Katcloudshepherd

Hello everyone, I have been denied by my insurance,(Humana PPO, Federal Employee), for Supartz injections in my knees. These are injections made from rooster combs which help with osteoarthritis and other knee problems. I understand the actual drug is expensive. I just can't help but wonder since my insurance spent a good deal of money on my surgery last year, if they are going to start denying me medical treatment for other things. Anyone else have this problem? Kathleen

Hello everyone, I have Humana PPO as a federal employee. They do not cover the drinks, supplements or scar cream. I was disappointed but not surprised.

Scorpion11, I completely understand. I have to REALLY push myself to get out of bed and go to work. I'm tired most of the time. I had more energy a few weeks after surgery than I do now. I do work out--have to really push myself to do that too. I go to the pool for exercise, since I pay a pretty penny every month for a gym membership. I go 3 days a week in the pool--30 minutes of aerobic activity in the pool and about 15 minutes of toning and stretching. I think I'm so tired all of the time because I'm only getting in a few hundred calories a day, I'm getting all of the 60 g. of Protein required and the 64 oz. of Water. I just CANNOT fit any more food. I'm 6' tall and I really think the fatigue is because I can only eat a few hundred calories a day. I take all the required vitamins/supplements as well. Can't wait until the weekend when I'll be able to sleep in. I haven't had hair loss YET. I'm dreading that. I only wash my hair every other day, when I work out in the pool. I wet my hair and apply conditioner before I get in the pool. I've tried various swim caps but none are large enough for my long hair and big head. I wish you luck. I'm hoping eventually I'll be able to consume me calories and my energy level will come back up. Blessings, Kathleen

I had the leak test the day after surgery. The worst thing was the taste. I just swallowed and got on with it. I'm not a person who throws up easily so I am lucky in that instance. I didn't have any nausea after surgery but my doc gave me 3 different anti-nausea drugs. I was able to rinse my mouth out imeadiately after the test and that seemed to help. Hope everything goes well for you. Blessings, Kathleen

I saw my chiropractor less than two weeks after surgery. My surgeon told me at my week one follow up I could see my chiropractor as soon as I was comfortable. I had my surgery on 12/11/13 and saw my chiropractor on 12/23/13. My back is as crooked as a politician, (literally). Seeing my chiropractor regularly after my surgery has helped me tremendously since there is really no other remedy for the curves I have in my spine that shouldn't be there. My chiropractic doc wanted the surgeon's clearance too but my surgeon said it was up to me and my comfort level. Didn't hurt a bit--of course I think I was still taking the pain meds--so that's probably why I didn't have pain. I know since I've lost weight my back is better and so are my knees! Sure wish I could find a doc who could help my knees as much as my chiropractor has helped my back. Blessings, Kathleen

Hello everyone, I've been getting an upset stomach after I take my Allegra in the morning. It is taken on an empty stomach 1/2 hour after I have taken my synthroid for hypothyroidism. I only take 4 meds--synthroid .088 mg, Allegra 180 mg. Zoloft 100 mg. and Detrol LA 4 mg. It could be the other meds but I highly suspect my Allegra since it's a larger pill. I had to bite it into smaller pieces after the surgery--still take it in smaller pieces. Anyone else get a reaction with prescription meds? I'm going to try taking it with food tomorrow. Kathleen

My orthopedic doc prescribed Voltarin gel. I apply 2 gms. per affected area every 4 hours. It is an NSAID which goes through the skin. I have a severe back problems and knee problems. Check with your orthopedic doc or primary care doc and see if you can get the Voltarin gel. I hope you can get it and hope it works for you. It has helped my herniated disc and knees that are shot. I take Tylenol also. I also take Esther C vitiamins and fish oil to help with the inflamation as well.

Wow!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you. That's how I measure my sucess is by smaller sizes. I don't pay that much attention to the scale as much as how loose my clothes are and my ta-tas ; ). Kathleen

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! Y'all look FAB-U-LOUS!!! Your description is so accurate of where I am. Thank you, Blessings to you and your wife, Kathleen

Welcome to the site!!! Wishing you the best of luck on approval and I hope you have a routine surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

Hang in There!!!!!!!!! It's so worth it in the end. If you ate a lot of sugar and carbs in processed foods you are going through withdrawal. Once the sugar and carbs from the highly processed foods get completely out of your system it will get better. I drank so much water--I spent much time in the bathroom. I used a sugar free Fiber with Water to fill my stomach up too. If the liquid in your diet is the high Protein kind--it's not a bad idea at all to add fiber. After surgery, when I went on the high Protein shakes I got a terrible case of constipation before I added the sugar free fiber to my diet. Good luck. Kathleen

I had my week follow up on a Thursday, December 19, 2013. I was itchin' to get back in the pool and start exercising. I was a regular swimmer/water aerobics type exerciser before surgery. The sugeon looked at my incisions and said: "Gimmie another week." I was in the pool 2 weeks and 1 day after my surgery. I may be the exception to the rule. Talking to your doc is always your first and best option because everyone is different. Blessings, Kathleen

