swimbikerun

I can understand your dilemna. It breaks my heart to hear that people can't get the care they need because something isn't covered by insurance, that the insurance benefits from if they do the procedure. Please take care of yourself and let us know how things go. Please do everything possible (I'm sure you will) to be safe and healthy.

I want to sincerely apologize. I wasn't knocking what you did and if that is how it came across, I apologize. I have been burned (and apparently so have a few others) on doctors who based pretty much everything on the "art" and no science. Trying to get them to justify their science, led me to investigating it, and then finding there were other things they missed that were in the medical research literature. So I've gotten to where you have that, that has been a problem and proved harmful to me, and then Dr. Oz and all the other guys, I've swung to where I want to see the data behind someones' magic. Tired of being burned.

She is already home? I was 3 days in: op on Thursday out on Saturday.

Excellent post Cowgirl ... I do have some questions (NERD ALERT ... ) Do you know where he got the 80 from? I've seen another doc in the area who is 80-100 and I'm going where is the research? I don't want to tell people wrong. I try to keep most everything I say to research unless I have a caveat and I'll tell people that. We get so hoodwinked by media, some not so up to snuff docs, that I want to be on top of my game. No one wants to be sold a bill of goods that don't add up (I've certainly seen that one first hand). With 3 sources of calories, where would we put veggies and fruit in that? Fruit would be in carbs but as we find out, different levels of good carbs and bad carbs. Thank you for the post. I really appreciate this. Exchange of ideas is important.

Why not purchase or ask different companies to try and then go from there? I think in 2.5 years, I've only seen a couple of people who've gotten rid of Protein. If you are having problems, what about Beans, chick peas, and how are you doing in terms of chicken, turkey, fish, red meat, etc.? Trying to hash all this out online when it sounds like you need more immediate help? Your post doesn't say, so that's why I am asking.

Was that all the time or farther out? I have needed it farther out and the surgeon indicated it was someone elses' problem to deal with and I wasn't making a hard enough effort "discipline". He didn't take into account gastroparesis, reflux, IBS and food intolerances ...

Does any one know where they would find it goes by height for Protein? I'd like to look at the resources. I've not seen them and am always adding to knowledge. As for kidneys, the only time I've heard of it being hard on the kidneys is for people who are dehydrated (and that isn't on a one time basis type of thing) and those who have kidney disease already. That's again going by research. If B12 levels are high - as in 2000 is what I've heard, meaning the level is probably more like 1500, one of the reasons for that is leukemia. I can check that.

Upper GI - had several, no sweat. They knock you out. EKG - anything metal with a wire attached to a females' chest is WRONG ('nuf said) Colonoscopy - the prep is worse than the camera itself. I had an EGD at the same time as my colonoscopy. I asked them are you going to put it down my throat first, I hope? Trust me no sweat, but you have to understand I've been checked a LOT. Had a spine MRI done, with and without contrast. 20 min for one and 30 for the other. No drugs, went in cold. On to the next activity. Its the RESULTS you want to sweat over ROFL.

Welcome! Howdy from Hampton Roads.

I dont care what your tool is - CONGRATULATIONS for rocking it!!!

I'm so glad!!! Let us know how things are doing.

I agree with you that it should not be a winner/loser type of thing. However, I've seen that happen and I think people need to understand what mindset their doctors come from. Its going to be getting you in for surgery. You haven't been far enough out yet. Its only 7 months for you. Wait until you hit the 2 year mark. Or even the 1 year. Its not a secret that there is not a lot of support for many in terms of that support like what you are talking about. Go to long term support groups and that's what you hear about. To be successful, the ones I know aren't in any specific program, they're more attached to the long term type of groups that are more online and the like. Either that or they get revisions. I'm also saying what I said because the surgeon, he stated that my anatomy is normal and there is nothing special about it. I can be treated just like any other patient. If that is true, that would be true for all sleeves. He goes against the ASMBS in that sense. One of the reasons why I say investigate your doctor. Had I known his outlook was this way, I would have thought differently. Its that far end, long term, look that you are looking at, that many people don't ask about. Its the surgery, its the big event. Its not what happens after when I've gotten regain. How many patients and what protocols do you do then. You don't see that advertised. You are right from terms of the persons' point of view, but the surgeon is not graded by the ASMBS for COE's in terms of how many people and how long people stay in a program. They are graded on # of surgeries done. As for satisfaction, again do you see any intro sessions that talk long term satisfaction? How they deal with complications 2 years out or more? No. Its the surgery. Medical ethics. If you allege a HIPAA violation and get your care dropped, and there are laws against retaliation, would you wonder about medical ethics? I sure would want to know if that situation came up. What about you all?

