rsr53

Glad to hear you are doing well, Griselda. Hoping the other ladies are recovering nicely, too. Take care and keep us posted on your progress.

Glad to hear you are doing well, Griselda. Hoping the other ladies are recovering nicely, too. Take care and keep us posted on your progress.

Just tell yourself you are going to do it RIGHT for YOU!!! Sorry for your frustrations, but just think what would happen if no dr reviews and treats a condition--death, anemia, and goodness knows what else! Some things just go with WLS--I have been a bariatric patient 10 yrs now and have revision surgery in just 12 days. I am not afraid. The first one actually saved my life as I almost bled to death 3 mos beforehand. This one is gonna save my life also because I have no nutrition that my body is using--I do have deficiency in calcium, Vit D, and B12. I take supplements for it. Now is the time to take care of ourselves--nobody else will; they won't even listen to us rant and rave. You are about 6 wks postop, and the depression is what you are facing. You need to go to your support group, work things through positively instead of beating yourself up, Friend. I think you are facing postpartum over food. Get over it with support!! Please do that--I need your example to keep my journey in place once my surgery is performed on May 31st. By the way, Fed law prohibits employers from taking away jobs over illnesses. Make sure you get FMLA approved. Things will work right for you, Friend. Just keep your faith that it will be a good experience. I am praying that this is so for you. Take care.

I am having my VGS revision to my RNY with Dr. Steven C. Simon at Paradise Valley Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on May 31,2011. The RNY was done by Dr. F. Darwin Zahn at St. Luke Med Center in Phoenix on June 27, 2001. Let me review both doctors and facilities here: I had excellent care with Dr. Zahn--he had to repair a hiatal hernia and my gallbladder was removed at the time of this surgery. I was very sick from preop anemia about 3 months prior to wls with Zahn. Dr. Zahn has since retired, my support system postop went away, and about 5 yrs ago the bypass started malfunctioning due to stretching pouch, and then my hypertension, and anemic conditions came back with vengeance. I also got cardiac chest pains, bone loss, and just last Dec was diagnosed with asthma. The hospital is very good, however, I could not get connected with either Dr. Juarez or Dr. Fang to do revision surgery due to ins issues. I tried Tempe St. Luke's, with Dr. Schlesinger and Dr. Sprunger, but that center is AWFUL!!--I cannot figure out how that facility in Tempe got rated as Center for Excellence. I doubt either doctor is trained in revision surgery--Sprunger just started with Schlesinger last fall and was not set up for my revision procedure--plus, the 2 hospitals are an hr away from me. Now let me rate AZ Weightloss Solutions: Dr. Steven Simon is wonderfully gifted at wls!! He is patient, kind, ready for any questions you might have of him, and will go 110% in seeking your answers to anything from ins issues, nutrition, surgery, recovery and hospitalization needs. He first examined me in 2007 when I was told revision surgery was needed for me to see weightloss and maintenance again. At that time, the ins I had did not cover wls or revision surgery--Dr. Simon appealed twice for me to get it, but no luck. Then, about 2 yrs after, I had jobloss and required state help. Luckily, my ins carrier thru Medicaid, referred me to Dr. Simon after I had had a TERRIBLE time after an EGD with Schlesinger in Tempe St. Luke's Hospital in Jan of this year. We worked solid for about 3 mos to get an auth for revision surgery and my date is May 31st. Dr. Simon was OUTSTANDING in securing my approval for surgery. I really love how he has been toward my care and impending postop treatment. I have no reservations whatsoever about this surgery--it will bring better health to me so that I can secure a new job in the very near future. I rate his office, the hospital, and support staff a 10+++++++ on a scale of 1 to 10, being most recommended. Also, Dr. Simon's office, and the hospital is 15 min from my house! Cannot ask for anything better!! They do the seminars bymonthly, and monthly support meetings, too. Looking forward to the support groups!

