Keshajo1

I'm feeling much better, still taking the Nexium suspension 40 mg everyday. But my life saver has been Carafate, it cuts the acid indigestion immediately. Plus I've learned to eat more slowly and pause between bites to determine if i really need the next bite. It's amazing how one bite too many can make such a huge difference in comfort. Oh well 35+ pounds down in 2 months. Loving the weight loss.

I am 1 month post gastric sleeve and have progressed to a "soft" diet, however, after eating soft foods even in small amounts I feel discomfort in my chest (epigastric area) and can feel the food as it moves down my esophagus and stomach. (My soft diet includes: mashed potatoes, oatmeal, grits, soft scrambled eggs, baked low density fish, potted meat, over cooked carrots/beans) I am taking Nexium Suspension daily plus I still take Gas-X strips a couple of times through-out the day. At first I felt like maybe I was advancing my diet too quickly, or eating too fast, not chewing well enough, so I now pay more attention to those details but that has not seemed to make a difference. I don't like the way I feel after I eat, I even don't like the sensation I feel after drinking sometimes. So, I subconsciously find myself avoiding both as much as possible. I have to push myself to consume every calorie and ounce of liquid. I don't feel ill or unhealthy in anyway, other than low energy at times. Thanks for your support.

May 28, 2015 at 1 pm I woke up a sleeved woman! Finally this step of my journey is behind me. 12 hours into my new life and my biggest issue has been torrential hiccups. Dr. Altimirano had to place a JP drain, which he explained is rubbing against my diaphragm when I move around, stimulating it to spasm causing some pretty miserable hiccups. They are very uncomfortable and last from 5 to 10 minutes before abating. I'm a RN and understand the importance of walking after surgery but as of right now getting out of bed and going to the restroom is almost more than I can bare (which is every hour due to IV fluids and my pea sized bladder). I have also had some pretty wicked nausea, which have been the pits, but honestly other than the pain during my hourly hiccup episodes, surgical and gas discomfort have not been so bad. I am very satisfied with the care that I have received so far. Yeah some things are different compared to my state side surgical experiences. Dr. A, Bariatric Pal MX Team and The Oasis of Hope Hospital staff have treated me more than great.

I am curently taking a PPI, Nexium 40mg, I have talked with people who have said that they have had to change there PPI because some worked better for them than others. So maybe thats the case with me, I will call my PCP and see if he can send in an RX for something else. I know that I'm extremely early out, but I feel like I will never enjoy food again.

I used Carlos Altamarano thru BariatricPal special on 5/28/15. He was absolutely Awesome! His bedside manner was phenominal, appeared to be very knowlegeable, I definitely feel like I received individulized and competent care. Two things that have stood out to me; 1. He held my hand as the Anesthesiologist was inducing anesthesia (not a big deal but has stuck with me), 2. I sent him an e-mail this morning (0730 CST/ 0530 MST, I think) about a concern that I had, he responded in under 30 minutes. Kesha

Wow I can't believe that it's over. I have been planning, researching, obsessing over going to TJ for VSG for the past 6 months. I arrived in TJ on Wednesday (5/27/15) evening, sleeved on Thursday (5/28/15) morning and now I have just arrived back home. Whew!!! I feel great, no significant pain to speak of, and minus the immediate post Op phase no lingering nausea. Still a long road ahead of me but grateful to be on the sleeved side of the fence????????

I had Gastric Sleeve by Dr. Altimarano on May 28, 2015. His bedside manner was great; very caring, very knowledgeable. My surgery was originally planned for May 27 but I had issues getting to San Diego due to bad weather. He was at the Recovery House when I arrived, he held my hand as the anesthesiologist was putting me to sleep, he even saw me off on Sunday before leaving. ???????????????? Today is day 12, I return to work in the morning, feel great, still getting to know my new little stomach.

Dr Altimarano was great. We had a meet and greet via FaceTime about 10 days before my surgery, he was at the recovery house when arrived. I have been an RN for 15 years, never have I come across a surgeon with such an awesome bedside manner. He answered all of my questions, even held my hand as they were administering the anesthesia. I'm so glad that chose him to perform my surgery.

I went through Bariatric Pal. Dr Carlos Altimarano. He has great bed side manner.

Thank you????

Back at home. A little tired, but full of nervous energy. I definitely don't feel like I just had 80% of my stomach removed. Pain is maybe a 2/10. Of course tummy is a little tender. Absolutely No Appetite! My biggest issue is making myself drink. It seems impossible to get in 64 oz at this time. No big deal though, I will just sip on fluids throughout the day and I'm sure this will get better everyday.

