cajun

I agree with Tiff. I read a lot of research articles today and the major risk factors mentioned are: cigarette smoking high body mass index helobacter pylori gastric ulcers alcohol frequent red meat intake, especially bbq well done retinol intake hiatal hernia I figure my risk has gone way down due to this surgery because I'll lose the obesity, my hiatal hernia was repaired during the VSG, and I don't have the other risk factors. Yippee.

I was told I could have Isopure which is a clear Protein Drink, but not the whey powder that you mix in milk, it's not "clear". I couldnot tolerate the isopure (isopuke), but I did make an effort to add just a little to each bottle of sobe life Water that I drank, to just get in a little protein at least. After starting the full liquids I did fine with the Jay Robb chocolate whey powder in lactaid milk. Those first two weeks were the hardest. I made homemade chicken Soup and strained out the broth...it was great. Froze the solid part for use later when on mushies, you can blend it with a little broth for a mush, and it's great too.

I agree with you, you would best stop reading ANY posts that have any negative content because in your state, you just get more anxious when reading them. Avoid the complications posts, just read the positive stuff. I have not seen ANY EVIDENCE (research, proof) that what that poster said about gastrectomies and adenocarcinoma is true, and believe me, I have read LOTS of research about the sleeve. If I told you the earth was flat, would you become worried? Or would you laugh? I hope you would laugh, or at least smile. It would just be my statement. Who am I, not any expert on the shape of the earth. So don't believe what you read just because someone wrote it. It might also help you to get a book of positive affirmations and read them daily. How about the dog suggestion I made earlier? What do you think about that?

Many of us could not get in the protein the first few weeks, but just be sure you get in all the water/clear liquids...dehydration is the first problem that you need to prevent, as a priority, at this stage. Once your sleeve is calmed down from the surgery, you will be able to get in more fluids and when you start the full liquids, then you can work on getting all the protein in. Great to sleep in your own bed, I hear you. I felt the same way. Congratulations of your new sleeve!

It sounds like you are doing some things that will help you, going to meetings, the gym. Maybe it would help to go to the animal shelter DAILY, and pet the dogs...find one you really like and take him home with you! Research shows that having a dog helps people, and I know you like them because you volunteer at the shelter. Just a thought.

Dry mouth is common the first month or so, and it can be a sign of dehydration as well as just a common side effect of the PPI's (nexium, prilosec, etc.). Eventually it goes away. The medication is essential to protect your new stomach so don't stop taking it, please. Just keep sipping fluids to moisten your mouth and remember that this too shall pass...

I love the Jay Robb whey chocolate protein powder. I mix it in lactaid milk, and add a splash of banana extract. It tastes great. You need fluids first, then protein is the second most important, to keep up your strength. Sip sip Sip all day. I use Sobe Lifewater, which contains a lot of Vitamins and tastes delicious. There are a lot of flavors, so try different ones to find what you like best. At the beginning I liked apple the best, but now I like them all. If you still have a lot of spasms swallowing, warm it up a little, and it goes down easier. Things will get better....the first week or so is just hard work! Soon you will be dropping pounds magically. Hang in there!

I hear there was a huge amount of rain over there this week...did it delay your travel? Glad you are making it home now, keep in touch with us and we will support you!

The one thing I don't agree with in this post is to eat a fry, at ONE WEEK OUT. It's one thing to eat a fry once you are on solids in accordance with your surgeon's recommended diet advancement. But NOT at one week out...the sleeve staple line is still raw and not at all healed, it is not the time to be irritating it unless you would like to have a leak, and a hundred thousand or more in medical bills etc... Once you are into a regular diet, if you are in serious need of a fry, go for it, just limit the frequency and amount as much as your willpower will allow you. You'll do fine as long as it is a minimal deviation from your diet. I'd bet there is no one who does the diet perfectly.

get a grip!

I read the article that you are "quoting". There is no research document that I can see attached to that statement, so until I see one, it is just one person's opinion. If you can find the research I'll be glad to read it. Always go to the source, the research. People believed for a long time that the earth was flat, because someone said so. Gotta see the "proof" before I will believe that having a partial gastrectomy increases cancer risk.

That's a good example of why not to tell...I only told two best friends and one family member, and was supported. I did not want to hear all the "what if"s from others. I did my own research, and it sounds like you did too. As a nurse for over 30 years, I am VERY cautious and researched the medical journals as well as surgeons who do bariatric surgery. My decision to have the sleeve, and which surgeon to use, was based on FACTS, and I also listened to what people said on this forum, some of whom were very biased one way or the other. But I just listened, and then made up my own mind, mostly based on the FACTS that I learned from medical journals and credentials of surgeons. Trust your gut. Don't try to convince or change anyone else's mind or you will become more frustrated. Personally, I would not even discuss the issue with non-supportive persons. Just make up your own mind after you have studied the FACTS, and do what you think is best for YOU. If others approach you with negative comments, just thank them for caring about you, don't prolong the conversation, and proceed on with your plans, what ever they are. We are here to support you, what ever you decide. Keep in touch, read as many posts on this forum and on Obesity Help (where you can find surgeons' credentials), and you will be on the right road!

