Isabel'sGma

I am Type II diabetic and pre-surgery I was taking 22 units of Humalog with every meal + 45 units of Lantus every evening and also Byetta injections 2 x a day also 500 mg metformin and glyburide prior to surgery. Since surgery I have had a new A1C and it was 8.8 in Jan - surgery Apr 24th my new A1C was 5.8. I am now considered "pre-diabetic". Absolutely amazing. I healed great and have only taken one dose of insulin since surgery and that one was when I was in the hospital the day after surgery. I have lost 45 pounds with pre-op and since surgery and couldn't be happier or feeling better. Hope this answer helps. Debbie

This is a tip out there for anyone who shops LB, FB, Avenue, etc. When they have sales like buy one get one or buy two get two, they actually spread the discount out between all of the items purchased. Example. Bras are $24.00 each and if b2g2 then they will price them each at $12.00 each. If you then returned two of what you bought you would get $24.00 back. I say that because it is a way to plan ahead, but not get caught if it doesn't work. If you buy 4 and don't go down fast enough or go down too much, you can return the others and still get the benefit of the sale. Personally, I am 2 months out and I have gone down from a 48DDD to a 42DDD so I have lost in the around sizing, but not the actual cup size. Good Luck

You definitely need to have a serious talk with your primary care Dr and/or a nutritionist who works with Diabetics. Before pre-op I was on Glyburide and Metformin as well as humalog and lantus and byetta. They completely stopped the glyburide when I went on pre-op and put me on a sliding scale on my insulin so that I hardly took any during my pre-op diet. If your primary care Dr doesn't know, it would be a good idea to have a serious conversation with them. Even if your insurance isn't paying for it your Dr should be involved with your diabetes management. Take care and do not worry, you will make it. I would also suggest sugar free Jello and pudding during pre-op diet. They are sugar and fat free and won't interfere with the shrinking of your liver.

Prayers for healing and comfort during this uncertain time. Please keep us posted.

Put the scale away for a month. If we look at the scale too often it can cause a lot of doubt when in fact it is just our body getting adjusted to this huge change. My Dr says 15 pounds a month after the first month is what he hopes for. As a woman, our weight can fluctuate for any number of things as much as 5 pounds a day. Shoot, I can have a stress filled day and gain 5 even without the surgery.

most Doc's will prescribe a sleeping tablet for a patient that is nervous about being able to sleep. Talk to them, they should call it in for you.

Being put under was easy. Unfortunately, I have been put under three times in the last month. Trust your anaesthesiologist (sp?) and ask them any questions that you have. I found that mine was more than willing to answer any questions that I had. For the most part, I have found that they are wonderful and easy to talk to.

I had surgery on Apr 24. I have been eating tuna with mayo and a couple of crackers for a week or so. I stick to low fat ritz crackers. Those who avoid cards, don't eat them, I am trying to go low carb though. I have also found that a great meal for me is 1/2 of a small turkey & cheddar lunchable. I eat 1/2 for Breakfast and 1/2 for lunch. 115 calories and tastes great.

As a benefits manager I would do a couple of things. 1) did your Dr get the surgery pre-authorized? 2) are they contracted with your insurance? 3) if the answer to the above two questions is yes, then do not worry about it too much. If the Dr and hospital are contracted, then it is ultimately their responsibility to to the pre-authorization prior to rendering services or it should go back on them. Now, that is the way my plan is designed for my employees and that is not a unique thing. 4) do you have a benefits manager you can talk to about this to help you wade through what might be incorrect information.

I keep reading on here about people having a hard time getting in 1 Tbsp of food or things like that but for me, since Dr said I could be on soft diet, I have no problem with 3-4 ounces of Protein. Today is the end of the 2nd full day and my calories are around 600/day and I have eaten taco cupcakes cheese, chicken, etc. Am I eating too much? I am not what you would call hungry, but have not problem eating the 3 oz portion I measure out. Help?

NUT = nutritionist

I wasn't released from the hospital until day 4; so, be prepared that it could be a possibility.

I couldn't wait to get rid of mine and had a little bit of apprehension and I can honestly say that the apprehension was worse than the procedure. The nurse told me to take a deep breath and breathe out as they removed it. It did not hurt at all just sort of felt like a needle being unthreaded a little pulling and sliding through the skin.

Sort of a similar question, I will be taking a business trip at 4-weeks out from surgery. Today I started soft/pureed foods but I think I will be in the same stage when I go in two weeks. The food will all be provided by the vendor and I am just at a loss for what to do.

As an insurance administratror for an employer; I know a little about this. You should have been offered Cobra within 30 days of your last day worked. Then you have 60 days from the date of the letter or the end of your active coverage (whichever is later) to enroll in Cobra. To enroll, the only thing required by law is to complete their form and get it postmarked within that 60 day time period. Once you postmark the enrollment, you have 45 days from the date you place it in the mail to actually mail a payment. So in short, if you are within 60 days of your end of employment, you are ok. Get ahold of your insurance provider or your insurance person at work and they should be able to help you wade through it all.

Ok, to yesterday I went to the Dr for my 2-week check up. Ended up in the hospital overnight for dehydration. Feel 90% better today. Dr also changed me to a soft diet and we talked a little about what that would include, but I need some practical help from those that have been through this. He told me moist meat, thought chicken would be too dry. He also said I could have fruit with no seeds, no skin and nothing packed in syrup. No veggies because they might cause stomach upset. So, what does all that boil down to. All I can see is tuna mushed up with a little low-fat mayo, ... Would this be a good time for the lasagna cupcakes (and other types) that I have seen on the website posted by others or is this too early for that? What did you eat?

Lisa, I have no regrets. Yes, it was a setback, but here I am two weeks our from surgery and down 26 pounds and other than this couple of day setback, I feel great. Go into it with a realistic expectation that there may be a few issues down the road, but in the long run, we will all be healthier and happier with less luggage to lug around ( at least until that first trip we can take, fit into a regular plane seat comfortable, and wear something without feeling self conscious).

Yes, I was having a terrible time getting fluids down. Now, the taste in my mouth is much better and I am better able to get the fluids in. Not sure what the key was, but I feel so much better so even though it was a pain to have to spend the night in the hospital, I am glad in hindsight that I did.

Well, my understanding is that "thanksgiving full" feeling is not actually full, it is overfull. So, if that is true, I never want to feel that feeling again myself. Hope that helps.

He could kind of twll by the way I felt, because I just had nothing in me. My heart rate has also been very erratic. Also, he did blood work and discovered that my hematocrit was either low or high, whichever one is bad. I think he said it should be 12 and it was 16. I was also low on Magnesium.

Ok, to yesterday I went to the Dr for my 2-week check up. Ended up in the hospital overnight for dehydration. Feel 90% better today. Dr also changed me to a soft diet and we talked a little about what that would include, but I need some practical help from those that have been through this. He told me moist meat, thought chicken would be too dry. He also said I could have fruit with no seeds, no skin and nothing packed in syrup. No veggies because they might cause stomach upset. So, what does all that boil down to. All I can see is tuna mushed up with a little low-fat mayo, ... Would this be a good time for the lasagna cupcakes (and other types) that I have seen on the website posted by others or is this too early for that? What did you eat?

I don't think it is a good idea to ask that type of a question. The reason I say that is because everyone's weight loss journey is different. Weight loss depends on SOOOO many different things that it is very hard to predict. My Dr. told me that his goal is 15 pounds a month and that he knows it will come off faster at the first, but to keep that monthly average in mind as an ultimate goal. Start now with measuring yourself and do that on a regular basis. I have only been sleeved two weeks and I can see how important that step is. As we go down this journey, the goal is to increase our lean muscle mass (ultimately) and decrease the percentage of fat in our bodies. Many people report little weight loss but huge NSV (non-scale vistories) with inches lost. And at least for me, that will be enough (I think and hope).

Well, I had been having a really weird, nasty taste in my mouth, almost like the taste I have gotten in my mouth in the past right before I threw up. It was there constantly and almost unbearable. Yesterday when I went for my two week checkup, Dr put me in the hospitla for dehydration. I am not sure if the two are related, but I have a feeling they were because today I have it just a tiny bit, but it is much better.

Mab, Just so you don't go out and buy expensive Vit E oil, you can just use a pin to open up a Vitamin E capsule and use the Vit E straight from there. Much cheaper from what I have seen.

Don't get me wrong, but part of me is really excited that I am down 22.4 pounds since surgery on the 24th, but I am just concerned that it is coming off too fast. My Dr expected me to be down 18 pounds by my 1 month check up and I have already exceeded that. Do any of you a few more weeks out than me have any wisdom. My Dr. has me on Clear liquids for 2 weeks. When I spoke with him today, he said that I can start with just a little bit of Protein shakes, but to go real slow with them. He said when I see him next week, we will advance me a little further. My biggest concern is that I am losing only lean muscle mass and not any actual fat. I am walking a mile a day and right now I have absolutely no energy.