LAN2k

I am writing to you because I TOO have been having sinus drainage non-stop since this surgery and have not found anyone else who has encountered this condition. I have spoken to my surgeon about it and he just dismisses it as unrelated to the surgery. My PCP just gave me a referral to a ENT (Ear, nose and throat specialist) which I have not followed up on yet. This is the first time I am hearing about someone here experiencing sinus drainage to such a degree. In the morning when I awake and go to brush my teeth I spend about 20 minutes retching and heaving as I try to rinse the mucus and saliva from a gargle. I am able to drink but not plain Water only Vitamin water and only the Tropical Citrus flavor (dark yellow). If it were not for this drink I'd be dehydrated. I just recently ordered something called "flora sinus" you can google it online. My cousin swears by it. I have only been on it a few days, it contains NAC and Probiotics both of which are supposed to clear away all of the mucus, nasal drip and whatnot. I am not so sure however if this is not a direct effect of the surgery coming up rom the mucus lining of the stomach through the esophagus. Or, if it is a side effect from any of the medications we may be taking. Please keep me posted and let me know of your progress. I am very sorry you are going through this I know the nausea it causes. As a temporary fix I did try zyrtec a couple of times to dry my up and it seemed to help a little. Please keep me informed and I will do the same for you. I wish you relief and resolution to any of these problems for the new year.

Before the surgery I had blood tests and it was found that I was H-Pylori positive. I was put on a heavy antibiotic regimen. My surgeon did not retest me after I finished the prevpac (antibiotics) he seemed to think it was not necessary. I am now 3 months+ out from surgery. I recently asked my PCP who ordered full blood-work if she would also add an H-Pylori test to the lab work for my blood. She did. I just got a call from her office and I am H-Pylori positive. Her secretary called me and told me that I must contact my surgeon for treatment since this is post surgery and my PCP is not sure if the treatment will be different. Has anyone here encountered this before after having the sleeve? I am losing faith in my surgeon because pre surgery I'd asked him if I could be tested after finishing the treatment of antibiotics for the H-pylori and he said it wasn't necessary. Any advise. I am about to start an SSRI Zoloft today. I am already on Klonopin (generic version) for anxiety and now this. If there is anybody here who can advise me in any way I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

I've had some mild nausea since Christmas day. Yesterday I could only manage a small bowl of cream of wheat in the am and again at night and that was it! This morning not only was I nauseous but I had a migraine. I got a prescription for Zophran nausea medication in the form of a small tab that melts on the tongue. It helped although I was still only able to eat a small bowl of cream of wheat this morn and a small bit of chicken soup this evening...I don't know what's going on one day I think I'm doing fine and making progress and the next I'm back to box one! Hope your nausea subsides real soon.

having a headache makes things so much more difficult. I am a migraine sufferer. As was previously stated do what you can to stay hydrated and try your best to get in enough protein even if at minimum which I think may be 50 grams. I am suffering with a migraine myself today. Also some things that have helped me to cope with the headaches have been vicks vapor rub on my head, the peel of lemon (I paste the inside of it to the spot where my head aches worst with the vicks and then put an ice pack on top.. Best wishes.

Thank you. I will ask her at my next appointment and let her know why. Please keep us updated on this condition.

I've recently experienced a pain right in the middle of my chest during eating not once but twice! It was horrible and my esophagus felt like it was going to rupture the pain was hard like something was pushing up against the walls. I stood up and moved around and the pain subsided but while it was there I couldn't even take a deep breath without feeling the pressure and pain. Anyone experience that before?

I'm sorry for this complication but I think you have done the right thing and it will be remedied. I am glad to know there are no leaks. Thank God for that now let's pray this other issue is resolved and fast. Please keep us informed. It seems there is less posting lately due to the holiday season but I'm sure others will respond with additional help and support. Just hang in there it's all any of us can do when we run into a setback or problem having to do with this surgery. God bless and keep you.

