Thats All Folks

They sell test strips in the pharmacy. It's with the diabetic supplies. You have to urinate on the test strip and then it gives you a ketosis range.

I just looked and still saw it. The before is on top and the after was directly below it.

I think if I were in your shoes, I'd request a lot more testing. Possibly an upper GI. It could be something band related but it also could be totally unrelated to your band.

If she already had FMLA in place to cover the initial surgery then she could've possibly got some of the follow up appointments covered. But, she didn't, and fills aren't considered "serious health conditions" so they wouldn't have to cover them. I might also add that FMLA time isn't paid. It grants you up to 12 weeks of unpaid time per year. So, even if you do get it covered, by law they do not have to pay you for the time off. They only have to guarantee your job still be there when you return. (and actually, they don't have to guarantee your exact job even, only one of equal status and pay) Because of this, I personally would rather take the day off as a paid personal day without dealing with all FMLA stuff.

Unfortunately, fills and follow up appointments with your surgeon would not be covered by FMLA. "Elective Procedures The FMLA rules do specifically delineate procedures that are not considered a serious health condition. CFR section 821.113 (d) specifies that "cosmetic treatments" such as acne treatments and "plastic surgery" are not serious health conditions. If complications arose, then the complications could be considered a serious health condition under the act. Additionally, if the surgery is one that requires "inpatient hospital care" -- defined by the regulations as an overnight stay -- then it likely qualifies as a serious health condition. Restorative Surgery The Federal regulations (CFR section 825.113 d) state that "restorative dental or plastic surgery after an injury or removal of cancerous growths are serious health conditions provided all the other conditions of this regulation are met." Therefore, if the condition for which the employee is undergoing elective surgery was in itself a serious health condition, then the surgery is covered under the act. In some situations, such as bariatric surgery, the determination of the underlying condition differs between individuals. If doubt exists regarding the status of a surgery or condition, the legislation allows the employer to ask the employee's medical provider to certify whether the procedure constitutes a serious health condition for the purposes of FMLA." Essentially because you have to stay overnight in the hospital you could get the surgery and recovery time covered by FMLA, but routine doctor's appointments after would not be covered. Plus, you'd have to divulge the nature of the medical issue to get it covered, which isn't something you said you wanted to do.

I'm supposed to be having a tummy tuck this spring. I'm terrified of the recovery process but I can't wait to get rid of all this extra skin. I'd love to get my arms and thighs done eventually too but we'll see if I can find the money for it.

Believe it or not, chicken put in the blender with chicken broth really isn't bad at all. The broth gives it flavor. You could also do chicken or tuna, mixed with a little low fat mayo, in the blender. Refried Beans with a little melted cheese on top was VERY filling. (refried beans are already mushy even!) I really liked no sugar added applesauce at that stage, too.

It doesn't matter, fat isn't exclusive to only a part of the stomach. Even my surgeon commented when I saw him on Tuesday how I'd lost 41 pounds since my last fill and he was wasn't surprised I needed another one because of the weight loss. He did draw out all the Fluid before adding more and there was the exact amount I should have in there, 4.9cc. Before I'd been up to 5cc and had to have .1cc removed because I was too tight. Now, because my stomach shrank, I have 5.2cc in my band.

I too am way too tight in the morning to eat. A year after being banded, I still have an Unjury Chocolate Splendor protein shake every morning.

Unfortunately, your nutritionist is flat out wrong and you are right. In fact, I just had a .3cc fill for the first time since September because as I've lost weight my stomach shrank too. There is fat around a lot of your internal organs when you're overweight, including your stomach. As you lose and the fat layer around it shrinks, the band gets loser and you need more fills to get back to the same place you were. Once you're at goal weight you can go years without a fill, but while you're losing, your stomach can and will shrink.

Congratulations on your weight loss and welcome to the site! I think the majority of us are food addicts. I mean, you don't get obese to the point of needing bariatric surgery without some sort of major food issue. I have a lot of respect for you for realizing this and going to OA. I'm definitely a food addict, without a doubt. Granted what works for one definitely doesn't work for all, but I have found getting white carbs out of my diet really has helped my sugar/carb cravings tremendously. I stay away from white rice, white bread, regular Pasta, or anything that says "enriched" or "bleached" on the label. I buy whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice, I also stay away from sugar whenever I can and I have found Stevia to be a great non-chemical substitute. You can totally do this, Christopher. Best wishes to you.

