cajun

The acid in your throat could be making it sore...it's not good for your esophagus either. A PPI like nexium or prilosec will protect you from that...ask your doctor about a prescription.

I am so excited. I bought the smalled thing of a Whey Protein powder to try that I could find, and I can 'make do' - but I am not thrilled. It is unflavored and I am adding fruit, Greek yogurt (vanilla) etc. It is thick and still, even unflavored, doesn't taste great....BUT, I came across a sample size envelope of a new one yesterday and it is really good. It's egg white protein....I got chocolate and added about a TB of Smuckers natural Peanut Butter, five ice cubes and four oz. of the vanilla Greek yogurt. It it kind of like a Reeses cup! Good enough you might PAY for it! I found it at Whole Foods, it is by Jay Robb and has no sugar but 24 grams of protein! It comes in vanilla and strawberry as well.

How many carbs are you getting in the vanilla yogurt? If you switch to the plain yogurt, and add a little stevia if you need it sweeter, you can eliminate the carbs.

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to post an update on how I'm feeling. Saturday (surgery on Wednesday) was my roughest day. I generally run a temp of 97.6 so 100 was high for me. My big incision was really hurting me so at night I put the ice packs from my gallbladder surgery on it and whala, this morning it's better. Friday night I had extreme acid up in my throat while sleeping so doc told me to put more pillows or a recliner (which I don't have). Last night was better with more pillows. I had Fluid in my lungs and I couldn't cough it up and it was painful to cough. My son taught me a trick that when I'm coughing lower my head and look down. After a few tries, it did the trick and whatever was in my lungs came up and out. YAY. Last night I woke after two hours sleep with a bad headache and sore throat. I got up and took pain meds and gargled and was able to go back to sleep for another four hours. This morning I'm looking forward to meds to keep the fever down as well as gargling all day. I haven't been walking as much as I'd like because of the incision pain and headache and fever. Today I want to get some walking in. I've been on clear fluids and today can move to yogurt and cream Soups. I've been getting in 32 ounces of fluids. Yesterday had my first low sodium chicken broth. I love popsicles and mixing 1/2 and 1/2 sobe pomegranate w/ Water. Today I may try some Protein pudding but may still do a lot of broth. I want to get rid of this sore throat.

I haven't had a moment's hunger since surgery. I know I gained a lot of weight from the IV fluids, but this morning my scale is down 2.4 pounds from my surgery morning weight. YAY!

For those of you still pre-op, there's nothing that happens during surgery or in the few days post-op that you will remember. I would do it all again tomorrow.

Good luck to you pre-ops. You're gonna shine. :001_tongue:

Love to all of you with great appreciation of what each of you bring to my journey!

Lee,

If you have fever and are coughing up stuff, you need to see your doctor immediately or go to the ER. You could have aspiration pneumonia which is VERY SERIOUS. Please don't hesitate for a minute. Get this checked out.A simple chest xray will diagnose it or rule it out.

thanks Tiffy and Tracy, i appreciate the responses, i may just have to bite the bullet and get some help with the mowing, my oldest is only 7, so i can't see me putting him on the mower...i don't think he even weighs enough to keep the seats safety switch engaged. :tongue_smilie: although, knowing my tenacious boys, they'd try!

as for the hurricanes i was worried about calories and Water, but it appears that we'll have take more shorter breaks...i don't think anyone will complain about that. as for picking up weight, i guess i'll burn that bridge when i get there. i'm definitely not going to work to the point of hurting myself. personally, i could do without a hurricane for at least 5, maybe 10 more years.

Tiffy, I love your new avatar, you look great!

I am guessing, but you might have a hard time avoiding dehydration with the kind of intense work you describe, especially in the first 3-4 months post op. I am 5 months post op and I have a hard time getting down 60 ounces of fluids daily, and just getting that much in an inactive job is barely what I need optimally. Doing heavy manual labor like you describe, you surely need 5 times that much or more. I can't imagine how you can do it, unless you stop every 5 minutes and drink ...which will limit your work. So yes, get some help. It is critical that you avoid dehydration, or you'll end up in the hospital at worst, or not lose the weight at best (which is not good). The fluids are necessary to help the body process and dump the excess fat.

