VSG4aHealthierMe

So I made one I don't know. Maybe I am the only one on this board from Indiana, maybe not guess we will see!

My surgeon's LRD consists of eating meats and veggies (certain varieties stipulated), certain condiments, and up to 2 dairy servings/day. Day 1 of my LRD was yesterday. I am following my LRD diet to a "T", but my sodium is through the roof (3,263 g today, 2,906 yesterday) and I'm not using alot of processed foods or dressings (for example: Dinner today consisted of lettuce, tomatos, a bit of salsa, ground turkey and a bit of cheese resulting in 1,158 g of sodium). This diet is to help my liver but this much sodium could damage my kidneys! What am I doing wrong???

If this was just a 2-3 week thing I wouldn't be so worried, but I'm looking at 3 MONTHS (scheduling issue, long story). I see my NUT the 16th... but I may try to call tomorrow...

I don't know how to attach a screen shot Breakfast: 2 oz Breakfast chops, 2 tbsp A1, 8 oz V8 original (I know A1 and V8 are big culprits but even w/o them my day was very salty) Lunch: 2 eggs over easy w/ 1/2 cup LF cottage cheese Dinner: as previously explained, brands: pace (medium) and honeysuckle white Snacks: 4 stalks celery w/ ranch salad spritzer w/ 1 cherry tomato; 2 eggs over medium (got hungry just wanted something easy). I don't have a medical condition that I'm aware of but my kidneys ache alot and I have a family history of kidney issues- mostly related to diabetes with I don't have that I know of, but I prefer to 'er on the side of caution so I worry about it.

Sorry if this is in the wrong place. I know most ppl think about what they will and won't be able to eat post-op and alot of it is the less than healthy favs we might have but I have questions regarding healthier options. *Spicy foods? Will I be able to eat them post-op? If not right away when? I LOVE spicy foods. In fact I am growing multiple jalapeno and habanero plants, because I love them so much. I know spicy can cause acid issues but are they intolerable? If I can't have spicy I think this is what I will miss most post-op *Salads? I know salads are really against the rules but when I think protien first, then think about the fact that for several months post-op my sleeve will be the most restricted I wonder if I will have room for the greens? I am also growing several greens that I use in salads, but I could learn to accept this one knowing that eventually my sleeve will relax slightly allowing me a tiny salad on occasion but I am curious how far out it was before some of the post-op'ers were before they could enjoy a good salad without sacrificing precious protien space. I.e- when there you able to have a salad WITH a protien source and NOT end up eating only the protien because there was no room for the greens? *In relation to the salad question- We are told protien first BUT protien is not the only nutrient we need. We need to get the Vitamins and nutrients provided in non-protien sources as well if the intent is truely to become healthier. How do YOU balance the need for protien with the need for the vitamins and minerals not provided in protien sources with such a tiny place to put it in? I know we have to take vitamins but I'd like to have the bulk of my nutrition come from food not pills and since I have not yet been sleeved I don't yet know what i will be able to consume with a sleeve and protien first mantra. Many say they could only eat a couple bites of protien before becoming full, esp early on... where do the fruits and veggies fit in (pun intended)? Thanks in advance

I've tried those.. they are positively HORRIBLE!! Worst tasting crap- just awful. Blech!

Yeah, no pasta/bread will leave a void just cause I have ate them my entire life BUT will be much easier to cut out post op because pasta has always been a filler in our recipes. They are an inexpensive way to make a meal stretch to feed the masses lol, so with no hunger and less room to fill I don't imagine I'll need fillers to get full/satisfied. So giving them up will, hopefully, be easier. Not to mention the carb detox on the pre/post diets.

Thank you all for your replies! They have been very helpful!!!

I don't know what my reqs are yet. My mandatory seminar is on the 26th of this month and I prob won't see the nut until next month. I have tried those shot things and they don't agree with my pallet unfortuately but I have been lucky in the protien shake dept for the most part. I'm avg about 65g protien right now but have gotten as high as 174g before- depending alot on if and how many protien shakes I drink.So far today I only have 28g (2 meals, no shakes or Snacks so far today) so not doing great today, lol. Thanks for the input!

Thats sounds delish!! I may try to make that at home!!! Thanks for sharing! I really hope my sleeve is as compatible with my tastes as your's is! I kinda feel the same way about spicy! I HATE when you go out and order something with jalapeno's because your craving something spicy and you end up with whimpy peppers ruins the whole meal! I could still use my jalepeno plants if I can't handle spicy- I'd just have to wait until they turn red, lose thier heat and start getting sweet but if I wanted sweet I'd grow banna peppers lol. Thanks again!

Congrats! !!

