CharmingTortoise

Wow, you were a bit of a bleeder there. Looks like he handled it great though. It was interesting to see his technique. I've watched way too many of those on Youtube but it was neat to see someone's who I've "met," even if only virtually.

I have a playlist of actual surgery footage on Youtube. I know a lot of folks don't like the graphic nature of it but I figure if it's being done to my body, I want to know what is being done!

I have to get blood drawn this week - wish mine looked like that!! They look pretty normal to me in my completely unprofessional opinion. Kind of looks like my ex-husbands hands. The paramedics he worked with liked using him as a poke guinea pig.

I'm a troll, we are just south of the Mackinac Bridge.

Personally, I wouldn't. Cocktails are empty calories to begin with but also the alcohol is going to hit you very hard. I'm not sure what the recommendation is for wait time for alcohol but that doesn't seem long enough.

I'm a 911 dispatcher for a three county dispatch center in Northern Michigan. I've been working midnight shifts for the last 12 years and for most of my adult life. I'm curious how many others would attest that shift work throws their eating habits (and sleeping) into a spiral of chaos?

Congratulations on your new sleeve and best wishes for quick healing!

My grandmother had a parathyroid tumor removed two years ago. The parathyroids are supposed to be the size of a grain of rice, her problematic one was the size of a walnut. They literally missed it on scans because they didn't think it was the tumor because it was so big. Now that she has had it removed she is doing very well. She still occasionally gets the tingling that TexasMiss mentioned but that tends to be when she isn't eating right. Unfortunately, I don't have any advice on the WLS but I did want to mention that it is usually quite treatable and the scarring is quite minimal.

My doctor said unless there is a current or past issue with the gall bladder they will not take it out. I've only had one gall bladder attack so its going to stay put. They aren't going to take out a healthy organ because it "might" cause a problem. In that case they may as well take out my appendix, tonsils and do a hysterectomy while they are in there.

I just got done with a bottle of these - they are much better than the chalky chewables!

Hey everybody, My grandmother was going to come and stay with us for a couple days after I had my surgery in case I needed any help. Unfortunately she won't be able to come now. I'm wondering, realistically, do you really need much help? My husband will likely have to go back to work right after I get home from the hospital. He works about 10 hours a day so he will be home for any heavy lifting and such. We live right on a bike path so I won't have to travel to get my daily exercise in. I don't know if I should find someone else or just let it be. Any thoughts?

That is simply amazing! How exciting for you! Okay seriously though, you didn't mention what color!?! lol

Thank you everyone for responding. You all confirmed what I had expected, I should be fine. My son might be home but he's 14 and should be a big help if I need anything. Thank you again everyone for being such a great resource! :wub:

Wish there was a reset switch for the brain like there is for routers... We could just push a pin in the back and *boop* reset our hunger signals

Congrats on your weight loss. How are you feeling?

I'm also getting sleeved on August 19. I'm having mine done here in Northern Michigan by Dr. Nagle. I'd love to be surgery buddies. Do you have to travel far for your surgery?

Hey Everybody! I'm looking for a little advice from the experts. I am waffling something fierce here - and not the good kind with syrup and butter I started my 6 month medical weight loss jaunt in January. On March 8 when I saw the Doctor they put me on a diet and suggested exercise. I've been able to follow an 1,100 calorie diet pretty well and have been getting exercise more regularly, which for me is one to two times a week. Since March 8 I have lost 18 pounds. I am waffling because many family, friends and even the dietician have said, 'if you keep it up, you won't need the surgery.' And for a little while, I even thought that maybe I would make that my goal; to lose enough weight that I couldn't get approved for the surgery because my BMI would be too low. Right now my BMI is 39.1 and my insurance requires it to be above 35 (because I have co-morbidities). It is fairly likely (but not a sure thing) that I could lose enough to make 35 BMI before the paperwork is sent in for insurance approval. I need to lose 100 pounds total - doctor would like to see 120 but unless I'm planning on doing the heroin chic look, it's not happening. Where my waffling comes in is that I'm not sure if I want to. I'm deeply concerned that I will get to the 35 BMI weight and then just quit losing or fall of the wagon and start gaining again. It's like my brain and heart say that I really need to get this surgery. I don't know if I'm trying to please other people or what's going on. I actually have no doubts about the surgery itself, I have all the confidence in the world in my healthcare team. Can anyone help me sort this out? I'm looking for any ideas and input ... either good or bad. Or, has anyone else had these same feelings?

I am scheduled for August 19. I have done a ton of research and I'm really happy to finally be heading toward an actual surgery date!

I just got a call from Weight Loss Services through McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey and I have been approved. My surgery date will be August 19 with Doctor Nagle. I am shocked that Priority Health answered in two days. I really thought it would take them a week or more. So I'm running toward my surgery now. Less than two months out. I'm a little excited and a little anxious but that is entirely to be expected. Between now and then my family and I are going on a cruise to Alaska so I have a lot to be thankful for right now.

I have the last of my 6 monthly appointments on June 25. Hoping to receive word from insurance shortly after that. I have managed to lose 27 pounds since March 8. That means I only have 74 pounds to lose. Of course that being said, I'm going on a cruise right before surgery. However, I am going to try to test out my willpower and eat anything I want, but do so in small portions. No sense in screwing up all my weight loss in one fell swoop. Plus, I won't be able to fit into my new clothes if I do that. I got to meet my surgeon at the last appointment. Thanks to this wonderful community online I had very few questions. I am so thankful to be able to have such a great resource of knowledge. :wub: Realistically, a doctor can tell you the mechanics of the operation but if they've never had it done, they can't really tell you how it feels and how it affects you as a person.

find a book or class on mindful eating. It is really helpful. The tenets are basically that you never easy while doing anything else - no Facebook, no television, etc. No eating while standing up or driving or at your desk at work. Sit down and enjoy every meal or snack. East everything of a plate or bowl instead of out of a bag or box. It really helps you enjoy your food more and realize how much you're eating. When I took the class the dietitian said she was intentionally not mentioning portion control because intentional eating will eventually cause you to limit your portions. I highly recommend learning about it, even if you don't follow all the tenets it really gets you thinking more about what you are putting in your mouth.

Where is KC Bariatrics located?

I have discovered the secret :ph34r: (at least for me) to enjoying protein drinks - Nose Clips! For some reason when you plug the nose that weird taste from the protein isn't noticeable. All I can taste is the flavor that the drink is supposed to be. Nose clips will make it hand free and also make it so once I have the surgery I don't have to try to hurry up and drink it. I was also excited that for once, it was a cheap fix! Who would have known the swimmers knew the secret all along. Wish they would have shared though

I had the IUD previously and loved it! I had been on birth control for way too many years and that IUD was awesome. No worry whether you remembered your pill or not. I had it in for about 3 years and never had an issue with mine. I honestly didn't think it was that bad going in but I had already had my son before that. Personally, I would not to the Depo or Birth Control again because they make me super-psycho. I had a copper IUD, it was inserted in 1998 so this was quite some time ago. I haven't heard anything bad about the Mirena or new-gen IUD's. I had no issues with the monthly cycles other than my usual difficulties. I always recommend the IUD when I get the chance.

I took this for high blood pressure, very briefly. It made me pass out. I think it popped my blood pressure too low.