Finding Myself

I'm so sorry to read this. . What causes a stricture to hapoen?? Did you have any restriction on clear fluids? Hopefully the surgeon here can help??? Sending positive thoughts your way....

Likasulema, your daughter sounds similar to me - I started at about 190. (I've carried 60 extra lbs for about 15 years now). You should contact Dr. Kelly, he can talk to you more about it. I'm about a week out and starting to feel really good and happy about all of it! Now I am feeling confident that I have avoided diabetes and high blood pressure, which was looming over my head for the last few months.... Dr. Kelly's info: 619-395-5347 email: wls-clinic@hotmail.com As for loss... I think we have to be more patient. We are not supposed to lose more than 1-2 lbs per week in any given week. More than that really is not healthy for our sizes.... and yes some weeks you will gain, secondary to Water gain, etc. Just keep doing what you're doing, get your Protein in, and drink your water! It will come off!!

OMG I am soo sending positive thoughts your way! You are experiencing what we all fear so our thoughts and love are with you. Hope you are on the mend very soon!!!

That depends on how far out you are. I know Blackberry on here eats a lot of them. I'm too soon post op tho!

Does anybody know if black tea is as good for us post op as herbal teas? I found some coconut thai decaf black tea that is really good! I know teas are on the "clears" list but wondering if it matters if it's herbal or not. This stuff made my day.

Me too. I'm 5 days out and take antibiotic and Prilosec daily. It goes down fine. I'm gonna start my vitamins back up except for the calcium, too, for now... Cause that's a chewable bite type of vitamin.

Still on post op clears, wondering how much liquid I should be taking in at a time? As in, how long should it take to drink 8 oz of water? I'm not hungry but also don't feel full on anything.

Wheetsin!!! Yes! That describes it exactly!!! Except I mostly only feel it when I drink. I feel great otherwise!!!

Thanks! Wheetsin that is what I thought. So is the little pains I feel when my stomach peristalses Probably just movement over the swelling?

No! Fiber bulks up the stool too!

Pdx, thanks! That makes sense. I'm paranoid about every little pain I am feeling I suppose.

Boots! That's exactly what I'm wondering.... Is 8 oz in 30 mins too much? Or normal?

Thanks! What I'm feeling right now is a little discomfort when I do swallow, but that's true for a tiny sip or a bigger sip, and it's not all of the time. So I guess that's just from some of the swelling. I'm not having any problems drinking otherwise, but don't want to over do it. Anybody know how fast liquids pass thru the sleeve? How do we avoid stretching it when we are on Clear Liquids only?

The Lucerna is so nice! We are gonna go visit again in a few months. Glad you are doing better!!!

Can you get another opinion from another GI doc?

I think it's a combo of both just because of the burping and gurgling. LOL But I went for a nice long walk this morning and it made a huge difference. I feel better already!

Hey Everybody, Finally got sleeved last Thursday and did fairly well post op! Had nausea and gas pain but it subsided fairly quickly. I was having some trouble expelling gas so my doctor gave me anti-inflammatories on both Friday and again in Saturday because I was having some severe menstrual cramp-related issues. I was feeling GOOD! I'm sure those drugs started wearing off a bit by yesterday and now I just feel a dull ache. It's kind of in my mid-chest region, and it's like my stomach feels a little sore. I really haven't had any problems with restriction and fluids go down well, but I am gassy. I know a lot don't really feel any pain but for those that did, is this normal? I guess it's kind of in my mid chest region and maybe left side, under my left breast region.

I think this is a fiber issue, but I also admit I am not experienced yet as I was just sleeved last week. I have had yucky BMs from the gatorade and it's disgusting. It's just like you describe - but I can't add fiber yet! Can you add berries to a smoothie to help with that? Do you take any extra fiber now?

Thanks guys! I haven't used my gas x strips in a couple of days but sounds like I need to again. Just had some gatorade and some warm home made broth and it goes down well but it feels like it totally displaces gas and then I burp. LOL

I will second Cissie's comments!! I was sleeved by Dr Kelly on Thursday. I was nauseous the first night and up till about noon the next day, but once it passed, it was gone. Yesterday I had one small set back related to some gnarly menstrual cramps (I have fibroids and bad cramps and had to stop my BC pills for surgery so I knew my cramps would be bad) but Dr Kelly came to my hotel to check on me immediately! And then Cecy came and gave me two awesome pain injections and some lorazepam so I could rest. I slept for about 3 hours and woke up a new person! Today has been fantastic! I've had zero problems getting in my liquids, and I'm thrilled about that! I feel wonderful today and I'm learning to appreciate that "displacement" burp when you drink that helps you clear gas. LOL. Also trying to listen to that hiccup even though I'm on clears for now, cause I know that when I add shakes next week that'll help me not overeat. My husband is with me and we've had broth from several local restaurants, including a shrimp albondegas today that was DIVINE!!! I've been sipping broth while he enjoys the fabulous food around here! And yes the one Cissie mentioned is fab!!!! My experience has been very good overall, and Dr Kelly is just top notch. I don't care who taught him, I don't care what coordinators have to say about him... That is one gentle, kind man. All of us here this week (there has been an overlap of 9 of us, he only tries to do 3 in a day) feel the same way! We are all leaving with smiles on our faces. Dr Kelly is working on an awesome website that is gonna make it a lot easier for people to find him. I'm so happy for him! I'll write more when I get home tomorrow, but for now I want to enjoy my last afternoon at this wonderful Hotel Lucerna! Gorgeous. Good luck everybody!!!!

Jennifer that will depend on how comfortable YOU are with it. My husband is with me (sleeved on the 14th!!) and he wandered all over, ate at several different places, etc. but we've been here before and he's a big guy! You aren't gonna really feel like going out much till you are almost ready to leave anyway, and Omar will take you anywhere you want to go!

I can tell you all that I am a very high maintenance patient, and Omar and Dr Kelly have been wonderful. I must have asked 1000 questions and they were all answered promptly. Dr Kelly's name was trashed needlessly by a previous coordinator and that soured me on all of them because it WAS all about money. All I cared about EVER was the quality of my doctor. I was very nervous pre op, and he literally held my hand while they were inducing anesthesia. My experience has been wonderful. The first 24 hours are a little rough because of the drugs wearing off, nausea, etc but honestly it gets better so fast!!! So my advice is to do what works for you but pick a DOCTOR, not a coordinator. Use a coordinator if you feel you need one, but don't let that dictate who your doctor is, because believe me when they are wheeling you into surgery you will be thinking about the quality of that doctor, not the quality of that coordinator! Good luck everyone! Cathy, Jennifer and I are all doing wonderful and are headed for our final leak tests and then our first bowls of yummy broth!

I can't answer but I'm to be sleeved in just a few days. I started the 3 day liquid pre op diet yesterday and did a lot better than I thought I would. I'm trying to drink as much Water as I possibly can so that I will go into surgery very well hydrated - that helps you recover better. If you'd like to text or stay in touch and need some support, please feel free to PM me and we can text! I can tell you that when I was choosing a doctor, I face timed with Dr. Alvarez and I love him!! You are in great hands!!!

Hi Carly, I did look into the NEW program. If I'm correct (it's been a few months!) it cost nearly $20K for a sleeve there. And I'm not sure about this, but one of the places in Newport Beach does it as an outpatient procedure and it cost an additional $3K per night for the hospital *if* you need it! Since insurance isn't covering any of this, that wasn't really an option for me. I was very impressed by their website, etc. but it also took them a few weeks to get back to me. So it didn't seem to be a good option. I hope it works out better for you!!! Thank you for the info!!

I can't wait to TELL you about it!!