James Marusek

It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. So I experimented. Sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink Bai which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate hot drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good. The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the protein shakes. It is the water component of the soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day. Several patients develop strictures after surgery. So when you talk about your inability to consume water and pain after drinking water, this might be a problem you are experiencing. Do you also experience a problem when you consume foods? Here is a link about this condition. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=134&contentid=155

My surgery discharge directions read "Eat 3 meals daily, eat slowly and chew food well; avoid skipping meals." The first meal of the day is Breakfast and generally it is the meal that many individuals skip. A research study in Spain examined the possible link between breakfast consumption and obesity — especially abdominal obesity, which is the type most closely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic problems. This epidemiological study included 1655 adults, about half each of men and women. About 53 percent were between 18 and 49 years of age, and the rest were between 41 and 64 years old. Two-thirds reported that they were habitually inactive ('active' meant that they performed at least 30 minutes per day of physical activity as part of their daily life, or at least 2 hours per week of structured physical exercise), and about one-third overall said they were current smokers. Participants' height, weight, and circumferences were measured during personal interviews, and food consumption was assessed by 3-day dietary records. Only a small percentage of participants reported never eating breakfast — 3.6 percent overall, while 82 percent said they always ate breakfast and about 14 percent said they sometimes ate that meal. Dairy foods with cereals were the most frequently reported items consumed for breakfast. Men with Wt: Ht ratios > 0.05 (i.e., abdominal obesity) were more likely to be breakfast skippers than their slimmer counterparts, and there was an inverse significant statistical association between always eating breakfast and the odds of abdominal obesity. Participants who ate breakfast 'sometimes' and 'always' were less likely to report that they smoked (43 and 33 percent respectively) compared to those who never ate breakfast (51 percent): this difference was statistically significant. Furthermore, those who skipped breakfast were also more likely to have other unhealthy characteristics such as physical inactivity. Thus, the authors concluded: [T]here appears to be a greater likelihood of health-compromising behaviours in people who miss breakfast, including increased prevalence of smoking, poorer food choices and greater energy intake from snacks. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/12/02/breakfast-might-be-marker-healthy-lifestyle-could-it-prevent-obesity-12226 So generally it seems research points to the importance of breakfast (primarily because it kick-starts your day, and minimizes the temptation to snack).

Good luck on your surgery and remember after the operation to Walk, Walk, Walk.

After my RNY gastric bypass surgery, my surgeon identified a list of vitamins to take for the rest of my life. I was told to avoid gummy vitamins because they are not absorbed properly.

I used Muscle Milk Light (Vanilla Creme) protein shake powder blended with water and a half a banana. I would buy it over the internet on Amazon to minimize costs.

I had no problems with artificial sweeteners or with no calorie natural sweeteners such as Stevia. Eating too many Sugarless Haribo Gummy Bear can produce intense diarrhea. https://www.buzzfeed.com/michaelrusch/haribo-gummy-bear-reviews-on-amazon-are-the-most-insane-thin So I would caution care in using this type of artificial sweetener. Lycasin is a maltitol syrup with properties of taste and sweetness ideal for the preparation of sugar-free syrups, lozenges or jellies, according to manufacturer Roquette.com. Little known to most gummy bear connoisseurs, however, the side effects of Lycasin are gas, bloating and diarrhea.

For the first year after surgery, I exercised daily. Generally this was by hill walking. My driveway was steep and I would walk up and down the driveway for 30 minutes per day. This is a great form of exercise because it uses two different sets of muscles; one set on the way up and a different set on the way down. It was also great because all I had to do was step out my front door. But I am not a great fan of exercise. It feels like wasted effort. But I am a great fan of physical labor. So in the “Maintenance” phase, I relied on physical work. This took several forms. I live in Indiana. My driveway is 700 feet long. During the winter when it snows, I shovel my driveway. It is strenuous work but without the added weight on my body, it is not hard. I also heat my house all winter with firewood. So during the winter I am constantly moving firewood for my wood stove to keep the house warm. During the rest of the year, there is cutting a large yard of grass and planting a garden and an assortment of other chores. Even a trip to the mailbox to get the mail is a walk of 1/4 mile. One of the tasks I worked on over the past 2 years was building an underground shelter. Tornados struck about 7 years ago, just after I retired. The tornados did a lot of destruction to my property but spared my house. My house is a one story without a basement and there is really no place to take shelter in the event of another tornado. So I decided to build an underground shelter from an intermodal-shipping container into the side of my hill. Of course, if I build a storm shelter, it should also be a root cellar. And if I go to the effort of building a storm shelter/root cellar then why not go through a little extra effort and build it for Come-What-May, including asteroid impacts, nuclear war and nearby supernovas, etc. So last year I moved 100,000 pounds of gravel by hand along with around 60,000 pounds of concrete blocks and this year I moved about the same amount. This year I constructed a log cabin playhouse for the grandkids. I am 69 years old.

After my RNY gastric bypass surgery, I completely lost my hunger. It wasn't difficult to drop the weight when hunger was not constantly continually gnawing at my bones. This condition does not last forever. About a year after surgery, hunger returned but it was not as strong as it was before.

One other thought passed my mind on this subject: It is the toilet's fault. Generally a toilet should be capable of flushing without clogging. After surgery the size of your stools should be smaller because you are consuming less food. Toilets will overflow for a number of reasons. Sometimes people flush inappropriate objects down the toilet that clog the drains. (Inappropriate objects include tampons, diapers, paper towels etc.) On septic systems, the bacteria that break down manure can be killed by some strong toilet cleaners or by using toilet paper that does not biodegrade properly. Some toilets are designed to use minimal water per flush. Anyways at work whenever I felt that a toilet might back up and overflow, I would use a rubber plunger on it to make sure it was free and unplugged.

Migraines can be caused by many things. I suffered severe migraines over the years. I would know an attack was coming because I would see flashes of stars starting at the outer edges of my vision, working their way inward producing a type of tunnel vision and then I would get severe headaches. In my case the episodes were related to florescent lights. Since where I worked was totally lit with fluorescents, generally when an attack was beginning to happen, I would remove myself into natural lighting and it would minimize the attack. Now that I am retired, my home does not use florescent lighting and I no longer suffer this problem. This link describes the migraine headaches. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201 It is important to avoid NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) after surgery because it can result in ulcers complicating the healing process. NSAIDs include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Meloxicam, Celecoxib, Indomethacin, Ketorolac, Ketoprofen, Nimesulide, Piroxicam, Etoricoxib, Mefenamic acid, Carprofen, Aspirin/paracetamol/caffeine, Etodolac, Loxoprofen, Nabumetone, Flurbiprofen, Salicylic acid, Aceclofenac, Sulindac, Phenylbutazone, Dexketoprofen, Lornoxicam, Tenoxicam, Diflunisal, Diclofenac/Misoprostol, Flunixin, Benzydamine, Valdecoxib, Oxaprozin, Nepafenac, Etofenamate, Ethenzamide, Naproxen sodium, Dexibuprofen, Diclofenac sodium, Bromfenac, Diclofenac potassium, Fenoprofen, Tolfenamic acid, Tolmetin, Tiaprofenic acid, Lumiracoxib, Phenazone, Salsalate, Felbinac, Hydrocodone/ibuprofen, Fenbufen]. A few different types of NSAIDs are available over the counter: Aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin, Excedrin) Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) Naproxen (Aleve) But Tylenol is not a NSAID. https://www.drugs.com/answers/tylenol-nsaid-3002124.html My hospital discharge directions wrote the following: If using Lortab, do not take any Tylenol. Lortab has Tylenol in it and you can only have a total of 4 grams (4000 mg.) of Tylenol in a 24 hour period. So I do not understand why you cannot take Tylenol.

Ran across an article on kettlebell exercise this morning that seemed interesting. [It was written by Erik Lief which reminds me of Lief Erikson who was a Norse explorer from Iceland - He was the first known European to have discovered continental North America (excluding Greenland), before Christopher Columbus. Hey, you can't go wrong with a Norse explorer. Anyways in a strange disconnected universe, these two individuals are probably blood related and therefore a reliable source.] According to the article the kettlebell is excellent at toning muscles all over, and it burns calories quickly and efficiently. And its use produces cardio and strength benefits at the same time. "[T]he average study participant burned approximately 20 calories per minute during a typical kettlebell workout," "The kettlebell swing is the foundation for many other kettlebell exercises, and it simultaneously firms your butt and your abs," In addition to working multiple muscles at once, what also makes the kettlebell better than conventional weights is the movement involved. You see, while individual dumbells require that you to avoid using momentum to get the benefit of each lift, kettlebells call upon the user to incorporate momentum into the task. And so while this "cheating" detracts from benefits being sought by the dumbell lifter, it actually aids the kettlebell swinger. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/10/31/oh-yes-kettlebell-guess-what-you-should-try-it-12065 So I guess I will give this a go. Went to Amazon - found out they come in different sizes - weighed a filled orange jug which yielded 10 pounds - that gave me an approximate weight I could easily handle- after all I am 69 - ordered a 5 lb. and a 10 lb. kettle bell - that gave me free shipping - otherwise shipping would be almost as much as the cost of the kettlebells. One of the advantage is this is a good at home exercise.

