Weight Loss Surgery Info

Lora,
I know this sounds stupid, but everything that is going on is fixable. I
think that you need to concentrated on the mystery pain. Are you keeping a
diary on it? When the pain comes and goes...what you are doing an hour before
it shows up. Have you eaten, are you exercising at that point, are you just
resting? These could be the little clues that will help come up with a correct
diagnosis. Honestly, I think once that all consuming issue is cared for, then
the other things will be much easier to handle.
That alien will be evicted soon enough. and when it goes, a lot of the droopy
skin will move on with it. It is something to look forward to.
I dont think we will ever have amazing bodies again. Even if we get all of
the droopies cared for, we'll have surgical scars. I am pretty disgusted w/ the
way my body looks without clothes too. I have to remind myself daily that I am
ok. You are ok as well Lora. Worry about the insides right now. I suspect the
outsides take a little longer to deal with - but eventually, we'll all get
there.
(((hugs!!!)))
Lisa A
Lora <cicerogirl@...
I'll try to make this short. I've just kind of popped in and out the
last couple of days because I am tryign to avoid thinking about
anything body or weight related.
I am frustrated because they don't know what this intermittent pain
is. My PCPs best suggestion is to go to the ER the next time it gets
strong (just how *I* want to kill 10 hours) so they can REPEAT all of
the same damn tests we have already done that either do or do not show
kidney stones.
The scale says I gained 3 pounds this week. It said it on Tuesday and
it said it yesterday and it says it this morning. Now logically I
know that I have not consumed 10,000 EXTRA calories this week (I
haven't even comsumed a TOTAL of 10,000 calories!) to ahve gained 3
pounds of fat, so I figured it was just water-weight... but the whole
freaking week?!?!? Ugh.
Last, but certainly not least, I have been having a REALLY hard time
with how my body looks between the waist and mid-thighs. I had to
cover up the bottom of the bathroom mirror because it was making me
cry everytime I looked at myself after a shower. I *hate* the way my
lower tummy and pubic area look. There is still a lot of extra fat
and everything hangs down SO far below where it should. It's
disgusting. Sex is out of the question. No, I didn't have surgery
primarily to look better, but that part of my body loooked better
BEFORE surgery, and I did not expect to go through all of this and end
up hating my body even more than I did before. (My 100-pound
counselor was kind when I tried to explain to her how I am feeling,
but clearly she doesn't "get" it.) Yes, I still have about 75 pounds
to lose. Even if I lose 25 of that before the end of May (when I was
hoping to be able to get the hernia and everything else fixed), I
doubt that a PS will be willing to DO the surgery then. And even if
he does, will I end up looking WORSE than I do now? I cannot find any
kind of undergarment that will help "lift" this "package" (that any
man would envy) that I now have... anything that is heavy duty enough
to make any difference makes the hernia hurt, cuts into my thighs, or
pulls everything up and out which is even worse! I *hate* this body.
Lora
Lisa A
284/271/168/135

I'll try to make this short. I've just kind of popped in and out the
last couple of days because I am tryign to avoid thinking about
anything body or weight related.
I am frustrated because they don't know what this intermittent pain
is. My PCPs best suggestion is to go to the ER the next time it gets
strong (just how *I* want to kill 10 hours) so they can REPEAT all of
the same damn tests we have already done that either do or do not show
kidney stones.
The scale says I gained 3 pounds this week. It said it on Tuesday and
it said it yesterday and it says it this morning. Now logically I
know that I have not consumed 10,000 EXTRA calories this week (I
haven't even comsumed a TOTAL of 10,000 calories!) to ahve gained 3
pounds of fat, so I figured it was just water-weight... but the whole
freaking week?!?!? Ugh.
Last, but certainly not least, I have been having a REALLY hard time
with how my body looks between the waist and mid-thighs. I had to
cover up the bottom of the bathroom mirror because it was making me
cry everytime I looked at myself after a shower. I *hate* the way my
lower tummy and pubic area look. There is still a lot of extra fat
and everything hangs down SO far below where it should. It's
disgusting. Sex is out of the question. No, I didn't have surgery
primarily to look better, but that part of my body loooked better
BEFORE surgery, and I did not expect to go through all of this and end
up hating my body even more than I did before. (My 100-pound
counselor was kind when I tried to explain to her how I am feeling,
but clearly she doesn't "get" it.) Yes, I still have about 75 pounds
to lose. Even if I lose 25 of that before the end of May (when I was
hoping to be able to get the hernia and everything else fixed), I
doubt that a PS will be willing to DO the surgery then. And even if
he does, will I end up looking WORSE than I do now? I cannot find any
kind of undergarment that will help "lift" this "package" (that any
man would envy) that I now have... anything that is heavy duty enough
to make any difference makes the hernia hurt, cuts into my thighs, or
pulls everything up and out which is even worse! I *hate* this body.
Lora

Katy,
I don't think that the problem with returning to work in 5 days has to
do with pain. I think that the time off has to do with getting
yourself on schedule. You have to plan a schedule for vitamins,
mealtimes, drinks, exercise, and family. It is not as easy as it
sounds. I imagine you are asking because you need the income from
working. These first few weeks are very important to your future
success. This is when you lay the foundation for how your journey will
go. I am not trying to discourage you from returning to work quickly,
I am just warning you to try to set up a schedule for your healthy
tasks. I am sorry to be the person to throw one more kink in your
plans.
Lizanne
Maryland

I *did* go back to work 5 days after my surgery, with NO problems. I wasn't
tired, I was able to stay for the entire day.
Pat
Katy Weber <itsup2mekt@...
If you had a desk job, and all went well with your RNY how long do you
think it would be until you "could" go back to work?

Just an FYI.....
http://www.nutrexsolutions.com/2006/10/31/fish-vs-flax/
http://womenshealth.com/health-library/71-ask-marla/58-is-omega-3-in-fish-oil-be\
tter-than-in-flax-seed-oil
http://www.level1diet.com/omega-3-flax-oil-fish-oil-borage-oil.html
Dee
:-)

If you had a desk job, and all went well with your RNY how long do you
think it would be until you "could" go back to work?

Mary, that is just too funny, imagine how i feel I haven't had surgery so he's
getting a big beautiful mama. seeing me in all my glory is what I always think
of. but of course that won't be happening with anyone for a long long time so i
should be thinner but lordy then have to deal with the flabby me! i've seen mine
online and i have talked to him alot on the instant message but this is the
first meet so lets see how the chemistry goes. this stuff is so nerve wracking.
good luck.
Judy - 5 1/2 weeks to go for my new grandson: Travis
"Happily Watching the Scale Go Down"
California
262/241

Mary,
I was going to switch to the ground flax seed, but my doctor is
advising against it. That's why I'm hoping that my exercise is going
to bump my HDL number up. Right now it's at 30, and it would be much
better if it were 40, better still if it were 50.
I've got a great local source for the whole seeds that you can grind
yourself, so if/when my dr. lets me try it again, I'm all set. Thanks
for your offer, though! :)
Jill
-34.8

Judy,
I am not so much worried about being big anymore but when the time comes,
having him see me in all my glory. I just hope it is a dark room... lol. I
panic about those things now. Before when I was with my husband, I wasn't
worried as he has seen me worse than I am now. Who knows, maybe it won't
even get to that... maybe he won't like what he sees. He is great on the
phone though... sensual voice.
I will for sure compare notes with you... I hope match.com comes through for
both of us and anyone else who goes looking for love and companionship
through the internet :-)
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Lisa,
Congratulations!! Both on the weight loss and the "normal" factor!!!
Happy dancing right along with you!! WTG!!!
Jill
-34.8

2008 is bringing alot of changes for me. I will be having the surgery, I am
"dating", I am going to be a first time grandma next month and drumroll p l e a
s e!
my daughter just informed me that I will be a grandma again this year! woohoo!
my daughter is pregnant and she'll be due in November or December. WOW first
none now I get two in one year :) so glad I decided to have surgery when I found
out my grandson was coming!
Judy - 6 weeks to go for my new grandson: Travis
"Happily Watching the Scale Go Down"
California
262/241

I am really looking forward to that package arriving here! I LOVE my
herb teas! They are so gentle on my pouch and that's how I get my
fluids in.
Jill
-34.4

Hi Mary,
Online dating is something I have a little experience with, so
here is what I've learned:
What they say they are like and what they are really like are often
worlds apart, I got excited about several men and was disappointed
after meeting them, as big women we tend to worry more about what we
do or do not have going for us when we should spend more time
thinking about what YOU need and want in a mate. Go slow and try not
to get discouraged if he isn't the one, there is someone for everyone
and there are lots of men
Online looking for the same things you are. I found a great guy on
eharmony we have been together for a year and a half, so it does
work, hang in there and let me know how
Things go tomorrow.
Katy

