Miss Mac

Bariatricpantry.com will send you 14 different sample packs of Syntrax Nectars for $19.99. When I get to missing soda pop (I have not had any for two years), I will mix up a Grapefruit Syntrax with Crystal Lite Lemonade. It tastes bang on like Fresca.

With any kind of walking, balance, or gait problem you should be seeing an orthopedist and/or neurologist. I have all of those issues, associated with multiple herniated discs in my lumbar spine. I was also checked for a Vitamin D deficiency since there seems to be a similar correlation with that, too. Walking is important. Please get checked out. There are alternatives to back surgery.

Famil history of obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart disease ARE considered co-morbidities. My mother died just a little older than I am now. She was 5'2" and weighed 32o pounds when we buried her. MY olderst brother died of a heart attack at the age of 47, weighing over 420 pounds. His funeral was delayed a week while a special oversized coffin could be built. Here is a list of co-morbities from The National Institute of Health, a government agency (nih,gov): Hugs from Chicago Obesity Comorbidities To follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death in the immediate family

I could not tolerate raw foods until about three months. Once I could eat an apple, my constipation issues went away. An apple a day keeps the MIralax away.

I, too, worried about whether or not my boyfriend was a chubby chaser and would value me less if I got to a healthy weight. But I was so sick and miserable (and have already had one stroke) that I would have done the surgery regardless. As it turns out, he wants me to be healthy, whatever that takes, so that we can enjoy each others' companionship as long as possible. Go into the search box and type in "Last straw". It will give you some threads on how stubborn we all are and what it took to open our eyes to the fact there is no disgrace in using surgery as a tool to help us get there. You could walk five miles to the supermarket and carry you groceries home in a backback, but isn't a car a wonderful tool to get you there and back home? Spring is here now, and it is time to plant your garden. Are you going to cultivate the dirt with your fingernails, or are you going to use a spade or maybe even a rototiller? Those are tools to help you get the job done. Sure, a rototiller is the "easy" way out, but look how much more efficient and effective it is for getting the job done. True, weight loss surgery will expose the dynamics of your relationships. Just tell your hubby that you have decided to get the surgery so that you can be healthier and happier and more involved in your life. And if he doesn't want to do it for himself, that is his business, but ask him to increase his life insurance.

I had my final visit with the surgeon on a Thursday. On Monday (two working days), I called the surgeon's office and was told that the coordinator was on vacation (Thanksgiving week) and would not be back for another week. So, I called my case manager at BCBS, and she said I had been approved. The case manager faxed me an approval letter allowing for a 5 day hospital stay, and I faxed that to the surgeon's office. I was given my surgery date in a few minutes.

I was allowed full liquids as soon as I came home on the third day. At one week I was allowed to go on to purees. Baby food was disgusting, so I just put regular food in the blender and ate that. For chicken or veggies I added chicken broth (the homemade bone broth cooked with carrots, celery, onion, and garlic) that has actual nutrients. At week two I started soft foods, but for meat I pretty much stayed with chicken because it was moist. Fish was too flakey and beef too course. At 4 1/2 weeks I started whole cooked foods as tolerated. The first thing I went for, on the way home from the doctor's office was Wendy's chili. It was just a couple of bites, but at the time, it was the best food ever! It is so easy to get impatient with the program our doctors have set in place. If you need a reminder of what just happened to your stomach, watch a Youtube video on your kind of operation. It will put your condition in perspective. There is a lot of healing that has to happen, and your stomach is counting on you to resist caving in to head hunger. It still helps me to weigh and measure what I know I can handle, and then never eat the last bite.

I have always had a case manager out of the Richardson, Texas office. I just called her. I was approved in two days.

Can you learn to love prune juice real quick?

I was gladly eating scrambles eggs in the soft foods stage. My first Protein on the regular foods phase was Wendy's Chili with cheese. Moist chicken went down OK, but it took a while to tolerate the flakiness of fish.

My PPI is Omeprozol. At fifteen months, I am still taking it. I have tried a couple of times to get by without it, but within a couple of days, the reflux is back. At 4 1/2 weeks, I started whole cooked foods as tolerated, and could eat meat, veggies, and fruit. What I still have to watch out for is portion control. if Miss Tummy gives me grief, it is usually because I have eaten one bite too many. She punishes me for hours.

