Hey guys and gals,

Its been a long time since i been around, some of you may remember my name.  Well I had gastric bypass 2005, a baby 2007 and currently in my 7thy month with baby number 2.  I was vrey ill back in january and after few trips to ER, and Dr's office FINALLY a different hospital found i was serverly anemic and needed a blood transfusion.  although i had been taking all my vitz, it still happened.  I since then have been doing some reading and learned that recent studies showed that even with multi vitz and extra iron supplements you can still suffer from anemia and other deficiatices (sp).  Anyhow i am being closly followed NOW by a hemotologist and fetal medicine place. HOWEVER.. the problwem I am having is i think i picked a hemotologist that seems to have no clue what gastric bypass is or our needs, I am not even sure anymore i know what ,my needs are.  I take a fist ful of vitz every day as prescribed by Dr, but my cbc and hemoglobin, iron stores in body are all still low (very low end of normal). after all this time of monitoeing and blood trans, hell she asks me everytime i see her (once a month) "hows your periods going?" and i sit for a second staring....then i say I am x months/weeks pregnant. 
I asked her about the B12 and iron injections to help boost my levels (the only levels she checks,b12 by my asking) she said SHE didn''t want to...yet.   YET!  i am battling this anemia, I am only,  i feel one step ahead of it. 

So feeling lost I made an appt with Dr. peters, its not til july.


What all blood/labs i should be having.???

I thought my PCP was the best until she too let me down with ths anemia, i had all the symptoms, but at the time i had no idea what athe symptoms were.  I asked her to do blood work she said wait til july (that was in january when i was ill) middle of jan i was hospitilized. I felt like a case from the show House.  People seem puzzled as to what was wrong, and i always disclsoe my gastric info FIRST.

Anyhow, i turn to you all for some help, anyhow know of a good Hemotologist and PCP.  I just feel like I am not getting the best care i could.

I needed someone who is knowledgable.

I recently changed OB, since he refused to listen to the reports sent over by the fetal development and medicine Place, who specialize in high risk preg.  The old OB had and was stuck on the wrong due date no matter what all the Union hospital and fetal place sent to him showing their matcing due dates back from January to present.  

Thanx for reading..let me know.   oh by the way its a girl this time, amd I am  always looking for a good deal on baby and toddler items. 

Christina 30, bear, de

Wow!! The opti-fast diet pre-req is newer than my WLS 6 yrs ago. We were supposed to loose 5 to 10 lbs. I think they want you to try to loose a few lbs pre-surgery so it'll be easier for everyone. The clear  liquid we did 2 days prior to surgery was  to help shrink some organs. You have to do what you can afford. Dr Peter's will certainly understand it. The operative word is SUGGESTS.  Try to stay focused and positive and don't stress.

You realize that you will need a supplemental protein and vitamins post surgery. Non-negotiable. That will be some extra $$ out of pocket. The trade-off is well worth it. Walmart & the vitamin store has what you need. I take no medication now so my trade-off has been well worth it.  Other than seeing the CHRIAS Dr's I rarely have to see my Primary Dr. 1 time a year.

((HUGS)) Elissa

Dr Peters suggests that I do the OptiFast diet for A MONTH before surgery! I've never heard so long, but that's what he said. I totalled it up & it'll cost me a little bit over $600 for the month. I don't have that kind of money to spend on a month's worth of food. I talked to the nutritionist & she said maybe I could talk to him to see if I could do 2 weeks instead of a month. I hope he goes for it. I really don't know what to do. The nurse at the surgeon's office told me that there were alternatives to OptiFast & the nutritionist told me that there weren't any alternatives. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this not so expensive on me? I'm getting close to the end of my pre-op appointments (I only have the med. dr. clearance and the pre-op appt) so I should probably think about starting my diet soon.

Any ideas would help!! Thanks!!

Rosey, I find if I get bored I tend to want to eat. The key for me is to keep busy. Sometimes I just have to get out of the house and take a walk. Everyday is a struggle for me. You did great to get right back on track. Be proud of yourself. See you lighter. Joanne

 Hi All,
Hope your Wednesday is a good one.  Mine is. I recently went thru my closet and removed and gave away a bunch of jeans, blouses and jackets.  All I had left was the one pair of jeans on my butt, so I went to Good Will (on Lea Blvd) today and bought two pairs of jeans, 3 sizes smaller than when I began this journey!!!     A few weeks ago, also at the Good Will, I bought 5 much smaller blouses/sweaters.  Great prices!!!!  ($1.99 per item) And, if you're 55 years and older, you get a discount every Wednesday.   

Sorry I didn't get to the meeting on Monday, but I absolutely plan on getting there next month.  I'm also planning on attending the "Healthy Journey" meeting at the Kirkwood Library this Tuesday, plus Dr Wynn's group the following Monday.

Nina