TStew

Candidosis? I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone who thinks that you can make a loaf of bread with Candida overgrowth but then again, yeast is yeast. It's a fungal overgrowth and it can range from a superficial vaginal problem to a life threatening condition. I'm really not that interested in knowing if I can make bread with it but Candida overgrowth in the gut is no joke. It's likely caused by years of poor diet and I wouldn't be one bit surprised if most of us on this site have it to some degree. Most of us live(d) on sugar and processed foods. Most people with this condition have a ton of health problems and the doctors can't find anything wrong. They go undiagnosed for years and then many learn about Candida on the internet and learn to follow a strict diet and take supplements and cure themselves. I know someone who had it and struggled for two years with the diet and is now a happy and healthy person after over a decade of being sick. I'm not at all surprised that an article about Candidosis would mention dry skin brushing. And the Candida diet is very similar to Atkins or the WLS diets but pure and natural - no chemical additives, all organic, low carb, no sugar, etc...

OMG - am I going to be accused of selling natural bristle brushes? I don't know what 'author' you stumbled across but there is info all over the web about dry skin brushing. I first learned about it on a cancer survivors site. Again, it's all over the internet and it's not a big secret. Many people practice it. How can this possibly be a SCAM? Are you kidding? Why would anyone bother? That doesn't make any sense at all. Who is trying to scam who? The brush makers? And even if you're right about the lymph system being too deep for skin brushing to affect and all the practioners who recommend it and all the people who practice it are wrong - I think that most people on this site would be most interested in what it can do for the skin. I'm also a bit of skeptic but if any part of these benefits are true then it's worth it. It's worth the 3 minutes before each shower and it's worth the $3.99 for a long handled natural bristle brush.

Thanks for putting this together! A few things I've read about that I probably wouldn't have thought of: An eye mask and ear plugs (wish I would have had them a few months ago during my hospital stay!!) Slippers or slip on shoes to walk the hallway A camera Lotion, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc Reading glasses Phone charger I'm getting the surgery in Mexico and I plan to bring some Water and food items with me for the night before. I don't want to have to worry about going out to get something to eat (I'll be by myself).

What a great idea!! I just had a uterine fibroid removed (laproscopic) and I could really have used one of these!! I tried to explain to the nurses that my swollen stomach needed support but they didn't get it. I asked if they had some sort of elastic girdle thing but they told me they couldn't give me anything like that.... I was miserable.

Stevia is an herb so the taste is going to take some getting used to but you do eventually get used to it. I remember how disgusted I was with Diet Coke and the aftertaste but ended up loving it until I found out what Aspartame does to you body and brain.... There are other healthy sweeteners that taste great: * Stevia - Very healthy! Can also be used for baking. * Lo Han or Liu Han (inulin) Feeds good bacteria in intestines (very expensive!) * Yacon – Peruvian Tuber (FOS) Syrup - Amazing therapeutic properties. The body is not able to break it down as sugar and it passes through and then promotes the good bacteria in the intestines. Tastes like a cross between honey and molasses – a good, inexpensive brand is Amazon Therapeutic (brown glass jar and red label) sells for $16 for 16 oz jar. * Xylitol – Has antibacterial properties. You should always carry mints (look for Spry mints) or gum sweetened with this if you can’t brush after a meal. It’s being used more and more in foods and toothpastes and such! Very healthy and affordable! * Arithratol (sp) is also antibacterial.

I haven't had the surgery yet but I'm guessing any Atkins or low carb cook book would be good.

I have Fibroymyalgia so I'm very concerned about how much I will be able to exercise after surgery. However, I do have many tools and hopefully I have the drive and will power. I was part of a 'pain management group' at a local hospital last year and they taught us how to manage pain without meds. A huge part of that was exercise. I bought a few DVD's that I was really impressed with and had fun doing with the group. Unfortunately, they've been gathering dust for many months but I'm counting on them to get me started on a more active lifestyle. (Why haven't I started already?!? lol) Here are the ones I loved and bought: Rainbow Sun Qigong (It's for seniors and when I see these older women doing these moves I feel that my 41 yr old butt has NO EXCUSE not to) 4 Minute Fitness with Dr. Keith Jeffery (he's cheesy as hell but I did feel good doing these exercises) Yoga in Bed (Very gentle moves and the only Yoga I can do!)

I used to hate it too but there are so many different kinds (brands / curd size) and I tried one once that had very small curds and I loved it!

Thanks for posting this! I'm pre WLS and I'm trying hard to find some good quality powders without any dangerous chemicals. I'll print this out so I can check out ingredients and Protein amounts. I've been reading a lot about unjury and I just looked it up and I don't like what I see in the ingredients list at all: UNJURY chocolate whey protein supplement is specifically-designed by a clinical dietitian to deliver Medical Quality Protein. Ingredients: Whey protein isolate fructose (the most pro-diabetic sweetener we can consume. Do they really need this AND artificial chemical sweeteners?) natural and artificial flavors (This could mean ANYTHING and it almost always means MSG or other dangerous additives.) cocoa powder soy lecithin xanthan gum aspartame (a dangerous chemical sweetener that is an excitotoxin that causes brain cancer / tumors and MS symptoms.) acesulfame (ANOTHER dangerous chemical sweetener??) I love the one that I use currently but when I posted about it on the obesityhelp web site I got accused of being a spammer and some girl said that this shake was no good for WLS patients at all. The more I learn, the more I think she was full of crap. Thie shake I like has 14g of protein at 100 calories but I could add another 14g by adding two raw eggs to bring it to 250 calories and 28g of protien. That's a great meal post WLS, isn't it??

