Need-a-Sleeve

Someone told me 'It wasn't your stomach that made you fat, but losing your stomach (or most of it) can help get you thinner!' The sleeve is not magic, nor is it going to do all the work. The main thing I am hoping is that it gives me a second chance.

That is such a subjective question--there are lots of different scales. It just depends on what you think is important. Do you want one that tells you the BMI too, measures in pounds and ounces, or is Bluetooth capable to work with a FitBit or weight tracking program?

Have you explored options for placing her parents in a care facility nearby? Most families take in their parents due to lack of finances but there are other options--Medicaid assistance is one, group homes are another. We would all love to care for our parents the way they cared for us but when it starts to affect our health, may need to look for other options.

I'll be asking for propofol & skip the Versed! At least with a small dose of that, you sleep for a few minutes...LOL

Most policies allow for 30 days to make a 'non-urgent' pre-determination. But you can call customer service any time & they should be able to tell you if & when it was logged into the system. Would at least make you feel proactive!

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.

I love Isopure Icy Orange with Crystal Light & frozen like a granita! I plan on using that my first week post-op of clear liquids-- unless my taste changes...

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...

Just me, but I have spent enough time & money at McDonald's ( with 2 kids) to think I have earned a lifetime pass to use their bathrooms. LOL, BUT because I consider my association with food unhealthy, will be avoiding it like an alcoholic should be avoiding a bar!

I got my date--August 28 & have already been on the pre-op diet a couple of weeks. I supervise a team of nurses that work all around the state & plan on telling them Monday. I told the 2 people that work with me in the office today, along with the 4 people that share the cube rows with them. No negativity, I just said the decision is right for me. Got a lot of great encouragement & a couple of comments about how "brave" it was for me to be so open about it--but quickly added that they know I don't give a darn what anybody else thinks. They know me well....

My doctor is Dr. Nick Nicholson & will be doing it at Forest Park , Dallas

I got my date today! August 28th! This will work as I have a convention in Orlando 4 weeks & a day after that date that I can not miss. I have been on the pre-op diet since I saw the surgeon & feel great!

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!

Not entirely true--we were taught in nursing school (by a gastroenterologist) that "floaters" are a result of stetorrhea which is the malabsorption of fats. You want sinkers! http://www.localhealth.com/article/steatorrhea

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!