Tiffykins

Everyone has down days. I can imagine the cornbread not settling at this point. Good thing is that you can try it in the future. I can eat a small portion of corn bread nowadays. Are you able to get in your Protein? If not, that can help increase your energy. I used Gas X strips after eating to help cut down on gas. It does get better. Don't give in to the temptation of soda especially this early out. Your staple line is still healing. Hang in, and know we're all here for you.

What stage of the post-op diet are you on from your surgeon/nutritionist? I didn't try any Protein bars until I was about 3 months out when I had been tolerating a variety of solid foods.

Thank you all so very much. I was not given Actigall post-op because I had zero history of GB attacks, and because my revision was going to be extensive they didn't want to risk another complication. I've read a lot of conflicting information on the drug Actigall so I wouldn't of probably taken it to begin with. . . My symptoms were the explosive diarrhea and dry heaving on Saturday night after I went out to dinner. Then Sunday, I was super puny. Monday the pain while eating and drinking started and progressed to get worse. The pain came when I ate or drank anything. Then it would radiate across my abdomen, and shoot up to my left shoulder. Today, I've been able to eat some wheat thins with PB, and it has stayed down. Unfortunately, the shoulder pain has gone from occasionally to constant. It's a nawing, sharp pain, not throbbing, but constant. I'm learning to just deal with it. I got 2 percocets at the ER, and they did absolutely nothing for the pain, so I'm not going to ask for more pain meds. Thank you all for your support, well wishes, thoughts and prayers.

I never had a true stall. For it to be a stall, you have to lose zero pounds for at least 2 weeks. Fortunately, I never experienced this until I was close to goal. I weigh every day, multiple times a day. I'm a bit compulsive, and during my "losing" stage it kept me accountable. It made me strive for my goal. Others do not want to have that on their mind, but my husband was deployed, I wasn't allowed to drive for quite some time, so I was pretty homebound. It sucked, but weighing gave me something to do as well. Next time, I'm going to pick up a crochet needle and yarn. LOL I'm still scale obsessed at 8 months post-op. I don't see it changing even though I'm below goal.

I actually went back and re-read my lab reports. My ALT was low <6, and CREAT (kidney function) was borderline low at 3. My Lipase (pancreas enzyme) was normal, and so were my ALB, & Alkphos. I'm going in on Tuesday at 10am with hopes of being admitted, then surgery on Wednesday.

Thank you both. WW - I read up on Actigall, and found it to can be toxic to the liver. Also, the side effects of nausea, vomitting and stomach pain was going to possibly hinder my recovery. I've read where some surgeons do remove the gallbladder during sleeve and RNY surgeries. The reason it was not removed during my revision is because I had zero history of having GB problems, and the fact that I was revising from band to sleeve. I found out this week that I was in surgery for about 5.5-6 hours for the initial revision and another 6 hour operation to repair the leak 2 days later. Now, of course, I wish they would of taken mine. I'm trying to prepare mentally for another surgery. Good news today is I was able to eat about 12 Reduced fat wheat thins with some Peanut Butter, and it didn't leaving my abdomen aching.

Rob, I completely agree with the mantra of "it's more than being thin". I battled obesity for so many years as well, and finally at 33 years of age, I truly feel like I'm living life, and not just coasting through it. Best wishes on getting a date. Have you been tested for insulin resistance? I know a few patients on obesityhelp that struggled dropping weight even with the sleeve ended up being insulin resistant, and needed to be on metformin(i think that's the drug name) for a couple of months post-op until their bodies caught up with them. Keep us posted ! ! !

DeeDee, I'm so elated for you, and all of your success ! ! !

I'm a revision patient from band to sleeve. Hated the band, and love the sleeve. I had complications with my band, flipped port, couldn't get access to get a fill, gained back part of the weight I loss, and the flipped port was so severely twisted it caused the tubing of the band to literally tug on my stomach. I only had my band for 8 months. I revised on June 3rd 2009, and lost 112 by the week of Christmas with the sleeve. I'm hovering between 141-143 right now. Life with the sleeve is awesome. Instant restriction, no fills, unfills, I honestly believe it was easier to "learn" to eat with the sleeve because of all the problems with eating with the band. The 2 procedures are like night and day as is life post-op. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me via private messaging. There are several of us revision patients on the forum. Here's their member names if you'd like to look up their posts as well. Annak4 OregonDaisy Fabby50

If you can hide, or get rid of the all the temptations. I can only imagine how hard a liquid pre-op diet is because I just had to do atkin's for a week. I know you can do it ! ! ! Stay strong. . . It'll be worth it.

Congrats loosing ! ! ! Getting out, and about will definitely make you feel better. I know just strolling up and down my porch made a huge difference in how I felt.

