lilac lass

That was poorly thought out comment and I am glad you called him on it!! You are doing great and keep up the good work!! Maybe the guy is a good surgeon and not so much known for bedside manner. But focus on how well you are learning new skills and on your way!!!!!!

HI, What skin lotion are you using? I need something that is cheaper. My husband is laid off and our only source of income. Currently I am using Walgreens brand of Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Lotion because my skin was driving me nuts with dry and itching. But the problem is that the consistency of the lotion makes it difficult to spread and rub in. I am starting to dread taking a shower because it is going to take so long after to apply the lotion. But with the weight I have lost, I want to use lotion to avoid the need to plastic surgery. Any veterans out there who have used a lotion and found in time that it did greatly help their skin. Also how often did you use that particular lotion? So what have you used and why?

Thanks! I am making a list for the next time I am at the store.

Thanks! I will look for these.

It isn't thrush but that is something to rule out. Thrush would be cottage cheese or white Patches that stick to the tongue. But this is you feel tiny balls of rubbery stuff in the side of your mouth or on your tongue and it is skin-like, just like when you have a sunburn and your skin peels. I haven't been on antibiotics. From what I have found in research, different things you eat or use in your mouth could be the cause of this sometimes. It could be a combination of things. It could be that our mouths are a bit dryer than usual and then when we use certain products, we are more vulnerable to being irritated than before. Another thing to try would be a tongue scrapper. It doesn't use any product but gets residue from products and food out of your mouth. So brush your teeth, tongue scrapper, and rinse your mouth with Water ( to get between the cheek and teeth) after eating. And of course mention it to your doctor.

HI, I am a bit past 2 months since my surgery. I haven't had any problems. My skin is dry but that is about it. In the last week, I am noticing that the inside of my mouth is shedding. My mouth does get dry sometimes but I am drinking my Fluid, taking my Vitamins, and getting in my Protein. My lips are dry as well but I am keeping them moist, using the same products I used before. Has anyone else had this problem with their mouth?

Interesting to hear that others have this. I will try to increase my fluids and see what happens.

I was thinking it could have to do with the change in diet, not the actual surgery itself. Just as hair loss or dry skin is something that is related to VSG, this could be a less common problem.

Well, at least I know it isn't just me. I tried doing some research on it. It can be chemical or thermal ( mouthwash, spice, or temperature) that has influenced the regular process of cell replacement. But our mouths usually are making new cells all the time and we don't have 'chunks' that we notice. http://www.netwellne...n.cfm/70595.htm I am going to mention this at my next visit with my doctor next month but I would like it to stop before then. If anyone has any information about if this relates to sleeve surgery, please let me know. This could be just annoying now but it could lead to mouth sores or other problems. Think of it like if some part of your skin was shedding and it didn't stop. It would get very sore and tender.

I put it on my calendar and am going to get myself to a meeting! Thanks!

Boy did I need this post. I had my surgery at Baylor Dallas but haven't got to any of the support meetings. The support options for the clinic is once a month. I have been meaning to get there but to be honest, I don't like going to the clinic, walking to my car in the dark, and driving home alone. My wonderful husband has other obligations and wouldn't be able to go with me. Plano would be easier to get to.

Yes, I can ear regular food now.

okay new to this but what other protein balls are there? Tad afraid to ask for your jokes..lol I am doing great with shakes but chewing and biting into something would be some nice variety.

I understand and I struggle with that 'thank you' and move on sometimes. I am working my way through a book someone else on this forum recommended- Eat It Up by Connie Stapleton. It deals with life after bariatric surgery. I got the Kindle version and it was pretty cheap. It is by a psychologist who works at a bariatric clinic. I am determined to lose this weight, keep it off, and make the changes in my life to have those things happen. Lots of us have negative self talk for a variety of reasons and accepting a compliment is uncomfortable. We have to learn some new skills beyond what to eat.

Looks like you are on mission trips you didn't know about......but isn't that how God tends to work!!! Thanks for sharing this!

Hi, I am about 7 weeks out from surgery. I was getting Unjury powder and get emails from them. Several suggest that WLS patients have slowing of weight loss or even weight gain when they transition to food and stop protein supplements because they are taking in more calories. I see in myself that my weight loss has slowed since I am on food and eating less protein supplements. Looking over my Fitnesspal, I am eating more calories but the protein is the same. DUH. Now I do get that Unjury or any other company has the selling of their product as their main goal but the reasoning makes sense. They site dieticians and say that your surgeon knows surgery but unless you have kidney problems, you should use protein shakes so many times a day to lose weight until you reach your goal. So I am thinking of keeping a protein shake for lunch. I like Premier Protein and that gives me 30 grams of protein. Before, I was still using that but sipping some as a snack mid morning and finishing it in the evening to get my protein in. But if I switch to more shakes, I would have less calories for the protein. Yes, I still will eat solid food but I want to get to goal. My doctor said she wants me eating food but I will eat food but have more shakes. Has anyone else tried this approach?

