Norma

Are you talking about the pre-surgery diet or post-surgery diet? Pre-surgery I would try to limit to 30 grams of carbs and eat all the lean Protein you want. The purpose is to shrink the fat out of the liver not to lose weight. After surgery, I would be concerned if your surgeon does not give you a diet to follow as in total grams of protein to shoot for daily and a schedule of when you can add things to clear liquid diet. My doctor requires a minium of 10 days on each phase-clear liquid, full liquids, soft foods. Day 1 thru 5 ( Clear Liquids Only ) fruit juice ( apple, grape, cranberry ) Propel broth Jello-O Water Tea Protein Water by Kellogg’s Water popsicles Clear Protein drinks only ( example Isopure, unjury ) Day 6-10 ( thin liquids ) All of the above and: Natural Vegetable Juices ( example Carrot, V-8 juice ) Protein drinks mixed with water ( example Matrix ) whey nectar Protein Mix Day 11 thru 20 ( full liquids ) Cream Soups Yogurt Jello-O Boiled pureed fruit ( example apple, pear) applesauce Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Low fat milk 1 or 2% Water, Propel, tea Soy beverages sugar free pudding Protein shakes and protein powders mixed with milk Day 21 thru 30 ( soft food ) Soft food should be the consistency of a thick liquid ( no chunks or solid material ) and it should be chewed very well before swallowing until it is a liquid consistency Tofu Low fat cottage cheese Cereal oatmeal Precooked pureed rice Low fat Yogurt Yogurt mixed with fruit very well blended Cream soups eggs Boiled pureed fruit ( example pear, apple ) Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Boiled pureed vegetables Beans Day 31st and beyond ( solid food ) Fish, Chiken meat Turkey Vegetables Fruit

Nexium mups is a pill that dissolves in water. You can't take pills that you must swallow immediately after surgery. there were 14 tabs in a box and I got 4 boxes for the $80.

Are you taking anything for stomach acid? Dr Aceves said that I should take my Nexium Mups twice daily as I have to take APAP meds for the swelling in my knee and that will put added stress on my stomach. He requires that his patients take the anti stomach acid meds for at least 4 months. I wonder if you guys are having that type of problem? As for me, I am still on full liquids--I am falling in love with creamed soups--today's variety is Jason's Deli-tomato basil, broccoli cheese and french onion. Yummy!

Nexium mups and a pain pill that dissolves under your tongue. I walked to the pharmacy 1 block from hospital on Sunday and got 4 more boxes of Nexium mups-cost was $80 and they took my debit card. The two boxes of the pain pill lasted me for 5 days and did not need anything by that time. I did not need a prescriotion for the Nexium. Dr. Campos comes by your hospital room on your last evening and goes through all the medications you were on prior to the surgery and tells you how to take them. For me, he reduced my insulin regime drastically and told me to break or crush all my other pills and to take those one at a time. I found that crushing them was easier and taking them with a sip of water and then following with a Crystal Light popsicle. I also made a slushy out ot the softening popsicle and mixed the crushed pills wtih that like you would applesauce.

Surgery has been postponed till mid Dec. I must first heal the bursitis around hamstring so that it will be able to be grafted where necessary. Dr. Abraham wants me on solid foods prior to surgery too as he would feel better if I was a little farther along in my recovery from sleeve surgery before putting me under anesthesia again what with my severe asthma and all. So I have a follow up appointment on Nov 25th and if my pain control is not such that he and I feel safe in postponing surgery indefinetly to try to get more years out of my original knee, then he will schedule me for the second week of Dec. He is predicting 6-8 weeks off work and a hospital stay of 5 days with 2-3 weeks of daily in home PT before I start going to PT. If, on some outside chance that I can postpone surgery for a year or so, the added weight loss will be a benefit to my recovery process and the strength of the new knee as there would be less chance that the pressure would make it too loose for me to be as active as I want to be. I am impressed with my new doctor-he spent nearly two hours with me discussing the various pros and cons of the surgery and really listened to my points as well. I will also be able to have the support of my PCP during the hospital phase as I can use the hospital I want as well. Onward and upward! I ate at Granite City today--awesome cheddar ale soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:biggrin0:

Chancie, Thanks for not sugarcoating it--I have developed an aversion to sweetness since surgery. LOL. Congrats on being pain free 1 year out!!!!!!!!! I will be much more ready for surgery because of your posts and those of others. Knee surgery is going to be lots harder than sleeve surgery and I am starting to prepare the house and myself for the changes necessary. NJ

