losingit2013

June 10th.

Welcome to the group! And you're story, like so many others, is why I'm doing the sleeve. You are a brave person for moving beyond that nightmare!

It's illegal for an employer to deny medical leave. A Physician releases you and it's not the employers role to question the credentials of your physician. We are all entitled to choose our own personal physicians, regardless of the location. I work in HR in CA. An employer shouldn't say anything more than, "I hope you get better soon!" I went around my boss directly to HR to ask for the leave requirements. Good Luck!

We talked about it. We live in the Bay Area. Then, I thought driving and stopping every two hours was too annoying and if I'm passing gas on the way home.... Well, you know what I'm saying.

Well said.

I worried about that also. I work for a medical device company that manufactures laparoscopic tools. Part of my decision on a Dr. was based upon the type of staplers they use. Not all staples are created equal. Some have a higher misfire than others. I gathered the info on the various doctors I was considering and consulted with our principle engineers to help me narrow down my list. MOST staplers are titanium and immediately anchor into the tissue. The key is to use a product that had more than one row. Most staplers make two, three is optimal. Then, a good surgeon will use a sealer and stitch around the staple line to ensure its sealed. The staples never dissolve, but scar tissue and normal healing will fuse it all together. (At least that's what I've been told by the SME 's at my work) I've been fortunate to sit in on surgeries to see how it works and its really quite fascinating. I'm sad I can't use the product I actually hired people to build, but I'm satisfied with the decision I made. It's no lie that I also snooped around with other surgeons to ensure my choice had peer recognition...even docs in the states have him a nod. Two would not release the info. The sanitation we all need to worry about I'd how they clean the tools. Another good question to ask. You want to hear autoclave or single use.

Go to your local credit union for a personal loan. The rates are half of what I was quoted by those "medical financing companies" and if you don't have the credit for the personal loan, a revolving credit card through your bank is still lower.

Pre-op here. I've been reading many of these posts and it sound like milk helps with keeping fluids down. We only drink almond milk, it's higher in calcium, lower in calories, but it's heavier than skim. Does anyone have experience with almond milk post-surgery? Did it make you ill?

Oh my gawd, we must have the same family!!? We lost my sister to breast cancer in 2011, so my mom has become a low flying helicopter. I keep telling her, "mom, I'm not going to die!" Now, my big sis is on the same wagon. It's awesome to have a loving family, but in the end, they need to understand that most people don't jump into this surgery unless they really need it and they want to add years back to their life. I told my mom that if I stay on my current course, I will not be able to keep up with my kids because of a hip replacement and if I get diabetes, it will kill me. The odds of surgery helping me reverse the damage to my body are just as great as the probability of me getting diabetes if I DON'T have surgery. My mom also worries about me remembering to eat and/or drink. The truth is, they do it out if love, but there are times when we all need them to support us the way WE need them to support us, not how they think they should.

I'm scheduled for June 10th w/ Dr. Ramos-Kelly. Anyone else heading out that day?

Don't be so hard on yourself. Most of us are chunky because we've yo-yo dieted for many years and our bodies just don't know how to react. Personally, my metabolism is so jacked up that it no longer responds in a favorable manner. Give your body some time to adjust, it will all be okay.

Is anyone juicing rather than buying packaged shakes? Is it okay post surgery?