LAN2k

Hi Lonna, My goodness, it seems like a decade ago since I had my sleeve in 2009. I was glued to this website as it was my support and solace. You've been through alot and although I haven't an answer for you I want to commend you for having a courageous attitude. I do hope as time goes by you will find a healing remedy. I'm wondering if drinking high alkaline Water would help. Just a thought. My nose often gets runny after or during a meal, but not always. I sometimes chew on a couple of Tums at the end of the day before I retire. Hang in there with that great attitude and try drinking water that's at 9.5 pH. It may be very helpful.

I'm interested Lan!

Hey there it's been a while since I've been logged in here but if you are still interested send me an email and we'll talk!

please do! I am looking for info on NY surgeons. i live in westchester county.

Hi I have not been here for a while and see that the entire website has been changed! I just received an email alert with regard to a post I must have made many months ago. Amazing I don't even recall posting that however, I would love to develope a local support group for anyone who lives on Long Island, NY. I live in Western Suffolk. Westchester county is a bit of a ride away but there are some excellent doctors in NYC. I had my surgery done by a doctor Baiju C. Gohil, MD, FACS. The link to his practice is: http://www.northshorelij.com/NSLIJ/Dr.+Baiju+Gohil.

Perhaps he can refer you to a surgeon who performs the VSG closer to your vicinity. Best wishes and if you decide to meet with Dr. Gohil, private message me please.

Happy 1 yr anniversary lan2k -you are a major inspiration!!!

Hi Carla, thanks so much! I have always felt that my posts may have been a bit discouraging to many since I had so many emotional problems adjusting to the changes in my eating habits. It's reinforcing to feel that I have been considered an inspiration by some. I have been inspired by many people here on VST. I wish you good health as you proceed in your own WL journey. Thanks again.

Lis xx

Hey Lis. Congratulations on making it through a year relatively unscathed. Everything is relative, huh?

Whoever said this is the easy way to lose weight is off their rocker. But, we all have our reasons for doing it so I guess we have to trust that once we make this difficult decision it's the best path for us. I hope that things continue to improve for you and that you are happy with your results.

Best wishes, Mary

Thanks so much Mary, How are YOU doing? Hey I just noticed my ticker DID change! It's so nice to hear from you. I have felt so connected to so many of you here on VST. This is a wonderful place. Let me know how you are doing. I care.

xx Lis xx

While I don't necessarily feel that reaching my goal weight will solve all of my problems - and thankfully, my life is free of any major problems right now! - I often wonder about that "what now" moment. You know, once you hit that goal weight and you start to maintain - there's no more positive feedback from the scale or fitting into smaller and smaller clothes. So you have to learn to deal with the fact that this positive reinforcement is gone and you have to look for it in other things. I think that could be tough for me - just kind of settling into life as a slim person and growing to take it for granted.

I'm at goal, (I could lose a few more lbs. but I'm a light weight now. I'm able to sit and stand and squat without knee pain. I'm able to walk about with a light step and at a faster pace. I can move easier, lift things heavier etc. I am still me however. I don't feel liberated when it comes to many emotional issues which I'd thought getting out from under all that physical weight would produce. Now that the physical burden of excess weight is gone, I'm peaking inside of myself to identify what's in me and how to reconstruct what has been stifled. So a little at a time, issue by issue...without the excess food and layers of fat to buffer me, I observe myself. I see I still exhibit avoidance behaviors...but I am learning new ways to live and utilize time. Human beings are complex, and so is life.

Hi there. How are you doing? Thank you very much!

PS--I just made a new ticker reflecting my status but it seems it hasn't changed.

http://verticalsleevetalk.com/blogs/lan2k/881-one-year-vsg-anniversary.html

:crying:

