LAN2k

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.

For those of you interested you may read my latest blog entry: http://verticalsleevetalk.com/blogs/lan2k/707-upper-endoscopy-report-relation-lpr-diagnosis-follow-up.html

I had my 2nd upper endoscopy since my VSG surgery 9-15-2009, yesterday and over-all "FINDINGS" for Oropharynx, Esophagus, EG-Junction, Cardia, Fundus, body, all "Normal". The report continues : Antrum "Mild gastritis Biopsy taken "Duodenum Bulb- Normal 2nd portion- Normal 3rd portion-Biopsy taken. I suppose I will hear from the doctor or one of his personal sometime next week for further findings... Although I was groggy when the doctor spoke with me after I awoke,while still on the table, he told me everything looked good, or fine...He also told me I did NOT need to take any PPI, and could just end taking the Protonix, (generic form)...no need to wean off. My next move will be to meet with yet ANOTHER ENT, since the last one I saw diagnosed me, (according to this reputable gastroenterologist), incorrectly. Meaning my throat, nasal, problem, (feeling as if I've a glob or web of sorts just hanging, and/or with pools of mucus or saliva).. is not symptomatic of any sort of acid reflux, LPR,(silent), as was my diagnosis, or GERD. This doctor feels the problem is literally in my head, and needs to be closely scrutinized by an ENT. He has referred me to one and will send THAT doctor a full report of his findings and speculation. In the meanwhile I'm still very uncomfortable with this throat irritation, (yes my throat does get irritated, from constant 24/7 secretions...and naturally, I've anxiety over this yet undiagnosed, unresolved condition.

THAT is commendable! It's so contrary to today's borrow and spend mentality! Good for you!! I wish you the best of success in your WL journey.

The Pain varies surgery to surgery, case by case, persn to person. Assuming all goes well, (best wishes to you BTW), you'll need to heal for a couple of weeks before being really active. I don't think you should need to be on pain meds for more than a few days...After your incisions close, and heal you will still be healing on the inside so the most important thing is NOT to lift anything more than 15lbs. Don't do anything that could risk a leak. Other than that keeping active and walking will be very helpful to the healing process and also it should help you adjust mentally to the lifestyle food consumption changes. Just be sure to keep yourself hydrated throughout!

The catheter was pulled from me around day 3 in hospital and it was a second of a sort of twinge sensation that's it. Now getting myself to urinate on my own was a bit of a challenge but warm compresses on my tummy and water running from the sink did the trick. My drain stayed in for about 4 or 5 days at home. At my first follow up appointment he took it out and I felt NOTHING at all, it just slipped right out. From what your saying about your surgeon I would not worry he/she seems to be competent. Best wishes.

Ditto on OA for me. I have found that WITHOUT the capacity to eat-use food as I have for all of my life, I have tremendous anxiety over life's issues. The sleeve won't allow me to use the food as a coping mechanism any longer so my feelings are really raw and I'm not accustomed to dealing with them on a relatively empty stomach. OA is full of people who are learning alternate methods of dealing with life issues without using food as a means of escape. So having the surgery: a quick route to weight loss--for me is not the answer to much of my life's problems and I highly recommend trying OA for a month or so...it really helps. Also there is a forum here on 12 step group help...but the best way is to get involved with people in person. Later if you have tried you may phone me as using the phone to reach out to fellow OA members is one of the many tools used in OA to overcome the emotional attachment and use of food. PM me and I'll give you my number.

Two whey protein shakes for me-one in the AM one for lunch and a meal of meat and veggies/salads for dinner. I lost 16 lbs in 4 weeks doing that and was satisfied. Best wishes.

I find it strange how I can put on 2lbs in a day from just a few bites of let's say a pie or a piece of cake! So I can eat a bowl of warm cereal in the morning with my scoop of whey, 2 ounces of cubed cheese with a few low cal/carb pita puff crackers for lunch...a fork full of sauerkraut with a 2 oz piece of Kielbasa sausage for dinner and then a small slice of custard/cheese pie topped with strawberries, blueberries and pineapple-and gain 2lbs the next morning!...That to me is INSANE and proof that my formerly OBESE body had metabolic issues cos otherwise no normal metabolism would gain weight from so little food as I just itemized! It's like really sickening and makes me angry.

It was the opposite with me. I told everyone even strangers, and had no negative responses from any one of them. I didn't tell them in a way that sought for their approval. I told them in an authoritative manner honoring my capability to know my own mind, (boy was I ever wrong in that department), and body, and of course research so I was knowledgeable about the procedure, risks, etc. I did wait however until I myself was sure and had the process all ready in motion.

