mediocreoblongata

On 12/19/2019 at 09:32, RickM said:

In general, we should follow our program's instructions; however, if you are being held up by scheduling issues rather than their progression calendar or individual problems, then I agree with livdacovich and give them a call - 2 months on purees is insane (as a general rule - some rare individual circumstances may require it.) We were on a puree diet, including eggs, in the hospital, so there is a huge YMMV thing going on between programs - some will allow steak at the same time that others are still on liquids.

This is one of the things about these different programs that is really interesting (and a bit concerning) to me - are the ones with slow progressions doing so from experience (they tried going faster, but their patients had problems) or inexperience ("that's the way we've always done it..." and they never bothered trying anything else)? Is there something about the techniques that a surgeon uses that requires a slower progression, or conversely allows for more rapid progression? As patients here, we don't really know. There are lots of stories and urban legends on the internet about someone's sister-in-law knew someone who died from something they ate ahead of time (and some doctors or staff may repeat them to encourage compliance.) I have noted that several of the legacy DS/VSG programs are similarly quick progressing to what I went through - is there a difference between a sleeved stomach and a pouch in that regard (I don't know if my program differs any in that regard with the RNY as they rarely do them anymore.)?

Give your doc's office a call when you would normally be scheduled to advance and ask about it.

Good luck

Thank you! It’s rather concerning how different each team does it to me, too! I mean, really, how complicated does it need to be? It’s confusing, but I am following mine to the T. It just gets frustrating, errg! So, I was supposed to have been advanced 2 weeks ago, but I didn’t get to because the office canceled my appointment 3 hours before it was supposed to happen. Then, when I couldn’t get time off from work the next week to make the trip down to see them, they placated me with a phone appointment. Certainly not ideal, and even then, at the phone appointment because I couldn’t make it in to see them (arrg) they said I couldn’t advance because I have to be seen. All around disappointing, I expressed how that is seriously really hard on me and just got the same answer. “Have to be seen”. So, now they can’t fit me in until 1/16/20. So SOL for me I guess. Sorry, I’m ranting because I’m pissed off and feel like I’m getting pushed aside. Thank you for understanding :)

One thing that upset me after surgery was finding out that after the 2 week follow up with dr. Machado, you don’t see her for another year. Just the nutritionist after that first follow up. At least, that is what I was told by the staff, but they are very inconsistent in what they tell you.

On 12/18/2019 at 14:46, AmyCWalt said:

Hey, I know I had replied before on one of your posts, but you are more than welcome to add me on Social Media if you have it or email me. I just got my approval for surgery on Monday with Dr. Machado.

Hi, that’s exciting! Are you as ready as your ever going to be? My main difficulty right now is getting appointments with them and them keeping them. Has happened twice to me where they cancel the day of and it makes it extremely hard to rearrange my schedule to fit theirs. I live 3 hours north of the clinic and I just feel no support on their end. Makes it very hard. I am desperately searching for a support group up where I live just so I can have others around to talk about things. I am a part of the Facebook group they have, but I find it pretty useless.

Hello, I wanted to see if there are any patients who have gone with Sacramento Bariatric Associates with Dr. Machado? Her program is very specific and not really like any other that I have seen. I would like some support or have another that I can share what I am going through.

I had GB RNY done 10/24/19

On 12/17/2019 at 19:02, Darktowerdream said:

It’s interesting because I couldn’t tolerate most purée foods except maybe good culture cottage cheese, but soft boiled eggs were more easily to tolerate. I also did a slow cooked custard type scrambled egg. Just start with less at first. Egg is a good Protein source. A good thing to start is mixing TwoGood yogurt with Protein Powder (I use PEScience select) or even use 4 ounces of Fage total zero Greek yogurt with half a scoop of PEScience select Protein powder and a little bit of ripple milk to thin it out as needed (I personally prefer pea protein Ripple milk, it’s more sustainable and tasty than almond milk and has protein in it I use plain unsweetened but they have unsweetened vanilla too)

apologies I ramble ...

I do the protein powder in two good yogurt every day, excellent way to get my protein in. But, I am getting a little tired of the same foods every day. The list of protein foods on my list at this stage is only 11 foods. eggs are not one of them. It just gets a little psychologically hard since I have been on this diet for over a month and will now have to do it for another month. I’m not really sure how that is supposed to help me and what’s worse is that it is only this way because my first appointment was canceled the day of, I didn’t have any time left from work to take another day off, was finally placated with getting a telephone appointment, and now they “can’t fit me in” for another month. It is all just weighing on me mentally.

