carb addict

How soon is too soon for that 5 day pouch test? I had heard/read from many other forums on this site as well as other boards that it was for those farther out trying to get back on track and not so much for those early out. I am just wondering for future reference if I think it is something that may work for me.

Thanks for any advice Jackie!!

Hi Theresa,

I personally think the 5 day pouch test is good for those trying to get back on track because it cleanses the body of carb and sugar cravings - our two worst enemies - it can also kickstart a plateau. I think it is something that should not be used any longer than the 5 days and should not be a way of life. You are several months out now so could do it occasionally if you are off track.  HOWEVER, if you are on track and doing everything right you should not need to be doing it.

My guess is you are off track so it would be a good way to being you back on track again.

Hope this helps

Jackie

Thanks for replying. No, not so much off track. I do falter, as I am sure everyone does at one or more points of their journey but I never dwell and I always try to improve, learn and go forward from my mistakes. I still have issues that I deal with but as you and most everyone knows, this is a constant journey, a work in progress.

Me weight loss has, of course, slowed down but probably due to med changes & decrease in exercise due to heart issues but I am still losing. I am down almost 135 lbs, about 15 lbs from my dr's goal but more to go to get to my goal.

I was just more so interested in this because of a difference in opinions that I have been reading about this topic and need more clarifications. To me, it is always good to have much more knowledge readily available than is needed. As I had mentioned before, I had heard different stories and needed clarification. I will definitely keep this in mind, as sometimes I feel the need for unwanted carbs

Teresa Marie

Well said.  Always good to be looking toward the short and distant future.   Took the words right out of my mouth.    Even with the Sleeve we are really not so different.   This is a tool and we all must work at this. 

By the way one big difference is I can my warning signals are down in the tummy, not so much with the throat.   Self awareness is so important.   I have no doubt that I could stretch out my new tummy by cheating with carbs.  

End of the month I go see the NUT for my 6 month meeting.  I have so many questions and concerns.    I am bless with the newer surgery and do not take this for granted.

Appreciate all of your viewpoints  Thank you

Thank you Caroline! I think it is a good idea to always look forward, and to arm yourself with as much information as possible for every situation since we are unsure of which path our journey will take.

I am not sure that it was the right thing to do or nice to be assumed that I was off track simply because I asked a question. This being a life long journey and a constant work in progress, I figured we should always be asking questions, especially when clarification is in order. But... I am doing the very best that I can and the very best for me and my results are something that I and ALL my dr's are pleased with.

For me, I thought it was a good idea to buy one of those pocket size notebooks and I wrote any & all my questions down in that. It made it so much easier, especially if I was out and about and a question popped into my head. Good luck with your appointment. I am sure you are doing fine and will continue to do so! Please keep me posted.

Theresa I made the off track assumption because that is the reason most people inquire about the test - to get back on track even if not wildly off track - it also does no harm to cleanse the bosy of extra carbs and toxins from time to time. So please do not take it to heart when I said that - I really did not mean anything by it...

This is a lifelong journey we are all on and we all need help and clarification all the time - I still ask my nutritionist a million questions every visit...

Take care

Jackie

PS How is Cameron?  Is he doing better?

You wrote..."I am not sure that it was the right thing to do or nice to be assumed that I was off track simply because I asked a question."
 
In my humble opinion, I don't think Jackie MEANT to misconstrue your question.  Unless read carefully, it almost did sound like you were refering to yourself at this time.  I went back & reread your post & noticed  where you wrote "for future reference."  So I don't think Jackie was assuming anything.  Perhaps you're feeling overly sensitive considering all that you are going through at present time.  Jackie always has our best interests at heart & gives greatly to everyone here on OH.

You went on to say..."This being a life long journey and a constant work in progress, I figured we should always be asking questions, especially when clarification is in order. "  You are 100% correct & I encourage you, myself, & everyone else here to freely ask any question that can be thought of.  I have no doubt that Jackie, you, or anyone else will be happy to answer any question to the best of their ability.

Your idea of the notebook is an excellent suggestion...one I use often.  My poor doctors know I will be walking in with a grocery list of queries...lol.

I would like to hijack this thread for a moment & ask how are YOU doing, heart-wise?  I've been watching for updates but it would not be impossible for me to believe that I missed it.  Do you have a surgery date yet?  And did Cam's surgery go well?

Hi Ann. I met with the cardiac thoracic surgeon that my cardiologist recommended and well to put it mildly, was NOT impressed. He came more than highly recommended and is the go to guy for robotic valve repair or replacement but his dispositiion was completely rude, condescending and demeaning. I tried to ask him my questions and got no where. One very important question had to do with if the valve gets replaced, being my age, they will use a mechanical valve. Meaning that I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. Because of counter actions with vitamin K, I wouldn't be allowed to take supllements of that. Well, that vitamin is in my multi vitamin and I take 3 a day. He refused to get into discussion about this and gave me the answer that I just couldn't take the vitamins again after that. To me, that couldn't and wouldn't be an option. The solution, according to my cardiologist would be more frequent blood work, and working with my dosages of both. Simple enough. But the fact that he wouldn't discuss something so important got to me.

