ArcusX

Greetings Sleevers! Well, I don't know if my former employer ever made any changes as a result of my letter. I left the company in July of 2013 and took a job with another company, that as it happens, DID cover bariatric surgery. In May, 2014 I had the RNY bypass surgery. My surgeon changed me from sleeve to bypass due to my GERD; according to him, sleeve makes GERD worse, which was contrary to everything I had read previous. Today, I'm sitting at about 178 pounds, from my high of 290. My lowest was probably about 169. It was expensive having to buy new clothes all the time - especially for work. My sleep apnea went away within about 2 weeks of surgery. When i was done with the GERD meds i had to take post-op for 90 days, it was gone too. My A1C is now normal, as are all my other bloodwork. I'm feeling great and have no regrets. Best

Sweet: how far out, post op are you? I was looking into those. I had found a site that reviewed several DVD's, including T25. I left a comment leaving my personal circumstance (then, 5 weeks post op), and he recommended just continuing to walk, maybe a few push ups here and there, then in the Fall, Power90 is supposed to come out. http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90-workout.do I think the guy knows more about me that I do, because I tried exert myself a couple of times this week and just don't have the energy...

Do you think it was something you did or ate differently that triggered your energy to come back, or do you think maybe the after effects of anesthesia just finally wore off?

I'm 6 weeks post op as of today. I had my 1mo follow up this week, and I was told that it's usually 6-8 weeks before I'll have the kind of energy I need to work out the way I want to. I tried running on Monday and it just flat pooped me out after about 2-3 minutes. Thursday, I did a little work trimming bushes in the back yard... same thing... pooped me out! I'm sure there's more I can do with my diet; making sure I'm getting more Protein and Water. It's much harder that I thought it would be to hit those protein and water goals....

I"m 6 weeks post op as of today, and my BM's have been the least consistent thing in my life. Mostly, I've had diarrhea if not just really loose. This week's been quiet, and of course yesterday was constipation. I bought stool softeners before surgery, but just haven't needed it. Now I'm not sure what to do...

I'm finding it's just easier, generally, to keep eating the "full liquids." Lite/Greek Yogurt, Cottage cheese, etc, than some of the soft meats. Nothing's come up, but I generally feel it's easier to eat and stay comfortable, whereas eggs and other soft meats just take a lot more work to get down and even then, I'm uncomfortable; mostly because I want to "wash it down" with some Water after I'm done. So my question is, is this something I have to push through to be able to progress, or will that just come with time, and comfort is fine for now? Appreciate your thoughts...

So I'm supposed to be eating all three meals as pureed foods. Monday night I blended up a can of costco chicken with some of the Water it was packed in, with a little mayo. The taste isn't bad, but what a chore it turned out to be! Has anyone been successful eating baby food during this phase? It's the same thing, right? I didn't try any when my kids were the age to eat this stuff. I appreciate your thoughts and ideas.

I was originally supposed to have the sleeve, but last minute, doc advised to go bypass because of my history of reflux. I'm glad I dodged that bullet.

That's not too many carbs? A couple of times in the past few days I got Immunizer™ from juice It Up: Apple, cucumber, spinach, celery, kale, lemon. Then, not wanting to spend $6 a pop, I picked up the ingredients to do Mean Green: cucumber, celery, apple, kale, lemon and ginger.

My surgery was Monday, 19-May and came home Wednesday. I think today or yesterday was the first day sans-Gas-X, so that's good. My first BM was Friday, but I haven't had even a semi-solid one since maybe the Thursday before the surgery. I'm still taking the pain meds, but feel I'm needing them less. My biggest issue is on my left side. Of my 7 incisions, that one is the biggest with four staples. I can't even lay on my left side yet, and if I have pain, 99% that's the origin, then radiating from there. Saturday, I felt okay and proceeded to build two Cornhole boards all the way up to priming them. I fully intended to paint Sunday, but as it turned out, I didn't feel like doing ANYTHING Sunday. Yesterday, I started out that way too, but basically forced myself to get up and do stuff. I think it had to do with my Breakfast both days; Cream of Wheat. My doc has me on "Full Liquids" from the day I got home, which includes CoW. I picked some up on Saturday, and ate it on both Sunday and Monday. Today, I just did a shake, and figured if it's going to make we want to sleep, I'll just have it for dinner instead! I'm sleeping pretty well overall. A couple of days I slept all propped up like in the hospital, but ultimately found that sleeping regular (on my RIGHT side) was more restful. I picked up some low-sugar Greek yogurts yesterday, and that's helped expand my diet nicely. So far, so good!

I did not. I just had my surgery 8 days ago. I ordered the Celebrate about 2 weeks prior, and tried one, and it wasn't bad. My pre-op instructions said no supplements, and post-op, I'm supposed to wait 2 week more, so I haven't really had them on a daily basis yet. I was wondering about these. Did you try the chewable or "gummy" type?

