PatrickG

I talked with a surgeon yesterday. I am having my gall bladder removed on March 27.

The ultrasound this morning showed that I do have gall stones, but the technician said there was no "emergent condition". I am wating for the doctor to review the ultrasound and blood tests. I have not had any acute pain until this week but I have had a dull back ache off and on for years. I just assumed it was regular back pain but it could have been my gall bladder.

Both times were after my afternoon snack. The first time it was yougurt and tea. The second time it was coffee and Cookies. My insides were probably irritated from the chilli I had for lunch both days and the cocktails I had the weekend before. The pain did start in the upper right abdomin but was a dull ache. The intense pain was in my back just below my shoulder blades. I had blood tests today and my liver enzymes were elevated. I am going for an ultrasound Saturday morning. I tried getting an appointment with the gastro specialist but the earliest appointment was not until April 30! I really have to thank my primary care physician for stepping up and ordering the tests and ultrasound after I called this morning.

For the second time this week I had sever pain in my back just below my shoulder blades on both sides. The pain was intense at first but faded after an hour. Both times I had eaten something within the last 1/2 hour. The first time I burped and the pain decreased immediately. The second time I took gas-x thinking it was gas again. It did not help. I told my boss I was headed to urgent care. He offered to drive me, but I drove myself. By the time I got checked in and saw the doctor the pain was mostly gone. I am going to see a gastroenterologist ASAP.

My wife got the band and I got the VSG. She has a lot more trouble eating solid meat than I do. In fact she avoids it most of the time. We have both lost approximately the same % of excess weight.

Girl Scout cookies.

Girl Scout cookies. Need I say more.

I wish my 13 year old son could get it done. I am sure insurance will not cover it at his age.

Right after surgery my LDL levels dropped to normal range. Now at a year past surgery my LDL levels have come back to just above normal. It is most likely hereditary causes. I am back on simvastatin at a lower dose than pre-surgery. Good news is that my HDL and triglycerides remain in the normal range and I am no longer type 2 diabetic.

Present

It wasn't even a compliment that prompted the original posting. It was a smile from a woman I passed every day while walking on my lunch break. I have since got over it. As my wife said when I first mentioned it "OMG, now you think you're hot and she is probably just being nice."

Hey! I resemble that remark!

I have not checked my posts in a while. Didn't realize this thread was still alive. On a side note, my wife got me a new wedding band for Christmas since the old one was getting loose. She was totally understanding about the whole thing when I mentioned it, but she does not want any misunderstandings either .

I am happy to say that I have kicked the sugar monkey off my back for a week now. As for caffeine I get that from iced tea. Before I started the sublingual B12 and the walks at lunch, the caffeine was not enough. Now it is.

I certainly have not kicked the caffeine habit. I drink two quarts (64 oz) of iced tea per day. Falling back on Mt Dew to get the extra sugar kick. The extra energy might just be from the walking. However I switched from B12 in a pill form to one that dissolves in your mouth. Since our stomachs have been reduced we can't absorb as much B12 in the stomach and need to absorb as much as possible in the mouth.