HeLLeNa_HaNdBaSkEt

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A week & a half ago, after goinig through an extensive orientation of rules, regulations, the process, given a physical onsite by an RN, how toetc., etc., etc. Rough 4 hours (that alone was exhausting), last week I began donating plasma two times a week with 2-3 days between each MONETARILY compensated visit via their debit Mastercard. Anyway, it all took so long, and i had an appointment to have my taxes prepared & filed elec. for FREE at the business college at Youngstown State Univ.

But before I did all of that, I personally wanted the GREENLIGHT to do this Plasma donation for those in need from my PCP (she prescribes/ omits/ tracks) my meds & from my surgeon's office/ bariatric nurse. They said "Yes"! But in the end, my local plasma donation clinic (in Youngstown, OH) give the final yea or nea for accepting you as a client.

Always Google and do your research. Contact your local site and ask in depth questions, not just how much $$ you're compensated on to a debit card. And  won't disclose mine, so don't ask. Something like that varies per site & region. AND you're NOT permitted to donate at more than one center. There are strict national laws & health codes against it. If you try it, you can & WILL be blacklisted nationally. No joke.

My first 'draw' (from my right arm. The 2nd visit 3 days after was my left arm) took place last week and was a long 2 hours & 17 minutes! Oh my GOSH! Plasma is separated from the red blood cells, a saline solution is transferred into your body (my body temp DROPPED & chilled me big time!).Honest to god I felt like I had to use "the Loo" to go number TWO, not number one. LOL! But I didn't.  Felt like forever until they began puttin my blood back. I felt a little blah & weak, but I was alright. My phlebotomist/ RN assured me that each visit gets easier & takes less time because the body has become acclimated. It true, because my second visit took exactly 62 minutes. I'll be going again Wednesday April 17th morning @ 5:50AM. By the time I arrive around 6:30am, when they open, it's not crowded/ busy, but it takes 45-60mins before they get you into a 'bed' to donate due to a series of checks you must go through EVERY VISIT. It's required

If you should ever choose to do this, be fully hydrated on water, propel, gatorade, juice/ crystal light/ similar andhigh proteins regimen diet in your system. As post-op WLS patients are already used to that. Booyahhh! 

NO COFFEE/ CAFFEINE/ HIGHLY CAFEINATED TEAS or too much dairy.

NOT WILD ABOUT SMOKERS/ vaping/ hukahs, etc. NO recent piercings, brandings or ink done regardless of where it is on you body.

ABSOLUTELY NO druggies or dope.

Weight minimum is 115LBs; Max weight is 399* depends on a lot of factors in YOUR REGION.

*Roughly 6-8 hours AFTER you've donated, you must always, at least 4-5 times a day until the next visit, alternate between HOT & COLD COMPRESSES, at 20 minutes EACH, on the area of your arm where the needle had been. Also clean the area, the next day with warm soapy water & rinse, but don't rub harshly. Also dab the area with peroxide and witch hazel. The point is to keeping the areas on your arms from becoing pinkish or red and bruised. If the RNs/ phlebotomists see the faintest bit of flushing or bruising on one arm, they'll use the other. If both arm bends are bruised, you'll be sent home to take care of the matter. So nip it in the bud immediately. Check your arm bends in the direct light of a bright flashlight if necessary to save yourself the disappointment and a foul attitude. LOL!

Again, do your research and ask questions of your nearest facility and take notes. They are supposed to & can give you the 411 not patients like myself.  My purpose is to point out my EXPERIENCES in this journey as poor yet employed post-op RNY patient that thinks outside the box, and wtd to shine a light on a LEGIT $$ earning opportunity that plays a vital part in saving/ prolonging lives. You won't get rich. You're not supposed to. But you can put it towards bariatric vitamins, supplements, otc meds, gym or therapy memberships, copays, excess skin removal savings, workout gear, newer wardrobe, new hairdo or haircut/ barbering for the new & improved you. Hell, put it towards bills. Anything you want, its your money. But it's also good karma.

