Re: Good News/Difficult News

[Guest guest]

Good luck, will begin swingin the chickens!!

fondly,

Loriann

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

270# BMI 50

to be switched Nov. 17

in Alcoy, Spain

Dr. Aniceto Baltasar

llist@...

Good News/Difficult News

I received my insurance approval letter today for my surgery which is

scheduled for November 27!!! Yeah!!!! GOOD NEWS!

However (DIFFICULT NEWS), I do not yet have medical clearance for the

surgery. I have a lifelong history of asthma which has gotten

increasingly worse as I age. Last year I was hospitalized 2x with

asthmatic bronchitis for 10 days each stay. I have been on oral

prednisone on and off for the past 18 months. Since prednisone

suppresses the immune system, there is concern about my body's ability

to heal after surgery. I have diligently worked towards lowering my

dose and am now at 10mg every other day. I am responding well to the

reintroduction of inhaled steroids. The doc who does the clearance

would prefer that I be off of prednisone for several months prior to

sugery. But he said he would see how I was doing two weeks prior to

surgery. I see him on the 15th and will know then if I'm on.

I know that being on the oral steroid poses a serious medical risk. But

I am afraid that if I wait my asthma might flare up again and I'll have

to go on higher doses and that willpush the surgery back any more. I

also get bronchitis whenever I catch a cold and this always aggravates

my asthma. I feel like I'm in a no-win situation and the circle jsut

keeps going round and round.

Please light candles, shake chickens, pray, etc. so that I will be

cleared on November 15. thanks for all you support.

I don't post much, but I read everything. My partner is worried that

I'm addicted to email! So everyone has been a tremendous source of

information and support for this surgery.

Peace,

Mama B

[Guest guest]

Dear Mama B,

I'm not a doctor, so I am not qualified to give you medical advice.

But, I have a couple of suggestions for you that may help prevent you

getting a cold or other infection prior to your surgery. You could

run these suggestions past your own doctor and your DS surgeon, and

ask them if it is O.K. for you to use these supplements. I have

Fibromyalgia, which does have an auto-immune component to it,

although technically, it is not considered an auto-immune disease. I

use Echinacea to help prevent and/or decrease the many sinus

infections and upper respiratory infections that I used to have

constantly before I started taking the Echinacea. Although the

Echinacea does boost my resistance to infections, it does not

aggravate the auto-immune component of my Fibromyalgia. In fact, it

really helps my Fibromyalgia to prevent these URI infections and my

own body's reaction to the illnesses. That is my first suggestion

for you. My second suggestion is for you to use the Zinc slow-

release lozenges like " Cold-Eze " to help prevent you from getting a

cold. I have used these lozenges, and they have worked wonderfully

for me in the past.

Of course, you will need to call your own doctors and make sure that

it is all right for you to use these two supplements. You might want

to start out with a very low dosage of the Echinacea if you have

never taken it before, just to be sure that you don't have an adverse

reaction to it. I intend to ask my surgeon if I can take my

Echinacea right up to the day of my DS surgery, and to resume it as

soon as possible afterward, to help prevent me from getting an

infection. Also, if you have diabetes, you will need to look for a

sugar-free Zinc lozenge. I'm pretty sure I have seen them in the

drug stores. I sure hope you can stay well until your surgery date,

and that the doctors will give you the go-ahead for the surgery!

Joy (Joe's Other Half!)

Pre-Op Age: 47 BMI: 48

Dr. Welker

Date to be determined--

(Waiting for insurance submission/approval & for Joe's DS)

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joy/joy.html

> I received my insurance approval letter today for my surgery which

is

> scheduled for November 27!!! Yeah!!!! GOOD NEWS!

>

> However (DIFFICULT NEWS), I do not yet have medical clearance for

the

> surgery. I have a lifelong history of asthma which has gotten

> increasingly worse as I age. Last year I was hospitalized 2x with

> asthmatic bronchitis for 10 days each stay. I have been on oral

> prednisone on and off for the past 18 months. Since prednisone

> suppresses the immune system, there is concern about my body's

ability

> to heal after surgery. I have diligently worked towards lowering my

> dose and am now at 10mg every other day. I am responding well to

the

> reintroduction of inhaled steroids. The doc who does the clearance

> would prefer that I be off of prednisone for several months prior to

> sugery. But he said he would see how I was doing two weeks prior to

> surgery. I see him on the 15th and will know then if I'm on.