I'm so tired of that. Maybe it means I am eating too much, or that I have acid reflux.

I eat cream Soup, for instance, and want that satisfying feeling in my tummy. But all I can feel is it is in my throat for about 30-45 minutes.

I read to only eat 2 oz, hadn't heard that before. But of course with soup they say you can eat 1/2 cup. I'm probably rushing things.

I wonder if I have head hunger. I want to eat big amounts of good food. I am just wanting to RUSH through this whole healing process so bad. It is really hard for me. I don't think I made a decision fully knowing how little I could eat during this time. I paid cash so they rushed me through so fast. So I think a lot of it is my emotions are really having trouble catching up with the physical limitation. I can see most of you don't struggle with that like I am.

The weekends are the WORST for me cause I gotta cook for everyone and there is not enough to do for distraction.

I took a prilosec tonight for the first time. My doctor said he doesn't prescribe an antacid normally unless needed. Am I just as well off with Prilosec as with a prescribed antacid?

Tomorrow is another day, thank GOD it is Monday for me.

I think you may be right...may be swallowing a bit too fast...take a break, about 2 minutes between bites or swallows. It feels like an eternity and is really very hard to do...but it gives the valve at the bottom of the esophagus time to open and let the soup pass through into the stomach, before you take another sip.

Also, I do think you will find the prilosec helps. Acid may be irritating your lower esophagus and making the valve spasm a bit. Let us know how things are doing in the days ahead.

twobluecats:

AWESOME! You are rockin your sleeve! Keep up the good work...remember these feelings when you have some stalls and you will never give up until you reach your goal!

I think tomorrow will be the day...I am so excited...feels like the night before Christmas......

I keep reading the posts, but it is so hard not to step on that scale everyday. I feel like everywhere I go, people are asking. It's only been a little over a month for me and all the weight is just melting off. I know I am just setting myself up for disappointment but I can't help it. I have TWO scales in my house, three if we are counting the one on the WII fit.

It's become an obsession.

jeepChick, I'm with you...obsessed. I weigh every day. Sometimes more than once.

I don't get upset when it goes up a notch or two...usually means I am just needing a good poop. :tongue_smilie:

As long as I keep losing 10 lbs a month I am happy...it is remarkably like clockwork each month...I love my sleeve:001_tt1:

Tiff, thanks for the great resources. You are a virtual library!

My instructions were to never eat more than 2oz at a time. That's pretty much what I've been sticking to. So far I haven't felt hungry after stopping at the 2 oz so it must be the right amount for my tummy.

I'm at 6 months and 2 oz is the max I can hold. Today I had pecan crusted fresh wild alaskan salmon and I could not quite do 2 oz, but I think that was because I ate some of the skin too...it was very chewy and dense. Yummy. 3 hours later and I am still "full" but trying to sip on some sobe lifewater. It's hard to get in all the Water needed when I stay full so long after some meals. Barely get to 60 oz most days, 50 on some days.

Still standing on the edge of onederland. 201.2 this morning. Maybe tomorrow. So near and yet so far!!!

Nagaraj

You are rockin that sleeve! Great job!

Scarey,,,doesn't he keep a chart?

How many sleeves has he done?

Well I have good news to update my story. I have now reached ONEDERLAND, I weighed

199.2 on Feb. 15, 2010. It feels so good to be out of the twos. I have not been in the hundreds for at least 20+ years.

I bought me a pair of 14 W Rider Jeans and they fit. It is so hard to believe. I am still quite a ways from my goal weight of 145, but now it seems to be more within reach. This is a great journey having the Sleeve. I am so thankful that my life has been changed by having the sleeve done on Dec. 2, 2009.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

We are kinda in tandem, mountainlover...I'm at 201 and hope to hit onederland by Monday. Goal is also 145.

I started at 288 though. Losing 10 lbs per month now.