CAJUN while your weight loss at 3 months out is huge and congrats is in order, I am more concerned with your overall health and this complication which has manifested. I am extraordinarily impressed with your knowledge and ability to convey what you know and are progressively learning. I'm equally impressed with your ability to keep your cool regarding this complication. It seems all too easy to dismiss minor to sometimes major/temporary discomfort as par for the course from maybe eating a little too much etc. I too am 3 months out and at my last visit a couple of weeks ago my surgeon made no mention whatsoever of having upper GI testing. His attitude is so cavalier in assuming that anything and everything I am concerned about is "normal" and advises just to "give it time". Can you tell me what is involved in having Upper GI testing and advise as to how I might approach this matter with my surgeon? Or would I be better off having my PCP (who is very responsive) refer me to a gastroenterologist to have this test? I am also curious to know if you are on any PPI and if so which one and the frequency in which you take it? Thanks for this important post.

Hello ,I used the 1oz plastic cups I obtained from the hospital before I went home. In the hospital the nurses would crush any given medicine pill and mix it up good in a little apple juice in a 1oz cup along with that they gave me another larger cup with some apple juice to help wash it down. I used the same technique at home. It still was a bit difficult but it worked.

Wow Tiffy, you are actually living your life and enjoying food proportionately! This is something I want so badly--this is the "normal" I hope to aspire to. I am not a drinker per se but on occasion enjoy a little wine or a fancy frozen tropical drink. I'm now 3 months out so like Stoongal am wondering if it is still to early to sip on anything alcoholic.

Hi Tracy, I was thinking about you and popped in to see the latest. I hope you are progressing nicely....hope to hear from you soon.

This photo makes me so happy I could cry, (that means it has really touched my heart). You are a stunning couple...adorable. I hope you will always love, appreciate and cherish one another. It looks like a match made in heaven. God bless you both.

I have the Naked Protein Zone drink here (the only protein one available where I live! It's very palatable to my tastes (which have changed since the surgery). The carbs in it are purely from the fruit contained in one 15oz. bottle which is all I can get down spread over the day. If you look at the side of the bottle it tells you "what's inside" and this particular one has 1 whole bananna, 1.5 apples, 1/2 an orange, a hint of pineapple and coconut. I am losing weight and have been drinking one a day since early out of surgery. In fact it has been literally the only protein drink I can tolerate! I just lost me taste for chocolate, vanilla and strawberry even coffee flavor! Those 30 grams of protein make it easier to get in the rest with regular foods, like fish, chicken, cheese, etc. I only wish my tastes would increase so I could once again enjoy a Jay Robb Protein shake. Instead I use the vanilla Protein powder from the Jay Robb packets and add it to my cream of wheat multigrain wich already contains /7grams protein per package. I just cook it in Water then add a tablespoon of the jay robb mix it well with a little milk. I goes down easy like yogurt, except I have to watch how fast I spoon it in. If I go too fast I feel alot of discomfort and need to stand up and do some stretching, burping and walking away then I can come back to it. This surgery really narrowed my food choices! It's still such an adjustment. I hope one day I can eat like Tiffy does, seems just the right amount and she is able to go out and eat! I guess time will tell.

After just having the sleeve surgery I can't believe you had your knee surgery so soon, but your a courageous woman Norma. I sure hope you have a speedy recovery and what pain you do have will be tolerable.

Susan I'm sure you've already answered this question and I missed it, but about when did your Fluid intake get easy enough for you to get in a sufficient amount? I drink Vitamin waters and hardly any real pure Water since post surgery I don't like the taste and it doesn't go down easy! I am wondering when fluid intake gets easier. I'm now 3 months out still having issues. Thanks.

Lord God in the name of Jesus come to the aid of this woman and her family. Please provide for her physical healing, emotional healing and finances. Thank you Father...Amen.