I am having a hard time stabilizing my weight. I am clueless as to why but my weight fluxes so rapidly and unpredictably. No exageration. Last week I weighed in. Last weekEND I weighed in more than 5 pounds less. Today, yet another 5 pounds less and if it follows it s usual pattern I will likely be back at the starting point by s ome time next week. All I can figure Is Water weight, but I eat the same allthe time (admittedly I could deff lower my salt intake) why would it flux by so much so fast? I know I need to figure this out because how the heck can I lose weight when I can't even control it, and I wanna do so pre-op. Could it be hormonal??? (Sorry gents but small TMI ahead) I have severe PCOS... like 2x worse than it was 2 years ago and it was bad then. I haven't had a natural AF in well over a year, I induced one last June, and recently tried to do so again but only got spotting this time... no AF. If its hormonal then I am screwed because the only reset button I have is provera (to induce AF) and that's not working. This has been going on for a few months and I don't yet have ins. Coverage to talk to my doc about it, he called in the script for me as it was. Any thought, hints, tips on what could be causing it and what I can do about it? I am desperate to get it under control so I can show my sugeon I am serious about changing but that's gonna be hard if he weighs me in one month then the next I have Gained 10-15 pounds. TIA.

The reason it 2 fold. 1. It shrinks your liver which makes surgery safer. 2. It proves you are putting your best foot forward and are already doing what you can to lose weight. I mean even if you weigh 300# , 5% which it what the surgeon I will use requires is only 15# going by total weight and even less going by excess weight. Is it a pain when you want the surgery so bad you can already smell the antiseptic they clean hosps with, yep, but its in the best interest of you.

Sorry, double post.

I too am interested in the answer to the five year history! I don't know if I will need them yet but trying to be proactive about gathering what I can. I moved here about 3 years ago and only saw my ob/gyn b4 that... they are also the ones who prescribed weightloss pills(appetite suppressant) to help me lose the weight. I called and they said anything older than 2 years was moved and destroyed (can they legally do that?). So as I said I too would love to know the answer in case it pops up in my case.

How bad is it?I am hoping to be sleeved but have recently learned that may not be an option due to 2 forms of severe reflux. The mal absorptive portion of RNY is what scares me most. I want gastric surgery to be healthier not to trade my problems in for new ones, ya know? To top it off I already have malabsorption issues due to IBS, not so much that it affects my life but bad enough to have lost a child due to a condition linked with a lack if folic acid... something I took more than required of during pregnancy. Furthermore, we plan to have another child after I lose weight as my current health makes it impossible and unsafe. I don't yet have a surgeon so I was hoping to gain some insight here. How big of an issue is it or can it be? For those of you with major absorption issues, would you do it again? We live on a very tight budget, how much do you all spend on supplements? Any further info would be much appreciated! TIA!

Years ago when I was diagnosed with bile reflux gastritis, my doc put me on liquid carafate. It was not all that palatable but it was like heaven in a bottle because I could feel my symptoms getting better as it coated my stomach. I don't know if you can take it post-sleeve but its worth looking into. Hope things have improved for you!

Bump.

Is it common for a beriatric surgeon to be labeled a general surgeon? I see the "general surgeon" label and it immediately conjurers the impression of hands in too many cookie jars. I mean, if you are doing everything from appendix to rerouting the digestive tract (as in bypass and such) can they really ever be an outstanding surgeon in any given area? I ask because most surgeons within a 100 mile radius are labeled general surgeons. TIA for your help.

Thank you all for your input. 95% chance of it going away or getting better sounds really good.... but I guess its something I will have to discuss with a surgeon because even if my acid reflux is weight related, I still have to contend with the bile reflux caused by having my gallbladder removed. In the meantime I guess I should get acquainted with the RNY. :/

Sorry to double post in the same folder, this just seemed the best place to ask this. I have been researching the sleeve for some time now but just tonight I stumbled across something that says the sleeve can cause or worsen reflux and RNY is recommended for patients with reflux and I did a search specific to this and that seems to be the majority opinion. I have had some sort of reflux since I was 16. I had my gallbladder removed and developed bile reflux gastritis and now as an adult I also have acid reflux as well, sometimes so bad my throat swells and my tongue feels like I ate razor blades. I don't think I could handle worse esp if it can't be controlled with meds which many ppl on other forums I read said was there situation. I have never even considered RNY because the malabsorption scares me both for my own health and future children as we are not done but my current health would make pregnancy dangerous for us both. I know many have normal pregnancies post RNY but I already have malabsorption issues due to IBS and have already lost a child because of this. Bottom line, have any of you heard this from your docs and pushed forward anyway? Do any pot-op'ers have reflux now, or worse reflux? I feel like the rug was just yanked from beneath me Any input would be MUCH appreciated. TIA!

Thanks for the link! I called the Dr nearest to me this morning. They said the ins I expect to have will only pay a surgeon at a center if excellence. One is about 90 miles away and I haven't gotten to speak with them yet ( answering machine). The other is over 100 miles away. They have daily seminars followed by a one on one with the surgeon after(if you have ins.) So I am going to wait until I have secured coverage so that I can speak with the doc the same day. Its not every month but I frequently have to travel to Indy for my special needs kids' medical care so perhaps I can work it so that I can see whatever surgeon I choose the same day that I am already up there. My kids are my priority so if anyone is going to go without a needed appt it will be me, but if I can hit two birds with 1 stone that could work...

I don't know about a hernia, but honestly it wouldn't surprise me. I have not yet been for testing, I am back to square 1 after putting the surgery off for a year due to issues in my personal life. I don't even have coverage yet but believe I will very soon.