Donna, thanks for posting your experience. I am typically pretty stoic and bounce back from surgery pretty quickly too. It always helps me if I know what to expect and so am thankful :thumbup1:so many people are willing to share their experiences with knee replacements. My house has 3 levels too. I am thinking about getting a microwave for this level so that I don't have to go 3 flights for meals.

mountain lover and Chancie, What was the physical therapy schedule for you? I am trying to see how to manage the time off from work. I could sit at my desk and have everything brought to me. My office is right next to the restroom and I know that my boss would allow me all the flexiblity needed to get to appts. I just can't be off for months. What was your weight when you had surgery if you don't mind me asking? I weigh 280 right now and am 5'3".

Verdict-total knee replacement surgery. Seeing second doctor tomorrow as guy who did my meniscus on left knee 5 yeas ago can't get me in for surgery for a month. I am in too much pain to be able to work and don't want to increase the pain meds to steroids to fill that time slot. Hoping to have surgery next week with tomorrow's doc. Anyone able to let me know what total knee replacement recovery and hospital stay is like? Would appreciate any information/experience you have. PM me if you want. I need some support from someone who has been through the knee replacement surgery.

I would go to Disney tomorrow if I had the opportunity and if I wasn't waiting on knee surgery. I am 10 days out and not having any problems with energy or bathroom issues. I get the protein in by drinking 2 RTD 51 Protein shakes a day that I get at Vitamine SHoppe or at 23 hour fitness. I drink sips of water, crystal light or various other liquids all day long. I am using soups as my two meals. Really--I am doing excellent and would love the opportunity for celebrating my new body at Disneyland.

Dr Aceves didn't use barium as the risk of it leaking into the body if there is a leak. He used Methylene blue and then the fluoscope was used with the x ray hidrosoluble liquid. The taste of the blue stuf was disguised with apple juice in 4 dixie cups that we drank over the period of an hour. The xray hidrosoluble was two gulps that we were encouraged to drink in big gulps. That stuff was bitter but over in a short time.

I am being sleeved by Dr. Aceves on Oct 30. With his permission, I opted for two weeks on the high protein, low fat, under 30 grams of carbs per day diet. The first three days were tough with constant cravings, constant thoughts about food and blood sugars bouncing out of control. I am diabetic and had been taking Glimperide 4 mgs daily, Novolog 15, 15 and 20 units daily and Byetta 10 units twice daily and Lantus 25 units at night. Now I am not on Lantus or Byetta and have reduced the Novolog to 12, 12, 15 and may get told to cut the Glimperide in half. This is all pre-surgery! I am sure that my liver will be in much better shape and that I am doing what I can control to assure that my surgery is safe and with little blood loss. I am also doing hypnosis about pain control, being able to tolerate the liquid phase and having Healing Touch sessions to calm my anxiety and prepare the body for surgery. I have three more days of work and then can focus on packing, relaxing, and keeping my immune system healthy for surgery. Life is good. Has anyone else used hypnosis or massage to prepare them for surgery?

Dr Aceves states he has had no leaks and no deaths. His care and attention was better than any I have ever received in the United States in my 50 years and 16 various surgeries. I am not expecting to need much face to face follow-up care but I have the same commitment from Dr. Aceves for a year at only $9000. I have already had two contacts from his office and have only been home for a week. I had better customer service from his coordinator than I have from any of my specialists' offices combined. There are excellent surgeons in the world who are not Americans and there are doctors and hospitals in the US that I would not trust with my health as well.

How much money are you talking about? Have you considered going to Mexico where cost are cheaper. Some insurance companies will pay out of network expenses at half price and if the surgery cost way less down there that might be a way of saving money. I was self pay and paid $9000 for mine. I used $5000 of medical flex spend account and was able to save the $4000 by moving in with friends and cutting cost by not eating out, dropped the cable, etc. I saved the $4000 in about 8 months. I was able to borrow for the $5000 as the lender knew the flex spend would be approved immediately after i submitted the bill from the surgery. So I was able to take the flex spend money and pay off the loan within a week of getting the surgery. Some people refinance their home or car loans. hope this gives you some hints.