Come to Phoenix and go to Dr. Steven Simon at AZ Weightloss Solutions. He does his work at Paradise Valley Hospital, and they are all super!! My surgery with him is May 31st. This doctor is guru material at wls--I would not hesitate in consulting him and his staff. You will get optimum care from him, his staff, and the hospital. Office no. is 480-419-2280. Thank you 1-4-Many, I appreciate your suggestion and will keep that in mind. I am finding out that the price can range from $8,750-30,000 with the many surgeons I have contacted. I am blessed in the fact that cost does not have to be the determining factor, I just want to know I am going to a skilled surgeon with the peace of mind I am in good hands, whether that is here in the states or in Mexico. Thanks again and best wishes to you.

Hi, Kelly: Sorry your post op diet is not too good now. First, I would find a Protein that is whey and tastes good. I went to costco and got Muscle Milk Plus, which tastes very good and blends very well. They also sell Premier premixed shakes in chocolate that I like alot, too. Proteins are 26g and 30g respectively. I have not tried unjury at all, so cannot help there. I would try cooking some proteins, like chicken, fish, etc. well done and then puree them with your blender to see if you can get them down with small bites. Make sf Jello with your nonfat cottage cheese, or swirl in your nonfat Greek yogurt with a flavor you like--lime, orange, and the berry ones are tasty. See if you could not whiz some lowsugar oatmeal dry into your blender, then cook it to a runny gruel to sip on. I cannot emphasize the need for your Multivitamins here. You might need to take some Iron for awhile to keep your energy levels intact. Consult your dr and nutritionist on this, please. You can also microwave a sweet potato plain for about 6 min until soft, then scoop into your blender to smoothe it into a med sauce texture to eat. I would also try Gerber's Junior Baby foods to see if those won't go down better for you. Those have nutrients in them--for variety. I think it is important to vary as much as you can the foods you are trying to eat. Just remember the stomach is healing, so don't go overboard with any one thing, just try several items to see if you can tolerate them, and above all, sip your water!!! Good luck with it. Let us know how you are doing--try not to dehydrate yourself by not eating and drinking. I was sleeved 5/9 and have been on full liquids since last Friday. I am having a VERY HARD time getting my protein in. I barely eat any calories and wanted to see if you all could help me. I am doing good with my Water, so no worries there!! I do drink some Isopure which helps, but I HATE the taste. I also have Unjury plain and have tried to put it on my food, but it makes me GAG!!! A typical day for me is the following: B-1/2 c yogurt or 1/2 30 g protein shake L- 1/2 c creamy soup or 8 oz unjury chicken broth or 1/2 c yogurt or 1/2 30 g protein shake D- 1 c. Boulion Broth or 1/2 c applesauce or 1/2 thin grits i could eat any of these items at any meal, but this is pretty much all i am consuming at this point. i am lost on what to eat. i posted a topic last week and nobody really responded to it and i was told to just focus on my fluids for now. I am really weak and anemic and feel like if i could consume more food with protein, i might have more energy! I don't have a problem eating and could eat more, I just am lost on what to eat! Please help!! Kelly

Glad you got your surgery date. I am glad you cut your insulin dose as that should improve your overall health. Please keep us posted on recovery and progress. My surgery is a week after yours on the 31st. Take care!!

My doctor is doing the same thing with me. I have a list of things I can choose along with my Protein shakes. I usually do 2 shakes a day and eat from my list the rest of the time. Yes, and drink LOTS of Water. Mine is revision surgery so the liver shrinking is important. I have 13 days to go before surgery--can't wait! From what I have gathered, it does depend on your surgeon. I will have to do a 2 week liquid diet - but during that 2 weeks I can also have some "real" food - I get to choose 6 items from a list they will give me. I was told they do this to help shrink the liver (or the fat around the liver) so it makes it easier for the surgeon to move it out of the way when they do the surgery. It's also a good way to start practicing for how you eat after the surgery.