The catheter didn't come out until this morning. Now that I'm home, I've noticed that my scrotum is swollen. Anyone else experience that? I guess i need to sit with a bag of peas?

I'm not supposed to take any supplements. I'm supposed to be on shakes for Breakfast & lunch, plus 4-6 oz lean mean & leafy greens for dinner. I just feel totally drained... absolutely no energy. Is there anything I can do, or do I just ride it out?

Allow myself... to introduce myself I've been a long time participant in the Sleeve forums. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, 19-May. Today I had my final pre-op appointment, and while the doc was reviewing my chart, he saw something he hadn't caught before. Polyps from my EGD, coupled with GERD, he started thinking bypass. A call to the other doc who did my EGD, and it was set. Just like that. So I've been studying and researching sleeve since I started this, and while I was somewhat familiar with RNY, I never put any time into it. Now I'm in crash-course mode!!! Any tips would be appreciated! Best, John

Prior to getting approval for surgery, my wife signed us up for a 5K Color Run, which is tomorrow. Also, for Mother's day, we typically "celebrate" with a family lunch with the in-laws, which turns out is going to be buffet about 3 hours before the 5K. Being that surgery is 5/19, I'm on my pre-op diet. What's a guy to do? Should I go to the buffet since I'll need fuel for the 5K anyway, or should I skip the buffet so as not to sit and watch everyone else eat, then just get through the 5K while adhering to the diet? BTW: the diet from my doctor is Breakfast: shake, Lunch: Shake, Dinner: 4-6 oz lean meat + leafy greens, no Snacks, lots of Water. Thoughts?

I did a poll a long time ago asking about the best tasting, and Celebrate came out on top. I had the first one on Thursday... not bad at all.

It had to do with the anti-bacterial soap, plus all of the antibiotics that are part of the preop and surgery. To replenish some good bacteria.

I had my pre-op class the other day, and they recommend I take a probiotic for two weeks after the surgery. Any recommendations?

Miso soup - you get protein too!

Anybody try caffeinated soap? http://www.amazon.com/Bath-Buzz-Caffeinated-Soap/dp/B000H0ESTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399153467&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine+soap

HI All - While I'm sure the basic answer goes without saying - plan ahead and stick with your restrictions - from a practical stand-point (if you are a camper) would you have camped about two-months+ post-op? Car / Tent camping, that is... no RV, no backpacking, etc. The only real hard part is setting up and breaking down, since my 8 & 10 year old boys are virtually useless in this area... I'm thinking the rest would be pretty enjoyable. Appreciate your thoughts!

If you think it's bad now, wait until the first two days' AFTER you have the surgery. I got my approval last week, and surprisingly, I'm not that excited. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I'm questioning the decision, but my plan is to stay focused on the underlying reasons why I decided I want to do this in the first place. When I focus on not having sleep apnea and being able to keep up with my boys, I know it's the only way those things are going to happen. If there were another way, I would have gotten there by now. Best

I just got my approval yesterday and we're eyeballing May 19.

Hello again, fellow sleevers. I've been on and off this site since October, 2012. My story is long, and it's available in my blog link, so I won't bore anyone with it again. The latest highlights are that the job I started last July actually covers bariatric surgery. I was submitted in December with my past data, but was denied because the new insurance required 6 months with NUT, as opposed to the 3 months my previous insurer required. 6 consecutive months. After completing an additional three months, January through March, the office got around to resubmitting me around 4/10. I had actually lost so much faith in the front office staff, I continued making my NUT appointments, and actually had my 4th visit with her on Thursday, 4/17. Yesterday, 4/18, I got the call that I have actually been approved. I would have expected to be a little more excited, but I'm not really. I don't know if it's because I've been relatively successful in the dieting since January, or if I'm waiting to have the rug yanked out from under me again, or if it's just nerves. I don't feel like I'm going to back out of it or anything... just not excited. So I'm back. I know I need to brush up on all the knowledge I gained here in the past and have probably just plain forgotten. So my tentative surgery date is 5/19. Here I go!!!

Man, do I feel sorry for you. I couldn't get through 1 pages without getting bored to tears. I highly recommend Head First PMP. MUCH more digestible. http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-PMP-Jennifer-Greene/dp/1449364918/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1388950180&sr=8-1 My class is based on 5th ed PMBOK. After class I will be concentrating on PMBOK and 8th ed Rita Mulcahy Exam Prep. I rate PMBOK up there with some of my insomnia cure reading for other classes including con law and admin law. Can't want to read something fun. Hopefully by end of March if not sooner. Just have to pass my PMP exam. The Head First book covers PMBOK material in a format that's actually readable. It helped me pass my PMP for sure. If I decide to recertify, I will start here. Oh, not a book but PM Prepcast by Cornelius Fitchner was really helpful too. More worth the money than the prep class I took through University of Riverside: https://www.project-management-prepcast.com/?mobile=0