steve-o

I was on Prevacid before and after surgery. (In fact, since the mid-nineties.) While he was digging around in my innards, my surgeon repaired my "small" hiatal hernia. Regardless, I had a couple of TERRIBLE days of heartburn a month or so after surgery. But generally, the PPI did the trick both before and after surgery. Here's the news: a week ago (I'm 3.5 months post op) I had a tiring day and went to bed early... forgetting to take my Prevacid. I felt fine the next day, so I decided to skip it again. Well, I have gone the whole week now, and have only taken the Prevacid once. This gives me hope that at some point I may move past my reflux problem, even if it is not yet time!

I know I'm weird (in oh so many ways), but it drives me nuts when people ask how much I've lost. Is anyone else this way? I'm sure most people have good intentions, but I've always felt like my body is my own business. Giving them a number makes it too easy for them to pass it around... and they do... because I've seen it travel. I just want some privacy. Lately, instead of giving them a number when they ask for one, I say "not enough yet", or "quite a bit", but some are quite insistent.

My doc's instructions are to reach 70 grams of protein per day, and to use supplements until I can achieve that via regular food.

Just my opinion: Yes, it is perfectly reasonable to be as nervous as you need to be. And, yes, second-guessing yourself is perfectly reasonable as well. I remember a part of me saying "I must be nuts" to want to trade in my perfectly good stomach for a mostly amputated one. It's only natural to have an internal debate about such a decision. Somebody on here gave advice from her mother, roughly like this: Picture yourself without it (the good and the bad)... then picture yourself with it (the good and the bad)... and see what you think.

We're going to fly to Mexico in a couple of weeks. I will be about 6 weeks post-op. Unless things change quickly, I will not be able to get my required Protein by food alone. What's the most compact way to carry protein to another country, realizing that there might be a lot of trouble getting it back into the USA? Those shot things can have a lot of protein, but they sure are nasty. I'm thinking of just taking a half bag of Meal Replacement powder. What do you think?

Inconsistencies among what the doctor, his handout instructions, his staff, and the nut said drove me crazy, too. I decided to listen to the doctor most, and take everything with a pinch of salt.

I agree with Lee. It all depends on the food. My bougie was 36f. Since day 14, I've been able to eat an entire 6oz container of yogurt, and I have no trouble drinking a big ol' mug of soup. But give me a little Protein, like 2 oz of fish or a scrambled egg, and I come to a dead stop. It just says to me that it's still all about making the right choices. I think that getting sleeved has left me in a much better position to make the right choices.

I do remember my surgeon saying that blood sugar can soar for a few days post-surgery, as a natural reaction to what the body has just been through. In fact, mine did go up quite a bit for several days, and then, within a week or so, hit new lows. So, if it is blood sugar, it might not be a long-term thing.

Not yet. The last one was 2 days after my surgery, and I completely forgot. I'd like to go check one out this coming Saturday.

LOL at "dirt road", Mr. Redneck. Brings back the memory of my post-surgery hours when I could hardly speak due to my dry tongue. Those first sips of Crystal Light and of ice Water the next day were so delicious! And my first "meal" of beef broth was like fine dining. Like you appear to be, I was lucky in that I never had a problem with liquids (although I always went slow). I was afraid the first time I swallowed a pill... not knowing what would happen... but it was a non-event. For me, the story about it getting better every day was absolutely true. By a week after surgery, I even went by work for a couple of hours. I could have come back full-time then, but decided to baby myself.

AnitaLou, I was sleeved June 3 by Dr. Weiss at Central Baptist. He has a very low complication rate. He told me that he personally has not lost a patient, even after several thousand weight loss surgeries, which as you know is much better than the standard morbidity rate of 1 every few hundred. He's only done 50-something sleeves, but, in my opinion, he really knows what he's doing, and I have always been extremely comfortable with him as my surgeon. However, this is not the low cost approach.

Mi-Mi, Dr. Weiss sleeved me on June 3. It's gone really well so far, and I'm convinced that he really knows what he's doing, even though he's only done 50-something sleeves. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

Sandyb, I don't know the answer to your question, and it's a good one to ask. I suggest that you start a new thread so that your question will get noticed. Go to this page: QandA and click on the orange "New Thread" button.

I'd also suggest DailyBurn.com. I just started using it, but the thing I like is that in addition to accessing it via the internet, I can also access it via an app on my new iphone.

Good luck, Leo!