Caffeine does a terrible number on kidney function and causes severe dehydration because it saps fluids from the body. I had a Diet Coke thing going to the tune of a case a day--totally off it now!! Then, too, the preop plan is to shrink the liver for surgery, then postop relearning the eating paterns. I don't miss my sodapop one bit!! Have also taken myself off cow's milk--too gassy for me!! I am feeling great, looking forward to the surgery on May 31st. Think of the preop stage as a detoxification period.

I am learning to sip all of my shakes and drinks. The protein tastes much better when very cold and you sip at it. Hopinginafter surgery I will find the same result.

Im hungry. I do a shake and an hour and half later I'm starving. My blood sugar is also getting really low which makes me hungry. I believe I'm going to have to back off the diabetes meds now. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow to sign consents...and I BET I haven't lost any weight. I feel bloated and TMI I'm PMSing. Not a good time to get on the scale. Maybe he won't be too upset. I'm not having surgery til June so that gives me some time to loose some weight. They said to shoot for 10lbs. Just enough to get my liver in shape apparently. I would, however, like to loose more pre-op. Rant over Hi! May I suggest some strategies for this PreOP step? First of all, you are trying to shrink your liver. Dr told me not to worry about losing at this point, just get 60-80g Protein in each day and to avoid carbs and sugars, but drink lots of Water. I use Propel, and Powerade Zero to fill in between my bottled water, and am getting about 64-70 oz in daily. I have lost some weight without trying. I started at 223, 218 when I got my PreOP diet, and am now at 215. I suppose I will be about 210 at surgery. I would make sf Jello, put your nonfat cot cheese in it--tastes great with lime, cherry, orange, etc. I also got sf popsicles, and also eat lean fish and chicken. I did eat a burger patty tonite and blotted all the fats away from it. I put some plain horseradish on it. I use pepper to flavor with. My protein supplements are Premier and Muscle Milk light that I got at costco. Those taste very good. You mix with water the Muscle Milk. I got Premier premixed shakes to carry with me when I am out on errands, etc. I try to vary what I eat as much as I can to break the monotony of the diet. As is, the diet is cut and dry. Mine is revision surgery, so am being extra careful with this and the whole phase of my journey. If you are low in sugars, do not take any more pills or insulin as that would just make you drop dangerously low. Also, make sure you take your vitamins--a multi, Calcium, B12 sublinguals, vit D3(this absorbs the calcium). My thinking is you may not be getting enough liquid in your diet. I hope this helps! Good luck!

May have to not drink cow's milk anymore. Lactose in cow's milk will make you feel bloated and gassy. I bet the cream source in mushroom soup aggravated your stomach. Try soymilk or Almond Breeze and see if it eases your digestion. So today was not a great day. I went back to work, but felt pressure in my stomach all day like I was full constantly. I don't want to get into too much TMI but I did go to the bathroom, not much, twice today but I feel like I am backed up. I took gasx and a dose of miralax with little result. Feeling a bit shaky, not like a low blood sugar shaky just not well. Deep breaths feel sore today. I have no fever, no nausea, vomiting anything of the sort. If I am still feeling like this tomorrow I am going to call the doctors office. Any ideas? Today I had a 8oz Protein shake before work, then a 6oz stonyfield yogurt at like 9am. Water and my multivitamin until lunch, at 12:30 had 2oz of puree chicken salad. water until I got home and about 7:30 had a small bit of cream of mushroom soup. then more water. I have been feeling this pressure all day.

