New Drug for Chronic Constipation...Amitiza

While at my PCP this week, I read a brochure for a new drug called Amitiza. It is for chronic constipation. It says that it is recommended for folks who have constipation issues for unknown reasons and suggests that these reasons might include things like bowels that move too slowly and bowels that absorb too much of the water from the stool, thereby making it too dry and too hard to pass. It is not a laxative and the recommended dosing is a twice daily dosage. My doctor's office had coupons to redeem with a prescription for a free two week supply.

The drug is supposed to help you retain more water IN the stool or increase the bowel juices so that it is easier to pass the stools.

I emailed several other WLS postops and asked if they'd heard of this new drug or of anyone using it after WLS. One person responded that she had been prescribed this drug by her gastro doctor and that she had started taking it once a day but now took it twice a day with positive results/comments. Another person commented that the description of the drug gave her reason to worry about the stools retaining too much of the body water and the body then becoming dehydrated in turn... This wouldn't necessarily be a problem in a person who stays properly hydrated in the first place. I know that I drink over a gallon of fluids every day and would never worry about this.

I have the coupon and prescription from my doctor. I will be getting it filled this weekend and will give it a try. One concern I do have is that my current insurance (expiring this weekend) wants prior approval on this drug. I'm not quite sure what other drugs they expect you to have tried first... LOL But, I will have different insurance on June 1st, and perhaps they will have a more liberal stand on it. If they do not, this drug will not be an option for me as a 30 day supply was going to be well over $100...

Free Chocolate Anyone??

I posted a couple days ago about Maine Cottage Foods and their totally low-carb chocolate goodies... I contacted them and they told me the following:

We have a "Just a Taste" sampler which is a single Teenie of every flavor we make. We don't advertise that for sale but frequently include it as a freebie for new customers so that they can sample everything. If you could get your members to write in the comments section on the order form "Obesity Help Mini-Challenge" we could make sure that they get a free one of those on their first order.

There MAY be a discount coming soon! Stay tuned and I'll pass on info as I get it!

Free Kashi Frozen Entree

Kashi Foods has a coupon offer right now to get a coupon for a free Kashi frozen entree... Check it out!
http://www.kashi.com/picturehunt

Let us know if you try something new and decide you like it!

Low Carb Chocolate! VERY low carb and Yummy too!

Don't know how many of you saw Beth's (AKA Melting Mama) post about the
low carb chocolate, but the link is
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/3865714/LOW-CARB-CHOCOLATE-Rave/

It sounds REALLY good! You can view the nutritional info by going to
http://store.mainecottagefoods.com/ingredients.html and they have a
listing for each of their product groups (chocolate, baked items and more)

I'm thinking very seriously about ordering some of it. I'm about to start my period and I'm seriously craving some good chocolate that won't induce feelings of guilt!

Sick, sick, sick!

I've been fighting this upper respiratory infection for weeks now... I'm sick of being sick! I'm on my second round of antibiotics and have made sure to get several cups of yogurt in lately to ward off those lovely yeasties... The hardest part of it is that I've been working more days than not and it is getting hard to keep going! I've been so worn out at the end of the day that I don't even do much on the 'puter! That is new! But, I am hoping that I'll start to feel better soon and can be back on the net again! Hubby said I'm not allowed to do ANYthing tomorrow but rest! He's promised me breakfast in bed too!

Chef Jay's/Tri-O-Plex Products Discount!

Any of you use these products? I got them to agree to give us a discount. Boxes of 12 packets are $20 each. http://www.chefjays.net/ They are normally $25 on their site, so this is a 20% discount like we've gotten elsewhere...

She wrote the following:

Your group can call in to our office to place an order. We answer phones Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm PST. They must give the code

W500

when ordering to receive the special discount.  The product will be $20.00 per box PLUS $5.95 for shipping.
Ph:702-873-7777

THIS DISCOUNT DOES NOT WORK ON THEIR WEBSITE!!  YOU MUST CALL IN TO ORDER!!

SO, if you use these products, I thought I'd pass it on!  I know that I've paid from $2.49 to $2.99 per packet when I've bought these items.  I've seen them as high as $3.29 each.  Cookie packets have two good sized cookies in them and brownies are one fair sized brownie.  They have like 18 to 20 grams of protein in them...  They are pretty good too.  And, the $5.95 for shipping IS flat rate--one box or 20 boxes.  I confirmed that with her!  Oh, and they also have a "protein puff" that is sort of a higher protein Cheeto sort of thing!  My surgeon's little shop sells them, but I've never tried them.

If you've tried their products and have a favorite, pass it on to us!  I love the Decadent Chocolate Brownie when I just neeeeeed some chocolate but want the protein too.  I have also tried 3 or 4 of the cookie flavors and liked those as well.  I've not tried any of the bars or the puffs...

MY APPETITE IS MY SHEPHERD (POUND 23)

MY APPETITE IS MY SHEPHERD (POUND 23)

My appetite is my shepherd; I always want.

It maketh me sit down and stuff myself.
It leadeth me to my refrigerator repeatedly.

It leadeth me in the path of Burger King for a Whopper.
It destroyeth my shape.

Yea, though I knoweth I gaineth, I will not stop eating
For the food tasteth so good.
The ice cream and the cookies, they comfort me.

When the table is spread before me, it exciteth me
For I knoweth that I sooneth shall dig in.
As I filleth my plate continuously,
My clothes runneth smaller.

Surely bulges and pudgies shall follow me all the days of my life
And I shall be "pleasingly plump" forever.

Free Shipping on ANY order! BariGoodEating.com

I got notice that for the WHOLE month of February, BariGoodEating.com is offering free shipping on ANY order! No minimum purchase--free shipping on ANY order! Click over to stock up on protein bars and shakes and MORE!!

CHIKE Nutrition Protein--15% off on 3 lb tubs!

As many of you already know, I am the group leader for a group of folks at ObesityHelp that we call the Mini-Challenge. One thing I do is look for discounts for us! Recently, I talked CHIKE Nutrition into offering us a discount on their protein powder! Use the discount code ohmini when checking out to receive 15% off on their 3 pound tubs of protein powder. It is available in 5 flavors too! Try it in banana, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and orange creme. Check them out at http://www.chikenutrition.com/