FLU SHOT

HAS ANYONE HAD A FLU SHOT JUST PRIOR TO WLS? ANY RELATED PROBLEMS? THANKS ... DAWN & NICK

Hi Dawn and Nick, I just had surgery on 9/28/2005, and while I was hospitalized I was given the flu shot. I have had no problems either with the shot or the surgery! I am sixty years old --so I guess the medical staff felt that I should be imunized --especially since staying healthy is an important issue right now! Be Blessed and do what your physician suggests! Marian S.C.

MY GREATEST SHOCK WAS WHEN YOU SAID YOU ARE 60, MS MARIAN; YOU ARE SO YOUTHFUL & BEAUTIFUL! & YOU HAVE AN AMAZING SMILE THAT JUST RADIATES! AFTER I POSTED MY QUESTION, DR BYRNE'S NURSE, BRENDA, CALLED ME BACK & SAID THAT THEY WOULD RATHER I WAIT TO AT LEAST A MONTH AFTER SURGERY BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE OF A REACTION. A WLS FRIEND OF MINE SAID THAT IS BECAUSE THE FLU VACCINE IS MADE WITH A LIVE VIRUS. I TEND TO GET SICK IN THE WINTER, SO WHEN I'M IN THE HOSPITAL ... I MAY BRING UP THE ISSUE AGAIN SINCE YOU WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN THE INJECTION BEFORE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL. HOW ARE YOU DOING SINCE WLS? WHAT ABOUT YOUR ENERGY LEVEL? &, OF COURSE, HOW IS THE WEIGHT LOSS GOING? THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION & GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi again, First of all --thank you for your lovely compliment--the flu shot that I received was not of the live active virus variety. So --I guess that it was a bit safer. I had never had the shot before --but I decided that it was time to start--the pneumonia shot isn't necessary until I reach 65 (according to my primary physician) . I tell you the truth--other than the itchy staple areas and having so much gas (Really STINKY gas). I hardly believe that I have had surgery. I am telling you that the best advice that anyone can give you is to follow your doctors rules exactly--I had to go on a two week pre-op liquid diet and I am on shakes and puddings, jello and broth right now--I have to get at least 70-90 grams of protein a day and 64 oz of water (and clear liquids ) and of course your vitamins. Most of all get up and move--the more you move the better you will feel. I have lost about 22lbs so far( including the pre-op weight loss)--I am waiting to weigh myself on the doctors' scale on Monday (that will give me my official weight). I wish that everyone could have such an easy recovery. In any case I really think that a positive attitude has as much to do with a good recovery as anything else--I pray a lotand God is always good to me. I also see my pscchologist weekly--and she helps with all kinds of issues --not just food. I hope that you have as good an experience as me. Be Blessed and please keep me posted with regards your progress. MARIAN S.C.

TELLS YOU HOW MUCH I KNOW, MS MARIAN ... I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A "LIVE" & "DEAD" VERSION OF THE FLU VACCINE. I'VE ALREADY HAD MY 1st PNEUMONIA SHOT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AT AGE 50 BECAUSE MY HEALTH WAS SOOOOOOOOOO BAD. I THINK THEY JUST FIGURED ... WELL, IT CAN'T HURT, SO JUST POKE HER AGAIN! EVERYONE "MENTIONS" ABOUT THE STINKY PART! OH MY GOSHHHHHHHHHHH, I WAS BAD ENOUGH BEFORE WLS; I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORSE I COULD GET AFTER WLS! (oh my, is that gas rising on our little guy? haha!) I THINK I'M GOING TO CALL MY POUCH "THE GROUCH POUCH" BECAUSE OF ALL THE UNPLEASANT THINGS IT WILL DO WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! OH, I SOOOO AGREE ... I KNOW SEVERAL WLS FRIENDS WHO ARE "JUST CHEATING A LITTLE" & THEIR WEIGHT LOSS HAS ABSOLUTELY STOPPED. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND NOT BEING 100% TOTALLY COMMITTED WHEN YOU ARE AGREEING TO HAVE YOUR STOMACH CUT IN HALF ... I'D LIKE TO THROTTLE THEM FOR WASTING SUCH A FANTASTIC CHANCE. I GUESS THEY THINK THE POUCH WILL DO ALL THE WORK ... NOT SO! 22 POUNDS IN NO TIME; THAT IS FANTASTIC! I HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE & I HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN THE LORD. I ALSO HAVE THE MOST SUPPORTIVE, LOVING HUBBY, FAMILY & FRIENDS, SO I KNOW I WILL HAVE NOTHING LESS THAN WONDERFULLY, FANTASTIC RESULTS LIKE YOU HAVE! THANKS FOR THE GOOD WISHES! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hey there Lady Dawn, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful I think you are...I've been reading your replies on the various questions here and you have such wisdom, compassion, humor and viewpoints. I think you're the greatest and I just wanted to let you know that. I know you'll do great and I hope I can track you down and keep in touch with your progress as you become the "Great Loser"! By the way, I think you should call your pouch the HAPPY POUCH because you'll do so good it won't do unpleasant things to you...positive thinking, eh? Your my hero...Nancy

