cajun

If you are losing muscle because of not eating enough Protein, I would think that is "muscle wasting". If you eat enough protein, your body will burn fat instead of muscle. The more muscle you LOSE, the lower your metabolism drops and the less weight you will lose. SOOO I'd recommend eating the amount of protein that your surgeon advised, what ever that is.

How much Protein do you get in each day?

Tiff, I am so happy for you! I was worried every time I hear the news and find the powers-that-be talking about needing "more troops" in Afghanistan...was so afraid that they would extend his stay again. since he is enroute, that is a great sign that it will really happen. Have loads of fun!!!!!!!!

Susan, If you could not tolerate ANY Protein drinks, what did you have for protein during the clear and full liquids phases? Thanks for your input.

The good, the bad, and the ugly...here's some ugly: Had a rough night last night. I started testing out some Isopure clear when I got home from my trip, but diluted it with Water because it tasted so strong. After almost a week of no Protein I thought it was a good idea. That's what I get for thinking! After I went to bed, my new little sleeve had a fit! It woke me up two hours later, returning the nasty stuff that I had fed it! It was the worst feeling...I coughed and gagged on the stuff for a while, and took a vow against isopure for a while!!! Back to plain old Vitamin water once my sleeve has a rest for a few hours! Gotta keep it happy! Also had noticed my legs and feet were swollen after the return flight home, and had gained some pounds of water weight. I had cut my BP pills in half before leaving for Mexicali because I was having occasional dizzy spells when I stood up, and my BP readings were normalized, I suspected it was dropping because I had lost 17 lbs :patriot: Then I totally stopped taking it while in Mexicali because my BP had dropped WAY lower than normal, probably due to all the post-op medications. But I checked it this morning and it is back up at borderline high, :patriot: so I restarted on the 1/2 dose. Am already getting rid of some Fluid from my legs and feel better. I have an appt. with my internist next week (she's been in Europe so I've been "self-doctoring) to be sure everything is looking OK. I think she will be surprised at the wt. loss already. Am also having LOTS of gas at both ends now...so I "hit the chewable GASX" and took a nap late this morning, finally feel a bit better ...probably will be seeing (beware TMI) some peacock poop soon. Two steps forward, one step back. Oh well!

Ky Hen, I hope that you will do fine too. I only wish I could have been there with y'all because I can tell you are going to have a ball with the gang all together. I had several others there during my stay as well and will continue to keep in touch with a couple of them who have common interests. Really nice people. We helped each other out...shared computers to get email, and I shared my heating pad...it was helpful the first few days. It's still summertime hot there and sometimes during the day it got warm in my room so ask for a fan if you need one. Also take a pair of summer PJs as well as a pair for when the AC is on and it gets cold. It varies. If I got hot I seemed to get a bit nauseated so try to keep cool. It's a private hospital with very nice decor. Cajun

Thanks Lan2k, Wow, you are losing the pounds! Congrats! I am looking forward to that! Cathryn

Down in Social, Right you are! Anything can happen, even in the best hospitals, anywhere!!! I agree with you, have a friend who is a nurse with you if at all possible. If you are in a foreign country, be sure they (or you) know the language or have access to an interpreter if there is not clarity in any situation.! Glad you caught that error! How scarey!

