at 2 wks out it was still the middle of winter and John was just out of the hospital, we didn't really start walking until late Feb early Mar when the snow was gone,  I would suggest doing what feels right and doesn't make you to tired for the rest of the day.

Our energy level is great now and our weight did come off faster after we started walking so take it slow and build yourself up.  Remember that we have all abused our bodies and they do need rest from the shock of surgery.  Your body will tell you when to push a little harder or walk alittle faster.

Keep up the good work

my husband and I also use the body fortress one from walmart, the taste is good and they have different flavors, mine is the chocolate I use 1/2% milk put it in a shaker cup and put it in the freezer for about 1/2 hour to 45 min. it gets a little slushy and goes down like a milk shake.  My husband likes the strawberry flavor, olny $15.00 normally but have been on sale for as low as $12.00.  Good luck
 

my husband and I had our surgeries in Jan. with Dr. Almanza, as I had posted back then John did have a leak that developed sometime the day we left, we flew back home and John had emergency surgery to repair the leak.  We met PnutFreemom there and had talked to her, the decision to post this had to have been very hard for her and I feel her decision to post this was wise.  John and I struggled with how to post the problems that he had and decided to just post the facts, our surgeon here said that the surgery was done correctly but an abcess developed after the leak test was done and that when the drainage tube was pulled that allowed all stomach content to leave his body.  John's drainage tube was taken out right before we left at that time there was still alot of drainage (which turns out to be his gatorade coming out his stomach in  to the ball) Dr. B didn't seem concerned and we were in a hurry to catch our flight so we left. 
We were taken care of very well and things were very clean, as far as infections went we don't think we had any, but our incisions did take a long time to heal completely.
I did feel that the clinic was to busy with to many people there some even spent there second night in a hotel because the recovery house and Dr B's house were full.

WE are doing great and at this point do not regret our decision to have surgery, we are losing weight and feeling great but it was a very long road of recovery for John and  a very scary time for both of us.

John and Kari Bush

just make sure that you get in all if not more of your protein supplements in.  My mother-in-law had bypass about 5years ago and never lost any hair, but she always made sure that she got her base protein from the supplements and everything by food was extra.  good luck

So we left Dr. Betancourts revovery house saturday morning.  I had my drainage tube out on friday but John my husband had to wait until saturday before we left because he had more drainage than I did.  What we didn't realize at that point as we hurried to leave was that John had an abcess and a leak in his stomach.  Sylvia at the house had given me extra guaze pad for the drainage that john was having.

We had a 4 hour flight from San Diego to O'Hare airport.  In that time John's drain site had completely soaked thru all his clothes and every thing he drank was coming out his open site from where his drain tube had been.

I changed that guaze dressing 3 times, the last was the worst because by this time stomach content was coming out also and we knew we were in trouble.  I landed in Flint, MI at 11:30 pm John has had nothing to drink anymore and has no pain but we are heading to the emergency room in Holland as soon as we get back in town.

It took us 2 hours to drive home and we got to the ER by 2am.  He was admitted and had emergency surgery to repair his stomach and clear out the abcess that had formed on his srtomach where his drainage tube had been.

John was in the hospital from sunday to friday.  He will be out of work for 4 wks.  He has another incision that is from sternum to belly button that is closed with staples.

We asked our surgeon here and were told that Dr. Almanza did nothing wrong, the surgery was a sucess, it was just one of the complications that can happen with any surgery.  John just has a longer road to recovery than everyone else.

I Just want everyone to think about staying an extra day or 2 after surgery even if it's at your own expense to make sure that you are healing before you leave or fly.  I ended being glad that we came home b/c I couldn't imagine dealing with all this that far away from family and our kids.  Just be careful. 

We don't blame anyone and have much respect for Dr. Almanza and Dr. Betancourt just make sure that you follow up with them if you have any problems at all.  They need to know all the facts of what they do.

they also need to make you aware of the stats of leakage because it is no longer 2 leaks in 6000.

thanks for listening and pray for a speedy recovery for John.  We want to get on with our new life together for our kids.
kari bush

we live in Zeeland on the west side of the state close to lake michigan, we used medical tourism to set this up for us they suggested liquid diet for a week this is our second day of it not so bad yet. we look forward to meeting you there.

my wife and I will be there on the 12th flying into san diego on the night of the 11th.