Newbie

[Guest guest]

If I start seeing a decline.. I show my pcp what is declining and we go from

there.. she is very willing to learn and wants only what is best and what

will keep me healthiest..

Hugs,

from GA

open RNY 12/12/00

Revision 04/18/01

Revision 02/07/02

St wt.... 392

Cw.......187

Wt loss..-205

[Guest guest]

If I start seeing a decline.. I show my pcp what is declining and we go from

there.. she is very willing to learn and wants only what is best and what

will keep me healthiest..

Hugs,

from GA

open RNY 12/12/00

Revision 04/18/01

Revision 02/07/02

St wt.... 392

Cw.......187

Wt loss..-205

[Guest guest]

Dear Sharon,

I'm backed up so you may have already gotten this message -- no question is

dumb except those that go unasked {{{ hugz n' hang-in there}}}

> Second, about charting your own lab results--do other people's doctors

actually GIVE them their lab results without having to be subject to torture

to drag the information out of them?<<<

My surgeon was the whole lay on the floor kicking and screaming so I made

them just give me a copy of my whole chart including surgery notes and all

lab results and so on -- I took a copy to my PCP who is sort of not real

happy about my surgery but very willing to help me stay on top of my health

with the needed post-op stuff... she has the labs send me and her both a

copy of the results (what a relief to not fight for those!!!)

>>> And once you get them, how do you know how to evaluate what they say?

<<<

I put mine all in a table on Excel so I can see the numbers side by side

and see if something is rising or falling BEFORE it gets to the " not normal "

ranges -- I believe it is important for all of us to do that otherwise

things don't get " caught " until they are " not normal " and by then... we can

be in big trouble... so, I think it is important... yes.

You can get the abbreviations of a LOT of labs from:

http://labtestsonline.org/

where they explain, in english mostly, what labs are for what and you can

ask on the lists too... after you watch yours for a few times you'll know,

remember most of the important ones anyway.

On pouch maintenance... when it feels out of control (I'm having a time

like that right now) I go back to the start... what was working, take a

couple of days to clear my head and start over... do what is " HEALTHY " --

get off the other crap, take time to think about my body and the health

issues very strongly... I don't have to " like " that a shake, green beans and

chicken are better for me than a slice of pecan pie but I do have to decide

that I will make the healthier choice regardless of what my head tells me...

I dig my heals in and yell... GO... start over... and remember what got me

to the near 300 lbs and very near death to remind me where I want to go

now...

hugz,

~denise

[Guest guest]

Dear Sharon,

I'm backed up so you may have already gotten this message -- no question is

dumb except those that go unasked {{{ hugz n' hang-in there}}}

> Second, about charting your own lab results--do other people's doctors

actually GIVE them their lab results without having to be subject to torture

to drag the information out of them?<<<

My surgeon was the whole lay on the floor kicking and screaming so I made

them just give me a copy of my whole chart including surgery notes and all

lab results and so on -- I took a copy to my PCP who is sort of not real

happy about my surgery but very willing to help me stay on top of my health

with the needed post-op stuff... she has the labs send me and her both a

copy of the results (what a relief to not fight for those!!!)

>>> And once you get them, how do you know how to evaluate what they say?

<<<

I put mine all in a table on Excel so I can see the numbers side by side

and see if something is rising or falling BEFORE it gets to the " not normal "

ranges -- I believe it is important for all of us to do that otherwise

things don't get " caught " until they are " not normal " and by then... we can

be in big trouble... so, I think it is important... yes.

You can get the abbreviations of a LOT of labs from:

http://labtestsonline.org/

where they explain, in english mostly, what labs are for what and you can

ask on the lists too... after you watch yours for a few times you'll know,

remember most of the important ones anyway.

On pouch maintenance... when it feels out of control (I'm having a time

like that right now) I go back to the start... what was working, take a

couple of days to clear my head and start over... do what is " HEALTHY " --

get off the other crap, take time to think about my body and the health

issues very strongly... I don't have to " like " that a shake, green beans and

chicken are better for me than a slice of pecan pie but I do have to decide

that I will make the healthier choice regardless of what my head tells me...

