ShelterDog64

@@aahizzel The late June sleeve thread is here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/370515-late-june-sleeve-buddies/ Looking forward to hearing how things are going for you

Yay for no texture issues! I say 'texture issues' a LOT now I hope you're able to resolve the pain, my doc did tell me to expect some pain when twisting or reaching from the 2 outer punches high on my abdomen.

Sometimes I believe that one can feel more engaged to advice given by a member who has NOT had such a determined, straight to the finish success journey. Knowing that there are members who stumbled but who were able to overcome and get back on track can be extremely normalizing, and reassuring. Of course we all want to and need to hear about the success stories, but isn't it also important to see the members who got through to their goals after suffering set backs, battle scars, and still are living a healthier, life? Today's "newbies" have sooo much to offer. There are new procedures, new methods, new nutritional studies and guidelines. Like most medical procedures and techniques, WLS has changed--for the better in the last few years. In fact is has flipped almost 100% on some topics. We all can benefit from listening to the newbies. -----really listening---not just reading along---but consider what they have to offer and learning from them. I'm 5yrs + out and I can still look forward to learning from the well intending members who are actually here to pay it forward and not just trying to exercise "one upmanship" with humor (?) that is off the mark, base and hurtful. At 5yrs out, I don't find myself "supported or advised" by that mentation. Tough love is still supposed to be "love". There is supposed to be a compassion behind "tough love"----not just mock the poster and "let them fail". If there is no "love" behind "tough love", the advice is moot---the point is lost because being the target of the "jest" becomes "personal". I feel blessed to have come this far on my WLS journey. Do I wish my personal journey on anyone? No--no one ever! Do I think I have come through a personal tragedy at the beginning of my WLS journey and maybe --just maybe be able to help one person from having to experience the same? --or God willing, help them to get through it? I hope so. I've been a member on BP since 2011. Has the sight changed? oh, yeah. It has "circled". More than once. History truly does repeat itself. Veterans stay. Veterans go. Veterans come back. Some---a few never leave. Newbies ask the same questions? sure. They're newbies--are they supposed to ask "old" questions? Those are the same questions the Vets asked when they were newbies. Many Newbies don't stay. Many will leave and come back. Many will become tomorrow's Vets. There's nothing new or revolutionary about any of it... The circle goes round and round. Best thing I've read here yet...I'm a very very new newbie, just had surgery on 6/21, but I started reading here before I even had a surgery date. You've consistently been the person whose posts I most look forward to, Valentina. No coddling or bs from you, but you're always clear, concise and kind, even when answering questions that must make you want to scream. Everyone likes different deliveries of support and information, yours is just right for me. Thanks for taking the time to interact with those of us who are new to this whole thing, and especially for HEARING us.

I just want to second what Outside is saying here...I'm a very new newbie (surgery 6/21), but I forgot about my PPI for a few days (I'm blaming it on the Oxycontin) and definitely felt more stomach movement/gurgling/unhappiness. Now that I'm taking it correctly, I never feel anything from my stomach. Come join us in Late June Sleeve Buddies thread...no vets there to give advice, but it's nice talking with others who are right where we are

No texture issues, either? I may have to try some! Do the incisions hurt because they're scabbing and pulling on your skin or is it internal? I have 3 actual incisions and 3 small punches...the incisions healed quickly and cleanly but the punches are raised, red and the scabs pull and hurt. I've started covering them with a bit of Vaseline and a bandaid to keep them soft until they're healed. Good luck and have a great weekend!

I'm so sorry you had all those complications! I'm one of the lucky ones who's had a very smooth post-op course. Hang in there, all the extra interventions have surely set you behind, but once you're fully recovered everything should start happening the way you anticipated it in the beginning. Glad to have you join us June patients

I wondered yesterday if you were doing ok....I hope it's not something serious. Please let us know

I'm on 1) A multivitamin, I've been using barimelts until they made me vomit 2 days ago. My doc suggested gummies so I got some at GNC and they're staying down :-) 2) Calcium 3) a B-12 transdermal patch 4) Protonix 5) D3 (I've been vit D deficient for years, it's either that or not use sunscreen and get skin cancer) It is hard to get it all in.

