youknowit

Tiff...You read my mind (or sent me an idea across the continent) as I JUST put the individual pre-packaged snack sized of the Jerky in my glove box too! I still crave certain fast foods, which I know I just cannot even bother to try, so I think this will help! I found at costco they have the "monster" bags of jerky and the also had pre-packed sizes, so I bought both. Put the pre-packs in my purse, car, and will take them to work. Viola! Highprotein snack on the go. LOVE IT! I read on the back of one of the jerky packs that you can refridgerate it to keep it moist, and I tried that with one of the big bags... it's SO much tastier and easier to eat out of the fridge. Let me know if you guys try it, and if you like it! :smile1::smile::smile::smile:

Thanks! I decided to try it... Took an extra one last night, and we'll see if doing this for a couple of days makes things feel better. I already did feel a hint of calming in my tummy last night about an hour or so after taking the extra one. Best to all! - angie :smile1:

Hi all. Ok, so Dr. Aceves prescribes 6 months of Nexium to be taken daily post-surgery, wherein some other doctors it seems prescribe nothing, and some others say take something if you "need it". I'm wondering what you all have been told about this? If you are taking something, what are you taking? When did you start, and for how long have you been on it? My doctor here at home told me he didn't wants me to take Nexium, but rather to take Prevacid instead. He wants me to take two a day, instead of the "one a day" standard dose. Also, he said that taking it for 6 months isn't advisable, but it CAN be done if necessary. So... anyone want to share their thoughts or experiences with this? best! :smile:

Perhaps I'll switch to Prilosec and try it once my 5 bottles of Prevacid run out. If you can take it twice a day, I'm going to venture a guess that it's "possible" to do it with the Prevacid. I'm going to dig around online for an answer and will let you all know what I find!

Do you think we could take two in a day? One in the morning, one towards night? I'm thinking about trying it... What you described is EXACTLY how I'm feeling...

Great thoughts and advice all! I appreciate it! :001_wub:

Still taking the Prevacid... but, I think maybe I need a higher dose, as by about 12 hours out from taking it, I feel hungry and grumbling, even after I've eaten. Especially at night, which is way past the time I took the pill (I take it IMMEDIATELY upon waking up in the morning). Anyone try taking this twice a day? I know I have been diagnosed with H.Pylori, so that might be why I have these hunger pangs, I guess we'll see when I get the meds started for it... Hope everyone is doing well! :thumbup:

This is the VST website. Type Almanza (or whomever you are searching for) into the search function, you'll find a lot of info. I'd be happy to share my experiences with Dr. Aceves (and another doctor in MX whom I had my band with - but I won't post it here). Just PM me if you want more details. Here's the most recent posts with Almanza in them. I can search for Rodriguez or anyone else you might want help with as well. Hope this helps! http://verticalsleevetalk.com/vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy-vsg-surgeons-hospitals/1334-dr-mario-alberto-almanza-reyes.html http://verticalsleevetalk.com/pre-operation-vertical-sleeve-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/4244-going-dr-almanza-04-09-anyone-else.html http://verticalsleevetalk.com/pre-operation-vertical-sleeve-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/3895-dr-almanza.html http://verticalsleevetalk.com/tell-your-story/3253-schedule-sleeve-feb-18th-w-dr-almanaza-anyone-else.html http://verticalsleevetalk.com/post-operation-vertical-sleeve-gastric-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/3005-what-emmanuelle-jerusalem-clinic-like.html http://verticalsleevetalk.com/pre-operation-vertical-sleeve-surgery-vsg-questions-answers/3578-getting-sleeved-early-march-mexico-need-buddy-dr-aceves-dr-almanza.html Best! :thumbup:

I say GO FOR IT! :thumbup:

And something we need to remind ourselves... this is weight GONE FOREVER, not gone just to come back. It's nice to know, if it's 1 pound or 20, it's GONE GONE GONE! Yahoo!

Tiff... Where did you buy this shampoo? I was thinking about buying some Nioxin to be preemptive (lost hair after my last two surgeries), but wasn't too sure. Seems like things are ok thus far, but as you know, 3 months seems to be a magic mark in time for the hairloss...