I dig my heals in and yell... GO... start over... and remember what got me

to the near 300 lbs and very near death to remind me where I want to go

now...

hugz,

~denise

[Guest guest]

Sharon, it's takes along time to develop enough self-esteem to keep people in

line around you. Even after you get, especially in my case, you can fall

back. Keep on writing and reading. There are a lot of strong people here

that will give you the words to use and the support to use them. Things can

get out of hand here, but it is usually between the titans. There is never

anyone judging you for asking questions. You will see when they get going.

I actually learn more from the debates because they make me pay attention.

Wait until Ceep answers your post. She will give you the warm fuzzies. and

Her Evil Ceep (which is supposed to be her alter ego) will give you real

belly laughs.

I think those nurses better watch out, because the new you is coming.

Fay Bayuk

300/175

10/23/01

Dr

[Guest guest]

Sharon, it's takes along time to develop enough self-esteem to keep people in

line around you. Even after you get, especially in my case, you can fall

back. Keep on writing and reading. There are a lot of strong people here

that will give you the words to use and the support to use them. Things can

get out of hand here, but it is usually between the titans. There is never

anyone judging you for asking questions. You will see when they get going.

I actually learn more from the debates because they make me pay attention.

Wait until Ceep answers your post. She will give you the warm fuzzies. and

Her Evil Ceep (which is supposed to be her alter ego) will give you real

belly laughs.

I think those nurses better watch out, because the new you is coming.

Fay Bayuk

300/175

10/23/01

Dr

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/2003 4:15:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,

itzsharon@... writes:

>>> No, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go through my PCP's office.

> That's where the blood for my tests is drawn. They do some of the

> tests there in the office and send the rest out to a lab.<<

*****Ah, ok, that can get sticky. My last few insurance companies all send

you to Quest Diagnostics for blood work. They're easy, as you just tell them

where you want the results sent in addition to the referring doc.

>>So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

results are all right, where do you go from there? <<

*****Well, I'm not saying this is the right thing to do, but I wasn't taking

my iron as prescribed. I was only taking 1 a day, should have been 2. So, I

upped my dosage to what it should have been. I'm not going to mention it to

my doc just yet, because he'd probably just tell me to do the same thing, but

will check again in 6 months.

>>I've about concluded that this is not one of those groups where you

have to worry about having your head taken off when you display

massive ignorance about something.<<

*****Nah, not at all, but we do have quite lively discussions at times.

You'll find that there are some really brilliant people on this board, and

then there are those of us who are just plain noisy. <BG>

Hugs,

in NJ

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/2003 4:15:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,

itzsharon@... writes:

>>> No, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go through my PCP's office.

> That's where the blood for my tests is drawn. They do some of the

> tests there in the office and send the rest out to a lab.<<

*****Ah, ok, that can get sticky. My last few insurance companies all send

you to Quest Diagnostics for blood work. They're easy, as you just tell them

where you want the results sent in addition to the referring doc.

>>So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

results are all right, where do you go from there? <<

*****Well, I'm not saying this is the right thing to do, but I wasn't taking

my iron as prescribed. I was only taking 1 a day, should have been 2. So, I

upped my dosage to what it should have been. I'm not going to mention it to

my doc just yet, because he'd probably just tell me to do the same thing, but

will check again in 6 months.

>>I've about concluded that this is not one of those groups where you

have to worry about having your head taken off when you display

massive ignorance about something.<<

*****Nah, not at all, but we do have quite lively discussions at times.

You'll find that there are some really brilliant people on this board, and

then there are those of us who are just plain noisy. <BG>

Hugs,

in NJ

[Guest guest]

, can I hire you to come nag my PCP's staff, lol? I could

really use a good nag on my side about now! Hehe

I know I am a little gunshy about asking questions. It's just because

I'm new to this group and don't know what to expect. There ARE some

groups...or some people anyway...who will yell at you if you ask a

question or make a comment that they think is something eveyrone

should know. That has happened to me, and it's made me nervous about

asking certain kinds of questions in groups where I don't know the

people well enough to know what kind of reactions to expect. Thank

you all for being so helpful! Maybe I will get over this yet!