I have another month of purée (already been on purée for 1 month). The team is specific about not advancing the diet until you are seen by them and they “can’t fit me in” until 1/16. This is really starting to affect me psychologically. And I just don’t feel very secure in what they are telling me. But, I am truly trying to follow what they say and want.

I see that a lot of people are okayed to have eggs in the purée stage, but my nutritionist has specifically said no eggs until the soft stage. Any thoughts on why?

On 12/08/2019 at 20:09, smahan said:

Water was really hurting my stomach too and plain Water still does. I have found that when I add flavors to my water it helps a lot. Also warm Decaf tea helps too. I drink it with no sugar or anything. The warmth helps a lot

Yes, that is what I found out over the weekend as well. Adding flavors helped make it go in a whole lot easier.

On 12/07/2019 at 14:48, AmyCWalt said:

First off, Im so sorry youre having such a hard time!! Im waiting for approval for my surgery currently and everything you have written about are all things that scare me! I cannot say I understand how you are feeling because I don't yet, but I know you can do it! You've gotten so far already. Also, it totally caught my eye that you had surgery by Dr. Machado....that's who I am having surgery with as well. Its been a long road for me, I have been seeing her since April.

Hi there fellow dr. Machado patient! I have to say I’m a little disappointed with her and the office right now but I’m sure the results vary. My surgery went well. I have been having trouble with drinking Water without it hurting for a bit and telling the office only resulted in them telling me to drink smaller sips. That did not help. Also, the appointment issue is a big deal for me. I now have a phone visit scheduled but they took it out on me, saying that I really have to follow up and I should know that. No kidding! That’s exactly what I was trying to do when I took the day off from work to come in for my scheduled appointment! It’s just frustrating, and then to get told to stay on purées “because people aren’t learning “. Excuse me, but I have followed everything to a T, and they would have known that if I had been able to come in for my appointment. Every day, I make it to 60-80 grams Protein and the 64 ounces of Fluid. Even if I have to force myself, I do it because I know the consequences. It’s just so infuriating to be lumped in with anyone who might not be doing as well only because they couldn’t get me in for the appointment I had scheduled.

On 12/06/2019 at 13:06, 2Bsmaller18 said:

Do other liquids go ok like milk? If so maybe it's the pH?? My local grocery store sells alkaline Water in a gallon for $4. Maybe try that?

Couldn’t hurt to try.

On 12/06/2019 at 11:46, JRT Mom said:

I didn't have to give up NSAIDs after my bypass--only because I gave them up several years ago! They were giving me ulcers even with a normal stomach. So when the doc told me "no NSAIDs" I just laughed.

Have you tried sugar free popsicles? When I couldn't drink Water I'd eat those, and they were helpful.

Yes popsicles do work and I don’t get pain from them but I crave Water so I know I’m probably verging on possibly getting dehydrated. I still get 64 ounces of water in a day but it hurts to do so. My drs office thinks I’m taking too big of gulps. But it’s even when I take small sips.

On 12/06/2019 at 07:34, mediocreoblongata said:

Thank you all for the support and reminder that they work for me. Sometimes that gets cloudy, especially when they have attitudes. But, it’s true and they can’t just get away with that. I will be calling today and try to come to some resolution with them.

The resolution was to keep on purée stage until 12/17, when I have a phone appointment with the nutritionist.

Thank you all for the support and reminder that they work for me. Sometimes that gets cloudy, especially when they have attitudes. But, it’s true and they can’t just get away with that. I will be calling today and try to come to some resolution with them.

On 12/06/2019 at 05:54, S@ssen@ch said:

@mediocreoblongata you didn't say how far out from surgery you are and your profile is incomplete. It's pretty normal in the immediate post-op phase to have trouble getting your fluids in. You're healing. Take it slow, sip, do not gulp or try to get in large amounts at one sitting. Sip throughout the day. If you're more than 6 weeks post-op and it hurts to drink Water, you may want to contact your doctor.

Regarding the NSAID debate: For both my Lap Band and my Sleeve, I was told no NSAIDS. That being said, the doctor also said that after 6 months out, an OCCASIONAL NSAID will not cause permanent damage. It's the routine taking of NSAIDS that cause cumulative problems. Also, they are more damaging when taken on an empty stomach.

I am 6 weeks post op, as of yesterday, from GB rny. I haven’t touched any type of NSAID, I’m a nurse so I at least know not to do that. It’s Water specifically that hurts. Like my stomach muscle spasms. I’m going to experiment with adding flavors to the water and maybe that will help?