I am right there with you with the itchy skin!! I am doing lotion on places I never had to put lotion on. I thought it was maybe dry skin. Now I am thinking it might be the sudden fast drop in fat in our diets. Either that or some other nutrient. I am doing biotin but I was doing it for years before I had surgery. My skin is so itchy, I was concerned I was having some reaction to something. I have been eating 99% protein at this point. My surgery was about your time, 12-6. I can't get anything else in. Yesterday, I did get in 2 baby carrots with my lunch of string cheese and I managed my first piece of toast. I have had sweet potatoes on the counter I wanted to bake for weeks but what is the point if protein is going to take all the space. I go in this week to see the doctor/NUT and was going to ask about if my diet is correct. Like you, I am loving the results. I went to my first big social event and wore pants a size I could not believe. I look in the mirror and think wow is that me?

Don't beat yourself up. You did the best you could at the time and now you can move on. This was a mistake to learn from. We all make them. Now you know and won't do it again! If you have a smartphone, see if you can look up any food on your phone if you are in the situation before you order it and realize that clerks may not be the best source of information. If you don't have a phone, stick to places you have information about. I stuck a packet of a Protein shake powder in my purse that just takes Water so that if I am ever in a situation and need something, I have an optoin at hand. As you go along, you will develop tools to deal with different situations. Just keep your eyes on the goal you want!!!

Yes, my doctor switched me to Celebrex because I was having sleeve surgery. Also the book they gave me to prep for surgery said it was one of the permitted meds eventually after surgery. So talk to both your RA and WLS doctors before you get the script filled as it is pricey. Celebrex is one of the safer meds. It is a Cox-2 inhibitor and type of NSAID but not exactly like Motrin which is harder on the stomach.

Well you know what they say...autoimmune disease, have one, collect the whole set! I am sorry about your teeth but that makes your remission all the more remarkable!! My teeth have been doing okay but I go to a salivation dysfunction clinic to be monitored. I just had my surgery 12-6 and my Sjogren's made me miserable the first 24 hours. The hospital didn't give me my Evoxac, saliva producing meds. My mouth was so dry, I had an extremely hard time speaking and the inside of my cheeks were sticking to my teeth. Fortunately my husband stayed with me. But it was so hard to swallow and I was thirsty but because of the surgery, it hurt to swallow and I was nauseated. I was sobbing and telling my husband how this was a huge mistake by 11:00 pm. Then when they would let me take the Evoxac, the nurse said because it was a capsule, I had to take it without the capsule covering. It was like trying to swallow dirt. I knew my doctor didn't instruct to do that with capsules but she insisted and I just wanted my meds. The next morning, the physician assistant for my doctor said I was right and she would clear it up. She said that there were several WLS doctors who had patients on the floor but one of them doesn't allow capsules and the nurses are just trying to be cautious. Thank God, I finally was feeling better, could get fluids down and got discharged. Then day by day, just like they said, it got better. Now I am looking forward to 2013 and getting to a healthy weight. Again, your post is going to give me a lot of inspiration! I just got my Remicade last week so in 8 weeks I will see what my CRP is like at that time. I hope each time it goes down

Oh I would love a CRP that low! Yes, I have had the limit of injections in my wrist. I have been wearing a brace on it for over a year. It got so bad, I had to have a device* put on my steering wheel so I could drive. I have 2 autoimmune disorders, RA and Sjogren's so if it isn't managing one, it is the other. The doctor treating my wrist said he doesn't want to give me any more injections because he said the redness of my skin after could be signs of a problem. I just have to make it 2 more weeks till I can restart my Celebrex. Most of the time, I type with one hand or use my voice software. I was doing pretty good until this wrist stuff started Dec 2011. All of this is a big reason I had my sleeve surgery. I know how much my weight is factoring in on this. So your report is just what I needed to hear. * giant expensive hassle, evaluation, even had to get a driver's test with the device but it sure is nice to know I can drive and it doesn't hurt.

Congratulations~~~~~~

That is fantastic!! I hope to get a similar result. I just got labs and 3 weeks after surgery ( couldn't take my RA meds) and my CRP is 4.0. Now I am hoping that I am back on my meds, exercising, and I hope it drops. I have bad inflammation in a tendon in my left wrist. I am hoping to avoid surgery on it.

How do you handle an upset stomach? I don't mean after surgery nausea. I mean other times your stomach is upset. Before my surgery, if my stomach was upset, I could take pepto bismal tablets or sip ginger ale. I am doing well at giving up soda and my doctor said no pepto bismal. What can I do now?

I understand. I have Sjogren's, dry mouth autoimmune disorder. But you can't drink with meals as it stretches your pouch and will lead to harm and undoing the whole point of the surgery. I know it is hard but you can do it. Set a timer for 30 mintures and distract yourself. Select foods that are easier to get down at this stage. If you really feel like you are about to cough or choke, you can do a massage that will make more saliva in your mouth so you can swallow easier. http://reasonablywell-julia.blogspot.com/2011/07/ssf-patient-education-sheet-how-to.html Also thinking about sour things like lemons can also make your mouth Water. Make sure to drink 30 minutes before your meal so you are well hydrated.