cajun

Great article on how to take Calcium. Thanks Tiff!

it's so tricky timing all of this. It drives me nuts. I found out I am anemic and my Calcium was low even though I have been taking calcium right from the start.

The pharmacist told me to take the Iron with orange juice, which gives me heart burn, but I can't take my PPI anywhere close to taking the iron.

Sometimes it's a toss up between taking my iron or taking my calcium. Like I said, it drives me nuts. I have been trying to eat more foods that are high in iron. It's good to know avocados are on that list. I love them!

Thanks Tiffy for posting that article. It was interesting!

Prunes are also very high in iron, and unless you are insulin resistant/diabetic, a great choice to keep things moving along in the colon department.

From what I have read, "referred pain" between the shoulder blades after eating can actually be a symptom of several different things, the most common of them being gall bladder disease. However, pain associated with disorders of the esophagus, stomach and pancreas may cause pain under the right shoulder blade.

Any problem that causes irritation of the diaphragm can also cause shoulder blade pain. An example would be an ectopic pregnancy.

A viral respiratory infection could leave you with pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lung) that might cause pain in your back. Pneumonia and pulmonary emboli may also do this.

This is just information that I picked up in my reading, but as you can see, it can be a possible symptom of many different things. The best thing to do in this instance, is to see your primary care provider, explain what you are feeling and when, and have them do an examination to determine exactly what the problem may or may not be.

Susan:

Definitely not pg, at my age and with no "oven". No respiratory symptoms. My PCP punts on my case due to the diverticulum which is out of her league, and she's smart to do so. Thanks for responding>

Cajun, just saw this post. No I don't get this pain. I think you had your gallbladder out also? I have heard several referred pains through and around to the back with gallbladder dz but that isn't your case. I've never heard you say this bf, is it just recently? What about your issue with the diverticulum? Just tossing that out there.

Linda

Itstime,

I'm not sure if it is the divertic, could be. Maybe a little food gets stuck in there for a while, from time to time. My GB is long gone. Referred pain from the esophagus and the stomach both can go to the area where I hurt. One person answered she has it from eating too fast. That is a possibility too, sometimes I don't take my time, especially at work. It sure is aggravating. Thanks for responding.

Hi Tiff,

I've been there done that too, and felt sore for a week or so after the surgery, but not too bad. I could go for a 1 mile walk by the third day and 2 miles by the end of the week. You've been through the mill though so be careful and rest well afterwards. We are all keeping you in our prayers especially tomorrow!

contact your surgeon's office and ask what he recommends. It varies from surgeon to surgeon.

Good luck to all of you, see you on the loser's bench...we are scooting over to make room for you. It's great to have more sleeve sisters.

205 this morning. 5 lbs to onederland....drum roll.........

good morning! I have to get on the road early today because for once the road conditions where i live are much worse than where i work, so our schools are closed out here, but my work is open on time.

I weighed in at 149 pounds. that's one pound away from goal. This thursday will mark my 6 month surgiversary and i couldn't be happier with my journey so far:-)

oh happy day...whoo hooo! Way to go, dee dee!

I've never heard of anybody who gained all the weight back and I've been reading this forum for 6 months.

AWESOME job Norma! Love your pics.

I'll do some venting for you. This is a lot of CRAP.

Do they treat people with gallstones, or appendicitis like this, before they allow them surgery? Morbid obesity can be just as life threatening even though it is a more chronic threat. This just burns me up. It's one reason I was glad my insurance did not cover my VSG, so I just paid for it myself, as soon as I decided that's what I wanted. People complain and moan and groan that a new health plan in this country will end up allowing the insurance companies to control what procedures doctors can order for their patients...well folks, we are already there and have been for quite some time!!! AND IT IS KILLING PEOPLE.

THERE YOU ARE. I AM TICKED OFF FOR YOU!!!!

So come here and rant and rave all you want, anytime!

Well the guy I have been talking to on the phone called me sweetie today. It felt really strange. We have never met. I would never dream of calling him that.

I'd like to meet him, but I really don't see how anything could possibly work with the amount of distance between us. If it were 3 hours on a freeway, that would be one thing. This is an hour and 1/2 on a narrow winding road before you get to the freeway. Time will tell I guess.

Daisy, see PM.

I read a lot of research on this kind of surgery before even selecting the sleeve, and the epidural is recommended in the research literature, especially for bariatric patients. It enables the anesthesiologist to use less general anesthesia, so there are less complications. Obese persons tend to sequester general anesthesia in our fat, so it takes longer for us to excrete it and wake up. So the epidural reduces that problem.

