LAN2k

Nikki, You have every right to be insulted. I have no way to verify this but I suspect that this Honie49 is not really who she claims to be. I looked yesterday she registered recently had but 2 posts. All of a sudden she comes out of the woodwork with this same modus operandi...In defence of this clinic, offend the validity of those who've had serious complications? I think she's more than likely here to follow the typical protocol for discrediting anyone who has legitimate concerns about the facility and doctors in question. If I'm not mistaken the Internet lingo for such a twit is "troll". If indeed that is not the case than she certainly put up a display of ignorance. I wouldn't dignify whomever it is with an argument.

All the best to you Diane. God speed in healing throughout.

Best wishes for a smooth and uneventful surgery and recovery. God be with you every step of the way.

Talk about cold feet. I almost didn't go through with it the morning of my surgery I seriously thought about calling the hospital and telling them to inform my surgeon that I was not going to be able to make it.........ever! It was 5:30 am. I went ahead with the original plan and had the surgery.

Stacie you have been through such an ordeal...it takes time but you will progress. It was very hard for me to eat for the longest time and I had to get on meds that stimulated my appetite cause most everything made me feel yuch! One of my staple/fallback foods is cream of wheat w/a scoop of solgar vanilla bean whey protein powder(it's really pure and easily digested),easy to wisk in,add a swirl of pure maple or agave and a packet of stevia...it's so delicous, and the warm soupy like cereal goes down easy. No whey protein after taste. I also added it (and still do) to yogurt. I mix a scoop into a 6 oz cup of greek vanilla, chocolate or caramel yogurt, let it set about 5 minutes, it completely disolves and I don't taste it but it ups the protein count. As for crunchy...maybe chipping away on a saltine cracker? Roasted or raw cashews, almonds? (Just be conscious of chewing nuts and crunchie stuff well.) I'm just so glad you are finally able to work on eating. Thank God you are out of the dark. Every day will bring progress, just look at Tiffykins, she's been through it. Keep on posting, we are all here for you.

I too am glad that her surgery went well. She is fortunate to have a good friend to be with her.

Swimming is great. I swam often in the local sound last summer, oddly enough when I had the appearance of a beached whale! Now that I have slimmed down believe it or not I'm afraid to go into the water!! What... did this surgery strip me of my courage too?

You've probably read this in other posts from me but I still swear by uncle bens whole or multi grain cream of wheat (i packet is 7 gms protein) add to it a scoop of your favorite whey protein powder-I like Solgar vanilla bean (16gm protein) I mix in a little soy, almond or hazelnut milk and sweeten it a bit with raw agave or an agave/pure maple syrup blend, just a swirl around the bowl. I also use a packet of "Stevia in the Raw" or "Sun Crystals" ...later on for lunch or sometimes dinner I mix in a scoop of the same whey protein powder into my favorite greek yogurt...so between the 2 I've got nearly 50 grams protein...the rest is not too difficult because I can easily eat a piece of fish, or shrimp or filet mignon, tuna (not so easy), chicken (not so easy)...

That's a very healthy and nutritious way to eat! I'm going to start to incorporate more raw foods into my diet, since I feel like I'm not getting enough live nutrition...too much of the food I'm eating is cooked.

Congatulations!! Wow already walking a mile...Great news. It's terrific that you are so excited and happy to have your sleeve. I add 1 scoop of Solgar Vanilla Bean Whey, (16gms protein) to Uncle Ben's multi grain Cream of Wheat (7gms of protein per packet). I also do the same with the various brands of greek yogurt-1 scoop solgar whey to a 6oz container of yogurt. Other than that I still have not attempted to make any type of whey shake. I've been using soy, almond or hazelnut milk to mix in my cream of wheat. Hope that helps. Best wishes to you in your WL journey.

OMG that is a good question and before you make any further decision please stick around to get some feedback on this issue. Many people have self paid for their VSG surgery and are well informed. Best wishes. Ah Tiff! She is a lifeline here at VST.

Angie, best wishes to you with your surgery. From what I can glean off this message board as well as on OH, you have selected a top surgeon who is very experienced and cautious. I hope you will continue to keep us informed and without reservation ask questions! -Lis

There are many many single slim and beautiful woman in this world who have had the same thing happen to them. In spite of youth, good looks and figures they are without, significant others. If you were able to find a guy who enjoyed your company even if for a short while, you will surely find others when your confidence in yourself builds as you see your body taking on a new form. As for being over 50--there is still youth in you yet..I hope you can let go and focus on yourself for a while as you are in for a huge transformation. Best wishes as you move forward.

4/16/2010 I had my sleeve done on 9/15/09 and suffered with unrelenting anxiety post surgery. Prior to surgery I was never clinically depressed only took anxiety medication once for an acute bout w/anxiety during a doctor supervised WL regimen that required me to take handfuls of vitamins and phentermine. I lost 76 lbs but put it all back on and then some about 5 years later. After having the sleeve surgery I was so full of anxiety that I needed to get help. I was on the phone and on these message boards crying out for help. My PCP was very supportive and met with me often. Straight away she convinced me that it was OK to take an anti-anxiety medication while healing and that it might help me to get in the much needed nutrition. I tried xanax for about 2 weeks and although it helped me to feel better-- relaxed enough to get in bits of nutrition...when it wore off my anxiety grew even higher. My medication was changed to Klonopin .5mg and with such a low dose it was long lasting and helpful. I started therapy with the psychologist who has a practice and also works with my surgeon. I still had trouble eating even drinking, I'd a aversion, even repulsion towards food. My PCP had recorded one of my symptoms after WLS as "anorexia". I went to 2 psychiatrists, tried 2 anti-depressants, Welbutrin and Zoloft--both trials didn't last more than 5 days--I literally couldn't eat anything, they only increased my repulsion and anxiety. The second psychiatrist was better-I started at a low dose of an SNRI Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (since the SSRI"s increased my anxiety and aversion to food). The name of the drug is Remeron (generic version-Mirtazapine), 30mgs taken daily at night before bed...Bingo! It worked. I found out about Remeron through this message board...(if you go back and read through my early posts you may find it.) A couple of people on this message board mentioned Remeron but didn't like it because of the side effect of an increase in appetite. When I saw that I figured it could be helpful to me since I had no appetite and fear of eating. My psychiatrist confirmed this for me and started me at a low dose of 15 mg for the first week then upped the dose to 30...I had no weird side effects, just a little groggy at first in the morning. What did happen was that finally I wanted to eat. I desired foods, (not everything) but it was so much better. I was able to eat and had to remember to eat slowly and chew well. Fast forward to this week and I've stopped taking the Remeron, (I do not want to be dependant on any medication indefinately). I notice a minor decrease in my appetite but I am able to eat enough to keep myself healthy. It's been 8 days since I stopped and I am alright so far. I still take a .5 dose of Klonopin as needed for anxiety--that usually amounts to 1 a day whenever the anxiety gets too high. During this whole process of adjustment, I've I gotten myself in a 12 step support group called Overeaters Anonymous. The imposed weight loss compelled me to see I had issues with food and eating that had to be addressed so like a tortoise without its shell, I'm ready to deal with some underlying issues that created my compulsive eating habits etc. For me, I need to fix the inside as well as the outside in order to function well with the dramatic changes from this surgery. I'm 7 months out, 5'7", 158 lbs (25 lbs to goal) and wearing a size 10-12. It honestly feels good to have so much weight off but I still am not at peace with the forced changes in my eating capacity. I pray that will soon come. 4/18/2010 A big part of my anxiety is generated from discomfort in eating. I have lost most of my excess weight and it does feel healthier to not feel that heaviness on my body, although I am just now noticing that in some places I still have pain (like my right hip), which I had thought might be due to all the belly,hip, and rear-end fat I was carrying. There is a definite improvement in my knees, feet, and general mobility. On the down side, I feel I am more vulnerable and must guard myself against any outside illness/infection etc. I'm uncomfortably cautious of what I eat for fear of any food born illness-UGH. I just feel like I can't afford to be sick since my consumption for nutrition is now limited and stomach so small. I'm yet uneasy about the way food feels much of the time when eating. With the exception of soft stuff, I still have to stand often (helps the food move down) and/or stop and wait 10 minutes or so before resuming even a 3 or 4 oz portion of some denser protein like meats and sometimes even fish. This is something that causes me anxiety. I just get scared and wonder if there could be something wrong--Seven months out and I still don't drink plain (even the best filtered/alkaline), water. Water weighs too heavy on my sleeve so I drink Vitamin Water and dilute it with good water--I don't know why but it works. To sum it up I think I am happy that I went ahead with this surgery. I hope that in the final analysis I will truly be healthier and feel peace in that. For now there is always that nagging doubt and "what if" feeling and with every unusual sensation I worry.:cursing:

