IncredibleShrinkingViolet

For those who have trouble eating fruits and vegetables, I highly recommend the Nutribullet. It will even make tomato or apple skins digestible because of the high-speed. Then, you can mix in your Protein (unflavored if you prefer). I use apples (remove the seeds), carrots, and peeled oranges a lot. Or, tomatoes, raw spinach (high in purines, though), carrots, celery, green pepper and seasonings. If you make one every day, you will notice a difference in your energy levels in about a week!

Surgery causes skeletal muscle to be broken down in order acids to the site of injury. They promote wound healing, help the immune system, and support vital organs. During healing, new cells are created to repair the damaged cells and new tissue and blood vessels are formed. If the diet is insufficient in Proteins, healing will be delayed. Ideally, you should have slow-digesting proteins such as ultra filtered whey Protein (medical grade), dairy products like cottage cheese and yogurt, fish, poultry, and lean red meat. For loopylulu, the same would apply to you, but you need to stay away from foods that are high purines. I can send you a link if you would like. Peanut Butter would not be a good choice for you because it is loaded with purines, as are any legumes. But almonds or almond better would be good--just watch the calories.

Physical scars will heal and fade, but the memory of hurtful words last a lifetime. I hope you can talk this out and that he is not abusive in other ways! Blessings to you for getting the surgery and that you are one your way to a new life!

I understand your dilemma! I have four rods and ten screws in my back and one knee replaced. I have not had to take ANY pain meds since losing weight and have read about the correlation between fat cells, the hormones they release and inflammation. Seems to be the case, as least for me. You will be taking supplements to take the place of foods you cannot or should not eat, so don't worry about not getting enough nutrition. If you have a good doctor and NUT, you will probably have more energy than you ever had before. They will test your blood levels to be sure your body is happy and make sure you are losing fat, not muscle! That's very important! I had GERD before the surgery and it is slightly worse now. However, it is well under control by taking the medication at night before going to bed. A lot of times GERD is simply caused by being overweight because of the extra fat and flesh in the abdomen making pressure on the stomach, and/or by eating the wrong things. I don't eat anything an hour before going to bed, either, and that helps,too. Now that everything is healed, I can eat just about anything everyone else eats, only less of it. That's how we use our new "tool"! If you want help on the supplements, I would be glad to share with you. Go for it! You will probably lose more than what the doctors told you, if that's what you want to do, especially if you exercise (which we all need to do! LOL)

Dr. Lee Trotter in Rapid City. Not only is he experienced in the surgery, but has 32 years of experience in nutrition!

OregonDaisy, I do hope you hang in there. It takes time for nerves to heal after back surgery; sometimes longer than we wish. I have had two multi-level fusions and feel like I can reassure you that if you stick with physical therapy and do the best you can with what you've got, things will get better. Sometimes heating pads and short walks can help at first, but don't push! Later on, maybe you could try tai chi to keep limber and help with balance. I thought I would never again be able to do the things I can now...and you will, too! PM me if you need to talk!

Don't beat yourself up over a few peanuts! If you can stick to a FEW peanuts, they are good for you and full of Protein, even though high in fat. The PB2 is really good, as suggested by others. I love in in a shake made with 1/2 banana, chocolate Protein powder and 1 T PB2 with 1% milk (about a cup) or plain Greek yogurt. Just sipping on it will keep you satisfied.

It's never too late to get back on track. Even if you don't have time right now to keep track of every morsel you put in your mouth, you can start your day with a protein shake, make sure you get your vitamins and liquids, then eat good, balanced meals (only in small amounts). You want to be around to see that beautiful baby grow up! She is fortunate to have you! And pretty soo, you will be chasing after her and that will be a good source of exercise! LOL

