cathycnyrs

Stephanie - we share the date! Best wishes!

I am with Kaiser and mine seems to be different than everyone elses. I went to the PCP, she did a check up, asked a bunch of questions, did an EKG, Chest X-Ray and blood work. That was it. My surgeons nurse coordinator called me last week to give me the rest of my appointments, she set them up. Glad our vacation before the surgery fell through she has an appointment that week... the appt is with the anesthesiologist 6 days before surgery. She also gave me all the pre-op instructions over the phone and told me she would be mailing me a copy with everything she told me. I had an appt the same day at a Hospital for the Pulmonary function tests, and went yesterday for an appt with the Pulmonologist. It sounds like every doctor and every insurance does something different.

I hope so, cause I'm the same way. Look at skinny folks, there veins pop out. I think the fat covers my veins up.

My NUT and DR said I could go to the gym as soon as I felt ready, and just take it easy. They both said, Treadmill, Bike and Elliptical were fine. My NUT said I could get in the pool, but not the jacuzzi. Would love to hear from people that hit the gym early and at an easy pace and how many minutes they could do on a Treadmill or Bike. I figured I'd go and try for 10 min the first trip and then get in the pool (treading water, not swimming).... would love input also.

An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to determine how well your lungs are working.

I had just had to have blood drawn at another doctors appt and they couldn't find the vein, found one and lost it, got a second nurse in there who finally went on the top of my forearm. I was poked like 7 times, and was starving and thought I was going to pass out. I headed from there to the next appt and thought I was only getting air flow tests... and when she mentioned the ABG, I was like you are kidding right? She told me if I remained calm it would be a breeze, but if I tensed up it might hurt. She kept saying remain calm, while I looked to the left and it wasn't bad for me. It wasn't as bad as being a pincushion at that other appt.

My surgeon told me that most of the time they did not know why they happened, if they did they would have figured out how to get the 1% leak down to 0%. He also told me that the largest percentage happen between days 7 and 10. He also said in his experience that most leaks happen up high near the esophagus.

I had no problem with the ABG, no burning. I had to go in a chamber and do a series of breathing tests, I was out of there in under 30 minutes from the time I walked in the door. Had my pulmonary appt today and all was fine.

I take Flintstones, love them... I burp up regular vitamins. I also take biotin and my hair is thicker and my nails are thicker. I am pre-surgery and even if I still lose hair, I'm going to keep taking the biotin... I see a difference now, I'll see it then... I hope.

Thanks for this post. I'm having mine October 4th!

Bless you! Loved the comment, rather have someone work on my stomach instead of my heart. That is what I'll say to anyone who has a negative comment about this surgery!

I am the same as you losing 85 twice over the last 10 years, never making it to goal, however faithfully following a diet until I ended up straying. Over and over again since I was 12 years old. A couple of years ago I decided I didn't have the heart to do it again, to make the effort and get bigger when I gained it back. Bottom line is less than 1% (think this is what my paperwork from the endocrinologist said) ever lose the weight, make it to goal and keep it off. I've felt for years that I have dieted myself fat, and I would get the control and do it again saying this time is different... no going back. It is totally self-defeating. I had one girl at work trying to sell the body wraps, and another selling Vitamins. The one selling the wraps works really close to where I do, that we can talk and she even started being pesty... at some point she said "Don't you want to be thin, and lose the weight"? I remember responding that "I don't care anymore, that my whole life has been about focusing on my weight and what I put in my mouth, but those dang body wraps ain't going to do a thing for me." My NUT called me a professional dieter... yep, that's me! I know (or think I do) about diet and excercise! I have tried everything (except those dang wraps). I have flipped my opinions through the years, and part of me always believed that Dr. Atkins was the way to go. That reformed diabetics who swore off sugar, had the best success rates. I am talking about in my world and people I have known through the years that lost weight and kept it off. Those fanatical about avoiding sugar were the most successful, of course I am stating in my opinion and observations. You are right, so many people do not get it and they never will.

I can make grade limeades and lemonages... get crushed ice and fill a glass with it, squeeze lemons or limes (about 1/2 a lemon or a lime) and add 2 splenda and stir! Awesome!

At work a bunch of the overweight women are starting a "weigh in" once a week, and everyone pays to weigh and whoever loses the most gets the pot. I was approached on Thursday about joining, and it was someone I felt comfortable telling... and basically said you know it wouldn't be fair for me to be part of the weigh ins, plus I'm fixing to be out. I also just turned in my leave and was worried about getting questioned from management or problems... so, I have "FMLA" papers in process. I am taking a full 5 weeks, I have the sick time and also I have to dead lift 70 lbs at work. I am a mail carrier, and we lift a lot! I came back in from my route on Friday afternoon and was confronted by the Postmaster. She asked me if I was going to participate in the weigh ins. I said NO, and was going to leave it at that. Then she looked at me and said, "You chicken"? I said, "NO... I wouldn't feel right about kicking all your tales and taking all of your money". She was... "WHAT?"" I then spilled it, "I'm having weight loss surgery". She grabbed my arm and told me "she was so proud of me and for me, that she had thought about it for years but didn't have the courage to do it." She wanted specifics, and had a million questions. I decided then and there that maybe I can help others... The hardest person to tell was my mother, but I've dealt with it. Wouldn't feel right leaving her out. My husbands family has been mean to me about my weight, and I told him he better not tell any of them... I don't care if they think I'm on crack, or if I have cancer.... don't tell them anything. They have never supported me and aren't on my support team. I also work with a guy that just had the RNY in June and everyone is supporting him. Hope it is the same for me!

I think that's awful too, can't believe they could do it...

They sell Rogaine over the counter now, and it helped me thicken my hair back up after my last weight loss.

My picture is from 2 years ago, and I was probably 20 lbs lighter - on the upswing after a 80 lb loss 1 1/2 before. I have avoided the camera since. My husband and I took a plane ride a couple of months back on vacation and the pilot took a picture of us in front of the plane... full body and it is HORRIBLE and hard to get a facial shot from. It is probably my before picture although I would like another one taken right before surgery, however I have lost 15 lbs, and hope to lose more before surgery... The worse thing about the picture that will most probably be my before picture is I am standing beside my very skinny (VERY) husband. I am wearing ORANGE! It make me physically sick to look at that picture. Hopefully when I'm thinner it will be inspiring, but I'm not sure... it really makes me nauseaus!

They make unflavored Protein that you can mix with anything, is it the unjury? Someone help me out here. My NUT said mix it in Soup, Water, whatever. I don't plan on buying any because I found a shake I like. The others have already pointed out that the shakes are temporary. Usually 2 weeks before and a few weeks after, until you are getting the protein from food. My NUT stresses to get rid of the shakes. I also work in the heat and drink water like crazy. My NUT assured me I would be fine. It works itself out. I used to drink 32 oz during a 1 hour workout and know that probably won't happen, so I've been trying to sip and workout without drinking so much - playing around with it. I think sometimes I drank more than I needed.

Looking awesome!

You are stunning! Proud for you!

My NUT said to keep lemon juice on hand and if I feel that something feels stuck to drink the lemon juice. She also said not a bad idea to drink a couple of capfuls a week. I think it is a bigger problem with the RNY. I was just googling and found it isn't a good idea with the sleeve because of swallowing air...

October 16, 3 pm (wish it was earlier in the day) Dr. Lytle, Atlanta, GA

I started the surgery process right before our beach trip in June. The whole trip I kept saying next year I'm going to do this, next year I'm going to do that... and next year I won't have such a hard time with these stairs. I want to kayak, horseback ride, and climb every lighthouse in a 200 mile radius.

I quit caffiene about 6 weeks and I kept some around (like a bottle of diet coke), so when the headache hit I would take a swig and tylenol. Like an alcoholic needing "hair of the dog". It took about a week. I swapped over to caffiene free diet coke and kept cutting back and finally quit the carbonated beverages 8 days ago... I think it would have been easier giving up "crack" or something like it, I had this need for it. I quit smoking 5 1/2 years ago and I think giving up the carbonated beverages was harder for me. I was drinking probably 6 - 8 Diet Cokes a day. I feel like my appetite has lessened, just a tad... not enough to call off surgery, but enough to leave food on a plate.

I'm still pre-op, and I love Chobani yogurt! I took the pear flavor to work the other day and could not eat it... it was horrible to me! It is the first one I did NOT like. With that being said you didn't miss much. I've read some people on here say that they mixed the plain yogurt with polaner all fruit, and that is something I want to try. I love Jello sugar free pudding, so I know I'll have lots of that around when it is time.