swimbikerun

You dont have to go to your surgeon after a year. Mine said after 16 months a sleeve has "no further surgical" needs even though they never had me on a regular schedule. You can save yourself the extra $$$ for copays and go to your regular doctor for bloodwork. Note that one of the reasons they want you to come back once a year *may be* for the figures for the ASMBS. I believe they report figures back to there if they are a Center of Excellence. If you did CBC with differential, lipid panel, CMP, and the following vitamins/minerals: B1, B9 (folate), B12, D, full Iron panel, zinc, and if you have eye problems Vitamin A, and if you take Flintstones or any vitamin that doesn't include Vitamin K, get that done. No joke guys, my Vitamin K has been tested twice and NEVER by my former surgeon, and it is so low it never registered. I did Flinstones and then changed to a few generics around until I went to the powders because pills started to become a problem.

Agreed! Tri it! LOL.

Thank YOU for passing that on. When you are used to seeing such a difference between these huge farm building never see the light birds and the pasture where my birds are raised, you really go what is going on here? Both turkeys, both chickens and they do NOT look alike. I mean rabbits are rabbits but the chickens look different, act different and the eggs are QUITE different.

I dont know either. The fact remains that I've developed food problems after the surgery that I never had before. Its actually a good thing to talk about different diets. We need to get in good nutrition. If we don't look at what we're eating, how much, when we need good nutrition, that's a problem. I did look this up and came up with the following. I believe you are right in that there are no hormones, but there are a number of other items (antibiotics, etc.) that are in the meat or the conditions such that make a more likely ground for problems to enter the food supply. You are right, I get the bird I do because its fed differently, raised in a very different atmosphere, and is doggone tasty because it gets plucked, the feet and head lopped off and given to me. I have enough problems eating without adding to it. Anyway - you are right on the hormones, its the other things I have some reservations about also. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/meat-and-poultry-labeling-terms/meat-and-poultry-labeling-terms/ http://www.meatpoultrynutrition.org/ht/d/Faqs/pid/26093 http://www.prevention.com/food/cook/how-choose-best-thanksgiving-turkey https://drrobinsmusings.wordpress.com/category/hormones-in-meat/ http://www.shadybrookfarms.com/FaqGeneral.aspx http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/hormones-in-food-should-y_n_815385.html http://www.yale.edu/agrarianstudies/colloqpapers/05langston.pdf http://healthychild.org/easy-steps/keep-hormones-and-antibiotics-off-the-menu/ http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/24/health/he-turkeyhormone24

You ARE normal ... you have extra weight.

No, expensive is figuring size 8 is what you were in college and when you got to size 8, you spent a big chunk of money on clothes. Only to go smaller to the point that the size 8's you can't wear any more.

Dont be too sure on the clothes store deal. You have to buy tons of things new. Very expensive.

Since when is turkey hormone free? They can't breed any more naturally, from what I understand, because they've been given so much and bred to points where they're not natural. The turkey I get from a farm where they're raised on Pasture (http://www.fullquiverfarm.com/) sure does NOT look what I have seen or heard about. The taste is totally different.

That sounds great! Can you go to the store and get that or can you find it at local restaurants?

Great but what did the doc say? LOL ... I just want to make sure you know there are no lasting issues.

I was on 8 months of supplementation before I said forget the PCP and went to a hematologist. Best thing I did. If you don't get things up with pills, after several months, its time to head to the specialist. It took 5 rounds of IV Iron, AND a B1 shot, AND a B12 shot before mine finally started to come up. Several months passed before that happened. In other words, waiting and waiting and waiting just doesn't cut it. What are they waiting for, Christmas? The other issue is that anemia is an issue for malnutrition. It could be they are treating the wrong thing. B12 is needed for your blood. Folate is. Pernicious anemia is not a joke. Zinc, copper, are those getting checked? Um ... your Calcium levels? Are those your ionized or serum/blood calcium and has a urine 24 hour calcium been done and what are the results? Have you had dexa scans? Have they figured out why you have pedal edema?

What kind of food did you bring with you? Can you buy that where you are at? I'm sure at 5 weeks out, you shouldn't be eating any Pasta or bread or anything like that. What fresh fruit and veggies and lean Proteins that aren't fried or anything can you get at?

In answer to your questions: No. I told the surgeon and others that I had problems with processed food, because salad and veggies don't give my GI track the misery other things do. I can eat 2-3 bites and then stop. Drinking is another story. Weight loss: you can't go by me as I blew thru weight like there was no tomorrow. Some of that was the fact I got in an Olympic swim competition after surgery and took on the men's won-every-race-in-history guy. LOL. I focus a LOT more on Protein sources. I do eat turkey or chicken as much as I can but the amount of meat I eat is more on the range of 30+, I get the rest from veggies and vegan/vegetarian protein packets. I have to be careful as chicken sometimes can be problematic ... that's why for the most part people consider me vegetarian/vegan.

Ask questions: all types of experiences and surgeries, so putting them out here is going to help everyone, including you, get the best answer.

Hmmm to be honest, if someone is eating a lot at the salad bar, I could that good. Now, I take a lot of fresh veggies and fruit, not 1 cup of cheese, bacon, etc. So I have to qualify that but if someone is taking a huge salad out with spinach, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. I would say go for it!!

I know someone who had a bypass and does them. She has not had a problem with weight but I think she also goes to support stuff too.

Hmmm I'm not into believing that mess that just because your values are not lower than the computer range of values for 95% of the "healthy" population means that are you are not sick. You are right to compare and watch them. My GI took me off the PPI. Gave me something more appropriate. Not that I dont need it now and then but I'm trying to stay off such things as I am having problems with meds.

The PPI is a good cause of problems.

We dont either, its odd they say. I show signs of malnutrition but bloodwork is ok. I said that's probably because bloodwork is not an absolute and they should know that. That's why so many people get hurt, as a doctor should know that just because bloodwork is "normal" by the computer doesn't mean it is "normal" for that person.

No malnutrition and cachexia.

Or ask the surgeon.

Mine have gone at that point and were thought normal but once the food is decreased, my glucose levels drop the same also.

I'm wondering about bariathletes. Have you googled the term? Dan Bernandi? I'm not sure of the spelling of his last name seems to not have a problem with it.

No I simply had a mild case of it except for now and then. I was on some things in the beginning but they didn't always help. Like I said, many people get relief from it and that's why I chose the surgery I did. I'm on eurythromycin now. It works better than Reglan or the other stuff ever did.

Hampton Roads - maybe we could do sub groups?