Jagator88

I am feeling much better since my esophagus has opened enough to let all the Fluid go down and nothing is coming out of the neck drain. Hopefully this means I will have a surgery in approx 2 1/2 weeks then another 2 weeks after that. 2 weeks after the second surgery I should get rid of the feeding tube which is causing quite a bit of discomfort. I went for a pain management consult last week and the doctor added a nerve medication that is really helping but it is only 2 x per day. Hopefully in the next 6-7 weeks the only thing I will be chatting about on these boards is what I am eating and what weight I have lost just like a "normal" vsger. Thank you for your concern:001_smile:

what dosage for biotin and b12 is recommended?

I'm not exactly sure but it had something to do with the hernia removal during the VSG surgery. Apparently the hernia was huge. The repair was done here in the U. S at a Mayo hospital. I have pages and pages of reports that Dr. Zapata supplied as well as a dvd that I need to someday review.

I have a wonderful boss who is continuing to pay me. He also paid the additional $16,000 hospital bill in Mexico and the $22,000 airvac bill to get me back home to a U. S. hospital. We will eventually workout a repayment plan even if it's not for all of it. Hubby took a major hit in pay as he was with me in Mexico for the over 3 weeks I was there and then took time off for all the surgeries. It hurts a little financially but we had paid off both vehicles and our mortgage is reasonable. I'm just not sure how long my boss will be able to deal with me being gone. I can do quite a bit from home but not everything. I was hoping to go back to work part-time next week which is one of the reasons it is so upsetting that the surgery didn't work.

Thank you all so much!!!!!!!! God brought me through thus far and I have to trust he will carry me the rest of the way. What does not kill us makes us stronger. I just wish God didn't have so much faith in me.

Surgery did not go as well as hoped. I noticed a lot more fluid going into the bag after surgery than before but attributed it to swelling. Not wanting to wait the whole weekend withou knowing for sure I called the doctors office. He was not available to talk to me after the surgery. His nurse called back and said that according to the notes they were unable to dialate my esophogus as much as needed so I was being rescheduled to try again in a week. Disappointing but a week I could deal with. The problem is if they stretch too much too fast it can damage my esophagus and there is no tissue left to do another repair. Later onthe doctor called and sais he was not willing to attempt again for a MONTH. All I could do was cry. Another month of just ice chips! And, worst of all, another month of these damn, stupid ostomy bags that no matter how much skin adhesive you use start to leak within hours. He says that once the swelling goes down I may be opened enough that limited amount of fluid will go into the bag. I don't find that much consolation!

I am having the first step of a 2 part surgery to close up the spit fistula tomorrow. I will have the 2nd surgery in about 2 weeks. As of tomorrow I will be on full liquids. So far all I have been able to have since the initial surgery is ice chips. I am soooo looking forward to a glass of unsweetened tea w/ splenda. Not sure if I'll be up to it after surgery tomorrow but I hope very soon after.

Would love to keep the make-up chat going. Also any home remedies for hair, skin, or nail care.:smile1:

Prayers comin' at ya!

I had a leak which seems to be the least of my complications. My esophagus was destroyed and had to be rebuilt from muscle (I keep meaning to ask the doctor where the muscle came from). My left lung was severely infected. It collapsed. I had a team of 4 doctors doing surgery simultaneously to save my life. I currently have a spit fistula and a feeding tube. Hopefully the fistula will come out in the next 10 days or so and the feeding tube in a few weeks. I've been having daily episodes of vomiting due to the fistula. The nurse just called me to say it is because I am dehydrated. I am now supposed to get in 64 ounces of Water on top of the liquid Protein that takes 14 hours to go through. Guess I'll be married to this recliner until the fistula and feeding tube come out! Other than that I am wonderful:crying:

Oh, that's bad!!! I like the way you think but that's bad

June 4th here

I wanted to pass this information on for those going to Mexico for surgery and using Verizon cell phones. You can change your plan to an international Mexico plan and it covers all roaming and long distance while in Mexico. It adds about $15.00 per month to your bill but you can have it changed effective the day you arrive in Mexico and change it back to your regular plan the day you return therefor only paying about an extra $2.50 to $3.00. This would be about 3 minutes on the international .99 cent per ment plan that they also offer.

Ahhhhh...I love you too right now...lol. Glad to be of service.

So what do you do if you get home and start experiencing problems? I haven't been to my primary care doctor since I scheduled my surgery but I did call and leave a message with him that I was having it done (just not where). If I am supposed to rely on my primary care doctor for follow-up issues I might have to change doctors.

Excellent! That is a good frame of mind to start this procedure, treat your body as well as you can because if it wears out, you won’t have any place to live! This means learning what full really feels like, knowing that stomachs make growly noises for reasons other than hunger, that you deserve to eat small portions of the freshest fruits, vegetables, lean meats. That you can eat on the road by stopping at a deli for 5 cooked prawns or 3 thin slices of roast beef and an orange or carrot sticks, most things in a bun at a drive thru defile your body. It is all about taking the best care of you, and you do deserve it! Thanks Judy!!! A wonderful Friday morning pick me up!

No, this was a reply I received on my personal email. I just thought the words were very encouraging and might benefit those still sitting on the fence about having the surgery done. I know they gave me a little umph on this Friday morning.

I will be testing mine as soon as I get there. If it doesn't work I have my laptop to contact them and make sure they get it right. I am a communications junkie and MUST have contact with the outside world....lol

I believe you spoke to someone who didn't have a clue as the person I spoke to kept telling me the same thing. I had already looked it up on the net so she asked a supervisor on lo and behold they do have an international plan for Mexico. I will pm you with my cell number as the rep told me if she had a cell number to reference it would make it easier to research the plan.

Thank you. This information and the information I just received from Judy (Dr. Zapata's rep) make me feel much more comfortable. Also, my ob/gyn and my pulmonologist are onboard with this surgery so if my pcp refuses to support me (and I don't know yet that he isn't) I, at least, have them for support.

I'm not concerned about immediately after the surgery or even a few days. My concern is a couple of weeks after when you think you are healed and you tend to over do it. I can see me doing something stupid like that. Only because it is summer and my husband likes to go a lot. Especially on the motorcycle. I guess I'll have to use my good sense and let him go without me for the first month or so :smile: Bummer!

I still need to shop for Vitamins, Protein, liquids, pajamas/lounge wear for the hospital/hotel. I need tips on what you were comfortable in after surgery. I don't want to make the mistake of wearing something that will irritate the incisions. Someone said a sports bra vs underwire. Ummm...I'm thinking this will be a good excuse not to have to wear one at all...lol! Had a long conversation with Judy tonight (Dr. Zapata's representative) and found out she lived here in Jax and her sister's husband was military. I live right across from the base. He family member is a sheriff's officer a couple of cities away. I told her I was going to name drop if I ever got pulled over there. She said tell him Judy will be upset and they will listen. Nice, comfortable conversation. Makes me feel more comfortable with my choice. I hope I still have this confidence come next week!

lol...I was not as blessed in that area. I could get away without wearing one if I have on a loose shirt or a tank underneath. OK, so where exactly are the incisions? I heard some people say they have 2 and others say up to 5. I guess O should ask Dr. Zapata or if any Zapata sleevers read this maybe they can tell me.

I'm glad to hear he thinks this will subside soon. And also glad he called you back for your own peace of mind.

This is going to sound very straange so ask your doctor before trying. My son had chronic diarrhea when he was a tot. The doctor had me give him Metamucil 4 times a day. I know this is a laxative but as it was explained to me - It is a bulk forming laxative and will bulk up the diarrhea. It basically creates the same consistency for all BMs.