Most insurance companies will provide for physical and occupational therapists who make home visits. You can take care of her your best if you are well yourself. You can be in and out of the hospital in two days. I had a mini stroke in 2010. Although my speech and cognitive abilities mostly recovered, my biggest long-term issues are balance mental reaction time. One home, I only needed my pain meds for a couple of days and the rest has been cautious adjusting. I am able to care for myself. Once I passed the first few days pot-op, I was o k to be home alone. However, I do not leave my home without having someone with me, and I surrendered my drivers license because I was running over curbs post op. If you were in a car accident and had to be in the hospital a week or so, you could not put that off. So, my suggestion is to have someone come stay with the both of you for a few days, then you should be in good enough shape to putter around the house and help your mom. Just pace yourself and don't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (8 pounds).

BCBS Federal can assign a case manager / advocate to you. You need one in your corner to help you bob and weave through this process. This is the hardest part right now.......waiting and waiting and waiting for approval. Chin up, kiddo. My case manager is at the Richardson Texas office for BCBS.

Out of freaking fear, I waited three months before eating any nuts or seeds. The first time I accidently swallowed a watermelon seed, I was afraid it was going to get stuck, but it did not.

I take Flintstones with Iron at bedtime. When I get up I take a calicuium chew. During the day I take a D3 and later a B12 Voluntarily, I take Vitamin C and 20,000 mcg Biotin I am now off of the nine meds I was taking pre-op, so the supplements are not so bad.

My favorite quote this week is from Winston Churchill. "When you are going through Hell - keep going!"

Winston Curchill said, "If you are going through Hell, keep going."

At 15 months, I can drink a cup of liquid in about 20 minutes. A satisfying meal is aroud 3/4 cup of food, more if it is a salad because everything gets mushed up pretty good and the veggies are mostly Water (cukes, tomato, greens).

I am trying to keep up with Suzanne Sommers, but it's a full-time job!

Buyer's remorse typically kicks in around the "dreaded third week stall" There are several threads on the forum with this topic, to give you some insight about how common it is. My nausea did not let up until I stated whole cooked foods at week 4 1/2. Once I started that and got into a routine and comfortable with my volume, a lot of things changed for the better. I started getting less nause, better sleep, more energy and a better mood. Besides, Spring is here and the weather will be nice enough shortly to get outside and get some fresh air and Vitamin D sunshine. You are over the worst of it, and will start to feel better soon. About the time you lose thirty pounds, you will begin to notice that you are feeling somewhat better. Hang in there, kiddo.

Instead of thinking....I love him, so why does he treat me this way? Start thinking.......Why would Iove someone who treats me this way? My boyfriend of nine years (he is 64, I am 63) loves me any way I am. I weighed 185 pounds when we met, and gained another 50 pounds due to orthopedic and mobility issues. Even though he has never asked me to change anything about myself, he has been supportive of my sleeve surgery and recovery. One thing I love about him is that he sees me as sexy and voluptuous at any weight. Even at our age, we have our rowdy time with the lights on. (At least once a week) I don't need to hide in the dark because he makes me feel loved and wanted, no. matter. what. Whether you are big or small your feelings and nerve endings still work, and you guys are missing out on one of the best exercises there is. Tell him the first exercise you want to do every day is to throw him on his back so you can get on your pony and ride! My other concern is ....when did you give away your control over your body, medical care and mental health? How is he in the kitchen? While he is berating your food choices, is he bringing in pizza and Krispy Kreme Donuts? Is he willing to take a morning or after dinner walk with you? Stand up for yourself. Don't give up on having a voice for yourself.

One lesson the pre-op diet taught me was that I did not need nearly as much food as I was eating to survive. My old stomach must have been the size of a football.

Apples, prune juice, peaches. Green Beans, salsa Magnesium tablets. Fibre powder in your beverages. Take it easy with the cheese and dairy. These all work for me.

Go back to youtube and watch a couple of videos on actual sleeve surgery, to remind yourself what has just happened to your stomach. That will help remind you you of why it is so swollen and easily filled. Just keep your fluids handy and take a small sip every few minutes. At 15 months now I can drink a cup of Fluid in about twenty minutes, so it is easy to get 80-100 ounces of fluids in a day. It just takes time. I think I was at about six weeks before I could get my 64 ounces of fluid in.

My gallbladder pain felt like someone grinding a bowie knife around under my right shoulder blade. Gallbladder contractions are aggravated by fatty, creamy, cheesy, spicey foods. Go bland until you can get to the doctor to get it checked out.