If you can, get on their online groups. Tend to be better than the in person groups.

Thank you for this - good to review/research.

How can we help?

Its the heavy cream. I cook with it - that will be something else on your stomach.

I'd ask about this. I know there was a controversy about tomato soup because of the carbs in it. If you calculate the carbs in it, it will probably be more than what they want you to get in the beginning.

Ok ... as someone who has friends and myself who like to push each other to our limits (and what we define as limits are definitely NOT in the same realm as others), I don't have but so much right to talk. That being said, we don't do these types of work outs that he is describing all the time. When the month long, national swim challenge happened last year, I pushed it. 2 ER visits and I'm still looking forward to doing it again another year. However! I took it easier after that. Then revved up again. I never swam or anything like that on a consistent basis. Nor does any one I know. They do big things, settle down. I think that is where I have a bit of an issue. No one who really pushes themselves, does it permanently. He doesn't describe tapers or anything else. That is what I find scary. I can easily deal with doing a tough workout but not every time you hit the gym because we're talking almost every day you should be doing something. If that is not people's cup of tea, I have no problem with that. Different strokes, different folks.

I think that is MUCH more smarter than anything else I've seen. I have edema (swollen legs) which is going to show on the scales (and by the indentation of the compression stockings). You can see the collar bones and the top part of the rib/breast bones just beneath that. Notwithstanding the 8 pounds of excess skin I carry. I am "normal" weight and BMI. You don't get low alkaline phosphatase like I have unless you are malnourished. I had everything normal (prealbumin was bottom normal) and then lost 4 pounds in 5 days and my prealbumin dropped 5 points in 2. No other signs that I went cachetic from malnutrition 6 months after my surgery. Everyone is unique. I wish that all docs would keep that in mind.

Hmmm group in NOVA could meet and maybe Richmond and Hampton Roads meet in Williamsburg?

Even you get and keep half the weight off, that is still a success. I'm wondering where her figures are. Most everyone gets some regain but not 86% regaining all the weight. Its a tool and you have to do some work, but I've not seen or heard of that much.

I did walking until I was cleared for swimming. It will help you build and keep muscle, especially upper body. Its not that walking is bad its just that you can get a better overall workout with resistance training in the Water. That and the fact I like to swim. LOL. Btw, if you go to a pool, regular swimmers couldn't care less what size or shape you are. The other people don't matter.

Oregondaisy I wish I had your patience. After the 8 months of Iron pills, (actually at 6 months I had enough), I said this crap isn't working and went to a hematologist. 5 rounds of IV iron and it all of a sudden came up. Ok ... a B12 shot and a B1 shot and then it did. Now, about 8-9 months later, I'm dropping back down again. Hematologist figures within 6 months or at the least 6-12 ... another IV round. At least better than trying to take horse pills that I seem to have issues with. Or any pill that I end up having issues with. I've even had to switch up the thyroid pill ... Vitamin D pills ... since they can prove to be a bother.

This is true - but they also need to check out the surgeon's philosophies and their offices. I've seen problems, not just for me but others also, in terms of aftercare. Once they have that $$$$ surgery out of the way, you're not a lot for them to do unless they can sell you Vitamins, books, etc. Frankly, a once a year appt. is stuff the PCP does. So if they're going to function as PCP's ... that's why I say I am wondering what the background is for it. I was told that my anatomy, in terms of the sleeve, is nothing different and there's no difference between me and any one else, so I can be treated like any one else. Ok ... then why in my case do I keep having docs that have asked where is the surgeon? If that's true for sleeves, then why do the docs need to see you back, in terms of a yearly visit and medical necessity? Does this make sense? Its $$$. Once you are gone after the first year, those people are just $$$ to fill in for money and for the ASMBS COE needs, research. If you have a problem that is related to weight regain that is due to a malfunction physically/mechanically, there isn't a need to go back.

Maybe you do in the criminal world but in the civil world totally different story. For a simple letter that I had to get for homeowner assn. stuff, that was $$$$, and wills and all that, I've always had to pay. I've also been told straight out that when I had to do the legal stuff for an estate, that cost also. Nothing was free. So and I've been told by asking questions about constitutional legalities, etc. everything is a $$$$ fee just to meet and discuss.