cajun

Tiffany, how exciting this day is...I hope you celebrated BIG TIME! The determination that you have shown, and patience, has paid off. You are one beautiful woman. It's great to know you!

Welcome to the loser's bench! Hope you had a goodnight rest. The hardest day is the third day I think...but everyone is different. Tomorrow you will be able to sip and walk a lot...have a good day working your sleeve!

Here's a funny post listing the top ten things they never told you about VSG: Top ten things they don't tell you about WLS - Shrinking Pamelalala

I think you should call your doctor's office again and insist that they see you TODAY. At least some lab work could show if you have an electrolyte imbalance, or dehydration. It disturbs me when I hear that you have received a diagnosis of "flu", and then "too big sips" (who knows how big your sips are but you?...this lays the blame on you for the problem and that may not be the cause). It's time they help you, see you in the office, and get to the bottom of this before things get really bad. Have your bowels been moving ok? Are you having abdominal pain? There are lots of questions and not enough answers. You've paid them and it's their job to help you.

That's what I've heard too.

The crazy man story does sound a bit....well....crazy.

Thanks Tiff. So far, answers are reassuring.

Daisy: See PM. I read a lot of research this weekend, on epiphrenic diverticuli. Small and asymptomatic diverticuli often do not progress and can be "watched". Since mine's small and asymptomatic, it seems it is not necessary to operate...that's a relief. It will need watching though. Dr Aceves thinks another UGI may be needed in the near future...will know more about the plan soon. I'm relieved to know that no knife will be involved. WHEW!

I flew alone and am glad I did. Driving that far is a set-up for a blood clot, even if you stop every hour and walk. It would have been exhausting, even if someone else drove. If you decide to fly, travel light because you should not be lifting anything after surgery. Ernesto will take you to the airport and put your bag on the curb for you. I checked mine right there on the curb, and only carried my pillow. (now with the recent problems, you probably can't keep a pillow on your lap though). Good luck!

I tried white meat chicken pureed and chewed well, but it always gave me back pain. Then I switched to dark meat chicken, which is more moist and not so grainy. It was great. No more back pain. Dark meat turkey worked well too. Pureed if you are on mushies. Chewed well otherwise.

Yes, I agree with you about the protein deficit and fatigue. As soon as you can tolerate it, start getting in the protein. I did not really reach 70 grams a day until after 2 weeks. I tried Isopure early on but it was really isopuke. So I added a little to my Vitamin Water that I was sipping, and could tolerate that, to get in a little protein at least. Once you are getting in 70 gms daily your energy level will go way up. ...Also gotta get the fluids...very, very essential. Keep on working at it, you are doing great!

Way to go Chandra! Isn't it amazing how the pounds magically disappear. Then you may go through a month when you hardly lose anything, only to see it start falling off again. Don't be dismayed if this happens...the body needs an adjustment time now and then. Just keep on doing what you are doing and you will be at target before you know it! YOU GO GIRL!

What an incredible job you are doing with your sleeve! Congratulations! You will be at target in no time!

It's just caused by the skin rubbing together in that area.

I'm cold all the time too, since I started losing weight. Wearing a sweater all the time. Keeping your fluid intake up is going to be very important, especially since you are out in the heat a lot. I get nauseated and dizzy if I don't drink enough, and I don't work under the kind of temperature stress that you do. Ya don't want to get dizzy and go overboard!

Nuts are a healthy snack as long as you don't eat too many. Once I'm back off mushies, I'll resume eating some each day.

Lan2K Your PCP can order an upper GI. It is simple. You just drink some white chalky stuff and they take pictures. Done in 5 minutes or so. My PCP ordered mine, as recommended by Dr Aceves, he recommends this for all his pts at 3 months. He also recommends nexium which I take.

Nap when you need to. Sip lots of clear liquids...dehydration can make you feel really tired.

Anna, welcome to the loser's bench.

Guilt is not helpful, I agree with you. As long as we are following our surgeon's advice on calories/protein/timeline, we can eat anything, just in moderation. Sometimes we have to "backpeddle" if we develop a problem, but that's usually temporary. Enjoy life. Take care of your sleeve. Forget the guilt.

cream of chicken Soup with extra chicken pureed in it Protein shake Vitamin Water Bummer. Next Christmas will be better.

Never did have anything like that...it must have been a really scary experience.

Dr Aceves recommends certain labs plus an upper GI 3 months post surgery. I think it's a good idea, and was actually expecting to have some low labs due to the skimpy food intake...but was not expecting an abnormal UGI. I recommend everyone follow their surgeon's recommendations on getting these done. I would not have known if I had not done those tests. Dr Aceves has never seen this either. It's rare. I've been doing a lot of reading online about this type of diverticulum. It's usually caused by a motility disorder of the esophagus. Here's the basic description: "Cross et al (1961) stated that "pulsion diverticula suggest increased intraluminal pressure to which has been added a weak area in the musculature of the esophageal wall for out-pouching of the mucosa". The motility disorders they found included diffuse increase in lower esophageal tone, hyperactive and incoordinate peristalsis, esophageal spasm, delayed opening of the esophageal sphincter, and reflux esophagitis. Whatever the case, the common underlying problem is basically the same: normal or hyperactive peristalsis acting against a functional obstruction, with resulting increase in intraluminal pressure being dissipated by formation of a diverticulum through an esophageal wall that cannot withstand the high pressure." members.tripod.com/famona/ent/cummings/cumm130.pdf I did have a lot of esophageal spasm in the first month or so, and probably a very tight esophageal sphincter post hiatal hernia repair. I would guess that at times what I was swallowing could not get through the sphincter but the esophagus was still trying to "pump it through". At times I'd have back pain after eating, especially once I started solids. White meat chicken was a common cause of this until I just swore off it. Maybe that was the pressure, I don't know. Anyway, that pressure could have cause the diverticulum to form. I did not have "foaming" or vomiting after eating, so I don't really think it's from over eating. More likely due to the esophagus just trying to do its' job and meeting some resistance. More than likely my local gastroenterologist will recommend manometry to assess the pressure gradient in the esophagus. Treating the cause is most important. I don't want this thing to get bigger, that's for sure. Meanwhile I'm back to liquids and mushies, in very small amounts, to try to keep the pressure down. As hard as I've worked to be successful in this, I am really bummed out to have this complication. The only bright side if there is one, is that I'll probably lose weight faster because I'm going to be eating less until this gets fixed.

Thanks Lee! Have a happy holiday!

Yep, perfectly normal.