CCRNonherway

I just completed my first week of work travel after surgery. All I can say is be prepared! It was a rough week, but I think I did well. Ate in concierge lounge and off appetizer menu. All those favorites i had cannot be eaten any longer . shakes otherwise. Wait staff asking if i didnt enjoy the food and did i need to speak to the manager or should they box it up. What suffered was my mid day Vitamins. They didn't happen.

No problem traveling with my RTD shakes. Good luck!

I have reflux so badly right now that it woke me up at 2:30am. I took a pepcid (Rx from the doctor) & I am hoping it kicks in soon. I had reflux before my sleeve surgery & I took prilosic otc & it worked for me. I'm on liquids only. Good luck! :-)

Since surgery I take a Prilosec in the am and a Zantac before bed. Doc suggested I could take Prilosec at night instead. So far I'm sticking with what works.

I was also sleeved on 7/25 and have diarrhea. Does it ever end? Lol

Mine lasted for over 2 weeks. Eventually it ends. My doc said completely normal.

I checked my RTD shakes in cooler bags (they contained fresh milk) along with my Bullet blender. TSA always opened the bag' date=' but I think it was the metal in the blender that set them off. Nothing ever disturbed.

Bariatric Advantage has powdered shakes in individual bottles ready to be shaken with Water or skim milk. Easy to carry through security, although TSA advised to take the bottles out of my carryon and place in the tray so that the plastic bottle shape didn't upset anyone. Skim or 2% milk was fairly easy to find in an airport, if you can have that on your plan.[/quote']

I will have to look into those! Thanks!

Just to add on, I did have about 10 RTD shakes in my checked bag. Securely wrapped for leakage. Put my Rx right on top. I never get inspected but when I got to the hotel, there was the infamous disclosure slip and the shakes were not so securely re wrapped. But at least they did not take them!

Omg I HATE ATL airport! Who designed a place where you walk two miles to get out of the airport?? Ranks up there with MIA which I also love to hate.

Lol I agree! And MSP same thing. Never cut a connection close there!

No worries! I'm headed to the airport now so we will see how TSA responds to the RTD shakes.

I am checking my luggage and also structured my itin to allow for time to transfer gates etc. didn't want to have to run through ATL on my first flight back!

I had one RTD in a gallon bag with my Rx. They did an explosives screen, never looked at my Rx and that was it.

I too am an FF but I'm pre op. I'm very interested to see what replies you will get. As prep for my liquid diet' date=' I did substitute shakes for one meal on a recent trip. I took powders and a Blender Bottle and bought Water at the airport. I had those when eating at client sites since I couldn't always be sure they'd be something good for me to eat there.

I'm curious how soon most people start flying again? I never check luggage but wondering if I may need to for a while?

Sorry hope I am not hijacking your thread but curious to learn from you and other FFs here.[/quote']

No worries! I'm headed to the airport now so we will see how TSA responds to the RTD shakes.

I am checking my luggage and also structured my itin to allow for time to transfer gates etc. didn't want to have to run through ATL on my first flight back!

Looking for some fellow frequent fliers. I travel extensively for my work and fly almost every week. I go back on the road this week.

1. I got a prescription for my Protein Shakes. Have any of you been successful in getting through TSA with your Protein shakes, with or without a prescription?

2. I thought about putting a copy of the prescription in with all my other protein shakes in my checked bag. Any issues with TSA opening or taking out your shakes from your checked bag?

3. I am one month post op. Rather than trying to figure out what to eat for dinner, I thought I would have yogurt or scrambled eggs for Breakfast and shakes for lunch/dinner. This will work for the upcoming week since I will be alone, but in other weeks I will be with the team. Any suggestions on what to eat when dining out? I was thinking maybe scallops or broth Soup? Sticking with the appetizer menu?

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

1st NSV! Just went through all the pants in my closet. Found about 10 pair that were "too big" and only 4 that were "too small". The greatest thing is that I have some from 2005 and 2009 that were snug back then and now are "just right!" I also bought a new pair of pants yesterday, size 16! When I started this journey, I was a size 22!

I'm so excited that I pulled all those pants from the "back of the closet" and can now wear them!

What was his price? Was it all inclusive? Did he make you jump through a lot of hoops before?

Insurance paid for mine. He does have an all inclusive price. I think $18000? Only hoops ahead of time are psych eval and nut eval.

As much as I like him, I said if insurance denied me, I would go to Mexico.