That's what makes it a WIN-WIN.

Cheers.

 

With the help of my 2 friends I went shopping at the local supermarket and left my quad cane in her car! I split my grocery list in two: I took one half of the store & she and her bf covered the other to get what I needed and to save time. 

We finished well under 30 minutes, and not a moment too soon as I began to feel the familiar pain/ pressure in my knees and other joints. Still the post-op  aqua therapy I had 3 hours beforehand served me well! It all helped take my mind off of the 4 wisdom teeth I had extracted the afternoon of March 24, the day before.  At least the bleeding has ceased. But that's another story for another day.

I just wanted to share my progress. Thanks. #babysteps #slowlybutsurely

Walking & marching laps around the small four foot deep pool at the therapy center and I managed to do seven laps on my first attempt last Saturday! A  tremendous workout and achievement for me since I was too apptehesivr to venture beyond the bottom step in the pool back in late December 2018. ???? ????????  After four visits, I've memorized every exercise (15 to 17 so far). 

I had my evaluation on February 14th to see what course of action to take with my edema and physical therapy since being post-op a year now I went and had been cleared to do land (AKA their on-sight gym) ????one day and the pool ???? 2-3 days after.  This will be twice a week for 4 weeks beginning February 28th & I hope my progress in strengthening my core, posture, stamina and weight loss progresses! ????????

I've posted a few entries a good while ago on either the general discussion forum or RNY forum & Ohio members forum here. But as I stated, that was some months back in 2018. It slipped my mind to post UPDATES & current status on my BLOG. It's been a bloody year since posting here! So I'm gonna catch you up on what has transpired.

I was approved for RNY/ Gastric Bypass Surgery by my health provider, Care Source/ Medicaid, late November 2017.  I had the procedure performed by Dr. Robert Woodruff, F.A.C.S. at St. Joseph Medical Center in Warren, OH, on February 6th, 2018!

Here's my basic stats:

Age at time of surgery:  48

Height:  5'5"

Residence: Lansingville, Youngstown, OH

Highest Weight:  440-ish Lbs. during 2014/ 2015

Day of Surgery (06 Feb. 2018) Weigh In:  378#s

Current Weight as of 14 January 2019:  292#s 

Personal Short Term Goal Weight for my 1st SURGIVERSARY Follow up w/ Surgeon Sched. 07 Feb. 2019:  278#s

Weightloss & BMI Goal (PRE-Excess Skin Removal & Breast reduction/Lif & Augmentation):  165-ish Pounds w/ BMI @ 31

Final Overall Weight Loss Post-Ops Goal: Between 130#s- 140#s

 

I still use a quad cane for balance/ stability,because over a span of 42 years of battling obesity/ morbid obesity/ super obesity and a grocery list of co-morbids, I've suffered from bone loss; thus weakining my weight bearing joints, my 'core' and back. Being super buxom doesn't help either. I'm not "pear" or "bowling pin" shaped. Never have been. Always was an "over exaggerate hourglass". There's a waist in there, I swear! Can't see it because of my huge udders and my large 'apron' gut.  Ugghhh.

I do exercises/ workouts at home (especially using my HEAVY cane & elastic band). I walk up & my hallway in my apt. bldg.  I was cleared by my docs to go bowling as exercise (as per my nagging request) starting in late August/ September 2018 for NO LONGER than 30 mins & no more than 1 or 2xs every week. I nearly sweated out my relaxer! ROFL! I'm not a "bowler" like my BFF & her bf whom both are and they drive me to the lanes. But if I'm gonna exercise, then I'm going to do things that are enjoyable & I won't dread.  I don't go to keep score. Just to get healthier & burn off the excess. 