Pauline,
Make sure everyone knows what meds you are taking when you go for your
surgery. They will try and stop everything they can. I was off of my
anti-depressants after surgery and about a week after I got home, I started
feeling the effects of not having them and started myself back on them
again. Make sure your surgeon orders them for you while you are in there...
it is important it isn't missed.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Jill,
I read your comment about Flax Seed Oil and you are right.. the oil is very
hard to tollerate. The best to use if you are planning on using it is the
ground flax seed. It tastes like nuts and can be added to just about
anything. I found waffles with flax seed, apple and cinimmon and cookies
with flax seed, oatmeal and cranberries. There is a lot of food out there
now with flax seed in it. If there is something specific you are looking
for, we have organic grocery stores down here and can probably find it there
for you... just let me know. :-)
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167 (now at 172 and dropping again.. yeah!/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

OH MY GOD Mary, I have a date tomorrow too, mine is Michael and he found me on
match.com
I was just reading emails so I could post my news also. this is unreal! I'm also
nervous but he's seen my pic and that's all I can say. we're meeting at the
Olive Garden. how exciting for us!
i'll tell you about mine when I get home and you tell me about yours LOL
good luck.
Judy - 6 weeks to go for my new grandson: Travis
"Happily Watching the Scale Go Down"
California
262/241

Lisa,
I'm doing the happy dance with you. That is so awesome. What do you MEAN "it
really doesn't mean much"? It means a whole lot. Congratulations.
Debby
Lisa Lockwood <lockwoodl@...
Ok everyone I am doing the happy dance today. I am almost at the 6
month mark (on the 12th) and I am down 92 pounds today but the best
thing is I am now at 154 pounds and in the NORMAL range on the BMI
calculator. I know it doesn't really mean much but I never thought I
would ever be able to consider myself normal (actually I still don't in
my head). Also my husband told me I can stop now because he can see my
bones that made me feel good too.
Anyway after not having the stupid scale move for the last 3 weeks it
is good to know it still can.
Lisa L.
Lap RNY 9/12/07
246/154/140

Ok everyone I am doing the happy dance today. I am almost at the 6
month mark (on the 12th) and I am down 92 pounds today but the best
thing is I am now at 154 pounds and in the NORMAL range on the BMI
calculator. I know it doesn't really mean much but I never thought I
would ever be able to consider myself normal (actually I still don't in
my head). Also my husband told me I can stop now because he can see my
bones that made me feel good too.
Anyway after not having the stupid scale move for the last 3 weeks it
is good to know it still can.
Lisa L.
Lap RNY 9/12/07
246/154/140

Thats awesome Naomi! I am glad you donated it. Now we will be able to
celebrate having our tea together as friends as well as celebrate that we were
part of something larger.
The Savation Army is always accepting donations around here. There are a lot
of people in the city who rely on the soup kitchen they offer. I think it is a
very worthwhile charity.
Lisa A
Naomi <nsmoschgat@...
Hi all, I received the last tea yesterday and rushed to separate them
and pack them. They are mailed and I actually can't wait to try all
of the varieties!!! I hope I didn't make any mistakes with the
packing, but if I did don't hesitate to tell me. The postage was
$1.81 and someone suggested to donate any extra so I actually threw the
extra money into the Salvation Army bucket outside the grocery store!
It seemed like "it was supposed to be there!!" I don't know if they
collect in all areas during the Easter Season, but they do here as we
are a very depressed area and they collect for families at Easter not
only Christmas. So thank you to all and you also helped some of our
local families have a little more for Easter! Hopefully you will start
receiving them by Monday or Tuesday!! Naomi
Lisa A
284/271/168/135

Hi all, I received the last tea yesterday and rushed to separate them
and pack them. They are mailed and I actually can't wait to try all
of the varieties!!! I hope I didn't make any mistakes with the
packing, but if I did don't hesitate to tell me. The postage was
$1.81 and someone suggested to donate any extra so I actually threw the
extra money into the Salvation Army bucket outside the grocery store!
It seemed like "it was supposed to be there!!" I don't know if they
collect in all areas during the Easter Season, but they do here as we
are a very depressed area and they collect for families at Easter not
only Christmas. So thank you to all and you also helped some of our
local families have a little more for Easter! Hopefully you will start
receiving them by Monday or Tuesday!! Naomi

Lizanne, I am going to store this idea for some night when I want a cookie!!!
It sounds yummy. 11 g fiber!!!! Naomi
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Oatmeal INSANITY!
This is, HANDS DOWN, the world's CRAZIEST and most delicious bowl of
guilt-free oatmeal!!!
PER SERVING (entire recipe): 179 calories, 3.5g fat, 367mg sodium,
40g carbs, 11g fiber, 3g sugars, 7g protein -- POINTS® value 3*
Ingredients:
1 packet Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Regular
1/4 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/4 cup light vanilla soymilk
2 tbsp. canned pure pumpkin
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip
1 tbsp. sugar-free maple syrup
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon)
5 sprays I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
1 no-calorie sweetener packet (like Splenda)
dash salt
Directions:
Place all ingredients except for Reddi-wip in a microwave-safe bowl.
Add 1/4 cup water and stir. Microwave for 45 seconds, stir, and then
continue to cook in the microwave for 30 - 40 seconds. Once oatmeal
has thickened, remove bowl from the microwave. Add the Reddi-wip, and
stir well. Then enjoy the best bowl of oatmeal you've EVER tasted!
MAKES 1 SERVING
Tips & Tricks for Cereal-Lovers!
Milk It! - Tired of looking to your flakes or crunchies to make your
breakfast bowl pop? Change it up by flavoring your MILK with guilt-
free stuff instead of relying on high-calorie cereals for flavor. Use
Splenda Flavors for Coffee, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, unsweetened
cocoa powder, no-calorie sweetener -- you name it -- and get creative
by combining 'em! Just remember to start with a guilt-free milk or
milk substitute, like Unsweetened Almond Breeze, light soymilk, low-
fat milk, or skim milk. Flavored milk will breathe new life into your
morning meal.
Fruit Freeze It! - Everyone knows adding fruit to cereal is good.
Humans have been doing it for ages. But instead of using regular old
fruit, try adding ZAZZLE and CRUNCH to your cold cereal by tossing in
handfuls of freeze-dried fruit -- like the ones from the Sensible
Foods, Cereal Toppers, Gerber Mini Fruits, Just Tomatoes, and Crispy
Green product lines. They taste great and won't add many calories at
all. In fact, a half-cup of the stuff typically has only 60 - 70
calories, <0.5g fat, and a gram of fiber (POINTS® value 1*)!
Fiber-ize It! - Mixing 1/4 cup of Fiber One bran cereal (original)
with ANY cereal is a fantastic idea. You'll add just 30 calories to
your b-fast, and you'll get the benefits of an extra 7 grams of fiber
(POINTS® value 0*) -- plus, you'll get to eat more, too. Wowow!!!
Puff It Up! - Looking to make your cereal bowl fuller, puffier and
more satisfying? Even if you don't enjoy it straight, spiking your
favorite cereal with some puffed wheat, puffed corn, puffed rice, or
other puffed stuff will add major bulk to your cereal bowl for hardly
any calories. An entire cup of most plain puffed cereal has only
around 50 fat-free calories plus 0 - 2g fiber (POINTS® value 1*). We
also love Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs (1 cup = 70 calories, 0.5g fat,
1g fiber -- POINTS® value 1*). Mmmmm!

