Sphinx

Since I wrote that first post I decided to go through The Highland center, per my primary's recommendation. So far I have had the initial seminar, the nutritional seminar and the first 1:1 with the nutritionist. Aetna requires 2 more. I also had my initial visit with the NP. She asked me to also consider the sleeve, or to at least research it. Not sure that's for me though. So far I'm very happy with them. Aetna does say they cover the surgery. So things are coming along!

Did you have surgery done? Driver down to New Brunswick, NJ dr. MEDTHA is awesome

Hey

Nope, haven't had my surgery yet! Turns out though, that I am an inch shorter than I thought which brings my BMI to 40 so insurance should pay. Luckily they don't require the 5% weight loss, but obviously still need to do the nutrition stuff......So far I have been to my initial seminar, my first group nutrition class, my initial history and physical and my therapist eval. So far so good! I just have to do 1:1 sessions with nutritionist (2 of them) and get an approval letter from my rheumatologist,. and I also have an eval at the sleep center, to see if I have sleep Apnea, but if my BMI stays at 40# it won't matter.

But thanks for the advice!

Hey there my friend said she is still 2x on top and just her waist line. everywhere else she is swimming in het clothes after 80+ lbs weight loss. So she's not ready to get rid of them yet. So sorry, but when she starts I will definately let you know...hopefully you will no longer be 2x by then. O:-)

Oh that's ok Let me know if and when she decides she wants to part with them. As you said, hopefully by then I won't need them either! But ya never know......still have a couple nutrition appointments to go so surgery's a bit off, and if I lose more than a few pounds I may no longer qualify through my insurance plan

Thank you for checking though!

Ok. Sweet.

Oh boy, sorry I didn't have a chance to look before, been crazy busy. Well as it turns out that in my years of yoyo dieting I apparently skipped over size 16 jeans. I have a bunch of 14s (which is weird cuz I don't wear jeans much) and a couple size 18. I'm sorry!

If you are still looking to unload the 2x stuff you have, I'd be willing to pay shipping or whatever, so let me know!

Ok. Sweet.

Great, I should have a chance to look later! If you can let me know about your 2x clothes you no longer wear that'd be great too!

Ok. Sweet.

Great, I should have a chance to look later! If you can let me know about your 2x clothes you no longer wear that'd be great too!

I have some 2x clothing that i need to get rid of. Im looking for a size 16 in jeans

Oh that would be great! I might even have some size 16 jeans even......I'm not a big fan of jeans, yet somehow I have several pairs in many sizes! I'll check in the next day. Or two and let u know..

I just emailed your request to my best friend. She is no longer in 2x. I don't think that she has gotten rid of them yet.

Oh my, thank you! Despite my eBay finds, they are not enough, as many are short sleeved and a few r for fancier occasions.

Thank you! I feel better now. Of course I trust my surgeon and he said it is ok too. I hope your surgery goes well!

Great ideas (esp the chocolate haha). Yesterday I had half an english muffin with Peanut Butter and followed with a small apple and that did the trick.

I believe avoiding salty foods with be what I do. Seems I've gotten less tolerant of salty foods as I've gotten older, so there ya go!

No, I don't have a date yet. I've had the seminar, my first nutritional seminar and my history/physical with the PA. I have a 1:1 nutritional consult in one month and another one month after that. Oh I also have my psych screening next week. Other than that I just have to have my rheumatologist send in clearance. I am also getting eval for a sleep study in a couple weeks, although it's not required. But they say it will help if I end up losing weight and go below BMI of 40. So a couple months and I should be good to go

I have not had surgery yet, but the surgeon clearly said in the seminar I stayed after with many questions) that it was ok to get the band not only with RA but also being on immune suppressing sorts of drugs. It scare me a bit reading stuff saying it is a contraindication, but it helps to know there are other who have been banded with no problem

The PA went through all my meds (and I'm a lot, because I have not just RA, but fibro, interstitial cystitis, and bipolar disorder) and none were a problem. She even told me I could continue to take celebrex, which surprised me, I thought all those sorts of meds were a no-no. I forgot to ask about prednisone though, but I very rarely take it....only when my med starts to fail and I need something short term so I can function. But if I was told I couldn't take it, I'd deal!

Wow, I am so glad I found this topic. I'd posted in another forum about a question I had after seeing the PA for my admission history, and mentioned I had RA and a poser responded that autoimmune diseases were a contraindication to the band. Needless to say I was freaked, although I specifically asked the surgeon at my seminar about it and the PA knew I have RA and also did not tell me I could not get a band. However a google search turned up references saying that autoimmune diseases are indeed a contraindication. So seeing other who have autoimmune diseases who have had the band makes me feel loads better.

As for meds, I recently stopped my third TNF-inhibitor (they'll work for a while then poof, they stop working). I started Orencia infusion yesterday and everything they said/gave me said just no infusion 2 weeks before or after surgery, and its a monthly infusion so timing seems to be key. Not sure about methotrexate, but he's told me in the past to keep taking even if I get sick, unless it's really severe. Something about the half life. I had foot surgery a couple years ago and believe I may have skipped that weeks' dose just to be safe.

I've never actually heard about RA being a contraindication until you posted that. I know I've read on here about at least one person who had a band even though they have lupus. When I went to my seminar I specifically asked and was not told I couldn't have it. The PA I saw was aware I have RA as well. (Of course that could be why she made sure to tell me to research the sleeve. I also have to get clearance from my rheumatologist, which I haven't even talked to him about yet.

I did do a google search for contraindications, and they do say autoimmune connective tissue disease, but I wonder if thats a CYA disclaimer?

The idea of the sleeve just makes me nervous, there's no going back or changing my mind once I get it. That freaks me out a little!

I guess I'll be calling and asking about this sooner rather than later.

Thanks for your help, and I'm sorry you're having problems! I hope its possible to sort it all out

Hi, yes I have actually gotten a few things there. It's hit or miss though whether or not they have styles I feel comfortable wearing. Dots can be ok too, but Junior Plus sizes don't always fit my hips well. IT's my 'baby-birthin' hips!

So if u eat something like Peanut Butter, or something spicy, you can't have even a tiny sip to clear your mouth? What do other people do if they eat food like that?

Just saw this thread, glad somebody brought it up and hope people continue to check it out. I have fibro too, as well as RA and a handful of other crap (interstitial cystitis, bipolar, gerd, ibs). As for exercise I'd recommend to anyone with fibro to get a referral to a physical therapist. That's how I started, and it helped me slowly get into exercise. My PT has a "bridging program" that allows you continue to use their gym (doing all the exercises they started me on) for a low monthly fee with no contract. There's always PTs and PTAs around for help. The cardio stuff (bike, Nu-Step) actually help the fibro and fatigue. It's just a matter of getting started.. And if I let too much time go by its hard to go again.

I too work (part time) and spend most of my off time "recovering" so exercise is hard. Once I'm there I'm ok.

Someone mention Provigil, my psychiatrist prescribes it for me. Mostly for severe fatigue caused by whatever number of problems I have. It's better than caffeine, and doesn't keep u awake at night. It's helped the fibro fog SO much.

I haven't had surgery yet, and one of my biggest worries is not being able to exercise for a little bit after surgery, cuz like I said, it's hard to go back!

At my appointment this morning the PA suggested I research the sleeve gastrectomy. She really just said that the weight loss is greater than the band, faster, and no foreign bodies/need for frequent visits (fills). The thought of having such a large part of my stomach literally cut out makes me nervous, but as someone with RA on meds that lower my immunity, I have to wonder if it would be better NOT to have a foreign body. Does anyone having any thoughts on pros and cons of the two (generally, I know it's different for everybody).

Try Goodwill or Salvation Army or any other thrifts stores you may have in your area. I have found some great deals on clothes, some brand new still with tags. I haven't paid more than $4 for any piece. I'm lucky I have quite a few shops in my area and I love to shop so I do the circuit of shops every couple of weeks or so. It is hit or miss, some times I find a lot, and sometimes I don't get anything.

