marfar7

We've been on 9 Carnival cruises and 1 Royal Caribbean. We took a "carnival break" last year just to check out another line just to see what we were missing - seems not much. We like Carnival better, at least better than RC. We're booked on the Dream from Galveston for a 6 day (now that we've done an 8 day, a 6 day is a tease but it was free, well, with taxes, port charges, and gratuities, not really free, but the room with a window and drinks in the casino are free, so we couldn't say no!). And yes, every cruise I've ever been on has a huge variety of WLS friendly food to choose from. I'm not a HUGE fan of the buffet but we've eaten there occasionally (like when u first board, they corral you there with ur luggage when u first board until ur room is ready). U can always pick at the salad bar and some fish or chicken. We always eat bfast and dinner in the dining room, as I enjoy getting served - that's the whole cruise experience for us. We usually do the steak house once also. And the menu is varied (Carnivals menu is usually the same all the time, however - and that part DOES suck, I wish they changed it up a bit for the people who enjoy their cruises so much! It'd be nice to have a varied menu over the years! lol). But over the course of the cruise from day to day, it's always different. And whats cool about Carnival that I enjoy is they always have something "weird" to try (Ox Testicles, Frog, Snails, Alligator, etc). I always try it. Why not? You only live once. Oh, and btw - you may not enjoy the ox nards! But the alligator is worth it! And the portions aren't huge cuz u can always ask for 2nds (my husband asks for 3rds sometimes on lobster nite! Sometimes he asks me to ask for more, cuz he's too embarrassed to ask for even more!). Lunch is usually either while we're in port or in one of many specialty places (Guy Fieri burger joint, Blue Iguana burrito place, pizza, sushi, etc. Or even room service. Or we may have just eaten a later bfast and are not hungry and skip lunch altogether. We play it by ear. We're not that couple that eats our way thru a cruise that comes out gaining 20 lbs. For sure. The only thing that gets weighed on the scale in the gym on the nite before debarking is our luggage to make sure its not overweight if we have to fly the next day and we don't hafta pay more for it! lol So, have fun! But not too too much fun! There's plenty of healthy safe food to eat on a cruise, both on and off the ship. Just like in the "real world". Just pace yourself. Just watch those beverages also - those can be the death of u! Not only can they be laden with a ton of calories but they can make you feel invincible, like you can eat anything and get away with it! Have so much fun! And if you choose Carnival - AVOID THAT MILE LONG CHOCOLATE BAR THEY PUT ON! It's a trap! lol Marci

Interested in finding a dr who specializing in doing VSG - DS in the Kingsport, TN area? Doing the research for a family member and will be presenting her with the info and want the most amt of facts possible. Thanx! Marci

CROSS POST Hey all! I'm a 3 timer (I've had all 3 surgeries: lap band, sleeve, and bypass, currently underweight, struggling to keep weight up after losing colon in emergency surgery about 10mths ago but still remember what being overweight was like). My cousin had the VSG about 2 yrs ago at almost 400 lbs and has been semi successful and has lost close to 175lbs but over the past 9 mths or so has plateaued becuz of numerous "reasons" (moving across country marital woes, works stress, you name the stress, heredity,, etc.). She has reached out to me for help, as I admin a FB group for people with wls's + i was fairly successful (before I lost my colon, lol ) as she's desperate for help before it gets out of hand. She's gained 10 lbs in the past 10 mths since moving cross country and doesn't want to continue on. So, for the past month (and yes, even during the holidays), she's kept a strict journal which she always during her active losing phase. She sent me the last few days worth. I was dismayed to see her intake/output. Literally I think she's starving herself. She's taking in 662 calories a day and exercising 280 . This means she's getting in maybe 380 cals a day. And shes' a special needs teacher and a mom of a 6 yr old! OMG! She's drinking a lo cal protein shake for bfast and lunch and eating a super lo cal protein/veg dinner. She's getting in plenty of water and her vits, luckily. I think she's starving. But she said she's tried every variation of every single meal variation out there and she's frustrated she wants to cry. She's been on every "diet" her entire life and this sleeve was her saving grace and the only thing that worked - for a minute. Until the honeymoon was over. It's been about 2 yrs and now the hard work actually starts and I've told her this. Ok, I just got this info from her when I asked her how much protein she was getting: 109 gms a day. MFP shows only 35%. And she downloaded the ACTUAL MFP pie chart to prove to me this WAS the case and OMG! This is TRUE. Since when is MFP encouraging people to get almost 300 gms of protein a day? What protein u don't use, u pee out. Unless u r an unlucky few that r prone to kidney disease and then u get kidney dz! Seems ridiculous. Almost 300 gms!? And now they charge u? I told her she really doesn't need more than 70-80. I need some input on how to help her. Some ,meal/snacking solutions. I dont think she needs to know that she needs to increase her protein as she's already getting an overabundance in that department. Maybe something her dr can do for her? Tests or something? Metabolism tests? Is this done with blood or what? Or can it be done by a RD? HELP! Marci X POSTED