Thank you soooooooooo much Sheryl. You made my day and it was internally, a struggle. I'm up for chatting anytime. Just PM me. If you want to take it further I'll give you my phone number. I'm so new to the program and reading the BB answering the questions and trying my best to use the tools of the program. That writing tool you know, is what prompted me to start making use of this blog. Thanks again, Love you back--xx Lis

My surgeon did the same thing for me. Ultimately I ended up getting a script for Aciphex-one tiny yellow tablet a day, zero side effects. It doesn't come in a generic but I only make a $3.00 co-pay.:001_tongue:

That's great! Can you tell me what the brand name is on that? Do you have a link for purchase online?

Thanks. Consider yourself lucky that you can eat a bit more, comfortably. Believe me your sleeve won't allow you to over-do it. What's important (and I'm learning), are your food choices. I have found that refined carbohydrates, like cake, cookies, chips, crackers, etc. are eaiser to eat but foods such as these are not the foods that you will lose weight with. Tonight it took me 35 minutes to eat a few broccoli florets and a 4 oz piece of white roughy filet (fish). My mother looked at my plate after she was done with hers and said (I don't know why I even cooked you eat nothing!) That I eat like this is such a change from before I had the sleeve. She ate more like an 8oz piece of fish at least a cup of broccoli and a large baked potato w/butter. I couldn't eat like that if I was paid to. Also get out there and excercise. I plan on riding my bicycle as soon as the weather in NY warms up! It's still so cold outside.

Most of us have some initial hair loss but after around the 6 month mark the loss slows and regrowth does eventually occur (although I haven't seen it yet). There are hair vitamins and biotin, evening primrose oil, special shampoos and formulas that may help. Also in my case all of my fingernails (which were natural and slightly long) became brittle and cracked and broke--all of them, even my toenails became brittle, and cracked.

I think you will be alright because you went to your doctor and are reaching out for guidance and from what I see you just got some sound advise. I hope you will try hard to keep calm and take one step at a time. I'm not so sure you should eat some of the foods you've been eating this early out. I'm curious to know where you had your surgery? It's not often that a person starts eating soft food so early after surgery although I have read posts where some people have. I wish you well and hope you stay connected to this message board.

Sorry this is troubling you wannalise. Maybe take a baby step back and try eating and drinking a little bit slower and/or less. Somebody also mentioned that sipping on something warm before a meal helps to relax them and makes things go down easier. Another thing that I do when that feeling of tightness happens and I'm not sure what may happen, I stand up and pace...my immediate family is used to me doing that and it really does help to alleviate that stuck feeling. Since I've been sleeved I am more comfortable standing while eating even drinking than I am sitting. Hope that helps.

I just had a follow up appointment with my surgeon, originally scheduled for the6 month mark, anyway he told me that I can stop taking the prescribed antacid I take daily, (Aciphex 30mg)! He said to see how I feel and if I experience reflux then take it. I have not stopped yet though since my PCP, (who I love) thinks I should stay on it for a year. As well as breaking down food, stomach acid kills off bad bacteria like H-Pylori... I wish I could be sure about what to do... I'm confused.