I have decided I am going to work on this. I think I'll start by

writing my PCP's office a nice businesslike letter (I am good at

writing nice, businesslike letters--do it all the time at work),

directing them to send me copies of the results on all labwork I had

done in the last year, plus the results of the bone density scan I

had last summer (which is a story in itself, as to what I went

through trying to find out what THOSE results were), and see what

kind of reaction that produces. I'm not going to put it as a request;

I'm just going to state that I want them, because I know that they

are REQUIRED BY LAW to furnish anything that I ask for. I'll tell

them that if they want to be reimbursed for the costs of copying,

just advise me how much they want--but I'll make it clear that NOT

sending me the information is NOT an option. ;Þ

If that doesn't work, I guess I will go ahead and make a scene. I

sure hope I won't have to do that, though. *SIGH* I HATE having to

yell and scream to get things that I'm ENTITLED to in the first place.

I also hate dealing with the people in that office, in general. My

PCP is nice, but the lab results always come through the nurses, and

they are also the ones who draw the blood. And some of them act

completely clueless. The last time one of the nurses acted like she

was all mad at ME because SHE couldn't find a vein to get blood out

of. She went and got another nurse, who was really nice and found a

vein right away...BUT she acted like it was weird that someone should

need so much bloodwork. The whole thing sucked.

I can't get the office staff to keep a copy of the order from my

surgeon listing what tests are to be done in my blasted chart,

either. I have to be sure to bring a copy every time I go in for a

blood draw, because no matter how many times I have asked them to

keep it in my chart it's NEVER there the next time. I don't know what

the $%#@! they do with it, but they REFUSE to leave it in my chart.

The nurse who called with the results of my bone density scan last

summer didn't even give me the RESULTS at first. All the doctor told

her to say was that I should tale 1500 mg. of calcium every day

(DUHHHHH)--nothing about what the results actually showed. She had

the report in front of her, but she didn't know how to interpret the

numbers on it. She had to ask the doctor, but he wasn't there, so she

had to leave a message, which got lost or something and on and on. I

can't remember how many times I had to call back before I finally got

any information other than the calcium recommendation, and when I

finally did, it was just " Your bones are normal for someone your

age. " Better than nothing, I guess--but I wanted the actual numbers.

They acted like I was weird for even asking at all!

So why don't I change doctors? Because I have no way of knowing if

the next bunch of bozos will be better, just as bad, or even worse,

and it's hard to get up the energy to start all over from scratch

with somebody else, not knowing if it's going to turn out to be a

waste of time. *sigh*

Sharon

> Yell at you for not knowing? Sheesh. How do you think WE all found

> out to do it? LOL!

>

> At FIRST, I had to yell & scream & drag it out. But over the

> years, the docs have come to see it as helpful that we are watching

> & going over them with a magnifying glass. Makes them take a look

> and in many cases, take action before they hit the skids. But at

> first, they were all prickly about it being none of my biz. Well,

> HELLO? I pay the bill, I want a piece of paper to show for it. I

> dunno, maybe they just got tired of me nagging. I should be a

> professional nag,. I'm really good at it.

>

> Huh, Staci?

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> Vitalady, Inc. T

> www.vitalady.com

[Guest guest]

, can I hire you to come nag my PCP's staff, lol? I could

really use a good nag on my side about now! Hehe

I know I am a little gunshy about asking questions. It's just because

I'm new to this group and don't know what to expect. There ARE some

groups...or some people anyway...who will yell at you if you ask a

question or make a comment that they think is something eveyrone

should know. That has happened to me, and it's made me nervous about

asking certain kinds of questions in groups where I don't know the

people well enough to know what kind of reactions to expect. Thank

you all for being so helpful! Maybe I will get over this yet!

I have decided I am going to work on this. I think I'll start by

writing my PCP's office a nice businesslike letter (I am good at

writing nice, businesslike letters--do it all the time at work),

directing them to send me copies of the results on all labwork I had

done in the last year, plus the results of the bone density scan I

had last summer (which is a story in itself, as to what I went

through trying to find out what THOSE results were), and see what

kind of reaction that produces. I'm not going to put it as a request;

I'm just going to state that I want them, because I know that they

are REQUIRED BY LAW to furnish anything that I ask for. I'll tell

them that if they want to be reimbursed for the costs of copying,

just advise me how much they want--but I'll make it clear that NOT

sending me the information is NOT an option. ;Þ

If that doesn't work, I guess I will go ahead and make a scene. I

sure hope I won't have to do that, though. *SIGH* I HATE having to

yell and scream to get things that I'm ENTITLED to in the first place.

