trish4

Those of you who have lost some hair - (and I'm assuming it will happen to 99% of us??) - what do you do? Do you wear a wig or what? How much do you lose and where do you lose it - all over your head - or just in the front or what? Thanks.

I had frozen and fresh strawberries ALL the time (I'm 3 mos out) - anyone know if this is OK??

Lucy - about the multivit. making your stomach feel queasy - I'd suggest that you dissolve it in water and drink it - tastes terrible but whatever it takes, I guess. That's what my nut.'s recommended. I also dissolve my calcium in water. I'm almost 3 months out and feel tired too.

Hi everyone - does anyone have any thoughts about how to consume enough Water during the day? I've already ended up with a UTI because I haven't been consuming enough water but actually it makes me gag - I've tried adding a little juice, or some flavoring but same thing - I cough and gag. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks. Dr. Aceves: VSG: March, 2010

Globetrotter - where do you get the ginger root and is it powdered form or an actual root - and how does it make the water taste?

I've suffered from Reflux for many many years. I have been under the care of a gastroenterologist for the past 15 years. Since my sleeve surgery over 2 months ago it is much much better - I'm assuming mainly because I eat less. If I were you I would go and see a gastroenterologist - problem is - they usually are not real familiar with the sleeve surgery so if you have x-rays make sure you take them with you. I ALWAYS worry about complications because my insurance will not touch anything to do with obesity - I had to pay out of my pocket for this surgery and so I worry that if I have any complications related to the surgery they may turn their nose up at that too - so I hope that is not the same in your case. I hope you feel much better soon. I think you probably need a stronger type of anti-acid, like a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) which requires a perscription. Get us posted. Good luck.

As far as vitamins and calcium I have been dissolving mine in a little bit of water and then drinking the dissolved pills. The vitamin (multi) tastes terrible but my doctor told me if you don't dissolve them you end up only with "expensive urine." I think your body absorbes better (with or without the surgery we have had) by dissolving them first.

Emerald - what a cool idea - the ice shaver making it like an ice cone - that is a good idea!! Thanks everyone!

Thanks - I've never heard of Ocean Spray mix ins - so I'm going to look for that.

Because of a hital hernia and gastric reflux causing me to aspirate into my lungs, I've been taking the PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors) for the last 6+ years - I brought the issue up 3 years ago to my gastroenterologist about the bone issue (increased risk of fractures) - he wasn't too worried - but then that didn't make me feel better - i.e., the fact that he wasn't "too worried." I think walking helps the bones and of course the calcium supplements. Acid reflux is both dangerous and makes you feel "yuk" - For right now, I'm taking my chances. I'll check with Dr. Aceves in about a year (a year after my VSG) and see what he thinks. AND I have to say - all of you Dr. Aceves patients - isn't his office staff (especially Gaby) fantastic about getting back to us?

Katt - I'm post menopausal too. Easy for me to say, but I've seen lots of "relatively sedentary" post menopausal females lose weight on this site. Bodies are just different - I think you and I will be fine. You say you are glad to be loosing and not hungry - not so with me - I am SO hungry most of the time. Guess the drop in grehlin didn't happen with me. And yes, I am also, not happy with not losing more in a consistent fashion. A concern I have at my age is my bones - I want to keep the calcium and protein levels up. Guess I'll just have to be patient with the sloooow loss.

Me too guys....I was sleeved about 2 mos ago and have only lost 22 pounds - last week I lost not even 1/2 of a pound and this week 1 pound. Guess I/we have to be patient and just do the right thing about eating and things will take care of themselves. The other thing is that I guess the slow weight loss is good in a way - not good to lose too fast (kidney stones).

