4ALongerLife

You guys are welcomed to ask me anything anytime... I was originally sleeved 3/5 and then d/c'd 3/7. 3/9-3/14 I went back in the hospital with pneumonia, then 3/19-3/29 I was in the hospital for a leak and abscess. I had a revision to my sleeve 3/20 as the staple slipped. My tummy necroted away from the staple and caused a leak. It happens to 1% of the population so no worries, I am the one for the year people. I just got off of a clear liquid diet (yes since essentially 3/5) and I've lost about 51 lbs. in that time. My tummy is now acting 'weird' whenever I try full liquids... so if you have input on that, hit me up please!

Congrats hon on getting this posted and done! I think it was very well done, nerves or not. I bet you will love going back to look at this journey later on in your WLS journey! (and finally I got to see your face! he he) Hope that you are doing marvelously and thank you for sharing this with us!

I'm sorry I dunno what to suggest, but my heart goes out to you because I know how frustrating this can be. Are you getting your water in? And for constipation, my dr's suggested Myrolax. I haven't done that yet (thankfully), but imagine it's coming. Are you tracking what you are putting in your mouth now? If not, do so!

I say find another carrier... that's such b.s. grrrrrr (sorry tho)

I am truly LOVING them! Hope you guys will too!

My husband just went to get a few more of these (I'm on conf calls right now) and said they appear to have other flavors as well but that I don't know yet.... I hope you guys enjoy them! And for the price, they are 3.79 for a 20 oz bottle.

OMG what is three years out like? I've been on a freak'n clear liquid diet since essentially 3/5 due to a leak and abscess. How in hades do I advance my diet is all I keep thinking? (after the fear of another leak, I am scared y'all.... honestly scared). I cannot fathom what 'normal' is like - going to dinner with my family and what? Just eating less?

How odd of a thing to try to understand. Before I had issues feeling like I was always hungry or never full.... now this! It's very different.

Yes. You do feel full and it's uncomfortable. Additionally, I am not hungry in my stomach like I was before. I can do food for others and not have a care in the world about it (remember sleevers have their gherlin cut out of that portion of their tummy as well). I DO recognize "head hunger" now.....

I was healthy to be obese as well (my stress tests show me to be in a high activity range); however, for whatever reason - diabetes doesn't care, nor does heart disease or cancer. At least that's what my dr's still said, but I also have a strong history of all three.

I've been getting them at Vitamin Shoppe and I know I've seen them online as well. I'm not sure about GNC as I've not been there yet to see.....

I agree with sitting them all three down together and get them to tell you what their hang ups are. Then I would ask for dedicated time to speak my piece. That's when you tell them this is for a longer, healthier life. To avoid diabetes, to avoid heart disease, to avoid cancer. Girl I had everything go wrong with mine but.... so far, I still don't regret it. I did this to live longer for my son and my husband as well as myself. And I did it for all of the above. Don't let anyone take you away from your dreams. You CAN do this.... but it's scary and man, it'd sure be nice to have support and I would remind them of that as well.

Jicama is supposed to be a healthier alternative to water chestnuts..... could you use them instead? I've never cooked with either but love the 'crunch' of it.

Grrr I think you are right.... no corn until after the 1st 6 months (on my sheet).

Awesome! Thanks for posting!

Hey iHeartNettie, I'm struggling with getting my Protein drinks in as I am on a clear liquid diet still. I went to the store yesterday and something that they suggested, as I tasted it, it made me think of you and possible satietiating the desire you have for oranges/pineapples. It's a drink.... Cytomax Protein Pure Performance in tropical flavor (it's green). It tastes like coconut and pineapple. The sales lady also told me the 'orange flavor' was good. But I just wondered if that would fulfil your citrusy/fruity craving AND could increase your protein intake (if you need it). If not, pls disregard, but I'm wishing you well! thanks

