Suggestions appreciated

I posted last week, but only received one response...I thought I might try again. Hopefully I didn't say something wrong in my previous post. I had a great experience with Dr. Aguirre as my surgeon. I've pretty much adhered to the post op diet that was recommened by Dr. Aguirre. I'm just struggling trying to find things that I can handle. I was doing fairly well until about 2 weeks ago when I was hospitalized with a "hot gall bladder" - my white count was way up and my blood pressure was very low - the gall bladder was needing to come out but the dr.'s didn't want to do another major surgery so soon after my wls, which was on 12/20/05. I was in the hospital for 5 days and sent home with a month of antibiotics to hold off on the gall bladder surgery. I wasn't given a diet for gallbladder patients, so have been floundering. I find now that the few foods I was able to tolerate before...I can no longer handle - mashed potatoes, beans, etc. My thyroid level was also out of control, if I understand correctly a "normal" tsh level is around 7 and I was at 87 (per Dr. A no pills for a month - so I'd stopped taking my thyroid medication). I had been cold since my surgery, combined with the chills and nausea, nothing sounds good. I can't seem to tolerate much of anything now and was wondering if I might get some suggestions. I get to "craving" something like a cracker or something salty, but that causes the dumping, also my sense of smell has played into this as well, I can't seem to take my liquid vitamins because they taste so sweet. The protein drinks taste too sweet, I seem to be able to handle the carnation instant breakfast, but I know it's not near enough protien. I have lost 37 lbs, which feels great - it's just that I feel so weak, and mostly sick, I don't seem to want to do much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Vicki P

Hi Vicki I read your first post and I didn't respond, only because I didn't have any suggestions for you. I'm sorry you're going through so much trouble. I'm new to this RNY stuff myself, fortunately I don't have any gallbladder or thyroid issues. I didn't think there was anything wrong with your first post. I hope you get some suggestions and more support this time around! Dr Aguirre's patients usually seem like they are very tight knit and supportive. Bridget

Dear Bridget - I appreciate your response, thank you very much. I've just been feeling so awful, I haven't gotten on my computer to read my emails. Keep in touch and I wish the best for you. Sincerely, Vicki

Hi Vicki, For the first few months after my surgery, I ate mostly soup, cottage cheese, jello and sugar-free popsicles......I love my protein drinks, maybe you can water them down some more, I say, keep trying different protein drinks until you find one that works.....I put a banana in my drinks and they are like a milkshare, my hubby is hooked on them too. I took the centruim chewable vitamins until I could handle the capsules, I had my gallbladder out years before my surgery.....and don't know about the thyroid. At the end of this month I will be 2 years out, I can eat anything I want (but lots less then I used to), we all get busy with our lives after wls and don't get to the board as much. Good Luck, lose as much as you can the first year because it does get harder to lose. Dot A VERY HAPPY DR AGUIRRE PATIENT..........

Thanks Dot - I remember over a year ago when I was going to have the surgery - you were so supportive. Then my financing fell through and I had to wait another year. But at least I am on the other side now, I have lost 40 lbs in 2 months - you'd think it would be more, since I'm hardly eating, but the loss feels great. I am going to try your suggestions...I know this has more to do with my gallbladder than the wls surgery, because things I could eat after sugery - I can't now. Congratulations on your weight loss. Sincerely, Vicki

I lurk at best for the most part, but even still everyone here has been so sick (husb was in hosp with pneumonia last week) so although I saw your post I didn't have the energy to respond. Sorry. As for the gallbladder, even in the states it is a heated debate amongst surgeons as to whether it should be removed if there are no stones because some feel you shouldn't remove it as a precaution because it does serve a function and can cause irritable bowel later for the patient. Others feel the chances of getting stones are high so they take all of them. I believe that Dr. Aguirre didn't see any stones, and although I'm not an expert, I would think they could easily have formed after the surgery. With a bum gallbladder it is going to make you sick in addition to you not wanting to eat due to the surgery. Just no way around it right now. You'll have to eat what you can to get some nourishment. Keep searching for ideas. I like the Protidiet drinks because they are gelatin protein and are refreshing. They taste just like when you drink hot jello only this you drink cold and it is fabulous. You can find them online and some places carry them locally. You might also try oatmeal made very thick. When I make it with the low carb milk (Carb Countdown) it adds protein and I make it so thick that I do not dump on it. Right now just eat whatever you don't dump on and bide your time until you get that puppy out. Near the end when I had my gallbladder out (before my gastric bypass) I was getting sick on everything...even plain white rice. So no doubt a lot of this problem will be alleviated by getting the gallbladder out. Take care - Dina

Thanks Dina - It was great to hear from you. I've followed your site for a couple of years. Sorry to hear about your husband, I hope he's much better now. I appreciate your suggestions and will give it a try. You're right - it is my gallbladder. I have an appt. with a specialist in one week, if I can just hang in there for a little longer. I've been running a fever & coughing the last couple of days. I know I should be up walking around, I just feel so weak and nauseaous all the time, so I'm not getting on the computer much. I'm having difficulty concentrating on anything. I'm an avid reader & usually read 2 books a week, and I can't even handle reading. You're right about the dr.'s & of course that was just the one dr's opinion at the hospital...we'll see what the specialist has to say. As many dr.'s as there are, there's that many different opinions. I appreciate your response - thank you so much for taking the time. Sincerely, Vicki

Hi vicki I am in ensenada with my sister. She had her surgery last Tuesday. She was taking synthroid for her thyroid before surgery. As soon as she was able to begin drinking water Dr. Aguirre said she could crush her pill and mix it in a small amount of water. It May taste bad this way but at least she can keep her thyroid balanced. She said the synthroid didnt taste bad doing this. You May want to ask your Dr. If you could crush your pills and do the same thing. The thyroid regulates many things in the body including tempetures. So having your thyroid unbalanced May be whats causing you to feel chilly. Dr. Aguirre is sopose to be checking in with us tonight to see how luna is doing. I will try to remember to mention you to him and see what he has to say about your issues. If I am not able to ask him, please check his web site posted under lorraines current post and maybe you can email him too. Hope all gets better with you. I now that the first 3 months are the hardest for most. Huggs to you cindy

Thanks for the reply Cindy. Are you back home now? How is your sister doing? I'm going ahead & just taking the thyroid pill now, I'm 2 months out & it's a "small" pill, so I've been taking it since I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago. I think it's already starting to work. Now if I can just get thru this gallbladder problem, I'll be all right! Thanks again for your response. Keep in touch. Sincerely, Vicki

http://www.skyeherbals.com/materia_medica/milk_thistle.php http://curezone.com/schulze/handbook/lg-ap.asp (We don't have parasites in the US in our system, but pick and choose some info out of this for ya.) http://www.vitaminuk.com/pages/articles/whataregallstones.htm http://www.stopcancer.com/liver_flush_instructions.htm http://www.atkins.com/research-library/nutrition-articles/to-protect-your-liver-take-five I read this and was concerned... was curious what Dr. Agurrie said in reponse... all I can imagine is: 1) Assistant actually examined Liver 2) Liver damage was "hidden" from Dr. Aguirre... in other words, he completed a superficial scan of the liver. 3) The liver was inspected visually rather than visually AND manually ...... not inspected by human hands