Texarkolina

Yeah--my surgeon is the one that told another patient to "suck it up" when she reported pain.....NICE. I personally fear the whole "being a patient" thing. I work in a job where I am in control of a lot of what goes on and I am a single mom....SO, I am pretty much used to being in control-- or as in control as you can be with a 2 year old--and I really freak out as a patient. I am not scared of pain and feel pretty confidant that the surgery will go well, I am just a little--strike that--very very uncomfortable of not being in control--and that is what being a patient is all about.

Wow--I am scheduled with Dr. Jones this month....... Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Scheduled with Bruce Jones July 23--how did your surgery go?

How soon after surgery did you notice an improvement in your energy level? I am 300 lbs and have been exhausted for about 3 years. One of my top motivators for having the surgery done is that I am tired of being tired. Can anyone share about returning energy levels after surgery.....with as many specifics as possible,.....pretty please? (you can spare the "surgery affects everyone differently" speech--I know )

Wow--and might I also add that I have found Old Navy jeans usually run a bit small--so double victory!

Bwahahahahahahahahahahah Cool!

I think we are all concerned about those things to some degree. I have read a lot on this board and done a lot of research and I am a little less worried than I was initially. Keep asking, reading, and praying about it.

Pain in the abdomen that gets worse rather than better....pain the the chest or left shoulder.... dizziness, fever, swelling of the abdomen. If you have enough concern to ask I would strongly suggest you call your doctor!

How exciting! Saying prayers for you!

When I went in for my eval the first thing she told me was that it wasn't her job to decide if I should have the surgery, but rather come up with a plan to address my mental health needs through the process. That made me relax and I was totally honest, also. She said that if she thought there was a need that she would recommend follow-up sessions and/or mandatory support groups before and after surgery. I came away with a recommendation that I be given information before and after surgery about how to contact a therapist and support groups and that this information be on my discharge papers. That was it...just made sure I have it handy if I need it. I will also say that I have a pretty dramatic background, also. You know I think the "stupid" ones are the ones that lie to the psychologist. This isn't a magic fix and I do not want to go through all of this and not succeed because I didn't have the support or resources to handle the mental aspect of it all.

Yes--it is great not to have to choose!

THANK YOU!!!!

I am not calling BS on them wanting to be healthy. We all want to be healthy. I am calling BS on them acting like a big motivator isn't just being smaller and looking better. While having that health threat dissolve away is a great motivator, so is a shrinking bum. Obesity is a major health issue, but you know what, it is also a major social issue. While I have only struggled with my weight from a health issue for a couple of years, I have been impacted socially my entire life. Here is wishing you an avalanche of health, energy to burn, and a cute butt!

Oh Man! I haven't even thought about the boots. No more ankle-high boots.....but tall slim pretty boots. Yes--added to goals and things to celebrate--Thanks!

Praying...... and congrats on your surgery day!

Congratulations!

I am scheduled for July 23...and I am really scared. My best friend lives close to me and was going to take care of my 2 year old while I was in the hospital and during my recovery period if I needed help.....BUT,she just found out today that her hysterectomy is scheduled for July 26. I can't move my surgery, and I don't have any family that can step in. My little one is still in a crib, and doesn't always sleep through the night. I don't know what I am going to do if everything goes right, much less if I have complications. I feel so ill-prepared for this surgery. I have just changed jobs and things are so chaotic for me right now. I read posts where people are sampling protein powders and stocking up on multi-vitamins and such. I haven't even thought about that stuff. I know deep down that this is going to be much harder because I have not had time to really focus and plan out the details. Part of me says to move the surgery date so that my friend will be available to help me, but I really can't because of insurance stuff. AND if I were really really really honest with myself, I would admit that the reason I am sitting here bawling as I type this is because I am pissed off and hurt that my friend would schedule her surgery so close to mine. I have made some heroic efforts to be there for her when she was sick in the past, and I expected her to be there for me. She has a husband, a grown son, a 16 year old daughter, and an 8 year old who could help her if she needs it, but I am a single mom with a toddler. She even commented to me that she was going to have her husband take off work "in case" I couldn't be at the hospital with her. REALLY? Part of this is my fault because I joked with her that we should just schedule these on the same day and lay around and watch movies for 2 weeks. I probably gave her the impression that this would be easier than I imagine it will be.

Thank you so much for that. I really needed to hear that.

Yes, the 16-year old can and has babysat for me in the past. She will help,but her priority will be helping her mom. I know I am being a baby about this, but dang it, I am scared and I don't think I can deal with the added stress of her having surgery, too. It is just another huge distraction/stressor and I was already at capacity. Sorry--just scared and venting.

Congrats..... BTW....I knew from very early on that I was prego with my daughter because I was trying and counting the days. In the pregnancy book I had it described the size of the baby as the size of a pinto bean, lima bean, etc. Since I didn't know the gender, "Bean" became my baby's "pregnancy name". It stuck. My little girl is nearly 3 and EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE still calls her Bean. I hope you get and much happiness from your Bean as I do from mine. Just a tip--if you continue to use "Bean" as a pregnancy name, you could use that as an excuse to purchase--or have purchased for you--the Bean necklace from Tiffany's.....love me a little blue box!

Ok..so you will discover what those are for you after surgery I suppose. Thanks for the 411!

That is encouraging. I know it would have to be a small amount and infrequently, but I really love a diet coke in the evening at times. I understand trigger, but what is a slider food?

Use your STD! Most employers will even allow you to supplement it with vacation time to make a full paycheck if you need to.

I lost 100 pounds through diet and exercise before and people did treat me differently when I was smaller. I think, however, that it was only partly because I looked better and the other part was that I acted different. I walked with confidence and looked people in the eye and smiled more than I do when I am large. People respond to confidence.

So does this include soda pop? I am actually not doing any "food funerals" but I am hitting the diet coke by the case. I really love a cold fizzy and would like to think that I might be able to have a small cup sometime in my future. I have gotten the impression that soda pop is one of those never again items????