The Goodwill nearest me has very little plus sizes and I'm not sure where there's a Salvation Army. However, my son told me about Savers and I went there. They had a ton of plus sizes! I got a couple tops there and I'd definitely go back. I wish we had a plus size consignment store around. We have a Clothes Mentor but have barely a rack of plus sizes :/

I did end up getting stuff on e-bay. I got 2 scrub tops for work (but need pants to match one of them, haha), and 2 lots of tops. But with the lots, there's always going to be something you don't like or doesn't fit. I was lucky in that it all fit. There's a couple tops that aren't "me" but I'll either ask my mom if she wants them or bring them to work for our clothing closet. Of course, I didn't think I'd win all of what I did, so I ended up spending more than I intended, lol! I still need pants. Pants have always been my nemesis so that's always an issue!

I did find nice scrub pants that fit but they are more expensive I can't afford more than one at a time!

Thank to everyone for the great ideas! I'll keep them all in mind. A good deal of what I got on ebay is short sleeve....I can wear them now, and some will look good with a long sleeve top underneath. So I'll still be looking for more cold weather clothing.

Try Ross, they always have tops for like 8.99. I wish I could help, but my 2x clothes are what I am wearing now (fall/winter), I have lots of spring/summer stuff that I wont need. Having my surgery next week, and its just getting cool here, so I still need my 2x stuff. Good luck.

They don't have Ross in my area, unfortunately! Although I never thought to check online, maybe I'll try that....most places have online stores too, so I'll take a look.

Try Cato of u have one close by. The clothes there are pretty reasonable. I bought a a few sleeveless shirts off clearance for $3 and a black sweater to put over them. I love Cato.

I've never even heard of Cato, so I guess that's out Unless they are online?

I'm guessing you didn't find anything? That's ok, I appreciate the thought! I bought a top on sale last week at Avenue and it cost $29. That's too much considering I'm hoping to soon NOT be in that size, lol! But it was on sale and I was desperate. Today I got a top on sale for $20. I'm not trying to be cheap but boy, oh boy!

I'm back looking on ebay at the clothes lots. Before, if the lot had several items and only a few I liked I'd think oh why spend the money. But I'm trying to add it all up, cuz if I come out ahead it's ok, and can always give away items that's aren't "me"! Now the challenge is to find my size.....seems they're all either xl or 3x. Typical!

I've not had my surgery yet, but have had other surgeries and am also a nurse. You should never put any kind of cream directly on an incision until it is healed. The itching you are feeling is most likely the result of healing. When the area under the incision starts to heal it forms scar which can be intensely itchy. Not much helps. If after you are healed it bothers you try breaking open a Vitamin e capsule and rubbing it on, or get a tiny tube of aquaphore.

Now if it is the skin surrounding the incision that itches, like where the adhesive from the steri strips or other tape is, you may have a mild sensitivity to the adhesive. Scrubbing adhesve off skin doesn't do much, but you can put a couple drops of baby oil or mineral oil on a cotton ball and rub to remove excess adhesive, gently wash off with a mild soap, pat dry and if you need to, then apply either some sort of hydrocortisone cream or benedryl cream, keeping off the actual incision.

If you find you are scratching and can't stop try a tiny bit of oral benedryl in a pinch.

Hello, I have a few months to go still before completing the pre-surgical program and desperately need clothing. I've yoyo'd so much I have stuff in many sizes, but right now I'm in a 2x and last time I lost weight I had very wishful thinking and got rid of all but a few pieces, and now that fall is here find I have very little (I had plenty of warm weather things, plus they are cheap to buy). I like casual clothing, tops either 3/4 or long sleeves and prefer knit elastic waist pants (or the kind that fold over on top) (I cannot tolerate button up pants for relaxing). I never have need to dress up, so don't need anything dressy. I wear scrubs at work.

I just want to get through the colder weather without breaking the bank. I keep checking clothing on ebay but can't find anything quite right. I am willing to pay you so if you have grown out of your clothing, here's a chance to make room in your closet for newer, smaller clothing!