I know that with a surgeon, you want the best but I will not settle for the best and have a rude man that is not willing to talk and discuss with his patients. So I went back to see my cardiologist to discuss with him the events. He understood and wanted me to know that he only recommended that surgeon because he was hoping I'd be a candidate for robotics but because of prior lung surgery on the same side that they'd go in for the surgery, (Right side breast area) that I am not able to do that so it will have to be open. He referred me to 2 other surgeons. One I was supposed to meet with last Thursday but he got called in to emergency surgery so we rescheduled for next Thursday and the other is with MCV/VCU health systems. He is the director and chairman of the cardiac thoracic surgery department and head of the transplant team. He is waiting for my chart and films, tapes and everything and then we will meet. If he can not do anything for me here, and the other surgeon is not a match then my cardiologist is referring me to the Cleveland Clinic.

My cardiologist wants this done now. He knows that it can not wait. Based on test results from August and the ones from February, we have gone from 1 leaking valve to all 4 leaking and now the aortic valve is showing signs of stenosis. But I am trying to not get worked up. The main thing I have to do according to the dr is get and keep my blood pressure down. So I try not to worry and just let things go.

Thanks for asking about me and sorry it was so long. Things just kinda got to rambling. Congratulations on your great news about your heart!

Doesn't it seem like any more we patients, no matter what the specialty, need to jerk a knot in the doctors tails on a fairly regular basis?  I do try to take into consideration that certainly they are overworked & in big demand, but that's still no excuse for rudeness that borders on near negligence in some cases.  I wonder if the professors have stopped teaching bedside manners.  They HAVE to know that we are not the patients of previous generations that didn't know anything, didn't WANT to know anything, & just blindly went along with whatever the good doctor told them, right, wrong, or indifferent.  Those days are gone.  They are dealing with much more savy people now with access to a lot of good & accurate information.  Maybe WE intimidate THEM?  I just don't get it.  Did you see the piece Oprah did with Dr. Oz last week about things to be watchful for in hospitals?  It was very informative & very enlightening.  He mentioned one thing that I hadn't even thought of, & I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.  How many doctors, nurses, or anyone in the medical field actually clean their stethoscope between patients?  I realized that I never did when I was working in the field with EMS.  You can be sure I will from now on!  And I'm gonna insist on it when one gets used on me in the future. 

So this means more delays for you...that really bites!  Good for you though, for trying to keep things low key so as not to push your blood pressure up.  At least it sounds like your cardiologist is working for you...that's a good thing.  And no need to apologize for the slow update...I'm just glad to know I'm not losing my mind, thinking I missed it somewhere...lol.  You gotta know that a ton of prayers & still going on for you.  Hang in there, kiddo.  And please do let us know how things are progressing.  I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering.

Thank you for the congrats.  At the risk of raining on my own parade though, I'm actually considering booking another appt with my cardiologist.  I want to make absolutely sure that the test results are actually mine because for my EF to jump from 20 to 48 in such a short time, I sure don't feel any different.  And considering my previous echo was done just 4 months ago, I can't imagine what the heck I did to make such a drastic difference.  There's just something that feels "off", ya know what I mean?  Certainly worth further investigation.  So like you, I'm still taking it easy & working hard to keep my bp in check.  I ain't got that warm fuzzy feeling that I'm out of the woods just yet.  I did get excited at first with the news, but now...not so much....yet.  We shall see.  So I guess we both need to make sure we update here.  You know our sisters here will hunt us down if we make them worry about us too much. 

Take care & hang in there, Kiddo!!  We're all pullin' for ya!!

I agree. It is so hard for us as the patients to make the dr's understand that even though we are only the patients and not the dr's, that we just may know a little something about what we talk about. I floor a few of my dr's with the medical knowledge that I have, although some of it has come from nursing school. The vast majority has come from being around them, seeing dr's, the emergency room visits and the hospital admissions.

The original dr I was referred to very well may be top notch and the best in his field but to me, that does not excuse his **** poor attitude or give him the right to treat me like he did.

It does mean delays but the good thing about the entire situation is happens to be that my cardiologist is not so old school and one of the ones that want to wait until the very last minute to fix things because back in the day, when they did that, there wasn't much chance of recovery anyways. He is more new school and wants this done as soon as possible since I am symptematic. That gives me a bit of time that I can be choosey about the surgeon I choose.

I can so relate to you wanting to be double and triple checked to verify improvement. You go thinking for so long that things can and will only go downhill that when good news comes, you just know that it is wrong. God pray that it isn't the case this time. Please keep me posted on what you find out. Seems we are both in this heart thing together.