animallover1247

What was your original surgery? What are you revising to?

Whether you will have a drain or not after surgery is completely up to your surgeon. Some use drains, some don't. The best thing to do is ask your surgeon.

I was drinking my diet dr pepper until the bitter end. Luckily I never had any withdraws but I would advise to stop it before surgery.

I'm not a "veteran" but I can tell you I am doing everything I can possibly do to minimize it. I don't know I would be experience more of a loss than I am now but I get at least 90g Protein, take my Vitamins faithfully, use Nioxin shampoo, and I also take Biotin and collagen. It may be overkill but I have to know I am trying to lessen the loss. Many people do everything they can possibly do and they still lose their hair.

I knew constipation was common after surgery but I didn't expect it to be as bad and painful as it is. I'm following the rules. Increased my water, exercising 5 days a week, etc. Not everyone has this problem but it was far worse than I ever expected it to be.

I would like to add to the list of recommended books to read: The Emotional First + Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery Written by Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD.

I could have written that paragraph describing my own feeling so you are not crazy! I thought I would freak out closer to the date but I didn't. Not only that but the day of surgery I had to wait 9.5 hours to have the surgery so that would have been a perfect opportunity to freak out...but I didn't. For me, I was just at the point where I was DONE. I couldn't live my life another week, month or year like I was so yes, I didn't care what bad thing might happen to me, even if it was death (which I was not worried about happening). My friend told me when she was being wheeled into surgery she was thinking to herself "all of this because I can't turn down a Big Mac." You are not crazy

I know how you feel. I didn't intend on telling my coworkers about the surgery but I was forced to do so through no fault of my own (another story). I typed a letter and explained why I was having WLS which was essentially due to many medical problems that are weight related (diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea). Everyone was really supportive..but that didn't last. About four weeks after surgery I made a comment the acid reflux was killing me. My size 1 (formerly size 0) coworker said so you have acid reflux and your hair is going to fall out? And your doing this all because you want to be skinny? I would rather be fat! First of all I never once said I wanted to be skinny. I said I wanted to be healthy and stop taking so much medication. Secondly, what the hell does a size 1 person know about being morbidly obese? Lastly I never said my hair would fall out, I said it COULD fall out. I was really angry and then I realize I had to let it roll off my back. People are idiots and it only gets to you if you let it.

I did have GERD prior to the sleeve but I also had a hiatial hernia. I was hoping with the hernia repair the reflux would stop. No such luck. Had an endoscopy about a month ago and it showed gastritis as well. I only eat chicken, fish, cottage cheese, eggs, yogurt and vegetables. No chocolate and no carbonation. After the scope, the surgeon ordered an upper gi. It showed achalasia and esophageal spasms which are uncommon. Right now I am waiting for the insurance to approve botox being inserted into the esophagus to relax the muscle and allow food to pass through as it should. I have been in heartburn hell for three months now.

One week before surgery I was prescribed carafate, pain medicatiion and an anti-nausea med (not reglan, can't recall what it was). Bufflehead is correct, you may not even need to take the reglan, I did not need to take my anti nausea med. My surgeon puts all of his patients on carafate for one month only. Also, I never had any problem taking any of my medications and I have some horse pills!

I am three months post op and I have stalled a good part of the time. I even gained one pound from last week to this week which was new for me. No, I don't like it but it's all part of the journey like the post above states. They are extremely frustrating. I only lost 2 lbs my second month but 8 on my third month. So...hang in there as depressing as it may be. Your body needs a break from the rapid weight loss.

I don't really know all the rules related to FMLA and what HR is and is not allowed to disclose to your supervisor. I had to give my supervisor my FLMA paperwork (when I was out sick for a different surgery) and she sent it to HR. I suspect your boss will want to know why you are out, whether she is entitled to know or not. I would make it clear to HR you want this kept confidential, if in fact those are the rules. In these types of situations people frequently do not always do what they are supposed to.

I am glad I'm able to do simple things like mopping the floor and going shopping without sitting down and taking breaks because of my back pain. Now I can walk for miles at one time without sitting down!

