circa

This went well. I got the answers I wanted except a surgery date haha. This could be not until August but here's the kicker - I got laid off from my job which means I'm down to one insurance ( not so bad) but I don't know if I can collect unemployment due to the fact that there's a restriction that you have to be in the state of michigan for the last 18 months or something. Anyway - I'm working this out - I've only been here like 15 months *grr* The layoff is temporary - but oh wouldn't it be nice to have that time to recover from the surgery and return to work rested and not having used any vacation time haha

This went well. I got the answers I wanted except a surgery date haha. This could be not until August but here's the kicker - I got laid off from my job which means I'm down to one insurance ( not so bad) but I don't know if I can collect unemployment due to the fact that there's a restriction that you have to be in the state of michigan for the last 18 months or something. Anyway - I'm working this out - I've only been here like 15 months *grr* The layoff is temporary - but oh wouldn't it be nice to have that time to recover from the surgery and return to work rested and not having used any vacation time haha

After speaking to a surgeon that does all 4 operations, he said he hasn't really had that many patients that have that much trouble with the band - he said his patients have had less problems with the realize vs. the lap band - He said BUT! He hasn't done all the band surgeries in the world, so he has no way of knowing how many problems that there are. He said its very important to go to support groups, check out forums like this and get people's experiences. They are the people that know the real issues you'll potentially face. He doesn't have a band or any other WLS so he can't tell you exactly what you're going to go through. He can only tell you his patients experiences. He was very open about talking to others that have had the surgery. I'm so very fortunate to have found the forum on sleeves - I wasn't even considering it as an option before finding it. I was pretty well set on the band. I'm so grateful for the information.

Check with your PCP. I had this done with mine a few years back Here's a good article too http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/534066

Meeting with Surgeon #2 tomorrow - and if things go well, I think he'll be my choice. Mainly because its a 3 hour trip each way to Surgeon #1 and I have 4 different days I have to go down there, potentially 5, BEFORE surgery. That's a lot of days off work before even having the surgery - doesn't leave me time off to actually HAVE the surgery. Considering Surgeon #2 actually trained Surgeon #1 - I think that bodes well for it going well. I'm excited to meet him - I've heard nothing but great things about him. They're combining 3 of my appointments into tomorrow, whereas the other place could only do one each visit - So I'll have this visit, one more quick one I can do on my lunch hour, then surgery if things go the way they should. Hopefully it'll move right along.

Meeting with Surgeon #2 tomorrow - and if things go well, I think he'll be my choice. Mainly because its a 3 hour trip each way to Surgeon #1 and I have 4 different days I have to go down there, potentially 5, BEFORE surgery. That's a lot of days off work before even having the surgery - doesn't leave me time off to actually HAVE the surgery. Considering Surgeon #2 actually trained Surgeon #1 - I think that bodes well for it going well. I'm excited to meet him - I've heard nothing but great things about him. They're combining 3 of my appointments into tomorrow, whereas the other place could only do one each visit - So I'll have this visit, one more quick one I can do on my lunch hour, then surgery if things go the way they should. Hopefully it'll move right along.

not just hand weights, but ankle weights as well - they're relatively inexpensive and adding those weights to your ankles as well as steeping the incline will help :rolleyes2:

There's no such thing as going to extreme when you're talking about knowing about your own personal health! I have found that out :rolleyes2:

So I met with prospective surgeon #1 - GREAT guy. Very upfront - loves questions and gives all the information he can. He didn't pull any punches and was very frank about what is and is not required and to be expected for each surgery. I do really like him. Oddly enough, he studied under prospective surgeon #2. Said he learned a lot from Dr. Kam (second prospective surgeon). So I'm in good shape, either way.

So I met with prospective surgeon #1 - GREAT guy. Very upfront - loves questions and gives all the information he can. He didn't pull any punches and was very frank about what is and is not required and to be expected for each surgery. I do really like him. Oddly enough, he studied under prospective surgeon #2. Said he learned a lot from Dr. Kam (second prospective surgeon). So I'm in good shape, either way.

I'm so very tired. I'm ill right now, so that doesn't help - but it makes the reality of actually having health again seem attainable. Just as I'll get over this cold/flu/infection, I'll recover from the health issues that my weight has caused me. Just like I'm on a daily basis recovering from the horrible poisoning that my body endured from the toxic metals. I know that I can do this. While I've been too sick to do much more than drag my butt out of bed and slump into the chair in my office all week (hey - I made it TO work, what more do they want from me? lol) I haven't gotten to that exercise I do really long for. I wanted to start slow - and I will - as soon as I can move without feeling dizzy and nauseous My doctor said it was just "the crud" - midwestern for "whatever's going around at the time". Codeine for the cough, ibuprofein for the irritation in the throat, OTC cold/sinus meds and sleep. lots of sleep. I like the codeine - makes the cough stop for the most part. I get some sleep. It makes me all fuzzy tho so hard to take during the day and be productive heh.