Well, I am back home from Mexicali and feeling great. I am amazed that I have NO pain today... Only one time , when I sneezed this morning, all my little incisions "smarted" for a few seconds but that was it. The first day after surgery I did have some esophageal spasms that were uncomfortable but the staff provided very fast pain relief any time it was needed. I've never seen such fast response times for pain medication in a hospital in the USA. It seemed at first that I would not make it to the surgery at all. My plane was turned around and sent back to my home town after 45 minutes of taking off...storms deflected our landing in Houston. But I was able to contact a really nice Continental representative who at first sadly assured me that there were no other flights available because everyone was trying to reschedule in Houston. This was distressing but I was determined nothing would stop me from reaching this goal. So I told her I was due to have surgery the next day at my destination, and she immediately shifted into "first gear". She worked for over a half hour to find me a seat! I also called Monica who was my coordinator, to advise her of the delay, and she arranged for a hotel room in San Diiego for the night, and rearranged transportation to Mexicali. The pre-surgery instructions were right on target, advising to keep those phone numbers handy...it worked like clockwork and I'm sure they handle problems like this all the time. Because of this I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of my flight to San Diego, knowing that everything was taken care of. I was able to get to San Diego around 7:30 PM, was taken to the hotel, then Ernesto, (Dr Aceves' driver) picked me up the next morning and we "flew low" (130 km/hr which I thought was mph at first until he reassured me it was not (we had some laughs over that) to the hospital where I was swept off to the lab immediately, then to xray, then to surgery pronto after some pre-op meds, quick consults with the coordinator, internist, anesthesiologist, and Dr Aceves. . It didn't give me time to get nervous at all. I was amazed that I felt as cool as a cucumber rolling into the surgery suite. They wrapped my legs to prevent DVT (blood clots), I chatted with the anesthesiologist a bit, and the " lights went out. " I don't even remember being in recovery and woke up with little pain in my room as I recall (that part's kind of blurry".) Dr. Aceves did a hiatal hernia repair as well as the sleeve, which can cause more spasms than having just the sleeve alone. However I had a spinal plus general anesthesia and I think that made a big difference. I was able to continue to receive spina med dosing periodically because the spinal catheter was left in place. I'm sure this prevented a lot of pain from even poking up its' naughty little head. I slept well at night and did not even need the sleeping pills that were offered. The medical team is highly skilled at what they do and pain control seems to be a priority...much appreciated you can bet that. Starting the day after surgery, I walked the halls, and after passing the leak test started sipping clears..sip...burp...sip...burp...just remember to let the burp come up before another little sip and you don't have the esophageal spasm. (which passes, but who needs it?) I probably erred on the side of not drinking quite enough but did not want to get the vomits...and luckily avoided that except for the second afternoon when I did not take pain meds soon enough (thinking I was fine)...and a spasm hit me which caused a very little upchucking...but a prompt shot of something or other stopped that right away. I think it was toradol and benadryl...not sure. (I love toradol by the way...no pain, and all your neurons are intact!) The most welcome sight after passing the leak test was the chicken broth. Absolutely divine! I liked it so much, even got a "to go" cup when I left this morning at 7 AM. The flights home were uneventful, thank goodness, and I am home now, with energy to spare. Dr. Aceves provides a supply of toradol and nexium at discharge, and I took one of each this morning just so I would not have any problems on the trip...It's 10:30 PM and I am still pain free, feeling like I never had surgery. What a miracle. Doing all my "homework" about this ahead of time I am sure helped a lot! THANKS TO ALL YOU EXPERIENCED SLEEVERS who shared your experiences. It goes without saying that the professionalism, well-organized system, and kindness of the team at the hospital was also a great factor in lending confidence that all would be well in spite of any difficulties. Now the fun starts...watching the new me emerge.

I was able to buckle the seatbelt without an extender yesterday on my flight to San Diego! Have lost 17 lbs on pre surg diet! By this evening I will have crossed the line into sleevedom!

If they gave you a lot of antibiotics in the hospital it could be "thrush", which would have a red sore area under the white stuff when you brush it off. This is easily treated by your pcp and does not require an ER visit. You could catch something worse sitting in an ER! If there is a sore red area under the white stuff when you brush it off, it is probably thrush. If not, it is just the dry mouth stuff that Tiff talked about.

TMI...the only good thing I found about lactose intolerance was it was really easy to resolve a bout of constiptation! Chug a glass of milk or some ice cream!

Well, today's the day I'm headed off to Mexicali. Tomorrow...I step across the line into Sleevedom!

I agree, anesthesia, and hormone changes make for a soupy mess at times...It will pass, just keep telling yourself that. Are you getting in enough protein and fluids? If you are a little dehydrated and also not getting enough nourishment, it just makes you feel even worse. One step at a time.....

I think you said in one post that Dr Almanza is your doctor. I don't see any statistics on how many surgeries he has performed on the obesity help website. Has he done at least 300 of the type surgery you are going to have? Once they have 300, research shows their complication rate is low. Unfortunately there are not many surgeons even around the world who have that much experience with VSGs. Luckily, there are a few in the US and in Mexico. You can research this on Obesity help website.

My surgery is the 23rd. I am so sorry that I am going to miss you "party gals".

I drink a lot of fat free lactaid milk and at my age I need the calcium...after the sleeve, it will be even more important. Since I started taking a probiotic I can even tolerate cheese and cream soups. Lactaid tablets also help. Although I take a calcium supplement, it seems to me that getting it from foods is even better.

Attitude, Have a good surgery day tomorrow...looking forward to hearing about the pounds dropping off!

There is a lot of information about Dr Rodriguez at Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Jose Rodriguez

there are some more interesting studies on this subject at Gastric Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity Leads to an Increase in Bone Turnover and a Decrease in Bone Mass -- Coates et al. 89 (3): 1061 -- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

"A suggestion re the prunes. Stew them in some water first" Thanks for the tip Donna. I'll do that. Never heard of hemp hearts. will check into that.

I'm going to start eating a couple of prunes every day and see if that helps. It is so uncomfortable! Yesterday was a killer. the only good that comes out of it :eek: is a couple of pounds down the drain!

I guess everyone is different...I am lactose intolerant, but I can eat yogurt, and frozen yogurt just fine, with no lactaid tablets and no gas or diarrhea afterwards. Lucky me. We'll see if that changes post sleeve!

AWESOME....Time for a new picture! Let us see how great you look!