4LgrLife_53

Just going to vent here because I am frustrated beyond words. "U" (Protein powders) has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. After experiencing an allergic reaction to their protein powder I contacted them to return the product and get a refund. Of course it cost me almost $15 to return the $80 plus dollars in product via UPS Ground. Almost wish I hadn't NOW. They were real courteous on the phone (no problem there) and nice emails. The problem was blatantly apparent when I checked my bank account online to see if my refund had been processed. THEY CHARGED ME $89.72 instead of a REFUND. But of course, it was after hours and no-one to help at either the bank or the big "U". This is all fine when people have hordes of money in their bank, but they almost overdrafted my checking account (especially with Thanksgiving next week!). So please everyone be diligent in checking your accounts if you place orders with this company. I hope this matter with my account gets straightened up today. I'm hoping this was an accidental charge by an inexperienced clerk. PRAYERS PLEASE!

B-52: "Welcome Home"!! Don't know when you were in 'Nam, but I was there for a very short while from Dec 72-Jan 73 on a flight detail to solely bring our fallen back home to the USA. I am a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the VFW.

Woke up to a chill and looked outside--snow!!! Ugh!!! Glad my landlord does the snow removal. But it really sucks when it comes to trying to get in my walking and exercising. Going to try to make it to the gym as soon as the city puts some sand/salt on the roads. Thankfully the doctor released me to hit the pool for lap swims and Water aerobics already! The gym I go to has a lap swim pool and a water aerobics exercise class. I really hate WINTER!

On top of places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other similar thrift stores, also be sure to check out local churches. While they help out with food items for the needy, some churches (like the one here in my hometown), has a clothes locker for people needing clothing. The Bariatric Center I went thru in Lenexa, KS also has a donated clothing area from people who have lost weight. Garage sales are a good place too.

I think "sassy little redhead" hit it dead on. I think it is the muscular area the surgeon had to go through, and it just has to heal on the inside. It's only a sporadic pain/burning/stinging and yes, even an occasional YELP! But I think this too shall pass soon enough. I slid into a swimming pool at the gym/health club this afternoon. The Water was not too cold or too warm. I had had my fears about the water being too cold given outside it was only 16 degrees. I stayed away from the hot tub, but was able to swim several laps without any pain or discomfort. I figured if I gently exercise maybe it'll encourage those muscles to go back to where they're supposed to be. Hope so anyway. I've been continuing to monitor my blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature to watch for any signs of something more serious but everything has checked out better and better each day, as the weight continues (although slower right now) to come off. Good luck, Terry

I hope to get into onederland soon. I am already pleased with my decision to have this surgery. I am down 32 lbs since I started dropping weight just prior to my pre-op diet (Oct 23rd) and now into the 11th day post-op. I have already dropped from a 22 Womens Pant size (22W) to a size 18. I haven't seen my weight under 220 since before my youngest son was born in 1988 (almost 27 years ago). This is a major accomplishment!!! I have been wearing 2X mens shirts for years and finally getting into women's clothing again. I love it!!!

Thank you for responding. It's a weird feeling (and painful sting), but it didn't start until after my first post-op doctor exam and didn't know if I should address it, since I have no other symptoms with it. It's just in a strange spot. I'm almost wondering if it has something to do with loose bowels and maybe some irritation in the bowels that is doing it too. I don't have a lot of bowel movements--but I do get moved to the bathroom about once a day. It really doesn't seem to affect that area where the stinging is coming from. Odd pain. Other than this and having struggles with Vitamins (getting them down, but they are SO nasty), I'm down 32 lbs since I started my pre-op diet, and now into the 11th day post-op.

I have been having a hard time with my Multivitamins. The Center I go to sells the Bariatric Advantage. While it's no doubt a great Vitamin, I have a hard time with the taste (it makes me want to gag). I struggle every day to get them down. Not that it causes nausea, I just have a hard time getting past the taste that is gagging me. I've tried putting it in yogurt, and it turns the yogurt a reddish color, applesauce, and even tried a Protein shake smoothie. Tried the chewables (BA kind--fruit flavored too) and it just tastes terrible. How long until sleevers can swallow the capsules whole (without breaking them open)? Can I use other multivitamin chewables (i.e., the gummy multivitamins) until I can swallow the Bariatric Advantage (gel capsules)? I am 10 days Post-OP. Other than the Vitamins, I am doing great.

