cajun

sorry macmadame

is not my favorite person, so i don't really want to read what she has to say!! I would rather do my own research. I'm sure she is a perfectly nice person, she just has a thing about my surgeon.

get a grip!

I read the article that you are "quoting". There is no research document that I can see attached to that statement, so until I see one, it is just one person's opinion. If you can find the research I'll be glad to read it. Always go to the source, the research.

People believed for a long time that the earth was flat, because someone said so. Gotta see the "proof" before I will believe that having a partial gastrectomy increases cancer risk.

That's a good example of why not to tell...I only told two best friends and one family member, and was supported. I did not want to hear all the "what if"s from others. I did my own research, and it sounds like you did too. As a nurse for over 30 years, I am VERY cautious and researched the medical journals as well as surgeons who do bariatric surgery. My decision to have the sleeve, and which surgeon to use, was based on FACTS, and I also listened to what people said on this forum, some of whom were very biased one way or the other. But I just listened, and then made up my own mind, mostly based on the FACTS that I learned from medical journals and credentials of surgeons.

Trust your gut. Don't try to convince or change anyone else's mind or you will become more frustrated. Personally, I would not even discuss the issue with non-supportive persons. Just make up your own mind after you have studied the FACTS, and do what you think is best for YOU. If others approach you with negative comments, just thank them for caring about you, don't prolong the conversation, and proceed on with your plans, what ever they are.

We are here to support you, what ever you decide. Keep in touch, read as many posts on this forum and on Obesity Help (where you can find surgeons' credentials), and you will be on the right road!

Thank you all! I am having a real difficult time at home but I know each day it will get better. The sipping all day is so frustrating. Will it ever go away? The frustrating part?

The first week was the hardest for me, and it gradually got better. I found that gently heated liquids, warm broth, warm Decaf tea with a little stevia sweetener went down easier than anything cold. Everyone is different though. Try warm, try cold, see what feels best for you. Just remember to sip a tiny bit and burp between sips, to reduce the esophageal spasm pain. When I got that pain it was tempting to take another sip, to get the pain to go back down...like a burp that won't come up...but that only made it worse. Move around, try to wait until the burp comes up before you sip again.

Sometimes laying on my side would make the burp come up too...

I don't know if that is the difficulty you are having, or if it is something else. Let us know and we'll try to help.

Hang in there. It does get better. Eventually you will forget all the discomfort as you see yourself "disappearing".

NewLifeFor me

How are you doing?

Hip Hip Hooray! Welcome to the loser's bench. keep in touch, sip, walk, burp, take it easy!

I agree that the epidural is awesome. It is mentioned in the research literature that I read before I had the surgery, as the recommended procedure especially for bariatric patients, because then we require less general anesthesia during the surgery. It is actually safer than having full general anesthesia. Recovery is faster and pain management is better.

Also after the surgery it may be left in place to provide you with medication for pain. Mine was left in as I recovered, and removed before I left Mexicali. It was great...so easy for the doctor to come and just shoot some more in. I highly recommend it.

Wow, you really had a full overhaul! Congrats on moving on to the loser's bench.

I am curious...what kind of pain management did they use? What was the fee for all those surgeries? You may not even know the answer to that yet...US hospitals send fee after fee after fee to cover all kinds of different components of hospitalization.

That was one thing I liked about Dr Aceves. One all inclusive fee. Period.

Keep us posted on how you are doing!

i can tell you right now thinoneday: we will all have set backs. i have eaten sf ice cream. i don't eat it everyday like i use too,but there are days i just need a few bites. today i was so stressed at work today over my 15 yr old son-he got into trouble at school/ that i went out to a .25 cent candy machine a got a handfull of peanut m&m's. i knew afterward i shouldn't have but the head stress go to me. i felt so guilty afterward i wanted to go throw it up,but didn't. just chalked it up as a bad bad day!!!

...not an entirely bad choice...nuts are good for you. As long as we are mindful of what we are eating, and set the limits we need to on how much/how often we do it, there is no problem. Monitoring weight, getting in the good stuff (Protein, Vitamins, etc) is more the focus than eliminating treats. Like you said, it's a lifestyle, not a diet!