Hi all,
I know this is a bit off topic but wanted to let you know... I have a date
tomorrow for lunch. He found me on Match.com, his name is Jim, he is 51 (I
am 50), divorced, 5'10", 185 lbs, brown hair and eyes and doesn't drink or
smoke. Might have a cold beer with a pretzel now and then but not often.
We talked about my gastric bypass and he understands that part and he
exercises and likes to take walks/hikes so he should be good for me.
I am a bit nervous though with having the bat wings and all. He has seen a
picture of me but I haven't of him yet. I am going to try and take one on
my phone tomorrow. He sounds too good to be true but I am excited to be
seeing someone again.
I am not sure what to wear, I hate my hair, etc... I haven't been on a date
in over 8 years... lol. My worry about what to wear is because if we hit it
off which I feel we will, we will probably go take a walk and talk more
possibly on the beach. Not sure if we would end up back at his place or
not. I will be meeting him at Smoky Bones BBQ and then go from there.
Any suggestions?
Thanks... Mary

YAY JILL!
It's so nice to see the scale move. congratulations.
Debby
Jill <jsplds@...
I've lost just a tad more weight, and now I can't get past the old
number. You'd think I'd be jumping up and down for joy, instead of
typing the same old, same old! ~lol~
The correct figure for today is a loss of 34.8!
Jill
-34.8

HG's Complete & Utter Oatmeal INSANITY!
This is, HANDS DOWN, the world's CRAZIEST and most delicious bowl of
guilt-free oatmeal!!!
PER SERVING (entire recipe): 179 calories, 3.5g fat, 367mg sodium,
40g carbs, 11g fiber, 3g sugars, 7g protein -- POINTS® value 3*
Ingredients:
1 packet Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Regular
1/4 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/4 cup light vanilla soymilk
2 tbsp. canned pure pumpkin
2 tbsp. Fat Free Reddi-wip
1 tbsp. sugar-free maple syrup
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon)
5 sprays I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
1 no-calorie sweetener packet (like Splenda)
dash salt
Directions:
Place all ingredients except for Reddi-wip in a microwave-safe bowl.
Add 1/4 cup water and stir. Microwave for 45 seconds, stir, and then
continue to cook in the microwave for 30 - 40 seconds. Once oatmeal
has thickened, remove bowl from the microwave. Add the Reddi-wip, and
stir well. Then enjoy the best bowl of oatmeal you've EVER tasted!
MAKES 1 SERVING
Tips & Tricks for Cereal-Lovers!
Milk It! - Tired of looking to your flakes or crunchies to make your
breakfast bowl pop? Change it up by flavoring your MILK with guilt-
free stuff instead of relying on high-calorie cereals for flavor. Use
Splenda Flavors for Coffee, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, unsweetened
cocoa powder, no-calorie sweetener -- you name it -- and get creative
by combining 'em! Just remember to start with a guilt-free milk or
milk substitute, like Unsweetened Almond Breeze, light soymilk, low-
fat milk, or skim milk. Flavored milk will breathe new life into your
morning meal.
Fruit Freeze It! - Everyone knows adding fruit to cereal is good.
Humans have been doing it for ages. But instead of using regular old
fruit, try adding ZAZZLE and CRUNCH to your cold cereal by tossing in
handfuls of freeze-dried fruit -- like the ones from the Sensible
Foods, Cereal Toppers, Gerber Mini Fruits, Just Tomatoes, and Crispy
Green product lines. They taste great and won't add many calories at
all. In fact, a half-cup of the stuff typically has only 60 - 70
calories, <0.5g fat, and a gram of fiber (POINTS® value 1*)!
Fiber-ize It! - Mixing 1/4 cup of Fiber One bran cereal (original)
with ANY cereal is a fantastic idea. You'll add just 30 calories to
your b-fast, and you'll get the benefits of an extra 7 grams of fiber
(POINTS® value 0*) -- plus, you'll get to eat more, too. Wowow!!!
Puff It Up! - Looking to make your cereal bowl fuller, puffier and
more satisfying? Even if you don't enjoy it straight, spiking your
favorite cereal with some puffed wheat, puffed corn, puffed rice, or
other puffed stuff will add major bulk to your cereal bowl for hardly
any calories. An entire cup of most plain puffed cereal has only
around 50 fat-free calories plus 0 - 2g fiber (POINTS® value 1*). We
also love Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs (1 cup = 70 calories, 0.5g fat,
1g fiber -- POINTS® value 1*). Mmmmm!

I've lost just a tad more weight, and now I can't get past the old
number. You'd think I'd be jumping up and down for joy, instead of
typing the same old, same old! ~lol~
The correct figure for today is a loss of 34.8!
Jill
-34.8

I only worry at night. During the day I'm fine. I was a big night time eater for
a long time. It was nothing to go to Burger King at 9:00 and get a whopper. I
was hungry all the time. I think a lot of it had to do with a medication I was
on. Boredom is very dangerous for me. That's when I turn to food most.
Pauleen
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Pauleen,
Believe it or not, that extra time to think was the best of all. You
now know what you may be up against after surgery. That's the part I
had trouble dealing with. It's good you have concerns about the
after surgery life. But as you have read your tastes change, well so
does your drive to make this "last chance" work. After surgery the
dependence on food generally goes away for a few weeks. In that time
period you begin to think that you can actually do this...if you
aren't suffering from depression and then you think you can't do
this. The dependence on food will return if you don't start to learn
how to redirect your emotional upheavals.
I believe you are educated in this lifestyle change and will
eventually make the right decisions for you. Those first couple of
weeks-months may be difficult or they may be easy. But at least you
know where you can go to get some help. The people in this group may
not always agree about the "right" procedures to follow, but we are
willing to share what worked or didn't work for us. You can make
your own decision from there. Good luck, you will do just fine.
Lizanne

Pauleen,
Believe it or not, that extra time to think was the best of all. You
now know what you may be up against after surgery. That's the part I
had trouble dealing with. It's good you have concerns about the
after surgery life. But as you have read your tastes change, well so
does your drive to make this "last chance" work. After surgery the
dependence on food generally goes away for a few weeks. In that time
period you begin to think that you can actually do this...if you
aren't suffering from depression and then you think you can't do
this. The dependence on food will return if you don't start to learn
how to redirect your emotional upheavals.
I believe you are educated in this lifestyle change and will
eventually make the right decisions for you. Those first couple of
weeks-months may be difficult or they may be easy. But at least you
know where you can go to get some help. The people in this group may
not always agree about the "right" procedures to follow, but we are
willing to share what worked or didn't work for us. You can make
your own decision from there. Good luck, you will do just fine.
Lizanne

Judy, did you consider the DS instead of the RNY? THis is NOT an
attempt to start an OH-type debate about whihc surgery is "better",
because I believe the best surgery is the one that will fit best with
each individual's lifestyle, eating issues, etc.
The reason I mention it is that one of the things about the DS that
the people who have it love to "brag" about is that -- because of the
extra malabsorption -- the chances of regaining weight are smaller
than with RNY. You also have a stomach that is somewhere between the
size of your old stomach and the small RNY pouch, so you can eat more
at one time. The drawbacks are more potential nutritional
deficiencies (vitamins 2x per day instead of once, 100g of protein
every day instead of 60-70) and possible problmes with foul-smelling
gas, oily stools, and diarrhea.
Just a thought. The other way to look at your fear of re-gaining,
though, is that the fear ITSELF can be an additional tool to help keep
you following a healthy meal plan (I didn't want to say "diet") after
surgery. That's the way I look at it, anyway.
Lora

Congratulations Debby! What a great feeling it is to go shopping and find out
you are smaller than you thought. I am almost 4 years out and started out a
size 26/28 and now down to a size 12. Shopping is so much fun these days! Will
be even better when I have my tummy tuck done in April. Keep up the good work!
Theresa in GA
debra hill <debbyk9009@...
Hi all,
I had a great day today. I wore a pair of jeans to work today that were a size
18 I thought that was great since I haven't been able to wear them in a long
time. I have a party to go tomorrow and I needed to go shopping to get something
to wear. I hate clothes shopping. I still have clothes in my closet that I wore
in the early 90's because I hate seeing myself in those 3 way mirrors in the
dressing room but I don't have anything that fits. I tried on a pair of dress
pants in an 18 but had to buy a sixteen! Then I went to buy a pair of shoes
because all I have are Birkenstocks. I wear a size 10. I tried on a 10 and
walked out of them, I went down to a 9 1/2 then a 9 and finally bought a size 8
1/2! I'm looking forward to the party tomorrow. I'ts with the people from my old
job and I haven't seen some of them for a year. I left last March to have
surgery on my ankle and was not able to return to that job. They knew I was
going to have the surgery because I started the
process while I was still there but only a few have seen me. I have lost 28
pounds since surgery and 55 pounds since I started on this journey. I still have
60-70 to go but It has made a difference. I am glad that I made this decision.
To all you pre-ops out there your day is coming too. Can't wait to have all of
you in the losers lounge.
Debby

Therese, you are almost 4 yrs out and I was wondering about a few things.
Have you stopped losing? If you have, when did you stop? Have you regained
any weight? If you didn't...Why not? If you did, what have you done about
it? I will be a year in May, I still don't have all I need to lose off and I
am worried. I think if you would answer some of these questions it would
really help most of us. Naomi

Congratulations, Debby! That's great!!! Oh you are going to have a
blast at that party!!
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

Well, the PS made the decision for me. He says that he CANNOT do the
abdominoplasty on my lower abdomen because of the hernia repair on the
upper portion. So there is no decision to make. I will just have to
accept the "alien butt" as part of my new body. (Or wait until the
hernia repair is sufficiently healed and I can find a different PS who
WILL repair the lower part.)

