kalex21211

Can anybody give me testimonials about doctors in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Lake Charles areas that have done VSG??? And if you were cash paying, how much did it cost you? Thanks in advance!

The day before my surgery I was on clear liquids. I made a chicken flavored Ramen noodle soup and drained all the juice off the noodles, put it in an insulated coffee cup, and sipped on it all day. I was not really ever hungry, ironically. I was supposed to drink my first bottle of Magnesium Citrate at 4:00 and then a second one at 6:00. Since my surgery was a couple of hours from home, I decided to stay at a hotel the night before. I checked in and drank my first bottle at 3:30. It wasnt until it was almost time to drink the second bottle that it began to work on me. (To my advantage, my stomach had been a little upset that morning and I had some diarehea, so a good bit of my "clean out" had already started.) The first bottle went down pretty easy. It wasnt near as bad as I had expected. I had kept them on ice all day to get them really cold, and that helped. The second bottle was not so easy to get down. By that time, I was already on the toilet.....(sorry if TMI) I did manage to get a good nights rest and arrived at the surgery center just before 6 am. and was taken back to pre-op about 6:15 or so. I had a WONDERFUL nurse....they prepped me, my husband came back to see me before I was taken into surgery, and still NO NERVES!! I was so content about my decision to do this, and still I have NO regrets!! They gave me something to "relax" me and from that point forward I dont remember a thing!! Until I woke up in recovery with a very painful feeling in my chest. My nurse told me that it was probably from the incision where the retractor was at. And she gave me some more pain meds. What I know now was that it was more than likely the pain from the carbon dioxide that the doc fills your chest up with during surgery. That lasted just over 24 hours. I was released from the surgery center at about 2:30 pm. I went to the hotel where I stayed for another 48 hours. My doctor made rounds and came and checked on me each night, and would have probably come more often had I complications or problems. I did call the office and speak with the nurse during the second day because I was unable to keep my pain meds down, and was vomiting foam. Over the next 8-10 hours probably I was unable to take the pain meds, or sip water without vomiting the foam. My nurse suggested I switch to ice chips, but even then I vomited. I finally decided to try the suppositories that I was given for nausea. The foam was pretty gross, but there was no acid, no taste, just foam. I did vomit some blood along with the foam the first two times, but it was dark and was probably from the surgery itself. It was not bright red in color, so I was not alarmed. My doc came by around 5 pm and I had not had any nausea or vomiting since just before 4pm. He told me that alot of times what happens is the esopogus kinda "stacks up" after surgery and the foam is just from the siliva and liquids hanging up in there. He also said that I would take a turn in the next 12-24 hours and all of it would stop. He was right!! I didnt have anymore vomitting and no more nausea. My sister and I actually went to Walmart to get me some popsicles and get her some dinner, and I did fine. Walked slowly and rested when I got back to the hotel. The next morning, I was to check in with my doctor by phone and update him on how I was doing. He gave me the go-ahead to go home. I will go back to see him next week for my one week post op check up. Since I have been home, I have not taken any pain meds at all. I am not having any of what I would call pain. Discomfort yes, but no pain. I have been resting alot. The first day home, I took a slept quite a bit. The third day post op I stayed up all day. No napping. I took it pretty easy, just didnt sleep. I was sipping water, chicken broth, and eating more than my share of popsicles all of those days.. I didnt know I would love them so much....lol! Today on day 4 post-op I woke up feeling very drained. My arms and legs felt as if they weighed a ton. I rode to Walmart with my sister and pushed the basket until it got too heavy and then I just walked. It was really hot today too so I am sure that didnt help any, but I was completely exhausted. When we got home, I took a three hour nap!! I was more tired than I thought....lol! When I woke up I did feel better. But I will take it a little slower for the next few days, and I will probably try to take a short nap during the day too. On a VERY bright note, I am 13 lbs. down today from surgery!!! WOOHOO!! Anyone considering this surgery, I would very highly recommend it! It is not something that I will ever regret!!!

