Sweettoothless

With my new insurance they told me the run them at 6months but since I am new to their program they are running mine now (I'm not even 3 months yet) they messed up and didnt tell me 2 of them had to be fasting even though I called to double check so I had to change my appointment with them so I can go back to the lab and get the last 2 tests done (B vites I think)

If you can swing it I would pay the upcharge for a private room. I had my own and it was awesome not having the TV on and being able to pee when I needed to. There was a fold-out couch for my husband but he would have been my Helga-the-He-Devil because he is an extrovert and high energy and talks a lot! I loved my private time to recuperate and read. The only time I have ever had to share a room was when baby #2 arrived. They wanted me to share a labor room with a woman who brought her husband and nearly every relative she had with her. She shaved herself "downstairs" and left the mess all over the bathroom where I needed to go vomit constantly (I had a freakish vomity second childbirth, 1 and 3 were dry). I finally held my nurses wrist and my husband and told them to either get me out of there or I was going to go to another hospital (probably a bluff as I was vomiting and dehydrated) because no way was I laboring in that nut house. This was an upscale hospital with Laura Ashley birthing-freaking-suites that were all occupied. The nurse felt for me and moved me to a tiny single room with a single bed that had all of the hospital birthing equipment stored. There was a narrow path to the bed. I was grateful. People bopped in to get equipment but I dealt with it. Afterwards I had to share a room. The lady was fine but her husband was very sick and coughed non-stop as well as loads of visitors that had to walk past me so I couldn't wait to get out of there.

I resist talking about my dad's surgery here because his tale is not mine to tell BUT since I am nameless and he doesnt internet it's ok. His kidney doctor told him to stop taking calcium. They just do blood tests to make sure he has enough or whatever. I dont agree. (He is a few years out and met his goal) My first urologist said calcium citrate does not contribute to kidney stones, high purine or oxalate foods do such as spinach and tea. My new urologist (new insurance) said whoa on the calcium and on all vitamins above 100% RDA but he wont put it in writing and defers to the bariatric doctor. I am sticking with bariatric stuff because I can live with kidney stones but will die malnourished. I am guessing the food volume being reduced so drastically should help. I have to get surgery and a stent placed next month.

I have kidney stones but probably started growing them pre-surgery since I was treated for a bunch of UTI for blood in my urine the year prior. I didnt feel like I had a uti, no painful pee etc. But passed 2 after surgery and had the tell tale back pain to go with them so that pointed to kidney stones. And then I started filtering my pee and there was enough sand to fill a bucket. Not really but peeing sand feels bad too. I have to have surgery next month because I have a 1.5 centimeter one that is too big to pee out. I came to snoop the forums because the kidney stone diet is totally nuts. And doesnt mesh with after surgery diet. Going to a new appt with new bariatric docs (since I now have kaiser) to figure out wtf. Kidney guy doesnt want me to take any vitamins over 100% RDA and non protein powder and no collagen. He is deferring to the bariatric docs whom I assume will refer back to him. Basically I'll follow bariatric stuff because I dont want to die from too little protein etc. So be prepared when the urologist hands you the most absurd diet you have ever seen. Only corn, squash, kale, parsnips and 6oz max total all day for animal protein: chicken, pork, fisg, low fat dairy. No spinach, no fruit, no anything. They actually said sugar was ok wtf. I am sort of freaking out.

Those first 2 weeks I craved a hotdog on a bun with relish and mustard. It popped in my head non-stop but I told myself when I got to soft foods I could have it (or a bit of it) so it wasn't taboo. But the weird thing is I freaking loathe hotdogs. Absolutely gag at the thought. When the time came I had one bite and was all, ew gross and threw it away.

I loved plain Greek yogurt with Frank's hot sauce on it. I don't want it now but I ate the hell out of it post surgery. And fair life milk with flavorless protein powder.

A lot of things change after surgery and your taste buds might be one of them. None of the snack foods I used to love sound good to me anymore. My program isn't low carb but we aren't allowed to snack, only 3 meals. My snacks of choice were always sweet ones. Like I could eat the heck out of fruit snacks. But now I have zero desire for them. My number one favorite food was ice cream and now it grosses me out. I want spice and sour and bitter. I also used to love mindlessly eating something bland like pretzels and now they just taste so bland. Things might change for me when I am further out but I am just so used to not eating snacky stuff now the habit feels broken. I buy less crap for my kids (who are all 18 and over and in school) because it is so easy to pass by the Twinkie displays now.

I have been looking for this thread! I had a nurse call me to let me know I had more bloodwork ordered and I asked her about biotin. She had not heard of it and she said she'd look into it because she takes biotin herself. I told her it was an FDA thing and not Buzzfeed. I have to get blood work next week so I'll ask the blood people.

Which flavors do you like? I've tried them all because we got a sample bag of every flavor. I bought mango-pineapple and caramel. Just like starburst. I dont like sweets so much anymore so I've switched to the horse pills Citrical.

Oh Grammy! This just sucks so much. I am so sad for your heartache and loss.