Hi all,
I had a great day today. I wore a pair of jeans to work today that were a
size 18 I thought that was great since I haven't been able to wear them in a
long time. I have a party to go tomorrow and I needed to go shopping to get
something to wear. I hate clothes shopping. I still have clothes in my closet
that I wore in the early 90's because I hate seeing myself in those 3 way
mirrors in the dressing room but I don't have anything that fits. I tried on a
pair of dress pants in an 18 but had to buy a sixteen! Then I went to buy a pair
of shoes because all I have are Birkenstocks. I wear a size 10. I tried on a 10
and walked out of them, I went down to a 9 1/2 then a 9 and finally bought a
size 8 1/2! I'm looking forward to the party tomorrow. I'ts with the people from
my old job and I haven't seen some of them for a year. I left last March to have
surgery on my ankle and was not able to return to that job. They knew I was
going to have the surgery because I started the
process while I was still there but only a few have seen me. I have lost 28
pounds since surgery and 55 pounds since I started on this journey. I still have
60-70 to go but It has made a difference. I am glad that I made this decision.
To all you pre-ops out there your day is coming too. Can't wait to have all of
you in the losers lounge.
Debby

Yeah, I know! I feel so bad for her!!
Jill
-34.4

You were gone when I left.

You got the right idea Pauleen .. take a day for YOU!!
~*Sharon XOXO*~
"THIN feels better than FAT tastes!"
Lap RNY 7/30/07
HW242**SW232**CW166**GW125-130

I know Mary . . im sorry .. try to stick w/ what you know works .. i hope yours
will move again soon in the right direction and me too!!
~*Sharon XOXO*~
"THIN feels better than FAT tastes!"
Lap RNY 7/30/07
HW242**SW232**CW166**GW125-130

Looking good, Mindy!! Woohoo!!
Jill
-34.4

geeez.. that's crazy! I hope they are both able to get plenty of rest tonight,
and that she gets moved in the morning! Thanks for keeping us posted Jill :)
Pat
Jill <jsplds@...
I just got off the phone with Cindy's husband. He said that Cindy is
doing well, with some incisional pain. She's using her pump to help
with that. Her swallow test is scheduled for 10 tomorrow morning.
Hopefully, they will have a room for her by then. Yes, you read that
right . . . they have no room for her, so she has been in the recovery
room all day and is spending the night there tonight!
John brought in Cindy's laptop for her so she can access the wireless
availability there at the hospital, and he brought her 3 DVDs to watch
in case she's awake during the night, since there's no TV in the
recovery room. What a sweetie!
He's had a pretty long day at the hospital, and he's only been allowed
to spend 15 minutes with her at a time. Gosh, I hope she gets a room
tomorrow! He's headed home now to spend some time with the kids and to
try to get some rest.
Jill
-34.4

Good luck with your tests tomorrow! Then enjoy the rest of your day
off! *L*
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

I have an Upper GI and blood work scheduled for tomorrow. I get to drink 2
bottles of barium on an empty stomach. Someone who is having surgery the same
day as me just did her tests yesterday. She said she was there about 3 hours. I
was planning on putting a couple hours in at work tomorrow, but it doesn't look
like I'll make it. I usually work 9-2. My GI is scheduled for 9:30. I also have
to meet with the bariatric nurse after my tests. By the time I get done it will
be after 12:00. I'll need to grab some lunch and work is about 15 minutes from
the hospital. It doesn't seem worth it to go in for an hour. I think I'll just
grab my check and run.
Pauleen

Mindy,
Your pictures are approved. Wow, you look really good. I always
wonder why in the "before" pictures, everyone is smiling, but in
the "after" pictures, everyone is so serious. This lifestyle must
make us focused.
Keep up the good work. What does your family think of your change?
Lizanne
251/175/125

I just got off the phone with Cindy's husband. He said that Cindy is
doing well, with some incisional pain. She's using her pump to help
with that. Her swallow test is scheduled for 10 tomorrow morning.
Hopefully, they will have a room for her by then. Yes, you read that
right . . . they have no room for her, so she has been in the recovery
room all day and is spending the night there tonight!
John brought in Cindy's laptop for her so she can access the wireless
availability there at the hospital, and he brought her 3 DVDs to watch
in case she's awake during the night, since there's no TV in the
recovery room. What a sweetie!
He's had a pretty long day at the hospital, and he's only been allowed
to spend 15 minutes with her at a time. Gosh, I hope she gets a room
tomorrow! He's headed home now to spend some time with the kids and to
try to get some rest.
Jill
-34.4

Winsome,
You sound just like me. Just like me. It's amazing. And just so
you know, I no longer feel my surgery was a mistake.
You have what sounds to me like depression. Food tastes gross,
smells may be elevated and not pleasant, you are grouchy and tired
and cold, you aren't exercising, things taste terrible and you don't
feel like taking your vitamins.
I had this. I didn't get any help. That was the worst mistake I
have made since I had this surgery. Please talk to either your
surgeon or your PCP. You need help now, or later you will be
unhappy. I am not overreacting.
Food...try something different. I did not like protein drinks and I
still don't. Your tastes have changed. Go to vitalady.com and get
some samples. You need to get your protein. Also I lived on
popsicles as did many people I know. It helps with the fluids and
they taste good. I didn't like the SF ones right after surgery so I
ate the natural fruit bars. Also, cold drinks did not sit as well as
hot/warm drinks. Try decaf teas, they come in a lot of flavors so
you can find one you like. Both Naomi and I still drink them.
The irritability and grouchiness comes from the hormones being
released from your fat. I lost 35 lbs in the first 19 days. Then I
plateaued for the next 21 only losing .3 lbs. That was even more
depressing. For some of us those first couple months can be hard.
Make sure to take your vitamins. They can help you stay healthy.
Take 2 multi vitamins, vitamin B12, biotin and magnesium for your
hair, iron if you have not gone through menopause, and calcium
citrate.
Finally, try to walk. I know I am asking a lot of you when you feel
really really Sh***y. I remember people trying to encourage me and I
just wanted to punch them and SCREAM THAT THIS IS HORRIBLE AND YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH.
Please, contact me if you need to. If you email me I will give you
my cell phone number and we can talk for hours if you need to. I
truly know how you are feeling. I will do what I can to help.
Lizanne

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time. I hope it gets better soon. I've
heard the first 3 months are the hardest. My surgery is in 12 days and I have a
bit of doubt.
Pauleen
Winsome <winsomedove@...
Hi
I don't post much but i do read the posts every day and appreciate
all the activity. I am LAP RNY, 4 wks post op and I feel like I have
made the biggest mistake of my life.
Nothing has any appeal to me as far as food goes. I'm getting my
protein drinks & water in, but only just barely-- everything takes
terrible terrible. Sometimes after eating (and I'm still on full
liquids!) I feel awful... like I want to throw up and will need to
lie down to rest for about an hour. I cannot imagine eating anything
solid, though next week I am supposed to graduate to soft foods.
This makes me feel very depressed too and I feel really irritable and
grouchy.
I'm also FREEZING cold and need to take a very warm bath before I
even attempt to get into bed or i am shivering for about an hour and
cannot fall asleep. I was never this cold before.
I have lost about 33 lbs so far in the last 4 weeks. Not having any
problems losing but I just don't feel well, in general.
At this point, I wish i never had the surgery. Weight loss is nice
but not at the expense of feeling so lousy

I posted some pictures of the 5K run I did Friday. It was a great run, The
weather was nice, it didn't get hot until yesterday. I have walked a 5K before
but this is the first time I ran one. Without the weight loss there is no way I
could have done it. I have been icing my knee all weekend though because the
ligament in my knee is giving me some trouble. It needs to get better because I
need to train to work up to a half marathon this year.
Debby

Hi
I don't post much but i do read the posts every day and appreciate
all the activity. I am LAP RNY, 4 wks post op and I feel like I have
made the biggest mistake of my life.
Nothing has any appeal to me as far as food goes. I'm getting my
protein drinks & water in, but only just barely-- everything takes
terrible terrible. Sometimes after eating (and I'm still on full
liquids!) I feel awful... like I want to throw up and will need to
lie down to rest for about an hour. I cannot imagine eating anything
solid, though next week I am supposed to graduate to soft foods.
This makes me feel very depressed too and I feel really irritable and
grouchy.
I'm also FREEZING cold and need to take a very warm bath before I
even attempt to get into bed or i am shivering for about an hour and
cannot fall asleep. I was never this cold before.
I have lost about 33 lbs so far in the last 4 weeks. Not having any
problems losing but I just don't feel well, in general.
At this point, I wish i never had the surgery. Weight loss is nice
but not at the expense of feeling so lousy