I am on my way to being skinny!! I have lost 39 lbs since my surgery three months ago today. I am officially wearing a size smaller in my jeans. I am rocking my 18s!! I bought me a couple of tops off the clearance rack and bought an XL!! No more plus size tops for this girl!! :-) I feel great, have lots of energy, and have absolutely NO regrets on my decision to have this surgery!!! Here's to my tiny tummy!!! :thumbup1:

I am on my way to being skinny!! I have lost 39 lbs since my surgery three months ago today. I am officially wearing a size smaller in my jeans. I am rocking my 18s!! I bought me a couple of tops off the clearance rack and bought an XL!! No more plus size tops for this girl!! :-) I feel great, have lots of energy, and have absolutely NO regrets on my decision to have this surgery!!! Here's to my tiny tummy!!! :thumbup1:

Two months ago today, my life changed forever....and today, I am 30 lbs closer to being thin and healthy!! This was the BEST decision I could have ever made for myself!! I am eating just about anything I desire, with the exception of salads. I cant have those until I am 4-6 mos. post-op. I choose not to eat breads and rice most of the time, but that is not to say that I dont have just a bite occassionally. My portions are tiny...but I am completely satisfied! I do find that I am somewhat of a grazer if I dont get the opportunity during the day at work to actually sit and eat the way I should. I still have some of the same old habits I did before surgery, and I am trying to be "aware" when I see myself begin to fall back into that so that I can do something different to break those habits. That is something I expect I will suffer with for a long time! I dont consume near the amount of liquids that I used to. Sometimes that worries me, so I try to stay conscious about how much intake I am getting. I dont want to get dehydrated. I am still wearing the same clothes that I was wearing pre-op, but they are all starting to get baggy on me. I have one pair of jeans that are a size smaller and I am wearing them. Some of the tops that were tight on me before are fitting nicely now. And my dress pants that I couldnt button 4 weeks ago are going on fine... I am beginning to feel really good in my skin, even though I have a LONG way to go!! I cant even imagine what I will feel like this time next year!! It is exciting to know that I am on my way, really! Its not just a dream anymore.... Thanks to all of you for all the help and support. Without this forum it would not be the same!! Karen

Well, here I am, it will be three weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I survived my liquids, clear and full, and the soft food stage. Tomorrow I am supposed to start full foods. My doctor wants me to get in as close to 50 grams of protein a day. So, I have been having protein shakes, made from home and the Gladiator from Smoothie King. I have had refried beans, cottage cheese and soups. My favorite is potato soup, which I know is NOT high in protein, but if I am getting pretty close to my protein counts for the day, then I allow myself to eat potato soup. I am nervous about going to full foods tomorrow, and may just combine a mixture of what I am doing now along with "real" food. I ate a bite of cake two days ago (just cake, no icing), and it seemed to get stuck, and I wound up throwing it up. Not eating cake for a long time to come!! That was not fun!! And that is my fear about "real" food. In the first 8 days after surgery, I lost 16.6 lbs!! I was very pleased with that!! In the next 11 days after that, I fluctuated up and down just under a half a pound. On day 19, my scale dropped almost another pound. WOOHOO! I was glad to see it move....I will say that during that time, I went 6 days without a bowel movement, and started taking 2 fiber choice chewables at night. That seemed to work. Still not going every day, but not going 6 days without one either. Seems to be about every 3 days or so.....But now my scale is back at a standstill. I have been very positive about this. I am telling myself it is ok if it comes off a little slower, so long as it comes off. But today, I am a little discouraged. I am reading posts from people who's surgery date was about the same time as mine, and they have lost almost twice what I have lost. So, today, I am trying to learn how to deal with my emotions as it comes off slowly. I went thru my closet this weekend. I am getting rid of anything that I dont think I will wear even when I can. I have an abundance of clothes that range in size from 16-20. They are all sorted by size, and I am looking forward to going from the 20s I am wearing to the 18s that havent been worn in a long while. I thought maybe this would help, but so far, not so much! LOL Anyway, I know it all will come off eventually. It has to! There is not enough food going into my body to not be losing. One day at a time, I will reach my goal....

