Born in Missouri

"Eat less, move more" is the simple way to stay slim, but some scientists now suspect body weight is much more complex. One area of research is "obesogens" which are chemicals absorbed from the environment and food that are thought to disrupt the way hormones operate, potentially leading to weight gain. Research by Harvard University found that women (men less so) struggled to maintain weight loss after higher levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were found in their blood. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/pfass-chemicals-environment-body-weight/ http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002502 https://coach.nine.com.au/2018/07/26/11/10/obesogenics-chemicals-weight-gain

I found some information that might address some of your concerns. "High B12 levels in the blood are not necessarily a reason to panic, as they can stem from a number of different causes." Two reasons for increased levels of vitamin B12 include: 1. Your B12 test was carried out too soon after taking B12 supplements. 2. The body is failing to use the B12 correctly. High levels can be followed up by a test called the MMA Urine Test and works by measuring the methylmalonic acid in urine, which determines how much B12 the cells actually receive. The test can be carried out comfortably and quickly ay home. (I don't know where to get this test.) Another testing method is a blood sample test. It is known as the HoloTC test, which measures the B12 bound to its specific transport molecule, transcobalamin. http://www.b12-vitamin.com/blood-levels/ There are some cases where high levels of B12 are of concern but don't get ahead of yourself. You seem to be under a lot of stress and that makes you worry even more. Ask your doctor, for your peace of mind, to order more testing. It's interesting that you stopped taking B12 (and your other vitamins) for three months prior to your 1-year check-up. Maybe your body isn't able to use B12: "Usage issues occur when the body isn’t capable of properly utilizing vitamin B12, leaving it to accumulate in the blood. It is possible that a B12 deficiency can occur despite high B12 blood levels... if vitamin B12 isn’t correctly binding to transport molecules and thus is not able to be used by the body..."

@James Marusek. I mistakenly thought your list was in response to my request. I just now noticed, though, that your list has been pinned. How were you able to have your comment pinned? Do you have administrative powers the rest of us don't? I made the initial request to compile an exhaustive list of terms (that included more than just abbreviations) but, apparently, my request for administrative assistance went unacknowledged. Talk about feeling dismissed. Oh well.

Your words convinced me. SOLD! Wait. I've never had a lap band or a sleeve or any other weight-loss surgery that might benefit from a conversion to bypass. It's just that your succinct comment convinced me that if I HAD to take action of some sort, I'd definitely listen to you. I had my bypass on June 13, 2018. Apparently, I got it right the first time. Lucky me. Lucky for others like me. I'm happy for you. I'm proud of you for fighting the good fight with your insurance company (talk about a soulless corporation with the horse sense of used toilet paper). It sounds like you've tried to make good decisions since the beginning... but your journey abruptly headed South. But... finally, FINALLY!!! ... you're on a superhighway that will get you where you've wanted to go all along... again, I'm so very happy for you. Keep us posted. Your journey is one I'd like to follow.

@SueperGaland @MIZ60 Thank you for the comparison photos. Just what I hoped to see. I'm glad you mentioned that the Thai food was 1 cup (your order) because I was only able to see a difference. A description of what was in the omelet was helpful also. I'm only guessing about the yogurt. The shot is a close-up so I don't really know how much that is. (I usually make my own yogurt, so I'm not familiar with most of the commercial sizes.)

I love how you wore the same necklace and a sleek (yet also black) outfit. Beautifully defined legs and a nice waspy waist. The new slender you looks taller, too. Your face is beautiful, before and after, but in the after photo, it's wonderfully taut. Do I see dimples in the after photo? I'm only 43 days post-op. One year seems like forever away.

This beats a postponement any day. Sounds like a serendipitous sign of good things to come. Watch out, world, here comees Elizabeeth!!

Brilliant, T. We definitely need more fun, original, and helpful threads. I'm making an attempt to get something helpful started (the mini WL dictionary/glossary*), and now you've come up with this fun AND helpful idea. I'd also be interested in seeing typical meals with honest serving portions (pre-surgery, even before the ALL-LIQUID pre-diet). The subsequent photo(s) could be a typical meal(s) AFTER surgery (post-healing). There might be some significant time lapse between the photos. The BEFORE photos could be honest re-creations meant to show one's previous unhealthy food choices and less-than-ideal serving portions. Tip: Place a familiar object (edible or non-edible) on or near the plate so we can get a reasonable sense of scale.

If this isn't a suggestion you're eager to support, I doubt if it's worth the time and effort required to even get started. For the glossary to be meaningful and easy to use, it needs to appear as one cohesive assemblage on a dedicated page in ABC order -- and not in little, repetitious batches in different formats, presented by different posters, some of whom don't proofread for errors or typos.

Thank you, James. Wow. That was a quick response-- and only one hour after I posted my request for help with weight-loss words, acronyms, abbreviations, etc. Woo-hoo.

Thanks, James. A definition for some of these terms would be greatly appreciated -- not for general medical abbreviations, but for words (and corresponding abbreviations) used primarily in the world of bariatric and metabolic surgery.

I’ve been exposed to dozens of new words and acronyms since my weight-loss journey began. Unfortunately, all of this new-found knowledge is pasted here or there or rattling around in my head. I’ve found a few bariatric vocabulary lists online but none seem to be complete. With the help of others here (yes, you @nibble and @Little Kansas Kitty), I’d like to start compiling a glossary of terms to help new forum members (like myself) learn this new and dynamic (ever-changing) language. At some point, perhaps Alex Brecher will provide us with an area on this site for our glossary to live and grow. I welcome any ideas to help get this going. First, as I see it, we need to identify the words/abbreviations/acronyms, etc. for our little dictionary: foamies, dumping, transfer addiction, etc. The definitions, for the most part, should be original. We can’t just copy/paste or infringe on the definitions created by others. Any English teachers out there? Editors? @Alex Brecher @Ken S. Is this something that you’d consider helping us put together? Is there a place, a sort of sandbox, where we can start adding words/definitions and then continue to edit this list?

I've been seriously thinking about compiling a bariatric surgery / weight-loss glossary of terms and I thought, "Oh! A new word to add." Good thing you corrected your post. I would have wasted time looking for the definition of a term that doesn't exist.

People with severe obesity who undergo bariatric surgery have a higher risk for fracture both before and after the procedure. “To minimize the effect of bariatric surgery on bone, guidelines should be followed and the importance of adherence to supplements and physical activity should be reinforced among patients and healthcare professionals." https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/bone-mineral-metabolism/news/in-the-journals/{7e479b49-f551-4de5-a2c2-03b0718b1bdf}/fracture-risk-increases-with-bariatric-surgery IMPORTANT: Take your supplements! Vitamins! Minerals! And don't forget to excercise!

Men with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery reported an increase in sexual function and experienced an increase in sex hormone levels in the months after the procedure; however, a reported increase in sexual function among women with obesity who underwent surgery did not rise to significance... https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/in-the-journals/{495cad94-7580-4c27-a9b4-29fd9163e99a}/meta-analysis-bariatric-surgery-improves-sexual-function-in-men-but-not-women. . . . . (Note use of people-first language: men with obesity, not obese men/ women with obesity, not obese women)

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@Tealael. What's your favorite way to eat chia seeds? Do you refrigerate them? I bought some once and they seemed to go rancid fairly quickly.

Dexlansoprazole only comes in delayed-release capsules, 30mg and 60mg. Who prescribed this for you? I wonder if this doctor is aware that delayed-release medication won't be as effective as immediate-release meds after you have your bypass. If you can't swallow the capsules whole after surgery, (I swallowed all my meds whole, including my horse pills) you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents into a little applesauce and swallow it immediately without chewing. As you know, sometimes certain medicines can't be crushed or opened. It's okay for this one.

Try one or all of these! The answer is not always what is preferred but what WORKS for you. Natural is the best. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318694.php Continue taking the chia seeds and kale if you enjoy eating them. They're chockful of valuable vitamins and minerals. At just 33 calories, one cup of raw kale has: Nearly 3 grams of protein 2.5 grams of fiber (which helps manage blood sugar and makes you feel full) Vitamins A, C, and K Folate, a B vitamin that’s key for brain development Alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. (While kale has far less omega-3 than fish, it is another way to get some of this healthy fat into your diet. Lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that give kale its deep, dark green coloring and protect against macular degeneration and cataracts. Kale also includes minerals like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc. Chia seeds contain essential fatty acids alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid; mucin; strontium; vitamins A, B, E and D; and minerals, including sulfur, iron, iodine, magnesium, manganese, niacin and thiamine; and they’re a rich source of antioxidants.

You're among friends here, @krissy95 We won't judge or belittle you. Joining this forum was your "easy way in" to getting support, advice, and a whole community of like-minded women and men. Welcome, and never apologize for a rambling rant. Those are the most therapeutic kind.

My daughter is a PharmD and, believe me, I ask questions. I am sadly not surprised that you were given a drug with poor availability. Omeprazole capsules are all delayed-release. They are dosed at 10mg, 20mg, or 40mg. There's is also an oral suspension available at 2.5mg or 10mg -- also delayed-release. Omeprazole has one tablet dosed at 20mg, delayed-release. When will other medical specialties catch up with the pharmacokinetics* of bariatric medicine? Not only did you pay good money for some "bedpan bullets" but omeprazole has plenty of unpleasant side effects (for some people). Wait. Did I read something wrong? Did you say your bariatric surgeon prescribed omeprazole for you knowing that the tabs, caps, and oral suspension (liquid granules) are ALL delayed-release? Incredible. **refers to the movement of drug into, through, and out of the body—the time course of its absorption, bioavailability, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. As for the sucralfate (Carafate), did you only take it for those initial 6 weeks? Sucralfate has numerous drug interactions and side effects. Hyperglycemia is one side effect. Bezoars are another; however, most people usually have some kind of medical condition that predisposes them to bezoars (such as delayed gastric dumping). I've had my gallbladder out, too. What are you being given for your ulcer pain now? I'm a chronic pain patient.<sigh>. I've been taking morphine to control my pain for years. You should not be allowed to suffer this much. Whatever you're taking now is not strong enough -- and doesn't appear to even come close to touching your pain. I've never actually heard of anyone with a marginal/anastomotic ulcer. I have nothing but empathy for you. I'm also fearful that someone will drop the ball again. I'm furious with that gastroenterologist for unequivocally "proclaiming" that your scope was normal. One of my three sons (two are medical doctors, btw), had eosinophilic esophagitis so bad that his esophagus was close to severing. That son, weirdly enough, is a GI pathologist now. I wish I could say more to comfort you. Again, I have nothing but empathy and concern for you. Please keep us posted.

Bone broth is superior to regular broth. Regular broths and stocks don’t contain as much collagen or any of the other nutrients found in bone broth. It's available in small shelf-safe packaging for convenience. I've found beef, chicken, and turkey bone broth. I also like to buy non-dairy milks (coconut, macadamia, almond...) in shelf-safe packaging so it's ready to mix with my protein powder. Who wants to head out for groceries pre- or post-surgery? Have your protein powder, bone broth, non-dairy milks, non-fat milk, sugar-free Jell-o cups, and sugar-free popsicles ready. Talk to your doctor about which vitamins you might want to start taking before your surgery.

Okay. I see that you mentioned that you were uploading something. I've had that experience, too. I think there's a delay of some sort, we get impatient and assume that our image isn't uploading, so we try uploading it again. Every attempt results in a duplicate.

It's been my experience that there is a brief window (how long I'm not sure) in which one can edit posts. In the "dog" post, the window was still open, so the poster hit EDIT and erased/altered her comment. As for the doubling or tripling of posts, that sounds like a glitch. The only thing you can really do is erase all content from duplicate posts so you won't have three posts with the same words. I'd rather have two "blank" posts and one with words, than all three with the same wording. The other day, I saw someone create three identical topics. I believe that she was new and, unfortunately, was not treated with kindness or patience. Once a new topic is created, I don't believe that you can undo it. Not by yourself, anyway. Hopefully, someone will stop by and answer these questions FULLY for us. I didn't even know the area WEBSITE ASSISTANCE & SUGGESTIONS existed! I guess I know now.

Are you referring to the "dog" post from yesterday?