skiingj

BeCca - The Sleeve is a great choice. Like many others on here I picked the Band. I didn't get the Sleeve choice in the beginning but after my two failures was offered it a few months before they opened it up at orientation... I think ultimately it’s a better choice for me and I’m very very happy. Five more pounds to Onederland! I wouldn’t let the insurance issue totally scare you as I have a different experience with Kaiser and what was almost the loss of my insurance. I don’t want to get into that here but the short of what I know is labs and fills would be lost but there would be some aftercare. I recommend discussing this with your doctor. I do agree that the Sleeve would make it easier if you lost insurance as it’s almost maintenance free…. Best of luck! The Sleeve will do you well!

Hi Nicole – B-12 is an added requirement for Sleeve patients. I was told they have found Sleeve patients low on B-12. B-12 is normally taken sublingually (under tongue) but sometimes has to be administered by needle if the patient doesn’t absorb it properly sublingually. The rest of the Vitamins are the same as Band. Sleeve patients absorb stuff in the stomach just like Band patients. RNY’s can have malabsorption problems since the stomach is bypassed.

Hi Ali - I haven't heard from Robin since the second to last food stage. My three and six month checkups are with my Doc on the phone. I have been taking the B-12 but it was still low so I have switched brands and doubled up so we shall see. Going in for the labs next week... 80 pounds is awesome!! Glad you are well!

Hi Everyone!!!! Mo - Sorry about your hand! I hope you get better soon! Ali – Thanks! How are you doing? Lee – I’m great. Not really losing the last couple weeks. My B-12 was low at my last checkup so we shall see in the next couple weeks when I have my next one. I started using the B-12 from Trader Joes that you recommended. They dissolve much better so hopefully that will bring my B-12 levels up. How are you? Your exercise is awesome! I wish I had your drive! Few more pounds to Onederland hopefully by the end of September. How is everyone?????????

Riley – Sorry to hear about the house! Sending positive thoughts your way! Best of luck with bobybugg! What a cool trial I hope you get in! Thanks Stacey!!

Tina - Thanks very much! But have you ever looked at the BMI guidelines? :wub: I spent some time tonight playing with the numbers on a BMI calculator site. It says I should be 127-171. I was 140-180 in my twenties but 127 holly anorexia! I’ll be very happy with 180.

Ali - I had to advance myself as well but you should email your doctor and ask about the three month follow-up and labs. I recommend asking for a telephone doctor appointment so you don't have to drive all that way. I went to Kaiser Lincoln and did the labs and weigh-in. I recommend doing the labs a week before the doctor appointment. The lab work they do for us is about 7 vials of blood and some results took almost a week to come back.

Thanks Ali, Stacey, Lee, Ash and Mo!!!! Lee - Richmond called a couple days ago and setup my six month phone checkup and labs. I can't believe it’s been almost six months!

Breaking News: Many of us have commented about how rude the Wii can be when weighing ourselves. Well today I weighed myself and FINALLY I’m not in the obese category! Funny the Wii never made a comment that I’ve broken out of the obese category. As many know when you first use the Wii fit it makes sounds while it blows you up on screen to a larger Mii. Eight pounds to Onederland! How is everyone this Sunday? Off to work for me…

Stacey – I would stick it out. Go back and see him when you lose the 12 pounds. I think he’s an awesome doc, you should give it a second visit. I thought the Sleeve surgery was worse than I expected in regards to the first twenty four hours after surgery. I had a massive headache and couldn’t pee so they almost re-inserted the catheter. My heart rate was elevated which has never been an issue. So the first 24 hours sucked but today things are awesome and it was so worth it. I would do it all over again (even all three surgeries) to be where I am today! Stick with it and don’t get discouraged! You can lose twelve pounds by the end of August or sooner. Show them you are serious and motivated it will go a long way! Christine – Welcome back. Three cheers to Onederland sometime this year!!

Sherri - That's awesome!!! You'll be down to Onederland by Thanksgiving! Stacey - Sorry to hear that. Send him an email and ask why he wants you back. Maybe there is some hope. Are any of the surgeries an option?

