dhrguru

I'm actually not looking to use my pto or payment. I would prefer to save it and use FMLA. I didn't hear I had to use all my pto first before Fmla. Good question to ask.

My job mandates the use of sick time with fmla. Vacation time is optional.

Maybe one of the HR folks can chime in. I was told FMLA is to protect your job in the event you need a medical leave but it is completely separate from pay. I will be using my sick/vacation time for pay.

It's my understanding Fmla is if you need more time off after sick vacation pay is used?

Many companies require you to run fmla and pto concurrently. It kind of protects the employer from someone who has lots of pto, runs it out THEN wants to use fmla. My job is one people can accumulate LOTS of pto, so we make people use fmla and pto concurrently.

Venturing into the non plus sized world had been overwhelming at times... I keep waiting for someone to point me over to plus sizes.

I shop at the thrift store quiet a bit.

My all time favorite is Macy's. I also like Burlington Coat Factory. I always hesitate with Kohl's, JC penny etc because I hated their plus size sections... I have to remind myself I'm not plus size any more.

I do old navy for some pieces, but hate the quality of their tops. Eventually I'd like to venture into express, gap and Ann Taylor.

H&M is not my cup of tea.

I used c25k to get started, loved it. I'm now in love with running. I run about 3x a week now.

Hi everyone, I'm 2 wks post-op (RNY) and was wondering when others started to see a significant drop in their blood pressures? I was under the impression that most people's bp goes to normal levels with 48 hrs of the surgery but mine hasn't budged!

I couldn't come off medication until about 3 months post op. I had to monitor my pressure at home. Right after surgery I imagine pain, stress, etc kept it running high.

I take measurements monthly, but haven't really tracked them all consistently.

Actually I use a polar heart rate monitor and watch that I input my age,weight etc so it is accurate ... I haven't reached out to my dr yet since today was my first day back in the gym but I intend to call tomorrow. I just didn't want to eat too little and it hurt me.

For the activity you did that calorie burn still seems high. I don't have a polar though (have an Apple Watch)... And how does it determine calorie burns for weight lifting?

I try not to eat back calories burned, mostly because it's nearly impossible to get an accurate count of what's burned. I just don't beat myself up if I go over my calories in a day.

Weights watchers used to suggest eating back only 1/2 of what was burned.

Welcome! You're off to a great start!

Has anyone else had problems with their FMLA request? I am more than a little frustrated today. My surgery is scheduled for Jan 14th and I submitted my FMLA paperwork on November 30th , as soon as I received a date. I hadn't heard anything from my HR yet so I finally emailed them yesterday and they are now saying my surgeon did not give them enough information because he only certified that I am having surgery and the dates I need to be off of work for the surgery. They state he must tell them the exact surgery I am having and my medical diagnosis. So now I am going to have to scramble and get an updated form from my doctor's office. I also don't feel it should be any of their business to get an exact diagnosis or surgery. My MD is certifying on the form that it is a serious medical condition with treatment, that should be enough! Did anyone else have issues getting their FMLA approved?

I'm an HR Manager. Theoretically they could approve your fmla without the details....surgery is major, generally precipitated by a serious health condition. I would have approved provisionally until you submitted updated paperwork. They should have the details though, it will protect them in the long run though to show they are applying rules consistently.

It is a side effect. It can be a combination of not getting enough Protein and your body responding to the shock it is going thru. It does happen...

I've heard it can happen. I'm probably not the best person to comment since I I've had significant (permanent) hair loss pre-op.

I'm 8 months post op RNY and don't feel I've lost any *more* hair though. i do think its a matter of chance-- some do, some won't. I'd avoid styles that pulls on the hair (braids, weaves). Some take Biotin. Some say it works, other says is just cause Hair growth in undesirable places.

I would avoid cutting the hair again until you see if there is loss or not.

Kudos to you for WANTING to be a support!!! Biggest gripe I have with my spouse is y weight loss is the "elephant in the room". He NEVER talk about it, comments, compliments etc. I don't want to seem self absorbed so I avoid initiating conversation with him. I have on two occasions when I couldn't contain excitement on milestones--- however, his response was lackluster.

I think there are specific things she needs to be able to voice if she needs them from you (IE if she needs you to prepare your own meals while she gets a handle on what she can/can't eat). A vacation to Vegas post-op (which caused arguments with my husband who I thought was being insensitive) taught me a valuable lesson-- I am responsible for planning what i need nutrition wise for the rest of my life. I chose this surgery and can't blame anyone else for not getting what i need, i'm perfectly capable of getting those things myself, Her surgery can't become your burden.

My thoughts: Celebrate her effort and success with her. Encourage her, and if you wish and she wants to, join her for exercise. Don't instruct her-- she's gotta figure out what works for her on her own.

And respect the fact she may not want to share the details of her surgery with anyone-- its her story to tell-- not yours!

Hmmm.. Can't say I've given this much thought.

I'm 8 months post op RNY. My only hope for 2016 is to forge forward with the same zeal and enthusiasm as I did in 2015. I have mini goals set, but no specific timelines to meet them in.

Fitness wise, I want to increase my workouts by 15 minutes. I'll continue doing the routine I've grown to love, but would like to add a warm weather activity. (Biking?)

In life, I am working on exercising a bit more patience with my younger son. He wants instant gratification in everything he does, and it drives me crazy he won't listen when we say ' practice, keep at and you'll get there'.

Also, still waiting with baited breath for my hubby to choose to work on his health.