Gary, I'm so glad to hear you had a great experience with Dr. Aceves and his staff. That trip home just sounds horrific. Keep sipping, and walking. Welcome to the loser's bench. It's a great place to be ! ! !

So glad to hear you are home, and feeling great. As for the appetite thing, I'm 8 months out and still never feel hunger. On Thursday, I ate 5 macadamia nuts at 1pm, then made a trip to the ER on Thursday night at 9pm. I wasn't able to eat without pain, this was going on all week, but I couldn't get my surgeon to call me back. He wasn't getting my messages. Anyways, I did not eat again until 4pm on Friday afternoon. I never once felt hunger, or hunger pangs. I'm having gallbladder surgery hopefully one day this week because my GB is full of stones. That's what is causing the abdominal pain.

I eat spicy food all of the time. We eat out for mexican a few times a month. I make spicy food at home. I have been able to eat jalepeno poppers, sliced jalepenos, and salsa since I was about 4-5 months out. I've only had one case of breakthrough heartburn, and I think it's because I laid down too soon after eating. I eat a lot of fajita meat, enchiladas (3/4 of a chicken or cheese enchilda), quesadilla (2 slices out of the 4). I'll have 4-5 tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole. When I eat out Thai food, I also order chicken pad thai medium plus 2. Which is 2 levels from hot on their spicy level. I eat 4 pieces of the chicken or beef, then I take a break, let my body process the meat, and then eat some of the noodles.

So, glad to hear you are home and recovering. Keep us posted ! ! !

Looking fabulous ! ! !

I started taking the Wellbutrin last week. All was well until Monday. I noticed that anytime I ate or drank anything, water, tea, coffee, yogurt, meat, cheese, anything that my stomach would cramp then this weird pain will radiate across my abdomen and head up to my left collarbone. It wasn't too terrible on Monday. On Tuesday, I noticed it more, but was determined to eat and not lose anymore weight. Yesterday, I felt horrible. Anything that crossed my lips hurt my sleeve. I can push on my abdomen under my last rib on the left side and it's tender. I called my surgeon on Monday, no call back by Wednesday, called yesterday and left a message again at 11:30am. Here it is 2pm, and no return phone call. I called my PCM, the office closes early on Thursday. 2 nights ago, I pulled out the patient info insert for the Wellbutrin, and low and behold one of the side effects is stomach pain. Also, unexplainable weight loss. The other issue is bad breath. Yesterday, John leaned in to kiss me, and he said "babe, not to be rube, but did you brush your teeth today". I had actually brushed my teeth twice. When I breathe out, my breath smells sour/acidic. I haven't taken any more Wellbutrin since Monday. I'm suspecting gallbladder issues even though the pain is on the left side. I do not feel comfortable going to the ER considering my history with anesthesia, clotting disorder and recovery issues after my leak repair. I want my surgeon to do surgery on me since he is a bariatric surgeon and general surgeon. He knows all of my history. He knows all the complications, and all my medical records are at his fingertips there. If I go to the ER, it's going to be a clusterf*ck, and I'm going to freak out on them if they screw up. I called the pharmacist, and he said it could take a couple more days for the Wellbutrin to get out of my system. But, I'm not feeling too hopeful. It's starting to effect my fluid intake. I'm petrified of getting dehydrated. I just don't know what to do. Only good news in all of this is that I have not lost anymore weight since Monday. Fingers crossed I hear from my surgeon soon.

The best word that I can use is "effortless". My life super normal other than eating smaller portions than most people. During my weight loss stage, I was more conscious on my calorie, carb, and Protein counts. But, now it's just normal.

Congrats on getting your date ! ! ! Keep us posted on how you are doing with everyone.

Congrats, and I'm glad you are home. Rest, sip, burp, walk, and then repeat. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Glad you were able to update. I hope you start feeling better soon. Sip, walk, and ask for meds for the nausea. Take care of yourself, safe in your travels back home.

I don't understand all the spandex/clingy fabric either. And, I'm totally with you on the black clothing. I only own 2 black items. 1 cardigan that I wear tanktops unders, and 1 black tanktop LOL. I do have 2 pair of black slacks, but those are staples in any wardrobe. I found this dress, I'm not sure if it's something you'd like, but I thought the color was gorgeous. Product: Adrianna Papell Bolero Jacket Dress Here's a difference version, similar design different color: Product: Jessica Howard Tiered Bolero Jacket Dress This is probably something I would wear plus it's on clearance ! ! ! Product: Night Way Shantung Dress Good luck shopping ! ! !

I've only had one bout of serious constipation. I used Miralax, and it was resolved without cramping or issues. I know some post-ops that have this issue, add that benefiber into their water to help with constipation.