Hi Sherri, Sorry that you’re having so much trouble. No nausea or thrush for me other than some nausea when I take my multi vitamin on an empty stomach. I now make sure to take the multi vitamin soon after a meal. Your food and liquid intake sounds very similar to what I was doing around that time. I still have trouble some days getting in 60 oz of liquid a day. The first three months I threw up several times a week. Five months out I can only eat ½ a cup of some foods. You will get tired from time to time and my doc said it can take a year to get your full strength back. I’m sure over time (hopefully soon) things will get better! How is your weight loss? Sorry we missed you at the meeting!

Ash - Wow!!! What a difference!!! You are rock'in it!!! Good to see everyone at this past weekends meeting/lunch!!! Missed those that could not attend.

Hello!!! How is everyone doing???? Looking forward to Saturday!!!! Is Mimi's still on?? I'm back in the looser column. 10 pounds to Onederland!

Hi Lee! Yes happy Sleeversary!!! My weight loss has slowed down, haven't lost anything in the past two weeks. I've been snacking a little but overall I think I'm doing very good.

Sherri – It should get better but it does take a couple months at least. In a couple weeks you should be able to eat a little more. You will never eat normally again as you fill up quickly and drinking is a challenge as you have to wait an hour after eating. I still have trouble getting all my fluids in as I work in an electronic environment that is difficult to have drinks around. In our server and operations area drinks are forbidden and I spend a considerable amount of time in these areas. At your stage my stomach felt very strange and did somersaults even with the smallest bit or sip. Now it takes three to four bits to feel the Sleeves restriction. That high pressure sensation in your stomach has subsided for me considerably since your stage. I’m now able to eat 3/4 of a cup usually with no issues. Some food/spices go down better than others so it is still a learning lesson five months out. Email you doctor if you continue to have problems. It will get better! Happy Friday everyone! Off camping in the mountains…….

Pam - You must be crazy with all those kids and dogs!! haha Unless maybe they are all sleeping in the tent and you're in the rig. I'm going up to TT Snowflower (Yuba Gap) on Friday. Have fun!!! Stacey - Dr. Fisher is awesome! Best of luck, you are on your way! Andrew - I think a few people (Pam?) on here have had Dr. Im. Yes the orientations are interesting to say the least.

Way to go Ash! As for me I have not lost any weight the last two weeks. Onederland is so close...

Morning all!!!!!! Hi Lee- Pretty much the same with me. I weigh myself on my bathroom scale ever few days and I don't see much change. I weight myself on the Wii fit every week or two. So far the last month or so I usually see 1 -2 pounds loss each time I weight myself on the Wii. At the end of June I was 214 so I hope to be under 200 by late September. I’m waiting for the next bathroom cycle to weigh myself. I know TMI but I like it to be consistent when weighing. Haha You are doing so well with exercise! I am not. Never find much time for it other than an occasional walk. Still very happy with everything. I can eat a little more now, getting close to a cup a meal but it all depends on what as some things go down better. Only spit up some saliva the last couple months 2-3 times. I recently transferred off of chewable vitamins and one day my stomach didn’t like them which is a problem I think you used to have. My recent three month checkup (done at four months) lab results showed low vitamin B so I think I will need to take a double dose. Waiting for the doc to return to ask. I’m also switching to the faster dissolving vitamin B from Trader Joes you recommended as the other one takes forever to dissolve and I end up swallowing or chewing it before its totally dissolved. Good day everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lee - Congrats! I can't keep up with you. I'm loosing about one pound a week. Hope to be in Onederland in September. How much are you loosing a week? Glad your trip went well.

I don't remember much but it did not hurt and it was very brief. I came to and they said something and put me back under. I asked the doc about it and he said it sometimes happens.

My first surgery I woke up in the middle and they quickly put me back under. The second I don’t remember anything until recovery. The third I remember briefing being sat up to pull the tubes out of my mouth and Doc who telling me all went well then I don’t remember anything until they were wheeling me into the hospital wing. No music while I was awake in any of them. Maybe Doc Who doesn’t like music during surgery.:confused:

Hi Ladies! Back to work today! Fun fun! I take Protonix only once a day in the morning. Surgeons always have an attending physician. They are not paired up permanently. I’ve had Baggs twice and Park once as attending physicians. You can only email doctors you’ve had office visits with. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Just popping on to say happy 4th of July!!! In Oregon RV’ing at a friend’s place. Mo & April get better!!