Hey, its been a while since I've been on here. I'm a little different, as I recently had emergency ileostomy (my entire colon removed) surgery in March, in addition to VSG to bypass in 2018 (becuz of severe reflux) and I now have a bag of poop hanging from my belly. In 2009, I weighed in at 260. When I went home from the hospital after my ileostomy in March, I weighed in at a healthy 132 and in June, I weighed in at 99 lbs. They removed my colon and most of my 24 feet of lg intestines making the route to my stomach a lot quicker. So everything goes into me and into my bag within 15 mins and I can't seem to gain weight. The last 8 months since my surgery I've gained and lost the same 7 lbs back and forth. I now weigh 105 and I bounce within the same few lbs. It sucks cuz my reversal surgery (my surgeon plans on reconnecting my small intestine directly to my rectum) but only if I can gain a healthy amount of weight first. But it seems I can't do that. I eat alot more now than I did pre-colon removal. I'm eating alot of pasta, potatoes, rice, bread, avocado toast, even junk food. I even eat a snack when I get up to dump my ostomy bag in the middle of the nite. I still gain 1, lose 2. Gain 2, lose 1. I work with the VA RD (I get most of my medical care thru the VA, however my surgery was thru a civilian hospital cuz it was an emergency and it was the closest the ambulance took me to. It will also be where I have my follow up surgery will be. I see her once a month. She prescribes me a 480 cal meal replacement shake (it's called Kate Farms) but while I sip it it comes out into my bag so it's pointless. I have like 200 shakes in my walk in closet, not doing anything. And they don't taste very good. She wants me to eat something every 2 hrs. Sure. Not possible. I can maybe do every 5 hrs. Anyway, just wanted to let u know there's someone else out there thats struggling with gaining weight also. And I have something to obtain with a gain - my reversal surgery. If I don't gain, I hafta continue with a bag of poop hanging off my stomach. And it's no fun at parties! I wish u the best! If u want a hi calorie meal replacement, look into kate Farms - they have a TON of calories. Not the best tasting, but not the worst. U can doctor them up a bit! The ones that I have have 480 cals. I would give u mine but they r heavy and you'd hafta pay for shipping which would be pricey so it'd probly be cheaper for you to buy them from elsewhere. Otherwise they're yours! If you're local (I live in Dallas, Tx), pick em up! They're yours!) Good luck! Marci

There's no HCL, it's literally all just food I have just eaten, no real vomit. I haven't had acid up since my bypass revision (had it for reflux revision, becuz of severe reflux - I had 2 straight years of vomiting stomach acid 2-4x a week - it was doing damage to my esophagus). I haven't had reflux ONCE in 5 months - yeah, me! Now, it's literally just the food I have just eaten, no acid at all. And there's no violent contractions at all, it just comes up easy peasy. Is this still problematic? Marci

There's no HCL, it's literally all just food I have just eaten, no real vomit. I haven't had acid up since my bypass revision (had it for reflux revision, becuz of severe reflux - I had 2 straight years of vomiting stomach acid 2-4x a week - it was doing damage to my esophagus). I haven't had reflux ONCE in 5 months - yeah, me! Now, it's literally just the food I have just eaten, no acid at all. And there's no violent contractions at all, it just comes up easy peasy. Is this still problematic? Marci

Not sure why I can't learn by now but I guess I don't. I vomit 2-4x a week, most likely from eating too quickly. Can I do damage? I'm 5 months post op bypass revision from sleeve due to severe revision. 4 lbs from 135 goal. Not sure why I can't learn but I don't. Just curious... Marci

I think the technical reason u cant drink at the same time cuz it washes food thru and makes u hungry earlier. However, I physically can't drink when I eat, as it makes me vomit immediately. The food makes a cork inside and when I add fluid to that, out it comes. Everytime I try it. I no longer do that. I also don't time my drinking (the 30 minute rule) I can actually FEEL when my food has left my stomach (or pouch) and I'm ready to drink. Depends on what I eat and it can take 25 mins or 40 minutes, depending. I started with the lapband in 2009, it slipped in 2013 and I revised to sleeve. LAst 2 yrs I had severe, raging reflux and revised to bypass 4 months ago. I'm now 3 lbs from my 135 goal (when I get there, hopefully soon) I may make it 130 as my goal, as I still feel a little fat (my bmi is 23.4 so I know I'm not fat, but getting there in my brain is something else). So, I have a little experience with wls, drinking and eating. So please know that u WILL vomit the liquid (and food) u just put in if u drink right afterwards. When I eat something spicy, I swish water in my mouth then spit it out. I'm sure 1 sip may be ok, as I've also done this on occasion. Just don't make it a regular thing u do Good luck!

