QueenCityGal

I had IH too and everything was accepted until the last minute when my doc was required to supply the proof of the 6 month supervised diet stuff... I freaked out because I personally had no record but he worked his magic and submitted what he needed to (I was seeing him for over a year with weight-related stuff) - so it all worked out. Talk to your doc office if that becomes a requirement. They can figure it out for you. Hopefully!

Yes, Dr. Cavaretta is as stone cold as an ice cube. No emotion. So weird and awkward. I only saw him when Dr. Caruana couldn't make my follow up during my hospital stay. Thank goodness

My update: I'm coming up on my 3 month mark and down 51 pounds. It's like I turned back the clock 8 years - so freaking cool to wear my old clothes again! My knee pain resolved itself. sleeping a little better. Able to eat anything now (good choices and very small portions though!) with no problem and still losing. It's a darn miracle! I thought for sure I would NEVER lose. No regrets, best decision I ever made. Fingers crossed that the dreaded hair loss phase will pass me by....

I have independent health. I am worried about needing the 6 months of diet and exercise plan from you doctor. My doctor did already sign off on the medical necessity form. Looks I should be on my except for I have all my classes scheduled in April. It would be nice if maybe I could start them this month. When Clair called to schedule she mentioned them starting April 2nd. Hopefully I can get this done before June as I have met my deductible and wouldn't have to pay for it.

So I'm thinking of going to the synergy grp mtg on Thursday. I've never been. Do I need to register or just show up? Also what do they do at the mtg?

You don't need to register, just show up. Someone new is hosting it now so I don't know how it will be run. I'm thinking of going to this one.

Ugh. I bought a case of the stuff. I could stomach the first few times I cooked with it - mostly Asian type noodle dishes to help mask the smell (there are other types of Asian mung bean noodles but made from the starch not the whole bean like these)... I can usually handle disgusting stuff, but I can't do this product anymore. The benefits are great - high Protein and super high Fiber - (and the Fiber does it's job, lol) - but I can't get past the taste and texture anymore no matter how I dress the noodles.

They are worth a try though. They are very dense when cooked so not a lot can be eaten. I'll let them sit in the cupboard for a while and go back to them when I'm feeling adventurous again!

Dr. C should have given you Bentyl for the spasms... are you taking it? It helped me a lot. I had mild spasms, not that bad and it only lasted a few days. By day four at home I was off the med. Feeling awesome ever since! You'll do great, you had the best surgeon, just give it a few days

I'm sleeved!!! Wasn't as bad as I thought but there's one thing I wasn't warned or even read about..... does or did anyone get stomach spasms when drinking or eating??? And how long did I t last?!?

Hi all, so there IS a group at Synergy tonight? Is it back on now every month? I agree there should be something on their website!

Hey there! Dr. Caruana did my surgery 6 weeks ago and I was ordered the standard IV Dilaudid (and I told them to DC it because I didn't need it), then they gave me Tramadol (I stopped that too) and never any mention of the IV Tylenol... maybe this is something new that Dr. C is doing?

Anyway it's good to hear your time is coming very soon. Let me just tell you that Dr. C is a master of his craft! Don't worry about anything! If you'll be at Sister's they will take great care of you. Best hospital experience ever (and I've had a few, lol)! I had zero problems, no pain (really!) and I really have to look hard now to see where my incisions were because he knows the best places to cut! Each cut except two are only about 1/4 inch, the others just short of an inch. I needed no pain meds after I got home.

The only thing to watch is when you have your leak test. The contrast Fluid might make you bloated with more gas and give you the runs for a day or two. That's really the only issue I had, it wasn't pretty but once that cleared up I was totally fine. Second day I was home I was doing normal things, cooking, etc.

Best decision of my life and no regrets! Feel free to message me if you want to know anything else!! Good luck my fellow Buffalo Gal

PS: Ask for pictures!! It's the coolest thing! Dr. C will gladly oblige and print some for you!

