Attendees:  Kathy B. Sherry B., and Sherry S.

Yes, even though there were only 3 of us, it was an extremely successful and informative meeting.  We discussed calcium and the need to take that supplement.  Kathy clued us into Puritan's Pride and actually did the dissolve test as we conducted our meeting.....12 minutes to dissolve!  Puritan's Pride offers a supplement with Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D!  All the elements needed to make this work for us.

Why do we need calcium citrate as a supplement?  Calcium is needed for healthy bones,  nails, muscle tissue; assists in blood clotting and heart and nerve functions. 

GET IN YOUR CALCIUM!!!

Attendees:
Sherry B., Sherry S., Toni, Kathy, Veronica, Mollie, Dr. Ellner

The meeting began by discussing the need to exercise.  We all agreed that we are more motivated when we have the company of others.  We organized 2 times to walk at the Big Dipper Arena.

Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 7:00 a.m. and Monday through Friday at 5:00 p.m.  These times should meet the needs of both morning and afternoon exercisers.  Bring your walking shoes, some water and hand weights.  It was a pleasure to have Dr. Ellner join us and lend her support and answer our questions.  She emphasized the fact that walking is not good enough, we need to get those heart rates up to 145 (so no lolly-gagging).  Dr. Ellner suggested wearing a heart monitor as a gauge and that we may be able to buy them cheaper bulk on-line.  Some of the members agreed to look into this and report back.

Sherry S. and Dr. Ellner brought us up to speed regarding the Stomaphyx and answered many questions regarding why someone would need one as well as how it is different than bypass.

1.  Stomas can become stretched over time by over-eating and too many endoscopies (to fix strictures)
2.  Pouches too can become stretched by over-eating.
3.  Some bypass surgeons do not measure the pouch when they make them (made too big)
4.  Unlike that feeling of "Fullness" we had after bypass surgery, Stomaphx is much more difficult to determine when one is full....thus the importance of eating the meal within the allotted time and gauging when one is satisfied-remembering also not to drink with the meal.
5.  Dense protein is better than moist as it sits in the pouch longer and gives a sense of fullness that we want and need.  Examples of dense protein includes, chicken, steak, fish.
6.  Do NOT drink for 30 minutes after a meal.  Set a timer like Alice does!

Our next virtual meeting will be April 8, 2008.  Please remember the 3-D meetings held at TVC on Noble Street the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00.  Sherry S. will be the new leader of that group with Anita co-facilitating.  

Dr. Ellner will be back in Fairbanks in April and encourages everyone to come out for the meeting, attend the support group and have questions.

Our first meeting was a huge success!  So nice to see you all there. 10 out of 15 members attended: Owen, Sherry S., Sherry B., Alice, Toni, Gaye, Veronica, Lynnie, Marianne, and Kathy.

SUMMARY:

Discussion of Sherry S. upcoming revision with Dr. Ellner on February 26.  We are all very excited and happy for you Sherry.  Revisions give bypass patients a second chance to lose the weight they didn't or could the first time.  This is an exciting new procedure and Sherry will be our shining star and will be making a television commercial to be aired in California.  After the procedure, she will eat like we all did when we were first out of surgery..same kind of schedule, feeling of fullness etc.  No open cutting will be involved, they go through the mouth to do this procedure, so it is not as invasive.  This is an excellent procedure for patients who's pouch was made too big or stretched.  Sherry S. said that in her case, her pouch was made too big (looks more like a sack), the stoma is too large and she never achieves a sensation of fullness.   Check out the 5 day pouch test at http://www.5daypouchtest.com

Alice will be providing information about the Weight Watcher's group she goes to.  Look for that on the message board or added to this blog.

Some of us (Sherry B and another member)  are seeing a local therapist about transfer addiction issues.  Some discussion was made about how most of us have compensated for our earlier obsessions with food by transferring it to something else (still food, alcohol, candy, shopping etc).  Those underlying issues have to be addressed--and a therapist can help with that.  For those of you who expressed interest in seeing her, her name is Susie Gilbreath and her phone number is 374-4410.

Most of us in group were concerned about creeping weight gain and the inability to lose any more weight (stalling).  After discussion, we settled on a number of reasons, lack of exercise (yeah...blah, blah, blah), grazing all day, eating and drinking things we know we shouldn't (bread, pasta, rice, candy, salty nuts, wine etc)  Most of us are getting in our water, but many can't drink it plain and need to add something to it (lemons, limes, crystal light).  The link to do the 5 day pouch test is: http://www.5daypouchtest.com  I am reading up on it now and will inform more on the message board.

Exercise...Marianne goes to the 5:30 p.m. Jazzercise class, Veronica, Sherry B., and Lynnie will also try to start going.  Lynnie, Sherry B. and Veronica also go to the Saturday yoga class at Jazzercise and a new session should be starting up soon...more info on that later.

:) Sherry

Welcome to The Next Frontier Weight Loss Surgery Support Group.  We are very happy you are here.  Please, let’s first establish a few ground rules.

 

1. What is said in this forum is confidential.  We respect each others privacy; please do not share what is said here with others not present at this meeting.
2. No one has come to this place to be bashed, ridiculed, chastised or treated like a child.  Please be kind with your words, and respectful of the person who is speaking.  Advice and constructive criticism can be given gently and with compassion.
3. Please keep side chats out.  This chat room is open to us all 24/7, so please feel free to chat anytime EXCEPT during the meeting.
4. Use the Message Board to post any questions or comments you want to have responded quickly.
5. The Blog is a place where you can write lengthy pieces of information or personal information if you so desire.  You will also find a brief summary of our monthly meeting notes here.

I am seeing a therapist.  Yes, I said therapist.  I found that one year after surgery I still had unresolved issues that needed professional intervention.  After talking to many of my friends here, I found that they too had issues that they needed help with and were not getting satisfactory answers or help from our bi-weekly meetings.  So,....here we are.  The Next Frontier.  I plan on being very candid in our first meeting.  Please remember that we are in this together, there is no one sitting in judgement of what we have done, said or do.

Your friend in WLS,
Sherry