Mommabird

@@esskay77, No, Almond flour and soy flour do not bake the same as regular flour. They have no gluten. If the recipe you have calls for the almond or soy flour, it's probably been done with that in mind. If it calls for regular flour but you would prefer almond or soy flour, I'd go online and look for a recipe that is made for those flours. My daughter has a gluten intolerance and I can't even count how many batches of muffins I threw out trying to convert a recipe to gluten free before we wised up.

My pre-op journey has seemed to drag on forever. Monthly weigh-ins, a very occasional appointment. I was all psyched up as I finally had my cardio appointment scheduled, labs scheduled, next nurse practitioner appointment scheduled. Then came the phone call. A very strange phone call from the cardiology department, sounding like they had no idea why I was even coming in. Then another phone call. This one from the Bariatric Department. It seems that when cardio got my referral, they made my appointment with the WRONG DOCTOR!!! How does this happen? It seems to me that if Bariatrics is making the referral that it would be pretty obvious why I'm coming in. So, now, my cardio appointment has been pushed back a month. Because it got pushed back, my nurse practitioner appointment got cancelled! So, I went from full speed ahead to still in the Water (my famine). Very down, wanted to eat everything in sight. But!!! I stuck with my diet, kept going to weigh-ins. And this morning...another phone call. Due to my last weigh-in being in November and the holidays coming up, the patient advocate didn't want to take a chance of my appointments being "lost in the madness" (his words). So now I'm feasting with three appointments in September, two in October and my last weigh-in and follow up in Bariatrics to send everything to the insurance company in mid November! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for December surgery. It seems that it would make a nice circle as last December is when I decided to have RNY surgery.

James, Maybe you should try posting this on the Veterans forum. You might get more responses. As someone who hasn't had my RNY yet, I'm very interested in the responses you might get. Another tool for my weight loss toolbox!

My Dr. doesn't allow coffee in any form. Hence, the decaf tea.

I am still in the very early stages of this journey (hoping to have my RNY in Dec). I'm hoping that someone further along than I am can answer this. My surgeon requires his patients to get an hour of exercise a day, seven days a week both pre and post op. It can be broken into several shorter sessions, it just needs to total an hour. For several years, I have taken Water aerobics three times a week. Since finding out about this requirement, I have up it to five times a week.(I'm still working to get the weekends going) After I finish class and get home I am so tired that I'm pretty much non functioning. Will this get better or will it be like this until I have my RNY and lose some of my weight. Every week, I think "This week will be better", but so far its not. I didn't get any where near this tired when I started the three times a week and I weigh less now that I did then!

Try decaf tea. If you add a little fat free milk to it it looks like coffee so you at least get an illusion that you have coffee in your cup. Plus it tastes really good!

I'm already getting over 100 grams a day. Protein shakes along with a lot of veggies and some fruit seems to be the only way I can lose any weight. Adding the two extra days of exercise has helped break a stall, so it looks like I'll have a loss at my next weigh-in. Just over three more months of "dieting" before I can start having what I'm calling "a normal life" after surgery. At least I love my Water aerobics class! It's like having a water party with all your best friends! We talk, we laugh, and when things get a little too intense and quiet, someone will make a joke and break the tension. I've also learned you can definitely work up a good sweat, even in the pool! So, I"ll just keep doing what I've been doing and hope that my energy levels pick up sooner rather than later!

I checked out 7 Words and love it! My 27 y. o. daughter came through while I was playing and now she's downloaded it also. Thanks so much for sharing!

I recently removed Candy Crush and all games like it from my phone. If I'm going to play a game, I want to have some redeeming value. I want to have to use my brain and actually think about what I'm doing!

Hi, pik, it's probably too late to help this time, but if it ever feels stuck again, try sipping some hot tea or other hot drink. I'm pre-op but have had meds get stuck before and the hot beverage seems to dissolve things quickly. Hope this helps.

I agree with you, winning_by_losing! Every time I buy a Walden Farms product, I end up throwing it out due to nastiness. I keep thinking that I'll find a good one. After the last time, I've decided that they're just not for me. But I know tons (pun intended) of people that just love them and won't buy anything else. I just wish I liked them (Walden Farms, not the tons of people.Them I like!)

I'm planning on being up front with my immediate family and my sister. That being said, I'm not planning to tell them until my insurance approves things, hopefully in late Nov. For the same reasons you stated, I am NOT telling my husband's family (or anyone else). If they ask about my weight loss, I'll tell them the same as I'm saying now. That I'm working with my doctors (true) and that they have me on a special weight loss plan to resolve some health issues. (true for now and for post-op) However, If I am asked directly if I have had weight loss surgery, I won't lie. Most people I know will discuss whether or not I had surgery behind my back, but never ask me to my face.

How Wonderful! It sounds like you're doing great! I can hardly wait until I get to walk along the loser's path!

Wow! all this talk about appointments with the surgeon! I kinda feel left out. I don't get an appointment with the surgeon until after I get insurance approval. However, the nurse practitioner that I see is amazing! I did meet the surgeon that will be doing my surgery at the seminar and got to talk with him afterwards. I really felt comfortable with him. He must have stayed an hour or more afterwards to answer questions and the last 45 minutes with just my husband and I. I knew that this was what I wanted to do but found out later that my husband wasn't quite sure. After talking with Dr. Carpenter, he's 100% in support of this. Writing all this makes me realize just how blessed I am!

Can I join the fun here?! I just had my second weight in out of six. I've been to the seminar and seen the nurse practitioner and am in the process of getting all the testing done. I've attended the one required class.and have been to one support group meeting (also required, but must attend one a month) and I've had my mental health eval. I'm hoping to finish all the pre-op requirements and have my RNY in late November or early December.

I'm also pre-op, but was looking at my patient manual that I got at my last visit at the clinic. I won't get fruit until after my 3 month post-op appointment.

jtickle, at my first appointment at the Bariatric clinic I was given my patient manual with both pre and post op instructions. Before surgery I'm to work up to one hour of exercise a day seven days a week. Post-op, by the end of my first week, I'm supposed to be taking several short walks a day, totaling 60 minutes, seven days a week. So, I say,as long as your Dr has no problems with it and you're feeling good, more power to you!

I have four more months left of insurance mandated weight loss. I needed to go to Wall-Mart this A.M. to pick up some Torani syrups to flavor the Protein shakes that I'm using as part of my weight loss efforts. While there, of course, the bakery was baking and my appetite raised its ugly head. I wanted EVERYTHING!!! Since I couldn't make up my mind on what to get to eat, I decided to get a hamburger (who am I kidding? I would have gotten fries too) on the way home. When I started the car to leave Wall-Mart, the car radio came on. You need to know this about me. I almost never listen to the radio in the car and if I do (like this morning) I always turn it off when I get out. I can't stand having the radio come blaring on when I start the car. For some reason, I didn't turn it off this time. The song on the radio was a Praise song that I've taken as my personal anthem in my journey through RNY to take my health back. I sat in the car listening to that song and thinking about all the reasons I started this journey. I drove home past all the burger places, got out my bottle of decaf iced tea (that I'm drinking as I write this) and am looking forward to using my new Raspberry Torani syrup in a shake for lunch. I have a feeling it will have the sweet taste of victory!

After waiting two months for something to happen since attending the mandatory weight loss surgery seminar, things are finally starting to happen! Last Thursday, I went to a "Lifestyle Change" class and my first support group meeting. I knew that the class was mandatory after your first appointment, but I decided to go, even if it didn't count as the mandatory one. At my appointment with the nurse practitioner the next day, I found out that because I filled out the "changes I'm going to make" contract, that it will count! So, that's one thing down. Because I'd had the chance to speak to the surgeon after the seminar, I had an idea of what test results they would need, so I got copies of them and took them to my first appointment. Then during the surgical history, I mentioned that I had had an umbilical hernia repaired in 2009. So I had to get the surgeon's notes for that. Today I had my Bariatric Mental Health Eval. The Dr asked me to explain what would happen during my RNY surgery and what life would be afterwards. Thanks, Alex for The Big Book on Gastric Bypass Surgery and this website because he was very impressed with my knowledge! So I guess If they don't decide I'm nuts, that's done. I already have an appointment for a cardio workup due to high blood pressure and am waiting to find out when my Endoscopy will be. So, in the last week, I've gone from nothing happening to just about everything in place. Whew! Now all I have to do is keep losing weight for the insurance company (next weigh-in on Mon!)

I had a colonoscopy in 2008 where multiple pre-cancerous polyps were found and removed. I was put on Caltrate 600+D twice a day with a follow up in three years. When I did the follow up I had no polyps at all. My surgeons office knows all this and and is still moving me towards RNY. Good Luck and try not to worry.

My copy should be arriving later this week. I can't wait!