I also hate dealing with the people in that office, in general. My

PCP is nice, but the lab results always come through the nurses, and

they are also the ones who draw the blood. And some of them act

completely clueless. The last time one of the nurses acted like she

was all mad at ME because SHE couldn't find a vein to get blood out

of. She went and got another nurse, who was really nice and found a

vein right away...BUT she acted like it was weird that someone should

need so much bloodwork. The whole thing sucked.

I can't get the office staff to keep a copy of the order from my

surgeon listing what tests are to be done in my blasted chart,

either. I have to be sure to bring a copy every time I go in for a

blood draw, because no matter how many times I have asked them to

keep it in my chart it's NEVER there the next time. I don't know what

the $%#@! they do with it, but they REFUSE to leave it in my chart.

The nurse who called with the results of my bone density scan last

summer didn't even give me the RESULTS at first. All the doctor told

her to say was that I should tale 1500 mg. of calcium every day

(DUHHHHH)--nothing about what the results actually showed. She had

the report in front of her, but she didn't know how to interpret the

numbers on it. She had to ask the doctor, but he wasn't there, so she

had to leave a message, which got lost or something and on and on. I

can't remember how many times I had to call back before I finally got

any information other than the calcium recommendation, and when I

finally did, it was just " Your bones are normal for someone your

age. " Better than nothing, I guess--but I wanted the actual numbers.

They acted like I was weird for even asking at all!

So why don't I change doctors? Because I have no way of knowing if

the next bunch of bozos will be better, just as bad, or even worse,

and it's hard to get up the energy to start all over from scratch

with somebody else, not knowing if it's going to turn out to be a

waste of time. *sigh*

Sharon

> Yell at you for not knowing? Sheesh. How do you think WE all found

> out to do it? LOL!

>

> At FIRST, I had to yell & scream & drag it out. But over the

> years, the docs have come to see it as helpful that we are watching

> & going over them with a magnifying glass. Makes them take a look

> and in many cases, take action before they hit the skids. But at

> first, they were all prickly about it being none of my biz. Well,

> HELLO? I pay the bill, I want a piece of paper to show for it. I

> dunno, maybe they just got tired of me nagging. I should be a

> professional nag,. I'm really good at it.

>

> Huh, Staci?

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> Vitalady, Inc. T

> www.vitalady.com

[Guest guest]

> No, when you are at the lab, ask them to send a copy of the results

> to you, too. You may have to fill out a form, but this way you

> don't have to ask your doc for a copy.

No, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go through my PCP's office.

That's where the blood for my tests is drawn. They do some of the

tests there in the office and send the rest out to a lab. The lab

sends the results back to my PCP's office and the PCP's office then

forwards everything on to my surgeon. I just commented in another

response that it sounds like there are many different ways that these

things are handled--your reponse was more proof of that.

> Doctors usually don't have the time or inclination to look for

> trends (comparing results from previous tests), they only look to

> see if everything is within the " normal " ranges. So its up to you

> to be proactive in your own health care.

This was very enlightening to me. As I also commented in another

response, I didn't know how I was supposed to be able to see if

something was wrong if my PCP didn't see it when he reviewed the

results. I never even thought about comparing previous results for

trends. That makes a lot of sense!

> Go to labtestsonline.com. There are explanations of the various

> tests.

Thanks!

> Yes, if you want to stay healthy. My last labs showed my Ferritin

> had taken a dive from the previous year, although still at the low

> end of " normal. " My doc just said everything was fine, but I

> caught it before it bottomed out.

So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

results are all right, where do you go from there?

> No yelling here. If it was not for this list, I would never had

> known to do this either.

