Kindle

Your PCP is right about one thing...your surgeon should provide you with complete and detailed followup care instructions. I was provided with a day-by-day diet for 2 months out plus a lifetime supplement regimen to follow. He also has a recommended schedule of 3 month, 6 month and annual postop bloodwork to track any deficiencies. I just gave all this info to my doc and will schedule accordingly. Even though it's in Mexico, my surgeon's office has been readily available to answer questions and there is a nutritionist on staff to help. If your surgeon has done all this and your PCP is still being difficult, then yes, you should find someone more willing to help you.

According to Publication 17 on the IRS website, "weight-loss, certain expenses for obesity" are deductible, while "weight-loss expenses not for the treatment of obesity or other disease" are not deductible. So I guess if your BMI says you were obese prior to surgery or if you have any weight-related Heath issues then, yes it is. If you were just "overweight" or did things like lipo, etc. then maybe not. I, personally, am deducting everything...surgery, lodging, travel and meds.

My schedule has me trying regular foods (slowly) at 40 days out.

I mix the powder really well with a little liquid in a blender bottle first and then add it to whatever.... (Under 140 degrees of course) Unjury is the least flavored I've tried but others have said Jay Robb is good, too.

Mashed potatoes with added Protein powder Blended soups with added Protein Powder Egg whites with cottage cheese, basil, garlic salt and pepper Puréed tuna fish with homemade mustard Unsweetened applesauce Plain Greek yogurt with puréed fruit (blueberries, peaches, strawberries) Plus all my liquid stage stuff.....protein shakes, Popsicles, broth with protein powder Gonna try refried Beans tomorrow

Walking helps a lot (both for surgical gas and intestinal gas). I felt bloated all the time at first...like I was going to explode. I took GasX strips 1-2x day until day 11 when suddenly there was no more gas. I'm feeling bloated again now that I've started puréed foods, but not bad enough to take anything for it. Again, the old backup of walking helps a lot.

It's not just empty calories... http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-1/76.pdf This publication does talk a lot about long term effects in alcoholics, but there are also some key findings pertaining to acute alcohol consumption that affect us sleevers. Everything from esophagus and gastric motility (resulting in reflux) to damaging the lining of the stomach and intestines. Believe me, I am not anti-alcohol and loved my evening cocktails. I could binge drink with the best of them! I have no doubt alcohol has played a part in my weight gain prior to surgery. But at this point I am going to be on the wagon for a very long time to help protect my health and surgical investment.

Basically anything that will go through a straw. I drank protein shakes, added protein powder to broths and diluted, strained cream soups (huge variety available there) drinkable yogurt, Mio flavored water, vitamin water, sobe, and herbal tea.

I was on full liquids for 17 days and now transitioning to puréed. Didn't try egg whites till 3 weeks out. I've read some people are on soft foods after like a week. But like I said, everyone has different protocols and I'm following my Dr's orders to a T.

I'm 22 days out and just started puréed foods 5 days ago. I'm basically just doing my regular liquid diet and adding one puréed item/day. Puréed split pea soup with protein powder, then mashed potatoes with protein powder, then cottage cheese, and then egg whites. No more than 1/4 cup and taking 20-30 minutes to eat it. I had puréed tuna fish last night but only ate 1 tablespoon. Transitioning very slowly. There's a bunch of us on another thread "puréed food stage" having the same issues. Are you vomiting or just feeling lousy afterwards? I felt really crappy after I tried to eat too much split pea soup, but fine as long as I keep the portion small and eat really slow. Are you on an antacid or PPI?

What are your nut/surgeon's instructions for food stages? Everyone has different postop requirements.

Ally, the other thing you could try is Maalox. I talked to Dr. So last weekend because my dentist put me on an antibiotic that can be irritating and cause gastritis. He advised to double the anti acid medication and take Maalox to help protect my stomach while I'm on the antibiotics. Besides not eating heavier foods later in the day, maybe taking Maalox in the evening could help. Regardless, I think we will just have to progress our food stages very slowly and carefully. If you do have any questions or problems, Dr. So has been very good about prompt responses via phone or email. BTW, the only time I had isopure was when I was down there. Picked some up at the GNC by Walmart and I thought they were pretty gross, too. Just had 1/4 cup egg whites and cottage cheese with basil, salt and pepper for Breakfast (over 20 minutes eating time) and so far so good. I'll probably have mashed potatoes for lunch and then stick with shakes and Water the rest of the day.

