Miss Mac

Once I heard a pastor who was talking about how to deal politely with intrusive questions. He said that you don't have to lie, but you don't have to tell everything you know.

My sleeve is on 12/23, coming home on Christmas day. I was already planning on sleeping in my lift recliner for a few nights, but now I am going to add my Pandora channels and my earphones. What a great idea!

We are such individuals! I like Nature's Best - Extreme smoothies, both chocolate and vanilla.

I am thankful for my upcoming sleeve on Dec. 23. Every day that I wake up is a good day!

Last night, I woke up several times with your situation on my mind. I hope you understand that my comments are coming from the perspective of a domestic violence survivor, and that ultimately I wish you good health and peace of mind. Since I do not know you or what the other dynamics are in your marriage, my support comes from the frustration you expressed in your post. No one deserves to be verbally abused, or physically assaulted, or isolated from supportive family and friends, or mentally undermined, or denied medical care. It sounds like he is planting seeds of doubt about your ability to be in control of your own life and health. Do you think he would also be unsupportive if your health issues were from a congenital condition or cancer or something catastrophic? Is he more concerned about medical bills and the inconvenience of doctor appointments and downtown for recovery or do you think he is frantically worried about you and doesn't know how to compassionately express his concern? One thing that helped me to escape from my husband who became a clinically diagnosed sociopath was that call to a women's shelter to get a professional opinion about what my options were when his psychosis began to affect my health and safety. They introduced me to the cycle of abuse and helped my navigate my way through the emotions and confusion of examining how to change the people and surroundings that were robbing my peace of mind and mentally holding me in a dark place. There have been several posts on this forum about how the weight loss process impacts relationships in positive and unfortunately sometimes negative ways. Companionship should be about loving and caring and sharing. If you do not have that, then why are you still there? There was a psychologist on Oprah who addressed issues with lopsided toxic relationships. One of her comments turned my life around. She said...."Instead of thinking 'I love him - so why does he treat me this way?' Start thinking 'why would I love someone who treats me this way?' Whether I have hit the nail on the head or not, I want to encourage you to pursue good health and happiness. You have a right as an individual to determine what your course in life will be and who surrounds you in your journey through life. If you have to battle genetics, uncooperative body parts, and gnarly old habits in the process, then do it! I know we get tired of being strong, but you can pull strength from sympathetic friends on this forum. With the sleeve, you have already taken that first leap of faith to have a healthier happier life. When we stumble along the way we can grab a cane, crutch, or go-cart and keep on moving toward the prize. Life for anyone is a series of adjustments - a change in plans from day to day to day. My signature quote on this site is from Wolfgang Von Goethe. It has helped me face many unimaginable obstacles in my life. Goethe said, "Whatever you can do, or dream you can......BEGIN IT! For boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." Good luck sweetie.....do what you have to do get healthy and happy. We are here to encourage you along the way. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Miss Mac here.....Yesterday, I finally got my insurance approval after four months of program compliance. Now I understand what others were talking about concerning a combination of relief and sheer panic. My sleeve date is December 23, going home on Christmas day.......so shopping is done and gifts are distributed. Everybody is doing their celebrating at someone else's house this year. That way, I can come home with my sweetie and relax and heal. Thankfully, I did well enough with the pre-op weight loss - 25 pounds - that I only have to do the liver shrinking liquid diet for one week. My supplies are in and this is getting real. See you all on the other side of the losers' bench after the holidays.

I use the sublingual B12 from Walgreen's. It is a tiny pink pill and melts like butter in seconds. Taste is ok.

Well, I was ready to give up on the Sleeve site,too for the same aggravating reasons. The forum lost many of the regulars I was used to seeing, and I was feeling kind of lonesome. But the previous comment here reassures me to hang in there a bit longer to see how things develop. Good luck to our RNY friends, and I wish you every success with your weight loss.

What a great family. Will you adopt me???????

I had a stress test last year prior to a knee replacement. Because of orthopedic issues, I got to do it lying down, and just had to move my legs around enough to get my heart rate up. It was no big deal.