I've about concluded that this is not one of those groups where you

have to worry about having your head taken off when you display

massive ignorance about something. Thank goodness--and thank you! :oD

Sharon

[Guest guest]

> No, when you are at the lab, ask them to send a copy of the results

> to you, too. You may have to fill out a form, but this way you

> don't have to ask your doc for a copy.

No, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go through my PCP's office.

That's where the blood for my tests is drawn. They do some of the

tests there in the office and send the rest out to a lab. The lab

sends the results back to my PCP's office and the PCP's office then

forwards everything on to my surgeon. I just commented in another

response that it sounds like there are many different ways that these

things are handled--your reponse was more proof of that.

> Doctors usually don't have the time or inclination to look for

> trends (comparing results from previous tests), they only look to

> see if everything is within the " normal " ranges. So its up to you

> to be proactive in your own health care.

This was very enlightening to me. As I also commented in another

response, I didn't know how I was supposed to be able to see if

something was wrong if my PCP didn't see it when he reviewed the

results. I never even thought about comparing previous results for

trends. That makes a lot of sense!

> Go to labtestsonline.com. There are explanations of the various

> tests.

Thanks!

> Yes, if you want to stay healthy. My last labs showed my Ferritin

> had taken a dive from the previous year, although still at the low

> end of " normal. " My doc just said everything was fine, but I

> caught it before it bottomed out.

So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

results are all right, where do you go from there?

> No yelling here. If it was not for this list, I would never had

> known to do this either.

I've about concluded that this is not one of those groups where you

have to worry about having your head taken off when you display

massive ignorance about something. Thank goodness--and thank you! :oD

Sharon

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 15 Feb 2003 18:46:59 -0000 " Sharon "

writes:

> I know I am a little gunshy about asking questions. It's just because

> I'm new to this group and don't know what to expect. There ARE some

> groups...or some people anyway...who will yell at you if you ask a

> question or make a comment that they think is something eveyrone

> should know. That has happened to me, and it's made me nervous about

> asking certain kinds of questions in groups where I don't know the

> people well enough to know what kind of reactions to expect. Thank

> you all for being so helpful! Maybe I will get over this yet!

Sharon,

I certainly understand about being a little gun shy in asking

questions. I have been on a few sites where people were rather blunt

about the way they express themselves. I have been accused of that once

or twice. I have had to come back and apologize for the way I have said

things. I have become a lot more careful about how I say things and

often choose to not say anything at all or to wait at least 24 hours

before replying. There are just somethings that I am so adament about or

I have gotten so tired of saying the same thing over and over and over

and over and over and . . . But in the long run, I have to decide if

these few people are worth being run off from a good support system.

This is a good support system. Please don't let any of us run you off.

Stand your ground. Ask your questions. We can't grow if we all agreed

all of the time.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

CHF 4/14/01 479 lbs.

SRVG 7/16/01 401 lbs.

Current Weight 339.5 lbs. and loosing again

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 15 Feb 2003 18:46:59 -0000 " Sharon "

writes:

> I know I am a little gunshy about asking questions. It's just because

> I'm new to this group and don't know what to expect. There ARE some

> groups...or some people anyway...who will yell at you if you ask a

> question or make a comment that they think is something eveyrone

> should know. That has happened to me, and it's made me nervous about

> asking certain kinds of questions in groups where I don't know the

> people well enough to know what kind of reactions to expect. Thank

> you all for being so helpful! Maybe I will get over this yet!

Sharon,

I certainly understand about being a little gun shy in asking

questions. I have been on a few sites where people were rather blunt

about the way they express themselves. I have been accused of that once

or twice. I have had to come back and apologize for the way I have said

things. I have become a lot more careful about how I say things and

often choose to not say anything at all or to wait at least 24 hours

before replying. There are just somethings that I am so adament about or

I have gotten so tired of saying the same thing over and over and over

and over and over and . . . But in the long run, I have to decide if

these few people are worth being run off from a good support system.

This is a good support system. Please don't let any of us run you off.

Stand your ground. Ask your questions. We can't grow if we all agreed

all of the time.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

CHF 4/14/01 479 lbs.

SRVG 7/16/01 401 lbs.