The first week was the hardest for me, and it gradually got better. I found that gently heated liquids, warm broth, warm decaf tea with a little stevia sweetener went down easier than anything cold. Everyone is different though. Try warm, try cold, see what feels best for you. Just remember to sip a tiny bit and burp between sips, to reduce the esophageal spasm pain. When I got that pain it was tempting to take another sip, to get the pain to go back down...like a burp that won't come up...but that only made it worse. Move around, try to wait until the burp comes up before you sip again. Sometimes laying on my side would make the burp come up too... I don't know if that is the difficulty you are having, or if it is something else. Let us know and we'll try to help. Hang in there. It does get better. Eventually you will forget all the discomfort as you see yourself "disappearing".

NewLifeFor me How are you doing?

Hip Hip Hooray! Welcome to the loser's bench. keep in touch, sip, walk, burp, take it easy!

I agree that the epidural is awesome. It is mentioned in the research literature that I read before I had the surgery, as the recommended procedure especially for bariatric patients, because then we require less general anesthesia during the surgery. It is actually safer than having full general anesthesia. Recovery is faster and pain management is better. Also after the surgery it may be left in place to provide you with medication for pain. Mine was left in as I recovered, and removed before I left Mexicali. It was great...so easy for the doctor to come and just shoot some more in. I highly recommend it.

Wow, you really had a full overhaul! Congrats on moving on to the loser's bench. I am curious...what kind of pain management did they use? What was the fee for all those surgeries? You may not even know the answer to that yet...US hospitals send fee after fee after fee to cover all kinds of different components of hospitalization. That was one thing I liked about Dr Aceves. One all inclusive fee. Period. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

...not an entirely bad choice...nuts are good for you. As long as we are mindful of what we are eating, and set the limits we need to on how much/how often we do it, there is no problem. Monitoring weight, getting in the good stuff (Protein, Vitamins, etc) is more the focus than eliminating treats. Like you said, it's a lifestyle, not a diet!

Tiff, that is all such great news! Congratulations. You should be so very proud of yourself. Your courage and determination saw you through some really dark days, but you never gave up...what an awesome role model you are for all of us.!!!:biggrin0::thumbup::blushing:

Eventually you will be able to eat a french fry...just not a lot of them...and hopefully it will be a rare splurge. This sleeve is not the end of eating "bad" food. It just limits the amount you can eat and the successful weight loss will hopefully remind us all to eat healthy 99% of the time. I just love that about it. I have planned "treats" for special occasions and I do enjoy them. At Christmas I had a piece of pecan pie...pre surgery I could eat two pieces at one meal...but now it took me three days to eat the whole piece, and I let myself enjoy a few bites after every meal until it was gone. No need for guilt. Just infrequent splurges and small amounts. Life goes on, weight continues to go down. Yippee!

I was on a hi protein low carb diet prior to surgery, and I did not deviate from it...but it was not hard...I never have been big on carbs, I love meat and veggies and salads. I was so motivated because my weight was interfering with my life, so I really got "into it" a bit obsessively, I must confess.

I bought a bunch of those nice 3-4 ounce ziploc cup containers and I freeze small portions of stuff instead of leaving it in the fridge to spoil...I am a miser. I, like you, hate to throw things away. But it is so great to have a lot of variety in the freezer to choose from to take to work with me, or eat at home. Sometimes it is hard to choose which morsel (that's about all that I can eat) I will pick to eat.

Barbara, You'll soon be over the hardest part and then the fun will start, watching the scales go down, down, down...it is almost magical how fast it happens. Hang in there, it is worth every groan!

You don't need to spend money seeing a gastroenterologist BEFORE surgery unless you have some specific problem in that department. Just ask Dr Aceves after your surgery what tests you will need post op. It may be cheaper to fly back to see him in Mexicali 3 months post op if you don't have insurance for the tests...get prices and do the math ahead of time. He likes to follow up his patients..sometimes it is easier to do the follow up locally for folks with insurance which is why I did it.

I'm 62, and it is the best gift I have EVER given myself. Statistically I figure I now have about about 25 years left of wonderful living, instead of about 8 to 10 years left of miserable suffering, until I move along to the next life!