Malaika

congrats Chancie on the jeans being too big - what a great feeling - all the dress pants I bought about 6 weeks ago are getting too big - I have to wear a belt with any of them that I wear just to keep them from slipping off my hips -- I love that they're too big, but don't want to buy anything else at this point in time. Let us know how the size 12s work out!

Thoughts and prayers are with you Judy - will be looking forward to your posts when you feel up to it.

Joyfuljoy - I had my surgery on a Saturday, came home on Tuesday and went back to work that Friday. I have a desk job and the only thing I really noticed was that by the end of the day, I was mentally and physically exhausted. That is due to the drastic decrease in calories and Protein. If you don't want to wait, then go for spring break. If it won't drive you totally crazy with anticipation, then hang in there until summer - having 2 months off would be awesome and by the time school resumes you'll be back on normal food, which is easier to manage at work than liquids believe me. You will absolutely LOVE Dr. Aceves and his team - they are the BEST!

Sarita - welcome to VST and congrats on your upcoming surgery. I don't see that you would have any problems whatsoever traveling 7 weeks post-op - by then you should be well into normal food (considering my post-op diet here of 10 days clears, 10 days fulls, 10 days mushies ... then normal food as tolerated). I'd say focus on your recovery and then start packing for your vacation and ENJOY!

Welcome Katrina; we're so glad to have you join us. You'll be through those Kaiser classes in not time - keep us posted!

Congrats Dalite Enjoy your break, your drugs, and your new stomach. The wind and the headache are normal - the "wind" due to the gas they pump you with for the surgery - try a heating pad on your back and/or chest, it helps. As for the headache, more than likely due to the anesthesia. Both will dissipate in due course.

I was told anything the size of an M&M or smaller could be swallowed if I wasn't able to tolerate the pills crushed and/or mixed with water. The ones that I couldn't swallow I would cut into small pieces. I am now almost 6 months out and am able to swallow all of my pills as long as I take them one at a time -- exhale completely - and then swallow.

I found some gummy fiber pills (like gummy vitamins) that taste REALLY good and they have kept me the most regular I have ever been in my life - two in the morning and that's it - if I happen to eat salad that day, I skip the gummy fiber the next day.

Linda - you look GREAT!!!!

You should be able to do a search for baked ricotta and find the recipe - if not, let me know and I'll pm it to you - it is GREAT!

Oregon Rose - did you check out the deli section at your local groceries? They may have them; also, I bet if you do a yellow pages search you may have a few mexican stores/restaurants where you could get some tamales with higher protein count -- also, if there's a Winder Farms (home grocery delivery) in your city, you might check them out - they have AWESOME tamales - and you only have to order a minimum of $5 a week with Winder Farms.

Monica - welcome to VST and congrats on your surgery. I was not able to tolerate any of the protein drinks after surgery - I would literally gag on them -- I tured to get in as much protein as I could during the liquid phase; however, I focused more on staying hydrated -- there is egg drop soup, you can buy unflavored protein powder and add it to soups, I've heard unjury chicken broth tastes good too. I have now found one protein drink I can tolerate called "Oh Yeah" - it's lactose free and the cookies and cream flavor is tolerable. Hang in there, it will get easier.

Dalite - are you sure you really want to have this surgery? You have mentioned more than once about cancelling it. If you are not 100% sure you want the surgery, then you probably should cancel it as you may experience many issues post-surgery due to your grieving over the fact of not being able to eat.

I am on prilosec - I prefer Nexium as it works better for me; but my insurance won't cover it any longer - so my PCP gave me prilosec. Bearded is taking OTC Prilosec and we are both doing fine with the acid. It sounds as though what you are experiencing is too much acid in your new tummy - you should definitely be taking some type of PPI - if you can't get your doctor to give you a script for one, you can buy the prilosec OTC at any drug store - or at Sam's or costco. We bought the Sam's Club brand and it works just as well as the other. I sometimes have to take Zantac later in they day, but those days seem to be getting fewer and fewer. I'd call your surgeon or PCP on Monday and get a script for something - I am sure it will make a lot of difference - just be sure to take it on an empty stomach.

would be interesting to know if her doctor actually told her that or she made that "assumption" herself.

Sure sounds yummy! Let us know how it turns out and tastes.

ML - congrats for sticking with your pre-op diet during Thanksgiving - that is a major accomplishment - Dec 2nd will be here before you know it!

It's possible Cajun - even when my scale doesn't move, my clothes continue to get looser -- congrats on the NSV!

I googled it and this is some of what I found You may have an increased risk of developing kidney stones if you: have a family history of kidney stones are aged between 20 and 50 are taking certain medicines - for example indinavir (in the treatment of HIV infection) and taking too many laxatives or taking them too often have only one kidney, or an abnormally shaped kidney eat a diet high in protein don't drink enough fluids

JoyfulJoy - welcome to the VST family -- I had never been put under anethesia before and was very concerned too - just be sure and talk to the anesthesiologist and let him know your concerns -- I came out of it without any problems whatsoever - I am sure you will do fine as well. You will love Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos and the entire staff - you will never have the type of care in any US hospital that you will get in Mexicali - and you will be safe the entire time you are there. The resort is very beautiful and the staff extremely helpful. As Norma said, if you have any questions PM me.

Call your surgeon 1st thing monday morning. It may be nothing; however it is better to know WHAT it is than to have to worry about it.

I had that feeling too - like everything was getting stuck - even liquids - come to find out it was my esophogus spasming - I found out at 1 month out - I worked around it my drinking only warm liquids until about noon - I still can't drink anything really cold or it causes me to have spasms still. The gurgling and burping I had for about the first month as well.

newmom - try some liquid benadryl for a few nights -- I've never had insomnia, but I did after surgery -- the liquid benadryl really worked wonders -- I took it for 3 days only and after that was able to sleep on my own.

Soon2be - I know what you mean - I made it to 5 months before my started falling out - I swear I should be bald - like you, thank goodness I have thick hair, but even my hairdresser commented on it ... I am taking Hair, Skin & Nail vitamins that have a lot of biotin in them, in addition to multi-vitamins, calcium and B12- thus far nothing has helped ... I guess we just keep doing what we're doing and hope that eventually the loss stops!

SoCal - I agree with you - one forum is adequate enough Daughter-in-Law - hope you don't mind but I merged all your threads in various forums into one forum for ease of reference for everyone.