I'm on my way to TJ Mexico by way of Houston to San Diego. If I wasn't nervous enough, my original 5 am flight was canceled due to inclement weather, now waiting to fly as stand by for a 9 am flight. Thank you Jehovah God for traveling grace! Good luck to all of my fellow surgical travelers.

Well surgery was reschedule for today due to multiple flight delays which put me in San Diego at 4pm instead of 8am. Now I'm impatiently waiting for coordinator to transport me to the hospital for pre-op testing and surgery. Nerves are starting to get the better of me. I pray all go's well.

Thanks for the good wishes... Flight has been delayed another hour. ????????????????

Paid my deposit today. I will be having surgery at HMN Hospital on May 28th with Dr. Almanza. I'm so excited!

May 27th in the house! Not sure if Dr. Almanza in TJ or Dr. Hidalgo in PV. I'm Uber Excited

I am so bummed out. 2 years of educating and preparing my self went up in smoke. Lap band was placed 11/12/14, by Christopher Reilly at West Houston Medical Center. Felt great, no complaints, first real issues with pain started on Saturday after regional anesthetic wore off. Experienced an episode of dry heaving, and what I've read that sounded like a stuck episode , after coughing on juice. Things started going down hill. Started with fever and chills Tuesday evening. Called the Surgeons office and was instructed to go to ER. Blood work revealed sepsis. WBC'S 21,000, Fever 103, heart rate 140's, severe diffuse abdominal pain and distention. CT scan didn't give any definitive explanation, so Dr. Reilly took me back to the OR to perform EGD and exploratory lap. He found purulent drainage and exudate involving fundus and band. Lap Band system removed due to " Infection of Lap Band"....

I'm doing really good. Back to work today on modified duty. Feeling like my normal self.

Thank you Tami

I bragged about how good I was feeling after being banded on Wednesday. Was in awe at how much moving around that I could do. Well, today the pain has turned up a few notches. The regional anesthetic placed before surgery was very helpful. The doctor said that it would last 72 hours and it did, down to the hour. Today at about 11:00, I suddenly started hurting pretty badly, lost interest in drinking, and started feeling more pressure in upper abdomen/chest. Still not unbearable, but taking pain meds and gas-x religiously. Still no issues with nausea, Thank God. Well no one has had to tell me to get rest today. I'm sure it will get better as the days go by.

I'm doing much better. Still in the hospital. Was moved from Tele unit to regular floor Sunday Evening. Was evaluated for PE on Saturday, negative for PE, thank you Father, diagnosed with a pneumonia instead. This has been a rough ride for me.... Very emotionally draining, physically painful and spiritually trying. But my family and friends have been great. Praying to go home sometime Monday evening.

Well received bad news today. Will be spending one, possibly two more nights in-patient, depending on my WBC'S and HR. He reports that he will not be considering me for release back to work until week after thanksgiving and clear liquid diet until further notice. WOW Feeling okay, emotional spells here and there. But physically I know I'm better. In restropect. I had really gotten sick and fast. So my advice to all new and experienced Banders if u don't feel right let your surgeon know, let them be one to make the decision and give u guidance. Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes. They were much needed and definitely appreciated.

Surgeon reports that I had a small gastric perforation, probably due to some dry heaves I experienced Saturday night. Anyway, feeling much better, will be in hospital at least another night.

Not thinking about next steps yet. Just focusing on getting better. No idea what caused the infection. I do take prednisone 5 mg daily for rheumatoid arthritis. So maybe the culprit? ?? I have never experienced pain like this before in my life. Thank for your prayers.

I'm 2 days post lap band procedure, thought that I would be feeling more physical differences. Very little discomfort, stomach is a little sore. Upper abdomen is mildly distended with tenderness at incision sites. No nausea at all! I have been taking narcotic pain medication every 4 hours, just because. I feel like the lack of significant pain may be due to the regional block that anesthesiologist placed prior to procedure, supposed to last 72 hours. I'm doing really well with getting my fluids in, exceeding 64 ounces a day in 4-6 ounce servings (low sodium broths, s/f jello, tea and 2 protein shakes), sipping on sugar free juice/ flavored water throughout the day. Kind of concerned because I feel like I could consume so much more, no sensation of satiety. Therefore, I'm having to keep a close eye on calories. I guess I don't have much swelling around my stoma. One more day to go on this phase of liquid diet. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining about feeling good, just feel like it's a set up, that after the regional block wears off things might change. But so far things are going much better than I expected.