I went from size 28 to 20...cleaned out my closet again today...not much left. Bought new scrubs today because the girls at work are complaining about my baggy clothes!

Salmon in a ziploc bag from Walmart. If you take an ice chest, take some okios plain yogurt, and mix a little in the salmon for a nice spread on wasa cracker!

WELCOME to the loser's bench Shauna. We are glad to have you alongside us on this journey. Let us know if we can help you.

Lee,

Glad you are home. The first few days are hardest. Most important thing right now is drinking enough Fluid, and walking to prevent blood clots and get the gas moved out of your abdomen. Everyone is different, but I found Sobe Lifewater (various flavors) best tolerated, warmed up gently in the microwave. Warm fluids go down easier, especially after you've had a hiatal hernia repair like you and I did. The esophagus gets a bit spastic after being messed with and many sleevers find warm fluids feel best. Burp between each sip and the next one goes down easier.

Rest, walk, sip, burp, and repeat!!!

Thank's so much for the replys!

Cajun,

What Protein powder do you use?

Thanks,

Jay Robb whey Protein Powder, chocolate.

I like Jay Robb because it is high quality and has no aspartame or artificial sweeteners. It contains stevia which is a plant based sweetener. Read the website for information. It also does not leave a nasty aftertaste.

Absolutely.

Lee,

Welcome to the loser's bench today! We are so happy to have you with us. Am sending some healing thoughts your way!

I read in an article that if a nutritionist tries to sell you food products, you should find another nutritionist.

Personally, I'd shop around for products and not rely on one person's opinion especially if they have a vested interest in you buying from them. I like getting non biased opinions from this forum instead, as well as trying samples myself and making up my own mind after comparing the quality of the products, reading all the labels, and doing the research. It's a costly investment so I want to be sure I get the best I can get.

A product that my nutritionist recommended had half the Protein of the product that I use, and cost almost twice as much. Go figure. She still insists I should try it but I am not going to. It makes no sense.

OUTSTANDING work with your sleeve, thinoneday. You will be at target in no time! I am so excited for you. Keep on working it!

Day 9 post surgery.

Having major acid refluxes today - first time after surgery...will I continue having it? or will this ever go away.

I had chicken sweet corn Soup yesterday for dinner...is it this choice of food that migh have caused reflux or has acidity now become a part of my life for the rest of my life....

Urgent help needed.

I find that eating carbs increases my reflux/acidity. Corn is a very high glycemic index carbohydrate that is not good for weight loss. Track your carb intake, and try to stick to 30-60 grams a day, and avoid high glycemic index carbs. bread, rice, corn, potato products are not good.

At 9 days post op, my diet was still restricted to Clear liquids. Maybe you are advancing too quickly. What does your doctor recommend?

You could be slightly dehydrated which may cause dizzyness and low blood pressure. Also, if you are exercising regularly, your heart rate can be lower. Healthy athletes can have a BP in the 40-50's. But it is always a good idea to see your health care provider to be sure that's what is causing it because it could be due to a problem.

I started having dizzy spells after losing 30-40lbs and found my BP was dropping so I tapered down my BP medication, and notified my physician. Before too long I was off the med totally.

I need to ask for how long should we take this nexium or prilosec? any side effects on the long run? I am ready to take anything which will not make me hungry. Thanks all.

The research that was done to develop nexium showed that in HUGE amounts it caused cancer in rats. We don't take such a huge amount, and we are not rats so it is not certain that it could cause cancer in humans. But the jury is still out on that, pending long term studies. It is recommended by the manufacturer that it taken on a temporary basis only, for most people.

I prefer to "play it safe", so after three months on the Nexium, I opted to switch to Ranitidine (Zantac) which is OTC, and it is working fine for me. It is also a lot cheaper than nexium. Dr Aceves, and my gastroenterologist agreed with my plan. I plan to eventually stop the Zantac, when my sleeve agrees .

202 this morning! Am so excited to be approaching the 100's....the anticipation is helping me stick to my diet! Thanks everyone for all your support on this awesome journey...it is great to have so many sleevesisters.