ravenjeh

Last night, I woke up to a horrible feeling. I had taken my medicine (antidepressants) and gone to bed. About 35 minutes later, I woke to my throat on fire and a strong taste of my pills (you know the bitter taste on your tongue before you swallow a pill..). It was so strong I thought I was going to vomit. I drank something and even ate a little bite of something hoping to cool down my throat. It gradually got better over the next 10-15 minutes until I could fall asleep again. It was almost as if the acid in my stomach washed up a pill in my throat where it sat there for a while during my sleep. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't take any PPI's or antiacids except for Tums. I used to try them all, but nothing really cured my acid so I just learned to live with it. Except I take Tums 2-3 times daily for that uncomfortable acid feeling in my stomach. So, should I take something for acid right before bed to prevent this? Ughhh, I hope and pray that I don't get gallbladder problems...

I have been using Body Fortress whey Protein Isolate in vanilla Cream from Walmart because of the price and it only has 2 carbs when mixed with Water. Add lots of sugar free pudding mix and splenda and it's good. However, the last time I went, they are no longer carrying the Isolate, so I had to get the Body Fortress Whey Protein in chocolate. Costs less, but has more carbs and it is absolutely revolting. The texture and aftertaste is much much worse than the isolate I was using before. So, my advice for sweet shakes is to go for a brand of whey isolate. Something about it makes it much more palatable (and better for you). HTH

Don't worry too much about the gain. I did the same thing for no apparent reason and was able to lose it all a few days late. Your body is just trying to adjust to all this, so it can do some weird things sometimes. Just make sure you get your Protein and Water in and you will get back on track with the losing. Also, I notice that with me eating so much protein and cheese, I end up being constipated pretty regularly. After taking some Miralax or Fiber tablets, I'm able to loose more once I'm finally able to "go", lol. HTH

juice and popsicles were great for me post op, along with sugar free Powerade to keep your electrolytes up. But, I came home on Clear Liquids only. If you are a coffee drinker, be sure to get Decaf, as the caffeine will dehydrate you more. Cream Soups were amazing in the blender. Good luck!

I am doing low carb, so I eat a good bit of cheese everyday. I usually will eat a laughing cow wedge, a babybel cheese round and a little whipped cream cheese on turkey deli meat.< /p>

Wow, I had no idea people were eating salads so early out- for some reason my surgeon's guidelines say to start salads at 4-5 months post op. I've been craving one for about 3 months now, lol.

I had mine done at a surgery center and don't think I would have gotten any better quality at a hospital facility. Once I got past the waiting room, everything else looked like a hospital. I loved my experience there because since they only do one surgery at a time, I had the same two nurses before and after waking up. One sat with me for hours making sure that I was comfortable and giving me pains meds as soon as I need them. I don't think I could have gotten that much focused one on one care at a large hospital.

I am 2 and half months post op, and I average 600 calories, 60 grams of Protein and try for 20 carbs daily. Of course, it being Christmas and the tastiest time of the year does not help...

Will it ever go back? I understand the largest incision is right under my bellybutton, but at almost 2 months post-op, I figured any swelling would be gone and my poor little protruding navel would go back to normal. Does anyone else have this problem?

Yay! Doesn't it feel awesome!!!

Sending a prayer for you! You'll be on the loser's bench in no time!

I did not, but from what I've read it is common for the gas to cause left side/shoulder pain. My main problem was my stomach spasming every several seconds. Just short intense pain in the center of my chest.

You will feel better tomorrow! Especially after getting home...

Good luck, dying2Bhealthy! Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life!

I didn't know Dr. Cleveland does the sleeve. Are you self pay? If so, have you found out how much he charges (If you don't mind me asking)? Ha, I drove 4.5 hours for my sleeve and just want to make sure I couldn't have gotten it done locally for the same price, lol.

So glad it went well!!! I knew you would love him.

Uhh, let me just tell you... the magnesium citrate is putrid and vile. It will be very hard to drink this stuff without vomiting. Just being honest with you, lol. It says on the bottle "Pleasing Lemon Taste"- the lemon is correct, but not the pleasing part, ha. It's almost kinda oily. This is how I made myself drink it: put a straw in the bottle and next to it, put a straw in a bottle of good tasting drink (I used some purple Powerade, I think). Take sip of mag. cit., then very quickly sip the good tasting stuff to clear the bad taste out. I know it sounds crazy, but after one bottle of this stuff, it gets harder to drink. Dr. Borland has you drink one bottle at 4 pm and one bottle at 6 pm. We left at about 4 am to get there at 9 am. By that time, most of the lovely diarrhea had passed (no pun intended!). I think I only had to stop twice.

I'm not sure if there are any sleeve surgeons in the Jackson Metro. I know I had checked in on Dr. Carroll at River Oaks, but he only does RNY and Lapband. Not sure if CMMC does the sleeve. Unfortunately, there just aren't many bariatric surgeons period in the area. I went to Louisiana for my surgery. Good luck on your pre-op diet!

I didn't have one, but I think that it would've been great to have had one. For at least a week, maybe two, I stayed hunched over when I walked while pushing a pillow against my abdomen.

Keep me updated on how the appointment goes! Good luck

I take capsules every day. I started at about 2 weeks post op and have had no problems.

I think I was so desperate I didn't think very much about complications, lol. I just prayed for the best. I never asked Dr. Borland what his leak rate was, but I can tell you from my experience that I never once had any complications/ problems. I felt completely safe because even though VSG hasn't been around too many years in the US, Dr. Borland has been performing Gastric Bypass surgeries since 1982. That was the year I was born! That's 29 years of experience in bariatric surgery. I think you are in safe hands with him. I also have no regrets about the surgery. I would do it again in a heartbeat. And take today, for example. My mom and I went shopping and ate lunch while we were out. We went to Zaxby's (a chicken tender joint) and I ordered the smallest plate they had- only 5 chicken strips. I ate 2 of them and was STUFFED. Before surgery, I could easily eat 10, plus 2 sides. I love my sleeve I hope this helps with your decision. I know I am so thankful for my opportunity!

Not until the second week. So the first week it's just clear liquids. He isn't picky about certain expensive brands either. He says you can even use the Atkins shakes from Walmart. As long as its low carb/sugar, you can use it. I use the Body Fortress whey Protein isolate from walmart. I get a huge tub for $21. The first time I tried it, it was disgusting. But now I add some sugar-free chocolate pudding mix, cocoa powder and about 1/4 cup of splenda, and it's not bad at all. You don't have to drink these forever, but it is a really easy way to get 30 grams of protein first thing in the morning.

Hmmmm, I didn't have a lot of questions for him because I researched night and day for 2 months before my consultation, lol. I can tell you that he uses a 32 fr bougie and does not leave a drain in you (those were my most important questions). Other than that, if you take any medications, make sure they are ok to take after surgery- mine had to be crushed for a couple of weeks. And he might be able to tell you more about how long you should take off of work.

I didn't even have a pre-op diet and my surgery went fantastic. You will be just fine

Congrats!!!!! That is soooo exciting! At least you don't have to wait very long until surgery- I must have had a dozen "food funerals" before my date got here, lol.

I am a piano teacher. I went back to work a week afterwards, but that is only because I sit down and only for 30 minute intervals. Even with that, though, I was very tired. I would at least take 2 weeks off if I were you, because I know photographers have to be up on their feet a lot. Dr. Borland's post-op diet is only Clear Liquids the first week. So no Protein = getting tired really easily. Once you start soft foods, you will feel a lot better. Hope that helps!