I had only a handful of episodes of acid reflux of the heartburn type, (what it sounds like you are describing). The PPI (Nexium) may need a dose adjustment or maybe be switched to Protonix or Acidefex (sp?). I would consult with either the surgeon who did the VSG--IMMEDIATELY or get to a good gastroenterologist or your, (if you have one, PCP--Primary Care Physician). With regard to the nausea, I had been on Reglan and for many valid reasons I switched to Zophran, (gel strips that melt on the tongue). If per chance, your on Reglan for nausea, I say stop taking it immediately it causes (in many people) extreme anxiety/panic attacks. Most importantly with regard to your repulsion towards food even Water, I KNOW what your talking about. I have been there,!!! I was even back in the ER for hydration and could hardly eat anything and to this day I still have a problem with water, bitterness, heavy feeling...I don't know what or why and it drives me batty because I know the importance of pure clean water for our bodies. I am able to tolerate one flavor, (Citrus Punch) yellow in color, of Vitamin water, (not the "Zero")-I don't eat enough to worry about a few carbohydrates and will not put artificial sweetener of any genetic/chemical modification into my body. I make each bottle into a 50/50 mix of filtered alkaline water, Kangen I get at a water store. I needed help and someone on this message board suggested I try a medication called Remeron, it is a mild antidepressant at the 30mg dosage. The great thing about it is that it works, causes no weird side effects or anxiety and stimulates the appetite--which I so desperately needed. Once I started taking it I found I was able to desire food again--the repulsion left. So I was able to eat warm cream of wheat and whisk in a scoop of vanilla whey Protein Powder, add a bit of Stevia-(natural plant extract) for sweetness and a squirt of Organic Agave nectar or Pure Organic maple syrup...some goat or almond milk and spoon by spoon slowly enjoy a morning meal. I was able to try different real foods and textures without feeling repulsed and found my way back to, although altered because of the sleeve, a more "normal" eating lifestyle. After about 2 months I was able to continue to eat on my own without the need for the Remeron. It does sound to me that you absolutely need medical intervention with a physician who will respect your needs and clearly hear what you are saying. Let us know how you proceed and if your condition improves. I know how scary it can be.

I went to a gastroenterologist recently. One who has expertise with people who've had WLS, mainly Gastric Bypass, since the sleeve is still not as popular a procedure. I went for an upper endoscopy although my complaint had to do with another recent previous visit to an ENT who told me I had Silent Acid Reflux, (no heartburn symptoms)...he told me to continue with the PPI prescription medication AND add another OTC antacid to chew on! The Gastroenterologist, Dr. Singh, told me that since I was on a Proton Pump Inhibitor for so many months already and my symptoms were still active, (runny nose, nasal drip and thick, glob feeling in the throat), that he disagreed that it's cause is acid reflux...he told me to stop taking the PPI med. and it was not necessary to wean off of them either. So, I did. I had no side effects whatsoever. I still, however, suffered with the same nasal/throat symptoms. So.......I went for another opinion to a 2nd ENT, in Stony Brook, NY. This guy didn't even do a scope. I had the endoscopy report with the colored photos of my larynx, esophagus, stomach etc...He looked at those and said that my throat was/must have been previously damaged from acid reflux in the past. So I surmise that when I was a heavy weight and ate like a heavy weight, I likely did have silent acid reflux which likely did do damage to my throat. ENT #2 said the lump sensation is due to my throat being swollen. Then he said, buy yourself a bottle of Tums and chew on one before bed as he gingerly left the room. But....I forgot to ask him "but why do I still drip from my nose and into my throat? I do not know if I should be on a PPI since Dr. Singh was right; Why while on them for about 9 months was I experiencing these symptoms still? I still need to know but have stopped the PPI med altogether.

On the pricey side BUT if your anything like me since being sleeved I spend about half of what I spent on food when I had my fully stretched full sized stomach...so it is actually affordable.

Essential whey Protein:svengo:

This is an important topic. I hope this book tells me something I don't already know!

Well, I'll tell you this much.My insurance covers plastic surgery for the reason of "correcting a congenital abnormality". I have one of those that I never fixed because I always wanted to wait until I lost weight. The purpose of the documentation now is to show the breasts are like that BEFORE WLS weight loss, so they can't say the abnormality is a result of WLS. The changes due to WLS won't be relevant, and I'll get my boob job covered, which will correct whatever WLS-caused issues in the process of correcting the "congenital abnormality".

So like I said, it's a unique situation, and not very many people are going to qualify for a post-WLS boob job this way. At least something good came out of my abnormality!

Thanks Donna for replying to my post. I don't know if I'm going to be able to afford it but I'm now down to 136.4 lbs. My breasts are entirely deflated, they hang with seemingly no visible muscle and zero fat. From my neck down to mid chest I look like skin and bones wearing a low cut blouse is embarrassing, because WHERE ARE THE BREASTS? If I wear an under-wire push up bra, it makes me look even more freaky. The breasts lift up like flaps of skin against the tight skin which covers my chest bones. I look all neck, skin and bones. If ever a boob job was needed it's with me.

It is odd how meds and anesthesia affect people differently. When my dad had major surgery, he kept thinking that he was actually in the shows on the television in his hospital room. I think they did wind up giving him something like Klonopin.

Wow BJean, I just read that and your the 2nd person who mentioned anesthesia and how it effects some people. One of my mother's friends told us about someone who, having heart surgery, thought he was in prison. His thinking and reacting to his thoughts persisted for a few days. In my case it took a few months and medications to shake off those feelings.

I wish I could find a therapist that truly knew more than I do. At the end of the day I have spent lots of money only to watch someone nod their head and tell me what I already know!

Donna, August 15th I'll be 11 months out. I'm was 232 am now 138lbs, still a few lbs from goal and it looks like I should go down to 128 instead of the 135 I'd originally thought. My legs are improved but not yet lean down to calves and ankles where I carry the remaining excess weight. That said my breasts look like deflated condoms. I really would like to know under what conditions an insurance company would approve a breast makeover. Please if it's not comfortable to explain it here would you mind PMing me? I really need something I think since you can practically see my ribs through the pancake flat breasts that simply lie flat to my body. Thanks.

It's so odd how different things occur in people. I could not watch TV at all for many months after the surgery. TV literally freaked me out. I felt as if I were watching the dead, or as if it were some sort of evil carnival. Antidepressants and anti anxiety medications helped. Eventually I stopped the antidepressant medication but I still take Klonopin as needed for anxiety. Hope that helps.

I have surgery in 1 week. In 2 days, I'm going to all the required appointments (nutritional, psych, exercise, pre-testing, Upper GI, etc.....all in one day!).

I'm trying to do as much research as I can. And I know that I will be ordered to drink Protein drinks.

Since I haven't been to the appointments yet, I haven't been told how much and what to drink. I'm sure they'll tell me, but until then, I was just wondering a few things:

What exactly is the average that I'm supposed to drink a day?

After surgery, when exactly do I start on the Protein drinks?

Also, I found a drink called NAKED. They have all sorts of flavors, but one is a Protein Drink. It's a juice smoothie. Here are some things off the label: (per serving which is 8 ounces)

--It's flavored with apples, bananas, orange, pineapple and coconut.

--No sugar added

--Fat - 2g

--Saturated Fat 1g

--Trans Fat 0g

--Cholesterol 30mg

--Sodium 140mg

--Potassium 480mg

--Total Carbs 34 g (Diety Fiber 0g, Sugars 28g)

--Protein 16g

The taste is like a very thin and 'grainy' tropical milkshake

Would I be able to drink this? Is this drink 'allowed'. I bought one today and I think it would be better than the vanilla and/or chocolate ones.

Any advice would be wonderful.

I lived off that particular Naked drink for approx. 3 months maybe longer. If it weren't for THAT drink I would have been in the hospital for lack of protein. It was the best find and the ONLY drink out there that I could tolerate. I sipped it at first it would take me an entire day to finish a 20 oz bottle. I did live on it and my nutritionist and surgeon were fine with me drinking it since I was repulsed by every other drink out there and I tried them all. Isopure made me wretch and I returned all four bottles after only one siip of one of the flavors. Any of the whey protein mixes made me wretch too. I was eventually able to use Solgar pure vanilla bean "Whey to Go" mixed into warm farina type, or cream of wheat Cereal about month 4 and that was when here in LI, NY they stopped supplying the Naked protein drink to the stores. I loved it cos it had provided alot of whole fruit nutrition as well as whey protein and the carbs didn't have any effect on my weight loss. I lost so much weight so fast. I hope you will like it after you have the surgery. Best wishes.