This is probably a dumb question but is 'smoothie King' a store or a brand name of a shake?

When I think of the terrible stomach contractions I have when I throw up (dry heaves that go on forever but luckily I rarely get sick) I can't imagine going through this after this kind of surgery. Is it extrememly painful to throw up? Do you get the contractions? Can that promote leaks?

Daaaang.... I'm not liking what I'm reading either! My sister is dead set against me having the surgery and she's giving me a really hard time and this is exaclty what she thinks will happen. Most of the stories I've read seem very positive and this is really the first I'm reading of problems. I'm not sure if I have the patience to go through so much trouble converting through stages. I'm planning on a Dec surgery but this is scaring me a bit. Do any of you regret the surgery? I'm sure all of you have moments that pass but would any of you pass on the surgery if you could go back?

The dining room will pretty much make you anything you want! They are amazing! I'm pretty sure cruises are all about the food. When I went we had a super picky person in the group and while we were being served lobster she was asking for mashed potatoes and mac & cheese and they were happy to accommodate.

103 lbs! Wow, congrats to you!

I'm also interested in any input people have for this question. I'm a tea drinker, no coffee. I attended a WL seminar when I first started to consider surgery and I seem to remember the doctor saying it was a no-no for the bypass people but not for the bands (and most people were happy because they were interested in the band, as I was at the time). I don't remember what (if anything) he said about caffeine for the sleevers. (I don't think any were there.)

I haven't had surgery yet but I can tell you a little trick that I've used often in the past. A raw egg is the only 'complete' Protein that is available to be consumed. When the egg is cooked, it becomes a de-natured protein (you see this when the clear turns white). I've been adding raw eggs to my Protein shakes for years. You can't even tell it's in there and as gross as it sounds, think about all the times you've tasted cookie dough or cake batter and you didn't mind it then, did you? lol It makes the shake a little creamier and a little thicker (so I use Water instead of milk) and I am full for HOURS! I have to remind myself it's time to eat when lunch hour rolls around. It's amazing and I feel great (more alert and awake and energized). I know there is a stigma attached to raw eggs and bacteria contaminations but if you look up the statistics you probably have a better chance being hit by lightening or something. I buy free range / organic and I researched how to tell a good egg from a bad one. Here are a few tips: Medium or large are the best because extra large eggs come from older chickens. A great egg has a firm yolk that stands up a bit and a clear island around it that is somewhat defined (and not running all over the place. Eggs can be used past the expiration date as you will be able to tell if it's still good by the smell and way it looks. Eggs don't even need refigeration so it's a not as easy as people think for an egg to go 'bad'. Most bacteria is on the outside of the shell, not the inside. So wash the egg with some warm soapy water before cracking it. The more you mess with the egg, the more you mess with the nutrition. Mix or blend the smoothie first and add the egg as the last thing and only blend for about 5-10 seconds to mix in. Try it! You'll be amazed and you'll probably get hooked!

Thanks so much for all of this information!! Much appreciated! I'm wondering.... Shouldn't we be concerned with chemicals in artificial sweetners such as Aspartame? I try to stay away from everything sugar free unless it has Stevia or Xylitol or something. Unfortunately, I've brought sugar back into my diet in the past few years but after learning about the dangers of chemical sweetners.... I know sugar is horrible for you but when the popular alternative is a neuro toxin I figured I'd take my chances with sugar. Now I need to figure out a way to eliminate it from my diet all together.

Does the stomach ever actually heal or fuse back together? Will we have to worry about leaks for the rest of our lives?

If you want to flavor it, Sweet Leaf makes a healthy Stevia sweetner that comes in all sorts of flavors. It's a liquid and very concentrated so you just add a few drops to whatever. It's good stuff!

Hi everyone, Just found this site today and I have a pretty important question.... I'm only planning on taking two weeks off work after surgery. Is this enough?? I know everyone is different but I'm wondering how long it took all of you. I just had laproscopic surgery in August to remove a large fibroid and recovery was fairly quick. I could have been back to work after two weeks. But this surgery is different and I have a feeling I'll be struggling with the liquid diet. I'm considering a December surgery with Dr. Aceves but I'm still not 100% decided. I would love to hear your thoughts on this as well: My inusurance will over the band or bypass 100% but I don't feel comfortable with either of those. The sleeve seems drastic but it feels right to me. I could have one of the first two surgeries in US but I'm considering going to MX and having to self pay. Am I completely crazy?!?!

I am considering Dec 17 or 18th with Dr. Aceves. I haven't commited yet though.... I live in San Diego and my sister is scared of Mexico and doesn't want to go with me.... I wish I had a close friend who was fluent in Spanish; I would fee so much better about getting it done there.