mistysj

I did. My pain was nearly gone if not totally. I work in an office.

Spudsy be patient with yourself! Sip liquids every 15 minutes. It is a full time job for you right now. When you're not sipping? Be walking or resting. That's all you need to do! Your throat is probably sore from the breathing tube used during your surgery. It will ease up soon.

I know what you mean, Lissa. I think being aware is the first step. I think women are really pressured to be helpful!

It's about what you can fit in. Protein first. Very very few Sleevers have dumping syndrome, since it is caused by a shortened duodenum. Lots of surgeons and dietitians use the same diet guidelines for the sleeve and bypass, which is a shame.

Your body can hang onto water while it's healing. This is not the time to stress about your weight. It will be falling off soon enough. You are going to succeed at this. I promise. Just follow the plan and keep your eyes on the prize.

Yep! I snapped this pic this time and already posted it elsewhere. Not only the seat belt but the tray table!

"Those patients who take NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for arthritis can continue the medication after Sleeve Gastrectomy. These medications are to be avoided after the adjustable gastric band (erosion) and especially after the gastric bypass (ulcers)." (From http://www.oxfordbariatric.com/default/weight-loss-procedures/laparoscopic-gastric-sleeve) "Second, would it be smarter to have a sleeve than a GBP if one knows that NSAIDs will be needed? This is another great question with only limited data to inform the decision. There is no gastrojejunostomy with a sleeve, so there is no threat of an anastomotic ulcer. (One could still get a duodenal ulcer.) From this standpoint a sleeve gastrectomy makes more sense." (From http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/topic/81012-topical-nsaids-after-vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy/) "Gastric Sleeve patients can take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines) such as aspirin, Motrin®, Naprosyn® and Viox® to name a few." (From http://drsimpson.net/07_surgery_stories%20(ss)/7_ss_02/gastric-sleeve-surgery/gastric-sleeve-surgery.html) "• Do not take Aspirin, Baby Aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve, Naprosyn, Indocin, Celebrex, or any other Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) after Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery unless directed to by your PCP. These medications are too harsh for your stomach during the first two months and can cause ulcers. Some patients will never be able to take them again." (From http://cascobaysurgery.com/laparoscopic-vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy/) The last quote implies that taking them will give you stomach pain closer to surgery, possibly forever. But you'd know because you would feel it. Try it and see? Best get is to talk to your surgeon. They can also tell you what to take instead. As you lose weight you may have less joint pain anyway and/or there may be other ways to control or treat it.

I have traveled to India and to the US (from Australia) with no problems. The first trip to India was in July after surgery in May and it was easier than I thought, especially since I was eating a lot of new-to-sleeved-me foods. I managed to limit the rice and breads and ate lots of dal, channa, and paneer dishes. I'm in India now, traveling for two weeks in a Pune and Bangalore. 7months post-op and having zero problems.

Moved to Jan 2013 forum. Congrats on your upcoming anniversaries!

Yep. This is truth.

Has your surgeon told you not to take NSAIDs? One of the reasons people choose the sleeve over the bypass is so they can continue to take them.

You will feel the restriction when you get to soft foods and definitely solids. 1/2 cup is a good guideline. You can always have another half cup in a few hours again.

Lean dense protein like chicken or tuna. Low fat cottage cheese. Fat free Greek yogurt. Eggs. Beef jerky. Edamame (salted soy beans -- Japanese). Fat free refried beans. Lentils. Hummus.

Moved to the Feb 2013 support group forum.

Moved this thread to the Powder Room. I hope nobody minds.

You newbies are doing great! If you have any questions just ask. I'm still in Bangalore. Things are going well. Ran this morning and then went shopping after Breakfast. Invited to a birthday party at a coworker's house this evening. That will be fun and interesting.

Why can't you take ibuprofen?

I was allowed coffee in the hospital after my swallow test. I have cut way back because it takes me a while to drink it and I don't have it with my breakfast now. I used to drink a good 4 cups in the morning and 2 at night. Now I have 1 in the morning (lasts me all morning in my awesome Zojirushi vacuum flask) and 1 most nights. I drink it black, brewed in a French press. I do have acid but it is managed by 20mg of nexium per day. It seems independent of coffee. My surgeon fixed a hiatus hernia but it is not a 100% fix so I need the nexium.

Yep lack of periods (amennhorea) and hyperplasia are both caused by excess estrogen. Estrogen is made by the ovaries but also by abdominal fat. The fact that your period started after surgery means your hormones are balancing. But you may need help (the D&C) to reset things.

Talk to your gynecologist. Sounds like hyperplasia. That means the lining of your uterus has thickened and not shed, over months or years. This is pretty common with obese women especially with PCOS and if your period has stopped due to your weight. The period won't stop until the lining sheds. I had a period non-stop for two months. Had to have a D&C to stop it. Then I had the Mirena IUD placed, which keeps the lining thin.

You can make a bean dip with black beans, blackeyed peas, or kidney beans. You can also do a 3-bean or 7-bean salad. Anything with cheese has a lot of protein but also fat. You can make a dip with plain greek yogurt and ranch dressing mix or French onion mix. Unjury makes a protein powder cheese sauce that you can make and have over your veggies.

There is theoretically some malabsorption with the sleeve because food transits through your system faster since the stomach capacity is so much smaller. The primary mechanism of the sleeve is reduced capacity, and yes it is adequate. You physically can't hold more than a cup at a meal (most women can only hold 2/3 to 3/4 of a cup). There is also theoretically some malabsorption of B12 because your stomach produces an enzyme that helps you absorb it, and you have less stomach to produce the enzyme. It just means you need to supplement B12. Sleevers should take a Multivitamin every day as well as Calcium, but malabsorption is not at the same level as with RNY. Since the digestive system is exactly the same, you can take any medications you would have been able to take pre-surgery. As I said, if the sleeve is not "enough", you can always continue with the second part of the DS, which is the intestinal rerouting. If you have any questions about the sleeve, you can ask in the Sleeve section of this website, or ask here and we will get you the info you need. There is also the Big Book of the Gastric Sleeve, which is published by the owner of BariatricPal. He has also written the Big Book of the Gastric Bypass and maybe others. Maybe you should read all of those books to get the info to decide which surgery is right for you, along with your surgeon's advice.

Kelli, I know you don't really look around on the other forums, but checkout the Sleeve Veterans forum. I have learned a lot about how to get back on track from those guys. I'm still traveling and did just fine last week in Pune, but I'm struggling here in Bangalore, where I adore the food and I'm also just starting to feel tired and out of my routine, and it's easier not to eat as cleanly as I should.

Done.

I think the stats quoted by surgeons are really conservative to raise their success rates. There are heaps of sleevers who lose way more than 70% of their excess weight and keep it off. By the way the EWL is your starting weight minus the weight to get you to the top of the healthy BMI range. To find 70% of that multiply it by .7 and subtract that from your starting weight.