Had my final visit to the surgeon yesterday!

Hi everyone. Well I went yesterday to my final visit with Dr. Lowe before the surgary. He is so wonderful. He answered all 1000 of my questions and was so nice to my husband and answered all of his too. Two things I thought were very intresting he told us yesteday. One, he said that it has come out through studies that carbonated drinks DO NOT strech the pouch. He stated as long as i could tolorate them I could have all the DIET Pepsi I wanted after the surgery but to be sure I got enough water as well. He said that as long as it was surgar free to go for it. I was glad to hear that because I am a diet pepsi addict. Secondly, He and a few other dr's in Charlotte no long use the drain tube. So I won't have to through the removal of the drain!!! Thank goodness. He stated he does a water air test from the inside of the pouch to test for leaks during the surgery so he has had 0 leaks so far. Well anyway..just wanted to share those things. I am excited about the up coming surgery but am a still nervous. Also, start the liquid diet on 6/1/06 so if anyone has any sugestions to help with that let me know!! Wishing you all a great holiday weekend! Shannon

Hi Shannon, That's interesting about the diet drinks...I never was able to develop a taste for the diet drinks..drank straight pepsi and can't have that of course, but I am curious if Dr. Lowe said anything about caffeine. Dr. Melkonian, as you probably know is in the same group as Dr. Lowe, and he gave me the go ahead on coffee two weeks after my surgery. I drink about 20 ounces of coffee a day. It's been about two months and I haven't had any issues with the coffee at all. I know I've heard caffeine can cause problems though I'm not sure what problems they are. Congratulations btw...sounds like you'll be on the losing side very soon..June is right around the corner! The liquids are not too bad because the surgery is the light at the end of the tunnel...my advice is to pulverize soup in a magic bullet...I could only take so much of the CIB...soup saved me. Jamey

Jamey what i have read is coffee causes dehydration. (but i've also read that it takes a lot of coffee to cause the dehydration) ...so as long as you drink plenty of water it should be okay. BUT once again this is just what i've seen on this site and doing research... I believe I have became addicted to coffee...once I stopped smoking the coffee took over...I never drank it before that... LOL Have a great weekend.

Hello Gal, I drink Diet Coke , I admit it, I allow it to go flat and sip on it. Like you I love my DC and I am so happy I can have it. I have meet Dr Lowe and he is so nice , as Jamie/Misty said, our doctor is in the same group. Good LUCK

Thanks everyone for all your help. I went today and got a magic bullet. I am really getting into making sure I do everything the right way. Thanks for all your good wishes. Keep me in your thoughts.

Hey Shannon! Congrats on being so close to the losing side! I have heard many things positive about Dr. Lowe and know several of his patients, they are in our Gastonia Support Group. We would love for you to join us if the drive is not too far. We meet the first Monday of each month, next meeting is June 5th, at 5:45 for meet and greet, and the meeting starts at 6pm. We have a great group of people and I would strongly suggest joining a support group, even if it is not ours, it really helps! I am another one of Dr. Melkonian's patient's and I gave up my diet pepsi before surgery and I was ADDICTED!!! Big time...anyway, afterwards, I tried a sip here and there and did not like it, to fizzy...now, if I go to the movies, I treat myself to a diet fountain drink. They don't seem to have as much carbonation in them. My main drink is decaf tea combined with green tea and splenda. I love it! I drink it all the time. I think this has helped in my weight loss. Please visit our support groups website to get more information on us: http://www.gwlssupportgroup.com/ (look at the educational information, and protein there) and we have a message board on yahoo: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/gastonia/ I would try to get single packs of different types of protein to see what you like first before buying a bunch. You get sick of the CIB and there are alternatives out there with more protein. I you want some suggestions I can email them to you. I do not want OH to think I am soliciting for other products on here. Take care and the best of luck to you! Blessings! Nancy

Nancy, I emailed you from your profile but no one I have ever emailed that way has responded so let me know if you don't get my email. Thanks, Shannon