BLERDgirl

So you are having issues with stomach acid/GERD? That's a different story. Zophran is designed to address the nausea. Are you taking any sort of PPI for the acid? You will definitely need to follow up with a GI doctor to find the correct dosage and brand of PPI that can help you control/manage that. Sometimes with luck you out grow it. My doctor had me on omeprazole 20 mg from day 1 post-op. By about 2½ - 3 mths post-op I found that wasn't enough. The dosage was increased to 40mgs a day. Thankfully by month 5 I was able to discontinue the medication completely. Unfortunately some people require higher/stronger doses of PPI. have you tried taking a spoonful of maalox before attempting to drink? It might help coat your stomach a little better. Discuss that with the GI doctor and see what they think. You can also purchase omeprazole over the counter. Most drugs stores sell it as well as the name brand prilosec.

If you cannot tolerate the shakes, don't drink them. Find other ways to get in your Protein. I use an unflavored protein powder that I mix with pretty much everything. I add it into yogurt (a natural source of protein), I add it into Soups, I add it into coffee & tea, hot or cold. It can also be added to a 50/50 mix of fruit juice/water or stirred into a bit of apple sauce or mashed potatoes. A few brands of unflavored protein powders are Isopure unflavored, unjury and GENEPRO. One of the key things I did to get in more water/fluids was to add loads of ice to everything. Instead of traditional protein shakes try protein waters like propel. Again you are getting in protein AND Fluid at the same time. The shaking may be a symptom of dehydration. Please try to get your fluids in at all cost. I am sorry that it was not explained to you that a large portion of your stomach is cut away. Hopefully the suggestions in this post will help you make the best of it.

Managing your anxiety is the most important thing you can do to make your surgical experience go easier. I used to work as a CCLS and gave pre-surgical tours as part of our services. I think having that knowledge made things easier and a little less scary. I guess my questions for you are: What are your worries/fears? What can you do to alleviate those fears? I have found that figuring out those 2 things and practicing what to do to manage them makes all the difference in the world. Even something as simple as learning to do a little bit of deep breathing/meditation makes all the difference in the world. Distractions/diversions are another things that help. For example, I have to have routine MRI's of my head each year. It's 1½ hours in a claustrophobic tube with loud banging. It can be challenging to stay absolutely still for that. My distraction is to sing songs in Spanish just under my breath. It helps me focus on something other than that tube and it helps me regulate my breathing so I'm not panicky. So: Identify your fear Develop a plan of action Practice that plan of action

It would be a pretty high number. I think depending on your activity level anything over 100gms or more might be a little taxing on your kidneys and liver. However increasing it to 60 -80 gms probably will not hurt you as long as you eating a balanced diet.

The carbonation (fizz) can cause gas to build up in your tummy. This can be either simply uncomfortable or make you feel full. You don't have enough space in you belly to handle both the gas and the limited amount of food your tummy can handle. I am one that doesn't drink it. (I stopped drinking sodas over 4 years ago). It's junk. I also don't drink artificial sugars or food dyes. Some people do return to drinking it with no ill effects. It's just not for me.

I have a severe seafood allergy and I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten foot pole. My allergic response to seafood is anaphylaxis. I would never risk using that stuff. I also have really bad sinuses and a chronic uterica condition, which results in painful, itchy splotches all over my body. WLS has lessened the chronic uterica, but I still have to take a daily ZyrtecD. This has the 2 fold effect of preventing my sinuses from backing up and causing my face to swell. This also keeps the uterica at bay. However I still have to moisturize from head to toe each day. I have extremely dry skin so most lotions do nothing. I use Johnson's baby oil gel. I apply it to damp skin each day following my shower. My skin is dry enough that by the time I am ready to get dressed most of it has been absorbed in my skin. Any residual oil I wipe off with a towel. I also found out that the less processed foods I eat, the fewer outbreaks I would have. I'm not sure if that helps. It appears you have already had surgery, which was one of the things that helped me tremendously. Changing my diet to unprocessed was the other thing that helped. If you go try the daily Zyrtec, have them write you a prescription for it and get it from the pharmacy. Buying it over the counter gets you flagged since the ingredients are also used to make meth.

Bad grammar and even bad spelling I can overlook. It's the netspeak that is chalk on the blackboard for me. *sigh* What are going to do? All those things you listed will continue to happen.

I don't because being a vegetarian with multiple food allergies is enough of a challenge right. I just try to eat as natural & unprocessed as possible

Ricotta bake is like the filling fir stuffed shells topped with a little cheese & tomato sauce then baked.