The other commenters are right - you should get a second opinion from another surgeon. Anyway, the main this is NOT our age, but the state of health we are in. I had complications, but that doesn't mean you will. Everyone is different. Actually, since losing weight, I have cut my medications nearly in half and some I don't need any longer at all! I have had a knee replacement and two, multi-level spinal fusions. I can ride a bicycle if I take it easy on hills, but use an elliptical machine to get my heart rate up and get sweating, as it is easier on the knees than a regular bicycle. Recumbent bikes are good, too. I find that I can walk with a LOT less pain than before the surgery, and walking is also good, even if you can't go very fast! I would also encourage you to increase your Protein consumption. At only 50 grams per day, it really isn't enough. My NUT and surgeon recommend 80 - 100 grams a day. I use protein powders and make some pretty awesome shakes with the Nutribullet! Getting enough protein seems to make me less hungry so often, too.

Hang in there and just keep doing what you need to in order to get better. I was on TPN (feeding tube) for three months, after 5 weeks in the hospital. It helps to do what you can to feel better in the interim; play your favorite music, have a manicure, put your mind in your favorite place and allow people to help you (that was hard for me!). It's hard to believe right now, but it will get better. Nurses told me I would look back on it as a mountain to climb, but when it's over, you will go on to better times. I didn't believe them at the time, but they were right. Remember, this is a temporary affliction and you are fortunate they caught it before you became septic! sleep and rest right now will help you heal and make sure to get the Protein you need for that, too. You can do this!

When I was in the hospital for complications, a nurse stood over me and said, "Why didn't you just lose weight the normal way, with diet and exercise?" I said, "I am 60 years old and been on a "diet" my whole life and it didn't get me anywhere, so this is a tool to help lose weight once and for all." She still didn't get it and just repeated what she initially said. What an idiot! I just looked at her, blaring daggers with my eyes until she looked away. LOL

The surgeon went over the possible complications after surgery (leak, infection, bleeding) and said they were rare; less than 2%. I ended up with all three, was septic and had a 5-week hospital stay. I nearly died twice during that time. The surgery was on April 25th and I am just now getting back to work. After a 400-mile ambulance ride across the state, the specialists inserted a stent to cover the large tear near the esophagus and I had severe nausea with vomiting the entire time it was in. So grateful to have it out! I have managed to lose over 50 pounds so far and am learning how to get in enough Protein and Water daily, but still have the feeding tube since my physician couldn't figure out how to remove it. There appears to be a balloon or something holding it in, so I will have to have someone else do it later on. As it stands now, I am worried about it being an infection issue. The surgeon's nurse said, "Well, one day you will look back over this as just a bump in the road and you will do very well!" I wanted to say it was more like a gigantic sink hole! It's been a long haul!

Just turned sixty the 2nd of January. After thinking about this surgery for quite some time, I decided to do it before I get too old! I got angry with my brother for not taking care of himself and for being noncompliant with doctor's orders and realized I was no better and needed to get on the stick! Live in a very rural area of South Dakota in the southern part of the Black Hills. Waiting for appointments with dietician and psychologist. If the psych doesn't send me off somewhere, surgery could be a soon as next month!

Try some tai chi for beginners. I find them easy to do and they are good for your balance and mild stretching. It's easy on the joints, too. I bought some DVDs from eBay and Amazon, scroll past the introductory instruction on each movement after learning them, and just do 15-20 minutes. I found that the stiffness from arthritis and fibro were better after doing this every other day for a few weeks. Balance is better, too!

Had some trouble getting started with the employer-based program! Seems they changed the managed-care to a hospital that would require traveling about 1000 miles round trip for surgery and appointments! Called our benefits department and wrote a letter to managed care and the governor. It worked! Five of us are now "grandfathered in" and can continue with the program. I have purchased a Nutribullet, knowing that some of those Protein shakes taste bad to me, and have been experimenting for the last week 1/2 or so. This morning I had a banana, a tomato, and few leaves of romaine, a teaspoon of chia seeds, a scoop of whey protein and 1/2 serving of yogurt. It's really good and smelled like fresh-cut grass and isn't as sweet as some of the boxed drinks I have tried. Have already lost a couple of pounds! I am still nervous about having 80% of my stomach removed, but if it will keep the hunger pangs at bay, I will be grateful. The main concern is getting enough nutrients, hence using whole foods and eventually a Vitamin powder to make sure to get micronutrients needed to stay healthy. Does all that make sense? Yesterday was my first appointment with the surgeon's assistant/seminar. They are going to set up the next steps of seeing the psychologist and dietician, so....of we go on a new adventure.

