Malaika

DO either of you (or anyone else) know of a good surgeon in SoCal? The reason I ask is that I have told everyone that I had my sliding hiatal hernia repaired in SoCal because I don't trust the surgeons/hospitals in Las Vegas (which is very true). No one has questioned which doctor; however, I know my dad's wife is going to question me and I need to come up with a good surgeon in SoCal that I can give her. I hate lying; however, I prefer not to be judged for my decision. As soon as my dad found out I had surgery he was on medlineplus.com checking out the surgery and after asking me if I was okay ... he said "Well now you need to lose weight because obesity is one of the main causes." So any help would be appreciated ... not a bariatric surgeon - just a well established surgeon anywhere in SoCal - I never gave them a specific place. If I didn't think they'd check out the doctor's name, I'd give them the truth and name Dr. Aceves. *SHRUGS*

Okay then ... the synonym dictionary says: synonyms tool (n.) aid, apparatus, appliance, cock, contrivance, creature, device, dick, gadget, implement, instrument, machine, pecker, peter, prick, puppet, putz, shaft, tools, utensil tool (n.) (figurative) instrument (figurative) I think maybe aid or device? even instrument... definitely not any of the ones that start with a "p" ... :eek: Should we put it up for a vote?

:eek: SCARY THOUGHT! Although my mom always said (when I would ask her how she raised 7 kids when I couldn't seem to raise 2) she said, "after 3 you don't even notice." I love my mom, but I wasn't so sure I believed her at that point!

Thanks Mac~

That's fantastic Elisabeth. I had been able to control my GERD with diet and took the 40 mg Nexium and/or Zantac on an as needed basis. So far, I haven't had any heartburn since the surgery except 1 day when I drank the apple juice. I am taking the 20 mg Nexium as directed by Dr. A; however, I'm hoping that once I'm through the 3 months, I won't have to take it forever...my insurance doesn't cover it and it wasn't all that cheap in Mexico either.

I have the SpecialK water but at 5 grms I'd have to drink alot of it to get in my 70 gms. a day. I am drinking it (didn't know it came in packets) I have the Strawberry-Kiwi, which I like, and a berry - which is eh, okay. I stopped in Whole Foods today on my way home from the chiro (I have TMJ and when my jaw is out I have massive headaches and yep, it was out - got adjusted and now don't have the headache I've had since surgery) ... anyway ... there was a lady working in the supplement section and she recommended a product that she uses every day. It is MRM 100% All Natural whey Dutch chocolate. It has no artificial sweetners or flavors, hormone free, antibiotic free, BSE Free; 1000 mg L Glutamine added. 1 scoop is 85 calories; 1 g total fat (0 Sat.); 1.5 g carbs and 18 g protein and it's made in Oceanside, CA. She said it is great mixed with water - that is how she takes it every day. She was funny because she pointed out others that had more protein and then whispered "but they taste like crap" ... There were 36 servings and it was $29. So I'll give it a try and let you know.

Yes, guess they must have made changes because Gaby sent me an email the day after I was released and said it was her job to follow-up with Dr. Aceves patients following surgery and had a big long email about what to do, what not to do, why to do it, why not to do it, what to eat when, ideas, etc. I don't recall receiving any booklet, all I received was my films, my blood tests and my operative report. I just received an email from a friend who wanted to remind me that wine is a clear liquid ... :laugh0: Now, if I could only drink wine - it gives me an instant headache ...

Okay - so I am having NO luck finding the Syntrax Nectar products in Las Vegas - have called 4 different GNCs and none of them carry it, as well as several other health food stores. One store does carry it but is out and MIGHT have it in by Saturday. I have to find something with protein that I can do NOW. I can't tolerate the Isopure. So I'm guessing the next best thing would be the Matrix products? What are the best flavors? Any other suggestions? I have had a massive headache since surgery and I can't get rid of it -- I am sure part of the reason is the lack of protein because I can't seem to find something I can even just tolerate, let alone actually enjoy. Am off work today so going to go and get something ... suggest away ladies!!! SOON!

NO - I didn't know that ...who makes them? I may have to check that out once I am on solids ... and one definitely does the trick.

You got that RIGHT!