There is a phase that patients go through after bariatric surgery. Luckily it is fairly short. It is so common that people have coined a phrase for it - "Never trust a fart".

Good luck on your surgery and remember after the operation while you are in the hospital to Walk, Walk, Walk.

This is a common problem. Many people find it easier to sleep on a recliner for the first few days after surgery. Further on when the fat starts to disappear from your legs, you may discover that it is difficult to sleep on your side because your bones at the knees are rubbing together. This is a very unnerving feeling. I found the solution to this was to slip a pillow between my legs at night.

What type of surgery did you have. I had RNY gastric bypass and at 3 weeks 5 days post-op, my meals were restricted to 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal. In the early stages after surgery, you body is in a major heal mode. It takes several weeks for this to occur. I had gastric bypass surgery because before I had the surgery, I had severe acid reflux (GERD). Sleeve surgery will only make the condition worse. My surgeon directed me to use Prilosec (Omeprazole) for the first year after surgery for my stomach to heal properly. I discontinued it after the first year. I am now over 4 1/2 years post-op and GERD is no longer a problem.

I am glad to hear that you are on the mend. I hope you can track down the cause of your blood loss. A few years ago my mother began to bleed internally and she required a blood transfusion. In her case she had been using Excedrin (which contains aspirin and is a NSAID) on a daily basis as a pain reliever. She was taking about 10 times the recommended dose of aspirin on a daily basis for several years. We cut her off the Excedrin and the problem healed up.

I used it without problems. After all I was only rinsing my mouth out with the mouthwash and not drinking it.

This dry mouth could be a sign that your body has entered ketosis. Ketosis often causes increased urination. This diuretic effect is due in part to your glycogen stores being emptied. Also known as “water weight,” one gram of glycogen necessitates around 3 to 4 grams of water in storage. This mass exodus of surplus fluids (aka pee) can cause dry mouth, and increased sensations of thirst. To help alleviate dry mouth, drink plenty of fluids. Also there is a mouthwash called Biotene that will help alleviate the condition. I experienced dry mouth after surgery and it helped with this condition.

I am not an expert with insurance requirements. I suspect they might resist approval unless there is an underlying condition that needs to be corrected by revision. In your case the condition might be constant heartburn. This condition might be GERD. The sleeve will generally make this condition worse and that may be the logic for a revision.

At 3 1/2 weeks post-op, your inability to consume liquids without vomiting is definitely abnormal. You need to drive this to ground. It is a serious problem that will need to be corrected. There is an underlying problem that is causing you to vomit. That is causing the dehydration. The underlying problem could be an ulcer or an obstruction or something else. If you go to the E.R. make sure you inform them that you had sleeve surgery. Keep your surgeon's office in the loop. Also the fact that you did 3 fleet enemas and there’s nothing is another sign that this is not a constipation issue but something more serious..

The three most important elements after weight loss surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even water changed. In the hospital water tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. For others it is their sense of smell that is altered. If you are only consuming 200 calories per day, you may be throwing your body into starvation mode and that is unhealthy. Follow the guidelines that you were given.

Surgery can be a bit of a shock to the system, but it does get better. Just not overnight. It took 6 months before I reached my happy state when all the problems seemed to melt away.

I told anyone and everyone about my surgery, even people walking on the street. In general most people fell into two categories. They were either supportive or they were curious. The only negative comments I ever received were from my mother. She was very dependent on me at that time and I think she did not want to deal with anything that might interrupt that support. People are different. My best advise is to follow your heart.

This link may be of help. https://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/treatment-for-excessive-gas/

Good luck on your surgery today and my God bless.