My epidural line was left in for almost the entire time I was there, and I received pain medication through it. It was so easy and very effective. I assure you, I walked around most of the time throughout the days, and never had any numbness. It is not a "spinal", it is in a different "compartment than a spinal". I would do it again.

Trust Dr Aceves. He knows what he is doing. You will be so happy that you chose his program.

Gary,

Glad you are home safe and sound in your own bed, after that horrific travel experience. What an ordeal!

Rest, walk, sip, burp, repeat!

The pounds are getting ready to jump off of you!:thumbup:

I'm glad you got over it OK. It is a very serious condition that can happen to sleevers if they get a severe gallbladder attack.

"When acute pancreatitis is mild, the death rate is about < 5%. However, in pancreatitis with severe damage and bleeding, or when the inflammation is not confined to the pancreas, the death rate can be as high as 10 to 50%."

Acute Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis: Merck Manual Home Edition

Hershey,

Keep on working the program. You can do it. The preop diet will make it less likely that the liver will slip and slide around, and you will be less likely to have it "nicked" during surgery (which can cause hemorrhage, blood transfusions, more days in the hospital or worse....)

Do it for yourself.

And post op, follow the prescribed diet to reduce the risk of leak, which can be lethal. You can do it! Once you see pounds falling off, you will be even more motivated.

Time may be on your side. I mean-VSG is getting more accepted as each day ends. I was *this* close to getting a lap band because that is what my insurance would pay for. 14 days before my paperwork was sent off, my insurance company started paying for the sleeve. 14 days. To think that I may have ended up with a band makes me feel ill. I KNOW the sleeve is the right thing for me. As for calling the insurance to find out info, I can't help. I had no idea where to even start with that, so I just went ahead and made my appointment and waited it out. I am SO glad I did though because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have my sleeve. SO glad I did! :thumbup:

WOW, that WAS a close call! I can't imagine having a band...to think that you almost did. What relief you must feel! The starts are lining up for you...you'll be skinny soon!

Cornbread (anything with corn or bread in the title!!!) are high glycemic index foods and may have given you an elevated blood sugar, then a rush of insulin, especially if you are insulin resistant. That could have been what you felt. Avoid starches as well as sugars, especially this early in your recovery. Protein is best.

I actually went back and re-read my lab reports. My ALT was low <6, and CREAT (kidney function) was borderline low at 3.

My Lipase (pancreas enzyme) was normal, and so were my ALB, & Alkphos.

I'm going in on Tuesday at 10am with hopes of being admitted, then surgery on Wednesday.

Watch for elevated Total Biliruben, AST, ALT. If they are up you may need surgery right away. Watch for fever and elevated WBC count.

Tiff,

I am so glad you finally got to talk with a surgeon, and have an experienced one. It's laparoscopic surgery usually, and you've been there done that...you will feel so much better once it is out. Beware of any foods containing fats until then!

Did they check you liver function tests? (see my other post)

If I lived closer I'd come clean house for you...but I'll settle on sending some "positive cajun voodoo" for your quick recovery. The Reiki will help you too...great gift!

Hang in there girl!

Tiff,

Sorry to hear about your gallbladder. Glad you found out what the problem was...why wasn't he getting your messages? That sucks.

Inflammation of the gallbladder is nothing to mess around with, it can result in serious complications if not taken care of right away, if your liver function tests were high...pancreatitis, sepsis can result. Please don't let them put you off. Were you liver function tests normal?

I loved greek yogurt, cream Soups, Jay Robb shakes made with lactaid milk, and home made soups that I pureed in my blender, during the full liquid stage.

I am curious if there is anyone else out there with Type II Diabetes that can answer this question. Does the Diabetes disappear after the surgery? I have heard it works well with the DS surgery, but I have heard nothing about the sleeve. Please, if you have answers ... share =)

Thanks,

Rob

I don't have DM myself but I've read posts from a lot of diabetics who say it disappeared after their sleeve. My hypertension and depression disappeared after I lost about 50 lbs...no more meds. Boy, is that great! Good luck with losing your diabetes!!!

I like the Jay Robb whey Protein Powder shake, chocolate flavor. You can get it online and at health food stores. It comes in individual packet servings as well as big containers, so I tried a small packet first before investing in a large quantity. I make it with lactaid milk, and add a splash of banana flavoring. It tastes good and no aftertaste like a lot of the Protein drinks..