Pookeyism

If it is a first time passport for him you can request an expedited passport:

scroll down to

that and the following options on the page are your best bets.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/services/expedited.html

http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

I don't think you should have to lie - you do not have to disclose medical information with a few exceptions varying from state to state. You are going to know when you are getting the surgery, so provide them with as much notice as possible and leave it at that.

now - do you mean you are trying to get paid for time off when otherwise you are not? No advise I can give there.

How many carbs are you getting daily? Are they from supplements?

If you have a widespread rash, you should see a doctor, I would say an allergist.

Take some pics, so you can 'see' the progress of the rash, that can provide insight also.

Check your supplements for ANY ingredients that are even vaguely similar to any allergies you may have. Consider getting a topical steroid like cortisone. Again consult your doctor first.

I actually put it off to January of '12 when I was told I needed surgery by the first week of December. However, I had a stomach tumor that didn't wait on my permission to reduce my tummy.

Hmmm...I don't know, I have a very small office. They can't make you provide information on what is happening while you are on medical leave. Do you think it would provide understanding for needing tome for doctor visits, etc. or would it create issues?

So what have I been up to for the last year or so?

Well, I have not been on here as much as I intended to, and I miss it!

To provide a brief back story, my mother passed away a week after I was sleeved (1/4/2012) and it was devastating. As the year progressed I tried to cope and put it behind me, and I think I did to an extent. However, to an equal extent I did not cope with my Mother's passing as much as tuck it away. That always ends well right?

The winter/spring of '12/'13 found me at a loss to describe the constant feeling of something lacking. I questioned everything (except my marriage). I never gave up yoga, I have been doing it for over 20 years. The weight loss I realized had allowed my body to handle "hot yoga". I was well aware of the benefits but at my original size I could not handle the heat. Now I could. For the first time I felt confident enough to not just be a heavy person in a room full of thin people doing yoga. I participated, I was an asset, it left me open to feelings and I finally began to cope. Fast forward a year and I have got my hours in as an assistant yogi and working at my favorite studio, and preparing to take teacher training in the spring. Then I dislocate my shoulder. I gained some weight back. Somewhere between 15-20 lbs. I also missed my training, (I will eventually take it!) The shoulder was a bit more serious than we originally thought and it takes months to get anywhere near normal again (I am still limited in mobility).

So back to modified yoga with an emphasis on my arm, and to cure the boredom I began to visit old familiar types of yoga, and newer ideas. Then something wonderful happened!!!! I stumbled upon a lady who has been a yogi for over forty years, and she created a yoga program that is designed for heavier people, the heaviest people, too. The bedridden, even. The modifications are the norm, it is done in little or no heat, the yogi is reminded they can reach down and move their gut. There is much more than that, and it makes yoga available to everyone, you walk into a space created by people just like them, and they are all able to progress and respond coming from a familiar place.

It has always been my desire to get yoga out to everyone who wants to try it. To make it available that as long as they have their breath, they have yoga. I work with amputees, children, and neighbors that don't have time to get to a studio. Now I get to expand on that.

So I am bringing it to Houston, and I am so excited!!! I cannot say I feel lucky - I feel blessed, I feel grace, I have been placed in a position to be the steward of something I feel very positive about, truly being able to be of service.

So for me that is the biggest NSV, possibly ever.

I know that the surgery will shrink your stomach size, and not do anything to one's metabolism or mind.

Did you mean to ord this sentence this way? This might be what the doctor is talking about - the weight loss surgery will change EVERYTHING, more or less.

The surgery is often found to be a culprit of affecting your metabolism, although there is increasing evidence this doe not have to be the case. It WILL affect your mind, in so many ways it is difficult to even give a good list, things I can think of off the top:

You will no longer be able to have food be your support system.

food can no longer dictate a social life.

You will have to resolve or at least come to peace with your old body image.

You will have to be mindful of possible transfer addictions, now that you cannot eat all you used to, or what you used to.

You have to be prepared for when the "honeymoon" period is over, and the smaller you is not so novel.

You will create reactions that are not always positive, or perhaps are very positive but far from how you used to be treated.

You have to forgive yourself for where you were before you lost the weight.

Talk to your doc, ask for insight to what was said, and ask for assistance in resolving the situation. Good luck.

PS - I can provide suggestions for reading that go in depth to about the WLS journey.

That sounds familiar - my first doctor had an incompetent assistant that was even willing to lie to not account for her mistakes. I dropped the doc, with an explanation why and after a lackluster reply from the doc (only after the poor reply) I posted it to every legitimate feedback site I could find, and got a new doctor.

Now - I did not work this through an insurance company in the traditional way, so it may be more difficult for you to do this.

Don't panic, I don't think the Universe is trying to tell you anything - but it may be prudent to take a moment and get some solid feedback about patients care under this doc - discard the worst feedback and the best - look for feedback on how they were assisted when something went wrong, not that things went great and nothing went wrong.

Good luck.

yes, it is possible, especially if you are restricting your carbohydrates.

reference (not best article but I do not get most of my information on line):

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Nutrition for Everyone: Protein." Oct. 4, 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/protein.html>

So like this - and I bet you looked really pretty!

Just for fun

What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?

A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.

He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!

Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Most of the stupid advise came from one fad or another, or radical eating modifications.

Your gentleman friend may have indeed been odd - I cannot vouch for that one way or another. However, I can see how someone might get that playing chess could possibly help you lose weight. Not curb your appetite or control cravings, but give you a practice of holding your impulses, and evaluating your move, and anticipating consequences. A bit of cognitive "UMPH!" in the weight loss battle - like a good scout, maybe.

Actually, it is in large part what most try to instill upon someone trying to make lifestyle changes for long term weight maintenance.

Hmmmm!!!! LOL!

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

It is a actually several questions, so feel free to respond to any of the questions that apply to you, or you feel particularly interested in responding to.

How many of the very large undecided/pre/post WLSers would or have gone to a yoga class specifically aimed at very heavy people? The pace and range of the exercises and equipment, modifications, and feedback and motivation were geared only to what you were in that moment, only what you could achieve right then? No huge long-term goals to build up, get over or anything - just show up, be in your breath and body and do some yoga with like minded people? Have you had access to this? would you have gone if you did - if you did and it was inadequate, how? Would you suggest this to people you know that have no intention of following a WLS path but need "something"?

WLS patients - Would you have participated in, continued with, or currently participate in a yoga class offered through your doctor? Actually meet specifically with other WLS patients for yoga intended for you? Would you have took or did you take a class like that? Something that offered mediation or relaxation or identifying and coping skills for your post-surgery journey in addition to yoga?

I would really like to discourage any rude or harshly judgmental comments if you disagree with this concept, and not for the sake of the feedback - there maybe people participating in programs like this already, and while I have indeed asked for feedback I do not want to create ANYTHING discouraging to those who are already thinking about or enjoying something like this. Thanks for understanding!

Hello all - just a thought - and a lot of experience with groups meeting up in Houston - maybe we could alternate a meet up, every other week or even every week, and change venues so that everyone get a chance to travel? Overall we have a huge area, but the more you break it down you are going to see less attendees. If we have a large group and rotate, the logistics of the meetings could be handled by a person(s) closer to that area.

Just a thought - and if anyone would like to meetup in NW Houston let me know.

“Your Mom is going to die a week after your surgery.”

But really that boils down to the advice “be prepared for anything – and have support” – for so many people this is a financial drain and they push, push, push for that earliest date. Give your resources flexibility, as well as consider your closest friends and families schedules. These two things will make any emergency you have post-surgery much easier to handle.

I would not be angry with her – but definitely be done.

Your friend needs help, I think, but it is not anything you are going to be able to provide. I noticed a lot or repetition of “betrayal”, “right to be happy”, and implying she assumes you only have a cosmetic need to be thin.

What she writes about culling her friends based on people having opinions that differs from hers, and readily using exceptionally harsh labels – then seeing how minute a guideline she has for deciding someone is hateful – is either a seriously internalized issue OR (and?) an actually quite common social media “tool” – you actually see writing like this a lot on more blogs and news that is very biased.

Whatever is going on with her, and whatever she has gone through – one serious point – she is willing to be open and hateful, rude and still passive-aggressive to an extent, since she has not actually outed you.

I’m sorry you are going through this but just remove her from being able to follow or contact you .

One more thing. I recommend you pay attention to who and why your friends feel the need to point out that she is doing this. You know it, they know it – so let it go. Drop her, drop the subject, drop the hunt to see how she expresses her displeasure.

Did he explain why? I'm not sure I get where he is coming from. No VGS ever, or just you need to wait?

Thank you for taking the time to post this. Very inspirational!

2 1/2 years for me. You are doing great! Congratulations!

I just saw this - is there any exceptions to the deadline? If not will you please add me to whatever list you have for upcoming events?

I want to say, this post still rings true. I dislocated my shoulder in December, and it was more serious than initially thought - but not diagnosed well at first so I was basically immobile in my neck/shoulder/right arm for FOUR months. I was sad and I ate. I never really got off what anyone could call healthy eating, except I drank lots of smoothies and juice and was not mindful to the calorie content.

So I gained. About 20 pounds. I thought I would loose it as soon as I was "aware" but not really...so now I can say, even with a bit of weight gain the "-" in the yo-yo saved me. I will loose it and maintain again and hopefully never creep back up the scales again.

The surgery, even if you do not get all of what you envisioned, is very worth it. Do not take advantage. Work hard. Good luck!

Such a timely article. Thank you.

Have a question about pain. Did anyone, say past a couple of months out, have abdominal pain that may/may not be associated with pain in the lower back also…tendency to shift a bit but mostly centered just off the right side just under/below lowest sternum?

Its at least a 6.5 on a pain scale that 10 would be a compound fracture. Getting worse.

I have been doing yoga for about 20 years, and finally started in a studio after surgery.

I start working there SUNDAY! if all goes well, and I decide I like it, I will begin Yoga Instructor training in the summer.

Cannot sit still. So excited! :D

"This moment is a blank slate" - Baron Baptiste

What a most awesome, scary place you are in right now! I remember how I felt. it will be ok.

You are in my thoughts. May your journey be as difficult as it needs to be to help you make the changes you need, and no more.

Namaste.

Ah - see I thought you were asking if it woud be ok to eat 6 day old eggs...