LAN2k

How exciting Chancie!!! Look at it as an adventure that could lead to something wonderful. I'm so happy for you.

I don't really know. It's probably not too big a deal but I am wondering why you took out the stitches this early?

I just want to clarify ...The H Pylori was detected via a blood test PRIOR to my surgery. I took the treatment consisting of 3 antibiotics and a PPI it's a standard protocol given called "prevpac" I had to take that for 4 weeks! I asked my surgeon if he was going to test me again to make sure it was gone but he said "no, that won't be necessary." I asked my PCP if she could run the usual blood work on me and to include the test for H Pylori (this was post op) the results came up as positive. I phoned my surgeon and he said ignore it your blood work will always have H pylori positive results but that doesn't mean you have the organisim.,,he explained why but I forgot what he said. I went to a GI specialist because I had been gagging and heaving every morning when I would go to brush my teeth, I also had this glob of mucus in my throat that I could not expel no matter how I tried. While consulting with him I had my blood work to show him and asked him why the H Pylori was positive and he told me it will always show up positive hereafter and again I forgot why but he explained. He is the one who told me that THE ONLY VALID WAY OF KNOWING DEFINITIVELY THAT YOU ARE NOT INFECTED WITH HPYLORI IS VIA A STOOL SAMPLE. NOT THE BREATH TEST OR ONCE INFECTED, BY BLOOD. So if you go through the prevpac treatment and you want a retest to find out if it's erradicated you must have a stool sample tested to get true results. The stool sample test is no biggy. You get a kit from the lab and put your sample/s in the containers, seal them and drop them off back to the lab. Hope that helps.

Oh sorry I know you really had been enjoying it for a while. I am scheduled to take zumba classes in April--I hope I can keep up. It looks kind of fast paced.

Hi I am sorry you've got to take that rigorous treatment for H Pylori, I made sure to put back the healthy bacteria using pro biotics and yogurt. Don't worry too much because the medical consensus is that many people are carrying the H Pylori bacteria w/no symptoms. It is true however that if unchecked symptoms can manifest later on down the line, ulcers, even cancers. I had it pre surgery and was treated. Remember it will show up in future blood tests for it as positive for the rest of your life. I had to have a stool specimen tested (at my request), to be sure I wasn't carrying it post surgery and thankfully it came out negative. You'll be fine.

I am 6 months out. I had only 3 instances of reflux and they were mild. I am on a ppi called Aciphex, once daily in the morning w/or w/out food as per directions. I've had no problem with reflux. From what I've read the Lapband can really cause reflux issues. I have a friend who had a gastric bypass and had issues with reflux as well. I'm thinking the VSG is the least likely to cause reflux in any chronic or significant way. Best wishes to you whatever you decide...stay healthy and be well.

Daisy I am sure you will whip yourself back into shape. Just Zumba and you'll burn those extra calories away!

Jana I switched to GHI Medicare PPOIII. They sent someone to meet with me at home and he was vague with me about the sleeve gastrectomy (he was clueless) but when I called I was told they would approve any weight loss surgical procedure if it was deemed medically necessary. It went through first shot. I can't promise you it will work for you but now is the time to switch so I'd really hustle and call which ever plans available to you in your area and try to nail it down. Maybe see if you have GHI coverage in your area. Best wishes I hope your strike it right.

I am 6 months out now and still do not tolerate plain water. I dilute my Vitamin water bottles with half water and add stevia to restore the sweet flavor. I can detect the water in it still. It sort of lays heavy in me. I am thinking of trying water from a super water purifier that my friend owns from Nikken. If I can tolorate her water then I may buy the H2O purifier for myself at home.

Lee your attitude is so healthy and beautiful. I am happy you are part of this forum and message board. I have alway been fearful of thinking positive...fear that if I felt/thought positive the opposite will happen. I am now trying to understand just where my thinking in such a way originated from. I have read that what we think and/or say about ourselves will manifest. I get so confused I don't know what to believe.

I still can't drink plain water so I stick with vitamin water and I mix each bottle with water 50/50 so I get 2 bottles for the price of one. It is still the only way I can get in the fluids. My favorite is the Citrus punch or Tropical Citrus..it's deep yellow in color.

Well actually the cream of wheat saved me for a while I was repulsed by most everything and had a hard time getting in enough nutrition. This is not the case any longer however I so enjoy the warm creamy grains in the early morning. I do cook it with water and only add the milk after the flame is off right before I whisk the Solgar vanilla whey powder in. I also add pure bourbon vanilla extract to the mix ..it is delicious and sustains me for quite a while. Hope it works for you too. Thanks!!