I'm very surprised by the amount of drama, snapping at people, ignoring advice, defensiveness, etc. shown about some things. The whole Bacon Fiasco is kind of ridiculous. It's HER problem, all anyone else can do is offer advice. I'm a dreaded 'newbie' who had the audacity to offer her some options for clear liquid Protein, telling her that she's got it in her to get through this and without being overly pointed about the damned bacon. It seems like we're viewed as one autonomous and terribly bothersome group at times and that really chaps my ass. I'm not sure why there's such disdain for newbies from some posters, but I'm here to get and give support when I can and when I need it. I appreciate the wise advice from the 'vets' and would never be rude to any of you, but I'm not going to be rude to one of my cohort, either. You guys have made it to where I hope with all of my heart to be some day, but right now, I'm slogging through the first few weeks and trying to be of help anywhere I can while absorbing all I can about the road ahead.

I have severe post-anesthesia nausea (and I'm just easily nauseated in general) and I was VERY concerned about dealing with it post-op. So I pressed the issue with my doctor, the nurses, the anesthesiologist who did my pre-op appointment, the nurse anesthetist who saw me immediately post-op, etc, etc. As soon as I got to the pre-op staging area the morning of my surgery, I had a scopolamine patch placed, and they started giving me two anti-emetics by IV immediately post-op. I had severe mid-sternal pain right as I woke up from the anesthesia and they gave me IV dilaudid which took care of the pain immediately. After that I was on a morphine PCA pump until I was discharged 2 days later and it virtually eliminated my pain. I came home with liquid codeine and liquid acetaminophen and took it religiously for about 5 days. I also came home with the same 2 anti-emetics I was given in the hospital and took them religiously as well. AND, my doc prescribed Protonix, a proton pump inhibitor, to keep my stomach acid down. Long way of saying that there are DEFINITELY ways for your medical team to work with you to resolve pain and nausea. MAKE them consider your needs, don't just accept pain as a natural consequence. There's little you can do other than walking to help with the gas pain (my doc doesn't recommend using Gas-X or any simethicone as most of your gas pains are either from within your abdomen or intestines, not your stomach), maybe use a heating pad. I got up about an hour after I was moved from the post-op area, I started walking laps around the ward I was on and I did that every couple of hours the whole time I was admitted. It really helped! Sorry to have gone on for so long, but I hate to think of someone not getting adequate pain and nausea relief...there's just no reason to have severe pain, especially while admitted to the hospital. Good luck with your procedure!

@@yeaaahBEE You said "Support like these forums is new to me because I went it alone the first time and had some dark days. I don't want to do that this time. Sorry for the rant, but I feel like this time around WILL BE different." I think you've got exactly the right attitude and it doesn't sound like a rant, more like a proclamation! A fitness coach sounds great too, something I've been thinking about as well. Will you share what he/she suggests and if it's working for you? It's nice to 'meet' you!

@@donell1000 - I love this: "Every passing moment is another chance to turn it all around." It really speaks to picking yourself up and getting on with this, even on hard days I love positive you sound, I hope you stay around and post with great group of June winners!

Congratulations, miss alli! 34 pounds? That's amazing and wonderful!! I'm at 15 days and I've only lost 20 and feel like I'm kicking some serious ass!

@@chycky I thought I had True Lime but it's gone and my closest grocery didn't have it. I'm going to look at WinCo and see if they have it. I got some Mio water enhancers today, one with vitamins and one with electrolytes or some such nonsense. Mainly, they're zero or nearly zero calories and make water a little more fun. I've tried the blackberry raspberry flavor and it's very good. I also received my BP order of Syntrax nectars, I got a sample bag that has about 12 flavors in it. I'll report as I try them out

@@APanda911 Ha, that's so funny! My husband and I were out yesterday and he wanted lunch so we went to Panera. He got a bowl of soup and a half sandwich, I ate about 5 bites of soup and a couple of bites of chicken out of his sandwich and I was done! He's thrilled to have a cheap date And congrats on your weight loss! I'm losing about a pound or so a day and hoping that continues for a while! PS grouper cheeks in miso broth sounds like a meal made in heaven...I'm in the Seattle area and I'm going to search out a restaurant that makes something like that!