How about getting some without any sweetener and adding your Stevia when you make the up? I was thinking about doing something like that for at least part of the liquid diet. Found some good prices on Swanson's website. They have sections for non-GMO, too.

I have hair loss due to genetics also and really lost a lot more after having several surgeries in a row about 5 years ago. I did what was already mentioned here, and had a short, layered cut, lightened the color...and for a while, even spiked it! But when I got tired of that and trying to hide the worse spots every morning, I bought some fun wigs and wore them. It was a blast! Had a red one, blonde, brunette and very curly...whatever my mood was. The people at work just got used to it and I enjoyed it until my hair started growing back as much as it's going to. I got a couple of them at wigs.com, one on eBay and one from a hair salon. People who rarely saw me didn't even know they were wigs (or so they said). My hairdresser said, it is what it is; you can't change it right now and you might as well have some fun with it! Loved his philosophy.

The hospital will have a toothbrush and toothpaste for you. You probably won't need the nightie, because you will need to wear one of the haute couture gowns they let you wear while in-patient! Last time I was hospitalized, I just wore clean clothes in...they weren't on very long, so I went home in them, too. Brought clean undies, though. They will have slippers for you, the kind with safety stips on the sole so you won't fall when moving about. If you want to bring your own, make sure they have a safe sole! So; a pillow (love the idea of a bright, happy-colored pillowcase), your phone stuff, blanket from home if you want (they should have extras there, though), your handbag and that's about it. (Chapstick and clean undies in the handbag! Use a ziplock bag for the worn ones.) Good luck!

I had terrible morning headaches and daytime fatigue for years. My PCP had prescribed Provigil to stay awake during the day, but the other symptoms remained. My blood pressure was going up when she decided I needed a sleep study. My father had severe sleep apnea, both obstructive and central plus he was narcoleptic (fell asleep as soon as he sat down or relaxed in any way). At Mayo, they told him it was hereditary and make sure to tell the family about that. I arrived at the sleep clinic with jammies, a snack, my own pillow, and a change of clothes to go to work in the next morning. They made kind of a joke about how they were going to hook me up to all kinds of monitors, watch me through the overhead camera, and still be expected to go to sleep! They weren't kidding! None of it was really uncomfortable, though. It didn't hurt in any way. There is a wire to record how you breathe; how often, how deep, what regularity. There are wires to record your facial movements, leg movement (to check for restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorders--which can also keep you awake without knowing it), and heart rate. There are connections so they can record your breathing; how often, how deep, if you stop breathing, if you take shallow breaths instead of complete ones. Under all those connections is a little dot of goop. Mine was pink! I hate pink! Anyway, you get to shower all that off in the morning and then wait to see the sleep doctor (sometimes a neurologist), who will go over your report. I had moderate-severe sleep apnea and was partially waking up many times per hour. (When your soft palate drops down to close off your throat for breathing, your brain will arouse you enough to gasp for air as a way to protect itself.) I also had a serious case of restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement. The orderly said it looked like I was running in my sleep and really covered a lot of ground that night! After using the CPAP, I have felt better and had more energy. Still have difficulty with it at times because I am prone to sinus infections and cannot use the machine then. But the mask and hose gets cleaned every week and I make sure to use the humidifier as ordered (found that out the hard way) and it's all good. After weight loss, most people can reduce the pressure on their CPAP machines and some people can even go without them. You would have to have another sleep study to be on the safe side for that, though.

