Aliceinwonder

I am 3 weeks post-op and went from lactose intolerant to lactose allergic. I am also allergic to whey Protein isolate and concentrate. It has taken me this whole time to figure this out. I came home from the hospital and broke open the unjury chicken Soup and have felt horrible since then. I have used Spiru-tein in the past. You can get it at a variety of health food stores, GNC even carries a couple of flavors. They are soy protein. I haven't tried the hemp yet - next stop. I have tried the pea Protein shakes and I really don't like them. Right now I am sipping a homemade concotion. This is the first thing since Water and juice that feels okay in my sleeve. 8 oz almond milk (or whatever) 1/2 c cottage cheese (Lactaid seems to be working for me right now) 2T Peanut Butter 1t vanilla extract (I don't have any syrups at home...yet!) Ice Blend

This morning I had an upper GI to see if I had a stricture or whatnot. Well, it has been confirmed, I have a stricture. This is why I have not been able to move out of Clear liquids. Pre surgery I was lactose intolerant, but under control with limited dairy, digestive enzymes & Probiotics. Post surgery, I have developed lactose allergy. This includes whey Protein isolate and whey protein concentrate. I was assuming this was contributing to my trouble eating. I discovered the idea of stricture once I noticed that I was having bad acid reflux. I never even had heartburn before surgery. This is really new to me - and horrible. I contacted my surgeon who is in Mexico and he suggested that if I wasn't able to eat any protein, I would need to be put on a feeding tube. I am averaging 2-3 Protein shakes a week and barely that. I am mainly drinking Water or some water down version of juice. In response to my upper Gi results, I was also told I have a hiatal hernia (spelling might be wrong). I had no idea and was told that it would be fixed during surgery. My surgeon says that the hernia has developed since the surgery and it wasn't present three weeks ago when I had surgery. Also, he is recommending gastic bypass to correct the reflux issue. I am really scared. I am barely recovering from sleeve surgery and now he wants to jump into gastric bypass. He has not suggested I seek medical attention stateside (but I have) and at every turn is giving me all the worst case senarios with no other help or explaination. Has anyone heard/done a bypass because of reflux? If so, how long did you wait? Did you try other treatments or just went for it? For followup since coming home, I am seeing a local doctor (DO) who is experienced in doing the sleeve (1500 surgeries), and his recommendation for me is to eat what I can and he is ordering a balloon procedure to stretch the stricture. He did say that it could come back because I am only 3 weeks post-op, but we can do it again. He didn't seem concerned, other than my understanding of what was going on. He made me feel so much better about what is going on. Does anyone have any experience with stricture and procedures they do to fix it? How bad is it? With all my complications, fixable and not, I am so sorry I did this surgery. Everyone says it will get better, but every minute feels like an hour, every hour a day.

Well, yesterday turned out to be a great sleeve day. This was the first day since surgery that I had no whey Protein isolate or concentrate. When I was drinking my Protein shakes, I had no idea I was allergic. Allergy is the word I am using because it caused my throat & stomach to swell - not sure if correct term. I switched to Spiru-tein because it was readily available and is 100% soy based. This is only temporary because it is pretty high in carbs for 1 shake (12-15 carbs/shake). I also found a nutritionist who will help me get back on track. Finally, excited about my surgery, instead of regretting it. Thank you for all your suggestions. Looking forward to trying the egg protein. Bought a sampe of Jay Robbs.

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful feedback. I am going to try your recommendations. Yesterday I cut out anything even made from milk and I am already feeling better. Definitely allergic to whey Protein in any form. Lesson I learned: READ YOUR LABELS AND KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN

I am only three weeks post-op and I am figuring out that I can not tolerate any whey Protein, including isolate and concentrate. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery so I knew to look for lactose free products. Most protein products that are lactose free, but made from whey are made with whey protein isolate. I have been unable to move forward to mushies/pureed foods. My doctor put me on Carafate (used to coat the stomach, mainly with ulcer patients) to help with all the acid I was feeling. Please respond and let me know what your favorite brand of pea protein or soy protein is. Thanks!