As of Dec. 31, 2018 w/ 2 or 3 sessions per week, with a "12 Visit" prescription from my surgeon for exercise and improve strength/ stability & a separate 'script from my PCP for my edema, I've been going to ATLAS REHAB & WELLNESS CTR, in Liberty, OH for Aqua Therapy. I love it and have been wanting and needing this for years ever since I heard about it over 15 years ago. I'm in the pool doing routines for an hour with 2 minute breaks with a therapist (he or she are outside the pool). Then hit the showers there. I'll say this much, I've had 5 sessions and I can stand in the 'handicapped' shower for about 5-8 mins.  I still need to use the handrails, but I mo longer feel like I'm going to faint, collapse or just can't bathe & reach areas at all.

So all my efforts are reaping small achievements. The ability to perform activities I couldn't even accomplish 8 months ago are happening!  Like needing "smaller" clothes. I need 3x/ 4x in knit bottoms and 6x/7x in pullover t-shirts & tops to allow for the hooters. ** Ladies, can anyone suggest any WLS "hand me down", gently worn, not too pricey apparel sites/ pages or on Ebay I can check out?  I work from home & have limited income budget.  Thanks a bunch in advance.  The "twins" have gotten SLIGHTLY smaller, but not by much & still unbearably heavy & painful to my back & have wreaked havoc on my posture for decades!

Stay tuned. Who knows what dreams may come true next? And thanks for reading. 

#waterwaterwaterdaily #itsallaboutthePROTEIN #collagenpeptidespowder #ACVwithastraw #liquidmagnesiumcitrate #ballerinadieterstea #aquatherapy #meetmeintheloo  LOL!

 

I was seriously hoping that my peers, my target audience, would help me earn a living by purchasing my WLS awareness/ acceptance wristbands - and pass the word along- so that I too could pay for my much needed gastric bypass and to keep from losing my apartment. But apparently $12.50 [postage & handling incl. in that price] was too much to ask of people to buy a two-pack of wristbands that bring a positive & noble light to our own struggles w/ morbid obesity. It's sad & pathetic when we can't help one of our own. Now I'm being forced to move and don't know where to go and have nowhere to go or turn to. I have to be out of my apartment by July 31st! So much for a support network.

Sure financial times are tough, they've always been tough, & it'll get tougher before it gets better. But did it hinder those of you to still sneak & buy your vices of cigarettes & booze even though you know damn well considering your health, be it pre or post-op, that you're not supposed to do it? Overindulging in caffeine and carbonated bevvies when your docs give you strict orders not to do so? Did it hinder you from buying your yellow Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG awareness wristbands? Or buying anything PINK you can get your mitts on because of breast cancer awareness [or purely because you just like the color PINK]? Don't preach to me about cancer, I know it too well and first hand. I've lost a brother to it, currently have another brother & sister battling it and my husband collapsed and died in my arms in our apartment because his body was decimated by prostate cancer five years ago.

Its not as though I'm asking for you to loan me thirteen bucks and you get nothing for it or no guarantee of a payback. It's cut and dry: twelve fifty, for U.S. sales, gets you a two pack of the style of WLS awareness band you want. But I guess that's what I get for hanging my hopes on solidarity with a global demographic that I'm a member of, that doesn't give a sh!t.

So thanks for nothing. And if you are unjustifiably miffed at my anguished rant, and you are on my friend page here and NEVER bough the wristbands [no one from OH has], then by all means remove yourself from my list. You were not a real friend anyway because you also never sent a msg. or an email or gave a phone to check on me or bought any bands when you 'claimed' that you would. Good bye. And everyday, every week you're post-op and losing your tonnage, think of me and others like me that have been battling obesity for 32 years & trying since 2002 to have GBS but cannot afford it/ or cannot afford health insurance period & don't qualify for public med assistance/ may've never had a job that provided health care 'bennies' that covered the surgery costs/ or are privileged to have a spouse whose health ins. you can ride on and reap the bennies of it to have your life saving & changing procedure.