I have really been reading up and studying about having this surgery and will soon have my first appointment with the surgeon. One of the many things that drew my attention to what everyone is saying is that this surgery is like a new beginning or a new chance at life. How exciting! Therefore, I think we should Celebrate our day of surgery as a very special BIRTHDAY! What do you think? How shall we celebrate?

Surgiversary! Guess I have seen that...makes more sense, really. Good idea.

I hear you on the dieting thing. My surgeon requires just a couple of weeks of a liquid diet with Vitamin supplements because he wants the stomach and liver to shrink before the surgery. It makes the surgery safer, and the stomach will be more healthy in its new, smaller size. Maybe your new surgeon will be able to do something like that for you. If you have comorbidities, like hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, sometimes you can be put on what my insurance company calls the "fast track". That means just two weeks of the special diet rather than 6 months or a year. Makes sense to me! The hospital that treated you so badly about the billing and scheduling should be addressed first to the hospital administrator. You might also contact a social worker, if they have one. Hope this helps!

Ditto on the new clothes! And shopping means lots of walking for the exercise, too! Looking forward to pretty clothes that fit right.

Good for you for doing your homework and learning about the surgery before you have it. You mentioned other people complaining about Vitamin deficiencies. It's my understanding that this surgery has less chance of that than the bypass type, but, since we will be eating less, we still have to take supplements. There's a very good section on that in this forum. You also mentioned that this surgery is just a tool, and that is absolutely correct, although you say you aren't very good with the tool you have now. LOL So, maybe it would be good to look at this as a new and improved tool and by going to the nutritionist, you will have everything you need to use it to your advantage! There are always ups and downs with a great change in life like this, but this forum and the contacts you are making now will help you succeed in your new adventure. A lot will depend on the attitude you have; take control of your life with gusto! Good luck to you!

Hi, all! Shirley here, in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. I do medical records and coding for a long-term care facility, just turned 60 and have been on some diet or other for 48 years. Was very athletic most of my adult years; cross-country skiing, horseback riding, played league softball, swimming. If those things weren't available, I went to a gym. Worked as a sign painter for many years and had to work out to do the job! Lately, I reckon, things are kinda wearing out. I have had two multi-level spinal fusions and a knee replacement. Between the surgeries I found out something was wrong with my immune system and kept getting sick all the time, mainly everything that went around but also odd stuff like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme's disease. Had mumps twice had two surgeries for gigantic kidney stones, and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Over a span of about 10 years, I was on a lot of pain medication. You take that kind of thing, you have to make sure there is something in your stomach so you don't get an ulcer. Being unable to continue working out, eating the wrong things (and way too much!), I have gained a whole lot of weight. Caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and wondered, "Who in the world is that woman?" Started this journey just before an injury and the consequent knee surgeries and now it's time to get going! Things are lots better in other aspects of my health, but the weight has added some other issues, like sleep apnea, hypertension, high cholesterol, and my blood sugars are getting alarming. I am also tired of not being able to find fun clothing at a reasonable price, and being so tired all the time from hauling all this weight around. During recovery from all this, I have written a book of short stories and transcribed my grandmother's diaries (two volumes, 8 1/2" x 11" and each over 600 pages--then added photographs I have salvaged, inserted into the appropriate places). It was a good, productive thing to do while healing. My family is long gone, except my brother who lives about 1800 miles from me. But I have two Karelian bear dogs; mother and son, who are great companions. (Except those times when the cat deliberately baits them and they have to chase her around the house! The dogs are 70# each and it makes a lot of racket!) I got the bear dogs to train for hunting and search and rescue and have been unable to do much with them but love them. However, they are my muse! I cannot abide by the thought of never hunting again, and is one of the main goals I have for this year, post-surgery! By summer, I will be able to go trap shooting without someone hauling a chair for me to sit on until my turn comes up! The insurance company has approved the vertical sleeve, as well as my PCP. The next step is to see the surgeon and attend a seminar, then see a NUT and psychologist. Looking forward to a new year and new me! The surgery will be a great tool to help get back in shape before I get too old to enjoy it!