Dr must have found Calcium deficiency in your labs along with low Vit D3 in your system. Vit D helps absorb calcium in your system. I have these deficiencies and take 5K units D3 and 1200 units of calcium each day. What are those shots for?? I am curious about them. I will find out in 2 weeks when I have my surgery. Take care and glad you are feeling better. Thanks for all the well wishes from everyone! I am home today, doing pretty well I think, pain isn't too bad I didn't take any narcotics while in the hospital except the percocet that one time. They did send me home with a Loritab script and I took it once this afternoon, no problems keeping that down and it basically put me to sleep for a little while. Last night I had terrible knots in my throat/stomach every time I sipped anything it would feel like it was stuck, then I could feel it move, then another know again and so on. This morning i felt good and was able to finally pass gas, TMI I know but they wouldnt' let me leave until I did that. I have some knots again tonight. I drank a whole Isopure today with quite a bit of Water and a couple ounces of chicken broth. I definitely don't want to get dehydrated. My Aunt and Uncle came to see me last night at the hospital, so nice of them and they gave me a gift card to Kohl's so I can go shopping once I lose some of the weight., they are awesome people. In addition to the Loritab script I was sent home with an Aciphex script which is not covered by my insurance so they told me just to get the prevacid instead. A Lovenox script I have to inject myself with that every day, piece of cake actually and I was worried about doing it and a Vitamin D script which is once a week for 4 weeks 50,000 units. Did anyone else get this? I wasn't aware they gave this and why. Tuesday I can move to full liquids and looking forward to it already. Then next Friday, the 13th I have an appt with my surgeon and he will let me know when I can progress to purees.

You are doing remarkably well!! Congrats to you. I have my revision surgery May 31st and can hardly wait!! Sorry about the scar tissue issues, but a BIG CONGRATS on your sleeve. Sleeve life is awesome! I still can't believe how successful I have been. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and lots of weight loss!

Fabulous news!! Time will go by fast now. My surgery is May 31st. Glad you got your approval and a tentative date set.

Dr. Steven Simon at AZ Weightloss Solutions, and Paradise Valley Hospital in No. Phoenix are excellent. They have supported me 110%!!! Top knotch staff, and excellent doctor.

Send the link and I will vote for you some more, Vicki. Loved your video! Don't give up!! I am glad I did not give up. My surgery is May 31st. I am meeting with Dr. Kim tomorrow for my very first appointment. I am so excited!!! I found him becasue he was running a contest for a free weight loss surgery last month and I was chosen as a finalist. Videos will be posted on his website www.drdkim.net on May 12th and voting will begin at 10:30 am. Voting goes through June 1st at 5:00. My husbands insurance excludes WLS so I desperately need this. He has a very good reputation and everyone says they love him. I will know tomorrow! Vicki Dallas (McKinney) http://www.youtube.c...h?v=UEBQAhVj4Q0 PLEASE VOTE FOR ME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

Jen, so sorry you had complications with your surgery in MX. I hope you are now on the mend and glad that you found US doctor to threat you after the complications in Mexico. I would think ins coverage kicks in for the care you are getting here in the US. Yes, it is tricky to negotiate payments in Mexico. They have their own setup for that, so it frustrates the situation more. My surgery is in 16 days, I don't have a gall bladder. Mine is revision surgery from RNY to VSG. In my case, all depends on builtup scar tissue from the RNY. Currently doing the preop diet--been good thus far. I have an excellent surgeon who is connected to Dr. OZ in LA on a case where our local young lady was 700 pounds. My dr is treating her in prep for wls about midway down the road. Exciting times!! Also, I commend your not bashing your MX doctor over your complications. My dr assures me he is going to do my surgery "right". I have that much trust in his work and expertise with me. Take care, and continued successes with this journey.

I would like to put my KUDOS out to this clinic. They have been in No. Phoenix about 2 years or so. My doctor is Dr. Steven Simon, who is the guru of bariatric intervention--great, supportive, educates about options, works viciously to get insurance approval for treatment, and just a fantastic surgeon. I have not yet had my surgery, but have started Preop preparations with diet and have completed my hosp preop tests and xrays. My date is May 31st. Everything has happened very smoothly all around once ins approval was given. Staff at the hospital today was excellent!! I am confident my hospitalization and surgery will go very well. I would not check others in our area out before consulting Dr. Simon!!

