KabinKitty

A new bariatric program would make me very nervous. Our local hospital had one for a short time and there were problems, one of them was my coworker. She had a RNY, there was a leak and she had a second surgery the next day. The program didn't last long. My surgeon is a general/bariatric surgeon and he has done tons of RNY's and the more complicated DS and also the sleeve. He is a perfectionist and his bedside manner is not the greatest, but he gave me a PERFECT sleeve with almost 0 pain and 0 issues. He is a no nonsense type of doctor, but when I engage him in conversation he will talk forever. He had done around 100 sleeves when he did mine. I chose him and the hospital he practices at because the hospital has had a bariatric dept for over 30 years and is a Center of Excellence. There's nothing like experience and a GREAT track record when you're having major surgery. Check with your insuance to see what other hospitals are in your network. The one I chose is about 25 miles from my home. I pray that all goes well for you!

Congratulations!! It's been fun following your progress since I joined this website! I know the feeling you are talking about as I weighed 205 when I was 19 years old and lost 75 pounds in a year. I was a totally different person and people treated me totally different. At this point I am again invisible to most people, especially guys. I'm married 37 years now, but I'm not dead yet. I have no desire to fool around with anybody but my husband, but it would be fun to get some "looks" instead of being invisible.

I posted this same question before I had surgery. I have not returned to work, but I needed to give some paperwork to my boss. So, when I went in and encountered some of my coworkers they asked me where I had been. I told them "I'm just taking care of some health issues". They didn't pry any further, except to ask if I was okay and when I would be coming back. My boss and one trusted coworker are the only ones who know I had any surgery. My boss doesn't know the details, only the one trusted coworker. She's not telling, in fact I think she waiting so see how I do. I think she may be considering the same surgery. One asked me if I had lost some weight and I told her, yeah about 6 pounds. I had lost 21 on my own before surgery and had shared with her I had cut out all gluten. I am never telling any of them what kind of surgery I had. If one of my dear friends sees my weight loss and I believe they are truly considering gastric bypass, I will share the details with them.

I think my surgeon asks everyone if they regret their surgery at their first post-op visit. Maybe this is because of the restriction of full liquids for the first two weeks, or the pain, etc. My answer to him was, "I don't know yet", he looked puzzled and asked what I meant by that. I told him recuperation after the surgery was not bad, the pain (?) I never filled the Lortab he prescribed because I didn't need it. I told him the reason I don't know if I regret it yet, is because I have doubts it will work. I told him before that I was not a large volume eater and actually I had lost most of my appetite before surgery. That's when he called me a worrier. I lost 21 pounds on my own before surgery. I weighed in at 203 at his office this morning, which means I only lost 6 pounds in the 12 days since surgery. I was a little disappointed as I've been trying to get out and walk getting in my Protein and not "eating" any high calorie foods. I would love to hear from others who started out at a lower weight. I'm suppose to move on mushies now. Any helpful suggestions or comments would be welcome.

Wow Brian, you lost a small person! You look great and so happy now. You're an inspiration! Congratulations!

Thanks for the encouragement. I think I lost my "IV weight" pretty quick. They took it out and I peed and peed in the hospital. Then when I got home I had diarreah for about 2 days (probably from the artificial sweeteners in the popsickles). I ate some shredded chicken last night as my first mushie and it went really well. I ate about a tablespoonful. This morning I scrambled an egg and ate about a tablespoonful with my HUGE chewable Vitamin. I'm hoping being able to eat lean meats and not depending on the Protein drinks may help me lose. Also, I am 58 years old so I'm sure my metabolism isn't like the younger gals.

In 1978 Douglas S. Hess, M.D., perfected the biliopancreatic diversion with the duodenal switch (BPD/DS) procedure at Wood County Hospital. This is the hospital where my surgery was performed. Dr. Hess was also a farmer and practiced his surgeries on some of his farm animals before using on humans. The sleeve that Dr. Hess used was quite a bit larger than what Dr. Lalor uses for the sleeve. I personally know 3 of Dr. Hess' patients. He is no longer practicing. They all have had alot of complications with malabsorbtion. Dr. Lalor has reversed some of his surgeries. At Januray's meeting a BPD/DS patient stood up and spoke. He is now having a problem keeping weight on. These patients' stomachs can hold alot more than what mine will be able to hold. One patient told me that's the reason she chose the BPD/DS. When these gal use the restroom it clears out the whole breakroom and people in the offices run out to open windows and doors. I feel so sorry for them!