I'd say it's normal. I'm gratefull I don't have an appetite. I can walk past the Bakery in our local grocery store and not even flinch!!!!!!!!!!! Sure wouldn't have happened pre-surgery. food has become nothing but fuel for me. Something I have to do or else my brain starts to malfunction. I've also found since I no longer use coffee to wake up in the morning--food has become my new "wake-up". That first cup of coffee used to get me going in the morning. Now I don't feel like I'm "awake" so to speak until I've eaten my Breakfast. I find I MUST get my 8 hours of sleep every night also or it's very hard to fully function the next day. Kathleen

txsleeve624, Lookin' good there guy. Congratulations on your loss. Somehow that doesn't sound right when I read it. I hope to be where you're at in a few months. Blessings, Kathleen

I was extrememly lucky in my psych eval. I saw the same counselor I had been seeing for over a year for work related issues. My work related issues have been resolved but I still see the counselor for my WLS counselor. That True/False test is a trip. They asked the same question in several different ways. I answered honestly and found out I am a person who has difficulty with changes in their life. There is an official term for it but I can't remember it now. My nutritionist gave me guidance on how to loose weight during the required doctor monitored weight loss period. Good luck on your weight loss journey. Blessings, Kathleen

I bought the squatty potty too. It has helped me. Puts the rectum in a natural position like you're squatting to go. You could probably pile some books up on the left and right sides of the commode if you can't afford the squatty potty but they would not be as stable as a solid piece of plastic. I had AWFUL constipation when I went from the clear liquid broth stage to the Protein shake stage. Another thing that people don't talk about is movement--you have to move your body to get your bowels to move. You have to have the Water, the fiber, and movement of your body. I take probiotics too. Since I'm not eating Greek yogurt every day to get the beneficial bacteria--I have to take probiotics in a pill.

Yes my dear, you have every RIGHT to brag!!!!!!! Congratulations.

I'm allowed to drink all the decaffinated tea I want. Milk was allowed on the liquid phase. I use milk to get 8 grams more of Protein in my Protein shakes. THANK GOD I'm not lactose intolerent--don't know how I'd get my protein in without dairy. I drank decaffinated coffee (Starbucks brand) after surgery and it was fine. I had read on the label that it was also lower in acid. I tried some instant decaffinated coffee and man what a mistake. Immeadiate stomach ache. I guess the decaff Starbucks REALLY is lower in acid. I would suggest decafinated tea if you're going to have tea. There are some great decaffinated teas out there--I hope the research showing the green tea is better for you is true ; )--I drink a lot of decaff green tea. It counts towards my liquids for my doc and my new tummy seems to like the warm liquid on these recent cold days. Come summer, I'll switch to iced tea. I sure do miss my caffeine though, I didn't realize how much I relied on it to wake me up until recently. I have reached a point where I MUST get at least 8 hours sleep a night--if not more to feel awake the next day. I'll be allowed caffeine at the 3 month mark--so not until March eleventh for me.

startingoveryetagain, I'm not that far out but my life is definitely better. I can move without pain!!!!!!!!!!!!! That in itself is remarkable and makes me happier. My relationship with food has totally changed. It is now only fuel. I have to concentrate on Protein first, chewing thoroughly, spacing liquids and food, taking Calcium then waiting 2 hours to take iorn, waiting two hours to take calcium and taking Multivitamins twice a day. I have NO desire for sweets. My Protein shakes are all sweet. My calcium and iorn tablets are all sweet. I haven't got my appetite back yet and I can walk past the bakery in the grocery store and not even flinch. IF you had told me I'd have no desire for sugar and fat filled baked goods---I'd NEVER have believed you. I guess my tastes have changed for the better. I now crave savory foods--not sweet. I'm wearing sizes much smaller and they fit AND LOOK GOOD ON ME. My husband is thrilled because his wife just keeps looking hotter and hotter--never thought I'd be able to say that. I am more confident and outgoing and total strangers seem to pick up on that. I'd have the surgery again in a heartbeat. Kathleen

Cindy Quebedeaux Breaux, I know exactly what you mean. Between work and taking care of the house and husband--Jeez, I'm to tired to even think of it. I don't even have children. I don't know how you moms do it? Work at home or outside the home, take care of children, household and husband? I have a great amount of admiration for you. I also suffer from depression and take Zoloft--which doesn't exactly help the libido. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question. The only time my hubbie and I are intimate is on the weekends. We almost have to schedule it so that we're both rested and up to it. My husband is 100% disabled so he has to be up to it too---no pun intended ; ). We waited over 5 weeks after my surgery, even though my surgeon didn't put any restrictions on when we could "get busy". Blessings, Kathleen

Lady Pink, One way to find out-- eliminate the pudding and see if you sleep better. I haven't had coffee since before surgery. I tried a little tea with caffeine--and my new tummy didn't like it. I had drank it in the morning so it didn't affect me at night. I drink sleepytime tea in the evening and take an herbal supplement to make sure I sleep at night. Good luck, Kathleen

I switched to 3/4 caffinated then 1/2 caffinated then no caffeine. i did this over a period of several weeks. One week 3/4 then one week 1/2 then one week none. Difficult for me since I've been drinking coffee since childhood. I also suggest you make sure you can get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep during this time. I still can't drink coffee and man when I don't get that minimum 8 hours sleep--It's a beotch getting up for work the next day and functioning. I had no idea how much caffeine helped me function throughout the day.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you and your new life. Blessings, Kathleen

LindseyHeth, Congratulations!!!! on the begining of your journey. I hope you have a routine surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

Arts137, Thank you for the link. I know I am a food addict. I went to Overeater's Anonymous for over a year in an effort to lose weight. The fellowship was great. Thank God for the tool I have now. I did learn to take one day at a time at those meetings and live in the present.