Current Weight 339.5 lbs. and loosing again

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/2003 11:39:58 AM Pacific Standard Time,

itzsharon@... writes:

> So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

> This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

> results are all right, where do you go from there?

>

My current PCP is great - and quite experienced with reading bloodwork. She

had noted that my levels were okay. And when I brought in my tracking chart,

and said " but I'm concerned they are going down " she was impressed and

delighted to have something like that pointed out. She agreed that the trend

was as important as the level, and immediately made some changes in my

supplements. By the same token, where she had been concerned about a lower

level, when she saw the positive upward trend, she felt much better about the

work we were doing.

Kate

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/2003 11:39:58 AM Pacific Standard Time,

itzsharon@... writes:

> So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

> This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

> results are all right, where do you go from there?

>

My current PCP is great - and quite experienced with reading bloodwork. She

had noted that my levels were okay. And when I brought in my tracking chart,

and said " but I'm concerned they are going down " she was impressed and

delighted to have something like that pointed out. She agreed that the trend

was as important as the level, and immediately made some changes in my

supplements. By the same token, where she had been concerned about a lower

level, when she saw the positive upward trend, she felt much better about the

work we were doing.

Kate

[Guest guest]

That has been the general response of the docs in our life, too. An extra

set of eyeballs, hands.

Thanks,

Vitalady, Inc. T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Re: Re: newbie

> In a message dated 2/15/2003 11:39:58 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> itzsharon@... writes:

>

> > So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

> > This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

> > results are all right, where do you go from there?

> >

> My current PCP is great - and quite experienced with reading bloodwork.

She

> had noted that my levels were okay. And when I brought in my tracking

chart,

> and said " but I'm concerned they are going down " she was impressed and

> delighted to have something like that pointed out. She agreed that the

trend

> was as important as the level, and immediately made some changes in my

> supplements. By the same token, where she had been concerned about a

lower

> level, when she saw the positive upward trend, she felt much better about

the

> work we were doing.

>

> Kate

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That has been the general response of the docs in our life, too. An extra

set of eyeballs, hands.

Thanks,

Vitalady, Inc. T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Re: Re: newbie

> In a message dated 2/15/2003 11:39:58 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> itzsharon@... writes:

>

> > So what did you do--go back to your doc and point this out to them?

> > This is where it gets hazy for me--if the doctor has already said the

> > results are all right, where do you go from there?

> >

> My current PCP is great - and quite experienced with reading bloodwork.

She

> had noted that my levels were okay. And when I brought in my tracking

chart,

> and said " but I'm concerned they are going down " she was impressed and

> delighted to have something like that pointed out. She agreed that the

trend

> was as important as the level, and immediately made some changes in my

> supplements. By the same token, where she had been concerned about a

lower

> level, when she saw the positive upward trend, she felt much better about

the

> work we were doing.

>

> Kate

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm a little behind the times in responding to your post because I've

been stuck back east in " the great blizzard of '03 " , so I apologize

if this is too late to help at all.

I got copies of all my labs simply by asking, May I please have a

copy of that for my records? Got some puzzled looks but the nurses

have all said, Sure. Did have to sign for my labs last time because

and I quote, " if these results show up on the internet somewhere we

will have proof that it came from your copy. " Okay, I don't care, I

usually post results that I don't understand anyway.

Next question, what do all those darn initials mean anyhow? I don't

know all of them and the ones that I do know I found out by asking

other post ops and doing research on the web. There are a couple of

web sites that will help interpert your labs for you. For me, I

don't need to know what they all mean- I just want to follow trends.

I have labs from pre-op to date and if I see something falling lower

and lower I ask about it. My docs idea of technical talk to me is,

Your labs are fine. No, some of them aren't fine. But he doesn't

compare all of the lab work against all the others. When I point out

something that is dropping it's a whole new ball game. I track it

all on a spread sheet. Easier for me that way.

What I did in the beginning was to simply look at where my number was

in comparison to the average or mean. Anything that was falling

towards the bottom of the range, I sent out a S.O.S. to the grad

group from someone to please help me understand what I was looking

at. There are several people on the grad group that are more than

willing to help out and not make judgements about our lack of

knowledge. Just ask. They will come. This is a very sharing,

giving group of people.

