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Anyone out there sleeved at ALSA in Fresno? Would love to have chat friends from Dr. Higa and partners to talk to as our diets seem different than most!! Thx!!!

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I am with Alsa and Dr. Higa. Unfortunately, I am the mist of a gastric leak. I was sleeved 6/11/14 my leak was found two days after surgery due to an abscess.

I spent nearly 60 days inpatient and now am on home IV and IV TPN ( nutrition). I have experienced a Collapsed lung, spend a day in ICU, over 6 surgeries, and my leak is still not healed. It is my opinion the risks of a leak are higher than 3% across the board so please be sure this is a risk you and your family are willing to take. If you are the sole provider in your household know with a leak it can take months to a year to resolve and throughout the process one is very, very, Ill.

May The Lord bless you with making this decision.

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Anyone else that had surgery with Dr. Higa or ALSA? I have been so impressed and so happy. Just want others to chat with that are on the same food plan etc!! Would love to hear from you!!

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Abscesses are caused from gastric leaks. When fluid/food seep into your abdomen your body reacts by infection which can be fatal if a drain is not placed or surgery is performed. It also requires that antibiotics are started. I not only had a abscess but my leak also caused my lung to partially Collaspe.

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Hello, I am also with ALSA and have Dr. Boone, my surgery was August 1st. Would love to hear about your experience!

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Hello, I am also with ALSA and have Dr. Boone, my surgery was August 1st. Would love to hear about your experience!

Hi - mine was with Dr. Higa on July 9. Really tough first few weeks as I felt GREAT but had to stick to the broth and mushy food for so long. Was super tired and lacked energy in the afternoon. Once I could eat more variety I have felt so much better!!! Still trying to figure out the 30/30 rule on a daily basis but so good so far. Down around 35 pounds. How about you?

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Hello!

I have my first appointment with Dr. Ghiassi this coming week. I'm pretty excited!

Dr. Boone did my fathers surgery about 10 years ago and has absolutely loved the support he's gotten from the staff all these years :)

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@ Oceanbreeze-The 30/30 rule is a tough one for me too.....It seems I always forget about not drinking before, the after one is going good, I can remember that one. I am down about 24 lbs as of today. It's pretty exciting, but I am still on the mushy food and can't wait until I can eat regular food next week! Exercise has been a challenge because it's been darn hot that walking outside is out of the question for me. I joined GB3 and am starting tomorrow on treadmill and swimming, and will be taking yoga there too. Hopefully that will help prevent sagging skin and increase my weight loss. I do still completely lose energy in the early evening especially if I do anything during the day, like shopping or cooking. I have been cooking a lot for family, even though I don't eat any of it....sounds crazy, but cooking for others is pure joy to me right now! (I use to be a chef) - I don't feel ready to RTW yet so they kept me off another 2 weeks. Still struggling with some bowel issues too. Stevia seems to cause explosive diarrhea and I think splenda is hurting my joints, I've had a lot of joint pain. probably too much information....LOL....

@ Spring Dixie- Congratulations!! Is Dr. Ghiassi going to be your surgeon? I met with him a couple of times, but eventually chose Dr. Boone.

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I don't know if he'll be my actual surgeon. I would prefer Dr. Boone, but Friday was the only day I had to make my initial visit and my only option for that day was Dr. Ghiassi. Unless I get a horrible vibe from him on Friday I won't mind either way. :)

Edited by Spring Dixie

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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