African American Sleevers

[1920-Zeta 64]

Start I had surgery July 18 still in hospital got a leak that won't heal! I wish I never got my surgery been miserable ever since!

46 days so far in the hospital!

Honey Bee

I was sick just like you. I had two surgeries back to back and a blood transfusion. I was sleeved june 26 2012. In and out the hospital. I cried everyday. I begged God to help me. So many er visits. I prayed and prayed for healing . I also had many people praying for me. God heal me. I was able to finally drink today and eat without throwing up or getting nauseated . I read healing scriptures . It helped. God wants to heal you and he will. I wanted to give up so many times. God would not let me. He would send people to talk to me. I have a wonderful husband . He will not let me give up. I would get so depress. I could not even go to the store without getting sick. Simple stuff I was use to doing like washing dishes, I could not do without getting sick. I started asking God to help me . I even had to started praying for my doctors. Today I saw a change.

I will pray for you. I know it works.

Be strong and know that God loves you. He is willing and able to heal you.

He is always with you.

[isajck 229]

Start I had surgery July 18 still in hospital got a leak that won't heal! I wish I never got my surgery been miserable ever since!

46 days so far in the hospital!

I am so sorry to hear this and hope the doctors are able to find a solution to the leak issue soon.

[Phoenixrise 14]

Start I had surgery July 18 still in hospital got a leak that won't heal! I wish I never got my surgery been miserable ever since!

46 days so far in the hospital!

I am just curious where did you have surgery? Was it here in the states or was it in Mexico? I am sorry your having so many problems. Do they know how you got the leak in the first place?

[mommeof3 58]

I am glad that i ran across this forum, i am getting sleeved on Sept. 17.

[MiistAMunK 45]

Well hello all... Just got sleeved on the 4th. Got my first appt on thurs.still on that clear diet.I too wonder if I would be able to enjoy my down home cooking. I was told I could when the times right, though I won't be able to eat as much as I used to, and I will have to cut out a few things. But hey I'm ready for what ever. This long road ahead has been enticing me for a long while. And I do appreciate this thread.

[MiistAMunK 45]

Start I had surgery July 18 still in hospital got a leak that won't heal! I wish I never got my surgery been miserable ever since!

46 days so far in the hospital!

I am sorry to hear of your pain I will pray for you. Just keep your head up. Know that it will get better

[iPrincess 39]

Well hello all... Just got sleeved on the 4th. Got my first appt on thurs.still on that clear diet.I too wonder if I would be able to enjoy my down home cooking. I was told I could when the times right' date=' though I won't be able to eat as much as I used to, and I will have to cut out a few things. But hey I'm ready for what ever. This long road ahead has been enticing me for a long while. And I do appreciate this thread.[/quote']

Hello and Welcome!! Sound like your are doing well. I am not sleeved yet. My date is 9/25 and I started my pre op diet today. At times I have been starving, I have 2shakes a day and a sensible meal and unlimited list of vegetables. I have just made it to dinner and trying to eat really slow. Best of luck on your recovery!

[MiistAMunK 45]

Thank you. I am doing well. I have a great Doc. My pre-op was the 7 day meal replacements.......yummy. Protein Shakes three times a day, plus Water. Yeah I was pretty hungry too. But I promise if you stick with it, It will pay off. Well I wish you the best. And when your date arrives It will go smoothly. Hit me up any time. Oh, and after surgery WALK! as soon as you can as much ad you can,it really helps to release some of that gas they pump in you to give them room to work.

[iPrincess 39]

Thank you and thanks for the advice. Hope everything is going well.

[gettinMeBack 380]

Hi ATL girl! You could be right about the differences in surgercial outcomes. I know first hand of a few differences as it relates to health. I have experieced cultural issues as it relates to my own healthcare. If I wear my hair too short I suffer from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (hair bumps and scars that occur mostly in African Americans). There are varying degrees despite the hype alcohol and OTC products don't always work. I got really frustrated after seeing 3 dermatologists and none of them could help me with any creams or pills they gave me. All of them were awesome Dr's who had great bedside manner' date=' but they were all Cacasian. Finally I felt I needed to travel out ot the area.

I went to the National Medical Association's website to see if I could find an African American Dermatologist. There was one about 60 miles away. I went to him and immediately he recognized the condition which he said is common in African Americans and Hispanics because of the curl pattern we tend to have in our hair. He wrote a script that I had to take to a small phramacy because it had to be mixed by hand. I told him about my issue he said all of the Dr's I went to were great physicans, but most were probably trained trained in an area where there was a disproportionate number of African Americans, one he knew for certain came from Iowa. He also explained a few other skin differences. He told me that skin cancer is vey rare in African Americans because of our melanin. However when we get it our survival rate is very slim compared to Caucasians because if we get it it is a rare and much more aggressive form.

