Tiffykins

I had to go on Prilosec because I was having some reflux symptoms. Tums nor Pepcid Complete didn't work once the acid was overproducing in my tummy. The bad taste in your mouth could be from you body being in ketosis. This sounds gross, but to combat the nausea from "food" smells, I smeared a dab of Vick's vapor rub under my nose to avoid smelling stuff. I suffered quite a bit of nausea, and was on phenegran and reglan, but both made me exhausted. My surgeon switched me over to Zofran which worked fabulously with no side effects.

Unfortunately, Chantix isn't covered by our insurance, and it's a little on the pricey side for me to pay out of pocket. I want to try it, but we just can't afford it right now.

Glad you are feeling better Megan ! ! !

I ate pretty regularly. I was just really label conscious. It will work for you, and everyone's body is different. Also, my sleeve is shorter than most patients since they had to remove more tissue during my leak repair. Your sleeve may be a bit bigger than mine, or your body may be adjusting differently. Some days, I can take more food in, but I think a lot of my issues go back to having to eat so slowly, and chewing excessively. I still don't have hunger, and if we go out to eat, my husband and son, know that we'll be at the restaraunt for at least an hour. I have trained myself to eat super slow. It's a habit now. If I take my time, I can eat more at one sitting. I relied on greek yogurt and laughing cow cheese. When I got to soft solids, I ate deli meat with laughing cow. I did have a couple of weeks where mashed potatoes were my staple. But, I only ate about 2 oz of them. They were super filling. I would say that 90% of the time I stayed below 30 grams of a carbs a day. Some day, I would have a few more, but I never got over 50 carbs a day. It was just a rule I followed within my surgeon's and nutritionist post-op diet. Now, I'm getting in more carbs because I'm trying to maintain.

I didn't eat eggs, and I didn't do Protein shakes. The protein shakes I did use later on only have 4grams of carbs, and 24 grams of protein. I ate Greek Yogurt with Splenda, and only occasionally would I have a yoplait yogurt. Most protein shakes I tried had less than 6 grams of carbs with at least 24-30 grams of protein. I stayed around 30 grams of carbs per day. If I had a yoplait yogurt, I didn't have any other carbs that day unless it was a few carbs from cheese like Laughing Cow 1 wedge on has 1 carb. Okios greek yogurt has 18carbs in 1 cup. When I was eating yogurt, I could only eat 1/4 cup so I was only get in a little more than 4 grams of carbs. Now, I might be able to eat 1/2 to 3/4 cup of Greek Yogurt, but it would take forever. I wish I could help more, and yes you are eating much less, and consuming less carbs, but your body is still adjusting.

I'm by no means an expert, but I had to stay below 30 carbs during the weight loss stage. I honestly think that is why I lost so regularly. I never had a true stall. I had a 10 day stall in December, but it broke with a 3lb loss one morning. I still rarely get more than 50 grams of carbs a day. If the Protein count wasn't at least 4-5 times that of the carb gram count, I didn't touch it. That was my one rule. That's the main reason I steered clear of those Carnation instant drinks, and the Special K protein waters. There's just too many carbs in there for me to justify the protein intake. I hope the stall breaks soon.

I wish I had some advice, but all I can offer to tell you that it will work and I'm here for you. What's your daily carb intake? The reason I ask is the only way I was able to actually hit a stall was when I started incorporating more carbs, and I've been able to maintain.

I'm so glad you are having so many wonderful victories in your life ! ! !

I didn't have any co-morbidities. For my band surgery, I had to have a full lab work up, chest xray, ekg, urinalysis, nutritionist consult, and a psych eval. For my revision, I had all of the above, plus a hematology work up with an oncologist because I had issues with bleeding. Come to find out I have an idiopathic clotting disorder, and for any surgery I have to be given medication the day before, the day of, and the day after surgery. No sleep study, or heart ultrasound.

It does sound yummy ! ! !

You look so fabulous Shanda, keep up the great work ! ! !

Stephanie, I am so elated for you ! ! ! I hope everything goes smoothly for you with the travel arrangements, and maybe some of the other Dr. Nick's patients will chime in, I bet one of them would even be able to check on you while you are there if you aren't able to bring someone, or if you need some support ! ! !

My cycle was off post-op. It's regulating out over the last couple of months. For November and December, it was super light, and I just started my January cycle, and BAM, I'm so over this already, it's heavy, I'm crampy, and exhausted. Sorry for the TMI. My surgeon said it was perfectly normal for my cycle to be off.