My surgeon said I will be getting IV Acetaminophen(Ofirmev). My friend who is an anesthesiologist said it is very effective but hell...he didn't have gastric surgery. I want to know from experience. Who has had it and does it really work... this "IV Tylenol"?? Thanks is advance.

MnWin I was given a medication right off the bat in the hospital called Bentyl which stops stomach and intestinal spasms that can lead to cramping and nausea. Have you been given it also? If not it may be something to bring up with your doc. It helped me immensely. Just a thought

I was sleeved on 12/18 and I am getting in ZERO Protein !! What kind of protein powders are there that have no taste smell or odor that I can Add to everything in order to get protein ...

I'd be interested in that as well. I do have an unflavored protein, but it wouldn't mix in with anything hot and I ended up chewing little balls of protein (this was pre-op) that made me sick to my stomach...so I am looking for something that dissolves well, or mixes in well and has no taste!

Have you guys tried the Syntrax Nectars? If not you definitely should! They are DELICIOUS. Not thick like shakes, they are JUICY tasting and thin like juice, you cannot tell there is protein in it. Well at least I can't! The only tell-tale sign is that you get a little foam on the top after mixing but you can skim that off. My favorite is the Fuzzy Navel, especially for Breakfast. Tastes like a nice juice glass of peachy Tang... anyone remember Tang?? LOL. You can experiment with the flavors, add some Crystal Light or Mio and create your own flavors. Someplace online I forget where sells a sample pack of all flavors. Seriously I swear by the stuff, it's that good. You get your protein and Water in, boom.

It probably depends who is providing the disability benefits. If it is the employer themselves then they would be entitled to the information. At least the person handling the claim.

It's a disability insurance company... boss needs to send a claim in. I don't know if that means the same as the employer providing the benefits?

I woke up this morning hungry. Yep hungry, my gut feels empty but I can't fill it. But nothing sounds good either. So I'm just confused. Would love to chew something but afraid I would become nauseated. Anyone on this thread in East Tennessee. My surgeon is dr. Williams?

You're describing what a few of us are feeling! I just made a reply to a post about this a few posts back on the thread... ^^^

Sorry what I forgot to mention is that we are a small company, and my direct boss IS the HR person... that is where the problem lies! If he ended up knowing it really wouldn't be the end of the world (I have a good relationship with him) but he's a co-owner and would most likely inform the other owner, someone who I do NOT want to know anything about my business.

I've got a question related to work disability forms...

I told my work about my surgery, but I was not specific, just told them "I had to take care of some things", lol. I told them that I'm taking a month off, which they are fine with since it's not busy right now.

I am owed a week of paid vacation and for the balance I was going to collect disability. My doc offers 4 weeks off and I want to take advantage of it. The problem lies in the disability forms. I thought the doc office sent them in, but my employer needs to send in the claim directly. Therefore my "diagnosis" and surgery details need to be written by my doc first, which in turn will reveal my private information to my employer... I don't like that nor do I want that.

Is there some sort of HIPAA law that this process breaks? I mean I get the reasoning for it, but a patient's right to privacy also stands. I don't want to give up a few weeks' pay, but I will if it means keeping nosy people out of my business. Hmm.

Thoughts?

That sounds about right! I'm 5 days post and my days are something like 2 glasses of Syntrax Nectar (because the thick shakes are starting to get to me), a Light & Fit greek yogurt, a few ounces of cream of mushroom Soup (no chunks) or a cup of Unjury chicken, a bunch of Water with Mio squirts and tea. I tried a little cream of wheat the other night as well just to have something substantial, it was good. I seriously can't wait to progress to "chew" foods

I am 6 days post op. The first several days I was not hungry at all, however the past couple of days I have been hungry. I don't know if it's in my head or what, but it scares me. I don't think it helps that the past 2 days I have gone to huge Christmas party/feasts, but I'm so paranoid that I will still be hungry after this sleeve! Is this normal?

