Shannon Piper

I am 3 weeks post-op today and woke up with major reflux. I cant even stand to swallow Water. My Protein shakes are making me gag and are like a rock in my throat. I already take Nexium 40 mg daily and have even tried Maalox. It isn't helping. I had a hernia repaired in this surgery as well and the first few days after the surgery I had trouble swallowing but it got better. Now its a nightmare. My surgeon says this is from the hernia repair, b ut I thought repairing this was suppose to stop or at least improve this sort of issue? I mean I am taking pretty strong RX meds for this and I even have an adjustable bed so I can sleep with my head elevated. Now I am not getting all the protein I need nor am I getting in my water intake. This really sucks, and I am starting to think I made a huge mistake. I don't understand how some people on here are stating they are so much better from this surgery and have so much energy. Right now I have never felt weaker, and more nauseous. Sometimes dizzy too. Anyone else out there have these problems after a hernia repair w/sleeve and what did you do to get past them? The doctors sure don't explain all this crap that can happen. We probably would never have the surgery if they did.

So I had to go to the ER to get UV fluids and one thing the nurse told me was that there was some keytone in my urine but it was because I a losing weight. I know my body is burning fat now and that is what's happening but I am concerned that it is also because of not getting enough carbs. I am diabetic but my sugars are normal in fact lower than they used to be. I'm a little worried that this could be a problem.

@@Dawn Turpin Sorry to hear this happened to you Dawn. My surgeon said the same thing that it's rare but that's BS! I have seen people post all over these boards and some other websites about the same problem. More than a third of sleeve and band patients have this issue after the surgery and surgeons are not informing patients that this could happen and how to deal with it. I hope your bypass goes well and fixes the issue. I hope you come back and let us know how you are doing. Good luck and good vibes being sent your way!

I saw my GI doc again 2 weeks ago. I had genetic testing done that shows the efficacy of all the drugs that were in my system. It was very interesting to see that all the big gun PPi's showed that I would need to increase the dosages on them by 200%. Something that was unreasonable to do. One drug showed it was more effective at the recommended dosage---Acipex. So I am on 20 mg of it 2 x a day. I can take Milk of Magnesia or antacids and even Zantax at night if needed. But so far I am only taking the Aciphex. I am careful not to drink coffee, tea, anything acidic , nothing fried, processed. The doctor said I am suffering with bile acid too. Both GI and surgeon told me it gets better as you drop more weight. I was told about the bypass option too, but I do not want it. I went thru a lot to have this surgery, I don't want to go thru another. And there is no guarantee that will fix the problem. I read a study about Melatonin helping to coat the lining of the stomach and helping with inflammation. I stated taking 3mg at night. It also helps me sleep better. I told my doc about it, he said it was ok and it didn't interfere with my other meds. I am not suggesting it to anyone, just stating what is now working for me. I am choosing to ride it out. I still need to lose a good 90lb to see a significant pressure come off my stomach. I was told all that acid has nowhere to go but up, since our stomachs are so much smaller. So it is just a waiting game for me. I still have the lump in my throat occasionally after eating, but it goes away after about 1/2 hour. I hope it gets better for you Dawn Turpin. Hang in there. I'm down 66 lbs in 3 months. My underwear started falling down and I had to go buy some more. Hilarious problem to have!

So I have been pushing Protein so much now I want to add some vegetables. So far I have eaten only mushrooms and can tolerate them. I want to try brussel sprouts, asparagus and cauliflower. I used to like grains like rice, but I have heard that after surgery eating things with Fiber could cause an intestinal blockage. So I would like to know what vegetables are everyone eating out there and if any gave you problems and if you could eat rice without any issues?

@CowgirlJane I may not have been clear on what I meant. Because we can have problems with constipation after this surgery I was told to be careful eating anything with Fiber cause if I have constipation then fiber could cause a blockage. Rice was always like fiber for me before even though I like it I think it will be too thick to eat. I am 9 weeks post op so far I can eat Bok Choy in Soup, cauliflower, shallots, artichoke hearts and mushrooms.

The Protein powder and shakes I drink are working for me so I will stick with those. Clearly everyone has been advised differently and that's understandable. Tried cauliflower just a small amount and it was fine nothing came back up. I still wont eat any veggies raw though.

I love sushi too but I think I will skip the rice part of it . I am not remotely interested in being a vegetarian I cant stand kale or quinoa. I prefer the Pure Protein chocolate shakes first thing in the morning. 35 grams of protein. My NUT told me to avoid the whey protein so I don't bother with it. I don't like anything raw and since my stomach is still suffering with this reflux, I wont risk it with raw food. I will be trying asparagus and cauliflower today so I will see how it goes.

I have to agree w/others who are stating they cant understand how Penny is eating so much and actually gained weight after the surgery. I couldn't swallow even a smattering of Water for 4 days after the surgery much less food. I have stuck to the plan of not drinking during eating. I have lost 52 lbs in 9 weeks. I have craved food from the first day after surgery but the cravings are better. I cant stand anything fried and have found that foods I could eat before that were healthy, I cannot tolerate them now. I cannot get how she or anyone for that matter, can wolf down regular food after that surgery. You're risking major leakage and internal damage. Going on 10 weeks now and I still cant eat more than 4 oz without feeling I will throw up if I push it. So I too don't understand how she is doing that. But she is enabled by her husband and if he refused to assist her then guess what she would eat what she was suppose to or starve. And the therapy part is huge too. You have to get the right help or what's the point.