I'm so very tired. I'm ill right now, so that doesn't help - but it makes the reality of actually having health again seem attainable. Just as I'll get over this cold/flu/infection, I'll recover from the health issues that my weight has caused me. Just like I'm on a daily basis recovering from the horrible poisoning that my body endured from the toxic metals. I know that I can do this. While I've been too sick to do much more than drag my butt out of bed and slump into the chair in my office all week (hey - I made it TO work, what more do they want from me? lol) I haven't gotten to that exercise I do really long for. I wanted to start slow - and I will - as soon as I can move without feeling dizzy and nauseous :ohmy: My doctor said it was just "the crud" - midwestern for "whatever's going around at the time". Codeine for the cough, ibuprofein for the irritation in the throat, OTC cold/sinus meds and sleep. lots of sleep. I like the codeine - makes the cough stop for the most part. I get some sleep. It makes me all fuzzy tho so hard to take during the day and be productive heh.

good idea! insurance companies ARE telling us all to be more proactive about our health concerns to keep our premiums down! haha! I wish I coulda had it done as a precautionary measure before I got run through the ringer!

In just 5 days I'll be meeting with another surgical office regarding my surgery. I'm hoping the, what I not-so-affectionately-refer-to-as "the plague" is gone by then. I popped in to my PCP today and she said its definitely viral and had to run its course. She gave me some stuff to help manage the symptoms. I've already had this for about 5 days. If I don't start to turn the corner by Wednesday AM, I'll insist on an antibiotic, because it'll obviously not be viral if its taking that long. In just 10 days, I have my surgical consult here with Dr. Kam. Its movin' and shakin! I weighed in at the doctor's office today - had my shoes on this time so that's a couple pounds and I'm very very bloaty from TOM but the scale read up 8.5 lbs. But its nothing for me to even bloat that much. I'll check again soon tho. I shouldn't have actually gained anything that isn't TOM related.

In just 5 days I'll be meeting with another surgical office regarding my surgery. I'm hoping the, what I not-so-affectionately-refer-to-as "the plague" is gone by then. I popped in to my PCP today and she said its definitely viral and had to run its course. She gave me some stuff to help manage the symptoms. I've already had this for about 5 days. If I don't start to turn the corner by Wednesday AM, I'll insist on an antibiotic, because it'll obviously not be viral if its taking that long. In just 10 days, I have my surgical consult here with Dr. Kam. Its movin' and shakin! I weighed in at the doctor's office today - had my shoes on this time so that's a couple pounds and I'm very very bloaty from TOM but the scale read up 8.5 lbs. But its nothing for me to even bloat that much. I'll check again soon tho. I shouldn't have actually gained anything that isn't TOM related.

I've started to dust off some of my exercise equipment - I am hoping to have it all set up and ready this weekend. I know right now that a lot isn't possible, but that's not going to keep me from trying now, and being prepared for when I can. I know that just losing 50 lbs will rocket me into copious amounts of energy. I'm ready, and willing to expend that on something positive. Memorial day weekend will be spent getting the pool situated (temperature depending - in all reality, it could be snowing haha) so we can get that filled and the water warming in the sun :sad: I'm not sure what my husband did to our old food saver, but I bought a new one so I can start making food last longer as well. I've always loved these - they make great steaming bags now too so you can put together a meal of already cooked veggies and meats and freeze it - then throw it in the microwave when you're ready for it. This will be my plan Ohhhh I just can't tell you how much even being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel enriches me. Its not just what I want, its what I need. I'm still quite certain about not telling most people - I have a relatives that are absolute fear-mongering idiots. My sister contacted my husband and told him that she thought I was suicidal because I didn't want to talk to her on the phone when I was sick and had the flu - she said I sounded just aweful and depressed! UH DUH I HAVE THE FLU AND MY FACE IS IN A TOILET. So if I were to tell her about the fact that I'm going to be having WLS....well - I don't know what she'd come up with - probably an old priest and a young priest for an exorcism :thumbup: Anyway - I also have my mother to deal with who, has this uncanny ability to make everything about her - and I don't just mean in a la-ti-da way. You could CUT YOUR ARM OFF and she would know how you feel because she hurt her toe once and it was way worse than anything you're going through and blah blah blah...yeah. She also will be jealous and will blame me that she hasn't had surgery - But she lies to her doctor and to the psychologist - and won't follow the pre-op diet. That's why she hasn't had surgery. I told her if she'd follow the pre-op, I would pay her copay. Nope. But she wants that surgery so bad!!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to judge, I'm just not willing to deal with the drama that is my family at this point and time. Its like dysfunctional family theater around here. We had a 10 year long feud over a food item that may or may not have been present at someone's house. Yeah - real steady support system haha. So I choose to cut them out. They cannot provide me the support and encouragement that I need in this journey, so they don't get to be a part of it. I also don't want the attention and questions. If I felt that my having surgery and talking about it would benefit anyone, I would most certainly talk about it - and I actually have. My one sister who has a physical disability brought on by a car accident knows about the surgery and is considering it for herself as well. I trust her and I felt that her knowing would be helpful to her - so I told her.

