Miss Mac

I have orthopedic issues, too. My favorite is leslie Sansone's Walk Your Belly Flat. Here is a list of my exercise video collection with my personal reviews. MISS MAC'S Exercise Video Collection.docx

I take sublingual B12 and my values have been fine for two years.

I was told to use Greek Yogurt.

When I went for my pre-op EKG at the hospital, the technician told me that I did not need to lose weight. (really???at 5'2, 235 pounds, post-stroke with collapsing spine????) I told her that she should call the surgeon right away and tell him that she disagrees with his diagnosis. I sent a letter to her supervisor copied to the hospital administration. When the Press-Ganey survey came to my door, I said all of the good things that I could, but mentioned her by name and how I did not think that she should be diagnosing the patients that are sent her way. Geeze Louize.

Every time I had a closet flush, I gave my clothes to charity.

My sleeve was my12th surgery and the easiest recovery of them all. They will probably put a little "relaxer" in your IV, so that you don't really care about having surgery. When they get you transferred to the operating table, they may ask you to count backwards from 100. I got to 98, and the next thing I know, they were waking me up in recovery. My throat was a little sore, too, but not as bad a screaming all the way through a basketball game - and only for a couple of days. i had heard about this "shoulder gas" so I asked my surgeon how he handles pain management. He said he extracts as much of the CO2 as possible, before closing up. Consequently, I did not have any shoulder gas to deal with. In case you are not informed on this, during almost any abdominal surgery, CO2 is used to expand the abdominal cavity so that the surgeon can see better and manipulate his tools more easily. Just think of it as a nice nap, and when you wake up, you will be ready to re-invent yourself. I wish you a safe surgery and uncomplicated recovery.

My hubbyman and I both agree that her curves are lovely and healthy. After being a 22/24 for decades, I would love to have her body. And he and I discussed before my surgery about how far did I want to take this. I want to stop about where I am and he is on board with that. I don't need to be a dog bone to be happy and healthy.

The pre-op and fou stage post-op phases are as effective as a detox. You have flushed a lot of sugar, salt, and grease out of your system. Meds may be affecting your taste buds, too. The first time I ate a french fry, at about five weeks, I gagged. Clearly, it wasn't the potato I went for, it was the salt and the grease. At the processing plant, McDonald's fries are dipped in a corn-based sugar solution before packaging. Same goes for Long John Silver's Battered Fish. I ate the fish so that I could have the greasy, salty batter. No wonder our food tastes differently post-op. We are eating in a purer and more natural form, closer to the way food is supposed to taste without all of the additives and condiments that we add to it. Seriously, I had to learn to eat all over again so that food is for nutrition and not entertainment and comfort.

You can use this thread about comebacks for inspiration: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/202970-need-comebacks-for-easy-way-out-crack/?hl=%20comebacks Also, if she remarks again about why don't you just try eating less and exercising, ask her "And how is that working for YOU?" Tell her: "If you tell me everything you know about bariatric surgery, I will tell you everything I know about bariatric surgery."

There have been a few. My insurance had pre-approved five days. I got my sleeve on a Monday morning and went home Wednesday afternoon.

At 8 days out I was just starting purees. As soon as I got to soft foods at three weeks, I felt so much better. I started getting some energy and felt as if I was actually going to recover. Hang in there, buttercup.

All of my incisions were at the level of my belly button or lower. My bra did not touch them. Just wear it loose because you may be swollen some.

I weigh myself every morning when I first get up. The doc told me a while back to put the scale away and just weigh once a month. I did that and gained ten pounds in one month on the first try. So, I got my scale out and use it. That way, if my weight goes up, one day's gain can be corrected the next day.

This back and forth banner about whose feelings get hurt over how someone responds to a post reminds of exactly why I occasionally tell a newcomer that opinions and tact will vary, but we mean well.

I had a hard time with salad greens and raw veggies until about 6 months out.

BCBS Request for approval.docxRetired V A here. I had to provide two years of proof of doctor's supervision. What I did was have them print out two years of medical records and I highlighted every place that my weight was recorded and all of the doctor's comments or instructions regarding my weight. For the surgery I had to have a three month supervised diet with my bariatric team. What I did for extra was to write BCBS a letter explaining how my weight and co-morbidities affect my health and quality of life. As soon as my program packet was submitted to BCBS, I was approved for a 5 day hospital stay, in only two business days. I am sharing with you an editable copy of my letter to give you some inspiration. Feel free to adjust it as needed for yourself. I am also giving you a co-morbidities list. Here is a list of common co-mobidities that the insurance companies consider. The information is from a U S Government website called the National Instititute of Health. I hope this helps. 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

Post-op, I started at 1/3 cup. By one year, I was up to3/4 cup of dense food like chili or beef stew. By year two, I was eating a cup of dense food or two cups of a green salad. At two years and three months, now, I am pretty much maintaining at at that level. If you go out to eat, just get something that is on your plan, eat a bit, and take the rest home to nosh on the rest of the week. Your new tummy will communicate to you with foamies, belching, burping, hiccups, yawning, sneezing etc. Just as we can discern what a dog, cat, or infant needs by the sounds it makes, you will learn what your stomach is trying to tell you. You are finding out that your new tummy is the boss of you. You may as well give it a name, because it is going to take on a personality of its own.

I was able to go from diabetic socks to regular socks after about the first forty pounds down.

It is no secret around here that weight loss surgery reveals the raw dynamics of your relationships. You are finding out already who will support you through tough times and who is blowing smoke. People die for a lot of reasons. Those of us who get the surgery could have died from any of our obesity related conditions. I had a stroke, which was my "final straw". If I had had another stroke after surgery (or during) I don't think my family could have blamed it on the surgery. My sleeve was my 12th surgery (including 2 c-sections and gallbladder removal way back when they still cut you half in two) and I am telling you, it was the least painful and had the easiest recovery. You are probably going to have a lousy first week as far as nausea and trying to get in your fluids and Protein, but you will adjust with or without their help. They can't un-do your surgery, so the satisfaction will be all yours as the pounds come off. You may have to hire a driver to get yourself home, but keep coming here for moral support and let us know how you are doing. Hugs from Miss Mac.

It wasn't required for me, but by sticking to the 1200 calorie low carb - high protein plan they put me on, I lost 22 pre-op pounds from August 7 to December 13th.

Frequently Asked Questions Here......this will help. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/213908-acronyms-lets-make-a-list/?hl=%20acronyms

To answer comment #13 http://www.genealogy.com/articles/research/16_cousn.html

I am glad I am retired and not in a workplace. Either I get loud and fierce hiccups or I will sneeze exactly six times.

You don't have to lie, but you don't have to tell everything you know. "I would rather not discuss my health. Let's talk about something else."

I went to my first appointment in August of 2013. By the time I jumped through all the insurance hoops, program requirements, and medical testing, it was the Thursday before Thanksgiving. My program packet was submitted to my insurance (BCBS Federal Employee) and I was approved that next Monday! Everybody in the office was on Thanksgiving shutdown, but I got a call for my appointment the Monday after Thanksgiving and was given the next available date which was December 23rd. All in all, it took about five months.