RavenClaw779

What a surprise - despite no hallmarks for sleep apnea I was forced to go to the sleep lab and attempt to sleep in a hot room with two loud fans and wires all over my head and face plus two tight elastic bands across my chest. Now I have to go back to be fitted for a CPAP(cha-ching$$$). I keep hearing this scenario from other patients - that it's almost pre-decided you have sleep apnea...:rolleyes2:

Update: Family dinner last night at the s-i-l's. Family friend who is four months post-op came and we all dished. Family was able to see that she is able to eat normal foods just not as much. Everyone including my husband seemed relieved to see the reality(she's gone from a size 26/28 to size 14/16) and hear the details of what the immediate post-op will be like - livable. LOL though - I brought my MediFast "Raspberry Tea" for dinner and it was still impossible to get my s-i-l to grasp that No - I can't just have some XYZ with my shake(all shakes until surgery date) and my m-i-l brings out a pie which she sits between me and the family friend and starts cutting and handing out pieces. The FF had to explain that the piece was too big for her and I had to (once again) decline the "can't you just have a little piece with your shake". I guess at 88 she's stuck in her ways - another family friend was at the dinner; he's 3 weeks past a heart attack and two stents and of course watching his diet - she tried to stick him with a piece of pic the size of Long Island! FF and I are still trying to get the s-i-l past her declarations of "I could never do this because I love to eat..." FF told her -she loves to eat too, and can, but now just a taste will do instead of 2 or 3 platefulls. Slow learners...:frown:

I'm within three pounds of my goal weight for surgery and not really hungry. But I am so tired I can hardly muster the energy to do the laundry. As a rather fanatical housekeeper, this ain't good. Big snow storm coming and my husband is going out of town on business. Since he's refused to buy a snowblower(he prefers to shovel our 90' driveway by hand?!!) he's suggested I just get an early start tomorrow shoveling. Had to so say no to that one - like I could shovel this monster on under 500 calories??:tongue_smilie:

I'm within three pounds of my goal weight for surgery and not really hungry. But I am so tired I can hardly muster the energy to do the laundry. As a rather fanatical housekeeper, this ain't good. Big snow storm coming and my husband is going out of town on business. Since he's refused to buy a snowblower(he prefers to shovel our 90' driveway by hand?!!) he's suggested I just get an early start tomorrow shoveling. Had to so say no to that one - like I could shovel this monster on under 500 calories??:rolleyes2:

No word so I called for the results - everything is okay despite my weight and prior history of chemo...

No word so I called for the results - everything is okay despite my weight and prior history of chemo...

Thanks everybody - Finally talked to my s-i-l today...after I got yet another voice message about another family dinner out at a restaurant(Methinks the reason we have some weight issues in the family maybe all the eating out!)... She wanted to know all about the process and told me how everyone in the family was afraid to invite me to dinner(because I can't eat) and afraid not to (because my feelings might be hurt). Sigh. I explained that at least for the near future, going out to eat or other food centered events is a no go for me(too too tempting after weeks of MediCrap) but that I'd love to go shopping or to the movies. So family friend whose had the procedure and my s-i-l and I are getting together tomorrow to dish over coffee(black, no creamer...):thumbup:

I have my own nutritionist who I've been working with for a while, but I was required to meet with a nutritionist affliated with the hospital. Guess I expected more from the meeting. I wasn't weighed or asked how the Medifast was going. The nutritionist was a recent grad with little personality. The only way I caught her name was by her ID tag. She acted bored and as if she was dealing with an idiot. Let me guess - if you're fat, you're probably a dunce. She had all her required checklists all lined up in a rack and was whipping them out like a well-oiled machine. We went through the same questions I answered before my first visit with the surgeon, and during my psych consult. She read the Post-Surgical diet to me and told me to call if I had any problems. Meanwhile her phone line rang and rang. Methinks I'll be calling my own nutritionist.:redface:

I have my own nutritionist who I've been working with for a while, but I was required to meet with a nutritionist affliated with the hospital. Guess I expected more from the meeting. I wasn't weighed or asked how the Medifast was going. The nutritionist was a recent grad with little personality. The only way I caught her name was by her ID tag. She acted bored and as if she was dealing with an idiot. Let me guess - if you're fat, you're probably a dunce. She had all her required checklists all lined up in a rack and was whipping them out like a well-oiled machine. We went through the same questions I answered before my first visit with the surgeon, and during my psych consult. She read the Post-Surgical diet to me and told me to call if I had any problems. Meanwhile her phone line rang and rang. Methinks I'll be calling my own nutritionist.

Checked in at 7pm and immediately had to get into my PJ's. Thought it odd until the whole wiring process began - took almost an hour. Nice room - set up like a hotel with a half bath, but way too warm for me. And since I usually go to bed between 11:30 and 1:00am, 10:30pm was tough. Barely slept - too warm, two fans going was unbelievably loud - sort of felt like a hot summer night when the A/C has died and you dooze at most. I'm punchy now and ready for bed - it's only 7pm!

