JenC

Love my Himalyan salt on cottage cheese or chopped melon...canteloupe or watermelon. Himalyan Salt is a great source of essential minerals that table or sea salt does not have and will not make you retain water or raise your blood pressure : ) I like to add Emeril's Essence or Bayou Blast or Curry Blends to bland soup. I have a variety of spice blends from Dangold ( www.dangoldinc.com) many grocery's carry them too...The Gourmet Collection my favorite in chicken broth is the Chili & Lime reminds me of Lime soup I get in Mexico. All of their flavors are great and have no salt or msg in them. They are great too for when you get back to baking chicken and fish or other meats or veg. Just sprinkle and bake and you've got healthy yummy!

Hi I'm on day 32 today! I've been feeling great and have been for that last 3 plus weeks. I just got home from being out to lunch, I had curry chicken salad (took half home with me if I had been traveling I would have left it on the plate.) It was delishish made with yogurt and curry, a few craisens and walnuts. I chewed until it was liquidfied!! Tomorrow night I will be out to dinner with friends and plan to have the crab cake appetizer as a meal. My doc's program post-op is up to day 6 clears, days 6-11 liquids including milk in protien drinks and cream soups, 11-21 full liquids including thicker soups (no chucks) 21-30 mushies and soft foods including tofu, scrambled eggs ect. Day31 and beyond full diet with warnings regarding tough meats and adding things as tolerated. So yesterday and today I've adventured out a bit and tomorrow I will try something else and slowly add healthy solid foods as tolerated. I would not hestitate to travel at this point. I am still having 1 Isopure a day ( I like all the protien I get from it) and I think I will continue to drink my protien for breakfast. It's fast and easy and nutritionally what I need and if I where traveling I would bring my shaker cup and individual travel packets. I have been to two cocktail parties in week 3 and no one noticed that I was sipping my lemon water and enjoying the company. I can honestly say that I haven't felt hungry since surgery and when everyone else is snacking and having apps it just doesn't seem to bother me. Of course I'm so happy being out in clothes that are two sizes smaller than what I was wearing a month ago I'm in a happy place as everyone is noshing! Unless you have complications of some sort I would totally embrace a NYC trip at one month out, you'll feel good in your clothes and in control of your diet! Everyone is different of course, but with some planning you should be on track for travel

Love my calcium chews too! Feels like a little sweet treat!

I was having some reflux issues right off the bat and my doc increased my PPI (Pantozole 20mg) to 2x per day. One dose in the morning on an empty stomach and one dose at night two hours before bed no liquid or food after that. He said I could use Gaviscon mid day if I had any buring midday. I have to say by the second day of dosing I had no more issue with reflux and only had to use the Gaviscon for the first two days. I hope you get some relief soon reflux is nasty and painful! No sweating for me so no insight there sorry. Jen.

Ice cold is the key to Isopure for me too!

Personally I like my clear Isopure, many don't but I like the benefits of it and the taste is good with me. Also the high protein keeps me feeling full. I get the mixed case from Lucky Vitamins online so I get a variety. My favorite flavor of them is the Peach Mango but it's nice to have the variety. It was great on clears to be able to get the liquid and the protein. I did not like Unjury protein powder pre-op but post-op I like it because its not too thick and right now too thick makes me feel sick. The only Unjury I really don't like is their Chicken Broth...yuck. I prefer my shakes made with Unsweetened Almond -40 calories, rather than Silk. Good luck with the pre-op. Jennifer

My doc said no creams or neosporin (antibiotic creams) until they are completly healed not for at least 4 weeks. But I will for sure be putting some Mederma on them later because this body is headed for a bikini next year!

self·ish   <a onmousedown="spk(this,{lk:'nx1fkx',en:'wotdau',io:'0',b:'wotd',tp:'lrl',m:'wotdau'})" href="#"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/S02/S0298400"><img border="0" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif"></a> /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/ Show Spelled[sel-fish] Show IPA adjective 1. devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others. 2. characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself: selfish motives. This does not sound like you at all. In fact based on your post is sounds the exact opposite of you. A few days/weeks of recovery will not change how you ultimately love and care for your family but it certainly will change how you love,care, and respect yourself and your health and well being in the future. Good luck to you. I hope you end up with some of what you need too!