Just to remind everyone: U can only absorb 30gms of protein in single sitting. Anything more than that and u pee it out. So it literally goes into the toilet.

I also had the sleeve in 2013 (after my lapband slipped). and severe reflux ever since. I tried everything (adjustable bed, diet, ppi's) and nothing worked. I was up for 2 hrs at nite about 3 nites a week. It was awful. I didn;t have enuf stomach for the reflux surgery, Nissen Fundoplication. So, my GI dr sent me to the bariatric surgeon. Also a different dr (moved out of state since my sleeve) who recommended the RNY (did u know the RNY has been around for 70 yrs, first 30 just for reflux. They noticed that people lost weight so it later became a weightloss procedure. I had a rough recovery (surgery sposed to take 90 min to 2 hrs and it took 5 hrs due to lots of scar tissue from pervious wls's). When I woke up, my eyes were swollen shut and they felt like they had sawdust in them. For the first day, I couldn't see anything and my eyes burned. I had diarrhea and my toilet was broken so I had to walk down the hall to the employee bathroom (by day 3, they moved me to another room). It sucked. I spent 4 days in the hospital cuz I wasn't getting enuf fluids and they had to restart my iv. I cried when they told me they were keeping me. I just wanted to be home in my own bed. Oh, and I didn't sleep AT ALL the first 2 days/nites. I had a pain pump and my dr was scared t order my usual sleeping pill till nite 3, when I was on oral meds - and I don't sleep AT ALL without them. Hubby stayed all 4 nites with me, sleeping in the recliner in my room. Drove 2 hrs to work 2 of those days. I live an hour away and his job is about an hour away from home. It helped much having him there. I regretted my sugery the first week. A week after my surgery, I was 100% and have forgotten about the pain. But, guess what? I have NO REFLUX! I can even put my bed flat and sleep on my side! I've experienced a couple episodes of dumping (when will I learn) and it truly sucks but I'm finally glad I did the revision. I went in weighing 155 and I now weigh 144.6 (yep, .6) and haven't lost 1 lb in 2 weeks. Had my 6 weeks appt this past week and my dr said I was a normal, healthy woman and if I didn't lose 1 more lb, I'd be great. My bmi i 24. However, why have a goal if I don't reach it? My goal is 135. Hoping my body hasn't stopped losing. I've been exactly 144.6, down to the ounce for 2 weeks. I can eat almost anything (I ate 4 Nilla Wafers this past week and thought I might die. So cookies r not in my menu plan for a while!). I wish u the best. Chances r u will do well post op and receive the benefits of the revision immediately. Good luck!

I had a rough recovery. RNY sposed to take 90 mins to 2 hrs ended up taking 5 hrs cuz of scar tissue (lapband to sleeve revision in 2013, then rny revision 6 weeks ago). I counted the minutes until my next pain med was due. I was in the hospital for 4 days, as I wasn't drinking enuf and they had to restart my iv. I cried when the dr told me they were keeping me another day. I just wanted to be at home in my own bed. It's now been 6 weeks and I think it's like having a baby - u forget what the pain is like! I'm 100% (by the week after my surgery I was 100%) and not regretting it at all. The day after I had it, I had diarrhea and a iv pump to haul around, and my bathroom was flooding so I had to walk down the hall to the employee bathroom (later, they moved me to another room, thank God - I regretted it. I woulda rather had reflux. Hubby kept reminding me I couldn't live with reflux anymore. Having said that, most people take Tylenol afterwards and run a marathon by day 5. U won't know till afterwards. I hope for u a smooth recovery and less pain Good luck!

My bypass revision is Thursday the 9th. Severe reflux is whats making me do the revision, otherwise I would never do it. I started with the band in 2009 (it slipped in 2013 and I revised to a sleeve). Reflux is starting to do damage to my esophagus so before damage is done, I opted for a bypass. I weigh 155 and my goal is 135. For those of u who did bypass weighing around the same, did u find it difficult to lose that last little bit of weight (goal is 135 ) or easy peasy, with the post op diet? I'm going on a cruise in Oct (9 weeks later and Ill be eating reg food - and I've been on 8 cruises and know I can eat healthy, so please no remarks about my eating on a cruise) and would LUV to be at goal but I'm not sure how hard it will be to lose the last little bit of weight? I'm also scared of not being able to stop losing. My dr told me that our bodies are smart and when it was at a healthy weight, I would automatically stop losing. That's a great premise, however I've read more than a few people who become anorexic having a bypass with such a small amount to lose. WHile I always dreamed of losing too much weight, now that it's a possible reality, I'm getting scared Anyone within 20-40 lbs from their goals having a bypass? I;d luv to hear ur experience...