I've seen so many of these and most of them are success stories but several of them are failures and one was even a death. It's amazing the lack of support that especially women don't get from their spouses. I don't like this show anymore , I find it too hard to watch. There is a really good book by Marianne Williamson titled A Course in Weight Loss 21 spiritual lessons for surrendering your weight forever. In it she talks about how emotional baggage packs on the pounds and until we deal with it we will fail at any attempt to successfully lose weight. She gives lessons and guidelines to follow to overcome this. It makes total sense. And this is what is wrong with Penny. For some who are self-destructive it could be alcohol, drugs, a sex addiction or compulsive shopping. But emotional baggage plays a huge part in it. I personally feel I am on the right path now and I don't want to do anything to screw it up.

Yesterday I went to the ER with the worst back pain on my left side. A CT scan revealed a 4mm kidney stone. Mild un-obstructive stone but causing much pain. I got two different pain meds thru the IV and fluids. I drank 79.8 oz of Fluid the day before but two weeks ago I started waking up to brown urine and now I am disgusted. My white blood cell count is elevated and may have an infection. This is my second major complication from this surgery, the first being GERD which I am still suffering with. Suffering with nausea too. Having to go back to liquids again for now if I can get them down. Limping to a urologist on Tuesday but so frustrated. How has anyone else out there been treating this from a non-surgical approach? I know more fluids, I am just having so much trouble getting all the fluid in everyday.

Low grade fever is common. I ran 99 for the first night. It went away after that. I took acetaminophen. The neck pain could be from the intubation. I woke up with my neck hurting too and sores in the roof of my mouth from the tube that was stuck down my throat. That all subsided within a week.

It comes on TLC . This month they have been doing a marathon of where are they now episodes. I go up and down about this. I couldn't stand Penny but I liked Olivia. Some people on it don't want to exercise or eat right or just want to lay in bed. I cant stand that. Some of these people were so huge they had not left there home in years. I have hated so many of the changes and complications I have had from this surgery, but I didn't go thru all this to just lay in bed and wait for death. Part of the agreement these people have with the network filming them is that the surgery is paid for by TLC. So they really don't have to worry about any insurance covering it. Same with the skin removal, so they shouldn't take it for granted. But several of them just want to continue to eat like before.

Yup. That's the kind of stupid canned answers I am getting from my surgeon too. I got real pissed off this morning over his response to my suffering with real bad reflux after the surgery. And you're right, why don't skinny people complain about being cold all the time? I have been cold from the surgery since I woke up from it. The only logical explanation I can come up with is carb death. These first few weeks, months where we are mostly on liquids and not eating carbs might be why. Before the surgery I was eating carbs and that is what I was burning for fuel. And maybe that's what keeps us warm. After surgery our bodies are burning the fat stored and we are not getting as many carbs if any. So this is the only thing I can come up with. Maybe as smaller amounts of carbs are introduced this subsides . I don't know.

I too had hernia repair, sleeved on Dec 17th. I have had horrible gerd and doctor is telling me I have to ride it out that it gets better with weight loss. I hope this is true . Its not better yet, taking 40 mg Nexium twice daily and it doesn't help. Everyone is different . I hope you don't suffer with it afterward.

I have experienced this too but no one is answering why this is a symptom after surgery. I asked my surgeon and all I got was "well are you running a fever?"

I think I am going to have to try a different med. My doc said he may have stitched the hernia too tight. And the alternative fix to that is another surgery which I am not wanting anything to do with. So hopefully changing med will help. Omeprazole is stronger than Nexium?

So my most recent one "wow you lost that much already? Now you don't have to wear pull on pants."

You know what Big Mama, the easiest way to cheat is by doing it yourself. This is the problem with jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, whatever. People do lose weight but they also gain it back and can cheat because they have nothing stopping them from overeating when they get full. You have the upper hand because you have taken the step to do something, your friend hasn't . And you'll see where she winds up because of it too.

It's so condescending calling someone fat. I always referred to myself as overweight. But I am ready for people when they say something rude. Think of a good comeback when someone says I didn't recognize you as fat, say I didn't recognize you as an ass. When someone asks me if I am worried about loose skin I will say I someone else's opinion of me is none of my business

Yup stalled at 2 weeks too. Staying away from then scale now and only weighing weekly. I have lost 23lbs since surgery so this is a plus. I am drinking more Water and on soft foods now so we can expect this I guess. Surgeon says only walking right now so will do as instructed and wait and see

Sassafrassa- I had the exact same reaction. Apprehensive about whether it was the right thing to do since it was so high risk for me. And then I woke up from surgery and thought "wow I just totally did this!" I am so glad I did it before 2014 was over. Now I get to focus on the new year following the program and enjoying getting thinner.

Man those first 6 week though are a real bitch. I am on week 3 now and like you I swear I am going to metamorphosize into pea soup!

Carbonated anything can stretch the stomach. I prefer to stay away from all of it

I am 10 days post op. I am getting my Protein in and able to even do some pureed Soups. Hydration is another story, I am getting moderately dehydrated and clearly not getting enough Water intake. Any suggestions out there? I had a friend recommend Pedialyte Advance Care. Anyone have any experience with that? It has some sugar but also a balance of electrolytes and potassium. It is suppose to help prevent this even though it is usually for babies. I am just not getting enough from the water I am drinking. This is turning out to be the hardest part to do.