You need to weigh at the same time, preferably in the morning. By evening, you have 3 meals in your tummy/sleeve or in your intestines, which will affect your weight by evening. Water weight gain alone will tip the scales in the opposite direction. Also, muscle weighs more than fat, so as you're cutting back on calories and exercising, you are building muscle. Before surgery I had major problems with lower leg edema (Fluid buildup) and without the Lasix I could easily pack on 4-5 pounds of water in my body and legs. Thankfully that has eased up. I'm 8 days Post-OP and have seen a drop in weight since surgery. I'm now about 31 pounds down since beginning this journey. Good luck!

Thank you, and Happy Veteran's Day to all veterans and active duty service men and women and their families!!

Other than unjury and the stuff the bariatric center sells (JOURNEY), I used EAS Lean and Trim Protein shakes from WalMart, Walgreens, and Dillons Grocery. They have been on sale for 4 pkgs for $10. There are 4 bottles in each pack, premixed (16 servings all together for the $10). They have 17 grams of Protein in each shake. I like the chocolate Fudge the best, but they have strawberry and vanilla flavors too. Just make sure you get the Lean and Trim and not the body builder. You may have to drink more of them a day to meet your protein requirements. I was able to drink them cold from the refrigerator or right off the shelf.

I was sleeved on 11/4. While I belched and burped a lot the day of surgery and the following day, I was not able to pass gas until the day after surgery after sipping on a warm (not HOT) vegetable broth. It got the ball rolling fast on the gas, and as disgusting as it is, felt immediate relief from gas pain after tooting. I also did a quick Fiber drink (clear liquid, no taste)(and not just the laxative stuff) to clean out from some of the anesthesia and all. It helped with the loose stools and got rid of a lot of gas. It was miserable for a little while until it worked, but after that, things calmed down. But most importantly, get up and walk walk walk the equivalent of 10-15 laps back and forth in your longest hallway in your home and hopefully you'll get some much needed gas relief. Most, if not all, the gas in my tummy has already dissipated, and I have had no nausea with foods. Hope this helps!

Congratulations--I'm going into Day 7 Post OP tomorrow and have had no nausea and very little pain. Plus I've dropped 26 lbs since my first visit to the Bariatric Center in August.

I just want everyone to know what an exceptional experience I have had so far, not only on these message boards, but with the Bariatric Center of Kansas City (Shawnee Mission Outpatient Pavilion). Every one of you has been so kind and outgoing with your suggestions, comments, and congratulatory messages. I had my gastric sleeve surgery on November 4th (right after 1130 am), and returned home around 0930 am on November 5th. I had very little pain or discomfort -- most of that being from gas, which is all normal. The anesthesiologist gave me anti-nausea medication in my IV, and I have had absolutely NO nausea so far. I guess I am one of the lucky ones so far in that regard. I am currently getting pureed foods in along with some Protein shakes and lots of Water. I space out my meals for about 30 minutes each instead of the usual 20, and sip, sip, sip liquids. My doctor also gave me a prescription of omeprazole that I take every day to control stomach acid. It's great! The surgery staff and the staff on the inpatient unit was so friendly and helpful, while always maintaining absolute professionalism. I cannot praise them highly enough. I know I still have a long way to go in my weight loss journey. Thanks again everyone!! Terry

Will see you down there, and wish you luck and will say a few prayers for you that all goes well with your insurance and the processing. I am so happy I took this step. It's not an easy road but it is definitely worth it. Like you, I have sleep apnea too, and until I got approved for surgery there wasn't a night that went by I wondered if I would die in my sleep, even though I have a CPAP (which I hate with a passion). I know it's to keep you breathing, but it's so artificial and uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to post picture on your profile. All of us on here are struggling with our weight, or have over the past years. I'll be posting before and after pictures after I drop some clothes sizes. Still early on. Even though I've lost 26 pounds, I'm still wearing 2X shirts and Large (Men's size) jogging pants as my tummy is still swollen from the IV fluids and the surgery itself. The staff is so exceptionally excellent at the KC Bariatric Center I can hardly wait to go back for my post-op appt. I have spent years (since 1994) in the VA Medical Center's care prior to this (with my leg/ankle and hand surgery at KU). While KU was great, the KC Bariatric Center beats them by a mile. The VA is a whole different story, and if it was on an A-F grading scale, they'd be getting a D. I had to argue with the pharmacist alone to get my lovenox prescription filled, even though my VA primary care physician rewrote the prescription so it could be filled. The A-hole got into my medical records, which he wasn't supposed to be in. I reported him. Anyway, keep your chin up and I'll keep you in my prayers and cross my fingers just for added support. Terry