Checked in at 7pm and immediately had to get into my PJ's. Thought it odd until the whole wiring process began - took almost an hour. Nice room - set up like a hotel with a half bath, but way too warm for me. And since I usually go to bed between 11:30 and 1:00am, 10:30pm was tough. Barely slept - too warm, two fans going was unbelievably loud - sort of felt like a hot summer night when the A/C has died and you dooze at most. I'm punchy now and ready for bed - it's only 7pm!

Spent five hours yesterday at the cardiologist. Had a nuclear stress test. They inject a radioactive isotope wait and hour, do some films(like a mini-CT), hook you up to the EKG/Treadmill, bring you to a target heart rate and then have you sit for another hour before doing a second set of films. Then I had an echocardiogram - mostly because I've had chemotherapy and it can damage the heart. No word yet from the doctor but the tech said that if they'd seen anything they'd have had me stay so...no news is good news.

Spent five hours yesterday at the cardiologist. Had a nuclear stress test. They inject a radioactive isotope wait and hour, do some films(like a mini-CT), hook you up to the EKG/Treadmill, bring you to a target heart rate and then have you sit for another hour before doing a second set of films. Then I had an echocardiogram - mostly because I've had chemotherapy and it can damage the heart. No word yet from the doctor but the tech said that if they'd seen anything they'd have had me stay so...no news is good news.

So....... your inlaws are self-absorbed, rude, inconsiderate, and treat you as a doormat.......... but you are heartbroken that they don't ask you to spend time with them going shopping and going to the movies? Wow - nothing rounds out a hectic week like a snarky, sweeping generalization from a stranger. I'm a wife. Part of being a wife is being a part of the family regardless of my in-law particular foibles. A fair amount of "rolling" with it if you will. "Heartbroken" - No. The purpose of my original question was to see if anyone else had family members whose behavior either changed dramatically after they went public with their decision or who acted like they weren't aware of what you were doing or had to do in the process. In my situation, its not like my family doesn't know what this entails - we have several family friends and relatives who've gone either route(GBP or LB). Perhaps its now too close to home.

To answer the "Why don't I go and eat soup?" question - at this stage I am Medifast/One Lean Protein & One Green Veggie/One cup of broth... I think it's rude to go to a restaurant and either present a laundry list of dietary restrictions for the kitchen to attempt to satisfy, or to refuse to eat or just sip coffee. Of course I could do the latter, but than that draws all the attention to me - "Why aren't you eating?", "Don't you like the food?", "So-and so had that operation and they ...", "I could never do that I like to eat!", "I've told you over and over, you just need willpower...look at me I'm a size 8...(m-i-l) Giving it more thought, I realize that my husband's family has always been like this - self-absorbed and inconsiderate. Like insisting I proceed with my wedding after being diagnosed with breast cancer or dropping a sick kid at my house while they take off for a week. Maybe the real problem is that now that I'm actually doing something about my weight and learning to say "No" and not just rolling with rude and inconsiderate behavior the fear is that the "doormat" (aka me) is gone!

Try Miralax - tasteless, calorie free - mix it right into the shake. Had the UGI series Monday and my butt felt like I was pushing out concrete! Where did you get Optifast - sounds better than Medifast!

UTI usually produces a burning sensation when you urinate. Kidney stone starts rather suddenly with a dull, pressing ache in the lower back, generally on the side where the stone is. For me, it started as above while I was watching a movie. I couldn't sit still - kept squirming trying to get comfortable. Then I HAD to go to the bathroom - felt like I had to urinate; ended up doing that plus diarrhea. It moved on to vomitting. I drove myself to the ER where they did a KUB(ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder). I was given a painkiller and advised to drink a lot of water to attempt to flush it out. Ultimately, I wasn't able to pass it and had it surgically removed. This is a MUST GO TO THE DOCTOR - as if the stone is large enough the urine can back up in the kidney and cause permanent damage. The ER of any hospital is required to treat you even if you can't pay - JUST GO.

A fun week so far - and it's only Wednesday. Had the upper GI series, chest xray and abdominal Ultra Sound on Monday plus the blood gases and PFT - none was too terrible. Drinking the barium was awful - a banana/vanilla cup of sludge..but actually better than Medifast and it sits in your gut like a rock! A definate appetite killer! Tomorrow it's four hours of nuclear stress testing and an echocardiogram then on to the sleep lab followed my the nutritionist on Friday. I get off easy next week - just the PAT's and meeting with the surgeon on Friday. Got a message from the patient coordinator that they want to move my surgery up a day, but that was two days ago and I haven't managed to get her to call me back!

A fun week so far - and it's only Wednesday. Had the upper GI series, chest xray and abdominal Ultra Sound on Monday plus the blood gases and PFT - none was too terrible. Drinking the barium was awful - a banana/vanilla cup of sludge..but actually better than Medifast and it sits in your gut like a rock! A definate appetite killer! Tomorrow it's four hours of nuclear stress testing and an echocardiogram then on to the sleep lab followed my the nutritionist on Friday. I get off easy next week - just the PAT's and meeting with the surgeon on Friday. Got a message from the patient coordinator that they want to move my surgery up a day, but that was two days ago and I haven't managed to get her to call me back!

I would ask your surgical practice for a recommendation - they often know of psychologists who specialize in eating disorders. I'd also ask if you can use any provider you choose. See my prior notes on my experience. I'm on the phone now w/BCBS as the psychologist who did my evaluation demanded payment up front and is now refusing to submit the invoice. Per BCBS she is an in-network provider and WAS NOT supposed to get a payment from me prior to submitting the invoice to BCBS. That said - every insurance company is different. Know your plan, check to make sure who you use is "in-network" and if you're not comfortable with something the provider is telling you re; your payment requirements , call your insurance company to confirm how you're plan works.

I second everyone's above listed comments. I'm starting the battery of pre-surgery tests tomorrow - ie., no eats from 10 pm tonight on - so I'm trying to keep my mind off being hungry. Even today I found myself thinking how pathetic I am that I can't lose this weight myself and that I'll probably be the one doesn't lose a pound and...but if I risk nothing than I'll just stay as I am and I'll keep making excuses to avoid life. I'd rather participate rather than continue to miss the bus - so to speak.

I've battled my weight for 20 years. I've been 200+ for 10 years. I told myself in January 2009 that if I didn't make significant progress in my weight loss efforts in the course of a year, I'd pursue gastric by-pass or lap-band. My doctor is all for it. Ditto for my psych consult. I know the #1 reason to do this is for my health. Nevertheless, I feel like the facility I'm utilizing (a "Center of Excellence") views me as just $$ and I'm questioning their level of caring for me as a person/patient. I've been through extensive nutritional counseling and I get it. A friend of mine is an RD and we've been working on various behavioral approachs to weight loss/control. She asked me if I'm able to lose the 10% required for surgery, why not set a second goal of another 10% and so on? If I've coped with stress in the past by eating what makes me think I won't find a way to continue doing so? (Her question to me) Then I went to a support group meeting last night and watched as the GBP -v- LB battle ensued - a "my procedure is better than yours" free for all. Ended up talking to a lady who had the lap-band in 6/09 was 250 and is now 205...roughly 1.5 lbs a week - what one could do on their own with a sensible diet. I'm just putting this out there - has anyone else wrestled with this as I am? Am I just self-defeating or scared? Thanks Bandsters for listening! :thumbup:

I've been struggling since my Pre-Op MediFast start date of 2/1... The first three days I dropped three pounds but by that weekend I was covered in hives and running to the bathroom. Soy allergy. Between the cringe worthy beef broth and the awful tasting MediFast I lapse into - No, not non-nutrious eating - but eating real(GASP) foods. Back came the three pounds. Now I'm using Jillian Michaels' Whey Powder(same counts as Medifast, trace soy, taste is passable) and it seems to be clicking. Switched to "Kitchen Basics" Veg Broth - acceptable and am sticking to the plan. Oddly enough, I feel okay and actually feel like I have more energy. My poor husband is trying to eat what I do for dinner(except more) - tonight's fare (salmon,steamed broccoli and a cup of lettuce) didn't do it for him. Do we have any frozen pizza in basement freezer?!:confused:

I've been struggling since my Pre-Op MediFast start date of 2/1... The first three days I dropped three pounds but by that weekend I was covered in hives and running to the bathroom. Soy allergy. Between the cringe worthy beef broth and the awful tasting MediFast I lapse into - No, not non-nutrious eating - but eating real(GASP) foods. Back came the three pounds. Now I'm using Jillian Michaels' Whey Powder(same counts as Medifast, trace soy, taste is passable) and it seems to be clicking. Switched to "Kitchen Basics" Veg Broth - acceptable and am sticking to the plan. Oddly enough, I feel okay and actually feel like I have more energy. My poor husband is trying to eat what I do for dinner(except more) - tonight's fare (salmon,steamed broccoli and a cup of lettuce) didn't do it for him. Do we have any frozen pizza in basement freezer?!:frown:

I'd have thought the tough part would've been the approval. Aetna is a notorious pain in the ass; the night before my BC surgery they called to tell me they'd decided not to cover it because they felt it was "cosmetic". Thankfully my employee benefits rep raised hell. Stay the course - your dedication thus far has paid dividends (down 80+ pounds) and laid the ground work for your future success with the band. Consider this a speed bump!