symptoms because I was asked about all of them when I went to the ER the day after I sustained a concussion six months ago. I've experienced and still experience headaches, dizziness and some vision oddities, though all have improved over time. Nausea set in only twice in the first couple of weeks after my fall.

@@BLERDgirl -- Thanks for the clarification. With so many print ads and commercials for "try it and if ...." for a long time, I've wondered. But, when someone does return a bed after the trial period, what happens with it? If it's then turned around and sold to another customer it's used merchandise. @@Inner Surfer Girl -- The "male only" notice doesn't appear on the listings on the right of screen. Oh, no. The ever-gracious @@Dub has tolerated and spoken to us. Dub, say the word and I'll pack my sheets and duvet and quietly depart your slumber party. It just came to me that when I wanted a new bed, I asked my spine doctor for an opinion. He or perhaps the medical assistant mentioned that, after a "certain age (I suppose I was early-ish 60's, but if you tell anyone I said so, I'll deny it)," it's generally best to avoid extra firm mattresses -- go for something with a little give to support the various curves." My spine issue is L4-5 herniation. Also, I"ve never been happy with the bed I bought. The mattress is foam with a pillow top. I can't say now what the foundation is. It called to me at the store. I lay on it a while, then went to try another, came back, try yet another, etc., etc. Each time I lay on the one I purchased, I was sure it felt better than all the others. I've since come to think that the pillow top was the charm and also prevented me from getting the full effect of pillowtop-on-foam. I find it too hard. (Also weighs 20 tons, making it extremely difficult to rotate.) It's an Englander and I'd have to find the receipt to give you the model no. Which is unlikely to mean anything -- what are chances the same number is still in production. Also, mfrs will make certain models, but apply different numbers and even different fabric coverings so that various chains will not seem to have the same things. I've been told that prices for the same bed bearing different model numbers vary greatly. I bought at a private, local store and I can't guess how mfrs work model numbers for such places. I've been told that there really are only 2 or 3 U.S. mfrs (I don't know if the sleep number type come under either/any of their banners or are independent companies), each using any number of brand names. That's part of it -- one chain has one label while another chain as another label, but the bed is the same. You may know all that and may know if I'm in error on points. In any case I hope I've been even a tiny bit helpful. P.S. Now can I stay?

@@Dub == Sleeveless here, so no advice, but I just wanted to say I didn't realize your surgery was so recent. Now I wish you double best.. .

You have to be careful with these "try it out at home for xxx days -- if you don't like it, money back, no questions asked." When the bed is delivered, the delivery men take away the one you have, which would make great good sense if you already know that new item is like Baby Bear's bed.. If you then want to return the new one, what will you sleep on? I have no idea how insistent the delivery people are -- whether it's a strong-arm operation? A scameroo? Buying a bed's a britch.

@@Dub -- Have you asked your spine doctor if he/she has some thoughts on choosing a bed? If not a specific recommendation,* maybe some tips on what would suit you? Buying a bed is difficult. Like buying shoes, many can feel good in the store, but once you're home... * Even with a specific recommend, you'd need to try it out, keep going back to it in the store between lying on others. But you knew that.

Not I. In fact I've never heard of such a thing. You're asking, so I believe it's done, but what a surprise!

Yippee!! Why is it so easy for so many (me, included, but that's different, of course ) to too often skip over the obvious? Is making things more complicated than necessary a better-paying job? @@phatfatgirl -- knock 'em out.

Isn't it far more embarrassing to wipe without ease? You and @@sbrainwater missed a priceless NSV topic. I think the originator, @@dhrguru, was more embarrassed discussing it than experiencing it. (I'm putting her name in blue so that she's notified that she's being held up as a shining beacon.) I won't reveal anything so that, if you check it out, you'll get the full impact. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/353620-the-view-from-down-there-a-ladies-room-post/ When I think of one that I can categorize as embarrassing, I'll be back. Welcome to you both.

Hey, @@Dub, I don't have any recommendations, but thought you might appreciate this old NSV. It's since been replaced by a queen, but, at the time of surgery, I had a full-sized bed. Prior to surgery, at my all-time high of 311, I'd lie in it and feel so miserable. It looked and felt as though I were in a twin., When I lost about 100 lbs, I wasn't checking, but happened to notice how much larger the bed seemed, enough that I thought of myself as having lost a whole bed size.

@@nikkimapr -- Thank you for the update. I thought it might be that simple-but-not--so-cheerful and am glad you made the call.

@@fairgge -- I have no answers for you and won't waste our time with speculation. All I can offer is the suggestion that you use a cane for support for as long as keeps you from falling. You probably don't like hearing it, but the alternate may be broken bones or concussion. While you're being tested, examined and prodded for the source and a solution, do whatever will keep you upright. If the falls have been not frequent and you have some warning signs before, you might prefer a collapsible cane which you can whip out when needed. I think they're made of sections on a bungee cord or similar. I've never seen them in places like CVS, so you might need to visit a surgical supply store to try one out. If two canes of any type will have you feeling more secure on your feet, go for it. Maybe one of each type -- the regular one for regular use and the other when additional support is indicated. Consider a walker, too. Your safety is more important now than vanity.

Super! I knew it. It's a good thing I scrolled down before starting a note to you. Had I started writing when I read that, at 3:15, you were still obsessing somewhat, but at least armed with data, I'd have wasted time talking about it (but accomplished some funny material, I hope, for your entertainment). May I ask if you take meds that help? Instead, the serious. It looks as though your level of anxiety could be far worse. As illustration, I had to back off from a friendship of many years with a woman who had colossal anxiety and OCD. Had it been she who started this topic, the first message would have covered three full screens. She was so needy so often about so many things that I felt she was sucking the oxygen from my lungs. Each time we talked or got together, I was depleted. I'd begun not answering the phone when her number showed up. The friendship ended about two years ago; I told her with gentleness that I needed to reserve energy for myself to deal with my depression issues. She phoned four times after few months apart. I talked with her for a while each time, not wanting to be or feel callous. She managed "normal" conversation and had the presence to ask about me and really listen and respond. She didn't say whether she'd finally gotten meds, which I'd urged dozens of times.. The last call was last spring. She left a nice message on my birthday to say she remembered it, had been thinking about me and that I'd been good to her. I didn't return the call and haven't heard from her since. I understand that, although she knew she was oppressive, she couldn't help herself.

@@CowgirlJane -- Every word you wrote just above is...I don't want to sound maudlin, but......delightful and insightful and presents a healthy mind. You earned them. There are those cultures that practice scarification and tattoosto Celebrate andor commemorate various life achievements.