Peggy D

I agree that a hiatal hernia repair causes a lot more pain & difficulty getting fluids & protein in. I had no problems after my initial gastric sleeve, but after the re-sleeve, single-anastomosis duodenal switch & hiatal hernia repair, I felt spasms run across my diaphragm with each swallow. At two & a half weeks post-op I had to have an endoscopy with dilation of a couple of strictures.

After smoking for about 40 years, I quit in May, 2009, using Chantix. I did not have any intense cravings & only gained 10 lbs which I then lost about a year later without trying. If you're ready to quit you might look into Chantix. As for caffeine, in the 4 months between my initial consult with the surgeon & the day of surgery, I weaned myself off caffeinated coffee & diet colas. First, I went to one cola a day, down from two. After a week I stopped the cola & any other caffeinated soda. Then I gradually weaned off the caffeinated coffee by replacing about a fifth of regular coffee with decaf each week, then two, then three, etc. until it was all decaf. I used a cold-brewed Toddy coffee maker but you could do it with other methods. I never had any withdrawal symptoms from the caffeine.

For any surgery I've had it's always been when you're not taking narcotic pain meds. Medically, that's at least four hours after the last dose. When I was working in the hospital, a patient could not legally sign anything within four hours of narcotics or anesthesia.

I have done the mall walking a couple of times but it just seemed like I did a lot of walking but didn't record as many steps as I thought. Very frustrating. Considering it takes at least a half hour just to drive to the closest mall, I'll stick with my treadmill when the weather is bad. My walk along the trail behind my house seems to go so much quicker & my usual route is 6,000 steps.

After 4 weeks of clear liquids, weeks 2-4 including protein shakes, puree started at week 5, soft foods at week 7, finally start adding regular foods at week 9.

It's not just my coccyx, it's the ischial tuberosities. It hurts to "rock" on them! I have foam cushions on the chairs at my desk & sewing machine. I also got an inflatable donut cushion to carry with me. I find I need it when riding as a passenger in my car but not when I'm driving & I need it in the recliner when watching TV.

Twice I've tried a FitBit Zip & returned it because it so under-reported the steps I take. No adjusting of stride length made any difference. I've counted the steps on my usual walking route (in segments) several times so I know how many steps I really take. For now I use my iPhone 6s & an UP Move tracker. Both of them also under-report but not as badly as the FitBit. The UP is worse that the iPhone. The iPhone generally is 3-5% low, the UP is often 10% or more short of actual steps. Does anyone know of an accurate step tracker? Specifically one that runs within 1-2% of steps actually taken.

I'm pleased with my results. I have a 300 cm common channel. I'm down about 50 lbs since my pre-SIPS consult. Best of all I am off of all diabetes, blood pressure & cholesterol meds. I take 2 Multivitamins, 4 Calcium citrate, 2 ferrous sulfate, 25 mg zinc, 1 Vitamin C a day & 1 Vitamin A & 1 vitamin E on alternating days. I'll have my 9-month post-op labs drawn tomorrow.

I found Atkins Lift protein drinks at Walmart. 20 grams of protein, very low carb & excellent taste, especially cold. Much more refreshing than Premier Protein which can be a little "heavy" sometimes.

You want restrictive? This is my surgeon's plan: Week 1 - Clear Liquids only Weeks 2-4 - clear liquids plus Protein shakes Weeks 5 & 6 - pureed foods Weeks 7 & 8 - soft foods Week 9 & on - introduce regular foods Never again eat - "white" foods (pasta, potatoes, rice, Cereal, etc.), root vegetables, fruit (any kind especially watermelon & bananas)

I had the upper GI barium swallow & an endoscopy as part of the pre-op workup for both of my surgeries.

I, too, had a sleeve in August, 2013, then revision of the sleeve & conversion to a single-anastomosis duodenal switch in December, 2015, along with a hiatal hernia repair. I had lost about 100 lbs & gained less than 20 lbs back but still had all of my co-morbidities. I am now down about 45 lbs from there, 10 lbs pre-op & 35 lbs since the second surgery. My surgeon is very strict & I was on Clear Liquids only for the first week post-op then clear liquids & Protein shakes for the next three weeks before I could move on to pureed foods. That is his protocol for all WLS patients. I had a very difficult time getting in my fluids, protein & Vitamins for the first three weeks until I had an endoscopy to dilate a couple of strictures in my stomach. You need to follow your surgeon's plan. The intestinal anastomoses are just as delicate as the stomach staple line, if not more so. (My opinion as a nurse.) I am thrilled with my results even though I'm not yet at goal as all of my co-morbidities have resolved.

Usually they go by your weight at your first visit. We're so used to trying to wear the lightest-weight clothes when we go to the doctor, but for this visit you'll want to wear heavier clothes, maybe even put some weights in your pockets like your phone, keys, etc. I checked your BMI using this calculator &, at 4' 11" & 198 lbs., you're at exactly 40.0. So a weight of 199 will put you at a BMI of 40.2.

I had a gastric sleeve in August, 2013, & 28 months later had conversion to the SA-DS. With the first I also had my gall bladder out & the second I also had a hiatal hernia repair. The only problem I had with either one was that I couldn't pee & had to go home with a foley catheter. The hiatal hernia repair caused significant pain, about 5-6 out of 10, when I swallowed anything. Still, neither surgery compared to the pain I had after shoulder surgery in September, 2015!

Look at my ticker. No, I'm not at maintenance since I haven't yet reach my goal.

I find the chocolate is "chalky" & the strawberry just doesn't have any flavor. At least the vanilla is good & I've never been a vanilla fan. I was in Walmart yesterday & didn't see any other flavors than the three costco carries. The caramel is listed as "coming soon" on the Premier Protein website. I did get some Pure Protein shakes in banana & strawberry from Amazon & they do taste much better but they are much more expensive. So I'll stick with the vanilla Premier Protein from Costco.

My common channel is 300 cm.

It's only for the first year that it's every three months, then I'll go to every 6-12 months.

I am six months out from my single-anastomosis duodenal switch. The surgeon following me recommends the amount of Vitamins based on lab tests done every three months. I do take iron. That is what ferrous sulfate is. I have no idea how much I spend a month. The Kroger vitamins were buy-one-get-one-free. The ferrous sulfate I get at WalMart.

AM: 1 Kroger senior multivitamin 2 calcium citrate Vitamin A & vitamin E on alternating days 1 81 mg aspirin Noon: 2 ferrous sulfate 1 Vitamin C 25 mg zinc Evening: 1 Kroger senior multivitamin 2 calcium citrate 1 activated charcoal

I've used Walden Farms calorie-free honey-mustard mayo & fat-free sour cream to mix with the yolks. I've also used Walden Farms calorie-free French onion dip. I tried guacamole deviled eggs once & didn't care for them even though I love guacamole & I love deviled eggs.

I had my initial gastric sleeve at age 63 (actually a month & a half shy of 64). I then had a revision of the sleeve & conversion to a single-anastomosis duodenal switch at age 66. I am now completely off all prescription meds for diabetes, high blood pressure & high cholesterol. If diet medications worked none of us would have ever needed surgery.

I just replied to your other post. Check with your program, some, such as mine, don't allow cream Soups.

Check with your surgeon or nutritionist. Some programs, like the one I had, do not allow any cream soups.

I'm 6 months post-op & can eat half of a small cheeseburger if I try but then I'm uncomfortable for a couple of hours.