Sharon1964

Many times, nasty is in the eye of the beholder.

You've lost over 8 pounds in 11 days. When else in your life have you done that? Celebrate that!

I went to the movies today, and they had packages of edamame! I was quite surprised. It's an 8 ounce bag, and it says that's one serving. I'd call it two servings. A full bag is 150 calories, 16 grams carbs with 4 grams of Fiber = 12 grams carbs, 12 grams Protein. It was really good, tasted fresh, and they nuke it to make it hot. The bag comes with a small tub to discard the pods. Here is their webpage: http://www.edamovie.com/

Okay, I had to google that term as I've never heard it before. My surgeon calls himself a bariatric surgeon, or bariatric physician. He listened to my heart and lungs, and checked my reflexes. Then we talked about my medical history, and he told me he recommended the VSG for me and why. We talked about the procedure, we went over my insurance requirements, and he said he would see me again for the preop next summer (this was in December). I then met with his patient coordinator, who was assigned as my contact person. We went over finances, insurance requirements, etc. She gave me appointments with their psychologist, referred me for all of the required testing, etc. Months later, when I had everything done, I called her again and she sent in all of my paperwork for my authorization. When the authorization came in, she set my preop date, my surgery date, and the first two postop dates.

Give your tummy something to work on - try warm broth. You don't have to have Water all the time, you can sip any Fluid allowed on your plan.

I don't plan on reintroducing caffeine. I had to cut way back a couple of years ago, as I was having heart rhythm disturbances due to my level of caffeine intake. Since then, up until surgery, I was having one cup a day. I also had frequent headaches. Since my surgery 10 weeks ago, I've tried decaf twice (with my sugar-free hazelnut creamer), and it just wasn't the same. I don't mean that it was decaf, I mean the flavor altogether. No real attraction. Now I rarely get headaches, and I'm sleeping better and waking before my alarm.

Okay kids, from now on, if someone posts a similar thread, someone PLEASE quote it to protect against the dirty delete. I missed all the fun! Now for my two pence: I have worked in the healthcare field for going on 20 years. I have come to believe that reminder calls have no real effect on the number of no-shows that we have. I have personally spoken to patients on a Friday, they don't show up on the Monday that happened to be Columbus Day, and when I called them to ask if they were on their way (it was psych and the appointments were an hour long), they would say, "oh I thought you were closed today, it's a holiday." BLINK. BLINK. I just talked to you on FRIDAY! Why in the world would I remind you of an appointment that didn't exist????? Or you leave them a message and they don't check their voicemail, then claim you should have called them more than once. Then people get used to the reminder call, and if you get swamped and don't make contact with someone, they don't show up. Their excuse is, "well you didn't call me." So where I work now, we don't call or text. Our position is that you, the patient, are responsible for your own appointments. We are considering a system that makes automated calls, but if we do, I can hear it now.... "I didn't get the reminder." We have around a 5% no-show rate (most days are 1 no show or none; some have 4), which is far below industry standard. We are a pain management practice, and if people don't show up, they don't get their medications and they are in pain or go into withdrawals. We also charge $125 for a no-show. And lastly, if a new patient calls to cancel and reschedule their first appointment (which, from the responses, I think the OP did), the next available new patient slot would be more than 60 days away. Depending on if they give us a hard time on the phone, we may decline to reschedule at all. Okay, I think that was really 3 pence. But there's the view from the other side.

I didn't have heparin shots at home either. My surgeon gives prescriptions for Norco tablets for pain at home. Norco is relatively cheap and your regular insurance will cover it even if they don't cover weight loss surgery. Although I may be mixing up one answer to several posts above.

I always say "medical, I need to go thru the xray". Totally avoid the scanners. If you cannot hold both arms over your head, you can't go through the scanner. They're not supposed to even ask you what the medical problem is, and you can't let them classify you as an "opt out" which gets you the special patdown. You just calmly say, "no, I'm not opting out, I'm telling you I have a medical issue and cannot go through the scanner, which means you send me through the xray machine."

This. Yes, you should have. Now don't forget your feelings of panic and desperation when you didn't do what you should have done. Remember that feeling so you can make the choice to succeed in the future.

