Hi Everyone

I am in need of some help on two things. First off, I am extremely frustrated trying to find a doctor for my after care. I moved to Southwest Florida (***** Gorda) area about 7 months ago. I had my surgery done in Delaware. My surgeon told me they couldn't continue my aftercare since I moved. I had asked if I could still get my blood work ordered from her and just review it on the phone. They said I need to find another surgeon. My work provide a free clinic for everyone for just primary care. I've gotten them to order test but feel like they don't know how to really handle any issues I am having. I did find a local surgeon that does Traditional DS. Their office said I don't require a surgeon's care and denied to see me.

So which is it? I was told early on to always have a surgeon and follow at least once a year with them. Do I need one or not? If I don't does anyone living in the SW Florida have a good primary doctor they can recommend that understand our surgery. If one more person refers to me as a bypass patient I am going to scream.

Now the real question, that I need help with and why I am search for a doctor. So I've had my blood work done twice now. My one year anniversary for traditional DS was 9/27. Both times my A1C has come back below normal. The first time it was below 4.2 after several verified analysis. The doctor felt it was a mistake and said we will see what it is the next time. The next time was 4.3. My fasting glucose was 82 and this past time 72. Is this OK? Has anyone else dealt with this.

My biggest concern was last week for the first time I tried exercising in the morning instead of in the evening. I was fine but then at the end got extemely lightheaded and everything was foggy. I ate and it didn't go away. After two days I went to the clinic and they didn't know what to do. They decided maybe it was blood pressure since my at home blood sugar test at the lowest have only been 85 but mostly stay in the 90's. So they took me off my meds, things have gotten a bit better but now I've gained 8 pounds in a week. Some of it I know is water but some could be because I decided to up my carbs to see if that help.As I was thinking maybe I've been too low.

Anyways I am rambling. Any advice on Doctors or the labs would be welcomed.

No. I've NEVER had this issue. I've had the opposite. Fighting 20 lbs weight regain.

Generally a man needs 12 calories per day to maintain one pound and a woman needs 10 calories per day to maintain one pound.

For a woman to maintain 150 pounds, they will need to eat 1500 calories.

For a man to maintain 150 pounds, then will need to eat 1800 calories.

It does not make a lot of difference where those calories come from, although there is about a 10% advantage if you stay very low carb. Under 20 carbs per day.

That means a woman could stay at 150 on 1650 per day if eating 20 or less carbs per day.

You can do this with Optifast or with steak. It is the lower calories that will give you the quick start on weight loss.

I found that trying to go lower than my body's comfort zone was a constant fight. Many do it, but they live their life in diet mode.

You are committing yourself to a lifetime of blood tests, at least annually and more often for some people. You will have probably have deficiencies that can be corrected by changing your doses in most cases. You are responsible for studying what vitamins and minerals you will need, because most nutritionists aren't very good when it comes to this surgery. The blood tests will pick up what you need to change. Most people have to tweak their doses over time. Those that stop doing blood tests and taking daily vitamins get into trouble.