MEDICAL CARD

Does anyone know where I can get a medical card to use when you go out to eat for gastric surgery?

Deedee, My surgeon gave me my medical card after I had my surgery...have you had your surgery yet...if so call your Doctor... Also, you may want to go to your profile on obesityhelp and you can print out your own cards from there... Norma

I hate to be ignorant, but what are these cards for exactly?

the card that I received states that I have undergone stomach reduction surgery and cannot eat a regular meal. It also discusses that precautions should be taken regarding Ulcerogenic medications and when doing gastric or abdominal procedures. It also states that when prescribing these medications or performing these procedures to please contact my doctor before doing so. hope that this helps you Norma

Yes. Thank you, Norma. I was wondering about eating out.... do restaurants frown on adults ordering "kiddie" meals, and how to do so without telling them your whole life's story. How do you handle that? I am still pre-op (just starting my paperwork and doc visits) but hope to be on the losing side very soon. I have read so much about the physical and mental aspects of WLS, but wonder about things like this and social situations. And you look really great by the way! Congratulations!

J G, Whenever I go out to eat at a different restaurant that I dont normally frequent, I just ask the wait staff if it would be possible for me to look at the child's menu, because I have had the gastric bypass surgery...say it in a nice tone of voice, and the wait staff will usually oblige you. Another trick is to always cruise the appetizer menu. If you are with a group of people, you might want to consider sharing a meal with someone in your party. I have been known to go to a restaurant, and order steak and grilled salmon. I would eat the salmon, and another person in my party would have the steak. We might split the salad and the veggies. Similar, at certain restaurants that have 'add-a-meals' have a person in your party order their meal, and then say that you want an add-a-meal of whatever... When going to parties in other social situations, remember to try to go for protein foods...chicken tenders are always a good item to choose...be careful about various soups...they could be too 'rich' for you...I had a problem with this type of food. The main thing to remember when eating out in restaurants or other social situations, is to enjoy being with the people that you are with, and engage in conversations. This will keep you from eating too fast, and always fully chew your food up. Trust me after a while, you will get to know what your new stoma can tolerate and what it cant. I can not believe that I have lost the weight that I have in less than one year and if I can do it...you can do it too!!! Norma