I've started to dust off some of my exercise equipment - I am hoping to have it all set up and ready this weekend. I know right now that a lot isn't possible, but that's not going to keep me from trying now, and being prepared for when I can. I know that just losing 50 lbs will rocket me into copious amounts of energy. I'm ready, and willing to expend that on something positive. Memorial day weekend will be spent getting the pool situated (temperature depending - in all reality, it could be snowing haha) so we can get that filled and the water warming in the sun :thumbdown: I'm not sure what my husband did to our old food saver, but I bought a new one so I can start making food last longer as well. I've always loved these - they make great steaming bags now too so you can put together a meal of already cooked veggies and meats and freeze it - then throw it in the microwave when you're ready for it. This will be my plan :cursing: Ohhhh I just can't tell you how much even being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel enriches me. Its not just what I want, its what I need. I'm still quite certain about not telling most people - I have a relatives that are absolute fear-mongering idiots. My sister contacted my husband and told him that she thought I was suicidal because I didn't want to talk to her on the phone when I was sick and had the flu - she said I sounded just aweful and depressed! UH DUH I HAVE THE FLU AND MY FACE IS IN A TOILET. So if I were to tell her about the fact that I'm going to be having WLS....well - I don't know what she'd come up with - probably an old priest and a young priest for an exorcism Anyway - I also have my mother to deal with who, has this uncanny ability to make everything about her - and I don't just mean in a la-ti-da way. You could CUT YOUR ARM OFF and she would know how you feel because she hurt her toe once and it was way worse than anything you're going through and blah blah blah...yeah. She also will be jealous and will blame me that she hasn't had surgery - But she lies to her doctor and to the psychologist - and won't follow the pre-op diet. That's why she hasn't had surgery. I told her if she'd follow the pre-op, I would pay her copay. Nope. But she wants that surgery so bad!!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to judge, I'm just not willing to deal with the drama that is my family at this point and time. Its like dysfunctional family theater around here. We had a 10 year long feud over a food item that may or may not have been present at someone's house. Yeah - real steady support system haha. So I choose to cut them out. They cannot provide me the support and encouragement that I need in this journey, so they don't get to be a part of it. I also don't want the attention and questions. If I felt that my having surgery and talking about it would benefit anyone, I would most certainly talk about it - and I actually have. My one sister who has a physical disability brought on by a car accident knows about the surgery and is considering it for herself as well. I trust her and I felt that her knowing would be helpful to her - so I told her.

haha they do make small keychain sized ones for joggers - but if you're comfortable with the firearm and all - why not?

Okay so I go in for my consult with Dr. Kam - he's been in this area for only a year and a half but has over 800 bypasses and sleeves overall in his career - he started as a trauma surgeon so he's good with the staples and such haha :thumbup: He has a thorough understanding of the liver as well - which is great for me considering the Wilson's disease. I'm quite excited :sad: I meet with him on the 21st of this month - and hopefully will be for surgery shortly thereafter :glare:

Wow! hope you're feeling better!

This is actually something I have a lot of experience with. I do carry, depending on where I run. If I were to run at the school track, I wouldn't. If I'm running down the country road or in another area that is isolated you bet I do - and with good reason - we have wild animals and even the issue of the rare attacker that I've actually experienced. I don't take chances. Its also a good idea to only have one headphone on/in your ear if you're listening to music when running. That being said....DO NOT CARRY A GUN IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT. Also, as far as the pepper spray or mace goes, talk to a DNR or forestry ranger - see if its effective on animals in your area. Some bears eat that stuff like its a seasoning. You don't want to have a false sense of security.

What an angel you have! I'm so sorry for your loss!

Yeah I would think that if he has done that many DS's he's very experienced in it - Just tell him to stop before he gets to the second part :thumbup: Talk WITH the surgeon and I'm sure he can answer your questions and calm your concerns