I was sleeved on Nov 4th. Pain was very minimal. I only needed two doses of pain meds via the pump (dilaudin, due to allergies to the other painkillers) and one was after a bad bout with hiccups. I forced myself to burp knowing the gas was a factor in pain and it helped immensely. I was up walking laps in the hospital hallway within 3 hours after getting back to my room from recovery and it helped. I wasn't able to pass gas out the other end until the next day--don't know if it was psychological or just couldn't do it (I had it in my mind that I might poo my bed, even though I had nothing in my gut from eating). I had a vegetable broth the morning after surgery and that helped get the gas rolling out along with belching and walking more and more. I went home that next morning. Other than minor pain,which I haven't needed pain medication for, my biggest obstacle has been my sleep pattern. I was a belly and side sleeper and can't do either of those until everything is healed up. On day 3 I was able to start integrating pureed cream soup (lowfat) and light yogurt, and unsweetened applesauce. I have had no nausea whatsoever. I take 30 minutes to eat anything (which is basically just licking the spoon) and wait the 30 minutes to start drinking Water afterwards. One thing I think helped is that the anesthesiologist gave me anti-nausea medication when they put me under, and the doctor gave me a prescription for omeprazole to cut down on stomach acid while the new tummy is healing. On day 7, I'm allowed to start integrating soft cooked scrambled eggs, and non-fat refried Beans.

I have powdered Miralax (that I can use for more extreme cases of constipation), but prefer to use a generic Fiber powder similar to Benefiber, which is unflavored and mixes immediately in Water and doesn't gel up like Metamucil. It has no flavor and is like drinking water. It cleaned me out the following day after I used it and didn't cramp me up like standard laxatives and stool softeners do. Always drink plenty of water.

JCP: So sorry for your loss and may the memories of your loved one comfort you and your family.

I turned 61 this year. I had the gastric sleeve on November 4th. Since starting with the Bariatric Center of Kansas City in Aug 2014, I am down 26 lbs. I had doubts in the beginning, and still struggle thru some appetizing TV commercials (pizza, fried chicken etc), but know I can do this. The pre-op diet (liquids and Protein shakes) was the hardest part for me due to allergies to sugar-free product ingredients. Surgery went smooth as silk. I was in surgery around 1130 am and went home around 930 am the next day. Pain was so minimal, I think I took 4 doses total between hospital time and outpatient. As far as joint pain and exercising, I have two bad knees (snap, crackle and pop all the time), have plates in one leg with several screws after a severe ankle fracture (with leg dislocation) and constant tenderness in the other from a bad ankle sprain the same day as the fracture on the other ankle. I was in a wheelchair for almost 5 months last year. Water exercises helped immensely in getting back on my feet after surgery and recovery time from those injuries. The knees--well, that's a whole different matter. But I know the less weight I have bearing on those joints, the better it will be for me in the long run. You just have to pace yourself and quit when it starts hurting. I can't wait to be able to get back to the pool and start swimming and water aerobics. I also do the recumbent exercise bicycle, and while I have to watch the intensity with my knees, it's a great workout for the legs and thighs. They also make a recumbent (sitting down) elliptical trainer. Good luck all!

kimpossible67: I'd have the doctor check to see if you have a latent allergy cropping up to seafood or shellfish (in the case of shrimp) or it may just be the sensitivity problems of the surgery. Fish and chips are usually deep fried and the fat may be what is upsetting your system. Have you tried baking or broiling your fish without breading on it? Just a suggestion. I'm not a big fish eater myself, and have a latent allergy to shrimp so shellfish is an absolute NO-NO for me. Good luck!!

To WannaBthinsoon: I'm so glad you didn't opt for the diet pills. I have no faith in diet pills whatsoever. While I used to take herbal stuff (Vitamins, etc.), a very good friend of mine is 41 now and roughly 8 years ago (when she was 33) had to have her heart valve replaced with a pig valve and an artificial pacemaker put in because she took that Phen-Phen drug. While Phen-Phen compensated thru lawsuits, the damage to her heart is permanent. She now has the heart of a 70-80 year old with something like a 40% ejection fraction. To help her lose weight, even though she was high risk, to ease the burden on her heart, they did gastric bypass at St Lukes. She lost over 100 lbs and brought her ejection fraction up to where it is now (it was way below 40%). Her mother, another friend my age, tried those diet pills designed to rid your body of fat (Alli or something like that), and she had uncontrollable bouts of diarrhea with orange poo that stained a lot of her clothes when she had accidents. She continues taking diet pills and laxatives to try to lose weight (she cannot have WLS because of other health issues) and know she is damaging her body and organs, and have watched her yo-yo in weight dramatically. At one time she had lost 60 lbs, then she put back on 80 as soon as she started eating again. Part of my decision to have the WLS (gastric sleeve) came after my older sister (10 years older than me) had a massive stroke before Christmas last year. In addition to respiratory problems, she is diabetic, morbidly obese, her kidneys are failing, and has congestive heart failure. She is now paralyzed and living out the remainder of her days in a nursing home. Another part of my WLS is that I fell last year and severely broke my right ankle, and dislocated my lower leg bones. In another fall, the same day, I fell again and broke my left hand, broke my tailbone, and almost broke my other foot. While all that has healed, the excess weight on my joints has been very painful. I was not going to wait any longer to take action to get the weight off. I did try cutting calories and other non-pill diet forms, including the Atkins shakes, etc. and years of gym membership. I worked my tail off, but then I was hungry as all get out. So I consulted the Bariatric Center for help and so glad I did!! I'm down 26 lbs today!! I started at the Center in August, and had my sleeve done November 4th. Weather permitting I'll be at the Center's support group in December. I was told by a nurse they are planning to go to 2 support groups a month starting in 2015. I was super impressed and got a lot of questions answered by veteran sleevers at the group in October. By the way, you can be awaiting surgery and still attend the groups (just in case you didn't know that). Hope to see you there, Terry

It is a very uncomfortable prep and procedure but it is well worth the agony. Thankfully I had no issues that were found as a result. On the flip side, a very good friend of mine tried to have a colonoscopy, once by the routine method (of conscious sedation) and the next day had to have full anesthesia to try to pass the scopes. Neither worked. Had it not been for a doctor on top of it, her colon would have burst. It's not just cancer that can foul up your intestines. My friend had both chronic and acute diverticulitis, and they wound up having to remove over 25 inches of her colon due to blockage from the inflamation. My friend had ignored warning signs of not being able to have a bowel movement without resorting to using laxatives. She's lucky to be alive and not having to have a colostomy bag. I'm a firm believer in the benefit of this exam, just like I think mammograms should be offered to women at ages lower than 40. Another friend was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer (almost was at Stage 4) when she was 38. Even though she's gone thru hell and back, she is a trooper and has completed several years of the 3-day Breast Cancer walks. She's now 60 years old and her cancer has been in remission for the last 16 years.

Good luck to you too wannaBthinsoon! (and thanks again!) Really haven't been hungry (wow, that's a switch!!) but following the nutritional guidelines the Center gave me. I was able to separate the omeprazole capsules and sprinkle the contents (little pellets) into pureed baby food apples to get it down and chase with a couple sips of Water. Now dealing with fever blisters on my lip (even though I wasn't running a temperature), which I think was due to the kind of Protein powder I was using (UNJURY). I didn't think I was going to have a reaction, but guess enough of it kicked in my shellfish allergy. unjury is processed with shellfish and other stuff, so be careful if anyone has this allergy. That's the only thing I can think of other than just stress. I get my staples out Nov 13th at my first post-op appt in clinic with my surgeon, followed by an appointment with their doctor who handles medications. I'm going to discuss having allergy testing done to find out what all I am allergic or sensitive to. I already have to use LACTAID because I have some degree of lactose intolerance (before surgery). I use the vanilla dissolvable tablets. I'm on my second day of pureed foods and still no nausea (so YAY!!!!).

I had to contact Kraft Foods about their manufacturing. They were very courteous. I explained that the Aspartame artificial sweetener they put in the sugar-free jellos, puddings and Kool-Aid are bad for my health and I had a major allergic reaction to the Aspartame. Oddly (even though it wasn't on the diet), I had experienced a reaction any time I had Juicy Fruit Gum. Not only does the regular JF gum have sugar in it, it also has Aspartame. It was horrible--my mouth felt like it was on fire and I developed nasty looking tongue sores/patches. Once I quit the sugar-free jellos and sugar-free koolaid (including Crystal Light powders), the symptoms disappeared. Kraft sent me coupons for other products. I wasn't mad at Kraft as I've been eating Jello and stuff all my life and only had a reaction when I ate the sugar-free products. They said they would pass my concern on to their manufacturing and research team about switching to a more consumer-healthy alternative for artificial sweeteners. Now I am constantly on guard, looking at labels to avoid aspartame. Thankfully Yoplait Light Yogurt has several varieties with "No Aspartame" right on the front of the container.

I got sleeved on Nov 4th. A lot of gas buildup as well as all the IV fluids coming out in more ways than one (haha). Doing good with no nausea. Drainage stopped from where the drain tube was, and thankfully was able to switch to a normal bandaid instead of the huge gauze dressing because the tape was breaking me out in a rash. Still a lot of bruising around one of the stapled incisions, but otherwise doing great. Get to start having yogurt and applesauce tomorrow (along with other stuff)--YIPPEE--FOOD!