You will need to complete the treatment. I had to prior to surgery. Also hereafter your blood will always show positive for H-Pylori, and the only valid test that is through a stool sample. I am confident that once you finish the course of antibiotics as prescribed you will be cleared for surgery. Just don't miss any doses and test again when your completely done with the treatment. Best wishes.

Some of the literature in OA mentions WLS as one of many measure the compulsive or, over eater will take in order to defeat and conquer the effect that food has over them. Some people at meetings had become bulimic or anorexic as a means to control their obsession with food. I found that in having WLS, weight loss and an inability to over-eat, emotional/spiritual issues are exposed if not emerging. This is very uncomfortable and exercise, (like a bike ride), helps but not entirely. Taking anti anxiety meds helps but only temporarily. Working through the 12 steps, making alliances with other people, and use of the "tools" in the program, appears to be a solid means to handle the raw feelings stifled for years by excess eating habits and bodily weight. I personally am grappling with other additional issues such as my middle age stage in life, my aging parents, an atheist vengeful daughter to whom I've given back her custody of her son to. He has been with me since he was in diapers but wants desperately to have his mom love him enough to take responsibility for him. I am watching him suffer again (as he did as a baby), at her ruthless, and selfish rejection of his needs and yet, he wishes to hold out and stay with her. All this is very painful for me and honestly would be so much easier if I could eat the volume of food I used to. I NEED 12 step group support. I hope you will find it rewarding. Give it at least 6 visits and if you don't like one group (too few people, too many people...), try some others. Best wishes. Hope you continue to share your journey.

None whatsoever! I have been embraced and strongly supported by members of OA. I find it an amazing program although I am only at the start of the 4th step and still in alot of emotional pain, (due to ongoing family issues). Although this venue is and continues to be a wonderful source of support, I do not think I would cope well without the support of people with whom I could physically connect with. Since I am dealing with a daughter who is an alcoholic (and an over-eater)-and is in complete, hostile denial, I am going to also look for Alanon meetings to go to as well. Not having food as a crutch really forces me to have to face my reality and I need as much support as I can get. Well put Roseib.

No it doesn't sound stupid at all. It may very well be some sort of allergy. The thing is that this is not (in my experience) a normal sinus drip type thing going on here (but I pray I'm wrong). Right after the surgery symptoms magnified, like the excessive salivating and gagging every time I brushed my teeth...(still happens if I gargle on an empty stomach). It feels like something is really gone wrong and it's not easily identifiable (since I had a REALLY quick scope done by an ENT. I think this has been going on since before my surgery but being fat, full and oblivious I did not pay much attention to it. I hope it's not like cancer or anything serious. If an allergy maybe it's treatable. I already have 3 air purifiers going in a 1 bdrm apt. I have 2 cats! I dread being tested and finding out I'm allergic because I wouldn't be able to part with them. I will likely need to see an allergist as well.

Also any kind of whole grain hot Cereal is good mixed with a little of whatever kind of milk you prefer, I like goat, organic soy, almond, hazelnut...then mix about a scoop of your favorite whey powder to up the Protein count. I liked cream of wheat at the beginning, now I buy oat bran and other types of warm cereals. I also use "Stevia in the Raw" to sweeten it up w/ a squirt of raw agave nectar or maple Syrup or a blended brand of both that is sold at Trader Joe's stores nationwide.

I have felt the same way. My surgeon did only ONE leak test while I was in hospital. A couple months later I met with him in the ER because I was having difficulty eating even 2 oz...I was not looking well and becoming dehydrated as well. He had me Vitamin fortified and hydrated while there and did a second leak test. Then I read about people having leaks as far out as 7 months!! I know these are rare instances BUT I worried nonetheless. I suggest you take care not to do things that could possibly weaken your stomach muscle, like excessive weight lifting and or certain types of exercises...and be cautious of not creating too much pressure by over eating, which generally doesn't happen without having immediate negative results, like chest pain, "foaming", etc. Eventually you will not feel so vulnerable and by then your stomach muscle will have strengthened to full capacity.

Very comprehensive composite of your before and after pictures. You are restoring your body back to it's original curves and it's looking so good. Thanks for posting, and keep up the good effort.