Have a nice life.
:*-{

... alas, there is no ice cream in my flat. When I was an adolescent there used to be an old ice cream/ dessert parlor from the 1930s in a riverside town where my friends & I would frequent. It was fantastic! For the life of me I cannot recall the name and sadly by the time I was 21 or 22 the family biz was bought out & I think it was converted into a shoe store or something lame as that. Still, the ice cream parlor in it's final years remained a genuine beauty of a time machine. This was no novelty themed, cookie cutter type joint. I think it was the only shop in that town that the kids, and adults, respected and did not act stupid or rude.

Anyway they used to make their own ice cream & bake on the premises. They made THE BEST peanut butter ice cream on the eastern seaboard. OMFG this stuff would knock you to your knees it was so delicious! If I was on the go I'd ask one of the owners to whip it into a shake for me. That was awesome because they'd give it to you in a cup almost the size of a 7-11 Big Gulp tumbler for less than $3 bucks! That was in 1989! You can't get a quality shake like theirs at that size for that price today.

But they served their hard peanut butter ice cream, & other flavors too, in five huge rounded scoops on a cut glass dish with a sprig of mint from their garden in the back and & 3 short bread cookies and a tall glass of ice water. All for $5.00 dollars even. If anyone only wanted 3 scoops it was $2.75 I think. My fave toppings for it, if I were in the mood, was either caramel-or peanut butter sauce-or real thick heated hot fudge [to get my Reese's fix] or butterscotch [which paired perfectly]. But mostly I took it plain.

So this particular smooth & sweet peanut butter ice cream would be it for me.
Yummmm.
8^D



Anyway, they've got the nerve to have the Puerto Rican Day Parade going on right now. The festivities head north on Fifth Avenue from E. 43rd Street up to E. 86th Street. Then there's an after party being held at, hold onto your hats, the world famous & overpriced Tavern On The Green Restaurant off of Central Park West on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the West 60s just inside Central Park. I think it's cool and a bit funny because that neighborhood needs a little shake up. ROFL!! As Dave Chappelle once stated on an episode w/ John Mayer, "There's a lot of BUSH votes in the room." LMAO!!

Those rich skanks & their $5,000. per hour hooker renting spouses will be so incensed they'll be swaying from the vapors and clutching their pearls and ankle biting Yorkies.

Ooh-ooh-ooh, what a little heatwave can do to you.

Cheers, I'm gonna stick my head in the freezer.

I've been auctioning my belongings on ELFINGO.com instead of eBay because they are rip off artists for Sellers. So anyway check out my items & bid or bid with intent to buy now before the bid price is raised. I'm doing this to pay off overdue rent [ I'm at risk for eviction guys- no kidding] , utilities, website for my floundering online pro WLS biz [ www.circleofsupport4wlsshop.com ] and to help towards the gastric bypass surgery I need to have.

So go to www.elfingo.com and look under items under the user i.d.: Selling4Surgery.

Here's a list of what I'm selling w/ their Lot number:
4040 Like New Six 6 White Dinner Plates $9.55
3933 USED Ladies REAL Mink Fur Coat Sz. 4 to 10 [c. early 1960s] $229.99
4045 Gently Worn Ladies Medium Gunmetal Silver Blouse $6.99
4044 Gently Worn Ladies SMALL 2pc Jacket & Skirt Set Too cute! $19.99
4043 USED Jack LaLanne White Power Juicer w Bonus Parts [normally $120.00(+) for $68.95
4042 USED Scallop Edged Hand Made Portuguese Plates Set $22.95
4052 PANASONIC DVD Player w/ Remote $43.00
4053 Large White Boudoir Wall Mirror Late 1930s or 1940s $65.00
4039 USED White 7~Speed Proctor Silex Blender $9.50
4041 USED Ladies Blk Suede Boots Made In BRAZIL 8.5 Med Only Worn Twice! $29.99

All Must Go. I'll ship to any residence within the 50 United States with USPS [United States Postal Service]. Payments are via the site through PAYPAL ONLY and ALL Sales are FINAL. No Refunds, No Returns, No Exceptions. Also I'll be adding a brand new, never used AERO Bed to my listings. I bought it originally for $130.00. Still in the original box it came in. Check www.elfingo.com after 8p.m. EST May 20th to see my asking price. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thanks guys. I'd appreciate it.