Thanks for being honest. I KNOW your heartache. I suggest you look for a support group. Before my sleeve gastrectomy I thought OA (Overeaters Anonymous was a laugh) but after my surgery and being cut off from that freedom of eating foods I literally had a love affair with, I found help in those rooms full of people struggling with their own food/eating obsessions. I'm 9 months out from surgery and approx. 87 lbs down.....I am still not sure that I would go through this surgery again if I knew the emotional toll it would take on me. I suggest you start talking to a professional councilor who specializes in post bariatric weight loss surgery issues and/or eating disorders. Best wishes to you in your journey.

I see. My concern is when you are in Iraq, should any medical issues arise related to your sleeve surgery, will you have a medical facility there? I would suggest that before you depart from the states that you get copies of all of your bariatric weight loss surgery records and certainty that your surgeon here can be contacted by the medical doctors in Iraq. As far as your concern for slow or little weight loss? I doubt you will find your fears come to fruition. You will quickly find out how little you are able to consume and how ill you would become if all you were to eat were foods like Reeses Peanut butter cups. It's good that you are going to have some time here to recover and get accustomed to the changes...which are seriously real. Keep us posted with any of your concerns throughout and best wishes to a successful, smooth uneventful surgery and recovery.

You will be back to work in Iraq? Your concerns are valid. I am concerned. Will you have immediate access to a good hospital facility equip with qualified knowledgeable surgeons in the event that you need care?

Katt I doubt you will ever be able to eat much more than you are eating now. The portion of the stomach which you are left with doesn't really stretch much. I'm 9 months out and I can eat very little. That you are comfortable with what you can eat now is something to be grateful for because it's of no consolation to me that I feel so easily full and often times w/discomfort. I think you will do great.

I haven't had any other WL surgery except for the sleeve so I'll answer from my sleeve experience (July 15 I'll be 10 months out)... 1. 500 calorie a day diet...how and why? Why, because your stomach is a tiny 3-4 oz tube, early out it is in the healing stages and tender/swollen, it's hard to get more than 2-3 oz of anything in there. I agree 500 calories is low, some days I couldn't even get in 500 cals. and it was scary. For the first couple of weeks staying hydrated will be the most important thing even more important than getting in the recommended Protein. 2. Still can't drink Water with meals. No you should not. Some people will take a tiny sip to maybe moisten what's in the mouth, like eating a Soup with some substance besides plain broth. But generally you will need the food to go down and settle a bit before taking in liquid beverages, or water. It was not too difficult for me to get used to--once you learn that it no longer feels natural. 3. New small stomach can stretch like the band pouch. I WISH!! My sleeve is a 40f bougie and I feel like it will never stretch, in fact if I take a bite too much of especially any dense protein like steak, ground beef, or chicken, etc. it sometimes feels like my esophagus will burst before anything will stretch! I took 2 bites of a Hemp seeded bagel with some tuna today at the beach and had some serious pain for 15 minutes I had to walk along the beach and tap my chest before it finally went down. If I would have tried to sip on water the water would have just come back up on me. 4. Can still have same reactions as band...gagging, fullness but still hungry. I don't know about the band, but I gagged for the first 3 months every morning when I brushed my teeth for some reason, (still happens occasionally). When I feel full I do not still feel hungry...I'm done eating. 5. Isn't the lack of Ghrelin supposed to curb appetite? Yes and it has curbed my appetite significantly. 6. Here's a new one...just read some people have this problem...hair loss. I took plenty of Biotin and other nutritionals but lost alot of hair around for a couple of months! It just came out sort of evenly all around and my thick hair got thin as a pin head...it has completely stopped falling out and I think it's growing back now because my thin medium length hair now appears to puff up and out (where the new hair growth is coming in all over my head.

Yep thanks for the update and congrats to your WL success in continued good health! You lost alot of weight in only 10 months...wow.

Unless you continue to graze or eat things like pizza, chips, foods with high sugar and fat content, ie. ice-cream, cookies, cakes, chips etc...I don't think you will have a problem and you will continue to lose. Just follow the fundamental concept of protein first then vegetables, then fruits and other stuff and you really won't have trouble with the foods that can cause weight gain...there just won't be enough room for it! You don't have to deprive yourself either. A treat now and again will not sabotage your food plan as your need to maintain health will be a priority so things should balance out. Hope that helps.

I am a 40 and my restriction is much the same as Tiff's. But some days I just hardly eat anything at all..I'm 9.5 months out from surgery can eat very little.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of drugs whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production. They are the most potent inhibitors of acid secretion available today. The group followed and has largely superseded another group of pharmaceuticals with similar effects, but different mode-of-action, called H2-receptor antagonists. These drugs are among the most widely-selling drugs in the world and are generally considered effective.[1] The vast majority of these drugs are benzimidazole derivatives; however, promising new research indicates that imidazopyridine derivatives may be a more effective means of treatment.[2] High dose or long-term use of PPI carry a possible increased risk of fractures.[3] read more here: Proton-pump inhibitor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia