Miss Mac

Of my four incisions, the only one that gave me any grief was the one closest to my belly button. That is the one that is a bit bigger for removing the cut-away part of my stomach. Plus, larger tools were used through that incision and makes for a bit more trauma at that site. If I remember correctly, it was tender for a couple of months while healing and then there was no problem after that.

My insurance required three months of supervised diet, and reported my weight from the start of my program when they filed my insurance packet. I had my nutrition visits doubled up with my bariatrician visits. Insurance paid everything.

My two days in the hospital and first two days at home were kinda lousy. But by the time I got to purees in week two, I had "cabin fever" and would have bounced off the walls if I had any energy. I was just bored of TV, reading, and resting. If your new tummy has not been making gurgling noises yet, it will. My "Miss Tummy" sounded like a dinosaur fight for three months! Your first year will be up before you know it.

My ultrasound and CT scan showed that I had an enlarged liver and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. I had to do a three month diet of 1200 low carb calories with 60 grams of lean Protein, 64 oz Water, unlimited non-starchy veggies, 1 serving of fruit per day. Then I had to do ten days of liquid diet with 5 small Protein shakes per day and unlimited water or non-caloric beverages. I lost 22 pounds pre-op.

Instead of thinking of yourself as a mess-up who is regaining weight, think of yourself as a regular person who could stand to lose 25 pounds. Hey, girl......if you can lose 121, you can lose 25. Hang in there!

Erma Bombeck was a satirical newspaper columnist who shared her views on love and living. This was one of her articles: Diet Totals 758 - Pound Loss I have dieted continuously for the last 2 decades and lost a total of 758 pounds. By all calculations, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet. I have done a lot of kidding around with Weight Watchers, but it is the only organization in which I ever lost a great deal of weight. But I fought them. Every Tuesday morning, a group of us had to " weigh in " before the lecture. Our ritual was enough to boggle the imagination. We got together a check list of precautions before we actually stepped on the scale. Bathroom? Check. Water pill? Check. Have you removed underwear, wedding rings, nail polish? Check. Set aside shoes and earrings? Check. Are you wearing a summer dress beneath your winter coat? Check. The first week I stepped on the scale and my instructor said, " You have gained. " ( Next week, I cut my hair. ) The next week, she said, " You have lost 8 ounces,but that is not enough. " ( I had the fillings in my teeth removed. ) The third week, I had dropped a pound, but my instructor was still not pleased. ( I had my tonsils taken out. ) Finally, she really chewed me out. She accused me of not sticking to the diet and not taking it seriously. That hurt. " I didn't want to tell you, " I said, " but I think I am pregnant. " " How far? " she said coldly, clicking her ballpoint pen to make a notation on my card. " Possibly 3 days, " I said. She glowered. " Any other excuses? " " Would you believe I have a cold and my head is swollen? " " No. " " How about I was celebrating the Buzzard's Return to Hinkley, Ohio and had butter on my popcorn? " She tapped her pen impatiently on the card and stared at me silently. " Lint in the navel? " I offered feebly. " How about first one to the trough? " she asked dryly. I learned quickly never to argue with a woman who had the scales on her side. I saw my old instructor the other day and she eyed me carefully and said, " When are you returning to class? " " As soon as I have my appendix removed, " I said returning her gaze. I'm not sure, but I think I heard her moan. *************************************************************************** Also, clean and trim your fingernails and toenails, pluck your eyebrows, and shave your body.

Your Oregon Attorney General can be contacted at: Ellen F. Rosenblum Attorney General Oregon Department of Justice 1162 Court Street NE Salem, OR 97301-4096 For consumer-related matters, call the Attorney General's Consumer Hotline between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (503) 378-4320 from Salem (503) 229-5576 from Portland (toll free) 1-877-877-9392 elsewhere in Oregon (toll free) Email: help@oregonconsumer.gov Let them know who you contacted, and when, and what response you got. The person with the most documentation wins.

My best friend, Benjamin Franklin said, "Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead" and "To whom thy secrets thou doest tell, to them thy freedom thou doest sell." Miss Mac says, If you have no one you can trust, come here to the forum for support.

Yay!!!!!! Great news.

Congratulations that you are having your surgery soon. The toughest part is right now........the financing, the waiting, the endless appointments, the liquid diet, the nerves and the worry. Once you get past a few days post op, you will wonder where that first year went. Welcome to the new you!

Sorry for the multiple posting. It happens with this site sometimes.

Oh, no.......I am sorry to hear about your loss. Go ahead and cry. A while back my sister's dog Pepper (a Dalmatian 17 years old) became very sick and was even too weak to stand. She was so devastated, so I had her and her kids bring Pepper to my house (about 20 miles away), and I took her to a vet near my house. Those people were very nice and compassionate. They let us stay in an exam room with Pepper for a few minutes so that we could say good-bye. Oh what a hard day that was. I am even tearing up now as I type. My great aunt wanted furry company was was not able to provide for a dog or cat, so she got a parakeet and named him Bobby. When Bobby died she got another parakeet and named him Bobby. She did this three or four times. I agree with the others that as soon as you are up to it, go rescue another dog or cat and give them a chance to bring you joy. Hugs from Miss Mac in Chicago. Oh, no.......I am sorry to hear about your loss. Go ahead and cry. A while back my sister's dog Pepper (a Dalmatian 17 years old) became very sick and was even too weak to stand. She was so devastated, so I had her and her kids bring Pepper to my house (about 20 miles away), and I took her to a vet near my house. Those people were very nice and compassionate. They let us stay in an exam room with Pepper for a few minutes so that we could say good-bye. Oh what a hard day that was. I am even tearing up now as I type. My great aunt wanted furry company was was not able to provide for a dog or cat, so she got a parakeet and named him Bobby. When Bobby died she got another parakeet and named him Bobby. She did this three or four times. I agree with the others that as soon as you are up to it, go rescue another dog or cat and give them a chance to bring you joy. Hugs from Miss Mac in Chicago. Oh, no.......I am sorry to hear about your loss. Go ahead and cry. A while back my sister's dog Pepper (a Dalmatian 17 years old) became very sick and was even too weak to stand. She was so devastated, so I had her and her kids bring Pepper to my house (about 20 miles away), and I took her to a vet near my house. Those people were very nice and compassionate. They let us stay in an exam room with Pepper for a few minutes so that we could say good-bye. Oh what a hard day that was. I am even tearing up now as I type. My great aunt wanted furry company was was not able to provide for a dog or cat, so she got a parakeet and named him Bobby. When Bobby died she got another parakeet and named him Bobby. She did this three or four times. I agree with the others that as soon as you are up to it, go rescue another dog or cat and give them a chance to bring you joy. Hugs from Miss Mac in Chicago.

My directions were similar to Bufflehead's. At two years and two months, I can eat a cup of something dense (like chili with beans) or two cups of a green salad because it's mostly Water. My activity level is low because of orthopedic issues, and 1,000 calories is maintenance for me.

I'll go with dismal.

Well, here's the deal.........if your doctor allows it, you should at least wait until you can swallow enough Water to wash it down. For me, that was three months. Early on (maybe at the soft food stage) I tried it and it hung up in my throat. Watch your portion control definitely. If you don't, a tablespoon will quickly become 1/4 cup on a serving spoon.

Mine was lemon flavored. It was tolerable. Make sure you have a designated toilet for several hours after you drink it. Some people even take that day off from work.

One thing you will find out is that bariatric surgery not only changes you physically, it changes you mentally. Because of situations like the one you are facing, or getting flack from family, or struggling with your diet.......it all makes you stronger. You come out of this tougher that you ever thought you would be. Going through the pre-op hoops is far more aggravating than your post-op recovery. This is the hard part - not the surgery. "Whatever you can do, or dream you can - begin it! For boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." Wolfgang von Goethe"

A pharmacist told me to take Zinc supplements or COLD EEZE (which has a lot of zinc in it.)

At two + years, I can eat a cup of food at one sitting, but salad???? I can eat two cups and still be hungry. I do think it is the Water factor. By the time I chew, chew, chew, there is little left but water.

Sounds like they are driving you crazy and it's a short trip! In my opinion, my pre-op ritual was more exasperating than the surgery and recovery. Hang in there.

My spine was collapsing under my weight, and then I had a stroke at the age of 58. (As a matter of fact, I have some major spinal reconstruction coming up at the end of the month and will probably be in a turtle shell brace for six months.) Here is my favorite thread. There are now 1,294 posts about what that last event was that convinced us to take action. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/219831-what-was-your-final-straw-that-broke-the-camels-back/?hl=%20final%20%20straw

The worst is over. A year from now you will wonder where the time went.

You don't have to lie, but you don't have to tell everything you know, either.

One excuse is as good as another when you don't want to do something.

Congratulations for your breakthrough. I love men, but they sure are hard to train!