JRT Mom

Sometimes if you pay your deductible in advance a hospital will give you a bit of a discount, I would ask the billing department before you pay anything if you can get such a discount.

My husband has the same problem you do with your liver but he's 65 and not doing well. It's good that you are doing something about it while you're young. Hopefully you can turn this around--good luck!

Don't even think about getting a sleeve. People who have never had GERD often develop it after a sleeve. A bypass is a good option for helping with the GERD. You get a new little pouch that is separated from the part of your stomach where all the acid is, so you shouldn't have the reflux after a bypass. I don't know if that helps with ulcers-I guess they could still develop in the stomach remnant. Have they figured out why you are getting the ulcers? I had several in the past and they tracked it down to NSAID use. I stopped taking them and never got another ulcer. If you get a bypass they will tell you never to take them again for this reason.

Hi guys, I know I have to talk to my surgeon and have a call in to him, but I thought I'd see if anyone here has any experience with this... I was diagnosed with osteopenia 4 years ago. I just recently had a new Dexa scan which shows it's a bit worse now. I had an RNY 6 weeks ago and am already taking calcium supplements but think maybe I need more. If you have had this problem, are you taking additional supplements? Thanks for any info you can share.

Well, I don't mean to joke about something like this because it certainly isn't funny, but I have to: Slimming Down Steve has set a world record. He has shed himself of 200+ pounds of unhealthy weight instantly. Way to go, man! Seriously, good luck. You don't need that kind of $hit in your life while you are going through this.

Here's something I threw together that was approved for my weeks 4-6 after surgery that was pretty delish. I'm calling it "Bariatric Lasagna". 1/2 cup soft cooked macaroni 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/4 no sugar added spaghetti sauce Mix all ingredients. top with some mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Microwave until warm and cheese is melted. Makes about 4 half cup servings. I guess if you aren't vegetarian you could add some hamburger if you are allowed it.

Search on Google for "Eggface's Ricotta Bake" If you can eat cottage cheese you can have ricotta. That recipe is delish! I also like to take refried beans, smear them out in the bottom of a little bowl, put in some tabasco and sprinkle cheese on the top, and nuke it til the cheese melts. Good protein there, and OK on the soft diet I was given. Good luck and Bon Appétit!

Incredible! You are doing great!

It's a weird time warp phenomenon...the time c-r-a-w-l-s while you are going through the approval process. Then it goes into hyperdrive, and they call you and give you a surgery date that is WAAAAY sooner than you expect. So sit down, fasten your seatbelt, and get ready to enjoy the ride!

I'm one of the lap band 50% failure rate statistics. I had mine over 10 years, and then had a slip and developed a hiatal hernia. 6 weeks ago I had the band removed, the hernia repaired and a revision to a RNY bypass. I dropped 20 pounds in three weeks. The weight is s-l-o-w-l-y dribbling off now, but even only 25 pounds down my knees hurt less and I move around a lot more. I haven't regretted it once. Check around and find a surgeon that will do the removal and revision in one surgery. My surgeon recommended the bypass because he said it was easier to revise to a bypass after having a lap band for years-scar tissue issues-and what catwoman7 said, many people who have NEVER had GERD develop it after a sleeve, and I had it terrible before I got my band. Good luck--don't be afraid to "doctor shop" until you find one. I had to go 4 hours away to a large urban area to find one, but I LOVE the one I found.

A lot of us here have mommy issues as underlying reasons for our obesity. But I think Slimming Down Steve didn't just draw one crappy mother card, he drew the whole deck.

You'd have to be a robot not to feel on edge before you do something so life-changing to yourself. When people are stressed they get irritable and are on a hair trigger with their emotions! When you get this way, take a deep breath and think about how much healthier you will be when it's over. Good luck and keep us posted--you got this!

My laparoscopic RYN surgery is scheduled for February and I’ve been thinking about what it will be like post surgery. I would love to hear your perspectives on the topics below: Did you have a drainage tube or catheter in the hospital? NO Did you have to go home with a drainage tube? NO Were you able to sleep on your stomach when you came home? If no, how long was it until you could? I hate sleeping on my stomach so no advice for you there!😀 I’ve heard people recommend having a pillow for your stomach? Does that help if your surgery was laparoscopic? The pillow helps with the soreness when you cough. You DID have several holes poked in your abdominal muscles so they will be a little sore. And last but not least...is there anything you wish you would have known about what you would experience after surgery. It was a big surprise to feel such pain when I woke from the surgery but the nurses knocked it down quickly with pain meds. The gas pain lasts longer than you think it should, but DOES diminish fairly quickly. Walk your butt off and it goes away faster. Don't be surprised if you have trouble drinking right after surgery. Be patient with yourself and eventually you will get there. I'm six weeks out and can only get 48 ounces in a day and the dr's office is OK with that.

It's probably a shock to see yourself in the mirror and wonder who that beautiful lady is. You will embrace your "me-ness" once you get used to what you look like now vs what is still in your head.

Wow, good job, lady!

Pictures or it didn't happen....😁 Seriously, you deserve it and are worth it. You'll do great!

There's no better reason than yours! What a beautiful bunch y'all are!

Hi Guys-Have any of you purposely ate a high-sugar food with the purpose of seeing if you dumped and to see what it felt like? Part of my wants to do this at home in a controlled environment, and another part of me is terrified at the thought of eating sugar...

This has been fascinating reading. It would be nice if it was a simple "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie", but that just isn't true. The source of the calorie, be it protein, carb or fat, has an immense effect on the metabolism in the body, and the body processes them differently with different reactions to the type they are, so the kind of calorie really does make a difference.

It's amazing how many people can't "stomach" the protein shakes. After I got my lap band 10 years ago I lived on them. Now I can't get them down. Sounds like most of the bypass patients can't drink them.

This is the honeymoon period where you don't have much of an appetite. Make the most of it and enjoy it while you can! My appetite is starting to come back, and I wish it wasn't!😁

Gold Bond. Gold Bond. Gold Bond. Use this liberally and you won't have trouble. I would get a weeping rash under my pannus, but the Gold Bond powder stopped it cold. Cheap and easy fix. However, like Uomograsso said, if you can get a doctor to document these rashes, sometimes you can get insurance to cover a panniculectomy.

I told everyone that I had to have my old lap band removed, which was the truth. I further added, only to the people that I want to know, that "Oh, while he was in there removing my lap band he did an RNY..."

This was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. The warmth and kindness of the posters on this forum never ceases to touch and amaze me.

Well, in this case it's sort of a good thing she did, or we wouldn't be having this conversation...