Good luck!

How long where on high blood pressure meds for ! I'm on them currently I hate taking them !

I was on them for years. I took my last one the night before surgery. I was really surprised that in the hospital I didnt need them and I havent needed them since! I spoke with a doctor friend of mine about why the change so quickly and she said once you stop eating "bad" food, the body responds very quickly.

Here I am at one month today. I have only lost 15 pounds since surgery, but I have lost inches! 3.5 off my hips, which is wonderful. I started out wearing a size 22 and the other day I purchased some size 16 pants! My face looks thinner.

I can only eat about 1/4 cup of soft food still. Some days are better than others with my Protein and liquids, but most days I hit my goals. I still struggle with the fact that I cant eat a big fat meal ever again, but by the same token, I have yet to be hungry and I dont physically miss the food. There are some cravings, like pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers, but I will just make "mock ups" of those to satisfy the craving and move on.

Had a rough patch at the two week mark with some fatigue and weakness, but that seems to have passed ok.

The hubby asked me the other day if I had any regrets. I said NO! I am good, and even though the weight loss has been slow, I know it will continue to come off.

I am already off my blood pressure meds, and that is one of the reasons why I did this!

Sleeved with Dr Stephen Burpee in Tucson. He is fantastic.

Last nite I ended up in the ER. My facial muscles' date=' back, neck, and hands wouldn't relax, they were constantly contracting. It was so scary. My bp was 170/111. I calle dmy nurse in fear I had a leak. My should was killing me. She said it's probably not a leak, as they tend to happen within the first few days and my temp was only 98.1. About an hour after talking with her, hubby said we were going to the ER. On the ride over there, I knew i was having a stroke or something. Felt like I was gunna explode. It was weird. As soon as I got there, an orderly met me outside with a wheelchair. I was checked in immediately. As soon as my husband told them my symptoms, the dr asked me if I was taking Compazine or Reglan for nausea. Yes, I was tkaing Reglan, not for nausea, but to keep my stomach "moving". He had seen this many times before with Reglan. As soon as the nurse put the medication in my IV to counteract it, I immediately felt better. Had s stomach xray just to be sure I had no leak. I was sent home within 2 hrs, feeling 100% better.

So warning. If you're taking Reglan as part of your post op meds ( I was sposed to take it 3x a day for 7 days following surgery) this can happen. I guess it happens with certain meds, not just Reglan. It's definitely on my allergy list now

Feeling so much better today. Still in pain (more than I thought I'd be 6 days out) but I'm healing nicely. Scared to even eat Jello, needless to say I've been sticking to Water, Protein shakes and Tomato soup.[/quote']

They're probably extrapyramidal symptoms. They probably gave you Benadryl to counteract. You can google to get more info. Just curious if you are on any other meds. Reglan tends to increase the effects of certain meds.

I have the vanilla. It's not too bad!

Sleeved 6/25. Surgery and recovery has been a breeze with the exception of one ER visit for some potassium. Still fairly fatigued. Never hungry, which is nice. I struggle with the Vitamins and my other meds. Fluids going in well (normal size swallows).

For food I am on 2 shakes and one soft meal a day. I can't eat much, about 1/4 cup of Beans or eggs. Tofu, egg flower Soup, etc. on the 24th I get to add in some soft veggies.

Have lost 14 lbs since surgery. I was low BMI at time of surgery. Have lost 37 lbs total.

Am a bit disappointed in how slow its coming off, but it's steady..no stalls yet! Knock, knock.

Glad most everyone is doing well!

So I have a large mass and the doc is going to remove this mass and do a gastric sleeve. Insurance is making me wait 30 days. Help

Anyone have this issue' date='

So update.[/quote']

Did they give a reason why? It's not their typical waiting period for bariatric surgery, so that's good.

I made them the other day. They are delicious but very filling. The key to success is to make sure you whip the egg whites enough until very stiff!

I am 3 weeks post op and I struggle with them as they are a bit dry for me yet. I did have one with egg salad which was great. But tonight with turkey I got the foamies.

I am 3 weeks post-op today and am down 14 pounds from surgery and 37 from my highest. I think i am a slow loser too.

With that said, I have seen the most change since surgery in my body shape. I now have ankles! Measure yourself and you will see some changes! Don t get discouraged, as everybody says, get your Protein in and drink your Water.

Good luck!

