poll - taking care of our health
That was one thing that, surprisingly, my surgeon NEVER mentioned (even though I was 45 when I had my RNY), so I did not have one until a year or so ago. With our calcium absorption issues, though, I think it is prudent for ALL of us to have a baseline one done before or shortly after surgery and then every couple of years to catch any developing issues early since the blood levels apparently can be affected by lots of different things and not always a good reflection fo what is going on.
Lora
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
1. Had labs done? last month
2. Saw the dentist? Nov of last year
3. Had an eye exam? early last year
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)? last month
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)? N/A
6. Had a pap test (women)? 2.5 years ago (but I had a hysterectomy years ago, so this is only to check for vaginal cancer)
7. Done a breast self exam (women)? about 2 months ago
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)? last year
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)? a year or so ago
10. Were tested for HIV? The only time I was tested was several years ago after I was raped (and then again 6 months later)
Lora
2. Saw the dentist? Nov of last year
3. Had an eye exam? early last year
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)? last month
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)? N/A
6. Had a pap test (women)? 2.5 years ago (but I had a hysterectomy years ago, so this is only to check for vaginal cancer)
7. Done a breast self exam (women)? about 2 months ago
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)? last year
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)? a year or so ago
10. Were tested for HIV? The only time I was tested was several years ago after I was raped (and then again 6 months later)
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
1. Had labs done? October
2. Saw the dentist? couldn't even tell you. i know it was after i graduated college so probably summer or fall 2008
3. Had an eye exam? december 2010. now i don't have insurance :-/
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)? i check it all the time
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)? N/A
6. Had a pap test (women)? last may or june. need to make an appointment soon
7. Done a breast self exam (women)? i'm bad about this. my boobs are naturally lumpy and then i get all paranoid
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)? n/a
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)? never
10. Were tested for HIV? november, when i was having spotting all the time issues
2. Saw the dentist? couldn't even tell you. i know it was after i graduated college so probably summer or fall 2008
3. Had an eye exam? december 2010. now i don't have insurance :-/
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)? i check it all the time
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)? N/A
6. Had a pap test (women)? last may or june. need to make an appointment soon
7. Done a breast self exam (women)? i'm bad about this. my boobs are naturally lumpy and then i get all paranoid
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)? n/a
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)? never
10. Were tested for HIV? november, when i was having spotting all the time issues
happy_baker
on 5/5/12 3:51 am
on 5/5/12 3:51 am
RNY on 02/15/12
1. Had labs done?
- Got mine scheduled for later this month.
2. Saw the dentist?
- Back in 2010. I need some work done, and have been putting it off.
3. Had an eye exam?
- 2011. I need new contacts soon, I think. My astigmatism is getting worse.
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)?
- March of this year. It was low, as usual.
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)?
N/A
6. Had a pap test (women)?
My last pap was in January 2010. Geez. I'm way behind. Gynecologists freak me out
7. Done a breast self exam (women)?
I try regularly, but there's so many lumps and bumps in there, I never know what I'm looking for.
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)?
N/A
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)?
Have never had one. How soon after RnY are those recommended? Nobody ever mentioned that...
10. Were tested for HIV (which is probably not necessary for people in monogamous relationships if you know your partner is HIV negative and as long as you are not at risk in any other way, but I'm guessing most of us have at some point been less than perfectly safe so it probably makes sense to get tested at least once in our lives)?
January 2010. Part of my mandatory prenatal bloodwork. I'm not currently sexually active, so I don't get tested for that sort of thing.
- Got mine scheduled for later this month.
2. Saw the dentist?
- Back in 2010. I need some work done, and have been putting it off.
3. Had an eye exam?
- 2011. I need new contacts soon, I think. My astigmatism is getting worse.
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)?
- March of this year. It was low, as usual.
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)?
N/A
6. Had a pap test (women)?
My last pap was in January 2010. Geez. I'm way behind. Gynecologists freak me out
7. Done a breast self exam (women)?
I try regularly, but there's so many lumps and bumps in there, I never know what I'm looking for.
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)?
N/A
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)?
Have never had one. How soon after RnY are those recommended? Nobody ever mentioned that...
10. Were tested for HIV (which is probably not necessary for people in monogamous relationships if you know your partner is HIV negative and as long as you are not at risk in any other way, but I'm guessing most of us have at some point been less than perfectly safe so it probably makes sense to get tested at least once in our lives)?
January 2010. Part of my mandatory prenatal bloodwork. I'm not currently sexually active, so I don't get tested for that sort of thing.
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Check out my video blog! www.youtube.com/user/HappilyShrinking/videos
Highest weight: 269. Surgery weight: 233. Goal weight: 144, and then we'll see..

Check out my video blog! www.youtube.com/user/HappilyShrinking/videos
Highest weight: 269. Surgery weight: 233. Goal weight: 144, and then we'll see..

My answers are all within the good range - I'm obsessive about tracking my health now that I've finally gotten it back!
But I'm seeing a lot of quesstions about the bone density exam. It sounds like a lot of surgeons' offices agree with mine: if our calcium numbers are good, our bones will be good.
I seriously disagree with that.
My ob/gyny will refer me for a bone-density exam every 24 months just because I'm post-menopausal. I'm ok with that, as long as the scans keep coming back good. As soon as they don't, I'm going to be all over my PCP to order me ones in the middle.
If your surgeon thinks like mine and doesn't routinely order bone density, talk to your PCP. Nag (but nicely) and be sure to have it checked out. By the time something shows up in our blood work, it will take a lot longer to repair than if we find it early!
But I'm seeing a lot of quesstions about the bone density exam. It sounds like a lot of surgeons' offices agree with mine: if our calcium numbers are good, our bones will be good.
I seriously disagree with that.
My ob/gyny will refer me for a bone-density exam every 24 months just because I'm post-menopausal. I'm ok with that, as long as the scans keep coming back good. As soon as they don't, I'm going to be all over my PCP to order me ones in the middle.
If your surgeon thinks like mine and doesn't routinely order bone density, talk to your PCP. Nag (but nicely) and be sure to have it checked out. By the time something shows up in our blood work, it will take a lot longer to repair than if we find it early!
Rebecca
Circumferential LBL, anchor TT, BL/BR, brachioplasty 12-16-10 Drs. Howard and Gutowski
Thigh lift 3-24-11, Drs. Howard and Gutowski again!

Height 5' 5". Start point 254. DH's goal: 154. My guess: 144. Insurance goal: 134. Currently bouncing around 130-135.
Circumferential LBL, anchor TT, BL/BR, brachioplasty 12-16-10 Drs. Howard and Gutowski
Thigh lift 3-24-11, Drs. Howard and Gutowski again!


1. Had labs done? First week of April for my 1 yr
2. Saw the dentist? Jan/Feb this year
3. Had an eye exam? last year. about due for one since my opth is sending me reminder cards...
4. Checked your blood pressure (or had it checked)? checked it myself maybe a few weeks ago and is checked at every dr visit, so last one was 2-3 weeks ago
5. Had a prostate exam (men over 50)? n/a
6. Had a pap test (women)? last November
7. Done a breast self exam (women)? last month
8. Had a mammogram (women over 40)? n/a.Probably will start at age 35 though due to family history
9. Had a bone density scan (all RNY patients should get them)? never had one nor mentioned to me. Hmmmm.....
10. Were tested for HIV? When I was 26. As part of an HIV/AIDS counseling class, even though I'm still in the same rel.
This poll is starting to make me feel better about myself. I was starting to beat myself up for not taking very good care of myself lately (hm, doesn't that sound counterproductive?) but answering these questions reminds me that I actually do stay on top of my health fairly well!
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.