Lastly, " is it vitally necessary? " Maybe not. But for me it is- I'm

somewhat a control freak anyway and I figure that my health is more

important to me than anyone else so I want to know. You don't have

to track it yourself- lots don't but I do.

Hope that helps without lecturing because it is not intended to be a

lecture, just my nickle's worth.

Alice

The Loon

RNY 12/28/00

> Welcome, Joan. From the sounds of things I'm newer than you are, at

> least it sounds like you've been lurking longer because I am

> unfamiliar with some of the things you are referring to. So I'd

like

> to use your post as a springboard for a couple of questions...

>

> First, how does one " establish solid relapse prevention " ? I am all

> ears here!

>

> Second, about charting your own lab results--do other people's

> doctors actually GIVE them their lab results without having to be

> subject to torture to drag the information out of them? All I have

> ever gotten back is " your results are normal. " And one

time, " you're

> a little low on iron, start taking an iron supplement. " (Which I

> did.) Do other doctors *automatically* give you a full report, or

did

> you have to yell and scream at them to get that? I'm afraid that's

> probably what I'd have to do...and I am not exactly looking forward

> to the prospect. Is this absolutely vitally necessary?

>

> And once you get them, how do you know how to evaluate what they

say?

> I don't know what some of those abbreviations even mean, let alone

> what the results should be. Can someone direct me to an information

> source where I can find out?

>

> I sure hope you aren't all going to start yelling at me for not

> knowing about this. I'm scared to death of getting half a dozen

> sermons about how I should have known better yada yada yada. So be

> gentle? Please? *down on knees begging* If this is something I

really

> SHOULD have known, please accept my abject apologies for being an

> idiot, okay? *cringes in fear of looking like a moron* I'll never

> find out if I don't ask...right? *timidly questioning look*

>

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

I'm a little behind the times in responding to your post because I've

been stuck back east in " the great blizzard of '03 " , so I apologize

if this is too late to help at all.

I got copies of all my labs simply by asking, May I please have a

copy of that for my records? Got some puzzled looks but the nurses

have all said, Sure. Did have to sign for my labs last time because

and I quote, " if these results show up on the internet somewhere we

will have proof that it came from your copy. " Okay, I don't care, I

usually post results that I don't understand anyway.

Next question, what do all those darn initials mean anyhow? I don't

know all of them and the ones that I do know I found out by asking

other post ops and doing research on the web. There are a couple of

web sites that will help interpert your labs for you. For me, I

don't need to know what they all mean- I just want to follow trends.

I have labs from pre-op to date and if I see something falling lower

and lower I ask about it. My docs idea of technical talk to me is,

Your labs are fine. No, some of them aren't fine. But he doesn't

compare all of the lab work against all the others. When I point out

something that is dropping it's a whole new ball game. I track it

all on a spread sheet. Easier for me that way.

What I did in the beginning was to simply look at where my number was

in comparison to the average or mean. Anything that was falling

towards the bottom of the range, I sent out a S.O.S. to the grad

group from someone to please help me understand what I was looking

at. There are several people on the grad group that are more than

willing to help out and not make judgements about our lack of

knowledge. Just ask. They will come. This is a very sharing,

giving group of people.

Lastly, " is it vitally necessary? " Maybe not. But for me it is- I'm

somewhat a control freak anyway and I figure that my health is more

important to me than anyone else so I want to know. You don't have

to track it yourself- lots don't but I do.

Hope that helps without lecturing because it is not intended to be a

lecture, just my nickle's worth.

Alice

The Loon

RNY 12/28/00

> Welcome, Joan. From the sounds of things I'm newer than you are, at

> least it sounds like you've been lurking longer because I am

> unfamiliar with some of the things you are referring to. So I'd

like

> to use your post as a springboard for a couple of questions...

>

> First, how does one " establish solid relapse prevention " ? I am all

> ears here!

>

> Second, about charting your own lab results--do other people's

> doctors actually GIVE them their lab results without having to be

> subject to torture to drag the information out of them? All I have

> ever gotten back is " your results are normal. " And one

time, " you're

> a little low on iron, start taking an iron supplement. " (Which I

> did.) Do other doctors *automatically* give you a full report, or

did

> you have to yell and scream at them to get that? I'm afraid that's

> probably what I'd have to do...and I am not exactly looking forward

> to the prospect. Is this absolutely vitally necessary?

