My first post-op visit

I had my 2-3 week post-op visit with Dr. Gibbs today and it went well. According to their scales, I've lost 13lbs. I knew my scales were off, but not that much! Anyway, I'm going by their scales so I'll know how to calculate using mine. My B-12 was really low so they have me doing injections once a week for 2 months, then once monthly until my 6 month post-op. He said if my level was normal at 6 months then he would put me on the kind you put under your tongue. Good think needles don't bother me Other than that, he said I was doing great. He cleared me for any kind of physical activity I wanted to do, so I think I'll start working with some free weights this week in addition to walking. How's everybody else doing? Take care, Denise

Good morning, Denise Sounds like you're doing really well. 13 lbs by Gibbs scale, but what did your scale say? You're still probably full of fluids from your IV's and such. I think I lost 11lbs at my 2 wk visit. The interesting things is that there wasn't a mention of labs/counts at that visit. When did you have your labs drawn? My next visit is in March, and I'm thinking I should go to my pcp a couple of weeks before to have them done and sent to Gibbs. I went to my ortho doc yesterday about the continuing problem with my foot. He injected cortisone into it( owwwwie!) and it's so much better today. Hope this does the trick, I'm tired of not being able to get out and do the things I want to do. Keep up the good work, chat later. Susan

Hey Barbara. Congrats on the 13 lbs! That's great!!!! I started out taking B12 shots once a month, but was getting tired after a couple of weeks, so my surgeon (Dr. Baker) said to increase to twice a month. Originally I was going to my PCP (since I'm 3 hours from LR) and paying an office visit charge, but when it changed to twice a month, I learned to do it myself!! Saves me $50 a month! The B12 serum is cheap at the pharmacy and the needles are about .25 ea. I usually get a dozen at a time. I started out giving them in my thigh, but now I can turn and give them in my hip towards my back. It doesn't hurt and my B12 levels are in the normal range. Hope you get yours straightened out! Margie

Margie, My level was so low that my surgeon wanted me to take them once a week for 2 months, then monthly until 6 months and check it again. My husband is giving them to me, he was trained in the Army for that...he could start an IV if he had too, but hopefully I won't ever need him to do that He gave me one last night in the thigh and it didn't hurt or anything. If he's not available, my best friend is an LPN and she can do it, but she lives 45 minutes away. Hopefully, I'll get it straightened out and feel better. I thought I was just being lazy these last few months, I knew I was laying around a lot and feeling tired all the time but I really thought it was just laziness. It makes me feel better knowing that it wasn't just me, my body was really tired! Take care, Denise PS: My scales were off by about 4lbs, I thought I had lost 17lbs. But I'm happy with 13!

Hey Denise, Great job, my surgery is Monday, the 12, and I have been on shakes since last Thursday, Dr. Baker puts you on them before surgery to get you cleaned out and used to not eating!! I have done ok with them and the good news is, Ive lost 11 pounds!!! Good luck with the B-12 injections, Ive been on them before, and decided it was a small price to pay to feel better. Hope everyone else has had a great week so far!! Hugs, Rhonda