JonRN

My wife and I have BCBS of MI and we both had our surgery in September. We started our process in June. My BMI was over 50 so no 6 month weight loss required. My wife's BMI was in the 40's and required the 6 months supervision, but she was prepared. So to make a long story short, YES, you can use weight watchers as long as you kept your logs or get a copy of your leader's. The only other thing is that your PCP needs a copy of it in his records (which they can easily add for you). And there needs to be documentation in his records that you had a discussion about weight loss and possible surgery. I hope this helps.

Here is a quick link: http://www.roguefitness.com/shoes/weightlifting-shoes.php?gclid=COWwvJ_LwboCFc9i7AoddzUAsQ I know guys who really like the Adidas but this is just competitive powerlifting. Another the one people like is the Rogue because you can get a different size heel. My personal favorite is a pair of Asics wrestling shoes for training. I don't like support in my shoes during training and I also can do my cardio in them. But for competition use I like and have used for years is Inzer Pillars. But I have found they are to be used on max rep days or competition days only. That is because there is little give as it locks in your ankles and provides very little foot give. http://www.inzernet.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=PILLAR_SHOE I hope that helps a little.

First off, don't be disappointed in yourself and congratulate yourself for recognizing some bad habits. I think a lot of us look at the whole journey instead of a few foot paths to make it to the end. Life is like the saying, "how do you eat an elephant.... one bite at a time." My wife and I where sleeved one week apart, and the other day I walked into the kitchen she was starting to take a bite of left over lunch. She stopped immediately and gave a sheepish grin and replied , "I didn't even realize what I was doing until you walked into the kitchen." As much as we want our bad habits to stop tomorrow, they won't. How any people do you know stopped smoking only to start again? This what we face. You recognized when you are bored you eat so you walked the building. Congratulate yourself, you should be proud you recognized it. Rome wasn't built or fall in a day and neither do our habits. So instead of hanging your head in shame; raise your head held high and tell yourself I found a problem and I corrected it.

If you are or before being sleeved ( and the Dr took you off meds) check your blood sugar. This is another sign of diabetes and/or blood sugar is high.

Are you diabetic?

Another medication what might help, if not used is Reglan. We use it a lot in the unit (NTICU) on our vent patients. It is used for nausea, GERD, and delayed gastric emptying (think tube feeds). The surgeon who did my sleeve gave it around the clock if you did or did not have any symptoms of nausea while in the hospital. I don't know how much nausea problems they have had to deal with but he sent us home with scripts for; Zofran ODT, Reglan, and Compezine suppositories with instruction to use the Reglan first then the Zofran and finally the Compezine. It's worth a suggestion. Good luck.

I know my surgeon said when I was ready but watch the stomach area. My wife was sleeved a week before I was and had sex two days after she got home. After I was sleeved she wanted sex the day I got home but we waited until the next day. Just take it easy and you'll be fine.

I'm also 4 weeks out and only eat 2 oz for most meals (for lunch 1/2 oz and still extremely full from a protein shake). Don't worry about carbs yet just make sur you are getting in 60-80 grams of protein and water. My wife is 5 weeks out and she only eats 2 oz per meal also. We also eat only 3 meals and no snacks. Hope that helps, good luck.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when a person says, "you know," at the end of every sentence. So for fun once in awhile, I like to say no I don't know or why don't you tell me about it. The look on their face is precious because the are oblivious as to what they are doing.

She posted her pics 4 weeks out tomorrow.

I have to agree that at this point there is not enough calories. Our bodies don't like to be starved and it begins to hang onto what it has too. I was sleeved on 9/17 and my wife was sleeved on 9/10. Where I have been losing she hasn't but she is losing inches. See here 4 weeks photos (do a search for emttina 4 weeks out), and this could possibly be you as well. Good luck.

Most don't like too because of the scar tissue from the previous incision. And sometimes when they do use and an old incision it causes the new scar to keloid (raised scar and thicker than a "normal" scar). As for the belly button incision a lot of surgeons like to use them because it is one less visible.

Actiually doing an ABG is actually at times easier to do than an IV. The needle is the size of an insulin needle, but the key is to relax while it is done. The preferred method; first the nurse/respiratory therapist finds the radial pulse (the pulse in your wrist). They keep their fingers there as a reference, and then they take the Synge and go straight in at 90 degrees (like throwing a dart). They will use your pulse as the reference point. Unfortunately, it has hard to numb up with any spray because of the need to find a pulse. Hope this helps a little bit, fingers crossed takes less than 30 seconds. Good luck.

Here might be an idea. I find kind of cool. I think they should hand out these plates after surgery. It is a bariatric portion control plate. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0096I2SZC

Your boss could or could not mean well. How much time you taking off after the surgery? Maybe the boss secretly does not want you to take the time off . You taking time off, the boss might feel he has to take on a new hardship. I would thank him for his concern and let him know you have a group of competent doctors and you understand the complications.

You can try Pure Protein shot it has 42 grams.of protein in 3 ounces. The taste, let's say is unique, and the consistency is kind of like syrup, but it is only 3 ounces.

No!! Ibuprofen (Motrin) is a NsAID and irritates the stomach lining. People come in to the emergency room with GI bleeds from taking to many NsAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen). Call your surgeon to see what he/she would want you to take.

Sam's Club had their brand of calcium citrate (compare to OsCal petites) for $9.98.

Are you having an increase in relations? Because that decreases the amount. That is why in infertility they suggested every other day to increase production.

The quick answer, no. If you didn't have it before the weight loss then it won't happen after. You answered the question about length. Now if we could only figure out away for the fat to melt into the shaft.

In the North (Michigan) Kroger's supermarket in the all natural/organic section.

The only problem with the patch is they are hard to stay lit.

I know with having 26 years combined experience of being a paramedic/registered nurse (ICU and ER) pain is very subjective. I have people get a paper cut scream like they had their arm ripped off and a gentleman get his arm ripped off in a round bailer who said it hurt a little. So as I teach about pain control pain is subjective so listen to the patient. As for drains, they are useful as another person stated for helping with surgical complications (ie. bleeding). Some docs believe in them and some don't just preference.

I had a coworker notice on the schedule I was going out on leave. When he asked me why I said to have surgery (I don't really care for him). Well he thought he would be funny in front of a group of other nurses and say, "for what weight loss surgery?" We'll karma stepped in as I took care of his wife a week before for what some would say is an embarrassing illness. So, my reply to him was how is wife doing now? Well the group of nurses turned to him and started asking questions about his wife and you can you see him becoming so frustrated he just left the area. Remember what they say, karma can be a b****.

Here is a website what might help www.financing-plastic-surgery.com. And a credit card what helps with health care costs is carecredit (www.carecredit.com). I hope that helps.