Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Okay, I had the surgery about 4 months ago and have lost a lot of weight. My
hair is falling out by the handfuls. I don’t seem to have any problem with
sugar so what protien bar would you recommend that doesn’t taste like chocolate
covered crap (not that I’ve tasted crap). Also, what is the web address to the
place where you can order the IsoPure clear drinks? They don’t taste too bad!
Please reply to me personally. I am on digest and I need to up the protien.
Thanks,
Karen

dear wendy…..you may not need a bullwhip but you will need to eventually
deal with the attention you will be getting as you lose your weight. i am
down about 80 lbs between what i did prior to surgery and the 35 i lost so
far after surgery and i am already having guys treat me differently so yes
my dear there are other things coming up to deal with.
love ida and george the wonder beagle

Hello All,
Surgery went not so good. The first time the intestine was brought up
to complete the rny, it turned black and died. A second was brought up to
complete it then I was hand stitched instead of being stapled like everyone
else. I spent 3 days in ICU.
At 11 days, my biggest problem is feeling lightheaded. I am still
unable to get enough protein to keep this from happening. I was on strictly
water until just before I came home. I was released at 6 days out on 2-3oz
liquid per hour. I am now up to 3-4oz per hour, mostly drinking Boost plus
protein. I have my first post-op appt tomorrow to have my staples out.
Must go now, my head is killing me. My spelling and grammar is terrible, so
it has taken me a while to write this.
-Jennifer George
pre-op 451#

Something happened yesterday that I wanted to share with the group,
and hopefully get some insights. I’m almost 4 months post-op, and
everything had been going great — until yesterday. Yesterday, I was
in the emergency room for 3 hours with horrible, agonizing,
unreasonable pain! It started around 9:00am yesterday. I had a sip
of coffee and it hurt like the dickens. I kept going on with my day,
wincing in pain the whole time. I even visited a new post-op at the
hospital around lunch time, trying not to let her see me hurting.
But the pain persisted.
When I got home around 2:30, I was moaning in agony. It felt like
I’d swallowed some briars or something. My pouch was screaming at
me, and the pain would come in waves that would make me cry out.
When I would get up to walk (which was rare, ’cause it really, really
hurt to move) I walked as if I were 92-years-old. I called my
surgeon, and after carefully describing my symptoms, he was puzzled
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Hello Everyone,
I’m having a problem and I need all of your advice. I am 16 days post-op and
doing as well as can be expected. I’ve already posted my dietary concerns and
have gotten such good advice from you. Now I have a medical question.
My surgeon is 6 hours north in Chicago. I believe that he did a wonderful job
with the surgery. He is an award winning lap surgeon. However, after surgery
he did not manage my pain at all. I did not even see him until the night of the
second day in the hospital. He was condescending and rude to me. All he did
was lecture me on how I shouldn’t be in that much pain, that he hasn’t promised
I wouldn’t be in any pain (like I’m a complete idiot) and if I would just get
out of bed I’d feel much better. At the end of his lecture he looked at me and
said, “Now Smile at me” and he was dead serious.
I’ve spoken with my general doctor here at home and I’m set up with a
gastrointerologist here also, who I met before my surgery and who said he would
handle me after the surgery. I would really like to just give the Chicago
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Hi Gang!
I’ve been lurking a lot lately. I attribute it to having more energy since
my surgery. I just wanted to add my note of thanks to the posters and
supporters on this list. I had surgery 10/3/01 and weighed 416. I dropped
by the surgeon’s office to check on my weight again. 311!!!! DOWN 105
pounds!!! Huzzah!!! Also down 3 pant sizes. And this is with a gout
problem for a month to 6 weeks that kept me from doing as much walking as I
would have liked. If you had told me 6 months ago that I would be where I
am now I would have NEVER believed you.
Only 11 more to go to 300. another 100 after that and we’ll see where we go
from there.
rb

Hi! I’m wondering if anyone has ever experienced this sensation:
immediately after I eat one thing, my stomach seems to swell and my clothes
get tight around my stomach. I’ve asked the surgeon about this and at first
he thought maybe it was a hernia, and said to wait until after I’d lost more
weight. Then on my 1 year check-up, he checked again and said that I didn’t
appear to have a hernia. I’m baffled. This doesn’t happen all the time,
and not with everything I eat, but it happens often enough to give me pause.
Today, and yesterday, I noticed it happened when I ate grapes, that’s just
one example. Any suggestions?
Cathy in Ohio
Signature–
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According to my surgeon, 50 to 60 gm of protein a day is the amount
to aim for. This is a little easier than trying to do math
calculations to figure out an exact number!
Natalie

It’s so hard to believe that yesterday was my three-month anniversary.
So far I’m down just about 90 pounds. Every day I am surprised by my
energy level, which just keeps getting better and better.
I’ve flown back and forth from California to Washington D.C. every week
for the past three weeks. Three months ago I couldn’t have walked
through the airports.
Yes, there are struggles. I have a tough time with solid food. And I
know that I’m not getting nearly enough protein. Thank goodness for
protein bars — there are days when that’s the only thing I can get
down.
But despite what I consider MINOR struggles - life is so darn good. I
feel like I could leap tall buildings in a single bound.
It really makes me appreciate Denise’s note so much. Her honesty about
the end of the honeymoon period helps me to plan ahead and prepare
myself mentally.
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Nikki,
Congrats on getting into that Raven’s shirt! I had a
similiar thrill today, tho I doubt many pro cheerleaders
wear size 16 jeans, neither have I in about 7 years! I
was in a tight size 22 upon having my surgery on Dec.
10. They got real baggy and I figured it was time for a
size 20 or if I was really lucky, an 18. On a whim, I
tried on the 16’s and was so excited when they went on.
They are a bit snug, but the legs are loose enough to
look good as long as I wear a long top. And I know the
waist band will be loose in a matter of a few weeks. Its
the tangible rewards such as this that are getting me
through these first few months of adjustment. Continued
success to you.
Donna in NJ
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