>

> I know that being on the oral steroid poses a serious medical

risk. But

> I am afraid that if I wait my asthma might flare up again and I'll

have

> to go on higher doses and that willpush the surgery back any

more. I

> also get bronchitis whenever I catch a cold and this always

aggravates

> my asthma. I feel like I'm in a no-win situation and the circle

jsut

> keeps going round and round.

>

> Please light candles, shake chickens, pray, etc. so that I will be

> cleared on November 15. thanks for all you support.

>

> I don't post much, but I read everything. My partner is worried

that

> I'm addicted to email! So everyone has been a tremendous source of

> information and support for this surgery.

>

> Peace,

> Mama B

[Guest guest]

Joy,

thanks for your post. I have often used echinacea. Rcently, I have

found that I respond well to some homeopathic remedies in regards to

cold prevention. Right now I am going to acupuncture to boost my immune

system and am taking some Chinese herbs.

Are you taking echinacea now? I seem to remember that you are pre-op.

Does your surgeon approve of taking it?

I have also used the cold-ease with some success. I also take 1000 mg

of C every day. Sometimes I jsut get tired of taking anything!

Mama B

[Guest guest]

Robin,

Have you tried " Cold-Eze " brand? The lemon-lime is to me the

tastiest flavor of them. If you are diabetic and can't have sugar,

you'll have to look for a brand that makes the sugar free version.

They prevent colds and also help you to get over a cold faster than

you would have if you use them in the first day or two of your cold.

If you really like a menthol/mint type lozenge, Cold-Eze comes in a

menthol variety, too. But, they won't help a lingering bacterial

infection or an allergy-type problem. I have found that the

Echinacea helps prevent the bacterial infections and helps me get

over the mild kind of chronic sinus infection that seems to

permanently live in my sinuses and respiratory tract. For the

allergy type problems, I use two prescription sprays: Flonase and a

topical anti-histamine called Astelin. (The Astelin is awfully

bitter, and it does go down the back of my throat and I get a bitter

taste after using it.) These are nose sprays and mainly work on the

sinuses. For a congested chest, I use another prescription product,

an inhaler called Albuterol.

I take 5 Grams of Echinacea daily, but have to go on regularly

scheduled Echinacea holidays: for 10-14 days every 3 months. My

G.P. doc says that if I don't go on the holidays, I will get used to

the Echinacea, and it won't work any more. I have also read that it

can depress your immune system if you don't take the mandatory

holidays from it. So, now I get my worse sinus and bronchial

infections during the Echinacea holidays. I usually end up going on

antibiotics during these times.

I would recommend you try the Zinc lozenges again, especially if you

need it for a short-term period when you really want to prevent a

cold. I'd encourage you to see if you like the Cold-Eze, and if you

don't like that brand, keep trying other brands until you find one

that is least objectionable to your taste.

Joy (Joe's Other Half!)

Pre-Op Age: 47 BMI: 48

Dr. Welker

Date to be determined--

(Waiting for insurance submission/approval & for Joe's DS)

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joy/joy.html

> Joy, once again I find a tremendously helpful post from you, in a

place

> I wasn't even looking for it! My heart goes out to Mama B and I

hope

> her surgery goes through without any fuss, but I am also one of

those

> who gets chronic URIs. In fact, I have a nasty snot ball in my

> throat/chest and my endoscopy is next week! What a time for me to

be

> having surgery, the beginning of December, when I am prone to come

down

> with a nasty cold. If echinacea works for you so well, I will have

to

> try it. The zinc lozenges I don't like so much. I wish you could

just

> chew them or swallow them whole, because that little tablet staying

in

> your mouth doesn't seem like it will ever melt down, and I end up

> spitting them out. Then I complain about them not working. Should

I

> try again?

>

> Robin F

[Guest guest]

Mama B......

I've got a candle going for you right now and I'll be sending you lots

of love! I'm so sorry that it has ended up being so stressful! Hope it

all irons out and works for you. Keep us posted on your progress...

(BTW....That email addiction must be part of this surgery process! I

know I have it, too. I understand it is also cured by the surgery

itself as evidenced by how few post-ops appear on the list! It sure is

a great way to get support)

=====

H

Dr. Keshishian/surgery 11-21-2000

San Francisco Bay Area

mailto: hillsmith2000@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Will keep you in my thoughts, with wishes of good health.

From someone who knows what it's like to have bronchitis almost constantly

(better in the last year).