Well this morning there was yet another report on PPI's. This report was on "The Today Show" on NBC. It stated using PPI's long term can cause kidney problems and therefore "SHOULD BE AVOIDED." I have been on a PPI for 15 plus years and I don't have any issues with my kidney. Even so I will take the risk because I am not going to be in pain more than I am over chronic heartburn.

Of course everyone has varying degrees of tolerance for procedures but I had one done when I was a teenager and it really is no big deal, you will be fine.

I've had the same experience. I've lost 53 lbs (pre and post op) and I've had a total of 3 people say something to me. One was a coworker and the two other people are people I deal with related to my job. However, I am okay with this.

Just had the same problem two days ago. My coworker told me I only need to lose a little more weight in my stomach. That would be fine if "a little more weight" is over 100 lbs! She told me if I lost over 100 lbs, I would not look good. I told her me losing the weight was about not having to deal with diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea any longer. It's funny how you can have comments like this but at the same time people discriminate against you and treat you different becasue you are obese.

My required post op appointments: 1 week 1 month 3 months 6 months 9 months 12 months 18 months 24 months and then every year forever. The surgeons office starts checking blood work at 6 months

I get it. Being morbidly obese, I struggled with self esteem issues like many others. When I was about 50 lbs less than my highest weight all I heard was "you're not that big." I appreciated the compliments but did not accept them because how can someone who is 100+ pounds overweight not be "not that big?" Just yesterday at work my co-worker said I only have a little more weight left in my stomach to lose. Really? I have a little over 100 pounds to lose. I told her this and she said you will not look good if you lose over 100 lbs! I told her losing the weight was about getting rid of my diabetes, HBP and sleep apnea.

I would go with the 22's as well. I was told when you are the bigger plus sizes (20's) it can take some time to get to a smaller size and this has definitely been true for me. I have lost 53 lbs and I'm still in the same size of clothes. My clothes are looser but they are certainly not falling off of me. Weight loss is slower with the sleeve as well.

No, I never thought that for one second. I knew it couldn't do it on my own because if I could have, I would have done it in the 20 years I have been overweight. Statistically speaking morbidly obese people have less than a 5% chance of getting the weight off and keeping it off.

You are not alone. There's a friend who I have been friends with my entire life and I am 43. We have been friends since I was in diapers and carrying a baby bottle around. I have not told her about my surgery becasue she is 100% anti-surgery. This is odd becasue of several reasons. She would likely be classified as super morbidly obese herself. I don't know how much she weighs but I would guess at least 375 but I really believe it would be closer to 400 lbs. She has a long list of medical problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, fatty liver, and PCOS. She is on FIVE blood pressure medicines. She has a brother who had gastric bypass surgery and she states he is not to his goal weight and he had the surgery about 5 years ago. He has been riddled with kidney stones as well (a possible side effect of the surgery). However, he is no longer diabetic. She says having kidney stones and being required to take a bunch of pills the rest of her life is not worth it to her. However, she is a walking pharmacy herself. Makes no sense. She has another brother who could easily be featured on "My 600 lb Life." His weight is unknown at this time because he has been confined to his house for the last three years. He cannot walk because his knees have given out on him. He is diabetic and has received no care because he can't leave his home. Like the enabling family members on My 600 lb Life, his kids and wife (who are all "skinny") bring him unhealthy foods. His daughter was recently married and he was unable to attend. I told her the only thing that can save him at this point would be bypass. I added "you know he could die any day now." I received no response. So I have avoided telling her about my surgery and I will NEVER tell her. I've lost 53 lbs pre and post op and she has not said one word to me about it and frankly I am completely fine with it. I hate I felt more comfortable telling my boss than I would her. I am sorry your friend was not supportive. My advice would be not to say another word to her about it. Life changing events, whether it be weight loss surgery or not, tend to bring out the worse in people.

Sorry. Double post

The stool softners did nothing for me either. I had to get a prescription medication. Magnesium citrate will work but stay near a bathroom. I never knew constipation could be so bad!

Do whatever you can to not let this build up. Constipation is no joke! Dealing with this issue has been worse than the surgery itself and the recovery for me.