I had the gastric sleeve surgery on 03/05/12. On my pre-admissions form for the VSG, there was a question about anesthesia - whenever I had my son in 2004 I had to have more than the norm as my body didn't 'go to sleep' equally on the left and the right. Based on this response, the anesthesiologists gave me more than usual for the VSG. After the VSG surgery I was passed out, very lethargic, slept alot. I would try to do my IS (breathing exercises) and couldn't barely do them. Then I'd pass out to sleep again. I had a slight temp in the hospital so they kept me an extra day. I was d/c'd 3/7/12. On 3/9/12, I went back to the hospital. I was spiking a temp and my pulse was rising. Slowly, I couldn't do my I.S. (breathing exercises) as well as I had been doing them. I went back to the ER and they admitted me for aspiration pneumonia. I stayed in the hospital 6 days, on I.V. antibiotics. I was d/c'd 3/14/12, taking levaquin by mouth. I followed my diet, did my breathing exercises, moved as much as I could .... but my temp would spike now and again. I went to the ER that weekend twice, as my temp at home would be 101-102, but once I got to the ER it went to 99 or normal. The ER said that getting out in the 'nite air' sometimes does that (no idea why but ok). Then that Sunday, 3/19/12, about 330 in the morning, I could no longer sleep in the bed. I felt short of breath (very shallow breathing, couldn't inhale deeply) and I had a pain in my left shoulder and mid back. I tried to wait until the dr's office opened at 9 that Monday morning, however by 845 I couldn't take it anymore, the pain was excruciating. They told me to go back to the ER. I did and they did xrays and cat scans, I had a leak in my stomach and an abscess in my diaphragm. So hospital readmission 3/19 to 3/29. They wanted to rush me to revision surgery that night. I went into a slight shock I think, teeth chattering, scared, wishing I had never done this..... but the electricity kept kicking in and out all day at the hospital (first someone hit a pole and caused the electricity issues that day, but that night severe storms developed and the lights flickered quite a few times). My dr. said let's not take any further chances, we'll do your revision first thing in the morning. I had revision surgery 3/20, early. The dr. found the leak and saw where part of my stomach line was necroting so he cleaned that all out, restitched and reglued the line and cleaned out as much as he could. Then they did XRays to see how it looked, more barium swallows and then a cat scan .... they wanted to see the abscess and if I had any other leaks, which I do, now in a different part of my tummy. The radiologist placed what is called a piggyback drain (it looks like a long bag with an "accordian" at the top) into my left flank (right under your bra line/where the diaphragm is located). I have a JP drain in my stomach (it's right above my spleen per the dr.) . I got worried about the cost of my stay and spoke with my dr. on this as he was thinking that I could go home on home TPN (total proper nutrition - it's a bag of nutrition that they mix up especially for each patient, based on the blood draw, which tells them what you are missing in your system. It's high in amino acids, which encourages quicker healing of leaks). I didn't have this coverage in my stinky insurance plan (I work as a contractor, which means great pay/lousy insurance.... well according to the option I chose). Dr. did an endoscopy on 3/27 to see where any leaks were and how big .... there's still one about the size of a pencil eraser. Social work/case mgmt became involved, trying then to put me in a nursing home (hello, i'm 38 years young) or on home iv antibiotics/tpn. That's where things got really bad - social work consulted me mid walking activity and told me of the nursing home option. Next time I saw them as I was doing laps in the hall, she told me maybe my dr. could do a feeding tube and send me home. Either way, I thought that was inappropriate and it brought me to tears. My dr. came in and said we can do a dobhoff tube (in your nose) and you can do Protein shakes at home through that OR we can not put a tube in and see how you progress. I have been IV'd so much (each time they gave me vancomyocin, I would swell up and hurt at the IV site and they'd have to move it), they put in a PICC line (iv that goes into your arterial vein/a more 'direct' route). Tired of being a pin cushion and hooked up to so much, I opted for the no tube. But I am worried. The dr. said this will deplete some of your muscle mass, but I was very active in the gym before and used to weight lift so I have more muscle mass than most. But I am worried on healing, worried on paying the dr's bills and trying to figure how I'm going to pay the lessor rate that the hospital has generously given to me (payment plan probably for 36 months). I started out 254 originally in my dr's office. I am 215 right now. Do I regret the surgery? At this time I do... yes, I do. I am worried and scared and I am praying so much that God has to be pestered by me. But I came here to see what experiences or thoughts perhaps anyone can share..... please no negativity... I can't take it. Thanks for your time reading my long diatribe of a story.