Love,

Marisa

5'3 " - 258# - BMI 44

Dr. Anthone

Surgery 11/17/00

Consult 8/14/00

Good News/Difficult News

> I received my insurance approval letter today for my surgery which is

> scheduled for November 27!!! Yeah!!!! GOOD NEWS!

>

> However (DIFFICULT NEWS), I do not yet have medical clearance for the

> surgery. I have a lifelong history of asthma which has gotten

> increasingly worse as I age. Last year I was hospitalized 2x with

> asthmatic bronchitis for 10 days each stay. I have been on oral

> prednisone on and off for the past 18 months. Since prednisone

> suppresses the immune system, there is concern about my body's ability

> to heal after surgery. I have diligently worked towards lowering my

> dose and am now at 10mg every other day. I am responding well to the

> reintroduction of inhaled steroids. The doc who does the clearance

> would prefer that I be off of prednisone for several months prior to

> sugery. But he said he would see how I was doing two weeks prior to

> surgery. I see him on the 15th and will know then if I'm on.

>

> I know that being on the oral steroid poses a serious medical risk. But

> I am afraid that if I wait my asthma might flare up again and I'll have

> to go on higher doses and that willpush the surgery back any more. I

> also get bronchitis whenever I catch a cold and this always aggravates

> my asthma. I feel like I'm in a no-win situation and the circle jsut

> keeps going round and round.

>

> Please light candles, shake chickens, pray, etc. so that I will be

> cleared on November 15. thanks for all you support.

>

> I don't post much, but I read everything. My partner is worried that

> I'm addicted to email! So everyone has been a tremendous source of

> information and support for this surgery.

>

> Peace,

> Mama B

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mama B,

I haven't asked Dr. Welker about my taking Echinacea right up to the

day of surgery. I will ask him when we get up to Portland and I see

him during Joe's pre-op appointment. I take a full 5 grams of

Echinacea a day, and I only go off of it once every three months, as

has been recommended by my G.P. doctor, so that it will continue to

remain effective for me in boosting my immune system.

I, too, have to take tons of medicines and health supplements... and

I get tired of having to take all of them, but I keep doing it,

because they help me in so many ways. It looks like you are doing

everything you can to stay as healthy as possible for your surgery.

We are all pulling for you!

Joy (Joe's Other Half!)

Pre-Op Age: 47 BMI: 48

Dr. Welker

Date to be determined--

(Waiting for insurance submission/approval & for Joe's DS)

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joy/joy.html

> Joy,

>

> thanks for your post. I have often used echinacea. Rcently, I have

> found that I respond well to some homeopathic remedies in regards to

> cold prevention. Right now I am going to acupuncture to boost my

immune

> system and am taking some Chinese herbs.

>

> Are you taking echinacea now? I seem to remember that you are pre-

op.

> Does your surgeon approve of taking it?

>

> I have also used the cold-ease with some success. I also take 1000

mg

> of C every day. Sometimes I jsut get tired of taking anything!

>

> Mama B

[Guest guest]

Joy,

Thanks for your support. Good luck with Dr. Welker!

Mama B

Joy wrote:

>

> Mama B,

>

> I haven't asked Dr. Welker about my taking Echinacea right up to the

> day of surgery. I will ask him when we get up to Portland and I see

> him during Joe's pre-op appointment. I take a full 5 grams of

> Echinacea a day, and I only go off of it once every three months, as

> has been recommended by my G.P. doctor, so that it will continue to

> remain effective for me in boosting my immune system.

>

> I, too, have to take tons of medicines and health supplements... and

> I get tired of having to take all of them, but I keep doing it,

> because they help me in so many ways. It looks like you are doing

> everything you can to stay as healthy as possible for your surgery.

> We are all pulling for you!

>

> Joy (Joe's Other Half!)

> Pre-Op Age: 47 BMI: 48

> Dr. Welker

> Date to be determined--

> (Waiting for insurance submission/approval & for Joe's DS)

> http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joy/joy.html

>

>

> > Joy,

> >

> > thanks for your post. I have often used echinacea. Rcently, I have

> > found that I respond well to some homeopathic remedies in regards to

> > cold prevention. Right now I am going to acupuncture to boost my

> immune

> > system and am taking some Chinese herbs.

> >

> > Are you taking echinacea now? I seem to remember that you are pre-

> op.

> > Does your surgeon approve of taking it?

> >

> > I have also used the cold-ease with some success. I also take 1000

> mg

> > of C every day. Sometimes I jsut get tired of taking anything!

> >

> > Mama B