I would appreciate a mentor....

[breezy 8]

I got the VSG on April 13th and am feeling a little adrift here. I weighed 240 lbs on the 13th and today weighed in at 230. I am 56 yo, married, grown children, a couple of adorable grandgirls, female and live in Oregon.

The reason I would especially appreciate a mentor is that I recently became the Guardian and Conservator for both my brother and my mother and some things "have hit the fan", as my mother always used to say, and I don't have the available time to search threads for answers to my questions.

Does anyone have a little free time to help me?:biggrin2:

[thinoneday 445]

I got the VSG on April 13th and am feeling a little adrift here. I weighed 240 lbs on the 13th and today weighed in at 230. I am 56 yo, married, grown children, a couple of adorable grandgirls, female and live in Oregon.

The reason I would especially appreciate a mentor is that I recently became the Guardian and Conservator for both my brother and my mother and some things "have hit the fan", as my mother always used to say, and I don't have the available time to search threads for answers to my questions.

Does anyone have a little free time to help me?:sad0:

I would love to help you if i can. . . i'm definately not a master of anything, but have been travelling this sleeve journey for the past 4 months and have had my share of ups and downs. . i've lost a total of 70.5 lbs in this 4 months and hope to loose lots more. . . so anything i can help you with i'll definately try ok. . . the others here on the forum are very wise too. . .

[breezy 8]

Thank you for offering!

I have to do an fly from oregon to missouri to pickup up my brother, then fly him to boise, do the medicaid paperwork, then fly back to missouri. I'll be leaving 5-1 and back 5-4. Then my boss expects me to get back to work right away!!!

I'm going to request a wheelchair to get me through lines faster, keep me from having to stand/walk too much and get help lifing things, so I have that part figured out. I'll be on phase 2 - full liquids during that period. I have the powder Protein already bought. My worries:

1) Flying prohibits carrying fluids until after checkpoint, and I'm not sure the personnel pushing the wheelchairs are allowed to take me into the airport convenience stores. Do I buy a shaker cup and just use Water to mix a Protein shake for the flight?

2) After getting to Missouri and picking up the rental car, I can go to a store, but I still can't lift anything, and stores don't carry things to cars anymore. What can I buy to mix with Water or skim milk that is light weight enough to carry?

After I pickup my brother, he will be able to help me carry things, so I'm not worred about after that.

Any suggestions?

[thinoneday 445]

Well when you get onto the plane you could ask for skim milk for your shaker cup and mix the Protein in it. . (skim milk makes the Protein Drink taste better) yes, bring the shaker cup and if they don't have milk, then i guess they should have Water to use in the meantime. . .I have used a power aid bottle to mix things in. . . i bought the diet poweraid and drank it, but you can dump it if you wish and use the bottle. . . i love it, it's light weight and versatile, but make sure you wash it out good. . . what i used to do with the shopping part is have them put only a couple of items into bags, push the cart out to the car and then put them in. . .you should be able to lift some things, not anything over 20 lbs though. . . you'll do fine, make sure you do drink alot of water on the plane though and try to wander around in the cabin while in the air, good luck and let me know how it goes. . .wow your boss seems really strict, you are really not supposed to go back to work for about 2 weeks. . .

[breezy 8]

Thank you! Those are all GOOD suggestions!

No, my boss is just desparate. We are a small company, skeleton staff, and when I took off last summer for 2 weeks to help with a problem my brother was having, it ended up being 3 months before I could come back. I had to stay in Missouri and go through the courts for guardianship and take care of them (Mom & bro) at the same time.

My doctor did not tell me not to work for two weeks? He just said not to lift anything and follow the diet phases religiously. I find it interesting that the timelines around the diet phases and the thing about not working seems to be different between doctors.

[thinoneday 445]

Hello! Well just listen to your doctor, he knows best for you. . . i'm glad you liked the suggestions, if there is anything else, just let me know! I hope you enjoy your time with your brother. . . good luck to you! You are going to do very well. . .

[pnw218 14]

My doctor did not tell me not to work for two weeks? He just said not to lift anything and follow the diet phases religiously. I find it interesting that the timelines around the diet phases and the thing about not working seems to be different between doctors.

I had surgery on a Thursday, flew home on Sunday and went into the office on Monday - and worked all week, usually 4-6 hours per day. Other than being tired and weak, I was fine and didn't have any pain.

I think it depends alot upon your job and how physical it is as to when you can go back. I have had 9 surgeries and have always recovered quickly, going back to work in less than a week and on vacation 3 weeks after my hysterectomy.

Stay positive : ) Don't over do it but also don't be afraid to move around.

Good Luck!

Edited April 26, 2010 by pnw218

[breezy 8]

I have a desk job, so there was NO moving around except for short breaks. I realized just yesterday that I haven't been walking enough. It's Sunday now, and I'll run laundry, which will give me some exercise, while I take care of guardianship and personal paperwork.

I found the cream Soups were tasty and a nice break from broth. I'm on the Protein shakes now, and they taste alot better than the liquid Protein I was using before (Jay Rob). Any other suggestions for the full liquid diet stage? I am drinking gatorade, Fruit drinks, etc, but I'd like something that keeps me from feeling so hollow.

I want to take dry packets of Soup with me when I travel. Anyone know of something tasty that I might find in Oregon?

[thinoneday 445]

HEY! those oxo chicken broth packets are great to transport everywhere, just ask for hot water! Excellent idea! I use those alot too. . . yogurt is good too mixed with Protein Powder, I love to mix dannon lite and fit strawberry yogurt with vanilla Protein powder or vanilla yogurt with chocolate protein powder. . tastes pretty good. . . very filling though. . also cottage cheese in small portions . . .ricotta cheese mixed with a teaspoon of vanilla extract is good. . .string cheese is yummy. . . of course the cream Soups are excellent, tuna is good with fat free mayo and very soft chicken. . .

[pnw218 14]

For traveling, I would also suggest the tuna packets if you can tolerate fish. I also bought those little Underwood ham and chicken spread cans. They are a pop top and don't have to be refrigerated until after you open them. If your hotel doesn't have a fridge, you could always just put them on ice in the ice bucket.

[thinoneday 445]

I have a desk job, so there was NO moving around except for short breaks. I realized just yesterday that I haven't been walking enough. It's Sunday now, and I'll run laundry, which will give me some exercise, while I take care of guardianship and personal paperwork.

I found the cream Soups were tasty and a nice break from broth. I'm on the Protein shakes now, and they taste alot better than the liquid Protein I was using before (Jay Rob). Any other suggestions for the full liquid diet stage? I am drinking gatorade, Fruit drinks, etc, but I'd like something that keeps me from feeling so hollow.

I want to take dry packets of Soup with me when I travel. Anyone know of something tasty that I might find in Oregon?

Hey, how are you doing? have seen you post in a bit. . . .

[breezy 8]

I'm doing ok. I caught a cold from my granddaughter this week so I've been trying to get a little extra sleep. I'm tired of the liquid diet, but I don't suppose that's too uncommon :biggrin0:

I leave for Missouri in the morning, so I'm washing clothes, packing and trying to put together any paperwork I'll need to apply for Medicaid for my brother, Jim, when I get him back to Idaho. Jim has seen me as "the bad guy" since I got Guardianship over him, so I'm hoping this will be a chance to redeem myself in his eyes -- or at least get him to distrust me a little less. The place I'm taking him to will have more freedom than where he has been.

But back to WLS, my outside wounds have healed nicely and I'm able to take larger sips of liquid now. Not really having any trouble, surgery wise. I've lost 20 lb and already my knees are telling me, "thank you!".

I'll rely mostly on the Protein powder to make drinks while I'm flying and hit the grocery store when I land and get a rental car. It's going to, physically, be a rough few days, but I was able to take a day off when I get back, so at least I'll be able to rest a little.

Thanks for asking. It feels good to know I have this web site, and you, for support.!

[thinoneday 445]

Well you are in Missouri by now, did you do ok on the plane trip? I'm sure you did. . you'll be ok with your brother, what ever is to be will be. . just have the faith and whatever the path is you'll walk it. . . I know, isn't it amazing about the knees? I was told i need a double knee replacement, i was like "doctor YOU need the knee replacement" and vowed never to have that done ever! Since i've lost my weight, i creek abit, but at least they don't hurt. . . yippee. . . I'm so glad you've gotten an extra day off when you get back. . you will be tired and will be glad you took that day. . .honey i'm here anytime you need me, so is everyone else! Just keep posting and keep up the excellent work. . . are you going to post a ticker? It helps us stay on track. . . have a good one and good luck with everything . . .

[breezy 8]

I got back Tuesday and everything went well. I had the energy to do everything I needed to do, but whenever I could I took a power nap, which really helped. I rested on Wednesday, the most strenuous thing I did was groom a couple of my dogs (I have 9!).

I will post a ticker next weekend when I have time to sit at the computer.

Oh, and my brother is very suspicious of me still. I think that will take years to go away. He has dementia, but thinks there is nothing wrong with him, so he blames me for taking away his "life". But he is safe, and getting his meals and meds regularly. I know I did the right thing, and that will have to be enough to help me sleep at night.

[thinoneday 445]

Hi, sorry i've not posted for a while, been really busy with work and home. . . glad to hear you got home ok and sorry about your brother, but that is the dementia and not you. . .I'm glad you got things going and feel good about them. . . how are you feeling? how are things going sleeve wise? how much have you lost now? keep up the excellent work, your doing wonderfully. . . til i hear from you again. . . .