jrsno1fan

Being anemic is not anything that's new to me. As a child I have memories of my mom feeding me nasty liquid Iron that tasted like the inside of a coke can that's been sitting for a few days. Awful, metallic, nasty stuff. During my pregnancies I was also very anemic and had to be on extra iron so about 3 months prior to surgery I wanted to make sure my levels were good enough for surgery so I asked my pulmonologist (the one dr I trusted the most) to do blood work and check my iron. My first results said what I expected, my ferritin level was 16. So the doctor sent me for an iron infusion. He checked my levels again 2 weeks later and it was up to 20. He said that was still low and sent me for a 2nd infusion. At this point I was 2 weeks pre-surgery so he gave me an appt for a follow-up in 3 months. I had surgery on 8/6 and nothing was said about it in the hospital or at my post surge 8 day follow-up. At the 1 month mark I expressed my concern about being so very tired, bruising easily and severe constipation. The surgeon said it may be from the surgery but if I was still feeling like this at 3 months he would do more blood work. I had my 3 month visit last Wednesday and they did draw blood. I got a call on Monday from the nurse and she said there was a concern regarding my iron levels. She said when they saw what the numbers were they went back to my in hospital labs to compare. In hospital my iron was over 600 which is extremely high, double what normal should be. Now 3 months post surgery it's still in the high 500's. Now I don't know what to do. She said follow up with my PCP but he's not the one who ordered the infusions. So what do you guys suggest? Go back to my pulmonologist, who is a lung specialist not a blood specialist, go to my PCP who would have to start from scratch or find a Haematologist and start with a completely new doctor but in a specialized field? Thanks in advance for reading my long post and any advice you have.

http://bariatrictimes.com/the-history-of-sleeve-gastrectomy/

It'll all be worth it in the end. I fell and broke my tailbone also, ended up having it removed (worst surgery ever). And remember for every 10lbs of weight you lose you relieve 40lbs of pressure from your joints. So you'll feel better just with the pre-surgery weight loss. Good luck.

Just in time for the fall cooler weather. 1 lb. ground turkey breast (regular ground turkey is higher in fat and calories so make sure to use turkey breast) 1 large onion 2 cups low fat cream 1/2 tsp cumin powder 1/2 tsp white pepper 1/2 tsp Kosher salt 1 can white navy Beans (drained and rinsed) 1 can chick peas (drained and rinsed) Saute turkey and onion until fully cooked. Add the beans and chick peas, seasonings, and cream. Stir and simmer for 20 minutes. It's that easy and delish! Enjoy.

Yes that would work fine.

I had my first bout of dumping syndrome and I must say it is not pleasant. I know what the possible cause was and believe me I won't have that again. Anyone else having or suffering with Dumping Syndrome?

You look awesome! Loving those leggings, can't wait till I can get a pair.

I'm doing The Color Run 5K in the morning, my first 5K since surgery. I took a tumble this week down my stairs and broke my wrist. I really thought I wouldn't be able to do this run but I'm not as sore as I thought I would be so I'm gonna try even if I have to walk some of it. Wish me luck.

Let your new life begin. Congrats.

It's been a rough week for me (not as rough as BTB) but I haven't felt good since Wednesday. I think lack of sleep is partially to blame. 4 hours and I'm wide awake (this is new since surgery). Anyhoo, I didn't get out much Wed, Thurs or Fri. But since I was awake at 8:30am this morning I went ahead and went for a run. Just 1 mile today. Total for the month so far 25 better then nothing I guess.

I also have very low Iron. I had 2 infusions prior to surgery with the last one being 2 weeks prior to. My pulmonologist ordered them. I went to the cancer treatment center in the hospital and had them. I reported in at 9am and was done and out by 3pm. they also added a little benedryl so I slept thru the whole thing. I'm 5 weeks post now and I think my iron is still very low. I'm so so very tired right now and have been since Friday and I'm covered in bruises. I was in my surgeons office today (but not for me) and mentioned it to the nurse she said if I have any other symptoms to call, otherwise they will take blood at my next appt. I really hope this doesn't hold you up. Call your PCP and insist they do it. You have that right. And if the PCP won't go see the blood dr as suggested above. Scream and holler until someone listens to you!

I only did 2 miles today (had to go buy new sneakers, went with Altra) but I did it in 3 minutes less then yesterday.

Agreed. I raise my own chickens so eggs are a staple in our house.

I'm totally in. I have a 5K on 29 SEPT and another on 12 OCT so I've already been trying to cut my 5K time down. I love it when a community comes together for the good of everyone. I use the Sport Tracker app but my running partner uses Map My Run we both like each of them ok. I did 53.39 miles last month (surgery month) so I'm looking forward to doubling that number now that I'm pretty much healed.

I've not had one phone call or unsolicited email from any of the ones I requested. (which was all of them)

Black Diamond - Really? I was sleeved the same day and I'm on soft/mushies. So boiled, scrambled, and egg salad, tuna salad, oatmeal, anything I can put thru the blender and make mushy. What's getting to me though is coffee. ugh 2 times now, within an hour I'm in the bathroom. I saw a mug at 5 Below the other day that I'm thinking of getting now. It said "Coffee Makes Me Poop".

Like you said a rose by any other name... this was every symptom of dumping that is listed. Rapid heartbeat, flushing, lightheaded, dizzy, plus the cramps and diarrhea. The only thing I didn't have is vomiting and probably would have if I weren't still taking Zofran. What I had for dinner I didn't think about it having sugar but afterwards realized it did. Like I said I won't make that mistake again.

I'm on the southside, McDonough. I had surgery on 8/6. Went in Tues. 8:30 am stayed over night at Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth and was out around 7:00pm Wednesday. Center for Surgical Weight Management at Gwinnett Medical was awesome. Dr. Robert Richard was the best. He answered all my questions and returned a 911 call from me on a Sunday within minutes of calling the service. In 19 days I'm down 26.2 lbs. including the 2 weeks prior on the liquid diet. I have Federal BCBS so all of the normal "hoops" were required. But I'm already on a cpap so no sleep study. And I had a hiatal hernia confirmed through my gastro dr so no endo was required. I had about $500 out of pocket for office visit co-pays and the purchase of the Meal Replacement shake mix for 2 weeks.

I feel very grateful to have been given this second chance. And good luck on your Monday surgery. I'm 18 days post op today and feeling pretty good. I am also one of those people who has family that I have to cook for but I figured out that if I cook stuff I don't like then it's not so bad. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) for my husband everything he's eaten for the past two weeks, including breakfast, has had onions and green peppers in it.

8 bottles but 3 of them are cane sugar. So if you get samples make sure you only drink the ones that say sugar free on the bottle.