I kind of hesitated to post.. (long)

Aww, Raggety, you're so sweet. I'm really a stubborn person, and I'm TIRED of wasting time feeling bad, so I'm all about being proactive and getting things done. I had to fight HARD to get doctors to listen to me when I thought I might be hypothyroid. I finally got the tests I needed and my hypothyroidism diagnosed, and I have been properly medicated for a year and a half now. If I hadn't been stubborn and pushy, I never would have felt better. I can't even think about how miserable I would be...

People say the first month is the hardest, and yes, it has been very hard. However, things are getting better, even if slowly, they are. It's also a very intense month filled with happiness at the losses and the first bites of real food that sit well in the sleeve, frustration at the inability to tolerate certain foods, jealousy (for me) of those who can eat my favorite things, loneliness, etc. However, this may seem trite, but I've been a martial arts (Taekwondo specifically) pracitioner for 16 years, and two of the tenets of Taekwondo are perseverance and indomitable spirit. I've been training myself all these years to keep trying, to keep pushing, to keep working through adversity. Therapy has helped me see that we can only take life one day at a time, tackling problems as they come, prioritizing issues. I've done a lot of self-work over the years, and I know that it's what helps me get through every crappy thing thrown at me.

I wish that your post-op is uneventful, but in the chance that it isn't, just remember to take it one day at a time and to lean on your loved ones and us here at the LW board. And if you need to vent, feel free to PM me if you don't want to post it to the board. :) I know you are facing a lot, too, and I admire your humor and strength in a time that may cause some to shut down. *HUGS*

Take care,
Abby

Abby,

I am sorry you are having such a difficult time.  I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.  I too suffer from reflux that I did not have before surgery.  I did better with Nexium as wll.  After I used up my samples I tried the prilosec and it works better now that I am taking it twice a day.

I suffered from horrible nausea and lived on gas station slurpees for weeks because I could not tolerate other things.  I ended back in the hospital for fluids a few times.

I have horrible lactose intolerance that I did not have preop.  I did okay for awhile with lactaid tablets, but they have stopped being effective.  I have been avoiding dairy except for cheese.  I can't even do yogurt.

I had trouble with ketosis as well.  I am very sensitive to it and it sends me in a downward spiral.  I eat more carbs than most because that what keeps me feeling tolerable.  I drink flat soda while I am at work for the carbs, I dont have time to eat there, so sipping it keeps me going.

I never found protein that I could tolerate besides food.  It does not sit well and make me very nauseated.  I have just recently been using some pure egg white protein to make smoothies.  When I first tried these, they were too much bulk for my stomach.

I have terrible taste aversions.  I can not tolerate artificial sweeteners.  I can't swallow whole vitamins and cant stand the taste of the chewables.

I still cannot tolerate plain water, so between that and my aversion to artificial sweeteners I have trouble with liquids.

The good news is I am 4 months out now and things are getting better.  I know how hopeless and helpless I felt, but things are getting better for me and I know they will for you too.  I am getting closer to making my fluid, protein, and vitamin goals every day.   have yet to make all of them in a single day, but I am making progress.

Hang in there and keep plugging along.

Aw, Brittany, I'm so sorry you've had such a rough time. :( I'm so glad things are getting better for you! Hopefully in a few months, you and I will both be wondering what we were whining about back in January and we will be completely happy with our decisions. :) 

The artificial sweetners are gross to me, too. I cut out all artificial crap before my surgery and now with my sensitive taste buds, they taste even that much more gross. I am with you there.

Big *hugs* to you. Can't wait to see your posts exclaiming how much you love your sleeve! :) 

Abby

Oh Abby, I'm not liking my sleeve either! My dr convinced me that I don't need a new prescription for my Pepcid b/c the acid should not be a factor now. When i told her tha****ER gave me reflux, she said I was drinking too much too fast. Realy...how can 1oz be too much too fast?? I have to sleep w/my head wedged up too...but am no where near your misery in that regards. I'm thinking i'll call my PCP and ask for an rx. I mean, it's a fricken gas reducer, not narcotics for heaven's sake!!

Also, i'm sucking at both my liquids and protein. And i've hit a nice big stall.. I am losing a lb a week...not exactly what I had envisioned for the second month post surgery...I'm only down a big whopping 22lbs since surgery... I had anticipated AT LEAST 40 by now. It just adds to the frustration.

Carbs seem to sit better than protein. Eggs give me the runs. I hate dairy. I never feel satisfied when eating, even tho i'm practically regurgitating my food since i'm so stuffed. The list goes on and on...

oh, and other than my thyroxine, celexa and iron, I can't seem to take any vitamins b/c i'm just tired of taking pills (and the liquids made me gag). 

So i'm far from a model post op patient. LOL

Hang in there. Find comfort that others are struggling right along with you! :)

april

Well **** I don't really like that you're having a hard time, too! Seriously, though, if your PCP won't write you an Rx for a PPI, you should really just get some from the drug store/Target/whatever. Prilosec OTC, Prevacid, both are ones you could try. Keep in mind that the Prevacid dose is 1/2 what the Rx dose is. Prevacid OTC is 15 mg and the Rx dose is 30mg, so you could take 2 of them at once. Hopefully she will stop being a dink and write you one, though. I mean, what would she rather do, write you an Rx for acid or have you come in for Barrett's Esophagus because it's not being treated?! Ugh...

I'm only losing about 1 lb a week now, too. I'm up to 19 whole lbs lost. Ugh again. It WILL get better for us. 

*hugs*
Abby

I'm a cheap-ass... i only want an rx of the pepcid b/c my insurance co-pay is a measly .40 cents. That's right... forty fricking cents! I also have my PCP write me rx's for ibuprofen.. long gone are the days of spending $5 for 30 pills.

Fortunately, my PCP is not my bariatric surgeon, so she'll likely give me an rx... she just doesn't quite know about the surgery yet, and just haven't gotten around to calling her.

at least you're working out...i just have a flabby ass. lol

I totally understand the money thing. Did you know Pepcid may not even be working for you? You need a real proton-pump inhibitor. Pepcid is an H2 blocker, which just blocks the acid's receptors (I believe, if I am remembering my pharm class correctly), while a proton pump inhibitor actually stops the stomach from producing so much acid. You really need to be on a PPI if your acid is so bad, which is why I suggested Prevacid or Prilosec. Check your formulary--Prevacid, Protonix, Prilosec are all only $8 copay for me, but I need an Rx, obviously.

I am not working out as much as I want to. Feel so icky some days. :( Plus I'm back in school and feeling the pressure. I am just so jealous of all those people who say they love their sleeve and life is so amazing 1 mo out. 

the H2 blockers reduce acid too. It worked for me when i was taking it.. so i wouldn't mind taking it again. I'm in school too, so i hear ya. If i'm not in class or clinicals, i'm writing papers or doing other school crap. it never ends.

Yeah, they do, but if your acid is that bad that you can't drink water, you might need something stronger that stops the acid from being formed in the first place rather than treating the acid that is there. But you definitely need SOMETHING to help you. Acid is freaking miserable. :( Are you doing ok in your clinicals? I can't imagine having to do clinicals right now! It's enough teaching my class and balancing my students and my own school work.

I'll ask my PCP for her recommendation. I guess i'm just so afraid i'll be taking something for life. :( Never had reflux issues before. Clinicals are ok..just the paperwork that follows suck ass. I don't think i'd have the patience to teach (altho, i'm bossy and like telling others what to do), so you're amazing to handle that load!