Okay, I know we’re not supposed to be on diets. It’s a lifestyle. But maybe, just maybe, a few little treats crept into your diet over the last few weeks with the holidays. So, here are my questions.

First, how “bad” did the holidays get? Did you learn a few things about yourself, such as what was worth eating and what wasn’t? And did you come up with any strategies that worked for you to pass up some of the temptations?

And now, what are you doing to get back on track? Are you eating special foods and/or cutting out certain foods? Are you going back to the basics of measuring and logging? Are you drinking tons of Water? What’s your advice for getting back on track?

I was on track through the holidays, meaning, I always did Protein forward, no alcohol and maintained my exercise routine. I did indulge in sweets that I baked, which I never do. Since the holidays are over, no more baking, so that won't be an issue.

I also added back in a 4th meal for. the day. I had cut back to three thinking I didn't need the fourth (my hunger hasn't returned). Then I noticed I was filling that space with candy, so I went back to my Protein friendly Snacks, better it be that them sugar calories.

What are you revising to? With only 50-60 # to lose I'd encourage a sleeve over RNY, depending if your band didnt; leave to much damage behind.

No you won't be able to drink 96oz daily straight out of surgery-- but eventually you will be able to. You build up to it.

Be aware of the risk of complications so you'll know what to look for.

Are you male or female? If female-- do you get gel manicures? Gel manicures are notorious for destroying nails...

Wow- you lost an amazing amount of weight- and two babies/// wins all around!

Hi and welcome! I've heard of the 5 day pouch test-- I think any concentrated effort to get back to the basics is worth the time, even if it doesn't yield in weight loss after 5 days. The weight loss will come, building those habits is the harder part.

Do you still follow up with your surgeon or nutritionist?

Fantastic job!!!

Now that's a gift he'll remember and beg for again!

To add, I was able to get three sweaters plus a necklace and earrings for what I would have spent on one sweater with shipping before!

You know what I'm finding-- the clearances deals in the plus size section are far better then the clearances deals in the 'regular' section. Maybe stores try to rid themselves of that stuff faster??

It'd be helpful if you outlined what type of revision are you having, along with what tests were run that concluded that you needed a revision? And how has your diet been? Did you main a Protein forward diet, not drink with meals, etc?

A long time ago I read that white, black or red poop is a problem.

Did you have a leak test or have to swallow barium? Broil turned my poop whitish...

If not Id call about it

Have you ever picked out a piece of clothing or whole outfit that was not your size, but you liked it so much you bought it for when you can finally wear it?

I found this ordinary shirt at Dicks Sporting Goods while shopping for a few things. I was going from a 5xl to a 4xl and looking for Under Armor stuff for working out. I ended up not finding anything online, but while in their store, I found a 2XL Reebok 2 snap henley that, for whatever reason, just struck me as a great looking shirt. So I did what anybody would do when they find a shirt they love but don't make in their size. I bought it. It's still folded with its tags on in my dresser, waiting for the day I fit it.

so, have you done something similar?

Yup. I've been shopping a lot in thrift stores, stuff is so cheap I don't bother trying anything on. I currently have 1 pair of jeans and three pairs of dress pants waiting to fit me. My prize 'waiting to fit me' possession at the moment is a dress I bought at Macy's for the spring, it's a size 14, and while I was able to fit it, it will look better by the time spring rolls around. It was $13, down from $89.

I write down the date I tried them on last with my weight for that day and tuck it in a pocket of the item, I like seeing how long it took to fit something.

I am just over 2 years out from my vertical sleeve. I've lost a total of 140 pounds and have been maintaining for the past 12 months. I had a stricture at the top of my sleeve approximately 16 months ago and had an EGD with dilation that helped. I have started to have the same issues again - inability to eat or drink, severe pain, nausea, dehydration - and saw my surgeon again yesterday. She has scheduled another EGD and dilation but mentioned that I may need to have a revision to an RNY bypass due to the stricture. Basically, the stricture makes my sleeve the same size that the pouch would be if I had a bypass.

I have also struggled with gastritis on an ongoing basis so I've been kept on 40 mg of omeprazole twice per day. I don't feel reflux but that's not to say it isn't silent. I'm wondering if there are any other members out there who have had to do the bypass revision from the sleeve due to stricture and not necessarily reflux? I'm just really concerned about the side effects of the bypass revision. I am wondering about your experience with additional weight loss after the revision. I would be okay losing maybe 15 pounds more, but would not want to go any further than that. I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences to help me know what to expect.

Thank you!

I don't understand the logic here. Stricture is making you sick, can't eat, drink, have pain. He says because the stricture makes the sleeve like a pouch, you should go to bypass?? So he wants to permanently make it into a pouch; knowing that the stricture imposed pouch-like design is causing you issues?

Strictures happen with bypass patients too.

Hey, So I Went in on the 8th. Never had a problem clotting before but this time I did. I was pre diabetic and was about to go into diabetic shock jumped to 250. So after all being said an Iron and blood transfusion, days of Iv fluids, ultrasound on kidneys to make sure they were ok and my labs finally returning to normal. I am finally home yesterday evening and the gas is crazy.. so today I am just sipping and eating sugar free popsicle, I think the anemia has me craving cold things.

Damn, sorry you got off to such a rough start. I hope things going forward are status quo.

Just got a call from insurance and the gave me my verbal approval and approval number.

Just got a call from insurance and the gave me my verbal approval and approval number.

@@tdc I think you had your surgery by now, right? How are you doing?