I only had the shots in the hospital, but this is a posting from Inspector62 on Obesityhelp.com who had his surgery in Mexico: Post Date: 2/12/11 8:01 pm I haven't posted for a long while because I did have a major complication, I just didn't have much interest after that. My complication was blood clots (DVT's) in my legs, really bad blood clots that basically destroyed the veins in my legs. I have a tendency to clot, have had them in the past, but honestly, this round came very close to killing me. I gained 25 lbs in 3 days, all in my legs, my kidneys shut down and I didn't pee in like 3 days. I did tell Dr. Alvarez in advance in emails and phone calls prior to my surgery, and I also told him in person when I was there. He chose to do nothing, I didn't protest enough (my fault I guess) and this was the result. I'm not kidding when I said it almost killed me, it was close. I say this for a couple of reasons, first of which is to point out that all surgeries have risks. Second is to advise everyone to push your Dr. when you need to. I took his lack of concern as a sign that I was over reacting. It's a long story, I got addicted to oxycontin, They had to stop my heart, it was a real mess.

Mike, Not only does the antibiotics you got kill the good bacteria in your intestional tract, Perocet makes me very constipated. Try to get some really good probiatics in you via yogurts like Activia or YoPlus every day. Get plenty of fluids and try not to sit that much. Artificially sweetened things like Jello, Popsickles etc makes me have looser stools. I've heard those drains can be painful. Mine was not at all...even when they took it out at the hospital there was absolutely no pain. I don't know why there is a difference?? Feel better REAL soon!!

Things have been going really well. The temps have fallen below 0 this past week, so I had little desire to venture outside! Hubby drove me to my workplace two days ago and I got to see a few of my co-workers. There is only 1 who knows about my surgery and she's told no one. They asked if I was okay and when I was coming back. I said I was taking care of some health issues and didn't know when I'd be back, but with those temps, I wasn't in any hurry! My online friend from NC who had surgery 3 days before me is doing great. She said she went to lunch with a friend and ordered a cheese sandwich and ate a little bit of just the cheese. I haven't eaten anything solid yet. I'm consuming protein drinks, yogurt, pureed meats, veggies, soups and fruits. My appointment with the surgeon is on Monday and I will be 12 days out by then. I have one incision (where my drain was) that is a little red with a small white spot. I put antibacterial cream and a bandaid on it. All the other incisions (or as one of the Wood Co. Hospital nurses called it a "stabs") look really good. After the only other laproscopic surgery I've had, it felt like I had done 1,000 sit ups after. Not so with this surgery. The surgeon told me during my last office visit that after all my open surgeries (4), the pain from this one would be laughable. He was right! I stopped the pain meds shortly after my IV came out and I haven't taken any since....none were needed. Yesterday was the first time I drove since surgery. It went well, but by the time I ran to the vet's office and to the grocery for a few things, I was whipped and ready to go home and rest. I think it's mostly lack of strength from not eating much. When I eat my pureed food, about 2 tbls is enough and I actually feel full and satisfied. I can eat more yogurt or pureed fruits though. An 8 ounce protein drink goes down really easily. It's going to be a whole new life as far as eating goes....it will NEVER be like before surgery. I'm okay with that...I just look forward to eating "normal" foods someday.

I'm only on day 8. First time in resturant since surgery and their online menu has just few soup choices....couldn't eat anything with chunks. Any advice would be helpful.

After discovering I was sensitive to gluten 5 months ago I stopped eating it. Before surgery I was searching the grocery shelves for gluten free alternatives to try. I found some gluten free noodles. My son (the chef) prepared them for dinner one night. They tasted a little bland, but the biggest difference we noticed was the texture. He did not over cook them, but they still broke apart easily and were very digestable. I wasn't big on eating Pasta before surgery because of the carbs and don't plan to consume alot post surgery, but there are times I would enjoy eating a small serving. Also, I think about hubby who hasn't had surgery and can tolerate gluten, and I hate to deprive him of his pasta. So this may be an alternative you could consider.

I have used Miralax as a last resort I prefer to go to root cause and avoid meds if I can, but that's just me. I knew they woud have me drink that white chalky stuff for my leak test after surgery and be killing all the good bacteria in my gut with antibiotics after surgery. I had some Yoplus waiting for me at home. For the first few days at home I had diarreah (probably due to the artificial sweeteners in the hospitals popsickles) then nothing for 2 days. I ate the Yoplus every day and everything has been great! Yoplus has Antioxidants, Vitamins A & E, fiber and probiotic cultures, Calcium and Vitamin D. It's helping to get the good bacteria stripped from my digestive tract back to normal levels. Also, that constrast material tends to set up like cement in my digestive tract. My BM's so far have all been orangeish. I suspect the Protein drinks are the biggest reason, since that's where most of my nutrition is coming from. I'm introducing pureed baby food meats and veggies back in. Almost makes me feel like I'm eating like a normal person at 1 wk out! I'm getting some pureed fruits today or I'll just use my Magic Bullet!!

Do your pills have to be crushed or can you just cut them up? I have two blood pressure pills that are what I consider very small. I cut one in half and the other one in 4 little pieces. I use Yoplait lemon yogurt and put a tiny bit on the spoon, then I drop two or three pieces into the yogurt and swallow it down. I haven't tasted them at all and will continue to LOVE that yogurt after I no longer need to cut up my pills. My PPI is in a capsule. I open it up, get a little bit of yogurt on a spoon sprinkle a few of the contents on the spoon and swallow without biting into the little pieces. My surgeon and pharmacist both agree this is fine. I make sure to drink some Water after taking all these. Good Luck!!

This subject was discussed on "The Dr.'s" TV show yesterday. A lady called in because as she aged her lady parts were not as firm as when she was younger and she didn't like the way her slacks were fitting "down there". The lady OBGYN doc told her this is normal and will happen to every woman as she ages, but she could use some moisturizer creams and exercise that area. I don't know what you think of the doc's advice, but I don't think that is going to work with large weight loses. Maybe it would help some if a gal was real young, had not had any children and didn't have much to lose. That's not me! )

Surgery was on Wednesday Foley and IV came out on Friday and JP came out on Saturday (would of come out on Friday, but a cardiologist wanted me to stay one extra night~grrrrrrrrr) The nurse told me some patients say it sort of burns coming out. All I felt was almost like a tickle in my left shoulder (JP drain was on my right)?? Hubby couldn't believe how looooooooooong it was. Did not hurt a bit. The nurse told me after she took the Foley out that I may have burning the first time I peed...NOPE. She said we give you 8 hours to go, but I was in there peeing like a race horse in about an hour.

Just wondered if any of you did this in the beginning when swallowing was a little harder to do. My surgeon says yes, and so does my pharmacy, but I want to know if anyone did this and noticed that the time release effect is affected? I had a tiny bit of heartburn this morning....which I've NEVER suffered from before. Thanks for any input!

Thanks for the input! Now I'm wondering if when the Omeprazol is gone I should switch to an OTC chewable or nothing at all. Ya see I figured out what was hurting my tummy that morning. It wasn't heartburn. I was discussing it with my hubby, as it was still bothering me, and decided I should take off my underwire bra (much to his delight). The discomfort almost immediately disappeared and has not come back. The bra must have been putting pressure on my tummy area. My sleeve sister in NC was not prescribed any PPI by her surgeon. She is doing fine. She said she will ask him about it during her next visit. So, do we REALLY need a PPI? In 58 years I've had mild heartburn twice. I'm not big on taking meds if I really don't need them.

Tue, Feb 1st...Snow Storm Hits Ohio. Schools are cancelled people scramble to stores to stock up for the worst of the storm forcasted to move in Tue nite & into Wed, Feb 2nd (my surgery date). Milk, bread, other items disappear from grocery store shelves leaving them totally empty. Feb 2nd begins with blowing snow, freezing rain pellets and we're due at the hospital at 6 AM for a 7:30 AM surgery. I had called the doctors office and they had me call the surgery dept at the hospital the day before. They said enough employees lived or were staying in town to do the four surgeries scheduled for that day. We left a little late, so I called the "outpatient" area (as instructed) to leave a message as to when we would arrive. We made it to the surgery admitting area, much to the relieved prep nurse, who didn't think to check the machine. Got prepped and had to wait for the doc to arrive. When they saw the whites of his eyes, it was show time. He said surgery went very well and quicker than he anticipated. He told me later that he gave me "a nice tight sleeve" and that I should "be able to lose alot of weight". The adhesions we feared would give him a terrible time were not that bad. The worst part of it all were the nights. I was woken up every few hours for "whatever". If the nurses didn't get their acts together, and come in at the same time, their schedules were staggered, which left me completely exhausted!! The second night I failed to use my bipap machine (PEOPLE TAKE YOUR MACHINES WITH YOU!) and my heart rate ran low off and on through the night. This cost me an extra night's stay to have a cardiologist access a night "ON" on the machine to see if I needed a pace maker to regulate my heart rate. So I came home around 5 PM Saturday evening, after a stop to Wally World for more popsickles, gause pads and tape. My hubby fixed me up a throne in the Lazy Boy with my Bipap at my side and I ate banana popsickles (THANK YOU GOD FOR BANANA POPSICKLES!) and I dozed covered with a quilt and a pillow over my belly to keep the kitties off of my tummy. I appreciate everyone who thought good thoughts, and prayed prayers for me. Believe me, I thought about all of you who have gone before me and the great success you've had while in the hospital! You inspired me!!! More to come later! Love,

I'm on Day 5 and have occasional nausea, minor back pain and diminished urine output. I can only drink slowly and that seems to be all I'm doing. Don't ask how much, I know I should track it. Lets' just say it's all I can get in. Now, my question is do our bodies require more liquid than before surgery. I've never been good at drinking enough, unless it's really hot outside....I'm in Ohio....so that's not happening! I'm just curious about why we can become dehydrated so quickly now.