Hello, All! Let me start out by saying that I am still VERY pre-op. I have four months before things can be submitted for insurance approval, but something came up at my first appointment with the nurse practitioner yesterday that I hope that someone who is post-op might have some insight to. I'm also planning on posting this to the Veterans forum. In December 1980, I had my gallbladder removed in an open procedure. Fast forward to April 2009 when I had a laproscopic hysterectomy. At that time I also had an umbilical hernia repaired that had been caused by adhesions from the surgery in 1980. Fast forward again to yesterday when I had my medical history taken and went over all my previous surgeries. Last night I got a phone call from the nurse practitioner. She had spoken to the surgeon about the hernia repair and now the surgeon wants me to get the "surgical notes" from the other surgeon due to the fact that a mesh patch was used to make the repair. Does any one know if this rules out a laproscopic procedure? Do I need to start mentally preparing myself for open surgery, a longer hospitalization and a longer recovery? It's really had me stressed out. If I have to have an open procedure, we need to start planning my husband's time off differently and possibly not take that week of vacation. Anything that any one can tell me about surgery after having "mesh" put in will be greatly appreciated. Robin

Hello, All! Let me start out by saying that I am still VERY pre-op. I have four months before things can be submitted for insurance approval, but something came up at my first appointment with the nurse practitioner yesterday that I hope that someone who is post-op might have some insight to. I'm also planning on posting this to the Veterans forum. In December 1980, I had my gallbladder removed in an open procedure. Fast forward to April 2009 when I had a laproscopic hysterectomy. At that time I also had an umbilical hernia repaired that had been caused by adhesions from the surgery in 1980. Fast forward again to yesterday when I had my medical history taken and went over all my previous surgeries. Last night I got a phone call from the nurse practitioner. She had spoken to the surgeon about the hernia repair and now the surgeon wants me to get the "surgical notes" from the other surgeon due to the fact that a mesh patch was used to make the repair. Does any one know if this rules out a laproscopic procedure? Do I need to start mentally preparing myself for open surgery, a longer hospitalization and a longer recovery? It's really had me stressed out. If I have to have an open procedure, we need to start planning my husband's time off differently and possibly not take that week of vacation. Anything that any one can tell me about surgery after having "mesh" put in will be greatly appreciated. Robin

I also feel like my journey is finally beginning! I went to the required seminar back in May, but it has taken this long to get proof of insurance coverage, then to get my letter of commitment, and FINALLY, my first consultation with the nurse practitioner on Friday. I apparently won't see the surgeon until after I meet all the pre-op criteria and get insurance approval. I did get to speak to one of the surgeons in the bariatrics group after the seminar. My husband and I stayed after as my hubby had some questions about one of the slides the Dr. had shown. He (the doc) was wonderful about answering all our questions. While he couldn't get into personal info while others were there due to the privacy act, once we were the only ones left, he was more than willing to discuss what I could do ahead of all the appointments. So, I already have copies of my mammogram, pap smear, and colonoscopy reports.(Luckily for me, I had had all of them done already and within the time frame needed) I started the six month insurance required weight loss. I apparently don't have to lose a set amount, just not have a net gain at the end. I was looking over my medical records and realized that I had seen my PCP right at a month before I started all this and I'm hoping that I can count that visit as the start and be a month ahead! I do know that I will have to attend at least one "Lifestyle Change" class and those are only held once a month. Of course, it's the night BEFORE my appointment, but I'm going to go anyway, even if it doesn't count as the required class. I don't figure it can hurt and might just help. Plus there is a support group meeting afterwards that I'm looking forward to. So,come Friday, I will feel like I am finally making progress and be on my way to becoming a member of the WLS Club!!

I go for my first consult on July 11th, but I don't get to see the surgeon. I have a scheduled hour with the nurse practitioner. From what I have read on their site, it will mostly going over my medical history and determining what tests I'll need to have done. I talked to the surgeon after the seminar and found out about a lot of the basic tests: a screening colonoscopy,a mammogram and pap smear within the last year. All done. I don't know if he'll want an endoscopy, but I had an "Ultrasonic Endoscopy" in Dec. Hopefully that will tell him anything he needs to know. I know I have to have a bariatric psych evaluation.and possibly a sleep study. I do have a weight loss requirement (per my insurance) that I've already started. After my consult, I have to go to a "Lifestyle Change" class. The info on that says to bring your "Gastric Bypass Patient Manual" so I guess I'll be getting one of those on Friday. The surgeon told me after the seminar, that with my history of fatty liver and pancreas, that I'll have to do a 3-4 week pre-op diet. He didn't tell me what that would be. Gee, I can't wait for that one ;- ). I'm just glad that things are finally starting to move forward. I'd really like to have my surgery before the end of the year.