JeanZ_RN

I researched vit c several years ago, and the consensus I found was that since it is Water soluble and not stored in the body, there's no point in taking very high doses. Once your body has what it needs, you're just peeing out the rest. I don't remember what the threshold amount was (that is, the amount beyond which you don't need more).

I've been using Nascobol since surgery, and my blood work is fine. I have been using the $25 co-pay card too, and sure enough $25 is all I've been asked to pay for each 1 month supply. The list I got from my surgeon offered a choice of B12 -- sublingual (SL) or nasal. I bought the SL when I bought my first supply of all required Vitamins and minerals before surgery, and THEN the surgeon's office staff told me he really prefers his patients use the nasal type. Wish the list had made that clear!!

The MPOA is a not-bad idea, but you might want to consider appointing your son or a close friend as your surrogate decision-maker since your husband is having cognitive issues. Keep in mind that if you have neither of those documents on file, your next of kin (your husband) will automatically be asked to make decisions if you cannot.

Certainly no harm in trying it. What have you got to lose? In the long run, it's WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU. We all know we have food issues, and that they're long term regardless what surgery we have. Best wishes!

I like scrubs for wearing at home, and I've been buying them on ebay for a long time. I've never tried selling things on ebay, but now that my 2x and 1x scrubs are too big I'm going to have to either sell them or donate them. Thanks for the reminder about the clothing exchange on here. I'm going to check it out.

Hi Ribearty! Long time... Hope you are doing well. I've read similar articles before, and they make sense to me. Some of them mention a category of test subjects referred to as "super tasters" who (if memory serves) perceive certain tastes more intensely, like kale and cruciferous veggies. Since I can't stand the taste of those things, it all makes sense to me!

How are those symptoms now? Concerned about you....

Chewables: My surgeon did prescribe chewable Vitamins (and calcium), plus nasal spray B12. The only mineral he prescribed that I don't take fully in chewable form is magnesium. There's 100mg of that in each of my chewable multi, plus I take an additional 250mg tablet. Crushing pills: I can't remember if it was the surgeon, the NUT or a sleeve-veteran co-worker who has been advising me, but someone did tell me to crush all pills. Thing is, I misunderstood the reason for that. I ASSumed it was due to possible difficulty swallowing pills. Since I've never had difficulty with pills, I just took my BP pill, my anti-depressant and my cholesterol med same as always, without crushing them. Then, at my 1-month checkup I discussed w the surgeon whether I should now resume my 81 mg aspirin tablet I'd been taking pre-op. He said ok to resume, but take a chewable variety. I said the tablet is tiny, and I wouldn't have any trouble swallowing it. He said his concern was that the tiny pill would get stuck in the staple line. In the car on the way home I realized THAT's probably the reason I was supposed to crush those meds all that time. Some days I just have to shake my head at myself. Plus, there's the possibility that whole pills will pass through the sleeve without being dissolved, due to the quicker transit time and / or less contact with stomach acid. So I advise that you clarify with your doc WHY he/she wants you to take chewables / crush pills - and specifically which ones, for how long. Don't make the same mistake I did, which was to ASSume I knew... Best wishes!

I'm with McButterpants too, for the most part. I had several food funeral meals, but for me it wasn't about quantity - I didn't stuff myself, but I didn't skimp either. I just wanted to enjoy this or that taste since I wouldn't have it again for a while. I didn't get tired of it, though. I spaced out those meals over a week or so before my pre-op diet started, and it worked out just great in that when it was time for the diet I'd had the tastes I wanted.

Interesting article: http://news.yahoo.com/stomach-acid-drugs-may-increase-vitamin-deficiency-risk-212241448.html Medical journal article cited as source for the above news article: http://bit.ly/1e3Oj56 JAMA, online December 10, 2013. My surgeon recommends the B-12 nasal spray over the oral (chewable) tablets. I am SO glad there is an alternative to injections!

Could be any one of several things, or a combination. Blood sugar low? Hyperventilating? sleep deprived? If it's not any of those, then there are 2 main categories: Cardiac - Dehydration (I know, you said it's not that, but are you SURE?), heart beating irregularly, heart rate low, blood pressure low... Neurological - There are too many possibilities to name, and most of them are beyond my expertise to sort symptoms for. If it persists for another day, better call your doctor.