I also just made a post about this last night. I'm 5 days out, yesterday I was SOOO hungry. It's weird because I have no desire to eat, yet I have that severe empty "I gotta have some food in me" feeling because I AM so empty inside. Leftover grehlin? Who knows... but we have not had any solid food in ourselves for weeks now (well me at least) and after trying to survive on an average of 600 cals a day I'm sure our bodies truly ARE hungry. It's a shock to the system no doubt. Most likely once we progress our food stages it will go away. I hope.

Thanks all! My doctor required two weeks liquid diet pre-op, but the past two days I've had this hunger headache and a hunger pain in the "pit" of my stomach. Urrrggghhh. And this two shall past...I'm on full liquids until Jan 2nd, can't wait. Maybe mentally I'm obsessing over the food I can't eat! Trying to stay focused ;(

I too today had a pretty raging hunger. It was odd. Just like you describe, hunger pangs in the pit somewhere... I truly believe we ARE hungry. We have been depriving our bodies of food for how many weeks now?? It's a shock to the system. Fundus or no fundus, our bodies are hungry. I don't have an appetite or wish to eat, but I AM HUNGRY. Once we get to move on to more substantial foods I think we will be fine and satiated with whatever little bit we can eat. Right now I am empty. Like completely empty in the guts. It's not mental for me. My body needs to eat something because it's starving. What a complete mindf*ck....

So...

Its my 1st day (post op day 9) that I woke up without moaning and groaning in discomfort and 2nd day without the need for roxicet

I do still have mild incision pain and I know I could take e.s. Tylenol for that but I don't think I will .... Yesterday my surgeon told me the abdominal binder I was using is really preventing me from taking deep breaths which could lead to pneumonia (yikes!) and I thought I was doing myself good cause it helped with moving around and the incisional pain.. Will be tossing that out

Like many I've never felt a hunger pain since surgery on dec 12 but I do think about dream about and miss my fave foods --- the smells are so inviting and seeing people around me eat normally is a bit sad ... WLS is NOT the easy way out!! I probably won't be able to eat normal solid foods until very late january or early February which is a bit depressing but hoping that time goes by fast cause I really need better energy for everyday tasks and fitness routines... I'm losing weight but I'm also very much fatigued which I don't think is a very healthy combination

What helps a bit with blocking food aromas is rubbing a bit of vapor rub around my nostrils

Good luck everyone! Hoping your recovery and post op diet experiences are smooth and not so depressing.

Ahhh I so hear you on this! Granted I am only 4 days out but definitely am with you on this. Anyone who says WLS is the easy way out is a complete jerk. Food smells are killing me too even though my stomach isn't physically hungry. Or maybe it is? I can't really tell... Last night my husband made himself dinner (aww poor guy has to eat!) and the smell was driving me mad. I wanted some but I couldn't. I wanted to eat but knew it was impossible. It's definitely a mind/body game. I think we just have to remember to be patient and wait until we are able to enjoy our small little bites of "normal" food again. When we can do that and still enjoy losing weight it will all be worth the crap we are going through right now, right?!

PS: Thanks Sandi I forgot my own trick of the vapo-rub!! aack must keep that handy at all times

Hooray I made it!!

I had a wonderful experience at Sister's and Dr. Caruana was a charm! My incisions are barely noticeable and don't hurt a bit. I even have pictures because I asked him... pretty gnarly! First two days (at hospital) I did well but after coming home yesterday I hit the wall of cramping and nausea that was almost intolerable! But tonight the storm has calmed, and I feel much better especially after slowly eating a small bit of cream of wheat. After being so empty inside for almost two weeks no wonder all hell breaks loose in the guts. Looking forward to feeling much better day by day...

If anyone has knowledge of the support group dates please post, likewise I'll keep trying to find out the next one for Synergy.

Cheers and happy holidays everyone!!

Hey Queen, Tysm for that info. Ive been on this site since I started the journey in May this Yr n ur the first I've read whose said that about ur taste. Actually, I'm glad to read that bc I was just thinking about that not even 10' ago! I don't want mine to change, I just want the tool to help me to manage over doing it on the things that I do enjoy. So, for me, I'm smiling big bout what u wrote ))). N congrats on all of ur success thus far!

