IowaAndy

If you are having trouble going to the bathroom start putting a scoop of benefiber in your shake in the morning and this will help with any constipation. I think that you are still having pain in the shoulder from the gas assiciated with the surgery. It usually take a little more than straining to cause a leak. If you have a leak you will starte to run a fever and feel nauseated a probably start to vomit. If you are really concerned then I would see how the weekend goes and if the fever or any other symptoms begin call your surgeon on Monday or if it gets bad go to the ER this weekend. ' I know that everytime I had a pain after surgery I thought about a leak but there is a low percentage that actually have one.

I know they did when I had my surgery in Dec 2011. I did not use the service but I know they told me that it was available. I hope that you can find an alternative.

I am now about 3 1/2 months post op and I still always, always have a glass of water, crystal light, diet cranberry juice sitting right beside me whether I am at work, sitting watching tv, going for a walk or at the gym. At this stage you need to make sure that you get in your fluids as this can lead to the shaky and lightheaded feelings that you are experience. Also if you are having trouble getting in your protein try eating, as Lisa said every few hours on a regular basis. I know that I lost all of my stomach hungrer after surgery and I still have to sit down and eat when it is noon since I do not get hungry and if I am working on something I could easily skip the meal entirely. But you have to eat as your body needs nourishment. It does get easier and you will feel better every week. You brain will catch up with you. You body is going through a great deal of change right now so the crabbiness is nothing unusual. People can even develop mild depression so make sure that you watch for this as this may something that your doctor can help you with if you feel that it is progressing. Your life is changing and so are you. Remember that slow and steady wins the race and tomorrow is another day.

First off pneumonia is a common problem with people that have had a major surgery. This happens as we become more sedintary. We seem to rest, sit and lay around more after surgery. That is why they want you up and moving so that the fluid does not collect in your lower lungs. You are also probably not taking in deep breaths as you have pain and discomfort with this activity. This does not let your lungs completely expand and can cause problems that can lead to pneumonia. I would suggest taking deep breaths to help expand those lungs. Some of your other things have probably come due to a decrease in your fluids. For the UTI you can try drinking some Diet Cranberry Juice which I find very refreshing over some ice. It has 5 calories per serving. You may also be getting the sinus infection from being around others as you immune system is lowered after having a major surgery. This can happen to any of us. I would try and get in your fluids, take your vitamins and get some exercise including deep breaths. I hope that this all stops for you and you start to feel better and more like yourself. I know that being down for a long period of time is not much fun. Hang in there and things will start to improve for you. Small steps.

I have also found this and it happens to me even if I am driving my car for a long distance. I have also place a pillow on the seat of my recliner as my tailbone seems to bother me when sitting and watching tv. You could also try and buy a lower back support pillow to see if this puts your spine in better alignment and help with the pain. Also I have no problem with trying a chiropractor as I have been to one in the past....not specifically for a sore a$$.

I was not able to get all of my protein or fluids for the first couple of weeks. You will get there but do not force it so that you become sick and vomit. Small sips slow, steady and very often. I agree you could try some warm chicken broth as this may help settle your stomach and go down easier. You need the fluids as you do not want to become dehydrated. Just remember to move your feet and legs around before you stand up as this well help get the blood flowing back to your brain so that you do not get dizzy and fall. Take it a day at a time and in a few days you will feel better and be taking more fluids and protein. If the popsicles work for you then by all meads fo for it. Remember slow and steady wins the race.

Do't know as I was alone. I am sure that if you speak to your surgeon or his staff they could give you an idea depending on what you are having done. I am sure that each person is a little different

I think everyone is nervous as you are and as I was. I also thought that maybe I would not make it through the surgery but then I thought......well itf it is my time then it is my time. I do not think that any of us know when that time will come. I was 56 when I had surgery last year and I was at a point that I knew that if I did not do something soon that I would not be around in another 5 years. I too was a band to a sleeve and you hear many stories. I think that you have a right to be nervous and scared but I think that once the day comes you will be so relieved to be on your way to a new life that all those fears will melt away. I know that it does help to talk about your fears. I know that after surgery you will have some pain and probably some nausea but this too shall pass. In no time at all you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Just remember that slow and steady wins the game.

Funny that you just posted this as I was just at Target about an hour ago and I asked they they would be carrying a certain item. I was told that they were going to be going through a major remodel of the entire store over the next 3 months and she could not tell me what they would be carrying at that time.....guess will have to wait and see.

This too shall pass and this will be a bad dream. I too had the gas and pain in my shoulder for almost a month. It does go away and the pain you are having will get better. Did you get any pain meds after you were discharged to take at home. I did not have to take any pain meds after I was released but they did give me some just in case. If you have some I would take it when needed but if they did not I would call your surgeon. Also they may be able to give you some medication for the gas or possibly you are having pain from the acid. Hang in there and it does get better.

The only problem that I can see with drinking a shake before bed is having to get up to pee. Also I would stay up for a while as the fluid might come back into your esophagus if you lay down immediately after eating. Otherwise protein is protein. Drink away

I used to go in and chat but it seems that there is never anyone there when I check in the eves. Not sure why but guess others are not into the chat part.

I had a little champagne on New Years and did not have any problem. I would not have a lot but if they give you some in a glass I would nurse it slowly. It does have calories.

I was having the same problem. I still have a protein shake once a day. I started putting some benefiber powder in each shake and I have been not having any problem since that time.

I also had a stall that basically last for several weeks. Try increasing your calories and see if this will get your weight to move. Your body maybe thinking that you are starving it.

If you do not feel like cooking I recommend the Gerber baby food Lasagna. If you add some salt and pepper it is not bad. I was cooking for one so this made it easy for me and at 62 cents a jar I got 2 meals out of a jar. Pretty cheap eating.

I agree that your current surgeon sounds like a reald a##. But before you cut your ties with him make sure that there is another doctor that is willing to take over your care should problems arise. I had my lapband done by a surgeon where I live and when I decided to have the sleeve my insurance denied me and I went to Mexico as I could not afford the $40,000 that it would have cost me here in the US. When I got back I called the surgeon and his office told me that he would not longer see me as a patient and that I was not welcome to attend the support group that they have. I have since done all of my follow up with my PCP. I have not found another gastric surgeon that will take me but I would make sure that you have a doctor before cutting the cord. I know that if you go to the ER and have an emergency someone will have to care for you as they can not refuse. I just do not want to see you out in the cold without a doctor.

I had my band for about 2 years. It was a great weight loss tool for me as I lost around 80 pounds. I was at max fill and my weight stalled and it stalled for over 6 months. It did not matter what I ate of how much or how little my weight never really moved from that point. The problem was that I still had another 100 pounds to lose. When I went back to my surgeon he told me that I should have probably had the sleeve to begin with due to the significant amount of weight that I needed to lose. At this time with the band at max fill I was having constant vomiting from food getting stuck. I began to hate my band. Also it was a more costly option due to the constant doctor visit to check for slippage etc. My co-pay was $40 each visit. Then there were the xray swallow tests which were not cheap either. My insurance denied the band removal or the sleeve procedure. My surgeon who did the band told me that they could do it and that it would cost me over $40,000 for the surgery. Well that was way out of my range so I had heard that they were doing this surgery in Mexico. A friend of my brother who lives in CA had just returned from Tijuana and had the surgery. I called and spoke to her on the phone several times and she was not having any difficulty and was losing weight on a steady basis. I decided to book the surgery and I was given a time that I could be off of work. I was going to go with her surgeon who was Dr Almanza but he was booked at that time so I checked out Dr Garcia and booked with him. I can say that I was very happy with Dr Garcia and his entire staff, the staff and accomodations at Mi Hospital and also with the Hotel Pueblo Amigo. I think that they have now changed to a different hotel since I had my surgery in Dec 2011. I certainly do not miss my band and the constant doctor visits. Since I went to Mexico the doctor that did my lapband refuses to see me any longer and I can not attend their support sessions for their patients. This makes me sad but I have learned to live with it. I paid around $5000 in Mexico vs $40,000 here in the US. I will still have my band and still be miserable had I not gone to Mexico. Since the surgeon that did my band will not see me I have been to see my PCP once since I had the surgery with Dr Garcia and had all of my blood checked. Everything is fine. I would recommend this surgery to anyone having problems with their band.

