Griselda

I don't have gout, but take allopurinol for kidney stones, so maybe that is why I've not had any gout issues. Anyhow, from what I've read, weight loss does help gout because it reduces the amount of uric acid that can be stored in the fat cells, as the fat cells are reduced, the acid is reduced, however, rapid weight loss (more than 1 or 2 pounds per week) could actually make the flare ups worse because the acid would be released too quickly for the kidneys to process it. It should even out once the weight is gone.

I've never heard of anyone counting cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese as liquid (although there are drinkable yogurts). Maybe she meant soft or mushy foods? Clear liquids are ones that don't really stimulate the digestive system much and are see through like Nancy said.

Sounds like you've got what you need. I really didn't eat a lot when I was there that I prepared myself. It was either ice chips in hospital or I had broth or chamomile tea at the hotel restaurant. I did drink some gatorade and things like that. I am excited for you!! Let me know if you have any specific questions. Can't wait to hear your story when you get back!! Your plan for presurgery food/drink wise should be just fine. I stopped having anything the Sunday before I went too and then just had Water on the plane and more water while I waited for my surgery.

She doesn't do as well on email. I would call her and ask the questions outright and also ask for a consultation with Dr. Kelly by phone so he can answer any other specific medical type questions. I asked a lot of questions too. Feel free to pm me and see if I know the answers to any of your questions.

I was taking them in pill/tablet form the day after, so I think doctors give differing advice. Check with yours, but I would think at 4 weeks you should be fine.

I started the iron about four days ago. I did take miralax and it might be what finally set me free. It says to take for no more than seven days. I dont want to get where I cant go at all without it.

I have been diagnosed with Nash for about 10 years. I've had two liver biopsies ten years apart and there was little change. I am hoping that the weight loss helps. I expect that my liver enzymes will be a bit higher since the liver gets handled during surgery. I have just been told to keep eye on it.

Debs, welcome sounds like you are taking the horse by the reins and getting all ready for your op. It seems that there are few consistencies as far as preop dieting goes. I personally went all liquid which consisted of soups, jelly, tea and coffee (decaf), protein drinks, blended fruit and vegetable drinks and loads of gazpacho! I did only clear liquids three days before surgery. However, you have several months until your op so I wouldn't recommend you do all liquids for that long. Personally, I would eat normally for about a week or so but input everything I eat into a website or program that gives you a breakdown of proteins, fats, sugars, carbs,etc. I use myfitnesspal.com but there are several others. This will give you a baseline on the types of areas you can work on. Then you can start adjusting your intake to balance out your nutrition and reduce your caloric intake. I don't think your train ride will be too much of a worry. I am excited for you! You will be a new woman sans hernia and new little tum.

This topic is right on time. I had never had constipation that i remember but have spent the last 48 hours in agony. Prunes didnt work, stool softener nothing. Enema, no luck, took miralax and a glycerin suppository, finally felt like i gave birth. I dont know what worked or if it was combo but i want to know everything i can do to prevent this and what can i use for my pita. It isnt consistently hurting but kills when i go to toilet. I dont want to become laxative dependent. What is safe and recommended for vsgers to take daily? I do eat fiber, fruits and veg but apparently it isnt enough. Also i think it all got worse when i added iron tablets to my pill regime. Any help for my poorly bottom is well appreciated.

Before there are several replies similar to above let me say that I have no personal knowledge of any leaks or deaths for Aceves.

Could you please post a similar response to everyone else who has posted hearsay on this board? Many, many posts contain things people heard or read and they have not been chastised by you.

I found bluebonnet at a local health food store here too and I agree, I really like them and I like that they are sweetened with stevia.

I bought one of these and really hated the taste and texture of it. I don't know about the whole degrading etc, but I think you should buy one at a store and try it and see if you like it first.

I was pretty ticked off about this after my first 20 pound loss, nobody seemed to notice, nobody said anything. For some reason as soon as I hit about 30, people started noticing and saying wow, I can't believe you little you have gotten. I think it depends on how we are built as to when it really shows. I still feel my stomach is huge but I can definitely tell it has gone down and my face is much thinner than it was. You will get there.

I started taking the prilosec two days after surgery (I believe I was getting some form of it in my IV immediately following). It is a generic capsule and I have taken it and other larger pills with no problems, although I space them out and that also helps me get my water in.

A lot of people are allergic or sensitive to nickel, so I didn't even consider that it would be a problem with something that is used in surgery. I have those same problems with jewelry, but have had no problems with the staples. I have 'clips' in my body where my gallbladder was removed 10 years or so ago and those have caused no issues either. I don't think you will have anything to worry about.

