VSG Maintenance Group
Saw Dr. C. today-update on my surgery
I thought I would give an update on my hiatal hernia repair surgery, which was 5 1/2 weeks ago now. I was on Protonix for the first 4 weeks following surgery to let the existing irritation heal, but I have not taken a PPI for the last week and a half!!! Considering that I have been taking Protonix for 10 years and a double dose for the last 4 years, I consider it quite miraculous, and I am in awe of Dr. Cirangle's surgical skills.
Dr. Cirangle said that he has now done 5 of these repairs (though mine wins as largest so far and the only one he's had to reinforce with mesh!), and that he believes it will become a more common problem as the sleeve grows in popularity, either because hernias are missed originally or because they recur. He say recurrence is quite common and so the repair needs to go deep into the stomach. He was very pleased that mine appears to be fixed.
On his scale, I have officially lost the 7 pesky pounds that have plagued me for the last year and a half. (His scale weighs lighter than mine and I don't think my dress weighs 2 pounds, but I'll take it!). I think I will lose another 3-4 pounds and make this my new top weight.
I have had several bouts of esophageal spasming, which I'd never experienced before, and it's quite unpleasant. Dr. Cirangle said it's because he removed the remaining elasticity in the upper part of my sleeve. The solution: eat slower (always a problem for me) and reduce my portions by at least 30% (which I've been doing but still eating too fast...) I'm now back to eating about 2 1/2 ounces of dense protein and a bit more if not as dense, and this is how it will now remain permanently. I was probably eating about 4-5 ounces before, so it's taking some getting used to having such small portions again. I'm sure it will help me in the long run, so I'm grateful he tweaked it.
So all is well--my energy is back to normal and NO PPIs!!!!
Oh, I mentioned that I'd been to the last SJ support group and met many of you wonderful people, and he said, "Yes, that is a great group!"
Dr. Cirangle said that he has now done 5 of these repairs (though mine wins as largest so far and the only one he's had to reinforce with mesh!), and that he believes it will become a more common problem as the sleeve grows in popularity, either because hernias are missed originally or because they recur. He say recurrence is quite common and so the repair needs to go deep into the stomach. He was very pleased that mine appears to be fixed.
On his scale, I have officially lost the 7 pesky pounds that have plagued me for the last year and a half. (His scale weighs lighter than mine and I don't think my dress weighs 2 pounds, but I'll take it!). I think I will lose another 3-4 pounds and make this my new top weight.
I have had several bouts of esophageal spasming, which I'd never experienced before, and it's quite unpleasant. Dr. Cirangle said it's because he removed the remaining elasticity in the upper part of my sleeve. The solution: eat slower (always a problem for me) and reduce my portions by at least 30% (which I've been doing but still eating too fast...) I'm now back to eating about 2 1/2 ounces of dense protein and a bit more if not as dense, and this is how it will now remain permanently. I was probably eating about 4-5 ounces before, so it's taking some getting used to having such small portions again. I'm sure it will help me in the long run, so I'm grateful he tweaked it.
So all is well--my energy is back to normal and NO PPIs!!!!
Oh, I mentioned that I'd been to the last SJ support group and met many of you wonderful people, and he said, "Yes, that is a great group!"
I am so glad for you Lizzy. Its so great to be free of those PPI drugs and not get that acid blast. And nice to get a tweak on the restriction. I think thats how he does the sleeve these days with more restriction at the top.
So pleased you are doing well. Diane
So pleased you are doing well. Diane
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bunnymom
on 5/2/12 4:55 am
on 5/2/12 4:55 am
Lizanne--I would never have glommed onto wheat being the culprit if I had not read the book "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis. Well, the book changed my life as much as VSG did. I have been off wheat since last Dec 19th now. I could never wean off the Prilosec after VSG, then about 3 weeks into being wheat-free, I tried again, and lo and behold, I got off Prilosec in a flash. I truly know it was the wheat. Anyway, if you can, pick up a copy of the book. It has also helped me reverse Type 2 diabetes and I am now reversing all my heart disease/plaque disease I had accumulated over the last decades. So enjoy reading your posts and happy to see you back on here. Thank you so much. Bunnymom
Bunnymom 
