India Mark

Use some responsible caution on the pain chillers. I didn't take any for 4 months (perks) due to fear of tearing up healing flesh and general after effects of constipation, etc.....had enough of that early on. But about a month ago starting training for my wine marathon in Italy this September (distance drinking). Found one Percocet seemed to settle the stomach acids enough to let me enjoy a bottle or two of a mild, laid back Chardonnay,,,,like to keep a couple hours between the wine and any significant food intake, just to be adult about it. Get tipsy a little quicker so need to be aware. Find food also settles more easily--again pain pill seems to lower the production of stomach secretions, Clearly I am not a doctor and my personal experience shouldn't be taken as advise..but it works (or is working for me). Slowly finds what works for you and enjoy the same when you want. Mind and body will get you where you want to be. 120 days gone; 80 pounds down---yah who!

Praying for you in India.....remember to sip, sip, sip

If you can, consider India....some of best Doctors in world due to frequency of operations. We're from Florida and moved to India a couple years ago. Facilities are First Class (depending on hospital). I used Fortis Gurgaon. Biggest problem is post surgery follow-up when you leave the country; but seems to be plenty of that in the USA. Surgery cost was about $11K everything in; plus we have a VIP room with butler and 1 nurse per room. My wife hade her hip replaced here for same reasons. Just a thought.

Personal summertime favorite was and is gazpacho...lintel soup a distant second. Helps to live in India where a housekeep/cook costs $300 a month Especially once you get the spice part under control. 5 months out and really starting to feel good---keep slugging through!

Grannykat-- I'm just about 5 months past surgery and still have challenges with regurgitation of stomach secretions (usually clear/white, foaming) along with last bits of food eaten. Seems to all depend on type of food and order injested. Saw Doctor a couple of weeks ago and he said not unusual for first year. Because there's not too much support here in India just trying to seperate the easy from hard to digest. meat (especially red) is biggest challenge--chicken cut into small pieces the easisest (for me) to digest. Oddly pastas have the same kind of challenge (which could really stink when we go to Italy this September). I have found the crunchy Breakfast bars (well chewed) perhaps 10 minutes after meal seem to clear esophogus and settle the stomach (perhaps reducing or absorbing the tummy secretions and moving the food down the digestive track. Ain't been easy, but is getting better and better each day. 70 pounds down and 70 to go. Hope any of this helped.

Rajashri, Fully understand your worry--just had my surgery at Fortis Gurgaon last March. The good news is I've lost nearly 30 kilos in just under 3 months. It has not been an easy ride, but needed to lose the weight once and for all--it does work. But I can't recommend taking the ride unless you need the weight loss for your life--don't do it if your motivation is cosmetic...your life and eating habits are going to change dramatically. Actually the easy part is the surgery--once it is done it's done--no going back--after that it was a couple of tough weeks on liquids and I still have trouble controlling amount of food and keeping down harder foods. My advise is to trust your Doctor, follow the diet, don't hurry to get back to "normal" and look forward to each new day as you check the scale. My wieght is down and my blood sugar is rarely above 100--the surgery has hoepfully added quantity and quality to the rest of my life. Good wishes on the surgery and our prayers will be with you. (BTW my wife and I moved to India 14 months ago from the US.)