Firstly I'm sorry about the loss of your husband. I had both my parents, and my daughter support me before and after my surgery. I was cautious about when and how I'd tell them. With my mother I walked her through and shared as much as possible with her about the procedure and the stats and showed her many posts here at VST. I think it's important to educate them as much as possible and then tell them how important it is to you that they support your decision. I wish you the best and hope that your family (or at least one of them) will come around and be there for you.

Me too........LOVE pasta I could bask in it with all the varieties and especially home made .........so much you can do with pasta!! I strolled today through Uncle Giuseppe's an incredible Italian market here in town where I live and drooled as I walked up and down the isles. Pasta is what made me huge I'd eat pasta dishes until I could hardly breath, rest and then eat some more. Now I may be tempted to sink my teeth into a forkful of linguine or a cheesy ravioli, or tortellini but thanks to my sleeved tummy I won't be able to indulge ever again as I used to. For now I'm going to refrain until I reach goal or a little below goal. After that I will try to see if I can have a small amount now and then. How could I not? I'm Italian through and through!

You are very early out and it is normal although others may not share the same feeling. I had a mixed bag. Most food repulsed me but not everything. I couldn't even drink plain water! To this day I need to dilute vitamin water in order to get my water/liquid in. Before the surgery I was able to drink a variety of flavors after surgery only one, Tropical Citrus, and now 6mo. out, I can add another Peach mango. It takes time for your body/brain to adjust. I don't know about the blurred vision but I would talk to your doctor about that.

Can you use the evidence that Medicare will provide you with? I had straight medicare when I did my pre-op testing and at that time, August-Sept. 2009, Medicare did not approve the sleeve. I took a gamble and switched over to a medicare advantage plan "GHI Medicare PPO..." This plan was vague on weight loss surgery and when I called and asked I was told that they would cover it if it was deemed as medically necessary and that it was not excluded. My surgeon sent them a letter with all the test results and recommendations from various doctors and within 2 weeks I was approved! I think you may have an argument if you can get that information from medicare so hang in there and fight the good fight. Best wishes...keep us posted.

Welcome and thanks for sharing. I hope you will continue to participate in this message board as you progress in your WL journey with the sleeve.

I'm leary about taking any part of an egg in raw, (fear of bacteria), although I know that is the best way to obtain its nutritional value. I have mixed the egg white in with whole grain cream of wheat, goat milk and a scoop of Solgar vanilla whey powder, (it's predigested whey and easily absorbed). I don't use any artificial sweeteners but I do use Stevia in powder form. All in all the cream of wheat has 7 grams protein per packet (I use about a half packet) the egg white another 10-11g the whey, 16g, and milk maybe 4grams protein that totals to around 33 give or take a gram. It's got some carbs though and some people don't want that. I have lost 70 lbs so far and have been having this as my breakfast it's a real comfort food. You can make the hot cereal the consistancy that you like and really take your time with it.

I hope you will thoroughly look into the VSG before making your decision between the two and wish you success and good health whatever you decide.

That's good news. My surgery took 3.5 hours!! I had alot of scar tissue from two previous surgeries so I guess he had much navigating to do. I'm amazed at how quickly your surgery was done and that you went home the same day. I suppose your surgeon has done many VSG's. I don't think mine had many under his belt and that is part of why I was so uptight post surgery. I hope you continue to do well with your sleeve.

Amazing Tracy! Congratulations on your win! I'm sure that you will be doing the showing next time round! I'll be looking out for your pics.

Hi Chancie--I eat more fish now than I ever did...I really enjoy some types of fish fillet, (no fishy taste or smell). I find the texture is so much easier to get down then chicken. I tried ground beef and it fills me up very quickly unlike fish.

Day one I pleaded with my surgeon to allow me to wet the inside of my mouth and tongue with ice chips (the nurses refused me inspite of my begging). My surgeon granted me permission and I was so grateful. I did make sure not to swallow any of the water I just spit it out but it was such a relief to wet my mouth. I had to sip some noxious tasting clear stuff for the leak test--I still can't believe I did it. After that I got the OK to sip clear fluids and I did ever so slowly. At the time I was sustained with sipping on ice chips w/apple juice...loved the combo and felt like I was getting some nutrients from the juice.

I agree with Tiff, chicken thighs are easier because the meat is more tender. I have the same problem as most with chicken especially the white meat, (higher in protein). I used to really love mayo--not since the surgery. I tried a scoop of chicken salad yesterday and was able to eat about half.

Best wishes and prayers your way...congrats and looking forward to hearing from you again soon.