1. The sleeve can stretch, however, it could not stretch enough to be as big as your original stomach was. The stretchier part of the stomach is what is removed, however, there is still a little room for stretching. In theory, you start out being able to eat very tiny amounts and in about 18 months to a year you are eating a more 'normal' amount (normal for non overweight people, not your pre-normal). 2. You could eat whatever you want for the reason you said, however, the main thing you want to concentrate is getting enough protein and proper nutrition because you can eat so little. Anytime there is rapid weight loss there is danger of losing muscle mass, the emphasis on protein is so that you are able to keep as much of it as possible. I do not believe you have to deprive yourself of anything, just be aware of what foods you find you can eat too easily (I discovered I could eat an awful large amount of lifesavers, for example), someone had given me a bag of them and there I was munching away like my old self. I will avoid them now. Same would go for something like potato chips, you don't want to get into this mindset that, well, I was able to eat that little bag of chips, but I still need my protein and I am not full from them so I will have some protein now, no harm done. However, this could get out of control and you might find yourself having more 'slider' foods than are good for you. I think it is important to write down everything you eat (at least initially) and really look at your numbers as far as fat, calories, carbs, sugars, iron, vitamins, etc. Look for patterns and see if you are doing too much fat, not enough protein, etc. If you ate nothing but junk food or food that was not nutritionally dense but kept your intake to (for example) 600 calories, yes, you will lose weight, however, you might not be feeling or looking your best and you might be losing some muscle mass. In other words, eventually, you will not be doing so well, even if you are skinny. So emphasize nutrition, but do have your occasional indulgence (a taste or a bite) of something you really want. 3. I am actually looking at different 'diets' and trying to decide which diet is the best for me. Yes, with the sleeve, it is soooo much easier to 'diet'. You don't feel that massive hunger, and the times I have said "hmm, I'll get a small kid's hamburger or a bean burrito", I have found that after three bites, I really am done and you know how when you first want something, the first bite tastes really good, and they get progressively not as good as you get fuller? This happens only about 20 times faster than it would have in the presleeve days. I think for my particular health issues (metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol) I am going to try to stick to the DASH diet. 4. You can sip a little bit of a drink, or at least, I have been able to. I know there are some who are very sensitive to that and cannot eat/drink at all. The main reason you don't want to drink with your meal is that it will either push the food down or maybe overfill and make you feel like vomiting. I really don't think a sip of two will make much difference, it doesn't to me, but your mileage may vary.

I chose Dr. Kelly and was originally going to go with either Almanza or Aceves. I have been reading the boards for years now and I remembered some bad things about Dr. Almanza, although to be fair, I have not heard of any problems recently so was going to go with him. (It was something to do with the infection rate during a particular time period, and not anything to do with how he performs surgery). Dr. Aceves is well known and he advertises aggressively which is why he is one of the better known doctors. I have heard from others that he does not have a zero rate of leaks (and to be honest, it would be really strange if he didn't have at least one leak based on all his experience and the amount of surgeries he has performed). I think (but I a may be wrong) that there possibly was a death way back when with Dr. Aceves. I chose Dr. Kelly based on his experience with this surgery, however, honestly I don't think I would have been wrong to go with any of the three mentioned. There was an issue that happened right before I was scheduled to go to surgery (a complication) that I found out about on this board and I wrote to that person and let them know my doubts and they even reassured me that I had made a good choice. Still worried, I called and had a telephone consultation with him and spoke to him for about 45 minutes and I felt reassured after that. I can't take away anyone's fear, because there is always a risk of something going wrong in a surgery, or driving your car or whatever. You will ultimately have to go with what you feel is right. What happened is a tragedy and I feel so very bad for everyone involved. It would be unfair to comment on any particulars because I don't know what happened, I wasn't there, I haven't seen an autopsy, I don't know what was said, at this point it is all speculation. However, why would a doctor try to say it was something else when he knows an autopsy would reveal everything. Again, I do not know and can't pretend to speak for anyone.

Home scales are notoriously bad unless you get a highly rated one. They are better when you keep them in one place. I like to go to the y and use their slide the weights scale. I use my home scale as a rough guide and dont weigh more often than once a week.

Oregon, did you ever post any pictures? I am thinking I will need a face lift. Is your whole face numb? How long is the recovery (as far as not having bruising/swelling?)

You might try a shop that sells maternity stuff. When I was pregnant, I had bought this sort of panty girdle that had a special thing for holding and supporting the stomach, that might be some help to you. I am going to have to look through my stuff and see if I can find mine, I hope I didn't throw/give it away.

This is great! I love how the first pics, the bathing suit rises and as you lost the weight, I can tell it was a skirted suit. You are built like me, sort of, so I am keen to see all of your progress pics!! Keep up the good work!

I have been wanting to try the shirataki noodles, but I am sensitive to smells too, and I don't know if I could handle it. I'd rather do occasional wheat pasta, I think.

Hi tct, Kelly and I were sleeved same time. One thing you really should do is start journaling everything you eat. I use myfitnesspal.com, but there are several others. When i look at my intake, i can see patterns like not that many carbs, but most all of them sugars or not enough vitamins, etc. It really helps to see it in print, as it were. I was on glyburide, 2000 mg of metformin and victoza. I am off all now. You are doing great and about same weight loss as me. it will come off, we are all going to be hot mamas.

Everyone's recovery is different, but I went down with two other board members and we were all up and around by the third day. I was able to go shopping for hours, walk around the city, pretty much do everything but eat. (That was the hardest part since the food looked soooo good, but I did have great soups). I had my surgery on a Monday and was back at work the following Monday. (I do have a mainly 'desk' job, however, so that would depend on what you do).