Tiff, that is all such great news! Congratulations. You should be so very proud of yourself. Your courage and determination saw you through some really dark days, but you never gave up...what an awesome role model you are for all of us.!!!:biggrin0::thumbup::blushing:

Eventually you will be able to eat a french fry...just not a lot of them...and hopefully it will be a rare splurge. This sleeve is not the end of eating "bad" food. It just limits the amount you can eat and the successful weight loss will hopefully remind us all to eat healthy 99% of the time.

I just love that about it. I have planned "treats" for special occasions and I do enjoy them. At Christmas I had a piece of pecan pie...pre surgery I could eat two pieces at one meal...but now it took me three days to eat the whole piece, and I let myself enjoy a few bites after every meal until it was gone. No need for guilt. Just infrequent splurges and small amounts. Life goes on, weight continues to go down. Yippee!

I was on a hi Protein low carb diet prior to surgery, and I did not deviate from it...but it was not hard...I never have been big on carbs, I love meat and veggies and salads. I was so motivated because my weight was interfering with my life, so I really got "into it" a bit obsessively, I must confess.

Hey ya'll ~ :biggrin0:

I had the vertical sleeve in 2008. I have lost 60lbs, but gained 10 of them back. I know that my eating habits have gone down hill for the most part even though I tend to eat right more than i use to, but I find myself thinking the same thing when I eat. The thing that I am thinking is "I better eat this or I know it's going in the trash". I hate to throw away feed even more now since I am an adult and know better. With all the hours I put in to buy grocery,plus, more importantly, all the people around the world starving.

I guess my question is are you finding yourself wanting to eat it all rather than put it in the trash?

i try to salvage all that I can warm up later, but some things you know you are not going to like once it is reheated.

All help is appreciated!

Yes, my appetite is ridiculous sometimes, but it's mostly when I am terribly bored. I try to keep myself consumed in art, but t.v. without a snack is crazy...lol! I've been eating a lot of fruit and veggies to get these 10lbs off me!

I can't wait to hear from you all!

Thanks

-Gabie

I bought a bunch of those nice 3-4 ounce ziploc cup containers and I freeze small portions of stuff instead of leaving it in the fridge to spoil...I am a miser. I, like you, hate to throw things away. But it is so great to have a lot of variety in the freezer to choose from to take to work with me, or eat at home. Sometimes it is hard to choose which morsel (that's about all that I can eat) I will pick to eat.

Sorry I haven't been updating much. It's the sedond day and has been a rough one. We've been walking the hall quite a bit but still have pains. We were allowed to drink Water for the first time a few hours ago. They also had us drink 4 small medicine cups of blue apple juice so they can test for leaks. That took a while to get down and it's funny cause everyone is walking around with blue teeth and lips. About 1/2 hour later they brought us hot tea, apple juice and some crystal lite. We just drink it as we can.

I'm pretty groggy cause I had pain meds earlier to I'll keep this short.

Report more later.

Barbara,

You'll soon be over the hardest part and then the fun will start, watching the scales go down, down, down...it is almost magical how fast it happens. Hang in there, it is worth every groan!

You don't need to spend money seeing a gastroenterologist BEFORE surgery unless you have some specific problem in that department. Just ask Dr Aceves after your surgery what tests you will need post op. It may be cheaper to fly back to see him in Mexicali 3 months post op if you don't have insurance for the tests...get prices and do the math ahead of time. He likes to follow up his patients..sometimes it is easier to do the follow up locally for folks with insurance which is why I did it.

Chancie: Picture in that stunning outfit please! That is such a great NSV. I am so happy for you. These shout outs are some of what keep me on track I swear.

I love my sleeve.

To Doris1970: The pain of all you have been thru all your life being overweightVS Maybe 4 days of pain? ummm yeah you can handle it. I am 63. The sleeve is for seniors too. I had minimal pain. Uncomfortable was more like it. I am going to PM you so we can chat. This thread is for the little victories we are experiencing each day. You will not get alot of the help back that you need here. Look for a Private Message, then go to User CP tab and click. Glad you are here to join us!

I'm 62, and it is the best gift I have EVER given myself. Statistically I figure I now have about about 25 years left of wonderful living, instead of about 8 to 10 years left of miserable suffering, until I move along to the next life!