OH, MS NANCY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH; YOU BROUGHT ME TO THE VERGE OF TEARS. I WAS FLABERGASTED AT YOUR UNBELIEVABLY KIND WORDS. I HAD TO EVEN CALL NICK IN FROM WATCHING FOOTBALL ... "COME IN HERE & LOOK AT THIS" ... HE WAS AS AMAZED AT YOUR GRACIOUS WORDS & SENTIMENTS AS I WAS. I COULD HANDLE THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD WHEN I WAS YOUNG. THEN, I TOOK A 30 YEAR DETOUR; I WAS IN A VERY UNHEALTHY, DESTRUCTIVE MARRIAGE THAT TOOK ME TO THE BRINK OF SUICIDE. I STARTED MY NEW LIFE IN DECEMBER 1995 & HAVE FOUND "ME" AGAIN. I AM SO VERY THANKFUL TO GOD FOR ALLOWING ME TO SURVIVE & FIND A NEW, WONDERFUL LIFE THAT I JUST DEVOUR LIFE. I HAVE SUCH PASSION FOR PEOPLE ...ENCOURAGING & HELPING THEM ... MAKING THEM FEEL SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY ARE! THE DEEPEST WOUND I INCURRED DURING MY MARRIAGE WAS MY PREVIOUS HUSBAND'S REFUSAL TO HAVE CHILDREN. I WAS SUCH A HAPPY CHILD WITH THE MOST WONDERFUL PARENTS; I ALWAYS WANTED TO PASS THAT HAPPINESS ON TO MY OWN CHILDREN ... A SON (CALEB JAMES JOSHUA WAS TO BE HIS NAME) & THEN A DAUGHTER (TESSA PEARL NOEL WAS TO BE HERS). THIS IS WHERE I WOULD LEAVE MY LEGACY ... MY MARK ON THE WORLD, THROUGH MY CHILDREN ... BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY. EVEN AFTER GOD BROUGHT NICK INTO MY LIFE - THE MOST WONDERFUL HUSBAND I COULD EVER HOPE FOR - PART OF ME FELT UNFULFILLED, AS THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE A LEGACY TO LEAVE THAT WOULD MAKE THIS EARTH A BETTER PLACE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. & THEN THE MOST WONDERFUL THING HAPPENED, WE SEEMED TO "GATHER" YOUNG WAITRESSES & WAITERS TO US & WE FOUND SUCH JOY IN LIFTING THEIR SPIRITS, ENCOURAGING THEM, OFFERING GUIDANCE - WE HAVE SO MANY "KIDS" NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THEM; WE SO ENJOY EACH ONE OF THEM. & THEN GOD WORKED OUT A SITUATION WHERE NICK'S YOUNGEST SON CAME DOWN TO VISIT US SO WE INTRODUCED HIM TO ONE OF "OUR (WAITRESS) KIDS" &, LO & BEHOLD, THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER EVER SINCE BECAUSE NICK'S SON MOVED DOWN HERE. SO, HE GOT A WONDERFUL GIRLFRIEND & BABY SON ... & WE GOT TO HAVE NICK'S SON NEAR US AS WELL AS A CLOSER, WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. WHAT A BLESSING! NOW WE FIND GOD BRINGING ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE INTO OUR LIVES THAT MAY JUST NEED A SMILE ... OR THANKING THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE OR KINDNESS ... OR WISHING THEM A BLESSED DAY & I BEGAN TO FEEL BITS OF FULFILLMENT BECAUSE I KNEW MY HEART WAS REACHING OUT TO OTHERS IN NEED ... MAYBE IN A TINY WAY, BUT IN SUCH A PERSONAL WAY TO EACH OF THEM. I KNEW I HAD BEEN GIVEN A BIT OF TALENT TO WRITE BUT NO MATTER HOW I TRIED TO FIND AN OUTLET TO WRITING, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. THEN, I ASKED GOD TO SHOW ME A WAY THAT I COULD USE THIS WRITING TALENT TO HELP OTHERS & GLORIFY HIM. WELL MS NANCY, YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST, HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR ALLOWING OUR LORD TO SPEAK THROUGH YOU TO TELL ME I'VE FOUND A WAY. I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH, SWEETHEART. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOW, LET ME SEE ... MY POUCH HAS TO HAVE "HAPPY" IN IT'S NAME, HUH? UMMMMM, HOW ABOUT THE "HAPPY GROUCH POUCH" OR THE "GROUCHY HAPPY POUCH"? EEUUWWWW, SOUNDS A LITTLE SKIZOID ... OR, I COULD PUT THE 2 WORDS TOGETHER LIKE "GRAPPY POUCH" ... NAHHHHH, YOU HAVE THE BEST NAME ... "MY HAPPY POUCH" FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, MS NANCY! MAY GOD SEND YOU A VERY SPECIAL BLESSING THIS DAY, MS NANCY DAWN & NICK

Hi , How is your Saturday going?-- I have to say that with your attitude --you will be a winner--Oooops a "Loser" : haha: As for those who cheat --well I guess that it is hard to be a perfect person all the time--But I agree --I took such a major step--why would I try to sabotage myself?? I am getting up each day and taking my regular meds. my vitamins and then I start with my protein --I count every gram and every calorie --I even purchesed a cookbook for post bariatric surgery meal preparation--I don't want to feel deprived and I want my food to be tasty--I believe that If I can avoid repitition and boredom --then I will be less likely to fall into the trap of eating less than healthy foods because I have such a small menu. I also want my hubby to lose a little weight--he loves to eat and as long as I make him a meal that he can sit down to at dinner time--he will eat whatever I put in front of him--He Will lose weight If he eats what I eat--even if the portions are larger. Well I see the Srugeon on Monday and I get my staples out--I will get my frist official weight loss then according to the unofficial scale I am down 23.8????? but I am not raising any flags yet --we'll see! Have a blessed weekend! Marian S.C.

YOU'VE LOST NEARLY 24 #s IN 10 DAY!?!?!?!?!?! OH MY GOSHHHHHHHH, THAT IS TREMENDOUS! WELL, I'LL WAVE THE FLAGS FOR YOU, MS SUPER LOSER. THAT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE TRIUMPH! WAY TO GO! ATTA-GIRL!!! YUP, I'M GOING TO DO THE SAME ... WRITE DOWN AMOUNTS OF FLUIDS (NOT TOO GOOD AT THOSE), PROTEINS & CALORIES. I HAVE A PILL HOLDER FOR MEDS & SUPPLEMENTS SO I'M COVERED THERE. DO YOU EVER GO TO THE "LIGHTWEIGHT" BOARD? THERE IS A LADY NAMED VAL. EVERY TUES SHE WRITES, "IT'S TUES, WHAT R U EATING?" & THEN SHE WRITES DOWN EVERYTHING SHE ATE THAT DAY & THE AMOUNTS. SHE IS 18 MONTHS OUT & STILL WATCHES EVERY BITE THAT GOES IN HER MOUTH. SHE HAS A CATERING SERVICE SO IF ANYONE KNOWS THE VALUE OF FOOD PLANNING & PORTIONS, IT'S HER. IT'S GREAT FOR OTHERS B/C THEY WILL WRITE DOWN THEIR FOOD INTAKE & THEN RECOGNIZE IF THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK OR NOT. SHE IS SO KNOWLEDGABLE. CHECK OUT HER POSTS. NOW, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA ... THE WLS COOKBOOK THING. NICK NEEDS TO LOSE ABOUT 25 #s SO THAT WOULD BE PERFECT TO HELP HIM AS WELL. HE ALREADY USES THE PROTEIN WHEY SHAKES FOR BREAKFAST & HE USES THE LOW CARB BARS AS A SNACK, BUT DINNER IS OUR DOWNFALL ... SO, NOW WE HAVE AN ANSWER! THANKS! HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY ... GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi there Dawn, I hope that you and Nick are havineg a good Sunday--I have to clarify something--I have lost a little over 25 lbs so far--tomorrow I go to get my staples out ,and I will have an official weigh in . But I didn't lose that much weight in 11 days--I had to go on a liquid Pre-Operative diet. The doctor requires the liquid pre-op diet in order to reduce the size of the liver--it makes the laproscopic Rn-Y possible, and much easier, for the patient and the surgeon. So really the 25 lbs is the total lost over a twenty-five day period. Not every surgeon requires the pre-op diet. Some surgeons require a type of colonic to clean you out before surgery , others ask for a two day fast. Still others don't require any type of fast and the patient can gorge up to the night before surgery. I am very happy that my surgeon demanded a long pre-operative fast. I was so concentrated on maintaining the diet before the surgery --that I didn't have much time to worry over the risks of the actual surgery. I was eager to get in there and get my new life started! It helped me to focus on getting to the surgery and beyond. I am praying that Dr. Malholtra will tell me that I can have some real food after tomorrows' appointment. a cheese omlet sounds so wonderful right now--that is a scrambled egg - beater with romano cheese sprinkled on it for taste--yummmmm!!!! My hope for you is that your surgeon and his multidisciplinary team will be as good as mine is--My surgeons team will be there for the rest of my life--They have support groups and, in fact, he even has a forum on this site. It is like being in one great big club. And I feel that I can come here anytime I need support--I will check out the "light weight" board--I go to several boards--including the "cat lovers" board. You have a wonderful day! Talk to you soon -I hope Be Blessed, Marian S.C.