Hey goodlife, you are sooo right about that! Not near enough fiber in my diet. I probably dont drink enough Water either, but it is hard....I never thought I would say that I couldnt drink enough water....lol I am drinking all day, but I just dont think it is enough....

I am gonna try this...thanks Genie for sharing!! Karen

I am having the same problem....I havent started fiber supplements yet, but I may. I am 12 day post op and had bm's on days 6 and 7, but nothing in the last 5 days. I havent even felt like i needed to go....today, I kinda feel like something might happen, but no such luck yet!! LOL Best of luck to you....

My friend, thank you for posting this! You know I read your post and commented on it, and continue to keep you in my prayers as you decide what to do. I often do not read the negative posts because I have always thought I didnt want to worry myself sick about something that "might" happen to me. However, truth be told, I am not a worrier by nature. I am a prayer. So thank you for posting this! I never looked at it from the other perspective. From now forward, I will read negative posts and do what I do best, pray for them. And comment about it so that they will know that we are ALL like family here and the support IS there, and no matter how bad it is, they are NOT alone! Hugs! Karen

Congrats!! Keep up the good work!!

Goodness, girl! I had it in my brain that your surgery was for 6/28....I am so sorry to hear about this, but I am sooo thankful they were able to pull you out of it!! I will keep you in my prayers!! Karen

Just an FYI, your UTI may be a result of being cathed during surgery. I hope you feel better soon. I will keep you in my prayers. Karen

I am still in my liquids stage, but I am so glad that I ran across this post! Thanks to all of you for sharing. I will be even more thankful when I get to the soft food stage.... Karen

I am almost there!! Gathering my things tonight....checking in at the hotel tomorrow and will drink the magnesium citrate for pre-op.....and will report to the surgery center at 6am on Monday morning. WOOHOO!! Still not the least bit nervous, either!! I prayed for peace and that is what I still am feeling. Now I am praying for a smooth and uneventful surgery, and a quick recovery. Now, lets see if I can sleep!! :001_rolleyes:

I came home today. All is going well. I had a tough time with the foamies within the first 24 hours, but that has all subsided thank goodness. Just for kicks I decided to weigh today and I am down 8 lbs.!! WOOHOO!! Today I have had some chicken broth, popsicles, a little bit of apple juice, and some hot tea. Along with some ice chips of course.... Thanks to all of you for the unlimited amount of advice and support!! Yall are great!! Karen

I dont have the bloating in my abdomen anymore. That lasted about 24 hours for me and then it seemed I just turned a corner and started feeling better. Walk walk walk....my doc said gravity is your friend!! And sure enough, it seemed that everytime I walked it got a little bit better

Well, I am officially sleeved!! Thanks for all the support... Karen

I have 8 days to go until my VSG surgery. Yea!! And I am still not the least bit nervous! Just plain excited....I have made my trip to the store and bought what I think I will need for after my surgery....and then some I am sure! This week at work will be crazy busy as I am trying to take care of all of this week and next week's clients. I have been so blessed with such a great clientele and that is the price I pay for taking eight days off of work. My husband is finally starting to come around to this whole surgery thing. I think, at least. His comments are starting to be that of a more positive nature. I am pretty sure that most of what he is feeling is just worry... This week I will also be going to two places to eat that I will very likely not be able to eat at for a very long time to come, if ever....so I am getting it out of my system. LOL One of them is a Mexican restaurant that I have been wanting to go to and never have been. I will be meeting a new friend that I made thru obesityhelp.com She is about 6 weeks behind me with her surgery date. We are going thru this as surgery buddies. I am so excited to finally meet her in person. The other place I am going is to eat sushi with two of my very good friends. I have just recently found a love for sushi, and so I am gonna do it up one last time. However, I will say this...For the last few weeks I have been cutting my portions WAY back to prepare for the mental challenges I will be facing after my surgery. So that will hold true for this week to come....just a couple of my favorite things in smaller quantities.... Wish me luck! :thumbup1: