kimbernada

Rootman, do you think you could possibly write a goodbye letter to your furries? I know it isn't the same as telling them this in person, but maybe just writing it out will help you have some closure? I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. While I know that this is so very heartbreaking, at least you know that they passed on peacefully - something that I wish all of my loved ones, furry or not, will have the chance to have when their time comes. They may be gone physically, but I'm positive that their spirits live on in your home. (((hugs)))

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You can have the surgery next year... what's a year?

I found out last week that some of my panties were a little too big... thank GOODNESS I was wearing pants because I think they would have been around my ankles. So.... those were tossed at the end of the day. Comfortable, yes.. but not when they are only staying somewhat on by the crotch of my pants. Although what is WORSE is I had lost weight for my 10 year reunion and was wearing a dress... and a split slip. Yep, LITERALLY walked out of those.

I think you need to use the BB code.... not the regular http.

Yep, I've been there too. I really like the "bangle" from the other site. I found that I could put my name, the "no" stuff, and the ICE on the third line - which would be my hubby's cell phone. BUT... I haven't ordered anything yet.

I've got a count down widget on my phone's home screen.. 34 days left.

Ooooh.. I love the bangle bracelet with the non-color id tag at www.n-styleid.com. I like 'understated' jewelry (well, except for my wedding ring). I added this to my wishlist. Thanks for sharing!

When I first heard that the doctor's office was pushing Bariatric Advantage, I was thinking "what a racket"... but if you look online, BA is the same price. I don't have to buy it from them. In fact, in my program materials, they direct me to buy the supplements from the BA website. I ended up getting them from DietDirect.com when they had a 10% off sale. AND.. the more you buy, the more you save. (If you spend x amount of stuff, you save %.) I ended up saving close to $50. I figure I'll just buy the Protein powder from the doctor's office because it's more convenient. I didn't buy the shakes online because I want to taste them first. I guess next week I have a two-hour group meeting to talk about the shakes and the pre-op diet - and we'll be tasting the stuff. I know that I like the Syntrax nectar Cappuccino, strawberry mousse, and Cookies & cream flavors, but I can't remember how the nutrition pairs up. Protein-wise, they are the same.

It's a good thing you are waiting too... who knows where it would have ended up after you've hit your goal!! You know, a tattoo on your thigh now may be on your ankle once you hit goal. (JUST KIDDING!!) I plan to get another tattoo when I hit goal - less chance of it moving around on me.

The good news is that you can just contact your Release of Information department, which you probably know. Your "current" surgeon won't even know that you've requested this. (I'm only mentioning this in case someone else doesn't know this - that you don't have to ask at your doctor's office, just the ROI department.) Looks like the form you need is online: http://integrisok.co...-of-information Edited to add: That page lists the charge for the records release, but I think that patients are able to get a copy of their records free of charge - at least at my hospital they are. Only other requestors are charged the fee.

I am required to do a two week pre-op diet. 4 shakes a day plus one 300 calorie (or less) frozen dinner and unlimited veggies. (Thank GOODNESS for the veggies... that should keep me from being too cranky at work.) Actually, I plan to have the frozen dinner for lunch and a veggie salad for supper. (I can use Salad Spritzers on the lettuce.)

I am anticipating two weeks off of work. I'm hoping to get the two weeks paid by short term disability - then I can save my PTO.

Have you tried the Syntrax Matrix protein shake in the cappuccino flavor? Yummmmmm! I've never really liked hot coffee but I do like iced coffee. I make this with light vanilla soy milk and it is delicious!! (Seriously, it's probably better than an iced coffee from McDonalds.)

Nope, that doesn't sounds stupid. If you aren't in the medical field, you probably wouldn't know about it. And most patients don't know the "real" name of the software that their hospital/clinic uses because each healthcare system has to rename their customized version of the software. (Ours is called One Chart.) It's an electronic medical records software -- all encompassing, actually. Scheduling, health records, billing, labs, inpatient (hospital/ER), and ambulatory (clinic), etc. Information entered in one area is available to the other medical areas within the same medical region. AND... if you should go to another hospital anywhere in the world that also uses Epic, with your consent THAT hospital/clinic can access your records. From the patient standpoint, what I really like is the patient's online access to most of their records via MyChart. The patient has access to current allergies, current medications, immunization records, current/past appointments. And the patient has the ability to request prescription refills, request/schedule appointments, pay bills, send secure messages to their doctor as well as the ability to have e-visits. AND... you can also proxy into someone else's records with their consent. (Another adult or your child/teen.) AND (the last one).. there's also a free MyChart app for the Android and iPhones! You can see all this information on your smartphone!! This past December was our first go-live in three towns. The June go-live was HUGE. I am SO glad to say this is live now.

I would suggest that you call and speak with his nurse on Monday. Then they can get the information resubmitted right away.

Sort of showing.. Maybe you just forgot to save the changes.

My date is July 24. It had been July 16 but was rescheduled because my surgeon is going to be out of town. I am keeping busy with work. We just went live with Epic at our Fargo hospitals on June 3 and then our clinics will be going live weekly. Then we have two more locations in Minnesota going live on July 1. I can't believe that it is already mid-June... and I'm on call 24/7 next week so I'll be super busy with that. I'm actually looking forward to the two weeks following my surgery for recuperating AND recharging.

I recently switched my upcoming surgery to the sleeve mainly because my hands have been reminding me that I have rheumatoid arthritis and I really need to take NSAIDs. (Aleve, Advil, etc.) It's been in remission for almost six years but work has been extremely stressful right now... My best friend had the RNY two years ago and lost 92 pounds -- she's the "poster child" for the perfect gastric bypass patient. Okay, not literally, but she followed all of the rules and continues to take her Vitamins four times a day. I was gung-ho about also getting the RNY. I went to the info seminar and found out about the sleeve. It actually threw me for a loop because my brain was already on gastric bypass overload from my own researching. What?! There's something ELSE out there? (Don't tell anyone, but I almost had a panic attack at the seminar.) When I met with the surgeon a week later, I was still thinking RNY. The fact that the "dumping" would keep me from sweets was kind of appealing AND it seems like all of the books out there are geared towards people with the gastric bypass. I am a details kind of person, so give me something to read and I will. Anyhow, in the back of my mind, I have had this nagging thought about the malabsorption thing... I am 43 and, right now, other than my back and knees hurting at times and having sleep apnea, I am fairly healthy (well, in my mind anyhow). I am very thankful that there are discussion forums dedicated to either surgery as well as other forums for both surgeries. This is my list of pros for both surgeries. Initially the RNY appealed to me because of the faster weight loss, but really, what's 24 months compared to 12-18 months? (This is the question that I ask myself to keep me in focus.) My only real concern with the sleeve is that there really isn't any long term study results available since the sleeve is still fairly new. Gastric Bypass Pros: Faster weight loss Dumping (if you are a sugar fiend) - not that not dumping is also on my list as a pro for the sleeve Sleeve Pros: No rerouting of the intestines (this kind of scares me) Can take NSAIDs - Tylenol doesn't really do much for me and I get bad headaches in addition to RA Weight loss is almost equal to the RNY at about the two year mark Virtually no malabsorption issues No dumping (although some people experience this) No leftover stomach to get potential ulcers that are hard to scope Sleeve isn't as stretchable as the pouch Good luck with your decision!! I think it is wonderful that we have choices.