Pretty much the same. Fluid and protein goals were easier when it was just liquids. I'm just so full all the time, it's hard to take it all in. I can't stop drinking for even an hour or two or I get behind. Guess we've got restriction! . I'm really trying to mix up flavors, though... Adding unflavored protein powder to different broths and diluted, strained cream soups has saved me from having to drink SO many shakes. I still have two a day, though.

Oh yeah, and I drink a small cup of camomile tea before bedtime. The warmth seems to relax my tummy and helps me sleep. Hey ally! Didn't "recognize" you. How have things been? (Up till purée stage that is)

Try doing puree's early in the day and then liquids in the afternoon and evening. I take 20 to 30 minutes to eat about 1/4 cup of applesauce, mashed potatoes, etc. I could only squeeze in 1 tablespoon of the blended tuna fish I tried today. Dr. Ortiz makes a very small sleeve, so our restriction is pretty strong. Even though I started purée stage 4 days ago, I'm basically still doing full liquids with a small sampling of puréed once a day. And it seems to help if I walk after eating my purée.

I am trying one new thing a day on puréed, so far I've had applesauce, mashed potatoes with added protein powder, and egg whites. I was a little grossed out by the thought of puréed meat, too, but today my craving for MEAT came on strong. (Haven't had any meat in 5 weeks) Pureed a can of tuna fish with a little mayo and nibbled on about a tablespoon with a little bit of homemade mustard and OMG it was good. Tomorrow I think I'll add refried beans to the menu, but may have to try out Babysheldon's recipe for Sunday's "dinner"

Went back 1/2 days after 1 week and back to full time at two weeks. I'm a vet tech, so pretty active job. I felt fine, but had to limit myself because I wasn't supposed to lift more than 20 pounds. (I only cheated once with a 50 pound dog 3 days before my weight limitation was up). I felt so good I would truly have gone crazy if I had to sit around at home any longer.

I started researching WLS February 2013. Settled on the VSG in April. Researched doctors (both in US and Mexico) for 6 months before scheduling with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center. Sleeved 12/20 and had a great experience. (And met Slvrsax while down there ). Keep reading and researching and you will find who is right for you.

I don't own a scale, so about once a week at work when I remember so I have something to put on my ticker . I'm gauging my success with NSV's.

I, along with 4 others, had our surgeries on the Friday before Christmas. So not only were they "closed" over the weekend, but also the whole next week. It was actually kind of nice because we had the place to ourselves and received very good care. Discharged Saturday and went back to the. Marriott. We were shuttled back to OCC on Sunday morning for drain check and dressing change. The office manager and two nurses were there to take care of us. The office manager even made chicken broth for all of us to sip on while we waited. We were talking about going shopping, so she arranged for their driver to take us to the Revolucion marketplace instead of back to the Marriott. Back to OCC Monday morning where the concierge, a nurse, and Dr. So were there for our barium fluoroscopy leak tests and drain removal. Again, great, personal attention. And had there been any complications, there is always a doctor on call for emergencies 24/7. Besides Dr. Ortiz, they have 7 other doctors on staff. We were given local phone numbers to reach OCC, the nutritionist, and Dr. Martinez if we needed to. You will do great!

Phatkat, that's awesome! Sounds like everything is working out great. It really helps to have such a broad support group. So much less emotional stress for you. Congrats and good luck with everything.

I'm a vet tech and I scheduled my surgery so I would have 10 days off, but it didn't work out that way. I was back doing light work/short days starting Day 6, and full time back at day 14. Still have to make myself not lift more than 20pounds because I feel fine. (Ok, so I lifted a 50 pound dog today) but luckily my lifting restriction is for only 2 more days.

Having to buy and install a seat shrinker pad for my saddle because my butt is too small. And bring able to wear my nice boots again once my cankles are gone.

I liked EAS, too. Also got premier protein because it has even more protein (30g) per serving. A lot of people got theirs in bulk at Costco or SAMs, but I found 4 packs at Walmart and even my local grocery store. BTW, I thought all of the RTD shakes were too thick and sweet. I dilute them with skim milk or even water to make them more palatable.

I did 3 high protein shakes (read the label because things like slim fast are way high in carbs) and unlimited green veggies (lettuce, spinach, broccoli, green beans). Substituted one shake/day with broth with added unflavored protein powder for variety. Lost 22 pounds in 16 days.