My bypass revision date is also Aug 9th. I just had my dr/hospital pre op on Tues. I won't know what time I'm scheduled for until the day before and the nurse will call me. I had the lapband in 2009 and it slipped in 2013. Had a sleeve revision at the same time as the band removal in 2013. I've had raging reflux ever since. My GI dr told me a revision was the only thing left (I take more than the highest dose of PPI, I eat non acidic foods and eat about 85% reflux diet, and I sleep in an adjustable bed). Had the 24 hr ph test (tube up my nose for 24 hrs, it sucked), upper endoscopy, and an upper gi. I'll go 6 days without reflux and think I'm golden, and I will call the next day to cancel my surgery. Then, BAM. Im up for 2-3 hrs coughing up stomach acid and severe chest pain. I cough up stomach acid for 2 days afterwards. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital last year for aspiration pneumonia, I was super sick. Then I got it again in Nov, this time I got it in time and nipped it in the bud quicker SO, I'm having bypass revision the same day as u. I'm a little scared of losing too much (I now weigh 154, goal is 130-135 - I'm 5'5"). My dr told me that our bodies are smart and will stop losing when i's at a good weight, not necessarily "my" goal. I hope thats true. I was hoping to be at goal when I leave for my 8 day Southern Carribean cruise in Oct. Can I lose 20 lbs in 9 weeks? Not sure but I should be fairly close if not at goal. I wish u the best! We should talk afterwards about our recovery. My band was easy peasy compared to my sleeve (had a rough recovery). Not sure what this recovery will b like. Good luck on the 9th! See ya on the other side!

I'm having a bypass revision (5 yrs of reflux with my sleeve. I'm so ready to sleep all nite without choking on stomach acid) on Aug 9th. I'm looking for some protein powder recommendations. I will probly shop on Amazon, but can go into a brick and mortar if need be. I liked Syntrax Nectar Cappucino flavor when I had my sleeve and am thinking about using it again but it's gone way up in price ($40 for a 2lb tub) and Syntrax Medical has unlfav powder for $20 for a 1lb tub. Also thinking about getting a tub of Chike (protein iced coffee powder). It's going to cause $74 for all 3, and thats not including the Premier clear protein that I'm going to get at Sams for about $24 a case Am I overdoing the protein thing? And what did u drink that first few weeks? Was it good (I think Syntrax is darn good, just not sure its worth the $)? How much did u pay and where'd u get it? Thanks for the input! Marci

Hi! The gastric bypass has been around as strictly a reflux surgery for many, many years before they realized that it aided in weightloss also. It started out as a reflux surgery. And while u must be heavier than 150 lbs to receive it for weightloss reasons, they will do it for reflux for a lesser weight. I voiced concern that I may lose too much and my dr told me that our bodies are smart and they tended to lose until they're at a healthy weight, then level out. I may get to a little less than my goal, fairly quickly, but my body would level out and stay healthy. It's super rare to become anorexic. Even knowing that its rare, of course I'm still concerned. And when I dont have reflux for 4 or 5 nites, I rethink my surgery decision. Then BAM - its back and I'm up for 3 hrs coughing and vomiting up stomach acid, feeling like Im having aheart attack, and will lose my voice the next day. And I sleep sitting up in an adjustable bed. I've tried everything conservative over an almost 5 yrs time period and it just gets worse. If I dont have the surgery (and while there is a reflux surgery, called the Fundoplication, I don't have enuf stomach left for it to be done), more damage will be done to my esophagus and I risk cancer and acid eating holes. My dr has gone over all the risks involved and the risks of doing nothing surpass the risks of the revision. I can figure something out to do with my back pain while I'm unable to take pills post op. I guess I can mix the Kratom powder with some protein shake, or switch to CBD oil during this time. I'm curious at how differently my body absorbs medication differently also with the bypass. Whether I will need less pain meds or what. Anyway, just wanted to let u know that its a safe surgery when weighing 150 lbs (I now weigh 154). The bypass started as a reflux surgery many, many years ago and they discovered that people were losing huge amounts of weight with it so it was tweaked and became the weightloss surgery we know now. And Im hoping Im not 1 of the rare people that cant stop losing.... Marci