Movinon

Thanks for the advice............

I am about 5-6 weeks out, and find it so difficult to choke a shake down. I just almost gag no matter what I try then I experience horrible stomach cramps after. I am down 32 pounds, and try to eat anything I can get down Protein first, however I find I am only averaging 350 cal/day which I know is not good. Does anyone out there have these issues ? Q

Wow ! 60 lbs., that is great !!!!!!!! Don't be hard on yourself and congrats. Exercise is key, try to walk briskly every day, if not, do every other day. Walking saves me, and has so many benefits. You will see the scales move with additional exercise of any kind..... Good luck.

AAlley11, It will get better. I don't know when your surgery was but it takes about a week to start feeling like it was all worth it. Also, I never took narcotics after my surgery only Tordal, I believe that makes a huge difference. If you can get by without narcotics, try to it's better for you. Try to walk even if you don't want to, it helps..... I am a week out and I felt like dancing this afternoon... Hang in there.

Thanks !!!! I should have specified it was the staff on the floor, the surgeons seemed very well trained, and they do have an entire youtube video of the surgery if anyone wants to watch it.. As I was being pushed into the surgery room it looked like any surgery room in the U.S., everyone had the appropriate PPE on......

Hi. I was sleeved June 27, 2014 in Juarez, Mexico by Dr. Rodriguez through the BeLiteWeight.com program. I just wanted to tell you my experience thus far, and I am also a nurse so I was very observant during my hospital stay. I was advised to be there on June 26, 2014 and was picked up by a taxi at the El Paso, TX airport. I was scared to death when I saw the taxi which was a bright orange van, very dirty, with hardly no air-conditioning. The driver was pleasant, courteous, but did not speak English. I was pleasantly surprised when another lady from Arkansas boarded the van with her young daughter and we immediately bonded and my nerves were eased up. The trip across the border was no big deal and it was a short trip to the hospital. The hospital was Angeles Hospital which was in a nice area that was surrounded by fencing and security at the gate. The hospital was beautiful, and was exactly as it is represented on you tube, if you would like to look. We were taken straight to admitting and never left alone at any time. Some advice for those of you that are admitted a day early, bring plenty to read or keep your self busy, it is a long night. In reference to pain, expect it. This is a major surgery and there is pain especially the first post op night, however they will give you morphine and will respond quickly to your light. The best thing you can do is get up and move as soon as possible, this will help you a great deal. I was fortunate that I did not have any GAS pain any place other than occasionally in my tummy. But most all patients have gas pain and it can be in your back, shoulders, chest, etc. (gotta move) STICK to your diet, do exactly what you are instructed to do and you will be fine. Your body will quickly tell you when you have taken too much in, so you will learn quickly to take in small sips. I am not hungry, but I find myself very exhausted so I push fluids and it does make you feel better. I am less than a week out and I am sleeping well, taking very little pain medication, and can get down my pills with no problems. PROS: The hospital is beautiful and very clean. The surgeons and anesthesiologist are very compassionate, and will visit you daily. The staff seem very happy to be there, and have a desire to please. All the staff are dressed in nice matching uniforms, with starched white jackets. The towels and dishes are monogramed, it almost feels like a 5 star hotel. Security is everywhere, and they do watch the elevators. No one comes or goes unless they check you out. I felt completely safe. Call lights are answered quickly. They will have food brought in from the outside for your guest. Almost everyone I came into contact with had a smile on their face and had a good attitude. CONS: Communication is terrible, even if you use a translator on your I phone. Not one person that entered my room washed their hands, and the hand sanitizer outside my door was empty. No one wore name tags or identified themselves as a nurse or a tech etc. No one wore gloves, except maybe one time as I remember and there are no gloves available in the rooms. There are no paper towels in the bathroom, even if they wanted to wash hands before care. No one ever cleaned the hub of the IV port with alcohol before push medications. The T.V. only has 1 English channel, boring. So basically the staff needs additional training in infection control. Things to take with you. Wash cloths, large hand sanitizer (and make them use it), magazines, chap stick, all your paper work, music, toiletries, Gas X strips, chewable antacids, liquid Tylenol, and any comfort things... I have no regrets, I am glad I did this. Hope this helps some of you. Qmovinon

Aygad, As I suspected, I am glad all is well. Good luck ................

Great, let us know what the doctor has to say about the kidney pain...... Wishing you all the best. I am hanging in there, just buying my time.... June 27 is my date.

Aygad, How are you feeling today ?

I had the lap band, and it was a complete failure. I experienced slippage, infection at the site of my port, and constant internal pain. It was awful for one full year until I had it removed. There is high risk of all of these complications with a band. Also, some negatives are it must be maintained, there is an foreign object inside you, and it causes scar tissue. The RNY is more complicated. There are mal absorption issues and your stomach is essentially gone. With the sleeve, both sphincters are in place, and you have natural absorption , everything is kept natural, just much smaller. Less complications.

Katonabout, I have removed hundreds of staples, most patients say it doesn't hurt, or it's just a little stinging sensation.... Good Luck.

Aygad, If temp gets above 101, you need to get checked out just to be sure it is not an infection. The reason some patients can run a low grade temp after a surgery is due to the lack of good deep breathing and activity. It is also related to the body cleaning itself from all the anesthesia during the surgery. However, if it is a consistently temp above 101, with pain that is not relieved by medications, you must get checked out. Aygad, I am pre op but what I am reading is that individuals are experiencing these pains after the sips, which would be similar to your pain. I know you are worried, but I believe if it were a leak you would be experiencing symptoms that you could not ignore, and you would know it. Are you walking ? I too am self pay, and have great concerns about post op complications after I get back from Mexico...... I'll say a little prayer it's just gas pain.............

I am a RN, and I can tell you those gas pains can and do radiate around to your back, between your shoulders, and sometimes as low as the middle back. Kidneys can ache with dehydration or infection, however, these are usually in conjunction with a low grade fever and other symptoms. Keep us informed and always remember pain that is unbearable and not treated by medication should be addressed asap. Good Luck

Thanks for the encouragement. I just took a dry run to the GNC, checked out protein bars and drinks, purchased one Isopure drink to check out..... And the girl at Wal Mart looked at me funny when I through 6-7 packages of Gas X on the counter... LOL I am motivated. Good Luck to all..................

Oh good idea on the peppermint tea, thanks....