mswisdom

I just went to my pre-op class yesterday Oct. 28th and met with my surgeon for the last time. When I started this journey I was with a female surgeon but once she told me that she 'Won't' do the sleeve but will do the bypass I searched out a second opinion.....besides he was the one I wanted in the first place, but he was not offered when I went to my seminar (found out that different surgeons are set up at different towns). Anyway, at the seminar we was told what Dr. T does: first he'll staple your stomach, then he will hand stitch the line, then he'll apply 'surgical snow' (its a sealant). So he reinforces your stomach three times! .....I love that. Also he has performed over 700 Sleeves, more than all the surgeons in Hampton Roads..COMBINED! And all he does is baraitric surgery. The staff is great and been along with him for many years. [ATTACH]20365[/ATTACH] I am so comfortable with him. To anyone in the 7 cities of Hampton Roads Virginia if your looking to get surgery Dr. T is your man.

I'm sitting here early in my pre-op class reading the information about showering the 3 days prior to surgery. If says that I'm not to use deodorant for each if the 3 days. I work in healthcare and moving patients all day long. Question: will you smell if you're a heavy sweater? I'm at work both mornings of this prep and I don't want to be blowing up the place. Can you use baking soda? I'm going to ask at this meeting. Just wanted to prepare myself if need be.

I got a call from the dietician yesterday telling me that my test results for albumin and Iron were still low. I told her she was mistaken about the albumin because I was holding test results in my hand that I took August 27th that read 3.9 g/dl (range is 3.5-5.0 g/dl). I was upset about the iron because I have been taking 65mg of iron twice a day religiously for the last seven weeks. The constipation has been killing me and I have (TMI) an anal fissure that I've been trying to heal this whole time. I really want to cry cuz nothing seems to be going right. I also found out that the PCIP insurance that I have will expire Dec. 31st 2013 and I'll have to pick another plan. The new plan may not have weight loss surgery as a ryder and then all of this work will have been done for nothing. So I feel like I'm in between a rock and a hard place. I'm bumping my iron up to 65mg 3 times a day in hopes of getting these labs straight by next month (Oct. 8th will be the last of my PCP visits and everything will be ready to be submitted). I just needed to talk about it.

Ramadan Mubarak. My name is Jamila from Norfolk, Va. I had my sleeve done on November 5th 2013, so this is my first Ramadan post surgery. There are a few other Muslims on here.

I've been told that I has H Polyri and it needs to be treated. They gave me a PrevPac (a combo of Prevacid, Biaxin & Amoxicillin) which I have to take twice a day for two weeks. It is so nasty! My mouth feel like I've been sucking on a nickel. A nurse friend of mine says that its the H Polyri making my mouth taste metallic not the mess. Either way this is a drag to take. Who wants to eat anything when this stuff makes your throat feel so bad? I'm 5 days into this 14 day treatment and right at this moment I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mind you, I have to eat yogurt each day just to ward off the yeast infection that is bound to come from taking amoxicillin (any culling will bring it on). Hopefully this will work and my test will come back clean because I don't want to treat this again. [ATTACH]18804[/ATTACH]

I'm a sleever and as I read your question I noticed that you said that this is the last year that your insurance covers wls. You may need to ask them will they cover the visits of maintainance of your band, it may turn out that once the rudder is removed you won't be covered for your 'fills' and adjustments. I myself never thought about the band and surgeons in my area are starting to explain that they are having to do more revisions or removals. I couldn't see myself with the port sticking out of my body, or the fact that I would have to continue to see the doctor for maintainance, I'm like "Cut it out and throw it away". But like others said, do you're research. You are the only one that knows what's right for you. Good luck on your journey!

I think I found my sweet spot this week. Since I went to the doctor last Wednesday and was told I was behind I decided to tweek my diet. He gave me a list of do's & don't's and told me to follow it. I have a problem with the 'avoid fruits' part since I prefer to mix my own non fat Greek yogurt so I chose to just weigh two ounces of fresh pineapples out each morning. I've had 1/2cup fage 0% Greek yogurt with 2oz pineapples, 1 scoop isopure unflavored protein and 1tsp Trivia (35g protein), then I make a protein shake of 12oz 2% milk (should be using skim but its what I have in the house), 2 scoops Champion Nutrition Pure Whey Chocolate and 10oz ice (54g protein) then eat something simple depending on what I have in the house......Results: 9lbs gone as of this morning-7 days later. I even went out for the first time to the Chinese buffet with my girlfriends. The lady was nice when I showed my card and asked can I buy the the takeout out but I will bs eating with my friends. Cost:$2.25....ha ha and it taste just as good as if I spent the $8 dollars. I think i've found my sweet spot. The morning yogurt I think for me is really letting me release this weight.....and I am so full after I eat it. Looking forward to my next week.......Oh! I only worked out once at the gym this last week, need to be more but you know what I'm saying.

You can return opened items to both GNC and The Vitamin Shoppers but you have to have the receipt.

#UKCathy. I thought that was the case. I went online and fixed it. It also took off my 'before' picture and I had to re load it.

