swimbikerun

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.

What are you eating and drinking? There is a big culprit.

Aqua aerobics and swimming are two different things. Swimming laps is roughly 7 calories a lap.

Swimming was a favorite with me. Just know that it is a whole body workout. You can lose weight pretty quickly. I did ... too much ... but that was for other reasons also.

I can manage chicken and turkey about all the time. Otherwise, I look for the heavy protein foods that aren't meat.

I would agree with that but what about those who had a problem doctor that no one else knew about BECAUSE others didn't pass it on? I'm finding a number of different issues that people have had with the doctors in the group I was with and no one warned me. They just left or whatever. This is the importance of sharing and of taking a stand for yourself. This is why you rate docs. If you have good items, no problem. Its how they are under the tough circumstances that you want to find out how they are. Mine is technically positive but it was the attitude and everything else, the after care, or the lack thereof, that has caused me no end of problems and people are really wondering why this had to happen. The fact remains is that I said there were issues, the surgeon doesn't seem to have the experience to deal with them, nor did he have the personality too. If you are willing to disobey the law in terms of HIPAA, or if you didn't know about it, you should have, then that should make a difference. The other is, yes, we have too many people who don't investigate too.

Yes I went to malnutrition because of a hurting gallbladder and wasn't going to eat. Its hard to tell because that's variable. I have edema and with the excess skin, its sort of hard to tell when isn't that and/or abdominal swelling.

What do you like doing? Would you be willing to try anything and everything?

Never mind the GI call the surgeon first thing tomorrow morning. Did you go before leaving the hospital? They normally check on this the first week visit.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3505545/ We also emphasize that when dividing the stomach, the same distance should be maintained between the lesser curvature and the entire staple line to avoid twisting of the sleeve, which may result in food regurgitation, vomiting, or GERD. http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-67202013000600017&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=en It has recently been reported that loss of abdominal ligament fixations along the greater curvature of the stomach may result in improper gastric pouch positioning, causing food intolerance and persistent reflux6,22. Cases of gastric volvulus and twisting have been described, with the possibility of more subtle positioning situations occurring and leading to problems13. http://www.cme.umn.edu/prod/groups/med/@pub/@med/@cme/documents/content/med_content_201146.pdf this goes over leak and torsion issues but I saw nothing on torsion Also there is apparently issues that the smaller the stomach, the bigger the chance of twisting, since everything moves around. That might also make sense depending on the bougie size. You can find that out in the op report - or maybe not because I didn't see it in mine. It may also happen when the bougie isn't used and the staple line isn't straight. Are there any photos? Ok and for us crazy people who are into this sort of madness: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1754-9485.2012.02401.x/abstract.

That's part of it and you need to drink. You need to talk to your surgeon. How far out are you? If you aren't eating a lot then you shouldn't be far out. Otherwise, a good GI would be worth their weight in gold.

How far out are you from surgery? Have you spoken to your doc? Yes, that can be a problem. Do you have a GI doctor? Have you been to the urgent care and what have you taken for it? Do you take anything that constipates you?