cherice95403

Make the protein shakes a priority. I used 100% Gold Standard with why prtein mixed with water.

I am currently 4 months post surgery and have had severe stomach acid from the beginning. I am taking ompreazole (previcid)40 mg twice a day and Carafate 4 times a day. All of this is barely working. I have pain in my stomach constantly and it is really impacting my quality of life. I'm following the diet, I don't eat after 6pm, and I take the medicine religiously. I have spoken to my doctor and the the nut. I see that a lot of people take a minor dose of a PPI, but my issues go way beyond that. My question is, did anyone else have serious stomach acid issues and how long did they last? I am having a difficult time getting an answer from my doctor and I really just want to know what I am looking at long term.

At 4.5 months you should be ok, just watch your fluids. I had the stomach tlu 2 weeks post surgery and it was not pretty, but I did ok.

I had surgery in September 2010 and I was feeling hungry within the first week. It has never gone away and I realized ealy on that I could not fit the "model" way of eatting. I eat small amounts about every two hours and that seems to work for me. Someone recommeded I track my intake and what I discovered early on is that I was only eatting about 500 calories since I could only eat such a small bfast, lunch, dinner. That was an eye opener since 500 calories is obviously not enough. I now eat about 1000 calories a day and I eat it in many small meals. You will find that recommended eating post surgery varies signifigantly by doctor/program and every doctor thinks their program is best. However, every other doctor can't be wrong. I think every PERSON knows what is best for them. I guide my eating by a few simple rules- Protein first, minimal sugar, make the healthy choice. My two cents is this, track your consumption to make sure you are eating enough, but not too much and if you are hungry eat, just make sure it is a healthy choice.

This is a tough qestion for people to answer because pre-op diets (if they even had one) vary all over the board on structure and length. I lost 17 pounds on my pre-op diet, but it lasted 3 months.

I had sleeve surgery with Dr. Aami in Sept 2010. I was having second thoughts right up to the day of surgery. This is major surgery so of course you are having second thoughts. In the classes you have attended, they should have addressed the complication rate, which when I went was very low. It's true that some people do have complications, whicle others have none. I had very serious stomach acid issues for 5 months and could barely eat at all (even by sleeve standards). Recovery seems to vary widely as well with some people saying it was very painful and others saying it was fine. No one really knows what their expereince is going to be like. For me, this surgery has been liek changing. I went from 247 to 125 pounds. I feel better, I am off my meds, and I have energy again. My expereince with Dr. Alami and his staff was very positive, but this is a personal decision and if you are truly not sure if this is something you want to do, you can always delay your surgery. This is a big decision and you need to feel good about it. Cherice

As happy as I am with my weight loss, I am horrified at what happened to my girls. I was a solid C cup before surgery and now I am less than an A-no kidding. I am wearing heavily padded A cup bras and they are too big. On top of that, they look just terrible. Completely sunken in on themselves. I never thought I would consider implants, but I am so incredibly self conscious that I am thinking about it. On a side note, my hubby is absolutely fine with how I look-it is all me.

Hi there...what a year it has been! I ran into someone I haven't seen in a long time today and she truly didn't recognize me. Sometimes I forget how far I have come and then I have those moments. It's been an amazing year. I have gone from 247 to 127. I like to say that I am 1/2 the woman I used to be, and I am not far off. I am at goal and trying to find that balance in my consumption. How is everyone else.

Hello everyone-just checking in to see how you are all doing. I am definitely at goal now. I am 5' 5" and 132 pounds and trying to stay there. My big challenge is now to NOT lose any more weight-who knew? I still have to eat a small volume, which is part of my struggle and have acid issues, but it is definitely better than it was. Lots of sagginess, but I blame myself for not working out like I should. I am seeing a trainer in a couple of weeks and how he can motivate me. Would love to hear from my fellow September girls! It is hard to believe we are almost at 1 year