Miss Mac here. I got my official sleeve date today - December 23, 2013. Finally....I am so excited. Now, about this combined website....I am not liking it much. They won't let me use my previous moniker of Miss Mac until I make a certain number of posts. It seems harder to follow a thread, posts are multiplied, fewer people seem to be using the site now. Just venting.

My date is December 18th, at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. I have every confidence in my surgeon, Dr. Bipan Chand. He Directs the Bariatric Clinic and teaches laparospic surgery at the university. He directed the bariatric program at the Cleveland Clinic before coming to Loyola last year. Just think of it as a nice nap and a new birthday. I wish you every success with your weight loss.

My sleeve date is coming up in December, and I have already begun window shopping online for clothing in smaller sizes for women in their sixties. The last time I weighed anywhere near my goal weight of 135 was in the mid 1980's, and I wore a size 10. But I see where women weighing 140+ say they are in size 4 or 6. Have sizes changed that much over the years?????? Where can I go shopping that 140 pounds fits that small a size? Now I don't know where I will be shopping. I am confused. I normally shop online because of mobility issues, but I guess my new body is going to be so strange to me that I am going to HAVE to try things on as my weight goes down.

I have one week left in my three month program, then my paperwork goes in to the insurance. When I had my first visit with the bariatric physician, she switched my Sertraline (that I had been taking for three years for post stroke depression and anxiety) to Buproprion, which made a big gigantic difference in my outlook in only two weeks. My team is there for me to succeed. The psych was more concerned about my support system at home and how family and social dynamic have affected my eating in the past and are likely to affect it in the future. I worried about it for nothing.

My tentative date pending final approval is December 18. Monday November 18th is my final required bariatric clinic visit, Then I hope I don't have to wait too long for a response. So about the time you have your surgery, I will be starting my two week liver shrinking diet. Good luck to you. I will see you on the other side of the losers bench.

I took on the name Miss Mac when I started a new job as a supervisor in 2008. All the supervisors carried radios and our names were called out frequently as our team members needed us. There was another supervisor with my first name, and a team member with a similar syllable in the last name, so I had to come up with something that would be clear on the radio. I got this job right after the great Bernie Mac died. Since the first part of my Scottish last name was Mac, that sounded OK enough. Hence, Miss Mac, with no further confusion. I am retired now, but I still like the name.

Has anyone else gotten ischemic colitis after starting whey protein? My three month program will be done in a few days. I just got out of the hospital yesterday after eight miserable days of pain, diarrhea, and IVs. I could not find much online. So, I am home now on a low residue diet. Has anyone else had any experience with this?

I escaped the sleep study, but did get my endo done yesterday at Loyola.

Congratulations on having a mind of your own. Do this for yourself. The other people in your life do not have your aches and pains or emotional baggage. Sounds like it is time to invest in your own health and well-being. I have been through two divorces and came through fine with my head held high. Walk away and don't look back. In the long run, you will be happier. You do you, and good luck with your surgery.

My date is close to yours, December 18. You are giving yourself the greatest gift of all, and that is a better quality of health. You will be so glad you did.

Tentatively December 18th with approval. I finish my program on November 18th.

Loyola does have support group sessions. The team consists of two surgeons, two bariatric physicians, two nutritionists, two psychologists and exercise physiologists....which about covers everything. The bariatric clinic is not on the main campus that is close to Brookfield Zoo, but that is where the surgery is performed . The Bariatric Clinic itself is on first street in Melrose Park, on their Gottlieb Hospital campus, which is where my liver ultrasound was done, and my endoscopy will be done on Thursday. It is clean - clean - clean, and everyone I have come in contact with has be gracious and kind. I have every confidence in this team so far. And as far as the protein drinks and supplies, it is multiple choice from a long list. Hope this helps.

What I know about Loyola is that they have a reputation for outstanding care, and are an excellent teaching facility for med students. I found out by scooting around on-line that Dr. Chand was head of the bariatric program at the Cleveland Clinic which is like the Mayo Clinic of the East. Loyola just recently snatched him up to head their bariatric program. I am totally comfortable with this team and am ready to get on the other side of my surgery date.

Hey MZ Naddie, I will send you a personal message to share info.

Where I come from it means Pre Admission TestS. My BCBS Federal Employee has covered it every time I needed it.