I was sleeved June 25th. I am on pureed foods. Went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant ...first time out to eat since surgery. Had refried Beans and guacamole. It tasted good but I didn't eat much...was really worried about portion size. I am allowed crispy crackers on the phase too so I ate 3 tortilla chip.

I was also sleeved on June 25th. I do two clear liquid shakes a day plus about 1/4 cup of soft food. So far I have had yogurt, part of a scrambled egg, refried Beans twice, egg flower Soup. Tonight I went crazy and paid for it. I made an oopsie roll and put 1/2 a small meatless meatball with about a table spoon of spaghetti sauce and mozzarella. I could only eat half of that and was in terrible pain. I should have stopped at a quarter of it.

So' date=' I don't know if this is good, bad, or normal......today I got a letter from Cigna (well it's a copy of a letter they sent to my doctor)......wanting more information.....and all of what they are asking should have been with the doctor's office (sounds familiar, huh?).....did anyone else get this?

One odd thing is they want to know the admit date, surgery date......and I don't have that yet.....that was dependent upon being approved (or so I thought).......of course it's a weekend, and I can't get in touch with the doctor's office.....so I definitely won't have my answer by Wednesday.....darn! (go ahead and substitute that for a stronger word, I did LOL) Oh well, wish me luck.......and a lot of patience......thanks![/quote']

Yes I got that too. Cigna has a two step process. The doctor "opens" the claim, which generates this letter but more importantly it gets your claim assigned. Then the doctor submits your packet. Ps, don't worry about the date, when its approved your doc will adjust the date with Cigna. Good luck!

**WARNING*** DONT DRINK PLAIN Water ONLY. some of you know ive been having dizzy spells over the past few months. been to the ER where they told me nothing was wrong and sent me home. well a week later i was dizzy again' date=' yesterday got really bad i had to leave work and go back to the dr. i guess it depends on who the dr is because this dr not only read my labs from the ER, but told me it popped up clearly my potassium levels are very low hummmmmmmmm the ER dr just sent me on my way, and the cold part is he didnt even send the results to my primary dr, member services will be contacted. so what i put together after my visit is 1. my bp meds is a Water pill. 2. i drink more than a gallon of water daily, **note** i only drink water occasionally coffee or tea , but only plain water, so this morning god spoke to me, yes god for the believers. said drink some gatorade along with the potassium pills i was prescribed. so i am on my way to the store now to get some and add it to my water intake. be careful dont just drink plain water especially if you take bp meds.[/quote']

Same thing happened to me. Spent all day Tuesday in the ER. Very weak. Got potassium and now I feel so much better. While I am not in BP meds any longer, I think people should be aware if they are weak that this may be the culprit. Drink Powerade zero!

I am only 11 days out from surgery and expected to need to take it easy and not overdo' date=' but I didn't expect to be this darned tired!!! I feel pretty good when I'm just sitting around doing nothing but when I try to do anything or take a walk I have absolutely NO energy. I'm getting in enough Water and Protein, so it's not that. Any ideas? Maybe I'm just expecting that I would bounce back quicker than I am.[/quote']

The exact same thing happened to me! To the degree that i had to make sure i did t write the post lol.

The culprit was my potassium level. See your doc and get some blood work done! They gave me IV potassium and in 2 days I have most of my energy back!

Edit: just realized this was from 2011- leaving post for future readers!

My surgeon prescribed Prilosec even though I never complained of GERD or acid reflux at all. I never took them and here is why: Once you are on the drug' date=' when you try to go off of it, your acid production increases to a state higher than it was before you took the drug causing people to have to go back on it -- FOREVER.

I simply do not put poison into my body. Same with statins.

Now this:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/07/12/common-acid-reflux-drugs-could-raise-risk-of-heart-disease-new-research-suggests/?partner=yahootix

As with statins, there are WAY too many side effects. There are people with serious reflux disease that really have little choicw, but don't start taking them "just as a precaution" or to tame an occasional acid stomach. There are plenty of safe and natural ways to go about it.[/quote']

While I appreciate your opinion and your choice, posts like these are terribly dangerous. PPIs have very little risk and they serve a great purpose to those of us with smaller stomachs. Preventing ulcers! Please please, anyone reading this. DO NOT STOP your PPI without discussing with your doctor. Discuss your concerns and collaboratively come up with a plan.

I found a nice article online that discusses this. While it specifically refers to bypass patients, the same applies to us. https://www.slhn.org/docs/newsletter/bariatrics%20-%20ulcers.pdf