Hi Steve, I had Dr. Alami at kaiser SSF and I was very happy with the process and would be very comfortable recommending him. I too had the option of going outside with Anthem Blue Cross and looked around. I did meet with a surgeon at Laparoscopic Associates in SF and I felt really comfortable with him, but I realized that I would probably be going to kaiser for all my follow up so it made sense to go through Kaiser. Plus the cost would have been SIGNIFICANTLY higher because they added on about 5k worth of "extra" fees that are not covered my insurance. I could have paid it, but I have to admit that that turned me off because it seemed like a bit of a money grab. My only complaint with Kaiser is that they tend to lump the RNY and Gastric Sleeve together in their recommendations. They are totally different surgeries with different limitations. The classes I went to, and maybe I just got bad instructors, told both RNY and Gastric Sleeve patients that would have the same food/medicine restrictions. I did a lot of research and specifically selected gastric sleeve because I wanted to be able to eat anything and I can. The only absolute no for me is bread. I can have a bite of pretty much anything else. I found it annoying that they gave out that misinformation, but I also knew it wasn't true so i just ignored the incorrect info. Good luck in your journey!

Hi all...just checking in, but not much going on. My weight has been holding steady for the last two weeks and I am thinking this may be it for me. I never really had a serious goal. I figured my body would just stop when I got to a comfortable point. I suppose in my head I wanted to be around 135-140, but at 144 I am really close and don't feel l need to see a certain number on the scale. I feel really good and I am in a solid size 8. I look normal, which is really all I ever wanted.

I am a former cheeseburger-aholic and have recently been craving one really bad. I decided to just take a bite hoping I could move on. Well, it tasted sooo gross to me! I could really taste the greesy fat and had no desire to take another bite. I am so glad I just tried it rather than obsessing over what I couldn't have.

Hi all...doing good. Julie...glad the government didn't shut down! Stats since my last post: HW 248 SW 230 Last post -149.8 This Week-145.5 Lost-4.3

It all still seems to come down to volume consumed. I am one of the unfortunate souls who got hungry immediately. It's tough, but I have just tried to embrace the constant hunger and I make a choice not to give in to it. I am consuming about 750-800 calories a day and have been a consistent loser. I went on vacation in Feb and figure I was eating more like 1000-1100 calories a day and I gained 2 pounds that week. That was a reality check for me. I know where I need to be to lose. Certainly shaking things up with a change in routine helps, but you need to find that place where you will lose. Cherice

Congrats :Banane21:

Thanks Lee...it looks like you are right behind me

Thanks David...from what I understand the 6 months is more of a group setting. You meet with a NP and a NUT and then there is a class component. I'll tell you more about it next week. Cherice

Hi everyone...is anyone going to be at the 4/14 6 month check meeting at SSF? I have been happy with my weight loss (just recently hit a "normal" BMI), but not so consistent with my supplements so this is probably what I need to motivate me into action. Cherice

Hey labrys...I will be at the April 14 6 month meeting at SSF. Is that when you are going? Well, I have been super busy. My weight loss has slowed down some, but I am still pretty happy with my progress. I am especially happy because my BMI is officially "normal." Never thought I'd see that again! I am almost to the big 100 loss and looking forward to that too. Stats since my last post: HW 248 SW 230 Last post -156.4 This Week-149.8 Lost-3.4

It really varies from person to person. Not that exercise isn't important and good for you (blah, blah, blah). We've all heard it before. I've gone to the gym twice since surgery and have lost steadily every week. Obviously, I am not as toned as i want to be and that is what will send me back to the gym. But as far and impacting my weight loss-I hope not. I can't image losing more per week than I already do. However, someone else may be totally different. You just need to find what works for you.

Thanks Alice! Good to hear from you. How are feeling? I am doing pretty good. Had a lot of issues with stomach acid, but it seems to have resolved over the last month. Losing, losing, losing Cherice

QUESTION FOR THOSE WHO HAD SURGERY IN SOUTH SF I just got a invite to a 6 month check up, but it is not clear. Is this a class or a meeting with my doc? If it is a class, how long does it last? Just trying to plan. Thanks so much! Cherice

OMG Julie CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are definitely the biggest loser here! :party4: Labrys...congratulations on the offer on your house! We just closed on a rental property we've had for sale for a LONG time. It was quite a relief to be out from under it. Here are my stats this week: HW 248 SW 230 Last week-159.1 This Week-156.4 Lost this week-2.7 Hope to be hitting the big 100 in the next month myself

Hi Lisa, I am so glad you are doing well! keep it up. Cherice

Where is everyone!? Here are my stats this week: HW 248 SW 230 Last week-161.5 This Week-159.1 Lost this week-1.4