Best thing is...tomorrow's a new day...move on! BTW is sounds like you chose a bunch of protein which isn't altogether bad.

Once I got to full liquids my doc approved vegetable juices ( but recommended watering them down to help with their acidity). I had to thin them out with water because too thick made me feel sick! I personally am not a sweet food/drink lover and appreciated this. Slices of cucumber or mint are nice in water instead of sweet things and very refreshing this time of year. You can add a scoop of Unjury unflavored whey protein to cold veg juice and you don't really even know it's there but you get 20g protein and 100 cal.

Those 31 pounds you have worked hard for pre-op...aren't coming back post op. And those other 54 pounds you have in your goal ticker will be achievable with this tool. And all those miserable thoughts and feelings and struggles with your weight that you have had in the past that even made you start thinking about and pursueing this surgery will be just a part of a journey towards your new lighter life. Its a major life changing event that you will take part in, in next 40 hours. Its normal to be nervous. I'm not to far into this game just 24 days out and I don't regret it one bit. I went into my closet today putting together clothes for an interview I have tomorrow and I had to go through a few things I had not worn in quite awhile to find something that fit and was not too big and baggy. I'm amazed at just how much difference the first pounds have made...what a huge difference. I can barely imagine how I'm gonna feel in 6mths to a year from now. Oh and if all this encouragement doesn't help...take an ativan...it'll all be over in no time! lol

Hi Amy, I want to say the PPI was $18 a box for 28 doses. There are two pharmacies, one across the street that you can see from the ER entrance and one on the same side of the street around the corner from the main entrance. The pharmacy on the same side of the street is less expensive by a few dollars and you can use a credit card there or US dollars. Dr. Campos will write it down for you if you like but no prescription is required. I walked around the corner on day two to get it...so I was glad to have a track suit with me so I didn't have to wear my pj's.

Congratulations! on getting your date. I had surgery with Dr. Aceves July 14, 2012, he and Dr. Campos, the anestesiologist and the rest of the team are great and will take good care of you. I think pain may be a very individual thing but I can tell you my experience involved some discomfort but no real pain. When I asked for pain med in the hospital 2x I would describe my pain as being a 4 on the chart. The pain/discomfort I felt really came from my drain tube area which came out the second day. The gas pain that people describe can be very uncomfortable and for me I believe was minimized greatly by walking. As soon as you can get up and walk once you are out of recovery the better off you will be. My husband was a slave driver making me walk every hour and every 2-3hrs in the night. But I thanked him for it. I was sent home with pain med (Sucradol (?)) and picked up extra and the Pharmacy there just around the corner just in case. I also bought a 3 month supply of the PPI (Pantezol) at the Pharmacy around the corner. They will also send you home with a month's supply.I wish I had bought more because I am taking it morning and night now and will run out before the 3 months that I need to take it is up. It is cheaper there and in a little packet that you take instead of having to crush a Nexium or Prilosec or something. I really haven't had a need for any pain meds since I've been home, except on day when I've over done it with my walking. Don't be afraid to ask for pain med when you are in the hospital if you need it. Better to get up and walk the gas out then lay in bed with pain. Happy to answer any other questions you might have about my Mexicali experience. Best Wishes. Jennifer

I know what you mean about the adding calories..."Yikes I'm eating too much." I'm on day 22 and have been averaging around 400 calories and am working to get it between 600-800 as my doc recommends for weight loss stage. As I work to increase them I fight the battle of ...if I eat less I will lose faster but I don't believe in the extreme that, that is true. I am hoping that once I am able to increase my calories (good healthly ones) that my weight loss will be consistant and improve. I believe that too few and we put ourselves into a starvation mode and actually decrease our metabolism doing ourselves more damage than good. We also don't give ourselves enough nutrition to think straight!! and for me that means...self defeating thoughts! When was the last time you lost 25lbs and knew that you could be saying goodbye to them forever? That you had cut the string to the yo-yo! I keep seeing this poster on my fit friends facebook pages...The Journey is the Destination it gives me hope that no matter how far I have to go the trip there is worth it, no time is lost! Good luck to you and congratulations on your loss so far!! Jennifer

Good luck tomorrow! I went out to dinner with my family last week (still on liquid) and had a bowl of broth soup while they enjoyed cocktails and a meal. I wouldn't have been able to be sweet to them & satisfied... enduring that without my sleeve so kuddos to you for getting through this weekend pre-op without it!! Wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery!