Haha thanks Dee glad I could give a smile Yeah it's weird I actually like some of the stuff BETTER than before. I'm a freak of nature what can I say!!

Oh and PS: I asked my surgeon for pictures and he happily gave them to me! It's all recorded anyway so all they have to do is print snapshots. Let me tell you that my monster stomach was just that... the ALIEN!! Soooo glad that thing is gone haha... I swear it had teeth!! Muaahahaaa

I'm using syntax nectar, they have fruity flavors and sweet. Also it's a thin not thick which I like better. Roadside lemonaid and Twisted cherry are my favorite. I ordered a variety sample pack. Each pack has 23gm of Protein. I also like the hot chocolate.< /p>

Oh I LOVE the Syntrax Nectars! Such a nice break from the thick stuff. They're so nice and juicy. I love the Fuzzy Navel and the Vanilla Bean Torte. The Vanilla tastes so decadent and is good thin with Water on it's own or mixed with other flavors or even mixed with milk or added to other powders. Good stuff!

EDIT: I wanted to add that nothing about my taste after surgery has changed one bit so far. I thought I was making a mistake by stocking up on a supply of different products for post but there is nothing I don't like. I'm happy about this because I can actually use all the stuff I already have without gagging but not happy because I may still like all the old foods I used to... hmmm

Day 3 update... got home yesterday and by last night the gas pains and cramping were kicking my butt! Had a horrible night last night, it felt like there was a war going on in my belly. Up and down, walk, bathroom, took Gas-X, drank Water, I had to force myself to dry heave to let out some of the "stuck" gas. With all the gas I let out in the hospital I was hoping most of it was gone but boy it was still there and putting up a fight!

I finally got my meds delivered this morning and thank goodness for the Bentyl. I took one this morning and it calmed down my belly almost immediately. Anyone else taking that? My doc released me with Reglan, Bentyl, and Prilosec (and liquid Lortab which I haven't needed yet). I never had an acid problem before and I hope I don't get one now

Trying some warm herbal teas right now, and it feels good going down. So far I have no problem swallowing pills or drinking liquids (knock on wood!!)... no abdominal pain now other than the gas cramps.

And about the gas, I wonder this - ok they fill your belly cavity with it, but it obviously has no where to go until it's absorbed by the digestive system? Which is the reason for the awful burping and tooting, right? Just seems like there is way more gas coming out that there was put in, lol...

I'm going home shortly, yes!! My surgeon and the hospital were just amazing through my whole experience. The meds were good, the care was good, gas is finally almost gone. Just a little sore on the left which is to be expected. Incisions so small I won't notice them when healed. I had so much anxiety going into this but I was prepared in mind and body and now I am having no regrets at all. Everyone on the forum has helped so much I can't thank you all enough for tips and advice and support!! I hope all the December people do well and happy holidays to all

Finally on the sleeved side as of 8pm last night. Been very nauseous, passed my swallow test this morning, they are keeping me another night.

Girl that swallow test gave me the runs!!!!

Good morning and good luck to the 18-ers today! I'm about to go in for my leak test. A little dry heaves and gas pain last night, yuck. But still able to tolerate liquids well thank goodness. No real pain other than the gas. It stayed in my belly and didn't move to shoulder, phew. I have nice small incisions, my surgeon rocks! Feeling much better mentally and glad I went through with this hope everyone else is well too!!

Well I made it!! In recovery feeling pretty good except for the mild gas pain and dryness, it's tolerable. Everyone said I was a perfect patient. I saw pictures, my liver was small, yeah!! Sipped a little so far so good. Can't wait to get up and walk! I hope I don't start feeling any worse!! Cheers to all

Anxiety girl here checking in. My time got bumped up to 6:30 am... Holy moly guess who is not getting any sleep tonight??!?! I really hope my body cooperates tomorrow. Aaack.