ange117

Had my consultation for my sleep study today -- the last step before I finally get to see the surgeon and submit everything to insurance. Aaaand my recommendation for an at-home sleep test got sent for clinical review. I'm so worried this is going to hold the entire process up. I have ZERO symptoms of sleep apnea and my bariatric center is sending me for the study simply because I've never had one. If insurance denies it, I don't know if they'll let me go forward without it. Even the sleep doc said that a negative at-home test doesn't absolutely mean no sleep apnea, and there's no way I can pay for a lab test out of pocket. Ugh. I'm so stressed now. I keep wondering if I should have just said I snore, said I'm tired all the time... but I'm not! I had surgery on my legs back in March and my mom and my fiancee got to spend a great deal of time watching me sleep, so I know I don't snore or stop breathing! Did anyone else run into this issue??? I know sleep studies are par for the course, so surely other people must have been in this noisy, but I'm freaking out.

Just to clarify, a protein shake that contains lactase is excellent for someone who is lactose intolerant. Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose sugar--so if you see a product with lactase, you can be assured that it's lactose free!

Moisturize!!!! From both inside and out! A quality lotion and staying really well hydrated is your best bet! Most of the loose skin we end up with is damaged on the inside--you can't buy a cream for that, and out of our control at this point (genetics, how much you were overweight, age, etc), but we can at least get our skin the best chance with good hydration and nutrition.

My insurance won't cover it unless medically necessary, also. I guess I'm just confused on whether or not sludge counts as 'gallbladder disease.' A few of the other threads here seem to suggest that people have had theirs removed independently because of issues related to sludge (with no actual stones), and given that I do have some symptoms, I'm hoping they just remove it. Going back into surgery just a few months out from the bypass would really be upsetting.

Did any of you have gallbladder sludge, but no stones, in your pre-op ultrasound? And if so, did you surgeon remove/suggest removing your gallbladder during the wls? My ultrasound report says 'mild billiary sludge,' and I know my center will take your gallbladder during surgery if you already have stones, but I'm not sure for just sludge. Frankly I'd rather have them take it during the bypass, but I don't get to see my surgeon for a while yet to ask him.

As someone who recently had extensive leg surgery and is left with 26" prominently visible scars, I can happily recommend silicone sheets! You can buy them online or at your local drugstore (usually near the bandaid section). They can be kind of pricey and you have to use them for 3 months, but they are the only study-supported scar reducer on the market. Mederma contains an onion-based compound that has really mixed reviews online, but is not supported in the literature. Honestly the best thing you can do for them is keep them out of the sun for the first year. Also, massage them with plain, unscented lotion. The best thing for scars is just time, but if you can't wait for them to soften and fade, silicone sheets are the way to go. (Just make sure you're FULLY healed first!)

So I'm about halfway through the preop process for RNY and starting to hit my "oh god what am I getting myself into" phase. As a 26 year old who has no health issues besides a high bmi and some mild reflux, I'm absolutely terrified that I'm going to trade my relative health for a lifetime of surgery-related deficiencies and complications. If I life to an average life expectancy of 78 years, that's 52 more years I'd be living with malabsorption and the potential consequences of that are really terrifying to me. I can't find ANY research that looks at outcomes beyond 15 years; I'd only be 43! But at the same time, I'd love to lose the weight now BEFORE I end up with other issues, and my doctor seems to agree with that opinion. I feel like I need to be comfortable with both the good and bad possibilities before I can go through with this. How did you guys reconcile these risks before your surgery, or better yet, if there are any long-term veterans around here, how has the bypass affected the rest of your health over the years? I could really use some positive stories to counteract the bad ones.

I had one sticking out from a leg surgery and when I told my surgeon, he just grabbed it with tweezers and yanked it out. I was startled but it wasn't more than a vaguely uncomfortable sensation and then it healed right up.

The vanilla was pretty tasty! Though I think I prefer the chocolate. It was very smooth and lightly flavored with no bad aftertaste. I think unjury is going to end up as my go-to powder, at this point. My post-op diet plan is one week liquids only, then 3 weeks pureed, where spices are allowed 'as tolerated' during the pureed phase. I'd ask your surgeon or NUT, though! I feel some spices (like cinnamon or ginger) are probably tolerated better than other spices (like pepper) early on.

After about an hour an a half, I'm glad to report that it's sitting very well! And boy, LAG4ahealthierme, do I feel that! I've tried the Isopure drinks, Vega One, Muscle Milk, Trader Joe's soy Protein, Genisoy, Jay Robb (both whey and egg white), a fancy rice protein from the local health food store, and at least one other whey powder that I can't remember the name of! Not all of them made me sick, but some were just plain nasty. I tried the chocolate splendor unjury and it tastes kind of like that weak chocolate milk taste if you've ever mixed hot cocoa powder into cold milk. But the best part was NO AFTER TASTE. It was great! I'm going to try the vanilla for Breakfast tomorrow.

After trying about 30 different Protein powders, I finally gave in and bought the sample pack from unjury. Downed my first chocolate shake about 12 minutes ago now.... I'm extremely lactose intolerant, but so far no tummy objections except some mild burping (fairly normal with anything I eat/drink at this point--thanks, GERD). Might I have finally found a suitable Protein Shake???? It definitely tastes the best, but at this point, I'm desperate just to find ANYTHING that doesn't upset my preop stomach; I can't imagine what some of these would do post-op! Don't really have anywhere else to share this excitement lol. I text one of my best friends who knows about my surgery adventure and her reply was merely, "that sounds like a real hoot." She should be extra enthusiastic when I'm post-op and tell her how excited I am for cottage cheese and pureed egg! LOL

Hi there! I am still preop, but my bariatric center makes everyone have an ultrasound as part of the work up so that if stones or disease are present, they can remove the gallbladder during the actual bariatric surgery. (It's right there, and you have an increased risk of gallstones when you rapidly lose weight anyway, so they kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.) From reading through this forum, that seems to be a common trend. Why don't you give your surgeon's office a call and find out their policy to give yourself some piece of mind?

The Jay Robb egg white powder is really not bad at all. As someone with severe lactose intolerance, but I've systematically trying all of them, and that's probably my favorite thus far in terms of taste. It still made me sick, but I've known that I have a slight egg intolerance, so you might be totally fine with it. That being said, if you can mix the vega powder with ANYTHING, the nasty taste (it's the stevia) is completely masked. And I do mean anything - a teaspoon of sugar free coffee creamer, an inch worth of mashed banana, even a sprinkle of sugar free hot chocolate. I would also give the muscle milk light a try. It is a whey Protein, but it's supposedly lactose free. It hasn't made me sick whereas any other whey product does, including pure isolate. I've used the genisoy soy protein after a different surgery and although it's very high quality, it's also gross. My surgery center recommends a rice protein option, too. I had to order that offline, so I'm waiting to try it soon.

Yes! Midazolam is the generic name. It's a benzodiazepine, like xanax and other anti-anxiety drugs, but much better, imo! I've had two surgeries with it, and they won't give it to you until you meet with your anesthesiologist, but it makes that last bit of waiting/actually going in so much more relaxing.

As a major control freak who has had several prior surgeries (not wl related), getting put under has always been one of my biggest fears in the surgery process. But you have to remember that thousands of people go under general anesthesia every day without event. You are in the safest possible place to be if something goes wrong--you're already surrounded by extremely well-trained and experienced doctors. Also try to remind yourself that most surgical complications come from the healing process, not the surgery itself. If you are REALLY nervous in pre-op ask them to give you some versed. Apparently it's supposed to just be a mild sedative that relaxes you, but it makes me go from crying mid-panic attack to giggling in under ten seconds. I've had it twice now, and have gotten both my anesthesiologist and all the nurses cracking up in the operating room. It's a godsend and I'll be requesting it when I go in this time, too!

I've tried the Muscle Milk and while it didn't make me as sick as the Isopure or Jay Robb whey Proteins, I still didn't feel so great after drinking it. :/ I'm the extreme of lactose intolerance that I can't even eat the colored mini tootsie rolls without getting sick, because they have just a sprinkling of whey in them. I might stop by my local health foods store and try to the Jay Robb egg white powder this weekend and see what other options they have for soy.

Hey, guys! I'm currently pre-op for RNY and looking for a good Protein powder to use after surgery that is COMPLETELY lactose free. I emphasize completely because I know whey isolate is supposed to be lactose free, but it still contains enough to make me sick. I've tried several brands. My bariatric program recommends Genisoy, but I find the taste of that particular brand to be rather repulsive, so I'm trying to find something else that's equally nutritious, but less chalky and gross. Do any of you guys have recommendations? So far I really like the Vega One drinks, has anyone used those? Thanks!