I've been doing more research about the possible stricture. Well, just by what I have read, it seems like I might not have a stricture, but just a ton of inflammation. I think that I might be one of those people who can't handle whey Protein in any form. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery and kept it under control with digestive enzymes and Probiotics (which I guess I will still be able to do - not right now). Post surgery, I thought everything I bought was lactose free, but most contained whey protein isolate (not concentrate - different and more painful). If I can't handle the protein isolate, then this is what is killing my esophagus. My body is trying to digest Proteins that I can't, and I keep throwing more on top of them. Headed out to purchase all new protein liquids. Everyone is recommending I don't move forward, just stay where I am with liquids that are comfortable. If anyone has any ideas about Protein shakes, pea protein or soy protein that they like, please share. I will also post a thread under the food/protein shake topic too. I am so glad to hear everyone is doing so well. If it wasn't for my darn allergies to food, I would be feeling better. I have great energy and the weight seems to be falling off. Today is 3 weeks and I am down ~20 pounds and down over 27 inches all over. My husband is starting to see physical changes. I can tell my clothes are looser. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers. Oh my how the prayers! I don't think I could get through this without you guys. Your strength, strengthens me.

I am having a lot of GERD problems. I wake almost every more choking and throwing up bile. I never even had heartburn before the surgery. It took me 3 weeks to convice my husband that something was wrong and I needed to see a Dr.; this only after begging to go to the hospital since the week after surgery. The only problem I had before surgery was Lactose Intolerance. When I was able to go on Protein shakes and stuff everything said whey Protein Isolate which should be lactose free and even bought products that state they are lactose free. Through my research I found that even some who are lactose intolerant can't handle Protein Isolate or even Whey Protein Concentrate. I don't know if this contributed to my acid reflux issue. I have called a nutritionist to make an appointment to go over these types of questions. Friday I saw a bariatric surgeon and he has me set up with an upper Gi to see if I have a stricture. I am trying to make the appointment today. I called Dr. A's office, but they are 6 hours away and I want to try and have a regular followup doctor here in Tucson. They were very willing to help me get there. Friday Dr. Welle (Tucson surgeon) put me on Carafate 4 times a day to coat my stomach and then I am still taking 60mg of Pantozol and Gaviscon as needed.

Sara, I am not sure about the band revision cost of surgery. The website for Dr. Aceves is www.mexicalibariatric.com and they should have everything listed for price. You could also call or email them. Nina, who schedules all the surgeries, is wonderful and quick to get you any answers that you need. Information that I kept says: Lap Gastric Sleeve after lap band ( includes band removal) $12,500 Hope this helps.

Today is three weeks and I haven't been able to move past stage 1 comfortably. I saw a bariatric surgeon in Tucson as a follow up and he is sending me for an upper GI to see if I have a stricture. I am really scared and frustrated. I am totally regreting my decision of this surgery the last week or so. Hopefully, once they get my sleeve figured out, I will feel better.

Picked up PB2 today and made a serving to test. I test everything on my husband who hasn't had surgery yet. Like Mikey from the old life Cereal commercials. It passed. I am only just starting thick liquids and had to restrain myself from eating more than a taste. They also make a PB2 with chocolate. I got a sample at a local outdoor store but REI probably has it too. Finally feeling like I haven't made a mistake. The last 9 days have been tough. Better now!

Loved it too. Just tried their Mhp brand chocolate pudding. It tasted better than any jell-o pudding I ever made. 30 grams of protein 0 carbs too. Sweetened with Splenda, listed as sucrolose.

Just broke into my new sample pack from Matrix. Feels like heaven! Mint Choc Chip Cookie tastes like ice cream.

I burnt out my blender that I had for years. Now that I am post op, I didn't want a huge blender so I got a magic bullet. My problem is it doesn't crush the ice. Does anyone have one? Can you guys post some recommendations? Or teach me how to use it. LoL

I am only 7 days post-op & started back on shakes & creamier Soups. I am having trouble meeting my Fluid goals. I feel constantly full! Now, I am begin to miss chewing food & am not sure how I'm gonna make it another week before I get mushes. I guess this is the head hunger everyone talks about. I understand so many struggle with much bigger problems, just scared I'm gonna fail.

I am 7 days post-op. Dr Aceves did my surgery & 2 friends prior. We all had amazing experiences. Also, Dr Campos is his nutritionist and also has a sleeve. He saw me everyday and sometimes more often. It's not the cheapest in Mexico, but they are very experienced.