My surgeon says no bread, no crackers, no Pasta for six months minimum. It makes a gummy ball in your stomach and he's had to go in and retrieve a gummy ball of ravioli. Not wanting to have to undergo another surgery, I'm planning on waiting past the 6 month mark.

I realized something today. In the past (aka, "before surgery"), I would look forward to meals. Like, "oh yum, we're having ribs tonight, I can't wait!!!" I noticed that I don't do that, or think that, anymore. My mother moved in with me a couple of years ago, and she makes dinner every night (it's so awesome). She texted me earlier today to see if I was working late, and said "it's meatloaf night." In the past, meatloaf-night meant a happy dance. Today, it was more like, "oh that's nice." OH. THAT'S. NICE. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Who in the blue blazes thought "oh that's nice." WHO????? Me, that's who. It seems that food has lost its hold on me. It's a completely strange feeling. Like an alien has taken over me.

You're only 13 days out. I'm over 70 days out. Give it more time.

My surgeon doesn't put in drains. Have you asked your surgeon if he routinely uses drains?

Wow, you had to go back 8 years to post to this. There ought to be some sort of award or something...

I know what you mean. It's one of the things that you will let go of, eventually (hopefully!). Just like my relationship with food has changed. I have a box started for my local abused womens shelter. Today I put two more dresses in it that are too big for me now.

I weigh less than my boyfriend. Wooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started at 403, and I'm down 67 pounds since surgery 71 days ago. One of the "good" things about starting out high (as if there are any GOOD things!!!!), is that you tend to lose a lot quickly. This is very motivating. It's easier to avoid Snacks knowing that when you step on the scale the next morning, you'll be down in weight from today. I didn't have a stall until the last two weeks - I was very lucky. And my stall is not staying at the same weight for weeks, it is losing a pound in three days instead of a pound (or more) a day. My surgeon recommended the sleeve because it can tolerate medications better than the bypass. I have some orthopedic issues, and have to take Tylenol. He did say that in his experience, for the sleeve, some of his larger patients have to be converted to duodenal switch a couple of years down the road to get to goal. Then he told me that he knew I wouldn't need that, as I'm one of the most determined patients he's had in a long time. Now he may say that to all his patients, who knows, but I am determined!

@@LumpySpacePrincess gave you some of the best advice I've seen around these parts. I'm a couple weeks further out than you, and I can rarely eat vegetables at this point - it's all Protein. For Breakfast I have one scrambled egg with a little cheese in it. For lunch I have one slice of meatloaf, or some steak, or chicken, or shrimp, or fish, or meatballs (Costco) whatever is leftover from dinner the night before - no more than1/3 cup. After dinner I like a sugar-free popsicle. For breakfast, if I don't feel like cooking an egg, I'll have a dannon light & fit yogurt (I checked the labels yesterday on that vs. Oikos triple zero - Oikos has 3 grams more protein but also more carbs), or a piece of lunch meat wrapped around cheese and heated in a pan. My fluids are crystal light, unless I'm in a store and I'm thirsty then I'll have a bottled Water. Definitely no juice. That's it.

I was a year into menopause and had a cycle after surgery. The flood of hormones into your system is a killer. Thankfully nothing since.

oops, never mind.

I don't think the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is the one you want. They really have nothing to do with this. First I would ask the old doc's office who their malpractice carrier is. Then I would send a letter to the doc, with a copy to the malpractice insurance. The letter should be concise, state the facts, suggest training for their staff, and state what you want (the invalid charges removed and your record sent to your doctor - even if it's after the fact).

@@Elode She refills my drink cup too. I'm so spoiled now!

Glad to hear you're doing well. Still waiting on those pics though. Just sayin'. I zoomed in on the dog pic but still couldn't see your phone number on their tags. Yanno, so you could be pestered directly. Just kidding. Mostly.

If you want to give tampons another try, stand up and put one foot on the toilet. If most of your weight is in your stomach and front, bend down then reach around your raised leg to the back. If most of your weight is in the hips and back, then reach between your legs from the front.