Didn't take any chances - went to doctor today and I'm on antibiotics - just keep wondering how in the heck did I get a bladder infection when I've never had one in my life - and only 7 weeks after surgery. Whatever..... - OregonDaisy - as your date to come to Phoenix area gets closer let me know - Summer I'm in and out - feel for you coming to this area in June - HOT as I'm sure you are aware. Doctor told me to drink "lots of cranberry juice" - I told her that I'm not too crazy about the sugar content in C.Juice so I'm using about 25% c.juice and 75% water. Thanks everyone for your posts ---

Wannalise: thanks. Yes and pre-op we were probably eating/drinking so much that we forget how much fluid we were taking in. I too am very much struggling with getting the fluid in right now (post op). I'm off to the Dr. today to see if this really is a bladder infection - as I said, I've never had one before. BTW: I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves one day before you (March 24, 2010)...

Curvyjudy I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves in March - about 7 weeks ago. I live in USA and was skeptical about even going on vacation to Mexico - seriously. I was scheduled for surgery here in the USA and started doing research. The surgeon I was scheduled with had done only "about" 26 of the sleeves. Dr. Aceves has done over 900 of them so I started thinking to myself - why not go with the most experienced? THen I thought: "you are crazy"! Mexico?!! So I went back and forth and back and forth and finally my husband said - well you decide. I just couldn't get his experience out of my head. Really had nothing to do with money - it's my body so I would have paid triple to have it done right. Lots of people on this site talk about "how nice he and his staff are" - I could care less about "nice." Anyway, I went with him - first of all they drug you up alot LESS than in the U.S. hospitals which is much better for your respiratory system. Secondly, they keep you double the time in the hospital so they can monitor you. And third - I have had NO complications from the surgery. He's excellent. Give it some thought. Sometimes I still can't believe I had it done in Mexico - but that hospital is totally clean and professional and I was nothing except impressed.

Oregondaisy: do you have any idea why the bladder infection? Is it related at all to having the surgery? I can't imagine it would be but I've never had a bladder infection before. Thanks.

Thank you!

Hi everyone - thanks for the advice on the supplements to take. Question: I'm a little over a month out - I'm wondering if I should take my pills (like the multi vitamin; calcium, etc.) whole or crush them?

Thanks very much for the iron recommendations. I'm out of my child-bearing years - but assuming I should still take the iron???

Anyone out there taking Iron as a supplement? Is it hard on your stomach?

Anyone out there have their sleeve done in Mexico and had a problem asking their US Doctor for the 3 month follow-up and the US doctor balking at your request because it would have to be documented as "follow-up post surgery"?

Wishing you all of the best. Let us know about coverage for this complication - some of us also had our surgeries out of the country (Mexico, etc.) and worry about coverage in the US for complications from the WLS.

Sounds like me last night: I am 3 weeks out also. I had a few spoonfuls of a yam (mushie) and not a good thing. It felt stuck and oh gosh - I thought what have I done? It was a painful "wait out" period - and I just want to drink water to "get it down" but of course that would make it worse. Just have to wait it out but it teaches me to not eat so fast. I'm trying to remember that my stomach is tiny tiny and can hold only so much - it's that "head hunger" that gets me into trouble. I still have to readjust my brain.

Hi Ladies - thanks for the replies. I asked my husband to hide the scale - rather than jumping on each morning I'm going to do it once a week. I did also order a book from Amazon site written by someone who has gone through what we all have and how she dealt with it I know this site (Vertical Sleeve) has EXCELLENT; encouraging; educational and helpful suggestions, - probably more so than a book - and I print a lot of things out - and wanted also a book as a back-up to keep reminding myself that this is a life issue. I think I'm dealing more with the "head hunger" than anything. PRetty strange to me that I can't go to my friend/drug "food" when I'm happy, sad, etc. etc. It's just such a foreign thing to me that I need to deal with and get used to. Thanks again everyone - so nice to know other people are having some struggles too.

Hi everyone. I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves 14 days ago. Can someone who was sleeved about 2 weeks ago tell me approximately what they are eating on a daily basis? I feel like I'm almost "grazing" throughout the day (of course with only allowable things), but I don't feel like I've lost much (10 pounds in the 2 weeks)- one of my friends on this board suggested weighing only once a week - which I'm going to start doing. Sometimes I feel like I sip/drink my puddings, water, soups too fast - but I'm HUNGRY! Anyway - can someone who is about 14 days out from surgery give me an idea of what and when they eat during a routine day. THANKS.