When I was in undergrad I completed an internship at the National Institiutes of Health. I found out that transplant recipients who are African American in most cases have to receive a slightly higher dosage of anti-rejection drugs because our bodies respond differently. We can still learn allot from each other despite our background. I joined Vertical Sleeve Talk last week, everyone is so resourceful and I have seen so much I never knew much about.

I am in the beginning stage of all of this I went to a seminar recently wanting a lapband and came out wanting the Vertical Sleeve. I have a consult with my surgeon on 2/14. I do know my insurance company covers the switch, bypass, lap band, and sleeve. The coordiator has already got the ball rolling on that, wish me well.

[/quote']

What is the switch ?

Wha

[rybecca20 160]

Hi ATLGirl' date='

Please forgive any errors as I am writing this message from my phone. I was quite excited to see this post after lurking on this discussion board for weeks. I have acquired so much useful info and courage from this board. I am just ending the beginning stage of getting approval for the vsg. My insurance company required a psych eval, documentation of prior weightloss attempts, a letter of medical necessity from my pcp, 3 sessions with a nutritionist, as well as clearance from a pulmonary dr and cardiologist. I have completed everything and have my 3rd this Friday. YAY!!!! So after Friday I will be playing the waiting game. I hope this process goes quickly. I teach and was hoping to be sleeved on my spring break (early April) but now if I get an earlier approval I might decide to do it sooner than April.

I see that you will be sleeved this weekend. I wish you lots of luck with your surgery. Are you required to do a two week pre op liquid diet? How has your pre op journey been going?

Nikki[/quote']

What would you say if I wanted to start just an all white sleeves group. Wouldn't that be racist. Why can you guys make groups clubs colleges etc just for blacks and it's not racist but an all white college etc would be racist. Just a question?

[soontobe1/2ofmyself 13]

What would you say if I wanted to start just an all white sleeves group. Wouldn't that be racist. Why can you guys make groups clubs colleges etc just for blacks and it's not racist but an all white college etc would be racist. Just a question?

I contemplated whether or not to address this comment, but just couldn't let it go. Honestly the group is called African American Sleevers but is not prohibited from any other race. It was created for those of us ( African Americans) to gain information pertaining to things that relate to us specifically. For example hair (texture, weaves, locs, shedding, coloring), skin discoloration (incision sites), etc.

Although I'm only 29 I go on the groups for ages 35 and above just because I'm not 35 doesn't mean in can't participate in a discussion on a site/group created for older people. Don't be so sensitive, you're more than welcome to join in.

[Ready4success 380]

What would you say if I wanted to start just an all white sleeves group. Wouldn't that be racist. Why can you guys make groups clubs colleges etc just for blacks and it's not racist but an all white college etc would be racist. Just a question?

I'd say go for it! It wouldn't offend me at all. You could join this one too or start your own. There's a group for Latino/Mexican Americans, too. I don't see why you can't start a Caucasian American group. Just curious though, how does an African American group on a public discussion board correlate with an all White college?

[LadyK 164]

What would you say if I wanted to start just an all white sleeves group. Wouldn't that be racist. Why can you guys make groups clubs colleges etc just for blacks and it's not racist but an all white college etc would be racist. Just a question?

Well this is a free country so I wouldn't say a word, but FYI In reference to your question the reason there are institutions such as colleges, groups, clubs for people of African ancestry is because at the time black people wanted an education; they were unable to attain this by just walking into any college, they risked being hung, shot at, sprayed with Water hoses, you name it, you could also google the University of Alabama where several students were jeered and called things I dare not mention, James Hood and Vivian Malone in 1963 were apart of this group, the first group of African Americans allowed to enroll at the University of Alabama, which was an all white institution at the time.... Most black colleges were established after the civil war, there were also some established before. These colleges are called HBCU's or Historically Black Colleges and Universities. There is racial diversity at HBCU's here is a quote from wikipedia:

Racial diversity at HBCUs

As colleges work harder to maintain enrollment levels and because of increased racial harmony and the low cost of tuition, the percentage of non-African American enrollment has tended to climb.The following table highlights HBCUs with high non-African American enrollments: there was a chart here that showed European American enrollment you can google HBCU's to see the chart on wikipedia.

and there's:

Other HBCUs with relatively high non-African American student populations

The following list illustrates the percentage of white(Caucasian) student populations currently attending historically black colleges and universities according to statistical profiles compiled by the US News and World Report Best Colleges 2011 edition: Langston University 12%; Shaw University 12%; Tennessee State University 12%; University of Maryland Eastern Shore 12%; North Carolina University 10%. The U.S. News and World Reports statistical profiles indicate that several other HBCUs have relatively significant percentages of non-African American student populations consisting of Asian, Hispanic, International and white American

I do not feel this group was started with the intent to be racist, nor any college. I am sorry you are offended by this, and hope you will research this more.

[PEvette 297]

Just love reading the responses to that ignorant comment made by her....kept it informational and classy...

well done ladies...