Jennifer

View my page on Circle Of Support's Monarchs And Viceroys WLS Meeting Ground
To my new new creation, mix and mingle network for WLS'ers pre-op and post-op. Contribute in anyway you know how. IT'S FREE! And if you're single all the better but it's not a necessity. Fellas join too, but mind your manners. We need a little testosterone to break up the estrogen overload. LOL!

Post-ops, share your experience, be it great or not so great and answer a few questions if your might have an answer or guide the individual to a more authoritative source on the subject. It's the only way we learn.

And the random non-WLS discussion or topic is refreshing too. But keep it clean or you will get bounced. Make a new friend, maybe find a potential someone who would be empathetic to what ur going through regarding WLS because they have, or will be, too... or maybe not. Go ahead and lurk and read, or blog about your WLS journey. Either way, Monarchs and Viceroys is for all of my evolving butterflies to chill, sit back and sip a protein smoothie from a martini glass.

Click the link below or enter it in your browser's address bar. Toodles!

http://cofsmonarchsnviceroyswlsmg.ning.com/?xgi=4Q5Ryu2

Cheers,
Jennifer
Founder/ CEO; Circle Of Support [4 WLS]
Moderator; Monarchs and Viceroys

**ATTN: Ebay & OTHER AUCTION SITE BIDDERS & BUYERS**

I'm auctioning and selling items on the following free and low fee auction sites:
www.elfingo.com
www.mysafebid.com

To find my item listings, go to the site and do a search of my Username/ User ID:
Selling4Surgery

My bid prices range from $9.00 USDollars for a 'gunmetal silver' medium sized blouse; up to $888.77(+) for a size 4-10 REAL Sable fur coat that was a hand me down from the early 1960s, is in need of a new lining throughout and a complete makeover. It's ideal for a group of fashion institute tech students that want to experiment w/ this type of material.

A couple of kitchen appliances are new or 'gently used'. Others are USED. Potential merchandise buyers must pay in full for the final cost of the item and the USPS [United States Postal Service] shipping according to your US zip code & product's weight via PayPal ONLY. I'll only ship to residences within the 50 states. Sorry everyone else. I even state this on my auction pages too so please pay attention.

I'm not doing this on Ebay because the fees for the sellers, both before and after the possible sale, are too flipping high and the newbie seller is lucky if they come away with anything.

So go to the sites and bid or buy item or garment(s). Thanks a bunch guys. I need this more than you know or appreciate. Don't let me down by sending me a post that says something like, "I'd really like to buy a few of your things but......" Either place a bid, buy [if that item has that option] or tell someone else about it that would be interested.

Thanks.

Well I took my complaint to the BBB in Atlanta re: Earthlink & how they they not only never provided me with the service I ordered, but that their customer & tech service was riddled with incompetence and cost me financially regarding my fledgling WLS awareness wristband business. In a nutshell Earthlink is not coughing up anything in order to do the right thing and they d@mn well owe me for the 2 months of misery and stress they put me through. So, I responded back this morning, through the BBB, with this:

CASE ID: 27045206
On April 14, 2008, you provided the following information:
(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
"I'll accept Earthlink wanting to hide behind their TERMS instead of doing the right thing. From here on I'll do everything in my power to steer consumers away from Earthlink & make those that are unaware aware of their TERMS, fees and lousy service, or should I say lack of service that one requests and pays for, in advance. If they don't like it, too bad. Freedom Of Speech is on my side.

Thanks"


All I can say is that they're d1cking with the wrong chick! Thank goodness we live in a tech advanced age. It was once said, "Never start a fight with someone that buys ink by the barrel". Now, it should be updated to, "Never pick a fight with anyone whom has internet access".

DON'T USE EARTHLINK AS AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER OR FOR ANYTHING ELSE! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!