Thank you for that. I just had some hormone labs done and am taking lots of biotin. I'll have to tell my doctor at my next visit.

If you have any kind of sense of smell stay away from the Bariatric Advantage chewable. They smell like an actual peed in diaper that was left sitting out. Vomitous. The taste is not great and they are huge but the smell is the worst thing. I told the nutritionist and she said yeah I think they are gross too. I had some on my table laid out a few days post surgery (because my place said to get going on vitamins right away) and my daughter sat next to me and said ew what is that smell, it smells like a pee diaper?! I could smell it on my fingers long after I chewed them. I still have a nearly full bottle and I'd rather lose the $ than open the bottle and smell it again.

There is a great post from 4 hours ago called Pouch Rules for Dummies. Even though you had sleeve there is some really great info there about reasons why you shouldn't drink before, during, or an hour after. Just search the title and you can find it. I'd copy and send you my stuff but I had rny.

Same. I emailed it and messengered it to myself and then took screenshots just to make sure I don't lose this info. Now just to make sure i am reading this right, this is info for after 6 months out? Is water loading ok on a smaller scale for <6months? And if you aren't taking a protein shake or protein milk in place of a meal, how the heck do you get the protein powder in during the early months? Especially since i am guilty of soft meals like low sugar yogurt or cottage cheese with pp mixed in as a nice meal (i am one week into month 3).

Has anyone been directed to take 1500mg of calcium daily (divided into 3 doses at least an hour apart and of course away from other vitamins)? My pcp seems to think it's excessive but I don't wanna diiiiie! Lol. I also take a bariatric multi and a biotin and once in awhile a dropperful of liquid b. I loathe the 3 doses of calcium.

Thank you so much for sharing this or re-posting. So much good stuff in there. And explanations for the things my nut said like spacing the meals. I love knowing the reason behind everything. I've never even heard of water loading. I also never understood the reason behind the need to not drink 15 mins before eating so I might have been sloppy on that rule but "food soup" makes absolute sense.

That sounds like a lot but at least they are being thorough. My place didn't do much. One nutrition. One psych eval (done in house so it was pretty fast and easy). No liver shrinking diet. No sleep study. No endoscopy. I feel for you but at least there will be no surprises on surgery day.

Sounds like you have a good team! Especially the bariatric surgeon having oncology experience.

My first poop was more scary and more painful than delivering my first child. And I had no drugs and he had a big melon. Memories of my first poop give me more anxiety than the 2 kidney stones i have to get blasted soon. More pain than the last 6mm stone I passed with no drugs or medication. That's how much I feel your feels. I just bought the cheap glycerin suppositories at walmart. It is around $4 for a ton of them or $2 for a starter bottle. You pop one in and watch TV or take a hot bath and 15-30 minutes later you have soft serve instead of icicle. That has alleviated a lot of my worries, knowing I dont ever have to granite poo again. (So glad this discussion isnt on fb and we can be totally candid!)

Would pancreatic surgery at a weight of 320ish be all that more dangerous than if you were at 180, assuming you aren't 4'6"? I would do a consult with a bariatric surgeon (keeping in mind they want you to be their client most likely) to see if it would complicate a treatment/surgery protocol for cancer. I've had a couple of health issues pop up just after surgery (not related to surgery) and I find that non-bariatric medical folks are unclear about the new way my body works. Such as drinking a big-to-me bottle of contrast dye before a ct scan etc. Or not producing a big cup of urine on demand for testing. That being said I have some wonky boobs that may or may not decide to go cancer that I have to have scanned every 6 months and those folks totally encouraged me to have the fastest weight loss possible to make detection and treatment easier. (And they weren't ginormous to begin with.)

And I totally know what you mean by poop anxiety! I had no idea poo would be a worry so I wasn't prepared. Now I have the suppositories in every bathroom.

Use the glycerin suppositories. It softens up your poop so you aren't pooping granite. I use them a few times a week especially when eating meat. Supplements and protein powder and lack of fiber really jack up our systems. I tried colace but I like the faster moving of the glycerin suppository. I've used milk of magnesia a couple of times but it takes over night to work. I don't want to be on laxatives for life or for my butt to forget how to poo so I feel more comfortable with the glycerin, not that it is a joy sticking them up there. I'm only 2 1/4 months out of rny so I hope things work themself out.

He had a 5 week long gout attack and was willing to try anything that's why he took a random pill from a co-worker.

Drinking cherry juice and taking cherry pills helps my husband keep his gout at bay. When he lays off the cherry pills and juice and feels an attack coming on he takes a certain pill and the attack completely goes away. He tried other pills and they did nothing so I think it depends on the person what will work. I dont think it is ibuprofen based so it might be ok. He found the pill because his medicine wasnt working and one of his co-workers gave him on of his and they were like magic pills. I think I have a pic of them I'll look for it and post it.

Do you have any other new symptoms? You are right, that is a lot to lose so quickly 18 months post surgery. I hope you find some answers soon.