Definitely give your tummy time to settle and once you're back on solids go slowly and cautiously. Hopefully this will be that perfect fill for you.

Well, I guess that depends. What's the appointment for on Monday? If it's just for a fill, why not reschedule it for a non-development day?

You should fill out your profile so we can better help you. As far as pills, that's a bad idea in my opinion. You already know you'll gain the weight right back after stopping the phentermine so why in the world would you want to do that again? Losing 70 pounds in 6 months depends on how much you have to lose total. It also depends on if you're willing to count calories religiously and exercise. But even then, that's a lot of weight in a little time. The average is 1-2 pounds a month which would be approximately 24-48 pounds in 6 months. You need to remember you didn't gain weight overnight and it's going to take time to lose it too. I'd follow whatever program your nutritionist laid out for you, exercise, follow up with your surgeon monthly, and just do your best.

Congratulations!

Rice isn't exactly a soft food so I'd wait until you're back on solids. Plus, 11 days banded isn't very long. I'd give yourself more time to adjust. Just FYI, Chinese fried rice is usually loaded in fat and MSG. If you are going to have it, be sure to track it in your daily calories or you'll way too easily go over your daily allowance. As far as rice itself, I eat brown rice all the time without a problem.

I was the same way before surgery. I didn't have any pre-op diet to follow but I was told it might be a good idea to start eating right anyway. I failed. Miserably. Like you, it was like some horrible food demon just took over me and I swear I ate everything in site. In retrospect, I think I felt like being about to be banded, I was going to have to give up everything I loved, so I felt this need to binge out while I still could. For me, actually getting banded and having to follow the post op diet changed that. In a way, I traded addictions but in a good way. I saw the scale start to slowly go down and I was like "oh ok, this is kinda cool!" Then the more the scale went down, the bigger the high and the more I was driven to keep at it. As clothes got smaller and I got braver trying old favorite foods in smaller portions, I thought "Ok this flat out rocks!!" I finally realized I didn't have to give up anything, just enjoy it moderation, and I'd still lose weight. The whole thing is a huge learning process, not only about the band, but about ourselves. For as much as my body has changed over the last year, my mind has changed tenfold more. Be patient with yourself. At least you're trying, and as long as you're trying, you're not failing. It'll get a lot easier once you're banded and not pre-occupied by food due to hunger and deprivation.

It's very hard when we don't have the support from those close to us. However, the fact your husband is being supportive is a biggie. Perhaps the others will come around once they realize they're not going to change your mind. If nothing else, I'm sure they will after you have the surgery and they see you getting healthier. As long as you've educated yourself on the band and fully understand what you need to do to be successful with it, I say go for it. Do what you know to be best for you. It's not your job to please everyone around you. Best wishes on your journey!

Do you typically follow a high protein/low carb diet? If so, this may well be the culprit. It's a lot more common with low carb diets than people realize. The first thing I'd do is start reading labels. Low carb diets are typically high in fat, which by the way is unavoidable. Trying to stay away from saturated fat will help. Also, chicken and fish have much less saturated fats than beef. Vegetable Protein is even better but harder to get enough of without meat, too. I'd also talk to your nutritionist. Tell her about your blood work and let her help you make adjustments to your diet. Best wishes to you!

You'd have to check with your insurance company to be sure, but usually the only co-morbidities they count are ones that are directly effected by weight. Things like hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc. To give you a good example, I have Multiple Sclerosis. But because it has nothing to do with my weight, it wasn't counted as a co-morbidity or a factor at all in WLS approval.

I would agree, sounds like scar tissue. I'd have your surgeon check it out just to be sure.

Welcome and congratulations on starting your new life!

hahaha well unfortunately I have A LOT of excess skin on my tummy. I wear big shirts to cover it. But, I'm getting a tummy tuck this spring, so I'll definitely be ditching the big shirts and mom jeans after

I have so much respect for you for not only losing so much weight 9 years ago, but for getting right back to it today. It's very inspirational. You're going to do amazing

Thank you I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if I hadn't got the band last year. I'm convinced I wouldn't have lived to be 50 (I'm 39 now). And no, I no longer need a cane! I have Multiple Sclerosis, so the fact I went from needing a cane just to get across my living room to walking 2 miles a day with ease is nothing less than a miracle to me. I'm very, very happy!