I'm an Aceves patient... but you're right, you can't prove I am (or not) and I guess unless I show you my discharge docs, I can't prove it either (of which, if it might help you, I'd be happy to scan them in at work tomorrow, and email them over to you). Nonetheless, I think a healthy skepticism on any discussion board is a GOOD thing. :kiss2: I cannot find it here on the boards right now (perhaps someone with a longer memory can help) but Dr. Aceves stats are very good... in fact, if you ask them, they WILL give you hard facts, like if they have had any deaths (2) or any complications (depends on specifics). I read here on the boards, and have been told by Nina that they have had 2 deaths EVER, I believe they were due to severe comorbidities? Additionally, from my own experience, I can't say if anyone else has ever had a leak... HOWEVER, I know they did indeed do 3 leaks tests on me, and I know they biopsied the removed stomach, as they reported the test results to me (of which I have H.Pylori bacteria that must be treated). All in all, I would say again that it's important to be open minded, skeptical, and smart in your research on here, and elsewhere. Best to you in your journey. :scared0:

Thank you for this info... I wonder if that "fruit and veggie" wash stuff might work? It worries me that I could get it again... I sure hope it goes away and I'm done with it soon! I really appreciate your help on this, and I'll keep you posted. :scared0:

To help with the hair, try taking Biotin and Iron supplements every day. The last two surgeries I had, hairloss started to hit me pretty quickly, but thus far things are going well, with little to no hairloss. Also, being sure to get the Protein in is key to preventing the hairloss as well. best!

The first couple of weeks are hard, I know... but you have to do everything you can to protect your staples and new, tiny-tummy. This isn't "food" time... is what I kept telling myself... "it's healing time". At a couple of weeks out your body is still getting the Ghrelin out of your system, which will make you feel hungry, which I experienced, and I won't deny it was hard. BUT, you can make it through. I'd really wait to start anything other than clear or full liquids until you have to move to food... It's worth it to you and your healing sleeve. :smile::smile:

By the time I got back home to the States, I didn't really need the pain pills... I've taken some liquid Tylenol on occasion, for aches mostly, but nothing more than that. Getting the sleeve was a great experience for me (as opposed to having the band removed, which was tough for me); I've felt better and better every single day since the second day after surgery (the day after surgery is tough, but you're there in the hospital, so you will be A-OK). :smile::smile::smile: Don't be afraid to ask for pain or other meds at the hospital with Dr. Aceves staff. They are VERY good about giving you what you need, and helping with anything at all! I have been to the Almater Hospital with Dr. A twice now, and I wouldn't go anywhere else. Best to you! :smile::smile:

You are such an inspiration, Tiff! Thanks for all you do for us here on VST, and here's to you being one sexy mama! XXOO :smile::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile:

Good info, all. I will certainly keep you posted on my treatment, as I'm starting the antibiotics this week (already taking the Prevacid post-surgery). I really think the H.Pylori might be why I feel "hungry" a lot... But no other symptoms. I'll ask Dr. Aceves before I head down there in a couple of months for my upperGI and bloodwork, if it would be ok to do the stool test to make sure the bacteria is gone. Thanks again! :smile:

If you have a Costco membership, I KNOW they have Turkey AND Beef jerky there... Also, you might find it at Fred Meyer's or Safeway. :thumbup1: (Being a former Washingtonian, I know the stores there, hehe.)

Quick question for you, Oregon... What was your treatment for it, and is it gone now? Sounds like this might have been a big issue for you, and I'm very curious about how this might play-out for me? This H.Pylori is makin' me nervous. :tongue_smilie:

I agree, Marilyn... If it's recommended, do whatever you need to do to get it done... We paid thousands of dollars for this, and it's our health we're talking about, not a car check-up. Also, for me at least, if they tell me to do something, I am following 100%... with my band I had NO problems (that I knew of), no symptoms of trouble... and I was SEVERELY eroded into my stomach. Had I not gone into surgery for removal/revision and found that, the band would have eventually punctured completely through my stomach wall, and I would have had acid leaking into my abdomen. This could have literally killed me. NO BUENO! :scared0: I just don't trust my own body to tell me everything I need to know... so getting checked out is a priority for me. :tongue_smilie: best to everyone on this sunny (vegas) sunday!

Wow, I can't believe it stays in the blood forever... I'm surprised it doesn't say that in the Mayo Clinic info I read... I did read about the BREATH test they can do to check it, I wonder if that's a possibility for a post test? Not that I could really care less about the stool sample. LOL. Been there, done that. I really just hope the regimen works, because after my research and reading, I think this might be why, even though I'm sleeved, I still feel pangs of "hunger" or whatever coming from my stomach as little as an hour after eating... the literature mentions that as one "symptom" people might not recognize... they just think they are hungry all the time. UGH! I don't feel AS hungry or as ravenous as before, but even having taken the Prevacid EVERY DAY, with Water, in the morning, I still go through physical pangs or twitches that I can certainly recognize as similar to before surgery. Fingers crossed that this regimen of stuff will kill the bacteria dead, and I will have the "I'm never hungry" feeling people have raved about with the sleeve! :tongue_smilie: Best to all!

Oregon... If you plan to come down this way in the next couple of months, I would totally go with you! Let me know what you think... or, if you are in AZ further out, I'd still love to catch up! :tongue_smilie: