LAN2k

Thanks VegasAngel, I have a script for Nexium but I figured it would come in a generic...if it doesn't I don't think my insurance will cover it either. I have the generic form of Protonix and the generic for prilosec. I haven't tried the Protonix yet but gave up taking the prilosec due to a really dried out mouth and tongue middle of the night issue. Now I'm not taking anything but haven't had any reflux issues...just concerned about ulcer prevention.

Thanks Daisy, please let me know what the surgeon who removed your gall bladder has to say. I had my gall bladder out years ago, at 21 years old, 6 months after giving birth. Thanks again.

Since my VSG, I have completely lost my desire to drink water! In order for me to get in enough fluid daily I drink Vitamin water, I seemed to have lost my taste for all but one flavor at that! I can not believe this, even apple juice which was all that appealed to me while in the hospital and for the first 2 weeks at home, no longer is tolerable. Has anyone else experienced a repulsion for plain water and if so did desire to drink water ever resume? Even after a workout and good sweat I still practically gag when I put water in my mouth.

My surgeon (you know the one who had me pumped up with Reglan round the clock), has told me that I can take anyone of the antacids "as needed", meaning it's not required that I take it daily. I was taking prilosec every day and my tongue and mouth would dry out completely during my sleep. I decided to not take any antacid med unless I experience acid reflux. Am I putting myself at risk for stomach ulcers? It seems that many of you are required to take an antacid med at least once a day and few others don't take any. Please if you have any medical knowledge on this subject let me know. Thanks in advance.

Thanks Chancie, So you take it on an as needed basis. Per chance, any side effects like dry mouth or anything?

OXO Chicken broth mix? Where can I find that? Thanks Donna.

Thanks Tiffy...Your so HERE for us all. God bless you over and over again.

If you check the new posts on this Vertical Sleeve Talk forum you will find instances of people having complications and what they are going through and many people will share their stories with you as well.

So sorry you are suffering with this infection. Prayers going out for your recovery from me too.

If you are able to be prepared and have someone available to help you as needed it may be a good idea.

It's wonderful that you are in that place now Daisy. I hope we'll all be there with you and.....soon!

Thanks VegasAngel, It's beginning to sink in that actually enjoying eating is going to really take its time. I am just looking forward to the day when I can eat something I enjoy and afterward not need to pull up my bra because it's leaning across my esophagus, and/or have the need to stand raise my arms, and burp away, to ease the discomfort. I'd just like to be able to say yum that was good and just enough...and move on from there. I also hope that my love for Water will return as well as for many other tasty and textured things.

I have been there and I continue to have concerns and issues....just stay with this message board and keep asking questions and let all your fears be known. We are all here to help and there are some very keen people here who've been through so much with WLS and many who have some expertise in many areas. Being connected to a support system such as this will help you get through your worries. Stay connected. Have peace.

Am I glad I read this post! I am definately eating too fast so it is no wonder that eating has become an unpleasurable experience. I count my chews to 25 or more but still I'm most times getting the whole "meal" in in under 20 minutes. I hope I can do this visualization thing. Thanks Shontel.

This is encouraging. I am going to need to come off this anti anxiety med. and maybe even the trazadone before I am able to present myself for actual work. I look drugged. Today I actually woke up so late 11:30 and the trazadone does help me to sleep but I struggle to get up in the morning. I didn't feel that sickening anxiety so I didn't take the generic Klonopin I just carried it with me in the event that I had an anxiety attack. It's now 11:16 pm and I did not take any Klonopin today at all but I will take the Trazadone in a few minutes. I'm going to see my primary care physician tuesday and see what she thinks about me weaning off the meds. I just want to feel myself again before I seek employment. I hope this happens easily and soon. Thanks Joon.

I have now read a second post involving abscess's in or near the stomach and with each followed by the detection of a leak. If anyone here has medical knowledge about what causes abscesses, (why they form), what are the signs... sort of pain does the patient feel, if it is always accompanied by fever, and if there is a time period after surgery when one would no longer need worry of abscessing leading to leakage...also if abscessed is a leak inevitable? I would appreciate any and all information possible since I have been experiencing minor intermittent pain on the right side of stomach/abdominal area and nearly every morning when I rinse after brushing my teeth I gag, over salivate and dry heave, very distressing and my appetite is down. Thanks.

Of course I take no offense. I'm just not sure if I need hypnotherapy...yet! Each day seems to be slightly different than the day before. I am able to eat, for example shrimp if I chew it well I can eat about 5 med-large. I am able to eat some cheeses, sometimes chicken, fillet of sole or other soft white fish. Spinach, green Beans and broccoli work for me as do mashed potatoes. I am just not ready for a multitude of other foods and I think it's partly fear. I am sensitive in general, and this surgery really shifted my senses, who would of thought I'd no longer like the taste of fresh cold Water or the flavors chocolate, vanilla and strawberry? I don't get it. Time will tell and I am so grateful for your concern and will keep in mind your suggestion should things not improve within the next month or so.

Thanks Tracy adding egg whites for additional protein sounds like a good idea...will try.

Chancie, so sorry that your going through a "bad spell" I know the feeling in fact I've only a few days out of the week where I feel things are going well with the food. Hang in there, they say it's supposed to get better.

I am living alone and I'm still going through trials and errors! Initially when I was supposedly ready to eat solid food, I would cook like for about 4 people as I been accustomed to (prior to surgery when I was raising a 14 year old boy and often feeding his friends). Actually I always cooked for more than just myself because I would eat much more than one normal portion, (let alone a 2 oz sleeve portion!) I then decided to go out and buy freezer bags and different sized containers in order to save the extra however I rarely ate my leftovers and eventually, (like this morning), they got dumped in the trash. Here is what I have found helpful. Having a carton of eggs is good worse case scenario you throw out only half the egg, (but soon enough you will be able to eat an entire egg.) Also, at costco (and all other big chain markets), you can buy boxed or bagged frozen foods which are already in portion sizes, therefore you need only take out and prepare what you think you can eat. This goes for fish, shrimp, meatballs, cheese raviolis, and lot's of other high Protein foods as well as frozen vegetables. If you can't eat the pre portioned size for one you may refrigerate the bit you can't eat or simply get rid of it. I do find it sometimes helpful to just go to a deli and order 2 slices of turkey or roast beef and a slice or two of low salt cheeses, (I like Alpine Lace)...if the meat is lean enough (I like Boars Head) I make a roll of the meat and cheese and eat it ever so carefully. The whole thing takes some adjusting to and this morning I found so much stuff in my refrigerator I had to throw away. Also before the surgery I went out and bought lots of canned foods like turkey chilly, vegetarian chilly, various soups, only to find that my tastes had radically changed and those same favorites were now sickening to me. I even bought a hoard of organic baby food and did not eat too many of them. I ended up bagging all the nonperishable food items I bought and donating them to a local food pantry. I find it's one big experiment. Someone here mentioned having those little puffy oyster crackers handy for eating soft cheeses and/or adding to soups, that worked for me. As for fruit I haven't eaten any yet since I'm so consumed with getting in enough protein since I fill up so easily. But I found a Protein Drink from "Naked" juices which is tasty like a nectar with no added or artificial sugar and each 15oz bottle contains 30 grams protein, 1 banana, 1.5 apples, .5 orange and a bit of pineapple and coconut. If I find any other suggestions I will send them your way. Yes Cream of Wheat, WHOLE GRAIN it has 7 grams protein per packet. I can almost eat 3/4 of a packet. It goes down pretty easy.

Hi Daisy, Can you tell me if your mouth and tongue dry out overnight and if so is it a side effect of the protonix? I stopped taking the prilosec because I couldn't stand how dried out I would wake up in the middle of the night.....and that is with sleeping with my mouth closed.

Tracy you are a courageous woman to say the least and I know your faith will carry you through. As I see it you really must put yourself into the hands of a competent surgeon. What ever the outcome that band will be safely removed and that in itself is a good thing. I pray that your stomach will be strong enough to sustain the sleeve. that said, after what you've endured, I believe that with or without the sleeve, you will acheive your weight loss goals. I know now,since my surgery, that If I just stuck to the pre surgery diet I would have steadily lost weight. You have been through so much and I pray that this will bring you relief and inner peace.

I am approx. 2.5 months out and the only thing that I can predictably eat with little problem (except I can't eat a whole packet), is cream of wheat Instant Healthy Grain (Whole grain). It has 7 grams protein per packet. I add 1% milk and a tablespoon of real maple syrup or organic cane suger. Sometimes I sprinkle about a tablespoon of Jay Robb vanilla whey protein and mix it in there to up the protein. Almost every other kind of food, even string cheese are repulsive to me. Maybe the cream of wheat will help you.

You are doing a great job at compensating in order to get in your water. I hope you will have it easy and pleasurable as you progress with your food plans. I too am so aware of how many television commercials there are for food and so many of them associate the food itself with love. It is so clear to me how advertising has played a monumental role in human obesity. Don't worry you may not be able to eat alot of it but you will be able to enjoy many of the foods that tasted so good to you prior to the surgery. Thanks for replying and sharing your experience thus far...

Oh Tiffy you always give me hope for the future! Thanks AGAIN!