abbybeep

Thank you, everyone, for all the kind words & prayers. I had an endoscopy and dialating was performed. My stoma was 3mm wide (should be 18mm). The doctor could only stretch it to 10mm after a few attempts. He expects it to shrink back down to about 7mm and (waiting 3 wks between procedures) he will attempt again and again until it's at 18mm. In the few days after the procedure, I felt like a new person! No vomiting, no nausea, it was wonderful! Slowly, I'm starting to struggle a little more each day. It's so difficult to stay positive, but I'm really trying. Again, thank you for the support.

I like isopure grape frost too. A whole bottle has 40 grams of protein so I just usually have half of one each day- even though they're expensive they're the best thing I've found.

I've done the crackers and gingerale thing a few times. I had a really bad stricture and before they could get in to do the endoscopy I had a few days of wait time and basically the only thing I drank was super flat gingerale because I was so nauseous. I feel like if it calms your pouch and you're not doing it often- just when you're really struggling- it is fine. We're still human so we're going to get sick with stomach bugs and normal people do the brat diet to work back to full foods so it should be fine.

Where are you in your monthly cycle? No matter what, I gain weight every four weeks like clock work. It's maddening, but I know it'll come off. Could it be that? Sometimes when I am constipated I drink some extra protein and it helps me go- odd but effective. MOM, miralax, and every stool softener and laxitive out there has no effect on me either :/ good luck!

Hmm, I feel like that's not something I would go bragging about- "I can eat & drink more without puking!" yeah- seems pretty hs ish to me!

Have you had any upper gi series done? That would show how everything is moving through...

It's got to be so hard having her around saying stuff. Keep your chin up, because you're doing a FABULOUS job!! Congratulations on all you've lost so far and all you'll continue to lose!

I am 3 weeks post-op. I'm wondering how much people about this far out are eating for a meal. For instance: I'm having chicken cooked in the crock pot (so it's super mushy), and I feel staisfied after just over half an ounce of chicken. I tried tonight to get an entire ounce in and I was so uncomfortable (too full) after 0.8 ounces. I'm wondering if this is something others are experiencing? I feel like less than an ounce is not enough...

Congratulations!

Heather- My fiancé is overweight and I very much worry about his health. Thankfully, despite being overweight, he is in good health. I broke down and cried the other night about his eating habits when he ate like 4 helpings of what I made for dinner. I told him how I felt, for real. I'm not disgusted with him or mad because I can't eat that much. I told him that I was worried about our future together. Now that I've had the surgery, I'm going to (hopefully) live longer and I don't want to be without him! He comforted me and assured me that he was going to try harder to lose some weight. It felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Like everyone has said- it's a personal choice and maybe he isn't ready yet. Good luck <3

I think it's pretty common for things to taste "funny" after surgery. I experienced that! Chocolate ruled my life before surgery and right after surgery I wanted nothing to do with it (including my chocolate protein drink)! From my experience, the "funny taste" went away, and although some taste changes are permanent (don't want chocolate milk at all!) it gets better with time (loving my 3x weekly dark chocolate Hershey kiss)!

It was twisted badly at the bottom. My second surgeon went in thinking that maybe he could redo the staple line and straighten everything out but everything was just so messed up that he had to convert me and cut my sleeve down to almost nothing. :/

I had both done too. I originally chose the sleeve because I didn't want to mess with absorption of nutrients and vitamins. I haven't had children yet, and I thought pregnancy would be better with the sleeve. Sadly, my sleeve was really messed up and could not be saved, so I was converted to bypass. At this point, I don't know which I would choose if I could all over again. I'm only 6 weeks out from surgery 2 and struggling a bit. And as far as weight loss- I mean I know I had serious complications which made nutrition next to impossible for 4 and a half months, but since August I'm down almost 100 lbs and only 18 lbs from my goal. I think you can be successful with the sleeve with extra effort.

I recently bought the bariatric fusion kind too. They will send you a sample of each flavor if you email them. You can only buy them online (or in the office if your dr or nut offer them), so that's kind of a pain. And yeah, they are like $25 a bottle, but it's a one-stop-shop because I was told I don't need to take any other supplements when I take these. For me, I was taking centrum chewables at first, but I found they were upsetting my pouch. So, I feel like its really all a guessing game anyway! Good luck!

Has anyone experienced more acid since having surgery? I don't have heartburn (and I didn't before surgery) but I throw up acid during the night. I take protonix about an hour an half before bed and continue drinking water until bed. The acid is terrible and makes my mornings rough with nausea. I called my surgeon Friday and haven't heard back yet. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

It's hard to sip all the time, but you've just got to try your absolute best to. There are phone apps (if you have a smart phone) that help you track your Fluid intake. Dehydration is not fun- so keep trying. Drinking more will probably help that headache you have.

I have 1 saltine every morning to try to soak up the acid in my pouch and get it out! I've been doing that since about week 3. Like another poster said- might be early for a heavy cracker. Just be careful with eating them... I've heard it's easy to eat many!

Look at all the pounds lost! Congrats, everyone! 252 @ sleeve surgery 8/6/12 180 @ rny surgery 12/17/12 160 today

Aimee, you're going to do fantastic! I'll share part of my story with you just for reassurance that you'll do just fine! So in August I had the sleeve surgery. It went terrible. The next 4 months were torture, every single day. Finally, I had corrective surgery & converted to rny in December and it's been so much better. Even if things get tough, complications or no complication, you're going to find out how really strong you are. I think all of us that go through this surgery are so strong. You're going to be nervous- all of us were, and of course it'll be hard- but each day it'll get easier. Good luck!

My relationships with my (now) fiancé and my parents has strengthened so much since my surgery. I feel like part of it is how you treat them. I haven't pushed my new lifestyle on them or ridiculed their food choices. They make their own decisions and I make mine, just like before surgery. Good luck to you!

After my surgery in August, I got my period about 2 weeks after surgery and had basically a continuous period until mid October when it started getting really heavy and I had clots in there- like you have. (I was using birth control at the time- Nuva Ring- like I had for years.) My obgyn perscribed something to stop the bleeding. I've been through 2 cycles since I think? And I've been fine- back to normal! So maybe it's just from the release of hormones from all the fat you're losing? Idk if that helps...

Sometimes I do. I think I get air in there somehow and it makes me feel uncomfortable. Sadly, I don't have a "cure" for it. As one time I tried to burp to get the air out and I threw up the water I had just had... :/

Don't give up!! If you really want this, you'll get it! Where there's a will, there's a way! And don't beat yourself up over the weight gain, that's why we're all here- things get us down and we eat. Do you have to lose the weight again to qualify or do you think they won't really need to see you until the Pre-op appointment? If you need to lose the weight, then do what you have to- I know you can! If not the. Don't even worry about the scale. Just start mentally preparing yourself for this huge change by making small changes. Believe me- (mommy can probably attest to this too!) nothing can possibly completely prepare you for the huge change you'll go through. I'm happy for you, getting more time with your kids! It's good you find a silver lining! Keep your chin up, keep going Good luck- keep us in the loop!

@tzbandtobypass - Never thought about mixing the grape isopure with propel! I will have to try that this weekend! What a great way to get some extra "stuff" in too. Thanks so much for sharing!!