There is probably nothing you need to do, Jingle123423. However, they are less likely to use you now that you are in their "old" range. Who "woulda thunk" that 45 is old? That being said, if you are the only possible match for someone, how could they deny them the prospect of having a matching donor?

If you have a number to call or an email for the registry, contact them and ask them a few questions about your donation and if your status has changed. Thank you for signing up. I have a special blood status, which would include my bone marrow, but I'm probably too old for them now. Barely a senior citizen, but no longer in their optimal range.

1 hour ago, 2shea said:

I have chosen to undergo an ESG for the fact that it is a minimally invasive non-surgical option, however, in Australia it is not covered by medicare thus private health insurance will not also contribute, so in fact it is more expensive for me. If I had chosen a VSG or RNY I would be covered and would have out of pocket costs of approx $5000 (though that does depend on the surgeon and the required support plan).

My ESG, including the after procedure support for 18 months is $17,000. I also have travel costs - airfares and accommodation to pay. It is not readily available in my state and the one doctor who may do it, wouldn't have done that many procedures, so would lack experience.

I am a member of three FB groups for ESG and there are some people reporting that they do not feel any restriction or very little restriction. It is possible that it is doctor error or the stitches have loosened for some reason. My doctor for instance will no longer do ESG for anyone who previously had a gastric balloon he has found that the stitches do not hold. The reason has yet to be determined.

Note that in general the average weight to be lost with an ESG will be lower than VSG or RNY but many people have achieved more than the average.

I am not counting down the days to my ESG yet, but the time is passing quickly and in about five weeks I commence my pre-op diet.

Please keep us informed, 2shea . I had never heard of this procedure until today (which is why I posted information about it. Not that my lack of knowledge about something is postworthy in itself. )

As surgical wounds are healing, there are often some distinct changes that occur to the skin both around and near the wound. A few things that one can expect – and things to watch out for:

https://advancedtissue.com/2013/12/3-ways-know-difference-healing-infected-surgical-wounds/

A study was conducted that looked at patient incision care and other discharge concerns. The study found that knowledge of incision care and amount of information received about incision care were rated low. The five most frequently mentioned postdischarge concerns included bowel trouble at home, wound pain at home, looking for wound complications, watching for wound infection, and activity limitations. (This study is 12 years old. Hopefully, knowledge of incision and discharge care has improved drastically.)

https://www.o-wm.com/content/bariatric-surgery-patient-incision-care-and-discharge-concerns

Why does my wound itch?

The skin contains specialized nerve fibers that detect when the dermis is being irritated and send signals to the spinal cord, communicating that there is an itch. This is known as "mechanical stress".

Wound healing also elicits mechanical stress that activates itching. As it heals, the cells around the wound proliferate, which means the margins around the wound grow and migrate inwards toward the base. In fact, the cells follow an electrical pathway at a voltage that is different than the margin so they can tell where the base is. The cells then unite at the center, attach together and contract to pull the wound shut. This process creates a mechanical stress that activates the itch nerves and tells the spinal cord to scratch.

The dangers of scratching

Scratching a wound that is trying to heal can cause damage to the new tissue that has grown to replace and repair the damaged tissue. If this happens, it can slow the healing process, which leaves your body susceptible to wound infection longer and can result in excessive scarring. Additionally, it can cause potentially harmful bacteria on the hands to transfer to the wound, again putting you at a higher risk of developing an infection.

To find out more, including tips to reduce itching:

https://advancedtissue.com/2014/10/understanding-wound-healing-itching-dilemma/

Talk about feeling unwanted. Too old and too fat. I guess that's that.

The donor weight guidelines state that for people joining the registry, the maximum acceptable weight would be a person's weight associated with a body mass index (BMI) of 40*. To see the maximum weight (in pounds) for a given height (in feet and inches), see the chart below.

*BMI Formula: weight (lb) / height (in) 2 x 703. Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.

Example: Weight = 150 lbs, Height = 5'5" (65")
Calculation: [150 ÷ (65) 2 ] x 703 = 24.96

https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/join-the-marrow-registry/weight-guidelines-for-joining/

Too old? Pay $100 and you're allowed to join.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 44 patients especially need you. Research shows that cells from younger donors lead to more successful transplants. Doctors request donors in the 18-44 age group 85% of the time.

At donor registry drives, we focus on adding registry members most likely to donate. If you are between the ages of 45 and 60 and want to join the registry, you're welcome to join online with a $100 tax-deductible payment to cover the cost to join.

Yes, I was Elmered. (You know what I mean.)

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”
―Steve Maraboli

.

“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
―Paulo Coelho

.

“As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their "right" place.”
―Henri J.M. Nouwen

“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.”
―Maya Angelou

.

“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”
―Roy T. Bennett

.

“We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.”
―Katharine Hepburn

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
― Rumi

“You can't stop the future
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.” ― Jay Asher

That pre-op diet ruined me from ever wanting to drink broth again. Are you allowed to have beef broth?

There is one thought I can't get out of my head. What are the long-term effects of weight-loss surgery? Because WLS is still in its infancy in many respects, none of us can predict the outcome of our decision when we become old and frail and we are in need of all the nourishment we can get.

We've limited our bodies to benefit us now, but later... what about then? What struggles do we face when every spoonful might count. I love older people to pieces. I enjoy their company. I'm genuinely interested in what they have to say about their lives, past and present. I've also noticed that many older people don't eat much. If the little I eat now is only partially being absorbed, what will happen when I get older... when I'll conceivably need all the nourishment I can get to live a long and healthy life?

Let's hope that knowledge keeps pace with our surgeries. Heck, there are still unknowns about which medications are poorly absorbed as well as other unknowns about how our bodies process various Vitamins and minerals. Are we creating ailments that didn't exist on the same scale before millions of people embarked on these surgeries? Outside of pregnancy, I can't recall ever being concerned about a nutritional deficiency (well, except for Vitamin D, but that's because I abhor the sun and I'm too stubborn to spend even the lousy ten minutes required to absorb what I'd need.)

@Bellasoo Is your surgeon's office really serious about putting in a feeding tube, or do you think they're just trying to scare you into action? A feeding tube sounds a bit drastic. I guess the threat worked because you're drinking the awful stuff they recommended.

What scars? I can barely find the incision sites for my bypass. All that remains are very faint lines. As for my pregnancy stretch marks, those are here, front and center. I guess having multiple ten-pounders will ruin any belly for life. Where was my scar cream then?

I had a bypass on June 13, 2018. I have had virtually no appetite since day one. Appetite Zero.

I'm not even close to meeting my Protein and Fluid requirements. Dismal levels of both, really. I probably take in fewer than 250 calories per day as well. This is not on purpose.

The only thing I am able to maintain with any regularity is my Vitamin regime. And because I have more malabsorption issues as a bypass patient, I take the risk of deficiencies very seriously. Taking Vitamins is effortless. Eating not so much.

I've been told not to worry, so I am not stewing about my protein, fluid, or calorie deficiencies any longer. I've been assured that this is temporary. How long is temporary? How many more days, weeks, months?

My "problem" is not about gagging or restriction or any of the other reasons suggested. It is only my appetite. food is an afterthought. I only think about it in terms of "I guess I should probably try to eat something today."

It's not that I've forgotten the look, taste, and enjoyment I received from certain foods in the past... Chipotle's hard-shell chicken tacos with tomatoes/cilantro, sour cream, and extra cheese come to mind... but I just don't have the craving to follow through with cooking favorite foods or seeking them out (like Chipolte's where my daughter has always offered me with an endless supply of gift cards for an occasional eating-out treat.)

I'm a scratch cook. I can cook just about anything I put my mind to... but I have little interest in cooking anything now. I have an empty nest which means fewer mouths to feed. It's just my husband and me, so I mainly cook enough to satisfy his primitive "need to eat", but, for me, it's become a mindless chore and a bore.

I have replied to other posts on this forum with pretty much the same words... mainly because very little changes from day to day. I know there are those who struggle with something at the other end of the spectrum: intense hunger. I can understand the frustration with that problem, too. Perhaps I should feel "lucky" that I have no appetite. I don't actually feel lucky, but I'm willing to accept my lack of appetite as temporary and a version of normal.

Dang. I hate it when I show up and the fun is over. Wait... that sentence makes it sound like that my showing up halted the fun. Oh, well.

I think I'd be insulted, hot or not. Men who objectify women are pretty much cavemen... dragging women around by their hair if they could (except for WLS women. Some of us "got" no hair!)

Which are sprays and which are in liquid form? What about those waxy around-the-clock deodorizers? I'm guessing the products Alex tested are made for five-alarm poos.

I narrowed my decision to two programs. One at a larger hospital with a very structured in-house program that required participants to use their nutritionist, physiologist etc. The other program had no structure. It offered a list of possible nutritionists and psychologists to contact for pre-op evaluation. You were basically on your own in deciding what to do. The only requirement the second program had was attending a one-hour talk about bariatric surgery and nutrition with a Q&A afterward. It was very basic information and a waste of time to attend.

I chose the second program. I don't like hovering professionals telling me what to do. I dislike rules and oversight and heavy-handed regimes. When I was told that I "had to" use their nutritionist (that the nutritionist I had already seen wasn't acceptable for their program), I knew that they would be sticklers every step of the way. I know some people thrive on structure and feel safe and cozy being told what to do and what not to do. I can't function that way. Even if it's for my own good, I don't like the idea of someone monitoring my behavior. While I feel as though I was tossed out on the curb sometimes, I'm doing okay. I have my primary doctor. I have my own kids (a pharmacist and two medical doctors) to look out for me, and I have myself. I'm not a clueless person waiting to be told what to do next or what I shouldn't be doing. If I ever find myself in a position in which I need help, I know how to ask for it. I just don't want "help" imposed on me. Does any of this resonate with anyone?

7 hours ago, BuzzVSG said:

He is definitely a true friend. A friendship that has been built over two decades. In all due respect, you don't know the semantics of the early stages of the friendship. They were my feelings based upon actual social behavior on his part, and how do you know he didn't go out of his way? He actually did. However with that being said over the years he has matured as we all do and he is a good friend.

You are correct. I did not know about his past. I tried (unsuccessfully) to read between the lines and give him the benefit of the doubt. It was a mistake on my part to make those assumptions. I feel empathy for the pain and hurt you experienced as a younger man. I'm sure it took a toll on your social confidence and self-esteem. Being a community of "fat people", we have all experienced different degrees of pain and self-imposed shame. Thank you for pointing out that I should not have made any assumptions about your friend when he was his younger self. I'm glad to hear that he has matured into a finer human being. Thank you for sharing your story.

Only I Can Change My Life, No One Can Do It For Me