Lora,
How about....
"Weight Loss Surgery... Friend or Foe"? or...
"Weight Loss Surgery... Taking the easy way out?" or...
"The A B C's of Weight Loss after Surgery"
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Hi would rather be stuck instead of being on the gaining side of the
scale... lol.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

Jill,
She was so positive about this surgery I bet she does well. Tell her,
when you speak with her, that I can't wait until she meets us in the
Losers' Lounge.
Lizanne

Pat,
I noticed we have a new member. Aren't you the welcoming committee?
Prod her out of lurkdom.
Lizanne

wow... they must have taken her very early, or in a much later time zone!
Yayyyy Cindy!!! Welcome to the loser's lounge!!
Pat
Jill <jsplds@...
I just got a call from Cindy's husband, and she is out of surgery and
doing well. Let me be the first to say "Welcome into the Loser's
Lounge, Cindy!"
Jill
-34.4

I just got a call from Cindy's husband, and she is out of surgery and
doing well. Let me be the first to say "Welcome into the Loser's
Lounge, Cindy!"
Jill
-34.4

Lizanne,
Methotrexate should NOT be used by women of childbearing age. It's the drug
we use to destroy the fetus in ectopic pregnancys trying to save the mom from
surgery and possible tubal damage.
Debby
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Arthritis pill cuts heart attack risk: study By Michael Kahn
LONDON (Reuters) - A once-a-week pill to treat rheumatoid arthritis
significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke for people
with the painful joint condition, an international team of
researchers said on Thursday.
The findings published in the journal Arthritis & Therapy provides
further evidence of the benefits of the generic drug methotrexate and
underscores the importance of prescribing it early on, the
researchers said.
"This shows that we are really making a difference in patients'
lives," said Tuulikki Sokka, a researcher at Jyvaskyla Central
Hospital in Finland, who worked on the study.
About 20 million people worldwide have rheumatoid arthritis, an
autoimmune disease caused when the body confuses healthy tissue for
foreign substances and attacks itself.
Some drugs used to treat it reduce inflammation directly while others
tone down immune system response -- leaving patients vulnerable to
infections and cancer.
Methotrexate was developed as a cancer drug and works by altering the
body's use of folic acid, which is needed for cell growth. It may
begin to work as early as three to six weeks after treatment starts.
The results are part of a long-term study of more than 4,300 people
in 15 countries examining the causes and effects of rheumatoid
arthritis and the potential benefits of medications.
The team -- which included researchers from Spain, Argentina and the
United States -- adjusted for traditional risk factors such as
exercise, smoking and diabetes and found potential health benefits
for people given methotrexate .
Using methotrexate for one year cut the risk of heart attack by 18
percent and the risk of a stroke by 11 percent, the researchers said.
Results also suggested that newer drugs that block an inflammatory
protein called tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, were also effective at
reducing heart attack and stroke risk, although more research is
needed, Sokka said.
This class of drugs includes Johnson & Johnson's Remicade, Amgen
Inc's Enbrel, and Abbott Laboratories Inc's Humira. The drugs are
expensive, which is why people often do not get them right away.

Rise in midlife stroke in women linked to obesity By Martha Kerr
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters Health) - The rapidly rising incidence of stroke
among Americans is primarily due to the increasing number of middle-
aged women who are having strokes. The increasing incidence is also
associated with abdominal obesity, investigators told attendees here
at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference
2008.
"The incidence of stroke is two-times higher in women than men
between the ages of 35 and 54," announced Dr. Amytis Towfighi of the
University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Towfighi and colleagues analyzed data from the National Health and
Nutrition Surveys (NHANES) collected between 1988 and 1994 that
included 5,112 participants, as well as NHANES data collected between
1999 and 2004 that included 4,594 participants.
Towfighi said that women 35 to 54 years old who reported a history of
stroke accounted for 1.79 percent of the 1999-2004 study population,
but only 0.63 percent of women in the same age group in the 1988-1994
survey.
"The number of middle-aged women with stroke tripled," she pointed
out.
The rate of traditional stroke risk factors, such as diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, didn't change between
the two surveys, Towfighi added. "However, waist circumference and
body mass index increased significantly."
Waist circumference and body mass index - the ratio of height to
weight often used to determine whether an individual is over- or
underweight -- also increased among men in the same age bracket, but
not as sharply as in women.
She said that 47 percent of women in the earlier survey qualified as
having abdominal obesity, with a waist circumference of 88
centimeters (35 inches) or greater, while 59 percent of women had
abdominal obesity in the later survey. The proportion of men with
abdominal obesity also increased from 29 percent to 41 percent.
"There is no good explanation for why abdominal obesity has a greater
impact on stroke in women, except that it is one of the defining
features of the metabolic syndrome, and the metabolic syndrome has a
significantly greater effect on women than men," Towfighi told
Reuters Health.
The metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of cardiovascular risk
factors including obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes type II.
Stroke may be one of those effects that women experience, she added

Arthritis pill cuts heart attack risk: study By Michael Kahn
LONDON (Reuters) - A once-a-week pill to treat rheumatoid arthritis
significantly reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke for people
with the painful joint condition, an international team of
researchers said on Thursday.
The findings published in the journal Arthritis & Therapy provides
further evidence of the benefits of the generic drug methotrexate and
underscores the importance of prescribing it early on, the
researchers said.
"This shows that we are really making a difference in patients'
lives," said Tuulikki Sokka, a researcher at Jyvaskyla Central
Hospital in Finland, who worked on the study.
About 20 million people worldwide have rheumatoid arthritis, an
autoimmune disease caused when the body confuses healthy tissue for
foreign substances and attacks itself.
Some drugs used to treat it reduce inflammation directly while others
tone down immune system response -- leaving patients vulnerable to
infections and cancer.
Methotrexate was developed as a cancer drug and works by altering the
body's use of folic acid, which is needed for cell growth. It may
begin to work as early as three to six weeks after treatment starts.
The results are part of a long-term study of more than 4,300 people
in 15 countries examining the causes and effects of rheumatoid
arthritis and the potential benefits of medications.
The team -- which included researchers from Spain, Argentina and the
United States -- adjusted for traditional risk factors such as
exercise, smoking and diabetes and found potential health benefits
for people given methotrexate .
Using methotrexate for one year cut the risk of heart attack by 18
percent and the risk of a stroke by 11 percent, the researchers said.
Results also suggested that newer drugs that block an inflammatory
protein called tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, were also effective at
reducing heart attack and stroke risk, although more research is
needed, Sokka said.
This class of drugs includes Johnson & Johnson's Remicade, Amgen
Inc's Enbrel, and Abbott Laboratories Inc's Humira. The drugs are
expensive, which is why people often do not get them right away.

*I* love my surgery angel!!!
Lora

hmmm... seems earlier this year. But then, so is easter... Oh well, I am
always glad to have extra daylight in the evening :)
btw... I love you too, Sharon :)
Pat
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Yes, Pat, this weekend.