I am using the Kroger brand instant breakfast drink mixes. I like the chocolate and strawberry best and I use low fat milk. If you add 2 Tablespoons of non-fat dry milk powder it boosts the Protein up to 18 grams. It is 97 to 99% fat free and "NO" aftertaste. I was told Muscle Milk Protein shake tastes like Yoo Hoo......well after drinking a carton I had such an awlful aftertaste I popped 3 Chicklets in my mouth and chewed them for hours. After I spit them out, there was that same nasty after taste! Aren't you able to get in enough protein with meats. I'm kind of new at this so just learning. Good Luck!

I didn't stock up much because I heard my tastes could change, but they did not. I had on hand: 1. Protein powder/milk 2. Apple Juice 3. Popsickles (love banana ones) 4. Soup to puree and creamed (ie tomato) 5. Magic Bullet to puree things 6. Small storage containers 7. 3x3 gause pads and plastic tape That's really all I needed!

I know Dusti is having her surgery today, so we'll have to wait to hear her story. I feel almost guilty for the lack of pain and nausea I had post-op, compared to most of you. I have to wonder if it has something to do with the different doctor's methods...? My experience was almost exactly like what my surgeon and the anestheologist said it would be. Woke up in recovery with some achey pain in my left shoulde (Referred pain from the diaphram). I told them and they took care of it. I asked the anestheologist to hold my hand and she seemed suprized, but did. Then I remember asking her for a hug and she gave me one. She probably thinks I was crazy from the drugs, but I remember it clearly! Almost no nausea, almost no actual pain...a little discomfort (hit that pain pump!), but on day one extreme weakness. When I went down for the leak test I was literally shaking out of my skin. The radiologist after he saw me, told the two techs they should have let me sit in the wheel chair instead of having me walk from the doorway into the room. Awwwww! I've had 9 surgeries under general anesthetic and don't remember any breathing tube...EVER! I did have a sore throat after only one surgery. I got the swabs the day of surgery for my dry mouth and I remembered you guys said "take your lip balm"....boy I'm glad I did!

This is day 5 and I'm sipping, sipping, sipping......! A hamburger sounds really great! Actually, I would like a Wendy's $.99 chicken sandwich. Will I really ever eat like a normal person again? Really? Are you sure? Just joking! hehehe I love the support and friendships this site has created. I found a "sister" who lives 9 hours away from me who had her surgery 3 days before me. We've exchanged phone numbers and keep in touch with email also. This site is awesome! )

KabinKitty's Blog KabinKitty's Blog February 7, 2010 [Edit Post] posted 43 minutes ago I am now 5 days Post Op. My surgery on February 2nd actually went better and quicker than the surgeon expected! The day began by driving about 25 miles through the snow and sleet in the dark to the hospital. I had called the night before to make sure the surgery wasn't cancelled. We arrived safe, but 1/2 hour late.....SORRY! Oh well... The prep nurse did not check the messages as I called to let them know we were on the way, but about 1/2 hour late. She was stressed! She was a sweetie and we got through the prep quickly. I was wisked down the hall after the anestheologist told me he gave me something to relax me in my IV. I chattered all the way down the hall, went through some double doors and then I was waking up to the voices telling me, "Jean, your surgery is over". The only pain I had was in my left shoulder (I was warned by the anesthelogist before that this happens often) due to referred pain from the diaphram being irritated. I had a very easy recovery, minus the times the nurses woke me at ungodly times all through the night!! I was exhaused and couldn't wait to get the heck outta Dodge! I had to stay an extra night because I didn't use my bipap machine one night and my heart rate dropped. My surgeon had a cardiologist look at the results and he said he wanted me to stay an extra night. BUMMER! Take your machine people and use it! They only gave me 2 ounces of nasty, salty broth and 3 ounces of Crystal Light for my meals. I finally told one nurse about my surgeon telling me I should have something in front of me all the time!! She said, "Well, you can have popsickles". I ate and ate and ate as many popsickles as they would give me. I even had hubby tell them to keep the broth and Crystal Light, I'll just eat popsickles. I'm on full liquids till my follow-up visit at two weeks. So I've been enjoying juice, popsickles, yogurt, protein drinks and pudding. Today I'm going to puree some soup!! That should taste good on a cold February day (she said with fingers crossed). I feel like I am blessed to have this chance to attain a normal BMI and rid myself of some dangerous comorbidities!