I'd see that pcp before you go to Mexicali, just so you establish yourself as a patient. Tell him about your coming surgery and that you will need some basic labs done 3 months post op. He will be glad to order them for you.

Dr Aceves may also recommend an upper GI done three months after surgery. Ask him before you leave Mexicali to give you a list of what should be done.

These tests are very important in the event you have a serious nutritional deficiency post op...the diet change is severe in the beginning and although rare, there are potentially serious complications that should be looked for so they can be treated before causing permanent problems.

My pcp ordered all these tests for me. My labs were excellent, just a few deficiencies that can be fixed with certain Vitamin pills. But my upper GI showed that I have developed an esophageal diverticulum which was not there prior to the surgery. I saw a gastroenterologist who did an EGD (looked inside with a light). It is an extremely rare condition, but luckily mine is small and I have no symptoms. Larger ones, or symptomatic ones need surgical repair or they can cause serious, even lethal consequences. I would never have known about it if I had not had the upper GI as recommended by Dr Aceves.

Awesome NSV!

My super Walmart carries the okios greek yogurt. If yours does not carry it, just ask for the manager of the dairy department and request that they stock it. I have had luck with this method many times when I can't find what I want there. Since it is in many of their stores it is easy for them to get it.

I went to a family birthday party recently and after the party everyone gathered for a family photo. For the first time in my life, I stood in the FRONT ROW and was so proud to be there. I noticed that the overweight people did what I always used to do...push toward the back so they would not show up.

I felt so sad for them, and so very happy for me!

Cajun,

I am having surgery in Houston, Texas. I go faithfully for my well-woman visit yearly. However, I have never really needed a PCP. For the occasional major sinus infection, I go to a quick serve doc. I will call my OB/GYN and ask for recommendation for a PCP.

Margo

Where do you live in Louisiana? We live about 20 minutes from the State line, in Beaumont.

I live in "cajun country", southwest Louisiana. GO SAINTS!!!

I was looking for info on him as well and checked OH - according to this he has only done 15 VSG's and is doing an ave of 2/wk. Not sure where this data comes from.

Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Thomas Umbach, M.D.

Nancy

That sounds like minimal experience...I would not have been comfortable with him as my surgeon, nothing personal. I just wanted someone who had done at least 300 with a low complication rate. Am glad I did.

Yes, thanks for asking. It is small and I have no symptoms so the consensus thus far is to just do another upper GI xray in 4 months, to be sure it is not getting bigger. From the research I have read, over 80% of this type never changes and causes no problem. So I am feeling so much better about it. I sent all the pictures to Dr Aceves and he is going to look at them too. I am looking forward to hearing his opinion too. It's a very rare type of diverticulum, and the literature says even expert thoracic surgeons in major research hospitals don't see more than 20 in their entire lifetime.

Thanks so much for your concern.

Hi Nancy,

From my research (online and off), I have discovered that this statistic you mention is VERY accurate. He has done a TON of bands and bypass, but very limited amount of sleeves. There are two nice ladies I met on here that are going to Vegas soon, to have their sleeves done with Dr. Umbach. One of them said they would share their experiences with me (and, since I live here in Vegas, I may even meet up with them while they are here... they're from my home-state). Anyways, if I come across more information, I will share it with you. I do have SOME further information that I would be happy to share in a PM if you'd like. Let me know... Best! :smile:

Friends,

PLEASE be very careful choosing a surgeon, paying special attention to their experience so you have less chance of a costly complication. This was recently posted by Alex on this forum:

How can I select a surgeon for this relatively new procedure?

The best results are usually going to correlate with surgeon experience. Any surgeon who has done more than 500 procedures for over 5 years in one location has probably optimized all elements of the operation and aftercare to obtain the best possible results. In addition, since the VSG stomach is the same as the Duodenal Switch stomach, any surgeon who has been doing duodenal switches laparoscopically is probably quite experienced with the VSG!

http://verticalsleevetalk.com/ask-dr-gregg-jossart/2356-vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy-information-dr-gregg-jossart.html

Be careful, be safe!

That is so neat!! I have pictures of my sleeve. I asked that they take before and after pictures during surgery. The body is just so amazing and resilient!

Could you post it here so we can see what it looks like when it is new?