update-saw dr today. BP -138/80 reduced my Lisinopril. Diabetes-148 took off Lantus and Byetta, reduced Novolog to sliding scale, don't have to test but 4 times a day -down from every 2 hrs, d/c'd Glimiperide , K-Dur, Lasix. I am to crush my Paxil, Mucinex, and Singular and take at different times. Asthma is bronchitis or mild pneumonia-took chest X-ray and put me on liquid Keflex (one of the few antibiotics that I am not allergic too). He thinks that i must have aspirated something into my lungs. Knee-anterior horn of medial meniscus is toast. When he took hold of my ankle and pulled slightly to extend the leg I gasped. If the injury was only the meniscus, that would have relieved pressure and I would have felt better. Thus, surgery is going to be necessary and soon. I got a walker and will be able to get exercise building my endurance at walking with the walker. I have a orth consult for Thursday. Drum roll please-------------------------------weight 280.6 lbs -almst 32 lb lost forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will be fine. I was sleeved by Dr Aceves on the 30th of Oct. Really had minimal pain, nothing that kept me awake or made me want to stay in bed. They give you dissovlable pain pills for the trip home that you just place under your tongue. I kept hydrated by buying a bottle of water after checking into the airport and adding crystal light. We left Mexicali at 7:00 am and I did not get home until 1:30 am the next day due to connecting flights--I was tired but okay. I was able to get electric cart to take me from gate to gate in airport so really had not problem. Breathe easy. Private message me and I will give you my phone number to take with you and will coach you through it if necessary.

Sending healing energy your way!

You could not find a better facility or doctor anywhere. I was sleeved on Oct 30, 2009 and believe that Dr Aceves and Almater Hospital are the best. I had very little pain; my nausea was controlled as soon as I realized that was what I was experiencing (thought it was gas); all my pre-op emails and questions were answered by Nina within hours of my sending the questions. The hospital was clean. The people were fantastic. I have never been seen so many times by my primary surgeon (3-4 a day) or check on by nurses on a hourly basis in any of my previous surgeries. I would not go to a clinic personally because if I needed ICU or emergency services, they would not have the expertise or equipment available. I have even been contacted since returning home. I honestly could not think of any reason to go to anyone else.

Yeah, you go girl!

Home sweet home! Moxie, my cat, was just pitiful without me. Peter tells me she just roamed the house meowing and slept in the bathtub near his room. Seconds after I arrived home, she jumped into my arms and hasn't left my side since. I am doing well. My insulin has been cut in half since surgery. I have drank 1/2 bottle of Isopuke in past 6 hours. I am keeping it on ice and with a lidded cup so I don't have to smell it. I feel good. I have walked through the house every hour. I plan to take a shower this afternoon and got to the pharmacy to get some bandages and paper tape. I highly recommend using the services of a therapist skilled in hypnosis for pain management. I had very little pain including the torn meniscis (muscle) in my knee that I could not use antiinflammtory meds on. The most amazing thing for me is that I have no sense of being hungry and am satisfied with just sips of my protein drink. Happy Day!

I will be coming home tomorrow from Mexicali. Dr Aceves did my surgey on Friday and Dr Campos declared me well with a new smaller stomach this morning. I have lost from 309 starting to 278. Not bad for a start. I am growing tired of apple juice and orange juice but still like tea and broth. My insulin is being adjusted and today I have been around 150 with no insulin. I feel pretty great--have had trouble sleeping but that is usual for me. Today had the peacock blue poop so know that all parts are still connected and working. The entire team here has been wonderful. My hearing loss and lack of spanish has not been a deterrent in the least. I missed the connecting flight because of stormy weather but Nina sent a Frericko to get us. Everything was fine at the hotel and here at the hospital. I met Barb, Ursula, Lisa, and Maria. I am excited and can not say enough about the passion that Dr Aceves and Dr Campos have for what they do. I felt treated with humanity and deep respect. The nurses are great. Sergio is funny and sweet and Arianna is fantastic. Yolanda is professional and a lovely lady. Lucy met me when I finally arrived and was very gracious to have stayed late on Thursday to make my arrival.:thumbup:

Call your surgeon's office right now and tell them what you are doing. Have a friend or family member monitor your every move around fluids and food. Are you trying to kill yourself? Wake up! I refuse to go easy on you for this behavior--it is suicidal. Stop it now.

Judy, Thank God that your surgeon is looking at the big picture and wants your BP to be stable before the stress of surgery. You wouldn't want a stroke during surgery to cloud your experience. When your surgery happens, it will be the beginning of a new life. I just had mine on Oct 30 and feel wonderful. It was the best decision of my life. I will keep you in my prayers.