Thanks Tracy, I'll google it and see what I come up with. I am just looking for additional means for protein, since I can't drink the shakes (vanilla, chocolate, and strwberry) that I really liked pre surgery. I hardly like anything anymore, no desire to even eat a piece of fresh fruit!

It just makes me feel ill to know of your suffering Maria. I am so sorry this happened. I too will pray for your total recovery. This is so sad ...please keep us informed and thank you for letting us know what is going on. God be with you and your family and the doctors that care for you.

Thank God that your surgery went well. You have a great attitude Tracy and I think your recovery will fare well. Thank you for keeping us informed. We're here for you, so please check in when you can. God bless and protect.

Thanks Tiffy, having this sort of information is helpful and does lessen my anxiety. I really appreciate your efforts.

Tiffy since you are on the "geeky" side when it comes to research, and I am still too anxious to delve into these things would you mind giving up a little summary of the article? Thanks in advance.

I have not heard of unflavored nectar. Is it a liquid or a powder? Does it contain protein? Is it truly tasteless? Where can I get it and is there a brand name? Thanks.

I do have a specific question that I have not seen answered in my research on VSG and Behemoth mentions above. Is there a limited period of time where leaks are a concern? Does the new stomach heal itself and close up around the staples so that at some point you no longer have to be concerned about leakage around the staples? Or are leaks a continuing possibility even after several months? This, among other things has been a big concern of mine, (tomorrow I'll be 3 months out). Initially my surgeon told me that by approximately 2 weeks the staple line should be sufficiently healed. However I did cite instances in this venue and on Obesityhelp.com where people had leaks significantly later than 2 weeks out. I don't exactly recall but I believe one fellow was nearly 2 months out when a leak was discovered. I told my surgeon about that and he said that was unusual and the leak was likely there earlier on but not yet detected. I hope some others can offer you more definitive information.

I know I may be pushing this issue but I happen to be very sensitive to prescription drugs. I am already taking anti-anxiety and anti-depression (non SSRI) medication. I confronted my surgeon yesterday on the necessity of taking daily PPI med because he originally told me I could take OTC Pepsid AC every day or as needed. I encountered a short bout of acid reflux early out from surgery (about week 2) and he gave me scripts for prevacid, prilosec, nexium, and protonix-(all in generic form). I tried the prilosec for about 2 weeks and could not stand the rock dry mouth and tongue, and some other weird things I felt were associated with it. After belabouring the issue with him yesterday and explaining that most of the people on the VST forum are instructed to take a PPI for at least a month up to 6 months due to the stomach's overproduction of acid, since the brain doesn't realize that most of the stomach is been removed...he then told me to pick a PPI and take it daily for 5 months! I don't want to...I've read so much about the side effects etc. I'm not having any acid reflux problems. But just to be safe I'd certainly take a natural remedy for the over production of stomach acid. If there be anyone at all who knows of natural substitutes for these pharmaceuticals, do tell. Thanks.

I was just thinking about you last night wondering how you were doing and asking God to be with you. I know that this whole life changing ordeal must be taking its toll on you emotionally. I am a very sensitive person emotionally and physically and at 3 months out I am still having a hard time accepting my decision to have done this in spite of lost weight. It is such a dramatic change and although many others are very happy and have adapted well I am not one of them. That said I have a friend who had (her choice) the gastric bypass. She had some serious complications for the first few months (bleeding ulcers). She is about a year out now and she looks like she never had a weight problem...she eats almost anything she desires, and she's genuinely happy. They say time heals everything, so give yourself that time and if you can connect to a support group where you meet people live. I truly sympathize with what you are going through but you must move forward and learn to accept what has happened, one day at a time. If you ever want to talk please pm me and I'll give you my number. Your not alone there are many people here who really care about you, so hang on and try to focus on the love and goodness in your life. You will see yourself through this and come out better than okay. There may come a time in the future where you will be able to help another person who had to undergo a sleeve to bypass revision.