Miss Mac

Just so you know, the Mayo Clinic Diet was not developed by the Mayo Clinic, and they do not recommend it........that said, it is a high protein - low carb diet that works on the same principles as the others. Good luck. I am interested in how this works for you.

My 12 week pre-op diet started on August 14th. 60 grams lean protein. Eat the protein first. No more than 2 small servings of fruit (I was a major fruitaholic). 1100 calories. Track nutritional values on myfitnesspal.com so that the Nutritionist could monitor my progress. No bread, limited starchy veggies. Eat more beans. Last week on my follow-up visit I was told to start substituting one meal a day with a protein shake. So far I have lost 17 pounds. I also have to exercise 4 times a week for at least 30 minutes. My surgery should be mid-November.

Interesting thing about PPI's. About 1 1/2 years ago, I was put on Omeprazole for the damage that years of ibuprofen had done to my stomach. My appetite nearly doubled and I have gained another 25 pounds. I am pre-op with a tentative date in mid-November, and I am concerned about being put on that med again if I get reflux after my sleeve. I was just taken off last month. Maybe it has to do with having a lot less stomach acid to help digest food. Does anyone have a clinical response for this.

I am counting on exfoliating and sweet almond oil. My favorite of my exercise videos is chair boxing ( done sitting down), which I am hoping will help with jiggle arms. Also, strength training twice a week for overall muscle strength. I also read that healthy muscles help fill up the loose skin somewhat.

Alsip, Illinois, southwest suburb of Chicago.

Shirley here, retired from Veterans Affairs. I had a stroke 2011 for which the total bill was over $27,000. My cost was only a few hundred, mostly for specialists fees. I do not remember any specific charge for drugs used during surgery. In November 2012, I had a partial knee replacement. The bill was over $40,000 for which again I only paid a few hundred. In February this year, I had some spinal reconstruction, for over %80,000 and once AGAIN, I only paid a few hundred. BCBS Federal is the most awesome insurance coverage I have ever had. So even if your bill itself is some crazy number, your out of pocket shouldn't be so bad.

Shirley here in Alsip Il on Chicago's southwest side. My surgeon will be Dr. Chand at Loyola's Gotttlieb Hospital sometime between November 14th and Thanksgiving.

No one has to know everything about your medical history. That's why we have HIPPA laws for patient confidentiality and privacy. You could just tell them that you want to be proactive about your health and are making better choices every day (which is true) or.........you could just ask them, "Why do you want to know?" Then, when they give some feeble reason, just tell them it's personal and you are not comfortable talking about it. You don't have to lie, but you don't have to tell everything you know.

A stroke.

I had to look this one up. OMG! I have my first surgeon's appointment on 9/24, and this is going on my questions list since I have already had a stroke. I am so glad you brought this up.

Please vets chime in on this one. It is my biggest fear going into this.

if your doctor has approved you for the process, then HE does not think you are too young. I have been on a diet since 1978 and joined a gym twice, and am still 100 pounds overweight. Like the others here are saying, overweight issues tend to perpetuate themselves, and all of a sudden you are in your forties or fifties or sixties, and still overweight with arthritis and multiple joint replacements. I wish this process would have been available when I was younger. If someone is being unsupportive of your decision to manage your own health your own way, then put your hands over your ears and hum Yankey Doodle. You do you.

I'll have what she's having.

I will not miss my bum looking like two cats in a sack.

Agreement here with VST addict. My last two surgeries required surgical clearance. In November 2012, My PCP recommended a cardiologist who works with the same hospital as the surgeon, but they are all here within 10 miles of home and coordinate with each other. For the February surgery, I just had to have the surgical clearance from my PCP.

November in Chicago. Last Friday my Psych told me it would happen between November 14th and Thanksgiving.

Homemade.......my sweetie Tony loves to cook, so he makes soups and other delicious things for me. This soup has diced spiral ham, which he sautés with diced carrots, diced celery, diced onion, minced garlic, and diced bell peppers in red and green for color. Once he puts that in the pot he adds whatever beans are on hand. This week he took a large can of navy beans and a large can of kidney beans and rinsed them before adding them to the pot.(this reduces the total calorie count). He also added a large can of diced tomatoes. I suppose you could put it in a crock pot, but he put this in a large kettle and added enough water to make it soupy. Then he threw in a heap of black pepper because we like pepper here, and let all this yumminess simmer for a couple of hours. The nutritional values are in the database of myfitnesspal.com under the name of TONY'S HOMEMADE BEAN SOUP WITH GARDEN VEGETABLES. And it makes enough to last a few days.

Congratulations on making it through this part of your journey. Wishing you good luck for tomorrow, and good health for your new lease on life.

Hey, Ms. Indigo in Scotland. I am hanging in there. My surgeons visit is coming up fast on the 24th. As for County Antrim, my Scots-Irish McCulloughs were in the area around Randalstown, Barony of Toome. They hopped a boat to America in 1736.

Pre-op, last week my NUT told me to eat more beans....so today is bean soup with garden vegetables. 90 calories a cup.

That's what I am hoping for: that the weight loss itself will bring relief, not to mention getting rid of this inflammation machine (my big old belly) that feeds it.

Right knee replaced 2007, left knee replaced 2012 (different hospital - different doctor). Right knee was a total botch job with a lot of residual pain. Since I have several orthopedic issues and can no longer take Ibuprofen because it tore up my stomach big time and made it raw, my ortho specialist prescribed Voltaren Gel. Voltaren Gel is a topical crème that provides significant and noticeable relief for all the achy places. There is no OTC equivalent with the same active ingredient, but Aspercreme is a close second.. I hope you are able to find some relief. I am waiting to get rid of this extra person I am wearing for a belt. Bet my knees feel better then.

O.K. Knock it off!

Water blisters? I have been following this forum for six weeks, and this is the first I have heard of water blisters. Also, with 12 other surgeries in my 61 years, I have never gotten water blisters around an incision site. Is this because a glue is used instead of staples? How long do they last?

I have seen that Youtube video, too, but I can't locate it now. I was told 30/30 because just like the video shows, liquids will dilute whatever food you are able to eat and cause dumping syndrome.