I agree with all of the acid comments. Isopure can be nasty (especially the white bit of whey it can leave on your tongue) but I just decided that not everything was going to be delightful and I would just have to drink it and get through it. I've actually come to not mind it at all and am still drinking one a day for the protein and liquid benefit. I find it easier to "enjoy" if its super cold and will sometimes chase a sip with a sip of water. The protein is great to aid your healing and the hunger feeling... Good luck enjoy your weekend

Suger Free Popsicles where allowed by my doc on clears and full liquid stage, they took care of my need to chew/have something other than liquid in my mouth. Maybe you could try those! BTW you can do this!!!

In laymans terms this is what I was told...The purpose of the drain is to allow excess fluids/ little blood out of the surgical area, my surgeon also uses it for his second leak test. I would not describe it as painful but it was a bit uncomfortable. I was glad to have it out. I had a 3 day hospital stay and the drain was removed end of day two. I had a second leak test day 2 with the a blue dye substance and once they where assured none of the blue dye had leaked from my stomach my drain came out. Because the drain hole does not get a stitch (it is allowed to heal from the inside out) it was the most tender of my incisions. I tend to have a low pain tolerance, but this did not cause me pain...just discomfort

Mine does the same thing (plus or minus 4 pounds) I move it around on the floor like a crazy person until I get a reading that is the same or lower than the day before... so I just ordered an Omron 400 ($44 from Amazon). But now what if it gets here and tells me I weigh more than the one I already have?? I will be totally ticked off then.

Days 1-6 Clear Days 7-21 Full Liquid (protein drinks made with milk, cream soups no chucks or ground up meats) Day 21-30 Soft food/mushies (cottage cheese, tofu, thicker soups) Day31+ Regular food with warnings about certain meats, raws ect

My doc recommends 600-800 calories during weight loss stage and to shoot for 1200-1400 during maintenance & 70% of calories from protein.

geno5150 I'm crackin up at your comment!!!

Its not for everybody, it takes a strong person to face their problems head on! I noticed yesterday just how many glucose meter commercials there where on tv. I've never noticed them really up until lately...some people just don't get the severity of the problem we have on this continent...its called denial. Carry on, what you are doing will dramatically change your life...for the better

Hi Amanda, my name is Jennifer. I had surgery in Mexicali MX with Dr. Aceves on July 14th. I had no concerns while there about safety. Mexicali's economy is all about business and a large part of it is medical tourism. My husband and I felt very safe and comfortable there during our stay. Almater Hospital where I had my VSG is a top notch facility and patient care is outstanding. The hospital was meticously maintained, the equipment up to date, and the attentive nursing care better than any Canadian or American facility I have been in. Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos have alot of experience (3000+ procedures or more I think) and I believe that my experience was seamless as a result. Since my surgery the coordinators have been in contact with me and so has the Dr. following up on my progress. I flew from MN to San Diego and was picked up along with another patient and then returned by the driver on my morning of departure. There where several patients there who had traveled alone and did not think anything of it, my husband accompanied me and spent the three nights on the sofa in my private room. I highly recommend Dr. Aceves and after having the experience that I did I am glad that I went there, even if insurance would have covered my procedure I would choose him over what would have been available to me locally. I think the number of procedures a Dr performs makes them even better at what they do and I benefited from that. My VSG price was $8750.00 ( I think that was a July price special). No additional costs except our airfare to San Diego. Good luck to you. Oh, the other thing I loved about this was when I called I said I would like to come next month...and I was able to schedule my surgery, when I wanted it without having to jump through anymore insurance hoops!!

Is it inevitable? Does hair loss happen to everyone?