I can honestly tell you that I have normal cravings. Like, one day I was "craving" Thai food, so I went and ate Thai food. I didn't really have any cravings, or a true desire for food early on during the post-op diet because the small amounts of food were satisfying. Now that I'm 7 months out, hunger has not returned, and if I crave something I'm able to eat it, but just in tiny portions. During the post-op liquid diet, I did want something salty/crunchy. I just kept reminding myself that it was just a temporary thing, and I could have something crunchy/salty soon. It's not like "OMG I have to eat 4 plates off the chinese buffet" kind of cravings. It's more like "hey, some noodles with teriyaki chicken sounds good" or "num num, a tuscan chicken salad sounds yummy today". So, I go and eat a small portion of whatever I want, and take home the leftovers. And, yes, I was super emotional, and irritable during the post-op diet. I wasn't really hungry, but my hormones were out of whack so I blamed the moodswings on the hormones.

The standard is between the 32fr-36fr. Some surgeons oversew the staple line when you using the 34-36, and that can reduce the size slightly. My surgeon uses a 32fr because that is what gives his patients the best results with the least complications.

Thanks Susan, you're fabulous ! ! !

I just reported the Spam post.

Okay, so here I am 6 months post-op, and I am realizing that my tastebuds have changed yet again. Good news though, they have gone back to how they were before surgery. I can tolerate Splenda, and flavored coffee creamers. The only thing I can't stand is mustard. It is just beyond bitter, and far too twangy. Honey mustard is fine, or dijon mustard, but regular ole' yellow, hot dog mustard makes me want to hurl. I love that things taste normal again. I'm actually happy about being able to have stuff that actually tastes good in my mouth. Eating is so much easier these last few weeks. I thought I would share just because I know immediately post-op, and especially the first 3-4 months nothing tasted good or even sounded appetizing. But, it's all good now. So, for those of you still in the post-op diet, or just getting into regular food, believe me, it gets better. I was really discouraged when nothing tasted like it used to, or tasted horrible. Just remember, it's just temporary, so don't get too discouraged. Even though food tastes great again, I'm still not hungry, nor am I really having issues "following the rules". Protein is so much easier to get in from food sources. I am not using any protein drinks/mixes, and can save those calories for real food.

I really hope you start feeling better soon. Keep us posted. Maybe being admitted for some IV fluids would allow for your intestines to heal, and get you hydrated. I know being hospitalized sucks, but you gotta take care of yourself. Get some rest, and let us know what the doc says.

Once you're passed the initially healing stage, scar tissue forms over the staple line. I have done a lot of research on just gastrectomies (not just for WLS, but for other issues such as cancer and ulcer patients), and have not read of one incident with any patients having leaks later in life. Gastrectomies have been performed for decades upon decades. It's only "new" to WLS as a stand alone procedure within the last 5-7 years. The most the sleeve can stretch is about 8-10oz depending on the size of boughie the surgeon uses. My surgeon uses a 32fr, and he said I'd be lucky if it stretched out to 8oz. My surgeon said that most leaks occur within the healing period. BUT, if a patient progresses their post-op diet too fast, or overeats constantly inducing vomitting constantly, then a leak can happen later on because it does weaken the staple line. Also, none of the WLS are reversible in my opinion. The band is not reversible. Yes, it can be removed, BUT once it's placed, and your stomach tissue is sutured over it, your anatomy is forever changed. I'm living proof of that the theory of the band being reversible is very, very false.

I'm going to be up for a bit if anyone wants to chat.

What a great day ! ! !

Here is a sample post-op diet. Compare it to what your surgeon recommends obviously, but it does give you some really good ideas to break out the monotony of the diets. Day 1 thru 5 ( Clear liquids Only ) fruit juice ( apple, grape, cranberry ) Propel broth Jello-O Water Tea Protein Water by Kellogg’s Water popsicles Clear Protein drinks only ( example Isopure, unjury ) sugar free Popsicles Gatorade G2 (it's made with Splenda) Day 6-10 ( thin liquids ) All of the above and: Natural Vegetable Juices ( example Carrot, V-8 juice ) Protein drinks mixed with water ( example Matrix ) whey nectar Protein Mix Day 11 thru 20 ( full liquids ) Cream Soups Yogurt Jello-O Boiled pureed fruit ( example apple, pear) applesauce Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Low fat milk 1 or 2% Water, Propel, tea Soy beverages Sugar free pudding Protein shakes and protein powders mixed with milk Day 21 thru 30 ( soft food ) Soft food should be the consistency of a thick liquid ( no chunks or solid material ) and it should be chewed very well before swallowing until it is a liquid consistency ) Tofu Low fat cottage cheese Cereal oatmeal Precooked pureed rice Low fat Yogurt Yogurt mixed with fruit very well blended Cream soups eggs Boiled pureed fruit ( example pear, apple ) Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Boiled pureed vegetables Beans Day 31st and beyond ( solid food ) Fish, Chiken meat Turkey Vegetables Fruit

The SF syrups do not have carbs what I found on myfitnesspal.com It appears that the extracts vanilla and banana do not have any nutrtional value. No carbs, no calories.

Congrats to you, and your new life ! ! !