leebick

You aren't a failure! You are healing, and we all heal at a different rates. Ask if there's anything you can take for the nausea, to help you be able to get more fluid in. Keep your chin up... and remember that while you might not be having a "textbook" recovery, you are NOT a failure.

Y'all do realize I was being sarcastic about the pork chops and tacos, right? It's pretty simple. Follow your program, do what your surgeon and nutritionist approve. (Or not... but don't look for justification when you know you've strayed from the program.)

A friend who had bypass told me that after a year, she could drink a "taster" beer- that is, a 4ounce beer, and it'd last her all evening and she wouldn't have a buzz, but she'd feel relaxed. That was 2 years ago. Last time I saw her, she was back to pints and had regained a LOT of weight. I think for her that 4ounce beer was a slippery slope. If you choose to drink, be careful, for many reasons.

WHAT?? We can have pork chops at one week and tacos at three weeks? Then why the hell did I bypass (get it, lol!) the prime rib and sautéed mushrooms at a dinner party last week??? OH, RIGHT... because I was 8 days post-op for sleeve surgery- DUH!

I am 3 days post-op for VGS. I followed full liquid, high-Protein shake diet for 2 weeks before surgery and am on the same diet for 2 weeks post-op. Before surgery I was taking 2 children's chewable Vitamins and 2 viactiv a day; now it's just the vitamins. Although I walked and did well while in the hospital on Friday and Saturday (surgery ws Thursday but it's a lost day to me), now that I am home I am having trouble with my calf muscles. When I walk, I can feel them start to "flutter" which is my body's sign that I'm about to have a full-blown charleyhorse in that muscle. I'm currently sipping 0 calorie gatorade diluted 1:1 with Water in between my Protein shakes. If this keeps up, I'll call the BWLS program tomorrow. Has anyone else has had this problem and, if so, what did you do for it?

Sorry it's taken me a bit to reply; it was a busy day and I am only 5 days post-op, so I came home and took a nap! I am well, I received the sleeve procedure I expected, and there's quite a 'buzz in the beehive' in medical records. The situation will resolve in the near future, but today I had to halt the meeting because I was becoming over-stressed and developing pain. Thanks to all for your support and anger on my behalf, when I was too confused and too under-the-weather to find the strength to get mad on my own!

I have a meeting with the surgeon today to go over all records. She was in surgery all day yesterday. I'm bringing a friend who is a lawyer with me- not in a professional capacity, but because it's always good to have someone along in cases like this, and her experience could be helpful. I also figured, given I am only 5 days post-op and still taking pain relief, it might help to have someone with a "clear mind" with me!

I use the Syntrax Nectars. They are 100% whey protein isolate, so 23 gm protein, no fat, no carbs (unless you mix them with skim milk or unsweetened almond milk). If you go to Si03.com and run your cursor over the upper right quadrant, it tells you how to order a sampler pack of the nectars. It's 15 packets, one each of their flavors, for $17 (shipping included). That way you can taste them all and see what you like before making an investment. You mix them with either Water or milk (you really don't want to mix the grapefruit flavor with milk- UCK!). I buy the 2lb bottles at luckyvitamin.com (cheapest source I could find).

Pain is a funny thing. I truly didn't think I was having any pain post-surgery. I had some discomfort, but isn't that to be expected after abdominal surgery? My blood pressure had been fine post-op, but during the afternoon it slowly kept increasing. Then it hit 185/85. My nurse came into the room, looked at me, and said, "Are you in pain?" I told her no, and she said, "You'd tell me if you were, right?" She left the room, came back in about 10 minutes later, and said, "Would you take a pain pill for me? I think you're in pain and don't know it." I said OK and she gave me 5mg. oxycodone. Almost immediately I started to relax and my discomfort went away. The nurse chatted with my roommate and me for about 20 mins, then took my blood pressure again. It was down to 140/70. Apparently I'd been in pain but didn't recognize it as pain. Now I know- when I get that tight feeling in my abdomen, check my bp and take my pain pill. It really does help.

Has anyone had any luck eating melted cheese? I am not to the puree point yet, but when I am there will be business meetings that I have to attend, held in local pubs, and I'm not sure what I can eat. I was thinking soup maybe (although I fear I may never want to eat soup again after all this, LOL), or chili but there's no way to puree, or the melted cheese from a pizza (but it'd probably stiffen up too quickly). Any suggestions on what to look for on restaurant menus during the puree stage?

Everyone's program is different. ON day 1 after surgery, I was on water and ice chips (30 mls water every hour). On day 2 after surgery, i was on 4oz of high protein shake or low-sodium strained cream soup three times a day, and 64 ounces of clear liquids. From day 3-day 14 (so now), I am allowed four 8 ounce high protein shake (less than 150 calories per 8 ounces), 32 ounces of clear fluids. Sugarfree popsicles count as clear fluid, but no jello post-surgery. I can substitute one of the protein shakes with strained low-fat healthy request cream soup or a light greek yogurt (Dannon light and fit Greek is what's recommended). Premier protein shakes are discouraged as they are made from whey protein concentrate (instead of isolate) and have oil, cellulose gums and gel, and carrageenan in them. After 2 weeks i will have a follow up visit with my surgeon and nut, and they will determine whether I advance to the pureed stage or stay on liquids for another week. I was on the liquid diet for 2 weeks pre-surgery, so it's getting pretty old. Yup, 19 days with no solid food so far, only 11 to go!

I think I wasn't clear when I reported the BWLS program manager's response. She isn't carelessly throwing out "oh come on in for a barium swallow" as if it's not a big deal. She said she was going to investigate with the floor nurses, the computer people, check records (I assume admission and surgical), etc., to get to the bottom of this and mentioned the barium swallow as something that was available if there was no clear evidence that I had sleeve surgery. I don't think she was being frivolous or irresponsible. However, I sure would like to hear back from them soon!

I talked with the BWLS program manager and she is going to talk with the surgeon and the nurses on the floor where I stayed post-surgery. She says it's more than likely a computer glitch that they will need to figure out, but if necessary I might have to have a barium swallow so they can see that I have a sleeve and not a bypass. She said she'd get back to me later today. I am NOT going to be happy if I have to undergo and pay for a test that shouldn't have been necessary, except for a computer glitch! I'll keep you posted!

This is a Center of Excellence, and my surgeon trains other surgeons world-wide in robotic laparoscopic procedures. I thought it was a good choice! I'll get it straightened out tomorrow and post the outcome.

I think I would have gone on the hunt for a lawyer, too!

Yes, I had surgery at the medical center that is a 15 minute drive from my house. Turns out that I was my surgeon's first case of the day and her second case was a woman who was a former student of my husband, AND the case manager on the med-surge floor where I stayed is a friend with whom I'd lost touch over the past few years. Small world... sometimes too small! Also, no swallow test- my surgeon doesn't do them.

Wow. I was 9/15 ... I can't even think of solid food (although I was tempted to pur the lasagna my husband had for dinner in the blender). I'm choking down water, but can't get enough even sipping all day. I'm so glad you're doing well, and your surgeon seems awesome with the pain control and actual food. Congrats and best wishes to you! LOL, my husband had lasagne for dinner tonight too- and it smelled AMAZING! I went upstairs with my water...

Nope, no gummies. Thanks for the suggestion, though. Hmm.. maybe I could dissolve them in some Water.

On the day after surgery, my surgeon came in and said surgery went well, and then talked to me about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which she discovered during surgery. She wanted to make sure I understood what it meant because it is in the surgical notes and she didn't want it to be a surprise, and also the causes and how to deal with it. She checked around my incisions, which are covered with steri-strips. On the next day, when I was discharged, she wasn't on call (it was a Saturday) but the covering physician came in and talked about the dietary requirements, exercise, and what to watch for in case my incisions became infected. I don't recall either of them mentioning bypass or sleeve, to be honest. I know my surgeon knows I wanted the sleeve. She even asked me why I'd changed my mind from the first meeting, to do the sleeve instead of the bypass. However, when the admissions nurse called me 2 weeks before the surgery, she said "bypass" and I said no, sleeve. She laughed slightly and said, "better change that!" or something to that effect. When I checked into the hospital on 9/15, I don't remember the admitting nurse mentioning the procedure at all; I just gave her my name and said I was scheduled for surgery with Dr. T at 7:30am and she started asking me to sign on the electronic pad for permission to treat and HIPPA. I just realized I didn't read the HIPPA form because I know what it says, but I didn't read the permission to treat form- in fact, none was offered and I was so anxious I didn't think to ask to read it. Honestly, I just remembered this as I was typing NOW, and I know it was stupid not to ask for the paperwork. The admitting nurse never offered paperwork, just said, "Please sign the pad for permission to treat, and again for HIPPA." And I don't remember anyone in pre-op asking what I was in for, just my name and birthdate, and they scanned my bracelet before they did each IV line and before giving me the pre-op meds. I guess bypass would be OK except it's NOT what I wanted, for what I think are very sound reasons. I'm sure it's just a paperwork error. Oh crap.

Surprisingly, the chocolate almond milk doesn't taste that good! I use the unsweetened vanilla almond milk or the unsweetened regular. I like Almond Breeze brand the best (and Walmart's brand tastes identical and is a bit cheaper!).

All the banana shakes are artificially flavored, no real banana at all! (but there sure is a lot of "stuff" in the premier porting shakes ). I had my husband pick up some Powerade Zero today, and tried to get in as much Water as I'm supposed to have, but that was difficult. Also, when I made broth I was careful to avoid salt, but put a little in tonight for the sodium. I am only 3 days post-op so I'm going to hold off on the pickle juice and mustard for now! I'm going to call a doctor tomorrow (have to figure out who to call- surgeon's office? PCP... who has no idea of stuff related to VGS? Nut?) and see if I can take some kind of electrolyte supplement.

I was thinking maybe magnesium, but never thought about dehydration. Sigh. So much drinking, and none of it exciting! Yuppers, I'm here on the loser's bench. It only took 3 tries, but as they say, three's a charm!!

I paid attention to what my husband was taking when he did his colonoscopy prep; I figured if it was good enough for that, it'd help me with my post-surgery issues! However, I haven't had an issue yet. I was 2 weeks full liquid high protein diet, and am following the same diet post-op. I am 3 days post-op and had a small bowel movement this morning without any outside help, but I'm not sure how it's going to go over the next 2 weeks. I have my dulcolax pills ready- left over from my husband's "experience"!

I made my own broth. I bought a couple of grocery store rotisserie chickens and had my husband remove the meat from the bones. Put the bones in a pot with about 1 quart water and 1 quart of store-brand chicken broth, half an onion, about 5 stalks of celery (roughly chopped) and a couple handfuls of mini-carrots. I let that simmer, covered, for about 3 hours. Strained out all the solids, then strained the broth through a cheesecloth-lined sieve. Chill and remove fat. It tastes DIVINE. You can do the same thing with beef bones- just roast them in the oven, covered with foil, for about 2 hours at 350, then substitute beef broth for the chicken broth. It's also amazing, and they are both LIGHT YEARS better than any canned or boxed broth. You can control the sodium content this way, too!

Have you tried the Syntrex Nectars? They are 100% whey Protein isolate, no carbs, no sugars, just ~22 protein per serving. Some of them you mix with skim milk (although I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk) and some with Water. They also have an unflavored protein product that I am currently mixing into almost everything (having real trouble drinking more than a couple of ounces of anything) and I can't taste it, even in plain water. Go to www.si03.com and put your cursor over the monthly special. It'll tell you how to order their sampler pack (15 single-serving flavors for $17with shipping) so you can test out flavors and see what you like. Although you can order the sampler pack only once, you can order the 2 pound containers more cheaply from places like luckyvitamin.com I cannot tolerate the ready-to-drink shakes. They taste like cooked protein and feel slimy; that's why I was looking at powdered WPI.