I went to the doctor yesterday and was told that I was behind on my weight loss. The first month was great (weight wise. Surgery Nov. 5th 2013 and by Dec. 1st 39lbs was gone) during November I pulled/popped a duties, then again in Dec. something popped again. So I backed off working out to let myself heal. During this time I had went through the 'mushy' to 'whole food' stage. I started testing different things to see how much I can tolerate, some things weren't the best for me I must admit and I started playing with the same 5-6lbs. I didn't really worry about it since I was in so much pain. While this was going on the days were still going by, having my weight loss go from great-to average-to behind (the doctors scale is 5lbs different than mines and they don't take into account the 10lbs of fluid I walked out of the hospital with, so right there that's 15lbs to them doesn't even exist). So looking at the numbers I'm below where I should be. And when I really looked at it I agree. So he gave me a list of things I could eat and things I couldn't. For the next two months he wants me to give it my all saying that since I'm no stranger to the gym and my knowledge about food he knows that I can get this scale to go down. So no matter what's going on in my life (my mother went to the hospital New Years Eve, and she's in rehab now so she can walk again) I have to continue to work on me. If I wait for the days to ve smooth before I start it'll never happen. Sorry this was so long, but I needed to talk about it. I will say, my night spoonful of peanut butter is going to be the hardest thing to put down, but Doc said it's too high in fat.....oh well.

It does? I have to change that. I haven't been logging in from my computer in months, but I swore that I put the sleeve. I never even thought about the lapband and I don't see anything next to my name but how many post I have made. Thanks for letting me know that tidbit of information.

I go to a support group once a month. I have a few numbers but no one I really 'click' with. I also have a support group on FB for November sleevers.

I had the sleeve done not the lapband. I may look into PB2 not quite sure yet. I admit I could have done better once they let me loose to regular foods, but this too shall pass. I made egg salad, but almost changed my mind because I wanted those two crackers. Ha ha, but without them I was able to eat two eggs instead of one. Took out some cod and a whole turkey that I will bake once thawed so I don't have to think about Protein. Yes, I won't want to see another gobble gobble for the rest of 2014 but it'll do the job.

I'm on a fixed income and due to my job closing a few years ago I had to apply for stamps. I was wonder if any drinks could be bought with my EBT card. This is what I found out. Check out the product label on the back of Protein powders to determine if they can be purchased with EBT. If the label head reads “supplement facts,” it is considered a supplement and can not be purchased using EBT. If the label head reads “nutritional facts,” then the Protein powder is classified as a food, and EBT benefits can be used to purchase the product. That explained a lot because I had picked up some Power Core Light from Walmart thinking I was going to pay with cash and I didn't have to. And the label does say "nutrition facts". So just because its in the aisle with the Vitamins doesn't mean you cannot buy them with EBT.

Please don't feel bad about the rate that you lose weight. I can say for myself that I worked my tail off for each lb that I loss. It took 7 days to get the ten lbs of fluid off me that I gained during surgery. After that I have hit the pool each day swimming from a mile to two (which takes me 1 1/2hrs to 2hrs 45 minutes to do). I wanted each day off to mean something. I've only had 3 days off out of the 26 post-op from working out and one of them is because the gym was closed Thursday. The weight will come off, how quickly is up to you.

Surgery date was Nov. 5th (came home 10lbs heavier at 373.4lbs). Been having trouble with a pulled stitch on the left side but other than that no other problems. Today I weighed in at 338.6lbs Lost 34.8lbs (Day 26 Post-Op(

I was told that I had to lose 25lbs before they do surgery. So I for up today and made a smoothie. I had Protein powder Benefiber 1/2 c 2% milk 1c broccoli 1/4c cherries 1Tbsp flaxseed And even though it only had 299 calories, it had 28-32 Carbs(I logged in on both sparkpeople & myfitnesspal which gave me different carb readings) I mean Dang! I'm over half in the first smoothie. I do have some Syntrax nectars which don't have any Carbs so I'm going to put them in my day and see how it holds me. I have to get these 25lbs off by Dec. 1st....the lastest so I can get a date before the end of the end. I know its going to be tough but I can do it!

Here's the mobile link to the page. Let me know if it works. https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/groups/175311402675585?ref=bookmark&__user=744419250

FYI...you can get premier protein shakes at Wally World now (Walmart)

I went to my pre-op class today and got all the information I needed for surgery Nov. 5th. I needed to get babysitting so went next door and asked my neighbors if they could watch the kids because Bianca (my daughter) will be at the hospital with me all day and three kids with her would just be too much.They said it wouldn't be no problem and I just waited for my daughter to come so I can let her know the details of next week. Well......she came in and told her that she signed up for school, it's from 9am til 2pm and she needed my help for the next two weeks. I asked her when did the classes start, she told me Monday. What!!!!!! I asked her how the f%ck was I getting to surgery on Tuesday? She asked what time was my surgery, then said she would drop me off (she doesn't even know that my stuff is suppose to stay in the car until I get a room). She left out after that and when I went to the store with her baby she decided to go hang out. That's children for ya! I am so upset that I can't even see straight. If the shoe was on the other foot I would be expected to bust my %ss so I could be there...why?....cause i'm her mother? I was told to go talk to her about her classes, she said she forgot the date (I just gave her the date thursday October 24th). I asked could she change her class, she said that she would call and try but she's not trying to wait 9 months for a class to start. I told her that I've been working on this for 7 months.....then added "it seems like she just wants to see me stay fat!" she claimed it's not that....I just walked off. This is straight bull and I don't know what i'm going to do, if I have to i'm just going to drive myself and let that be that. I went through too many humps to get here just to let it fall by the wayside by an inconsiderate child. Just needed to get this off my chest.

PB2 is peanut butter powder. They took the fat out of it (I think). My nut showed it to me.