>

> And once you get them, how do you know how to evaluate what they

say?

> I don't know what some of those abbreviations even mean, let alone

> what the results should be. Can someone direct me to an information

> source where I can find out?

>

> I sure hope you aren't all going to start yelling at me for not

> knowing about this. I'm scared to death of getting half a dozen

> sermons about how I should have known better yada yada yada. So be

> gentle? Please? *down on knees begging* If this is something I

really

> SHOULD have known, please accept my abject apologies for being an

> idiot, okay? *cringes in fear of looking like a moron* I'll never

> find out if I don't ask...right? *timidly questioning look*

>

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

Yup, your food intake and fear of regain all sound perfectly normal

to me. )

in NJ

******************

> Hello Everyone!!!

>

> I am 1 year, and 12 days post op. i have lost a total of 175 lbs

and my question is I can eat 4 to 6 ounces of food at one meal .

> Sometimes i get freaked out if I eat 6 ounce cause i am terrified

of stretching my pouch and the weigh gain. I exercise at least 3x's a

> week at gold's Gym. Is this felin of nervousness normal?

[Guest guest]

Yup, your food intake and fear of regain all sound perfectly normal

to me. )

in NJ

******************

> Hello Everyone!!!

>

> I am 1 year, and 12 days post op. i have lost a total of 175 lbs

and my question is I can eat 4 to 6 ounces of food at one meal .

> Sometimes i get freaked out if I eat 6 ounce cause i am terrified

of stretching my pouch and the weigh gain. I exercise at least 3x's a

> week at gold's Gym. Is this felin of nervousness normal?

[Guest guest]

Hi Ginni

there are many people who find out that they have CF later on. Some people find

out in adulthood. Are you near Philly? (I'm in Delaware county, PA) St.

's and Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia both have CF clinics. We

go to CHOP and see Dr. Dan Weiner. My daughter is four and we found out when

she was 9 & 1/2 months old. Good luck and I hope it's not CF, but if it is this

is a good place to find answers.

newbie

hi i am new to the group i have an 11 year old daughter that has been

having all kinds of stomach problems since she was 8. i have taken

her to the ai dupont childrens hospital for the last 3 years and well

they haven't done anything i found a gastro doc that is closer to us

and he is telling me that he thinks it is cystic fibrosis. am i

confused i thought that cystic fibrosis was usually found in younger

children am i wrong. what can i expect? i am so overwhelmed with

every thing.

thanks for your time

ginni

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/20/2003 4:47:27 AM Central Daylight Time,

boss_lady_one_v@... writes:

> ginni

>

I have two daughters with CF and my oldest was 6 when she was diagnosed.

Anything is possible. Please get her check! It was a total shock to us! So

don't delay early detection is the best for you child. Deb A

[Guest guest]

Ginni, Many children are often misdiagnosed for a number of years before the

diagnosis of CF. Depending on the problems and symptoms, they can be diagnosed

as early as as a few months to a few years old. My daughter was diagnosed at 4

months, only because I knew there was something else wrong with her, other than

failure to thrive. I eventually switched docs, and in her first visit the new

doc suggested a sweat test. My daughters problems are all digestive right now,

so if you think that your daughter might have CF, request that she be given a

sweat test to atleast rule it out. I hope that things are well, and if it is

CF, it isn't always bad, atleast you will know and can begin her treatments.

Katy

not telling wrote:hi i am new to the group i have an

11 year old daughter that has been

having all kinds of stomach problems since she was 8. i have taken

her to the ai dupont childrens hospital for the last 3 years and well

they haven't done anything i found a gastro doc that is closer to us

and he is telling me that he thinks it is cystic fibrosis. am i

confused i thought that cystic fibrosis was usually found in younger

children am i wrong. what can i expect? i am so overwhelmed with

every thing.

thanks for your time

ginni

-------------------------------------------

The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY

be construed as medical advice.

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS.

------------------------------------