Every surgeon is different. Mine said this about post op diet: Weeks 1 & 2 = full liquids (anything you can get through a straw - but don't use straws bec they can increase gas); Weeks 3 & 4 = soft foods (anything you can mash with a fork) Starting week 5, no more restrictions

Before my sleeve I was ALWAYS too warm - sometimes a little, sometimes a LOT. Not in flashes, just all the time. Starting the day after surgery, that is gone. Now I'm just fine most of the time, even with the thermostat up a couple of degrees from where I used to keep it. Weird! I mean, the change was abrupt, and happened before I'd lost any big amount of weight. I'm happy with the change, but it does feel odd.

I have read in other posts on this site that hunger like you describe could be remedied by starting, or increasing the dose of, a PPI - proton pump inhibitor. Those are the meds like Prilosec, Tagamet, etc. that reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. As with every medication change, though: ASK YOUR SURGEON BEFORE YOU DO IT.

Tomorrow I will be 4 weeks out, so while I'm very early in my journey, would I do it all over again? Yes, absolutely! I've already lost 25 pounds since the start of my pre-op diet, which is way more than I would have without the sleeve. I've been able to cut way back on my insulin, and hope to be off it altogether soon. I'm still taking a BP med but hope I'll be off that soon too. I was self-pay (because my employer wrote into their health insurance that they won't cover any WLS) and I'd pay all over again to have it done. I am finding it difficult to not drink 30 min before -> 30 min after eating, but I'm adhering to it. In addition to the difference in "mouth feel" during the meal, I also have to notice what time the meal ended (so I'll know when I can drink). Similarly I have to note when I took my Calcium supplement so I'll know when I can take my Iron - and vice versa. The constipation... is bad. I think it's due in large part to the lack of fat in my diet. So, with my surgeon's consent I started taking Colace 100mg twice a day about 10 days after surgery. That has helped a lot. One of the best things for me is that I'm no where NEAR as hungry as I was before surgery; that's what made the pre-op diet tough for me. I'm very fortunate to have had an easy recovery, and I am so glad I found this site! Best of luck!

My surgeon and nutritionist told me it's the lack of sugar that shrinks the liver.

Oh, and I forgot to say ... I'm 5'3" tall and small boned.

I started at 204, and the pre-op diet got me to 192 - 12 lbs gone in 6 weeks. Surgery day was 11/13/13, and I weighed 192 that morning. Today, at 3.5 weeks out, I weigh 180 - another 12 lbs gone since surgery. (I'm tickled pink with that, but at the same time I'm kinda disappointed when I see a picture of myself and I'm not thin yet! I know, I know, I didn't get to this point over night either.) So my post-op rate of loss has been about 3-4 lbs per week, and I'm not exercizing. I've been trying to convince myself to start an exercize plan, and I even have one selected... but I just hate exercize! I work at a desk job, so that's no help.

When I went back to work, which was 1 week after surgery, my surgeon said my only restriction was not to lift more than 20 lbs for six more weeks - so at 7 weeks out I'll be able to lift again. However, I had a ventral hernia repaired at the same time my sleeve was done, so my restriction may be a bit more stringent than for someone who did not have that.

I haven't tried probiotics, but I am taking Colace twice a day and it is helping. I think a significant part of the problem, for me anyway, is lack of fat in my diet.

The main thing is: Whatever makes you comfortable. For me (an RN) and my nurse friends, we agree that none of us will have to be alone that first night in a hospital, ever. It's great having someone right there without even having to ring the call light, so if you wake nauseated the basin is handed to you and then a cool cloth. And then there's the tiny chance that something could come up that needs a rapid response - bleeding or very high blood pressure or pain that's not controlled. In that case it's best to have an advocate who will speak up for you if need be.

For Protein shakes, I like them better almost frozen. I put mine in the freezer for 25-30 minutes (shake well before and after the freeze part). They come out with ice crystals in them, which I like a lot.

Bet it's comforting to know there's nothing you've missed in your research. And perhaps your contributions in class helped someone else....

Congratulations! Sounds like you've got everything under control! You must have been working on the arrangements for a while.

NMJG, twice on this thread you've included "Bump" in your post. What does that mean?