OMG y'all I'm so excited. Went to Vitamin Shoppe and they DID give me a store credit w/o a receipt (woo hoo) and it was enough that I got one grape Isopure RTD (as the sales lady suggested the flavor), then one nectar Sweets packet in vanilla Bean Torte flavor (there is 23g of Protein in this packet you mix it with 8 to 16 oz of Water and so far, it tastes good..... it mixes with some sediment but omg something new to taste and with protein woo hoo), then I got one other thing in the fridge.... called Pure Protein in Tropical flavor. It's a clear protein (it's green actually) and I'm sorry I forget the protein amt in it. But those are now the three things I'm going to try the next few days. Woo hoo something new and hopefully helping me heal! Thank you all for your inputs! I am soooo encouraged..... truly every day has been better through this journey, especially with your inputs and positive vibes... thank you!

lol yes ma'am, on 3/19 someone hit a pole near Baylor Carrollton in the mid day and the lights flickered and I think that's when their generator came on. that evening, it was storming and again the lights flickered. i just think i'm apt to murphy's law... go figure. and yes they did a leak test after my surgery and it wasn't there (or wasn't spotted). i know when i went in for pneumonia they did another leak test upon my er admit and nothing was seen. when i was admitted with excruitiating pain due to the leak/abscess, the radiologist that was there (Dr. Siegler) had me drink the first half cup that they dilute but then he said wait a minute, let's not dilute this barium and can you do another sip for me? i did and voila he saw it.

Congrats to you on your surgery date and my best wishes at an easy surgery with a speedy recovery to follow!

I am going for the Isopure RTD bottles today. I tried to find my Vitamin Shoppe receipt for the bullets and I can't find it ... grrr. I didn't realize they will take those back. Call me cheap but I'd try to return them if they'll take them. At about 3.50 a pop, yeah I was going to try! Now to balance start of the day, working from home and going for the Isopures. I am encouraged by your posts... thank you so much! And VST Addict, you are too kind. I'm ok.... my first post ... I admit I was down and feeling sorry for myself. But each day, I get a little bit stronger. And thank God every day for that (even though I'm praying any leaks are healed up, please lord....). But ty so very much for your kindness!

sweetie, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. it's better to ask than to not to and something go wrong or develop wrong from it. you know whenever we are 'fat' we learn to hide everything don't we? (or maybe that was just me? doubt it, but i'll admit that was my behavior) i stuffed my emotions and food helped me cope. THAT was silly but... it was learned for years. how i wish someone had been available to ask stupid questions of to save me years of damage. changing our behaviors is the hard part of this journey and that's what it will take to be successful. well that's where my focus is... how to change my maladaptive thoughts into measures of success. due to this focus, i honestly don't care who thinks what of me on this journey. i justify it with i honestly don't know, i distorted my view on food and now i have this grand opportunity to make this change a success. the surgery's only half of it, it's a tool to help you get there, there's much more work to be done. i am like a baby, new and learning... so questions of all sorts are ok. ... it's daily small steps and i struggle with this. maybe i'm overthinking, maybe not... but there's nothing to be ashamed of anymore sweetie. please be proud of yourself. it took a HELLUVA lotta guts to get where you are. (and maybe you are like me, i minimize everything that i do well from years of being belittled and made to feel ashamed. but guess what? no more.. i AM changing and i'm going to fight to be successful). but i still would like to encourage you just to ask just to make sure it's nothing harming you ok? best wishes...xoxo

lol I was going to say I have seen worse on that show "my strange addiction" but dropped it. (is that the show you were thinking of by chance? it's a weirdddd show) Honestly, my fear would be that over time, your body will become used to the chew/spit reflex. I googled as Niahri said and read other threads on this. Do the same and speak with your dr., nurse, nutritionist. Maybe you need a Vitamin that could alleviate this craving. (they have chewable Vitamins in orange, I forget the brand and those ARE good for you... maybe that would help your craving as well?)

How exciting... my time rushed past me so fast, I was overwhelmed I think... that "feeling the emotions again" perhaps? Congrats to you. I wish you a great surgery, fabulous and easy recovery and all of the positivity that your soul can hold. Best of luck to you.