Wishing the very best to both of you sisters, and Faye. Mine is in 17 days!! Cannot wait!! Hey Hun!!! How are you doing??? Just wanted to check in on you since we were sleeved on the same day! Keep us posted

Hi, Kelly! You crack me up! But I am glad you are feeling better. One day, those protein shakes WILL taste great!! I am 2.5 days PreOp, so far so good. My surgery is May 31 and I am all ready!! Even admitted to the hosp on Fast Track status, so all I need to do is show up!! Keep up the good work!! Take care. Today is ALOT better for me too! Although, every day has gotten better and better! I have upped my walking and fluids everyday. I still am not getting in all my protein that I should. The shit gags me now!! I am trying my best, but YUCK! I drank an Atkins Strawberry RTD shake this a.m. and it was o.k. I tried to do Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacement Banana this afternoon, but ended up pouring it down the drain after about 3 drinks. NASTY!! I had 1/2 c. really runny grits for breakfast and ate almost all of them. About 1c. of chicken broth. 20oz of decaf tea. 15oz Isopure Zero Carb water. and now I am having a RTD 100 cal/no sugar added Muscle Milk Lite Chocolate. It is nasty too, but I can choke it down. It is about 1/2 gone. The gas still hurts, but now I have diaharreha YAY!!! I am kinda happy, because at least something is coming out!! LOL It is the first time since last Saturday anything has moved down there! LOL! I am going to go for a walk with hubby and dog here in a few. Hugs! Kelly

Hi, Meggie! You are doing fabulously! Incidently, I noticed GNC carries unjury products, so you might not need to order online. I am getting ready for my surgery on May 31--2.5 days of preop dieting already. I really cannot wait to have it done, and on the road to recovery. I spent a couple of hrs at the mall, walking and window shopping mostly. I did get Vit E cream for my incisions at GNC. It helps the healing process. Just have to take it a day at a time. So far, I have been able to get my 60-80g of Protein in. Happy about that!! Keep up the great work! I am day 5 and whoever said day five is a turnaround is So right! Today the liquids go down without pain!!!!! This is huge as getting fluids in , protein, Water, tea, anything- has been MAJOR work until today. I still have to sip of course, but don't have to wait for the pain to pass and the huge burps to subside for the next sips. I am still setting my phone timer for every fifteen minutes and drinking 2 ounces as that has worked for me- and I keep a variety next to me to drink0 currently black decaf tea, propel grape, water, and the nummy chicken broth my husband made for me with unjury unflavored protein powder in it. Yesterday I managed about 48 ounces fluid/40 grams protein - today I plan to do better. One of my issues was that the protein drinks I adored presurgery were suddenly yucky and actually caused me to vomit. I felt like the net had been pulled out from under me- and along with the pain, the gas, and the trouble drinking it made for a really hard few days. I admit I cried a couple of times day 2 and 3 feeling I would never be able to do everything I needed to do to heal and get back to life. I have fibromyalgia and it was not until after surgery that I thought about what that might mean to my recovery. I am sure it amplified some discomfort. I haven't been as good about walking and I need to do better- I just did not feel up to dressing and my walk in my robe extends to my block of long time neighbors who all know the crazy cat lady at the corner and have seen it before. Anyway- for me five days is the charm- I am not at ALL worried about getting my fluids in today and am pushing to do a lot better than 64 ounces as I do find I have had diarrhea every other day. I don' know if this is normal and will talk to my dietician and doctor on Monday about progress in general. I will get about 60 grams of protein today and when I get some more supplies should do better. My husband will be way buff since he will drink the protein drinks I can't abide now- and that leaves me scrambling and without the supplies I thought I had ready to go, For the record my solutions so far are Champion Pro something or other 100 mixed with 8 ounces of cold decaf coffee and belnded with three ice cubes in the morning for 30 grams, and Unjury unflavored powder mixed with that nummy broth I mentioned. I only have a couple of samples of that powder so have to look locally and in any case I do not like the amount of powder you have to use to get 20 grams, I would like a little more bang for my powder. OK RV peeps- chime in with your story! ps I have never, even when I was crying regretted this surgery for one minute!