Yes, Pat, this weekend.

geeeez that was catty. Does she have a weight problem? Any chance she was
jealous of your accomplishment?
Pat
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
Sharon,
I love you too. I know how it feels and I am sorry that you have to
deal with this stagnacy also.
Gloria Vanderbilt brand has always been a favorite of mine. The
weist and the legs usually fit me, which is rare. They make
waistbands at the waist, though, and I think I am going to try some
that sit lower once I get through this stall.
Doesn't it feel good when a few people tell you how good you look? A
wonderful ego booster. I had the opposite happen at my last water
aerobics class. Three ladies have re-joined. They have not been to
the class since Nov. One of them asked how the weight loss was going
since the surgery and HAD I LOST ANY WEIGHT?!?!?!? Too bad she had a
smile on her face or I might have punched her. No really, I am not
physically violent anymore....just verbally. I just smiled and
said "yes". It doesn't help that I am going through this plateau (I
hope that's all it is).
Lizanne
251.175.125

Pat,
I had a bunch in the tummy after surgery. This one I had in the
right arm in the pre-sugery room. Then they gave me another one in
the left arm, pre-surgery. Nothing weird happened there. Then I had
about 8 in the lower belly after surgery. The one in the right arm
hurt like the devil.
Lizanne

Pat,
DUH, your right! What was I thinking?
Edie

I never heard of giving heparin in the arm... it's usually in the tummy. They
gave me three in my tummy when I had this surgery.. and in the same place when I
had previous surgeries. Anyone else get it in the arm??
Pat
lizanneflowers <lizanneflowers@...
I had a large bruise where John Hopkins gave me a shot of heparin
before surgery. It covered the whole top of my right arm until about
2 months ago. Now it is the size of a lipstick. Thought I would
share this info as many of us had heparin sometime around our surgery.
Contaminant found in blood thinner By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical
Writer
WASHINGTON - Some of Baxter International's recalled blood thinner
heparin contained large amounts of a contaminant that might explain
hundreds of serious side effects. And the government said Wednesday
it's investigating whether what appears to be a fake ingredient got
there by accident or by fraud.
The Food and Drug Administration said 19 deaths from allergic-type
reactions are now associated with the recalled drug, up from four.
Baxter insisted the contaminant further points suspicion at
ingredient suppliers in China, which are under increasing scrutiny
after a wave of recalls involving food, drug and toy imports.
The FDA stopped short of ruling out a U.S. connection and cautioned
that while the contaminant is a prime suspect, officials haven't yet
proved it harmed patients.
"We still don't know whether this inadvertently got into the supply
or whether it was actually added," said FDA drug chief Dr. Janet
Woodcock. "We can't tell you where the contamination originated."
High-tech testing by Baxter and other groups uncovered a heparin-like
compound in batches of the problem drug a substance not found in
batches of problem-free heparin.
The contaminant accounted for between 5 percent and 20 percent of
some of the samples tested, what FDA's Woodcock called "significant
quantities."
At those amounts, batches of heparin should have been flagged as
subpotent in Baxter's routine quality tests but they didn't,
because the contaminant is so chemically close to real heparin that
standard testing couldn't tell the difference, Woodcock said.
The FDA is so concerned that later this week it will give
manufacturers and other regulatory agencies worldwide instructions on
how to check other heparin supplies to be sure the contaminant isn't
sneaking in.
Remaining U.S. supplies of heparin, made by Baxter competitor APP
Pharmaceuticals, do not show contamination, the FDA stressed.
Heparin is derived from pig intestines, and the heparin-like
contaminant is related to a complex group of chemicals also in those
intestines, FDA officials said. That's part of the difficulty in
determining how the contaminant got into bulk ingredients used to
make vials of the injected blood thinner, which are used in patients
undergoing dialysis and heart surgery.
Counterfeit ingredients from China are a perennial headache for the
FDA. If the heparin contamination turns out to be deliberate, it
would be reminiscent of last year's scandal when a Chinese company
was charged with adding the toxic chemical melamine to an ingredient
used in U.S. pet food, killing thousands of dogs and cats. The
melamine let the ingredient pass chemical inspections for protein
content.
But Baxter referred to the heparin-like compound as "naturally
derived," and FDA said it would take more specific identification of
the contaminant, among other things, to tell if it could have slipped
into the bulk ingredient accidentally, during processing of the pig
intestines.
Baxter, which had provided about half the nation's supply, halted
production last month after its brand was linked to hundreds of
reports of allergic-style reactions, including vomiting, nausea and
difficulty breathing. Baxter purchases bulk heparin from Wisconsin-
based Scientific Protein Laboratories, or SPL, which in turn owns a
Chinese factory and buys additional crude heparin from other Chinese
suppliers.
Baxter said it found the contaminant in samples of the ingredient
from the China plant, Changzhou SPL, and in samples processed at the
Wisconsin factory that came from Chinese-made crude heparin.
"These results suggest that the root cause may be associated with the
crude heparin, sourced from China, or from the subsequent processing
of that product before it reaches Baxter," the company said.
The vast majority of the world's heparin comes from Chinese
ingredients, Baxter officials noted.
"It is premature to conclude that the heparin active pharmaceutical
ingredient sourced from China and provided by SPL to Baxter is
responsible for these adverse events," the Wisconsin-based SPL said
in a statement.
FDA inspectors last week found quality-control problems at the
Changzhou factory, a facility the agency had never before inspected
in violation of its own rules because of a mix-up with the
company's name. But the FDA isn't yet sure if those problems are
linked to the allergic-style reactions.
The FDA now has 785 reports of side effects among patients taking
heparin from any manufacturer, but can't yet say how many are the
complications of concern. Last week, the agency put that number at
215. FDA also has a total of 46 reports of deaths, but ruled out a
link with many of them and concluded that 19 deaths since January
2007 appear related to allergic-type reactions that triggered
Baxter's recall.

I had a large bruise where John Hopkins gave me a shot of heparin
before surgery. It covered the whole top of my right arm until about
2 months ago. Now it is the size of a lipstick. Thought I would
share this info as many of us had heparin sometime around our surgery.
Contaminant found in blood thinner By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical
Writer
WASHINGTON - Some of Baxter International's recalled blood thinner
heparin contained large amounts of a contaminant that might explain
hundreds of serious side effects. And the government said Wednesday
it's investigating whether what appears to be a fake ingredient got
there by accident or by fraud.
The Food and Drug Administration said 19 deaths from allergic-type
reactions are now associated with the recalled drug, up from four.
Baxter insisted the contaminant further points suspicion at
ingredient suppliers in China, which are under increasing scrutiny
after a wave of recalls involving food, drug and toy imports.
The FDA stopped short of ruling out a U.S. connection and cautioned
that while the contaminant is a prime suspect, officials haven't yet
proved it harmed patients.
"We still don't know whether this inadvertently got into the supply
or whether it was actually added," said FDA drug chief Dr. Janet
Woodcock. "We can't tell you where the contamination originated."
High-tech testing by Baxter and other groups uncovered a heparin-like
compound in batches of the problem drug a substance not found in
batches of problem-free heparin.
The contaminant accounted for between 5 percent and 20 percent of
some of the samples tested, what FDA's Woodcock called "significant
quantities."
At those amounts, batches of heparin should have been flagged as
subpotent in Baxter's routine quality tests but they didn't,
because the contaminant is so chemically close to real heparin that
standard testing couldn't tell the difference, Woodcock said.
The FDA is so concerned that later this week it will give
manufacturers and other regulatory agencies worldwide instructions on
how to check other heparin supplies to be sure the contaminant isn't
sneaking in.
Remaining U.S. supplies of heparin, made by Baxter competitor APP
Pharmaceuticals, do not show contamination, the FDA stressed.
Heparin is derived from pig intestines, and the heparin-like
contaminant is related to a complex group of chemicals also in those
intestines, FDA officials said. That's part of the difficulty in
determining how the contaminant got into bulk ingredients used to
make vials of the injected blood thinner, which are used in patients
undergoing dialysis and heart surgery.
Counterfeit ingredients from China are a perennial headache for the
FDA. If the heparin contamination turns out to be deliberate, it
would be reminiscent of last year's scandal when a Chinese company
was charged with adding the toxic chemical melamine to an ingredient
used in U.S. pet food, killing thousands of dogs and cats. The
melamine let the ingredient pass chemical inspections for protein
content.
But Baxter referred to the heparin-like compound as "naturally
derived," and FDA said it would take more specific identification of
the contaminant, among other things, to tell if it could have slipped
into the bulk ingredient accidentally, during processing of the pig
intestines.
Baxter, which had provided about half the nation's supply, halted
production last month after its brand was linked to hundreds of
reports of allergic-style reactions, including vomiting, nausea and
difficulty breathing. Baxter purchases bulk heparin from Wisconsin-
based Scientific Protein Laboratories, or SPL, which in turn owns a
Chinese factory and buys additional crude heparin from other Chinese
suppliers.
Baxter said it found the contaminant in samples of the ingredient
from the China plant, Changzhou SPL, and in samples processed at the
Wisconsin factory that came from Chinese-made crude heparin.
"These results suggest that the root cause may be associated with the
crude heparin, sourced from China, or from the subsequent processing
of that product before it reaches Baxter," the company said.
The vast majority of the world's heparin comes from Chinese
ingredients, Baxter officials noted.
"It is premature to conclude that the heparin active pharmaceutical
ingredient sourced from China and provided by SPL to Baxter is
responsible for these adverse events," the Wisconsin-based SPL said
in a statement.
FDA inspectors last week found quality-control problems at the
Changzhou factory, a facility the agency had never before inspected
in violation of its own rules because of a mix-up with the
company's name. But the FDA isn't yet sure if those problems are
linked to the allergic-style reactions.
The FDA now has 785 reports of side effects among patients taking
heparin from any manufacturer, but can't yet say how many are the
complications of concern. Last week, the agency put that number at
215. FDA also has a total of 46 reports of deaths, but ruled out a
link with many of them and concluded that 19 deaths since January
2007 appear related to allergic-type reactions that triggered
Baxter's recall.

