So I'm almost to getting cleared for pre-op, I just need to turn in a stool sample (yuck! any advice on how to get THAT done??) to make sure I don't have h.pylori anymore and lose 20 pounds.

Since I've been struggling with losing the weight, the nurse practitioner for my surgeon prescribed me phentermine. I started out by taking half of the pill in the morning, but didn't notice much difference. After a week of being okay with half the pill, I followed the NP's instructions to try 1 whole pill in the morning, and that's knocking my socks off. I feel tingly and woozy. Is this normal?? Should I go back to only taking half the pill again? My heart rate is where it usually is, I just feel tingly and woozy and unable to operate heavy machinery at the moment. Advice?

They give you a kit for the stool sample. Basically you put this tissue like thing over the seat, then go, and then they give you a q-tip like thing to take a sample and it fits into a test tube, then seal it up. The tissue thing is kind of like a seat cover, it flushes right down the toilet. No big deal.

I would cut back to half a tablet and call the nurse. You shouldn't feel like that. Decades ago I took phen-fen and it is strong medicine. Do you really even need it? It made me feel high and jittery. I was glad they banned the combo years ago.

Do you get the kit at the lab? I got the paperwork from my surgeon's office but no kit. But thanks for explaining it!!

The tingles went away 2 hours after I took it and there's residual woozy feelings, but going back to half; weighing in this friday, so I'll talk to my NP then. Thanks, and wow, congrats on your weight loss!!

No advice on the stool sample, as I didn't have to do that (hooray)!

I did take some Phentermine/Adipex and I had the jitters but not too bad. Taking the lesser amount did not help curb my appetite. I would just take the least amount that you can but still helps. If you have less desire to eat in the morning (my situation) can you take a half pill later in the day and still suppress your appetite through the rest of the day?

Good luck with getting that straightened out. Phentermine/Adipex did not help me before I started the road to surgery, but it did help when coupled with my strong desire to complete my pre-op requirements.

Ooh, that's a good idea; I'll ask my NP if I can take half in the morning and half later in the day. Thanks! And may I say congrats on your weight loss! You're almost there!

I never got any type of kit when I had to do it for the H Pylori test as well.

I just took a big butter tub, washed it well so it had no signs of grease left, and used that and sealed it with the lid it came with.

Ooh, that's a good idea; I'll ask my NP if I can take half in the morning and half later in the day. Thanks! And may I say congrats on your weight loss! You're almost there!

Hopefully, moving the dose around will work for you. Also, there are a few different doses, maybe experiment with a little more than half of what you are taking now. I took my dose about an hour before lunch because I don't have an appetite in the morning.

Thanks for the congrats! My weight has been stalled for a while, but my size has been dropping. Go figure! My doctor told me that is the way it works. I am donating so many clothes to charity these days because they just don't fit.

_{Hi Spiffikeen.}

_{I am guessing most of us have hit the phen fen at one time or another. It did make me a nervous wreck, and when I spread the doses out, I couldn't sleep.}

_{It does react with other medications, the most notorious being blood pressure meds. I would check with your doc or even the pharmacist to make sure you aren't having a cross reaction with something else you are taking.}

_{Good luck! Hope you feel better!}

Yup! I did the Phen fen plan too. LOVED IT! The only time in my life (pre-sleeve) I felt control over my food decisions-lost every ounce of my excess weight. But never dealt with the habits or head issues!

Pre-surgery, I used Phentermine on and off for about 2 years. For me, I was symptom free (no woozies or tinglings) within about a week of taking the med. But I didn't take any other meds and had NO heart of BP issues, at all.

Good luck with your surgery - you'll do great!

They give the kit at Kaiser, but I guess every facility or lab takes samples based on their own protocol. I would ask the lab how they want the specimen collected.

Just got back from the lab; yes, there is a kit. (thank God) But where to put it in the freezer?! Lol