My 2 week post-op appt went well today! I've lost 18.5 lbs, all of my incisions are healing well and I got my diflucan! Best of all, my doc released me to eat whatever I want...he said he trusts me to do the best thing for myself and that my stomach, at 2 weeks, is healed enough to handle anything as long as I chew it veryveryvery well. No caffeine, no NSAIDs and of course no alcohol, but otherwise I'm free to eat as long as I'm shooting for 90g protein and limiting sugars/simple carbs, just as I've been doing. Tonight I had a little bit, maybe 2 oz?, of grilled salmon. It was heavenly. Now I need to start seriously tracking what I'm eating, so I need a good food tracking app. I'm using My Fitness Pal, but I don't love it. I have another app called Baritastic, but it doesn't track fiber so my dietitian doesn't like it because she wants me to track fiber later on. Do any of you use something else, or have any suggestions about things you've heard of? Sounds like we all had good appointments today, yay June sleeve buddies!

Hi Sissi829! I'm thinking the bacon might be what set him off It's not a great choice anytime but especially not during week 1. I'm so sorry for you that you're on a month of Clear liquids...that will be a challenge, but you can definitely do it! Is there a registered dietitian in your doctor's practice that can talk with you about options for high Protein clear liquids? I had my surgery on 6/21 and I really liked the lemonade flavored Isopure clear drink. It's very high protein and kept me feeling full and not hungry while I was on clear liquids. I got mine at GNC. It sounds like you may have stomach acid issues...did you have reflux prior to your surgery? I'm on a drug called Protonix for 3 months post-op to keep my stomach acid down, are you taking that or something like it? I've had zero hunger and other than swallowing Water too quickly, I don't have any pain anymore. I hope things start going better for you, hang in there. If you were committed enough to have a second surgery, you can manage this phase

Shelly's Baked Ricotta 8 oz of Ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 1 large Egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. heat the leftovers in the microwave This sounds so good too! I wish there was a 'love' button! Thanks for posting Suzzzzz!

This sounds very good! I have all the ingredients, I'm going to make it this afternoon. How much water and Isopure did you use?

I'm off to my 2 weeks post-op appointment! I'll have to confess that I've moved myself to some soft foods before I got the 'ok', but I think my doc will be fine with it. Worst thing that's happened to me post-op is that I've developed a raging yeast infection everywhere except internally :-( I've got it under my breasts, in my belly button, in my armpits...anywhere there's skin and a bit of moisture or folds. It happens every. single. time. I have to take antibiotics, it just took 13 days to appear this time. 'Diflucan or die' is my motto for today! Hope you're all having good days :-)

I had the same reaction to the protein shakes after surgery. I put mine in a blender with a few cubes of ice, it kind of lightened the density of the shake and changed the flavor a little, too. Much more bearable, at any rate!

Are you post-op? Is the pill just too hard to swallow? My PPI is a very small tablet, I think it's Protonix. I know you can crush the pill and mix with a little applesauce if that will help. I take my pills one at a time, each one with a small sip of Water.

I'm amazed, too! My husband is a Family Medicine doc and he says that over time, medicine has come to realize that the stomach doesn't just produce hormones that affect digestion, but also some that control or contribute to controlling other processes. So apparently getting most of it removed can help immediately with high blood pressure! I don't really care how it works, just glad that it does. My pressures were running VERY low while I was in the hospital, like in the 90/60 range, so my surgeon told me to skip my med and check my BP every few days. I last checked on Saturday and it was 120/78, I think? I'll take it!

This sounds very much like my experience with my husband. I'm 13 days post-op and he couldn't be a better cheerleader for me. Good luck to you!

Hi Nene21! Mine was the 21st, so I'm about a week ahead of you. How are you feeling?