This is true -- my poor mom had 5 teenagers at once ... I'm not sure how she survived (or how we ended up living -- lol)

That's a great way to explain it Elisabeth and so very true. I never had the band; however, I intend to make the sleeve work for me and as long as the scale keeps going down, I will be happy. I, too, am no longer young and if I can lose 2-3 lbs a week, I will be very happy with that loss. I don't have bread in my house either for the exact same reason ... given my choice between sweets and hot bread with butter I'll choose the bread and butter every time...especially if it's warm sourdough bread. I also prefer fruits over sweets, especially strawberries, bananas and watermelon - however, bananas have a ton of carbs and watermelon has a high glycemic count ... so even eating "healthy" too much of a good thing, can be a bad thing, if that makes sense.

Oh Rosey that is WONDERFUL about your surgery date and your dad. I agree with Elisabeth - I bet he changes his mind after the entire experience ... I did the low carb/high protein diet and found the atkins shakes and bars extremely helpful. I'm not a big egg person, although I can do scrambled eggs with 2% cheese and I ate that quite a bit during the week before (actually, I started on the diet a couple weeks before just because). Be sure to drink LOTS of Water with the shakes/bars, as I found them to slow things down in moving through my system, if you get my drift. Grilled tilapia and grilled veggies were something else I ate too - very filling and tasty. You can do it, it really isn't that difficult.

I probably could do - but given my choice, I would much rather have cheese than tilapia -- I LOVE cheese ... hey ... what about tilapia with cheese melted on it? MMMMMMMMMMMM ... My theory is almost anything tastes better with cheese on it! LOL

I think he may have changed that since you had your surgery, because he definitely told me 10 days clear; 10 days full and I received an email from Gaby yesterday outlining that same guideline with helpful ideas of what I can have during those times ... This is what her email said (synopsis) Day 1 thru 5 (Clear Liquids Only) Day 6-10 (thin liquids) Day 11 thru 20 (full liquids) Day 21 thru 30 (soft food) Day 31st and beyond (solid food)

You will be in my thoughts and prayers - put yourself in God's hands and pray for God to guide your surgeon - all will be well!

I lost a lot of weight on Jenny Craig too however was sicker than a dog the entire time I was on it and come to find out I was allergic to the preservatives in their food - so I said great, I can be thin and sick or fat and healthy. So no more Jenny Craig -- although I am a lifetime member ... woo hoo. I've lost quite a bit of weight on Weight Watchers too ... however, I find too many ways of "justifying" my choices and end up gaining it back eventually. I figure over the past 26 years I've probably lost and regained "myself" several times. I know how to eat healthier now that I ever have and that is why I decided to go forward with the sleeve as a tool to help me get the weight off and keep it off. I have no visions of it being the "magic" answer to my weight coming off and know I have a lot of work in front of me.

I agree with you because for every study you can find an opposing view. I've always said we do the best we can do with what we know and when we know better, we do better.

I agree with RB2 -- you'd find me in a corner somewhere going babababababa if I was in that position.:biggrin0:

Cool - where can I do that? I'd like to have it to carry with me in case of an emergency. We don't eat out all that often, and if we do, we generally end up splitting it anyway, so no big deal on that.

I had an epidura with my first pregnancy and I didn't like it either. I did have a spinal with the sleeve and I was able to move my legs in recovery with no problem and didn't even realize I'd had the spinal. The only side effect I had is that I itched - not bad and not all the time, just in spots and just now and again. Nothing like having poison ivy. I mentioned it to Dr. Aceves, because I thought it was because of the pink "stuff" I was covered with front and back boobs to butt ... he said it wasn't from the "pink stuff" at all, it was from the morphine in the spinal. It's my understanding that if they give you a spinal, they don't have to put you under as deep and you wake up faster in recovery. According to my fiance, my surgery lasted 1 hr and 7 minutes and I was in recovery for 2 hours - when I came back to the room, I felt awake and pain free - except for the pain in my left shoulder blade which I figured was from the CO2 gas. I have a fear of being put under and not coming out of it - as both my parents have that tendency, so anything they could use to keep me from having to be put under as deep was okay with me. I don't even remember them doing the spinal or even asking me to turn over so they could do it ... heck, I don't even remember being taken to the OR after the happy pill they gave me that morning. I'd say go for it - but everyone is different.

I hope the same thing for both of you and can only say better you than me girlfriend! I'm with WASa on the furry 4-legged type babies -that's all I want anymore ... now grandbabies of the 2-legged variety would be ok too.

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn?t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

Congratulations - that's great!

As they say Mac, hindsight is 20/20. I'm right there with you. Well, not right there, but you know what I mean!