blueskidoo

http://verticalsleevetalk.com/tell-your-story/537-weightloss-surgery-study-johns-hopkins.html

You can read about it on this thread. I go and I really like it. I like knowing what is going on with my body in such detail.

I have a super PCP in Purcellville, probably too far out for you though. If you haven't had surgury yet you might want to check out the study at Johns Hopkins too.

Yes- I tried some of their Protein Bars as well (I bought the starting out packs) and they were very good. I'll have to look and see which ones I had. I haven't tried everything in the boxes, but I have been pleased with what I have tried.

I am 2 months out, and just in the last couple of days I am able to drink like a normal person. I can't chug, but I can drink half a glass at a time without issue.

The drinking after/during meals is likely going to be a permanent thing, at lest as I understand it. Maybe some of the farther outs could comment on that.

Congrats on your loss! 40 lbs in a month is great! I am now 45 lbs at 2 months and couldn't be happier.

I am down 45 lbs!

I am so happy! I can't wait to get below 250 and be closer to onederland than threeserville.

I also finally found a way to get my extra Protein. I use the whey Protein Crisps. They are kinda like protein grapenuts. I pout a little milk on them and mix them in my yougart and down they go. I just can't do another shake.< /p>

I hope all of you are also doing great! I love my sleeve!

My Dr. Freked out when I went in and my bp was 98/50. I stopped taking all of my bp meds for a week, and now I only take half of what I did before. That keep s me right where the dr. wants me, 120/65.

I got some Fage in the big tub, it's awsome!

It collects Water where I have spooned out a portion, should I dump that out, or stir it back in?

Thanks!

If you are already dehydrated and light on the intake it can be very hard to get re-hydrated. See if you can have an office visit with your Dr. and get a few units IV to get you back up and then try to maintain.

And yes, mirilax will contribute to the dehydration because its purpose is to draw Water into the intestine (and therefor out of the body) to encourage #2.

I would stop taking the Mirilax and focus on getting re-hydrated first. Then whenever you take the mirilax you are going to need an extra 8-16 oz of Water to account for the action of the drug.

Orange urine is definitly a danger sign and I would be getting IV fluids for sure. You could also try drinking some smart water (it has electrolytes) and that might help as well. I find cold water goes better than warm, and I prefer a straw to using a glass/bottle. See if anything like that makes a difference for you as well.

Here is a computer tool that you can use to see the trends in your weight loss.

The Hacker's Diet Online

I love it!

Lol- no such luck on them doing the surgery.

I have been twice now, to the pre-op round of tests and my 1 month post op round.

I like it. The people are nice, the stuff you are asked to do isn't that bad, I need the money at the moment, and I like helping science. My Dr. is also very happy I am participating because they are closely monitoring stuff that wouldn't be done normally.

One of the really cool things is the dexa scan that measures your body composition, so you can see how much fat/lean mass you have lost.

It is kinda fun to find out all the stuff about yourself.

I am so excited! Down 30 lbs in a month. Hard to believe!

I am having a hard time finding a Protein suppliment I like, I am still choking them down, but it takes forever.

I love my sleeve!

Ugh.

I am having a bad day today. I just don't feel like having another Protein Drink. I am a little over 3 weeks out, have been getting 60g P in by having Protein drinks. Then whatever I get from food is a bonus.

Well, today I just can't face another Protein Drink. What should I do? I have chocolate GNC wheabolic powder.< /p>

I chose Dr. Aceves because he seemed to have everything pretty well covered. Staying in the hospital for 3 days and doing the leak tests was good with me. I discussed it with my PCP and he was thrilled. He is perfectly happy to handle all my follow up care, blood work etc.

It all depends on your Dr. though.

I could have stayed in the US also, but I wanted someone with the experience to keep me from getting leak in the first place.

I think so. Both the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon work together as a team to limit the pain of the patient.

Good pain management encompasses so many things... timely use of drugs, the right kind of drugs, a multi layered approach, also things like caring, Dr. visits, positive people around, responsiveness of the staff, etc.

But good surgical technique can also limit pain for sure.

I had done an enormous amount of research before I went for surgery, both on the surgery and the surgeon.

But man, thst group really has every single bad possibility laid out in such a way as to freak a person out.

I think Mac is right, they exist to dissuade people.

Thanks guys.

After I took a few deep breaths, and stepped away from the computer, I felt much better.

I have a good PCP, and a good surgeon, and I am going to follow their directions. I am even participating in that study, so if something goes wrong, I am sure they will be picking up on it.

I am very happy with how I am doing. And gosh darn it I am going to keep it that way!

Little known trick on the conversion...

If you type into google what you need to change (19 stone to pounds) or (87 kg to lbs) and press search and it will do the conversion for you.

Hope you find this useful! I do all the time.

Hi-

I was over on the yahoo group, wls_uncensored, and I read some scary stuff about the VSG...

Like fat and Protein deficiency and leaky gut syndrome, as well as Calcium, Iron, and B-12 problems. Death/paralysis of the stomach in the long term...

Now I know these are just worst case issues, but I don't usually experience buyers remorse, and I would love a little re-assurance here.

I am having a minor freak out at the moment.

In good news I am 2 weeks out and down 20 lbs.

Hey all!

Let me in this club!

I am sleeved and happy and doing great (though full liquids can't come soon enough)!

So I bought one of each Smart Forme starter packs. I am trying my first Protein Drink, the Cranberry fusion. It has a pleasant, refreshing taste, and it is 15g Protein for 8oz volume, so that is nice. I have been diluting the nectar samples I have out to 20oz and so that takes quite a while to get down.

It does have a bit of a "protein" smell though. I am drinking it out of a glass and not a sipper bottle because of the small volume, and that is a nice change. But then I have to hold my breath to take a sip. So, here is my tip- I put a piece of saran wrap across 2/3 of the top of the glass, and voila! no more bothersome smell while I sip.

So there is quite an assortment of stuff with 15g protein in my boxes, and the shipping was fast. So I have some new stuff to keep me busy till Monday (full liquids! Yeah!)

Mac- Good to know on the vit. pills, I prefer a pill to anything else. And you are right, there isn't any potassium listed on the label, but it is still quite a bit more of a whole pile of things that I am not getting at the moment, so I am going with the better than nothing defense. And it has 6g Protein to add to my tally...

GNC makes a vit supp. powder that I have been taking. The taste is fine, and I dilute it really far for the time being (1 week out). It has 15g carbs, but since everything else is carb free that I am currently consuming, I'm ok with that.

I'm going to take it till the jar runs out (30 days) and then switch to something else, chewable, tablet, I haven't decided yet.

I ordered this one N-Style ID: "BALI LINK w/CONTEMPO ID" Medical Bracelets

and I went with my name, Part Gastrectomy (spelled correctly), and hubby's cell phone.

Simple, straight forward, and on all the time.

I think there are lots of ways to handle the medic alert thing, it just depends on your lifestyle. I don't carry a purse when I am riding, and there is a larger chance that I will end up unconscious because of my profession (I wear a helmet and I am very good at my job, but horses can still be horses), so the Bracelet is the best option for me. I got it engraved on the back.

The purse/wallet card it a good idea for more info, I think I will look into that too.

Well, I have seen people that do. I figure I will have mine say Partial gastrectomy, No blind NG tube, Dehydration Risk, as that seems to be what I have heard others are doing.

I am a horse trainer, which is a somewhat risky job, so I think it would be prudent for me to have one. I don't know if it is "required" though.