cajun

Really, it is outrageous that we are purchasing a service in US hospitals and physicians' offices, but cannot be told in advance what our purchase will cost. I understand that needed services may change if a complication arises, but we should at least be able to getin advance a baseline estimate of what an uncomplicated service will cost us for xyz procedure and hospital stay.

I agree, it is another reason I love the idea of going to Mexico too.

So it is true...How yucky. Even more worrisome, read this article:

Vegetarians in Paradise/BSE in Gelatin/Gelatin and Mad Cow Disease/Gelatin History/FDA and Gelatin

I'm going to look at the FDA website to see the source document...always like to be sure of the source...

Have you noticed how often "hydrolyzed protein" is included in foods? Could from a vat of boiled cow hides. Icky Icky Icky.

Ha! Re the boiled cow's hides comment: I think that I read somewhere on this forum that Jello is made from boiled cows hides. Might have been a joke. At any rate, I don't eat it! It does sound gross, if not dangerous...BSE risk. ....STEER CLEAR of that. Ha Ha

I finally found a Protein Powder online that does not contain any artificial sweetener...just stevia. It is called pro energy, by Energy First. Has anyone tried it? If so how do you like it?

Jay Robb also contains aspartamine...as well as stevia.

Yuck...I would not go there!

Not to mention the fact that if you vomit, you are risking a leak every time you do so. Not worth it to be experienced in it!

CONGRATULATIONS HELEN...YOU ARE DULY STONED!

Should we call it "Stonedom"???

What a great accomplishment.!!!!!!

Susan,

Wow, you got a lot of bang for your buck! Did he charge extra?

Did you have spinal as well as general anesthesia?

Cajun

The stomach itself does not hurt, but you might have a few twinges from the skin incisions where the instruments are inserted. I think that gas pains are probably the most that people complain about. I've had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, and that's what I found bothered me the most, not the skin incisions. Even so, it was not bad. I'd say 3 out of 5, and very temporary...couple of days.

What foods does he recommend for the "full liquid" stage?

Thanks

Cajun

Do you see any ingredients listed on the Chike product? I can't find any on the internet. The nutritional values are given but it does not say if the Protein is from "boiled cow hides", if the sugar is fructose, if there are artificial sweeteners in it, etc etc. I would not use a product until I knew what was in it and I can't seem to find that information online.

Cajun

Having had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, I know what you mean about the gas that is used to insufflate the abdomen. However anytime you have anesthesia, the gut slows down for awhile, because it is anesthetized as well! So you get bowel gas if there is food in it waiting for things to get going again so it can be digested, because stasis causes bowel gas. I'm not concerned about one more day on liquids if it means a more comfortable post-op course...just another opportunity to "lose a few"! :001_smile:

Yep! I sure do!

I found a "healthometer" scale that measures weight, body fat, and hydration via impedence at Wally World. Under 40 bucks. It's made by Sunbeam.

It matches what I saw at my Dr's office so must be accurate.

I've been wondering if it might be better to just not put anything solid into the tummy the day before surgery...to help limit the gas pains after surgery...I think that's what I will do when I get to that point. Stick to Clear Liquids the day before...

Why only AFTER you eat?

Seems like you would be in ketosis ALL the time on this diet.

Yep, guess you're right. I did not know the gauze was dissolvable.

What is chike?

Thanks McM

Hmmmm...Maybe I'm just cantankerous, but I don't like the idea of having foreign substances (gauze and glue) inside me unless it is absolutely necessary. The staples are necessary, but I'm not so sure about the gauze'n glue, especially since there seems to have been such a very low incidence of leaks without them.

I like the idea of dropping the leak test...or maybe they could just modify it, and not put any pressure on the new stomach...just fill it gently to see if anything leaks out. Testing it under pressure seems riskier, and since the patient is not supposed to be drinking enough to put it under pressure, why put pressure on it in the OR? Give it time to heal!

cajun

LapSF is publishing their results right now in a peer-reviewed journal. They are in the editing phase, I think. They don't oversew (some docs think that stresses something or other too much), but they use this material (Buttress?) that's kind of like a gauze and the staples go through it. Then they go back and glue around the edges.

About testing the removed stomach.... that isn't going to show all the leaks. Something can be not lined up right on one side but okay on the other. IMHO.

Best research document I have found:

1: Systematic review of sleeve gastrectomy as staging and primary bariatric procedure.

Brethauer SA, Hammel JP, Schauer PR.

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2009 Jul-Aug;5(4):469-75. Epub 2009 Jun 9. No abstract available.

PMID: 19632646 [PubMed - in process]

This study was a systematic review of literature looking at statistics on wt loss, complication rates, postop mortality, and comorbidity improvement after the surgery. The research concludes that complication and mortality rates are acceptably low, and this surgery is effective and safe as a first stage or primary procedure.

Cajun

Best research document I have found:

1: Systematic review of sleeve gastrectomy as staging and primary bariatric procedure.

Brethauer SA, Hammel JP, Schauer PR.

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2009 Jul-Aug;5(4):469-75. Epub 2009 Jun 9. No abstract available.

PMID: 19632646 [PubMed - in process]

This study was a systematic review of literature looking at statistics on wt loss, complication rates, postop mortality, and comorbidity improvement after the surgery. The research concludes that complication and mortality rates are acceptably low, and this surgery is effective and safe as a first stage or primary procedure.

That's a possibility...never crossed my mind. They have probably taken a big hit on band revisions.

That's a great idea.

It's also important to remember that Calcium can decrease the effects of many other medicines by binding to them or by changing the acidity of the stomach or the urine. So take other meds at some other time of day. Also,taking it with a meal is recommended.

How do you get your Protein? I'd love to find a better way than proteinpowders!

Cajun