Im a visual person and I would have to read the paper to think of something good
to name it. . but here goes...
Maybe "Coming out of the Darkness".......
"A gift of Life"
"Shedding the Ties that Bind"
Not sure i helped but if i think of more i will post them
~*Sharon XOXO*~
"THIN feels better than FAT tastes!"
Lap RNY 7/30/07
HW242**SW232**CW166**GW125-130

What a wonderful "feel good" moment for you Kim! No way would a 14 year old boy
lie about something like that! It sounds like he is proud of you.. :)

Pat
--- On Tue, 7/1/08, grassiesmom <grassiesmom@...
From: grassiesmom <grassiesmom@...
Subject: [WLS Friendship & Support] So happy, I have to share!`

Mothers-to-be are always incredibly beautiful to me.
Jill
-34.4

Lora,
I think you said it yourself - new life, new challenges.
Jill
-34.4

I have approved the pic. She is adorable. That tentative look of
hers shows the uncertainy. Ahhh, to be that young again. I'd like to
be that young and have had this surgery. What a different life that
might have been. Maybe my actual life was just as good or better,
just not as healthy. I was 8 months pregnant in August. What a hot
month.
I know you will, but keep us posted on this beautiful family.
Lizanne

I am putting the finishing touches on my proposal for a presentation
at my state counseling conference later this year. The subject is a
discussion of some of the unique emotional, psychological, social,
and behavioral issues that WLS often clients face (and that
counselors may ahve no idea about), and issues that face people who
have been overweight their entire lives until after WLS. The focus
will be primarily on the issues that people who lose less weight, or
who lose it over a much longer period of time, may not face (because
presumably counselors are familiar with many of the "basic" obesity
and weight-loss issues.
I need some feedback on a title. I can write a "mean" scholarly
paper but I am NOT very creative when it comes to catchy or
interesting titles and such!
I want an initial phrase for the title that will somehow convey that,
for many people, WLS offers a whole new life... with a whole new set
of challenges. So far, the best thing I can come up wth is "alive
again" (the whole title would be "Alive Again: Understanding and
Treating Clients Who Undergo Weight Loss Surgery").
I'm open to any and all suggestions...
Lora

Hungry, but don't wanna be? Check out these super-duper appetite-
curbers from HG...
Water:
You've likely heard this one before, but it's true. Drinking water
can curb your appetite. Try guzzling a full glass of it before a
meal, and there's a good chance you'll eat less. If you have trouble
getting cold water down, try drinking the stuff at room temperature.
Just don't fall victim to those silly high-calorie waters (Glacéau
VitaminWater, SoBe Life Water, etc.). And check out HG's water
reviews for more info on H2O!
Spicy Stuff:
Foods that pack a lot of spice and heat can help in several ways.
First off, they tend to dull your taste buds a bit, which can help
you eat less. And they have a metabolism-boosting effect as well.
HG's Hot Sauce Pick: Go for Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper
Sauce rather than run-of-the-mill Tabasco. Original Frank's tastes
great and isn't nearly as "red hot" as it sounds! It's actually
fairly mild for a hot sauce, though it does come in Xtra Hot as well.
You can also count on straight-up spices like chili powder and red
pepper flakes for adding low-sodium fieriness to food.
Broth-Based Soups:
Foods that are simply hot in temperature -- like soup -- can pummel
your appetite. Since they take a long time to eat, your body gets the
message that it's full before you go overboard. Just make sure your
soup isn't all creamy and packed with fat. And seek out low-sodium
ones if you watch your salt intake (there are SOO many out there to
choose from!). In addition to broth-based soups, straight broths --
like chicken or veggie -- are AWESOME picks. To turn an appetite-
bashing basic broth into something more fun and exciting, dump a bag
of Tofu Shirataki noodles into it. Your HUGE bowl of noodle soup will
have at least 4g fiber and only about 60 calories (POINTS® value 0 -
1*). Woohoo!
Apples:
Apples rock our faces off. It's true, and here's why. They're
healthy, fairly low in calories, packed with fiber (so they help you
feel full) and they taste great any time of day. What we like best
about 'em, though, is the fact that people very rarely overeat them.
Snack on potato chips (even low-fat ones), and you can easily take in
300 - 600 calories if you're not careful. You'll never do that with
apples. Try it and see...
Pickles:
We HEART pickles. Yes, we know they're high in sodium, so they're not
a good choice for those who avoid high-salt foods. But aside from
that, they are a fantastic way to help curb cravings. Low in calories
and high in flavor, these crunchy critters are extremely satisfying
and practically calorie-free (especially if you go for dill or sour
ones rather than the bread & butter kind). So unless you're a strict
sodium-counter, we say pickle it up!
Low-Fat/Fat-Free Yogurt:
You'd be surprised how satisfying a little cup of low-fat or fat-free
yogurt can be. We love Yoplait Light -- and a container of that stuff
only has about 100 calories, is fat-free, and contains 5 - 6g of
protein (POINTS® value 2*). It's a perfect, filling little snack any
time of day or night...
Leafy Green Veggies:
Steam a little cabbage or spinach, or chop up some lettuce. Greens
can be filling and delicious friends for you, and they're a great way
to fill out a meal without adding too many calories. You can eat a
lot of the fiber-rich stuff without spending very many calories at
all. For flavor, dress your greens with a low-cal spray dressing like
one of the Wish-Bone Salad Spritzers. Go for it!
HG Tip!
Even though many experts put nuts into the appetite-curbing category,
and even though they're healthy and CAN help you feel fuller, we
think they can cause you to eat too many calories if you're not
careful. Just one small handful of mixed nuts has around 200 calories
and 18g fat (POINTS® value 5*). In other words, we support nuts and
love tossing a few on salads, frozen yogurt, or even our oatmeal. But
relying on them as an appetite-curbing snack could result in your
accidentally taking in 1,000+ calories (whoops!) -- so use caution
when eating 'em! If (like us) you have trouble with self-control, try
Blue Diamond's 100-calorie packs of almonds (9g fat, 2g fiber --
POINTS® value 2*) .

I just uploaded a pic of my dil with her 8 month tummy. it's under Judy R.
Journey - probably last picture there. :)
Judy - 6 weeks to go for my new grandson: Travis
"Happily Watching the Scale Go Down"
California
262/241

I posted that I was wondering where she was and that I decided to check her
personal blog and found she was posting there but there was mention on how she
was doing with her weight loss that the doctor told her to do. so I guess she'll
come back when she feels up to it.
Judy - 6 weeks to go for my new grandson: Travis
"Happily Watching the Scale Go Down"
California
262/241

Has anyone heard anything from Kim lately? i havent seen her post anything in a
very long time. .
~*Sharon XOXO*~
"THIN feels better than FAT tastes!"
Lap RNY 7/30/07
HW242**SW232**CW166**GW125-130
--
I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
It has removed 3972 spam emails to date.
Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

Lizanne,
Good memory, yes I had inflammatory breast cancer. If I'm not mistaken
there are 2 different women with 2 different rare breast cancers mentioned
in your post. The first women who only lived 1 year had inflammatory breast
cancer, a very aggressive fast growing breast cancer. The second women had
Paget's a breast cancer that is also rare, but a very slow growing, non
aggressive breast cancer. As you can read, she also had a bad result, but
that is probably because it took years to get her diagnosis. I don't want
people to get them confused.
Ultimately when you notice any changes in your breast be aggressive with
getting treatment. This is your life, your body, your future.
Thanks for keeping us on alert.
Edie

Yep... 160 calories, no sugar, no carbs. Lora

It's the alcohol that helps me go!!! I think if I brought cookies into
the house my hubby and I would eat them in 1 day, neither of us are great at
controlling ourself :(, I'm not ready to have cookies around yet.
Edie

Hi Debby!
Ohhh tell me - how was the Zumba class???!!! I can't wait to hear
ALL of the details!
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

Great job, so cute. Good luck tomorrow.
Edie

Thanks, Amy! I sure hope so!
Dawn in PA
Lap RNY 06/27/07
305/278/177/140
HW/SW/CW/GW

Edith,
Eating the sugar free candy wouldn't really be the problem... what are the
carbs and sugar alcohol contents of the candy? The alcohol is the problem
when it is listed as sugar free. I found a cookie that is flax seed,
oatmeal and cranberries. Very good tasting too. They are low carb and
calorie too. They are made by Vortman's. I pay $1.50/package and eat 2
each night to help keep me regular along with fruit every day. I do not eat
too much fruit because of the natural sugar content.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

I haven't had time to post much today. It's been a busy day and I am going to my
first Zumba class tonight. I'll be thinking about you Dawn and Lizanne. I
decided to try it after you had so much fun. I did get a chance to read the
posts.
Jeanne congratulations on getting your job back, that's a relief maybe your
son will have a chance to finish High School there.
Darlene, WOOOO HOOOO 50# that's awesome!
Pat and Jill, glad to see the scale moving in the right direction. Pat you are
going to pass me up soon. Good for you. :).
Debby

Ohhh LIzanne - when it rains it pours for you. I hope you get to feeling better
soon. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Jenn in VT

I hope the potassium is a quick fix. I still have the pills he gave me
before I left KY so I am taking them. It is a tiny bit better but the room
still spins on me. I laid down in bed last night really slow and it
happened to me anyway. I have to grab my head to try and stabilize things.
Closing my eyes makes it worse feeling although at least I do not have to
watch the room move on me. I got up slow this morning too but it did it
again. Not so much during the day today luckily. I will get to the doctor
in the next couple of weeks but the insurance I purchased is to be used when
I am sick. I am not "technically" sick in my book. lol.
--
Mary in FL
LAP RNY 1/26/2007
317/296/167/140
BS/ SW/CW/GW

well I just came from podiatrist, I finally relented and went to see if I could
get a shot for my foot but not only has it only been 4 months since last shot, I
cannot get anymore shots!!!! the skin on my foot is thinning so no more shots
for me. only thing he can do is surgery because this has been going on for years
on and off and just getting worse. right now he told me to get a night splint so
I can try and get some relief during the night. I am extremely disappointed, I
expected to get my shot today and be ready to run around tomorrow. I need to be
able to be mobile to lose weight and to keep up an exercise program after
surgery. of course, I can't take NSAIDS to help the inflammation, the only pain
medication I can take is tylenol, tylenol w/codeine or vicodin. and even my
vicodin doesn't do a thing for this pain. my daughter says to have the surgery
asap so I can be okay to exercise after WLS.
I love walking that's just the exercise I do enjoy and I do it even though I am
in pain but I cannot continue to force my foot cause it hurts something awful. I
can't do swimming cause I don't have a pool, there isn't one around indoors to
use. don't have exercise bike and that hurts my knee too much, even my foot
cause it stretches to push pedals. I just bought the Leslie Sansone video, have
it here and I can't use it. HELP!!
Judy - 6 weeks to go for my new grandson: Travis
"Happily Watching the Scale Go Down"
California
262/241

Cindy, You are a poet and BOY do we know it!!!! See you in the lounge.
Naomi
Cindy <jcsuter@...
(surgery is tomorrow) lately, I thought I'd document my wait by writing a
poem....
twas the night before surgery
when all through the house,
oh boy was I nervous
and so was my spouse
My children are nestled
all snug in their beds,
but visions of food
only dance in my head,
My pantry was clean
of good carbs and bad
For the sight of these things
would sure make me mad
I removed all the twinkies
and hid all the cakes
I trashed all my cookies
Was this a mistake?
I've tried all the diets
I've lived through most fads
I've lost so much weight
and that made me glad
Yes I lost all the weight
but gained it all back
I've done this so much
I own stock in big Macs
This time will be different
This time will be it
I'm done with fat life
I'm ready to be fit
I love my sweet children
my Man I adore
I want to be healthy
and live so much more
Tomorrow I'll wake
and start a new day
a trip to the OR
hip hip and HORAAY!
Tomorrow's the day
my new life starts now
I hope I loose fast
So all will say WOW!
Cindy - In NC
Surgery Tomorrow!! March 6th

Cindy,
So cute.
You will be fine. I forget who your angel is, but please keep her
informed of your progress. Just think....by this time tomorrow you
will be embarking on a new life and a new you.
We'll see you in the Losers' Lounge when you get home. Yes, you can
bring your hubby if you want. The cabana boys are real cute though.
Lizanne

I thought I would post this just to be sure all of you are aware of
this cancer. I believe this is the cancer that Edie had, right?
It's always good to pass this info on because it is fast growing and
deadly.
A lady developed a rash on her breast, similar to that of young
mothers who are nursing.
Because her mammogram had been clear, the doctor treated her with
antibiotics for infections. After 2 rounds, it continued to get
worse, so her doctor sent her for another mammogram. This time it
showed a mass.
A biopsy found a fast growing malignancy. Chemo was started in order
to shrink the growth; then a mastectomy was performed; then a full
round of Chemo; then radiation. After about 9 months of intense
treatment, she was given a clean bill of health.
She had one year of living each day to its fullest. Then the cancer
returned to the liver area. She took 4 treatments and decided that
she wanted quality of life, not the after effects of Chemo. She had 5
great months and she planned each detail of the final days. After a
few days of needing morphine, she died. She left this message to be
delivered to women everywhere:
Women, PLEASE be alert to anything that is not normal, and be
persistent in getting help as soon as possible.
Paget's Disease: This is a rare form of breast cancer, and is o n the
outside of the breast, on the nipple and aureole. It appeared as a
rash, which later became a lesion with a crusty outer edge. I would
not have ever suspected it to be breast cancer, but it was. My nipple
never seemed any different to me, but the rash bothered me, so I went
to the doctor for that. Sometimes it itched and was sore, but other
than that it didn't bother me. It was just ugly and a nuisance, and
could not be cleared up with all the creams prescribed by my doctor
and dermatologist for the dermatitis I got on my eyes just prior to
this outbreak. They seemed a little concerned, but did not warn me it
could be cancerous.
Now, I suspect not many women out there know a lesion or rash on the
nipple or aureole can be breast cancer. (Mine started out as a single
red pimple on the aureole. One of the biggest problems with Paget's
disease of the nipple is that the symptoms appear to be harmless. It
is frequently thought to be a skin inflammation or infection, leading
to unfortunate delays in detection and care.) What are the symptoms?
1. A persistent redness, oozing, and crusting of your nipple causing
it to itch and burn (As I stated, mine did not itch or burn much, and
had no oozing I was aware of, but it did have a crust along the outer
edge on one side.)
2. A sore on your nipple that will not heal. (Mine was on the aureole
area with a whitish thick looking area in center of nipple).
3. Usually only one nipple is effected. How is it diagnosed? Your
doctor will do a physical exam and should suggest having a mammogram
of both breasts, done immediately. Even though the redness, oozing
and crusting closely resemble dermatitis (inflammation of the skin),
your doctor should suspect cancer if the sore is only on one breast.
Your doctor should order a biopsy of your sore to confirm what is
going on.
This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of
your relatives and friends as possible; it could save someone's life.
My breast cancer has spread and metastasized to my bones after
receiving mega doses of chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and
taking Tamaxofin. If this had been diagnosed as breast cancer in the
beginning, perhaps it would not have spread...
TO ALL READERS:
This is sad as women are not aware of Paget's disease. If, by passing
this around on the e-mail, we can make others aware of it and its
potentia l danger, we are helping women everywhere.
Please, take a moment to forward this message to as many people as
possible, especially to your family and friends. It only takes a
moment, yet the results could save a life.

Since I'm not doing much sleeping (surgery is tomorrow) lately, I thought I'd
document my wait by writing a poem....
twas the night before surgery
when all through the house,
oh boy was I nervous
and so was my spouse
My children are nestled
all snug in their beds,
but visions of food
only dance in my head,
My pantry was clean
of good carbs and bad
For the sight of these things
would sure make me mad
I removed all the twinkies
and hid all the cakes
I trashed all my cookies
Was this a mistake?
I've tried all the diets
I've lived through most fads
I've lost so much weight
and that made me glad
Yes I lost all the weight
but gained it all back
I've done this so much
I own stock in big Macs
This time will be different
This time will be it
I'm done with fat life
I'm ready to be fit
I love my sweet children
my Man I adore
I want to be healthy
and live so much more
Tomorrow I'll wake
and start a new day
a trip to the OR
hip hip and HORAAY!
Tomorrow's the day
my new life starts now
I hope I loose fast
So all will say WOW!
Cindy - In NC
Surgery Tomorrow!! March 6th

WOW Jeannie, that is great news for you AND your so