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Hello to everyone that responded to my post. Its' been a long (almost) a year since I made that post. I have been in the hospital with Pnuemonia and then found out while I was there I had a mild dose of Covid19. HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU GET A "MILD" DOSE OF COVID19!!!? That still confuses the hell out of me but hey...I guess it is what it is. I was on O2 for almost 6 months after I got out of the hospital so that didn't help the weight issue any either. How the hell do you stay healthy when all this crap is going on? Any thoughts?? I'm out of ideas...
That being said, I have decided to have a revision of my sleeve. On September 3, I will have a SADI-S or the DS surgery to get back on track. 40 pounds and I'll be right back at my pre-surgery weight from 2011!! OH HELL NO!!! That is not happening. I'll be more visible on this site now that this is happening and I'm going to stay on! Wish me luck and if you need me outside this site, you all can email me at [email protected].
Love you all!
Barbara
Barbara McKeown 
Hey guys! I'm Ashley! New to the group, but old to the surgery, I had my VSG done 12/2018
01/2019 admitted to hospital for 5 days bc of GI Bleed (gastric sleeve leak)
through 2019 I was admitted approx. 6 times for severe abdominal pain , dehydration, vitamin depletion, medically uncontrollable pain (yes even with the "good stuff" I could not get better for days)
2020 I had Sphincter of Oddi Disfunction, and ERCP with stent placement, Pancreatitis (multiple flare-ups) and my Gall Bladder removed, and gastroparesis.
2021 I had a colonoscopy that came back perfect/ no issues in lower bowel or cancer
Before my surgery I have never been to ANY doctor for stomach pain. I never had issues at all. Last time I went to the ER is when I was birthing my daughter. I do not over utilize emergency services on purpose, but I have serious "crisis" that happen, absolutely randomly, and usually have to be managed with the ER.
Since 01/2019 to 2021 I have been to the ER 21 times and admitted 17 separate times. At one point in time, I was admitted on one occasion for 10 DAYS!! My insurance called me to see if I would be placed in a nursing home or palliative care, bc of how frequently I was being admitted and having surgeries and procedures. I have a lot of pain for no reason, I will go days without food and water bc I can't keep anything down. My blood work usually shows these results bc I am depleted of everything.
I am 29 years old, with a binder, literally a BINDER to carry my health records in. This is crazy!! It makes it 10x WORSE when a doctor in the ER sees my "frequent flyer" medical history in the ER and labels me as a drug seeker. Like he flat out says I just want to get high. He denied me test, and labs. I left AMA crying my eyes out and humiliated. This infuriates me bc I do not deserve this "label." I have contacted the hospital, filed a complaint, and a medical records amendment form, but I want to go further, and I think I have every right. I haven't gotten confirmation from the hospital that they are going to amend my records just yet, still waiting on a phone call from administration. I don't want to make anyone lose their job, but I want the state to know what I have endured from the staff at the ER, and the negligence.
Does anyone with this knowledge want to help me do this the right way?
*** and has anyone had any issues similar to mine? Please reach out if you have!
thank you for saying this i am dealing with the same things you are not alone.
2005: Transcutaneous absorption of topically massaged oil in neonates
Objective: To study the transcutaneous absorption of traditionally massaged oil in newborns and to specifically compare the effects of ****ssential fatty acid (EFA) rich - safflower oil and (ii) saturated fat rich coconut oil, on fatty acid profiles of massaged babies.
Design: A short term randomised controlled study.
Setting: Tertiary care NICU of a large teaching hospital and a research laboratory of a University complex.
Methods: 120 study babies were randomly assigned to three oil groups (i) safflower oil (n = 40) (ii) coconut oil (n = 40) and (iii) no oil controls (n = 40). In each group, babies were selected in three subsets as per their gestational ages viz (a) less than 34 weeks, (b) 34-37 weeks, (c) greater than 37 weeks. 5 mL of the designated oil was massaged four times a day for five days under controlled conditions of temperature and feeding. Pre and post oil massage samples of blood were analysed for triglycerides and fatty acid profiles using gas chromatography.
Results: Post oil triglyceride values were significantly raised in both the oil groups and also in controls. However, the quantum of rise was significantly higher in oil groups as compared to controls. Fatty acid profiles (gas chromatography) showed significant rise in EFAs (linolenic acid and arachidonic acid) in safflower oil group and saturated fats in coconut oil group. Changes were more evident in term babies. There were no side effects associated with the massage.
Conclusions: This study shows that topically applied oil can be absorbed in neonates and is probably available for nutritional purposes. The fatty acid constituents of the oil can influence the changes in the fatty acid profiles of the massaged babies.
Good morning!
I made this video for those of you that need tips on social events, I hope it helps.
Check it out here: https://youtu.be/JqYINpcPFQ8
Regards
Dr. Alvarez
HI,
I'm 9 years out and I still freeze in Summer, Spring, Fall & Winter. I don't think it will ever change. Its unbearable in the Winter. Labs are good...
:(
(VSG) HW, 346 SW, 341 CW 176.2 GW, 165 
Good Morning!
I made this video for people who have type 2 diabetes and are looking into Gastric Sleeve Surgery.
Check it out here: https://youtu.be/LAuKMETgfRc
Regards
Dr. Alvarez
For me, I have a Nexplanon progesterone implant (well this is my 3rd or 4th I believe, so 10+ years) and it completely stops my periods which is so good for me! Periods used to make me so anemic every month, and now I don't even think about it! I haven't had a period in 3+ years, but 1 week prior to surgery...SURPRISE!
The period itself was light and managable, but it came with little to no warning and lasted only 4 days, but still it shows that the pre-diet 'shock' can really throw your body's normal pattern out of sync. I'm expecting another period at the end of this month, as it wouldnt surprise me if the surgery has thrown off my hormones completely
My pre-diet was 4 weeks, 2x Optifast shakes a day and a small meal of 100g cooked protein with 2 cups of specific vegetables.
Oh my dear, you are far from alone!
In 2005, at 325 pounds, I had lap-band put in. It was a great success! I got down to 150 pounds in less than a year. I was focused, I was careful, I was active. It was the best $15,000 I had ever spent on anything!
Then I got divorced, lost my job, and lost my house. Eating was all I could think about, and I ended up doing what you described doing: treating myself to foods I had no business eating. I got back up to 260 pounds.
I moved to another country, with socialized medicine. I went to an obesity clinic looking for help. The doctor determined my lap-band was leaking, and no longer created any restriction. My new country would pay for me to have corrective surgery. Due to scarring and other issues, the best option was an RNY bypass.
So, on 10/10/2017, I had the RNY. It was a great success! I got down to 150 pounds in less than six months (I didn't have as much to lose the second time). I was focused, I was careful, I was active. I banished bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cookies, brownies, cake, pastries, ice cream, as well as any and all other starchy foods (e.g., beans, corn, and peas) from my kitchen, plate, and mouth. I met a new man and we moved in together; I was so happy and felt so proud of my svelte new "me".
But, now, almost 4 years later, I have put on almost 40 pounds, and disgust myself. I can't make any more "surgical commitments" to my weight loss. I really just need to get a handle on my relationship with food, my body, and my (horribly critical) inner voice. People tell me I should be gentle with myself, but how can one be "gentle" with someone one despises. I have always thought of myself as my brain, and the rest of me as my brain's enemy. I need to change that. I desperately need to change my vision of my body ... it is not separate from me, and is not a traitorous back-stabbing constant source of pain and hurt. How I do that is still a mystery.
I also know that I have to acknowledge and manage my relationship with food. I have gone back to basics, starting with an 800-calorie a day liquid protein diet to "restart and realign" my post-bariatric stomach. I am sure I stretched my pouch to my stomach's original size as the quantity of food I was able to consume was simply far too much for a post RNY pouch, way, way more than it should be able to handle. So, after a couple more days of that (it has been 5 days), I should be ready to reintroduce meat and other proteins. I will not, however, let starchy carbohydrates back in my mouth. I will, of course, eat healthy vegetable carbs once I think my pouch has shrunk back to its proper proportion.
Thanks for reading this, and letting me tell you my story, so you do not feel alone or ashamed of yourself, as what happened to you can happen to anyone. It has happened to me TWICE. As the old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!" Boy do I feel the "shame on me".
Be gentle with yourself, and know you have been heard and understood. A big virtual hug is being sent in your direction.
"Fortunately", it
Hi, I'm very glad that you decided to take such an important step as losing weight. At one time, I gained a lot of weight and decided to lose weight at one point. My friend gave me advice to buy a food scale to keep track of the portions and the amount of food I consume. I was skeptical because I thought I could keep track of the amount of food I consumed myself, but nothing changed and I didn't lose weight. As a result, I found a cool watch here https://www.amazon.com/Vont-Beautiful-Measurement-Stainless-Batteries/dp/B08SW6F5SZ and my life changed. I learned how to distribute portions of food so that I ate five times a day. In addition, I started playing sports and after half a year I put myself in great physical shape. I wish you to achieve the same success. Good luck!