I have a hard time getting all of the 48-64 ounces of Water down mainly because it hurts when it hits my stomach. I have tried warm liquids, room temperature water but it still hurts when it hits my stomach. Is that something anyone else has had happen?

They said I am supposed to stay in purée until I can come in and be seen. I’m so frustrated because I now can’t take time off from work because I used up all my Pto now with all the appointments I have had to go to plus the surgery time off. My only option is to make my next appointment for beginning of January when I have more pto saved up. They really screwed with me. I’m stuck on purée until then I guess or just cheat and advance myself. Then, I’m sure they will be all judgy because I advanced myself. I am just about ready to give it all up.

Thank you, I’m sorry you’re have some trouble too. This is not for the faint of heart. I have just Never been that strong to begin with.

They said they don’t do phone or video appointments post op, I did a few of them pre op that way which was helpful. I don’t know what to do

My surgery, GB RNY, was 10/24/19 and I am dealing with so much depression and anxiety now. My hormones are just so out of whack! All day I haven’t been able to stop crying. I had an appointment scheduled with my nutritionist today for which I had to take the whole day off of work for because it’s 3 hours away. Got a call from them 15 minutes before leaving that they are canceling the appointment and want me to come in next Thursday instead. Here’s the thing, I don’t have enough PTO from work now because of all the time I took off for work and today. I was supposed to be advanced from puréed food to soft today, I confirmed they do not want me to advance my diet until I’m seen again. I can’t make the appointment next week because my work won’t give me the time off. So I’m currently just having a nervous break down because I feel like I made such a huge mistake. I have lost about 30 lbs, but for the last 2-3 weeks it is coming off so slowly that I feel like I’m right back to where I was before surgery. I’m fat, constantly on a diet that I can never get away from, can’t eat normal foods even, and I just want to give up. I can’t make another appointment for at least until beginning of January and I have to stay on puree until then. I’m venting because I feel like I have no control over anything anymore and I’m scared I made a very poor decision to have this permanent surgery done.

I am just about 3 1/2 weeks post op from gastric bypass and I am struggling so hard with food cravings. I can’t think of anything besides how great food used to taste. I haven’t been able to act on any of my cravings, but it’s borderline obsession with thinking about food all the time. Any advice?

I am pre-op gastric bypass, so bear with me on this, but I’m curious how it really goes with taking the Multi Vitamins when you’re only on a liquid diet. Currently I take Vitamins, but I ALWAYS have to have solid food in my stomach first or else I’m probably going to throw it up. Is it somehow different after the surgery?

On 07/24/2019 at 14:31, froufrou said:

I will once I can get through to them - nobody is answering. So annoying! However, don't pharmacists know dosage better than doctors? I kind of trust them more... Doctor didn't mention anything about it absorbing any differently. I have a large suspicion he is just wrong.

Yup, doctors can definitely make mistakes but so can pharmacists :) hope it gets figured out soon!

On 07/24/2019 at 14:20, froufrou said:

Just to follow up - I read this...

"ZOLOFT oral concentrate is available in a multidose 60 mL bottle. Each mL of solution contains sertraline hydrochloride equivalent to 20 mg of sertraline."

I was on 100mg of tablet form. I have been told to take 2.5ml of liquid, but that would only add up to 50mg of Sertraline. The doctor is WRONG. gah! That's downright dangerous.

Definitely follow up with the doc ASAP, I would want to know if the liquid absorbs differently and IF that was why you were instructed a lower than normal dose.

My bariatric surgeon recommended gastric bypass (roux-en-y) for me over the gastric sleeve specifically because I have a long history with metabolic disorders (hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s) and also have PCOS. However, I also have dealt a lot with depression and anxiety over the years and was already seeing a psychiatrist before considering bariatric surgery. I was surprised with my psychiatrists reaction to me telling her I am considering the surgery. Her opinion is that the surgery will cause “malabsorption” issues with the medicine I take - cymbalta is the only one I take routinely and I am in fact trying to wean off of it (medically supervised) completely. She honestly made me feel very uncomfortable about the whole situation, and of course I’m second guessing everything now. Long story short, I have really only been to her twice now (drs keep quitting) and really thinking about asking for a different person to see maybe because of how she made me feel about the surgery.

Has anyone experienced their psychiatrist being very against bariatric surgery due to the perceived “malabsorption problems” associated with it?