Take it a day at a time. You are doing well overall. That is important. Take care! 5 weeks out, first day of solid foods.... it was my friend's baby shower. food, cupcakes, and candy galore. Open bar. I did pretty well with my food. i didnt drink any liquor, bypassed the cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries...no bread, potato salad but she had a candy bar...and i couldn't pass on the blow pops sour apple blow pops are my fave....i took two. I had one at the shower. The other is in my bag I don't feel bad though....it was 60 cals and I tracked it. Still under my cals and carbs. Still focused Life after WLS on the up side I got so many positive comments on how good i looked

Hi, Michelle! WOW!! 41 pounds!!! That is so groovy!!! Glad you are doing so well postop. I went to the mall today and walked. Got some Vit E cream at GNC. While window shopping I thought about how I would look in those small Misses sizes--been 20 yrs or so since I could even begin to fit in those small, slinky clothes. Then I thought about my social life--dating. Have not done that in alot of yrs either. Maybe I will get that chance again someday. Anyhow, I bought my Protein and Vitamins at costco and Walgreens. Have also got soymilk and Almond Breeze. I am not sure I can mix shakes with those, however. I lost 5 pounds on my own, then they gave me pre and post op diets, so am now doing the protein regimen. Have lost about 3 pounds in almost 3 days. No telling how skinny my liver is gonna be at surgery!! Keep up the great work. I know you will be stronger each day!! Take care. Today I feel pretty good, I was able to go to GNC and get some Protein Powder and drinks and my vitamins. We then went to Target because I needed a few other things, but I was not able to make it through without being in some major pain so I had to go sit out in the car while my husband finished shopping. I am getting in my fluids, and today I Have started my protein and am slowly getting that in as well. I am starting to get up and around alot easier and I am hoping that by the end of the weekend it will be even better! One of the things I bought was a scale and I found that the weight I have lost up to today, including my 2 week pre op diet is 41. I lost 36 pounds on my two week pre op diet and I have lost 5 since I had surgery on Monday. I am really happy about that Now I just need to go and figure out how to get a ticker working in my signature. Hope your all having a wonderful weekend!

I agree with you, Diva. I have had no GERD with my RNY since the hiatal hernia was repaired at surgery back then. I do sometimes take TUMS, but as needed--3-4 times a year is all. I have allergies to pepsid and some of the rx stomach meds, too. That, and also allergic to blood pressure pills of all kinds. WLS is my only chance at a decent life. My family has all those symptoms, too.My sister has a lapband. She has her issues with it sometimes. Her son and DIL had RNYs and are doing very well with it. With this surgery, chances are if y had reflux pre surgery you will likely have it after. I'm not a Doctor though so I'm only guessing, but it just makes sense to me. Anyway, I do take Omeprazole every morning. I was only told by my surgeon to take it for the first 6 month post op, however I have no real intention of ever stopping taking it. The studies show too much evidence that reflux is a big issue with the sleeve. I'd rather keep my acid under control rather than "chance it" and end up damaging my esophagus so much I have to revise to RNY or DS. I honestly do not think my body can handle either of those surgeries and need to practice some preventative medicine here. To combat the Calcium deficiency, I take 1500 mg of calcium citrate a day making sure not to take it with Iron, and taking Vitamin D and Magnesium for super potency and absorption. All of this to me is a small price to pay for my health and fitness. If I didn't do all this I'd end up with a stroke, Type 2 diabetes or heart disease, even cancer. All of these run in my family, and I was already diagnosed with hypertension at 31 years old. I was headed no where and fast. I was placed on 4 maximum dosage pills per day to bring my BP down. Today I'm down to only ONE!!! It's the minimum dose and to date my BP has been excellent. It's only a matter of time before my PCP takes me off of that too. You really have to consider your choices when you do this. Think about your future, look at your relatives when making this decision too. If they have something, chances are you will too if you continue with very bad habits. Hang in there, don't sweat the small stuff.