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Life STINKS after surgery
MuffinsMom replied to 4romatl's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm so sorry to hear you're having these kinds of problems. From the sound of it, most issues arise from your nausea and the gastric acid (probably not bile) coming up from your stomach. Please insist that your surgeon address these issues! You can get anti-nausea med, and start or change your PPI, take it twice a day (or more), take an H2 blocker like Pepcid every once in a while. You won't have to do these things for the rest of your life, but for now they sure can make a difference. I know. I never experienced nausea, but had serious gas from acid, couldn't put anything in my stomach without tremendous pain/upward pressure and belching. It was affecting my ability to get liquids and nutrition in, same as you. Major change for the worse in my quality of life, and I was starting to question why I did this to myself also. I finally checked with my surgeon's office and was advised that I may have become lactose intolerant, and that my pre-surgery stomach acid issues may have temporarily worsened after surgery. So I laid off the dairy, increased my PPI to twice a day, added Pepcid for the once-in-a-while acid (which I seem to take about twice a day on average), slowed down my eating, took smaller bites and chewed well, and all that has made a HUGE difference. My quality of life has simply turned a corner, and I know yours will too. Take the bull by the horns. You have a problem to solve, and you have the power to solve it, with your surgeon's help. If you don't get help there, find another surgeon for your post-op care. You can do it! -
Before surgery I did have GERD and I was taking Prilosec twice a day. The acid reflux is quite a bit more severe now than before surgery. Someone posted that's partly because the bile system is still pumping out stomach acid for a full-size stomach (to digest full-size meals), although our tummies are a fifth of what they used to be. I still take Prilosec twice a day, although it's not as effective as it was before surgery, and now take Pepcid here and there when I feel like the acid is building up. Usually a single TUMS at bedtime. I avoid eating in the evening, avoid things (like coffee) that tend to make it worse. I'm finding that following "the rules" around post-op eating helps with acid also - small bites, chewed well, take time between bites, stop when you get your signal (in my case it's burping), etc. I have to say, if I had known I would be in this position I might have thought twice about the surgery. Still, I'm only 6 weeks out, have lost 26 lbs. and feel great in every other respect, and I'm hoping this will be temporary. All doctors seem to agree, GERD improves quite a bit when people reach a normal weight. (isn't it funny how just about EVERY medical problem we suffer would be helped by weight loss? I always used to get mad about that, haha!)
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Would you go to Mexico alone for surgery?
MuffinsMom replied to ButterflyBandita??'s topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I went alone also, in fact I was there with BlackBerryJuice. The three of us who were having surgery on the same day, met as Ernesto picked us up at the San Diego airport, and became "littermates." As BBJ says, we took walks together, compared notes, went to the pharmacy together, and did quite a bit of socializing, along with people who had their surgery the days before and after we did. Since Aceves keeps his patients for three nights (which was one of the factors that helped me decide on Mexico), we had several people to keep us company. I had a friend who was willing to come down with me, but I read on these boards that a lot of people said their friend or family member didn't have a lot to do, and in fact a couple people mentioned that they were a little too focused on worrying about their companion. So I decided to go alone, and it was the right decision for me. The hospital staff was VERY attentive, Dr Aceves and Dr Campos came by several times a day, and I had zero complications or problems. If you're thinking of Aceves, I would recommend him without reservation. -
what do you wish you knew before hand
MuffinsMom replied to salty91's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I wish I had known about the belching. I'm five weeks out and finally got a handle on it in the last couple days. After the TWO YEARS of research I did on WLS and specifically the sleeve, this was news to me. Some get it some don't, I did. It has been a major problem - belching loudly every 10 seconds for two hours after eating, like my stomach was filled with Pop-Rocks! Plus the gas prevented me from being able to get nutrients, Protein, liquids in. It turns out to be a combination of several things - minor lactose intolerance (I was mixing my protein powders with milk to up my calories), eating too fast and/or bites too large, and serious stomach acid. I was taking Prilosec twice a day before and after surgery, but after surgery it wasn't enough, so I now take a Pepcid late in the afternoon, and I take a ginger capsule with Breakfast. Both help to settle the acid. My post-surgery coordinator tells me it's temporary and should get better after a while. I hope so. It's the only thing that has caused me buyer's remorse, and now that I seem to have found some tools that help, I'm SO much happier! I still belch once in a while, mind you (mostly when alone, thankfully), but the constant UUURRRPPP's a hundred times a minute are gone. p.s. The 24.5 lbs. gone help with the happy-quotient too, LOL! -
Why the protein???
MuffinsMom replied to Val_Martin's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
From what i've read, the body absolutely requires Proteins (probably the amino acids?) to run property on a daily basis. If we don't consume adequate Protein, the body will start breaking down its own, out of our muscle tissue, to get what it needs. Since the heart is a muscle, we would be in danger of heart damage if we don't get enough protein, along with the slow and steady wasting away of all muscles in the body. (Not to scare you, by the way, that happens over a span of months and years of inadequate protein intake.) HOWEVER, that said, for the first few weeks, between liquids and protein, by far the more important is liquid. Get what protein you can, but be sure to get plenty of liquids - broths, Water, and so forth. Dehydration can happen in a very short time, a few days. The body can go for a few weeks without high protein, and eventually when you're able to tolerate more, you'll need to up your protein to the minimum your surgeon recommends. -
Anybody change their mind completely and NOT have the sleeve??
MuffinsMom replied to misspatrice's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
From your picture you look young, and believe me, now's the time to do it! I'm 60, started gaining weight at about age 8, and yo-yo'd all my life. Like everyone else I was able to take the weight off, but never able to keep it off for any length of time. I would lose a good 90-100 lbs. about every decade, then gain it all back after a couple years, so I've spent the majority of my life fat. And in the past 15 years, I haven't even been able to do that. If this option had been available 30 years ago, I would have done it then! At three weeks I did have a moment of WTF have I done, while out to a family restaurant with friends. Me with my cup of soup, and they with their lovely full dinners. But eventually I will be able to eat a wide range of foods, just not very much, and that's what I signed up for, after all. I wouldn't change a thing. -
Can anyone else relate to any of this?
MuffinsMom replied to pcindy's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hey, PCindy, do I hear you about the gas. Does any one remember the candy Pop-Rocks, that popped and sizzled when you put it in your mouth? That's what it felt like was in my tummy, the minute I put anything thicker than water in. I finally was able to recognize it as normal indigestion, (although there was nothing "normal" about this!) which I had been treating with Prilosec twice a day for a few years before surgery. My Dr. sent me home with Nexium and said to take it once a day, but I decided to go back to my old faithful and take it twice a day like I used to. The difference is night and day! Yikes, what a relief. I still burp a little, and even though I'm on full liquids (2 weeks out), I mostly stick to water-based protein, because of the reaction my sleeve had to thicker fluids. But at least the gas doesn't take up ALL the room in my tummy, so I can get some nourishment in. Good luck, PCindy, I hope this helps. -
Post Op Day 2, but the GAS? Help
MuffinsMom replied to Doug2090's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I was sleeved on 8/9, so tomorrow will be 2 weeks. I'm on full liquids for another week, then mushies. I still have incredible gas, which I finally recognized as "indigestion" (basically acid). I decided to take my acid-reducer twice a day, which helped, and I wait about 40 mins after taking it before drinking anything. Water-based liquids work very well (ironically, as I was so anxious to get to full liquids so I could have some new tastes). Anything thicker - Premier protein drinks, 1% milk with some sort of protein powder, soups, etc.), and I'm belching up a storm. I don't know how long this will go on, but I've decided that, going back to work Monday, I will make up a couple containers of Crystal Lite with unflavored protein, to minimize the embarrassing belching, then in the evenings I can experiment with other types of drinks. I read online that, post-op, the body tends to produce gastric juices for a full-size stomach, and for our new sleeves, it's just too much. Not sure when (or if) it changes. I hope it does! This is my ONLY post-op issue, though - never any nausea, minor pain, etc., so it's not causing buyer's remorse yet. -
"Gripey" stomach
MuffinsMom replied to Malik_MiasMom's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Are you on an acid reducer like Nexium or Prilosec? Many posters have said that helps a great deal with nausea. Also, you might ask your doctor for an anti-nausea med? Some sleeves are just cranky and need help to get calm. As other posters have also said, try different temps, peppermint tea (very soothing on the tummy), chamomile tea. I hope this helps. -
3rd Day Post Op Sleeve
MuffinsMom replied to GeorgieGirl1957's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Hi GeorgieGirl! I was the other sleeve sister you met in Mexicali! Isn't Dr. A wonderful, and the hospital/staff were great too. I'm now 7 days out (surgery last Monday), doing great. Never had much pain, though I usually take a pain pill in the late afternoon because I feel so good I'm doing more than I should, I think. No nausea, able to get in my protein and liquids with no problem except burpiness, which has gotten better but is still with me. SO glad I had this done, only wish it had been available 30 years ago, I'm now 60 and plan to LIVE during my remaining years, instead of just exist. -Kathy -
Post Op Day 2, but the GAS? Help
MuffinsMom replied to Doug2090's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi Doug - Agree, the gas is incredible isn't it? Someone posted that it felt like their stomach was filled with pop-rocks, that's exactly what I experienced! I'm a week out now, and it does get better. I still burp and feel bloaty but nothing like that first couple days. Be sure to take an acid reducer (my doctor sent me home with a two-week supply of Nexium, which he said to dissolve in Water before taking), and that does help. Also Gas-X strips, teeny-tiny sips, and walking. And patience, I guess, which I have a short supply of... -
Unflavored protein for hot foods
MuffinsMom replied to cherice95403's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi Cherice - Any unflavored Protein can be mixed with warm liquids. unjury (available only online) has a good high-quality one, but you could probably also find unflavored ones at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, etc. HOWEVER, keep in mind that if it's made of whey protein, you cannot mix it into hot liquids, nor reheat them once they're mixed (I tried it, what a mess, LOL!). According to Unjury, whey protein clumps at temps over 130F, then I read somewhere else that 105F was the max. You can use an instant-read thermometer, but I just micro for 15 secs at a time, you learn quickly what works. See what each mfr says on their label or their site, and good luck with your surgery! -
Hi Jackie! I was sleeved on Monday also. I've heard from a variety of sources not to worry too much about getting the full amount of Protein during the very early days, but to concentrate on staying hydrated. I'm drinking an Isopure right now (40 gms), but that's the only protein I will have today. I've also had about 40 oz. of liquids today (not including the Isopure.) I'll up the protein tomorrow, and going forward. Just stay hydrated and do the best you can - everyone tells us each day gets better, and although I'm not doing too badly with pain and discomfort, I'm hangin' my hat on that! By the way, it's 8:30 my time right now, and I've been drinking this same 20-oz Isopure for four and a half hours, LOL! My guzzling days are OVER.
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My surgery was also originally scheduled on July 19, with an Aetna-approved surgeon here in California. But he had little-to-no experience with the sleeve, didn't offer much in the way of bedside manner, had a sort-of factory-line approach to his practice, doesn't keep patients in the hospital very long, and uses a 60 bougie to boot! In the meantime, I too have been VERY impressed with what I've read and heard about Dr. Aceves. So I've changed direction - canceled the surgery (even though it would have been covered by insurance) and doing the self-pay thing with Aceves in Mexicali on Aug. 9. My only concerns are around the rare event I end up with a post-surgery complication, even weeks or months down the line, and not having my surgeon easily available for a consult. I hear Aceves and his staff are very responsive to calls & emails, though, and I do plan to loop my PCP in (seeing her on Monday), to enlist her support in case I need her to admit me to the hospital later. Better to have a plan and not need it, than the other way around, but Dr. Aceves has such a good reputation and great stats, that I expect things to go really well. The main thing, though, is to make the right decision FOR YOU, that you feel comfortable with, and that satisfies your most important criteria. Sometimes I think my decision doesn't make sense - it certainly doesn't from a financial standpoint - but it's the right one for me.
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Shame!!! Shame on me!
MuffinsMom replied to Besitos's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm having my VSG surgery in August, and I do have some of these same feelings - that's it pathetic to have to REMOVE MOST OF MY STOMACH to get the food under control, that's it's the 21st century equivalent to the old jaw-wiring from back in the 70s, that it's an artificial solution to an emotional/chemical problem, and on and on. And then I think, OK, so be it. This is the solution I choose, for me. Not the easy way, not the optimum way (making the correct choices, eating smaller quantities would have been the optimum way, if I could have done it), but the right way for me, for where I find myself today. And then I move on.