Need-a-Sleeve

I had a Premier vanilla protein shake, some ice & 1tablespoon of sugar-free butterscotch pudding & ran it thru the Vitamix. Wow, was it good!

ActingNurse, I know exactly what you mean! I tell everybody from the time I get in the hospital till I leave that I am a nurse! Why? I am hoping for a little "professional courtesy". I know I have to get up & walk & pass gas. Yes, the nurses' jobs are difficult but hopefully I will be LESS trouble because taking the initiative to take care of myself will help me recover faster.

My anxiety was greatly relieved once I got my surgery date. Now it is just exciting to start implementing the change the day I walked out of the surgeon's office! Hang in there & stay in touch!

I now have 3 different pedometers ( don't ask why-LOL): FitBit; BodyBug & the Omron Pedometer. Here are the different features: FitBit: tracks steps, stairs, sleep & food log, Weight log, $99 for unit & $49 for 1 year premium subscription to trainers & logs. Bluetooth compatible w/ apps BodyBug: tracks steps, activity time (sustained cardio), sleep & food log, weight log. Bluetooth enabled, $199 for unit & I year subscription & has app Omron Pedometer HJ-720ITC: steps, aerobic level steps, calorie burn,stop-watch, comes w/ software & computer cable that downloads your data to an Excel spreadsheet, uses 2032 lithium battery, $59.99 FitBit pros: cute. & very discrete profile / con: VERY inaccurate on everything. I wore all 3 units for the last 2 days & FitBit had over 1,000 more steps than the Omron, about 400 more than BodyBug. It said I had 5 hours of sleep & woke up 11 times last night. (You wear it around your wrist in a nylon pouch, so if you flail your arm it counts as waking up. I had it on my right arm first & it said I woke up less on that night.) It does interface with My Fitness Pal (MFP) but only transfers your burned calories. It has it's own food database but it is not near as robust as MFP, so you still end up using both. Also counted me going up & down the escalator at work as stairs & gave me a badge--LOL Omron pros: cheapest, easiest to use, within 2 steps when I counted out 50 for all three, so most accurate. Also works with their blood pressure monitor to download to Excel. I used this for years & took the printout to my PCP to show how much exercise I was getting. Cons: no app, badges, rewards or "sharing", still have to use with MFP. BodyBug by BodyMedia, pros: most accurate sleep monitor, 2nd most accurate step & activity monitor. Cons: most expensive, food database sucks, reporting is ok & must be worn around your arm & the 4 metal thermoresistance discs have actually blistered me on workouts! My choice is going to be to go back to the Omron & either Calorie Count app or My Fitness Pal.

Google "PB2". It is about $6.00 for a jar the size of regular Peanut Butter but powdered. It is like 45 calories for 2 tbsp, as I recall. I mix it with Premier chocolate Protein shakes & it tastes like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup shake...

I agree with Ready4Success, when I worked in the O.R., we never minded calling spouses that couldn't be there. It can be hard to go thru this alone, but you will do great & have some time to settle in with your "new stomach"!

I didn't get my date today as the surgery scheduler did not come in! @sramos89--first I work for the insurance carrier but that doesn't make a difference. What I did was get a copy of the medical policy, followed all the requirements before going in to see the surgeon. Then I added this ( because I am an old OR nurse) had my annual physical scheduled a week before the surgeon & asked her to clear me for surgery. She did the annual EKG & Chest x-ray & got the report to me so I had it in hand. I had also had the psych eval & got that to him. Now if I can just get a date!

I saw the surgeon at 9:30 on Thursday--August 9, it was submitted on Friday the 10th & approved this morning! Should get a surgery date tomorrow!

When I was doing my research on WLS, I ran across a physician website that had something unusual. (Sorry, I didn't make a note of the URL but will try & find it again!) They gave their WLS patients a card they could present to the wait staff that said 'John Doe is a patient at the Blank Clinic & has had weight loss surgery; for that reason, please allow him / her to order smaller portions or from the children's menu.' I thought this was a great idea! Has anyone else seen this or think it would be useful?

I work for one of the carriers & was told they went by the BMI submitted by the physician requesting the pre-determination for the procedure. When my BMI hit 40, I went to get medical clearance by my PCP & then to the surgeon. It was 40 the day I weighed in at the surgeon & that is what they went with--in the meantime, I am on the pre-op diet (my own choice as it didn't seem right for me to make the decision to change & then gorge). Still waiting for the approval but have lost 7 pounds in 5 days, so that helps me!

Sounds like it is time for it to come out, call your doc this morning.

I bought mine at Sam's Club where they were $18.99 for the case!

Although I have not had surgery yet, I am an old OR nurse & can tell you having an abdominal binder post-op will help with pain, deep- breathing and coughing. If you wait to let the hospital supply you with one, you will likely see it cost $50 or more on your hospital bill. Depending on your size, you might try looking at Babies-R-Us or similar stores for post-partum binders. I found one yesterday that fit me & was only $19.99!

Fantastic! You should be proud!

***I have taken glucosamine-chondrointin for rhe last 14 years with excellent results. Despite my weight, still can climb stairs with no pain. HIGHLY recommend Probiotics due to our consumption of processed foods as over 75% of our immune system is in our intestine. Daily yogurt is a good substitute.

A bougie is a medical device that is used to dilate something. For example, when the esophagus is exposed to so much acid reflux and begins to scar, narrowing the opening, a bougie is used to stretch it back open. In surgery, the bougie is used as a measurement guide to assist the surgeon in creating the sleeve. Different size people (and their stomachs) will have different diameters. So don't misinterpret if someone tells you their doctor used a 32 french bougie on them and you had a 38 (which is larger), that your stomach pouch may not be as successful. Your surgeon will use what is best and safest for your anatomy.

Look under pre-op: Rate Topic 9 votes The Official What You Will Need For Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery Thread! Started by LilMissDiva, Oct 25, 2010 2:26 PM

I don't think it is stupid at all. People hold on to memories through tangible things whether they are photos or clothes. Maybe those clothes represented that you felt good about yourself wearing them--even if you were heavy and we know Jones of New York commands respect! If you can't part with them, how about having the backs of them cut into a pillow and getting it embroided with something that captures your new success?

When you really restrict your carbs, you can go into ketosis. It gives off a different body & breath odor. In nursing school we used to smell diabetic's breath--smelled like Juicy Fruit gum only kind of decay like! Don't know if this is what is going on here but definitely know what we eat affects how we smell....

Keeping it real Lulu! Thanks for that--will start 'training' to eat w/o liquids!

Most states (not to mention the AMA) require all tissue removed from a person to go to pathology. Depending on your surgeon & his protocol, the pathologist will either do a gross examination (just look it over) or a micro/ biopsy to see if there is anything suspicious. From there it can either go for incineration (biohazardous waste) or some request their "parts" back for burial. Sorry, but that is the sum of it!

I think I went to the same seminar--same day! I have called his office & left a message for the insurance coordinator they assigned to me. I also went ahead & made the appointment w/ Dr. Ashmore for the psych eval. Will stay in touch & ask you to do the same if you don't mind. Thanks, Jana

Good luck, will be watching for your progress!