I had the band to sleeve on Dec 11, 2011. I had my surgery in Tijuana with Dr F Garcia. I had no problems with the surgery or my recovery. I had very little pain after surgery and was up walking the next morning. I had surgery late in the day and probably got back to my room around 6:30pm. I know they were giving me pain meds and meds for nausea but I was having more discomfort than pain. I was given pain meds when I was released on Wednesday but I never took any after being released. I did however take medication for about 2 weeks for the stomach acid. I flew home on Friday after having my surgery on Monday and did not have any trouble with the flight or after I got home. If you have any specific questions for me please ask. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

I had surgery with Dr Garcia in Dec 2011. If you speak to your coordinator she should be able to put you in contact with Dr Garcia. I know that he is very hard to reach during the day due to his surgery schedule. I think I might still have his number if the coordinator can not help you.

Congratulations on your new sleeve. I know that you are feeling it right now but each and every day you will feel better and soon you will be asking yourself why you waited so long to have this done. I know that if I knew that I could have this much happiness years ago I would have done it then. I did try many years ago and the doctors said that I did not need surgery that I could do it with diet and exercise. I tried that for so many years that I lost and gained myself over and over again. Best of luck on your new life.

I have used salt and pepper as soon as I was able to eat food that I could use it on. I have snice used many different spices when cooking different things that I can eat. I have also had salsa on scrambled eggs. I think that it will be up to your stomach to see what it will tolerate. Oh and I put onions in almost everything that I make.

Well I know that at 2 weeks post op I was not getting even close to 1000 calories. That just seems like a lot to me. I do not even get that much now and I am 3 months post op.

You are correct there. I only weigh about every 2 weeks now as my weight loss had slowed. I see people and they look and tell me how good I look. It is nice to hear people say nice things about you instead of having people look at you with distain and think......God they are fat. That alone keeps me on track

Some of our guilt may be that we have looked at others all these years.....and it has been over 40 years for me. I used to see other people who were thin and what a great life they had and how much fun they had and the love that they had in their lives.....husbands, wives, children and lots and lots of friends. I remember the first time that I had real success with weight loss through weight watchers. I lost 85 pounds. Before this I did not have many friends and basically a non=existent social life. I went to work, came home, ate, went to bed and did it all over again the next day. After I had lost the 85 pounds I had people trying to fix me up on dates like I had just dropped out of the sky. I was being invited to many occassions and out to events. WHY??????? Because I was thin and people were not ashamed of me any longer. Well.......did I go you ask????? NO!!!!!!! I was the same person that I was when I weighed 85 pounds more and if it took me losing weight to have people want to introduce me to others in their circles and think that now was the only time that I would be able to find someone to share my life.....it was not to be. I did gain new friendships and kept some of my old ones but I just did not like the way that people that I had known for many, many years were not treating me. After that I regressed back and gained the weight back and they stopped inviting me again but I had made some very good friends in the meantime and they stood by me for many years to come. And over these years I weighed from 180 at my lowest to 375 at the most. They never treated me differently and always made me feel welcomed and cared for. These are the friends that you want in your life and not those who want to be your friend for how you look, how much money you may have, what type of job you have or a million other things. They wanted to be my freinds because they liked ME!!!!!!!!!!! But first it was a long journey for me as I had to learn to like myself. I have had many struggles over the years but I now know that I am the most important person that I know and I am worth fighting for. My friends are still my friends and still stand by me. I wish that people in the world were not a judgemental of those who do not fit their "NORMAL".