I use it, but I don't do a specific percentage configuration. ETA: I rechecked because I have my calorie limit set to 900 and I want to get no more than 100gms of Protein a day. My numbers look like this: 900 calories 35 carbs 45 protein 20 fat. I typically get between 80 -100 gm of protein/ 750- 900 calories a day. Doing an average of the 7 days my numbers for this week are 794 calories, 65 carbs, 28 fat, 88 gms protein. I know it's a weird combination, but since I have so far to go I try to keep calories low and protein high. My carbs probably are higher than what most eat, but they are mostly plant based because I am vegetarian.

Some people go back to it, but it's not recommended by nutritionist. I quit soda over 4 years ago & font miss it one bit

Bye boobs. But the butt & thighs are sticking around.

Have you seen a doctor? None of this is normal or typical.It could be a spinal issue of some sort. I would call the doctor ASAP.

Some of your concerns sound like they may be a result of your mental health issues. The bariatric program is not a mental health program. I have also noticed that the surgery can sometimes throw people out of whack for a bit. Perhaps the correct people to speak with would be those who manage your MH care. When I use out email system it states that it may be 2 -3 days before I get a response so I take that into consideration. What happened to me yesterday was that once she replied back we were able to coordinate when I could chat and that's how the emailing back and forth occurred. No one is trying to downplay your concerns. Diarrhea is not uncommon and therefore was not a red flag for the program. Perhaps your next step needs to be who can help get your MH issues back on an even keel and what you plan to do for the rest of your follow up care. Just please keep in mind the bariatric center is not a MH facility. They may not be equipped for that. If that is not something you can deal with then perhaps you should speak with your PCP about taking over follow care.

Learn how to cook. I'm not talking anything fancy, but learn to make a few basic meals that meet your nutrition goals. Then you have the choice to ask your parent to buy one or two things for you or use you allowance and purchase them yourself. The only thing you have control over is you and what you put in your mouth. Your parents have shown they are not ready yet. The fact is they may net ever be ready to diet and exercise. So it's time to put on your big girl panties and do this for yourself. Call your nutritionist and speak with her about portion sizes and the challenges you are facing. Then brainstorm about how you can work around them.

You took notes, but no one asked about what follow up care would be like? I agree with @ladycook9713 at your next f/u appointment someone needs to ask at what intervals you will be seen and what the process is for after hours emergent care. My practice also has an email/electronic system. I am mailed copies of all my test results an bloodwork. I spent most of yesterday emailing back and forth with the NP because my Vitamin D level remains low despite taking supplements.

If she had fluid in her lungs, moving is very important. Also have her do a few exercises like she's lifting dumb bells a few time a day.

I don't see you doing anything wrong. 40lbs at 3mths is a little over 13lbs a month. I also don't think the calories are too low. I'm at 6mths and my calories run between 700 -900 and 80 -100gm Protein. I'm losing just fine. If you want to exercise, check youtube for chair exercises or use handweights.

Hey!

Prosource no carb is a clear liquid Protein. You can buy it online. Are you talking about Clear Liquids before or after surgery? Post op they may not be as worried about protein. Some practices just want to make sure you are staying hydrated.

My first f/u was at 2 weeks. However my doctor schedules an actual f/u appointment. Not calling you for 2 weeks as a follow up is not uncommon. Especially since they actually had updates with the sick calls about the diarrhea. I don't know what your pre-op experience was. What types of handouts if any you were given, if your program has a support group, did you take notes at your doctor's appointments, what plans did you make for aftercare. I spoke with my nurse while in the hospital. Once it was discovered that I lived alone, arrangements were made for a visiting nurse to check on me. Turns out I really didn't need it, but it was a nice thing to have in place. I am a planner by nature. I researched the types of Protein drinks/powders that were available before my surgery. I read that some can give people diarrhea. I bought a few and tested them before my surgery. Some of this sounds like it may be due to you other issues. Are you seeing anyone for that? Your hormones may be out of whack due to the surgery. If you are on medication it may need to be adjusted. So what are you plans now for aftercare now?

It is a lot but it's not uncommon that people don't feel full on liquids.

I cannot agree more. I've only 6 mths out and I'm sick of it.

No exactly. bariatirc diets are designed to put you into ketosis, which is just a part of the Atkins theory. My carbs range from 30 -70 daily and I have been losing consistently with no stalls.

DO NOT USE THAT! It will only give you more diarrhea and possibly a lot of cramping as well. The enema is the way to go. If you have an impaction you need to break that up so that you can pass it. The alternative is manual removal.