Facing the Battles

Talking about vitamins in general and after stomach surgeries. I hate pills. I crush everything , take liquid or take chewable. Well I found about patch md. They make patches. Which helps a lot because not everyone can swallow or likes flavors of certain pills. My blood result came back everything was normal. Which means they do absorb and work. I wear the patches at night . When I was away I did flinstone chewables and caltrate chewable vitamins. Also if my order don’t come in time , I forget to order more I take them. Both flavor taste good . The only thing low was iron, that I’m anemic . Which I had brought a liquid from whole food, chewable from vitamin shop , and liquid of wellness . I haven’t tried any but the chewable. The taste of it is good. I take one a day with breakfast. It does not bother my stomach either . Also I take dissolvable biotin. As well as I use certain it’s a ten and vitamin E hair products. Another I take is b12 dissolvable. I know people ask flavor taste? The...

Anytime anyone loses weight especially a ton of weight many questions are asked. I am faced with this so much.  Everyone no matter of size always will say I’m fat , I want to loose weight, even if their a stick.  Well because of social media and because I’m a big selfie queen. People see my pictures all the time . I get told omg you lost so much weight. Stop loosing weight, you need to eat , you look to skinny, do you eat, etc.  Some people will say you look great how do you do it. Always going to hear negative and positive. I do eat . I eat small amounts every few hours. Sometimes even my best friend will call I say I’m eating I’ll call you back. I get told your always eating . I’ll eat a quarter lbs of  chicken or sometimes just a protein bar every few hours. Protein shakes also. Many of these are meal replacements as well. I have gotten told go eat a bowl of pasta. My answer is no. It is all carbs , sugar , not good for you. When you have surgery or dieting once y...

I went to health nuts . I found these vitamin juice drinks . I’m like right away no way are they going to be healthy for you . I looked at it any way . I’m seeing 2 carbs 2 sugar . Really for a juice wow this is amazing . Has fiber too , potassium and vitamins . I read it is diabetic friendly , no caffeine , gluten free , vegan. How can you not try it. They have lemonade , promgrate , fruit punch, cranberry , & orange . My favorite flavor is fruit punch . I hated the orange . Def if you want a juice that is healthier try these . I got them at health nuts. 

Low carb breads, rolls, desserts, mixes, pasta , bars, pizza, snacks , muffins.  Here are some sites given to me or that I found . I would like to share with all of you!  http://www.shop.greatlowcarb.com http://thinslimfoods.com http://locarbu.com https://dixiediner.com

Weight loss and stress is very common. People think ok a person lost weight they are happy. Yes people want to loose weight and be happy. Though there is a lot of stress when it comes to weight loss.  At first when you are dieting people can get moody. People get a lot of headaches at first too till their body is used eating less.  Since you are loosing weight and eating smaller portions, you have to eat more often. If you wait to long, you get dizzy. If you don't eat you can get cranky. Not all the time are you around food. I always bring protein snacks out with me.  Also you get the people that tell you, you just ate 2-3 hrs ago. How are you hungry? Did you not realize I only ate 150 calorie protein bar. Or they tell you , you are always eating. Exactly once again I ate 150 calorie bar now it's a few hours later.  Then you get people that say ok you want pasta? Or try this, yet it is a very unhealthy food. As you are being good to stick to your diet. They aren't su...

So every time I need surgery or find out anything. Yes someone in your family knows or a friends. Well my family is a bunch of yenta's. Yes you heard me right. They play the telephone game. They call another family member or their friends. Soon your later when I answer a phone call that's one of them I have to have it all. I heard you need another surgery. I heard your doing 2 surgeries. Do you think you need it? Why do 2 at once? Aren't you going to be in more pain? Like mind your own business! If I'm doing a surgery I need it. If I'm doing more then 1 at once it's because it is covered. Or you do more then 1 at once because why go through pain and recovery twice. People don't understand. It can be stressful. Why do people have to talk and gossip? People have nothing better to do. They will say they love you and care. Hum wonderful when your over 18 you can make your own decisions. Yes some surgeries I've had complations. Though in the end I was better ...

Before and after gastric surgery we are on liquid diets . Protein shakes , jello , soup broth, water , flavor water , ice pops, ect  How do you deal with liquids ? I've done liquids in the past. It wasn't that hard for me. I did drink at least 60 grams of protein a day. There are power proteins you can mix in with liquids as well. I did not like genepro. I like premade protein drinks more.  Though after surgery a lot of protein shakes bothered my stomach for a while . Whey isolate is better on the stomach then whey.  Ice pops that are sugar free I wasn't a fan of because they have aspertame.  Sugar free jello also has aspertame . Though before surgery I found a yellow island tropical hello that was good. Ralph's ices makes sugar free also.  I had chicken broth soup and sweet potato soup. Though to much sweet potato soup at first can bother your stomach. As well as soup gives gas pains more.  Sip slowly you will not be able to drink a lot. After surgery I wa...

How I know my Nissen fundoplation failed and slips.  I had got burning pain so badly pain in my stomach and heart burn. I would fell the burning going up. Sometimes I couldn't even sit up. I would lay down for a while. Nothing would help the pain go away. It would last and be on going. I would never throw up anymore. Then all of a sudden I threw up. After that I would feel my stomach muscles killing. The burning pain. It wouldn't go away till I had to repeat the surgery and fix it. First I would do a barium swallow to make sure it slipped. Yes barium is not that fun to drink. The scan is 1-2-3 easy. The test will show where the Nissen fundoplation is and if there is a hitial hernia.  They say every 7 years you might have to do it over. For me it was every two years. Yes you will have pain. Even with pain you have to wait to get a date to have surgery again. Of course larascopic is the easiest. After two surgeries I had to have it open thoracic. The pain and recovery was hard. ...

Surgery is not fun. Every surgery has risks. I went to get a balloon dilation to help my swallowing. I've done it many times. One time I went in and I had food in my stomach not digested from the night before. When I woke up I found out it wasn't done. I was so upset. Had to of course ask why. Since I went to have it done not in the hospital my life could of been at risk. When you have food in your stomach from the night before you can aspertate during surgery. If you do food can get into your lungs. It is risking your life and it is scary. 

I feel like I should be in the Guinness book of records for the most stomach surgeries. I had 5 stomach surgeries oh wait 6 including gallbladder since 2010. Crazy right?  I finally thought it be the end , nope! In march I started feeling pain again. This time it was where my open incision was done . It didn't heal right. My luck. The staples were taken out in the hospital because the area got infected. After I was a wound vac. That was a nightmare.  It looks all weird. I get pulling and burning pain. I got an incisional hernia. Now everyone has seen commercials about mesh. Though last night I met someone that had it done. Happy I didn't hear a bad story. This is an on going journey . 

If you are going to have any gastric kind of surgery. Please know what vitamins to take.  Always take multivitamin  B-12  D & C  Iron Then of course there's other supplements.  Does biotin help? Maybe it has helped make my hair a little longer . Sometimes I don't think it does anything. Though the dissolving ones taste good.  Pills / chewables vs vitamins patches  I can't swallow pills. Everything I get is crushable or chewable. I have taken flinstone  chewables. I take dissolving tablets. I do vitamin patches.  Now do vitamins md patches work? I did blood work and my levels have been normal. Though if you peel it off bad from the paper it won't always stick on you. Sometimes you have it on and it is hard to pull off. 

I've had many surgeries. Which now I cut out carbs or I should say I eat things with low carbs. I have to eat foods high in protein.  The best diets to follow are diabetic and gastric surgery diets. They help with weightloss.  I eat very little a few times and day. I get full faster. Do not over eat. If you do you will get stomach pain and nausea. Eat about 60 grams of protein a day. Drink plenty of water through out the day. I hate soda. I do drink a lot of water. I like the flavor core water bottles. I will buy a whole store of them.   I always been picky and still am. Though I changed the food I eat. I used to eat pasta all the time now I eat chicken all the time. I'm always having deli chicken or grilled chicken ceaser salads. I do use lite or fat free dressings. I also eat protein bars. See other blogs on reviews.  A big question people ask how can you not eat pizza. I didn't eat pizza for 8/9 years. I got used to it. Just recently I found cauliflower crust at T...

Protein drinks and drinking them as meal replacements.  1.   Gnc lean shakes are very popular. They are coming out with more and more flavors. My favorite is pumpkin and vanilla. These shakes are whey protein. They do fill me up just having it. I've brought the bottles and the powers. It's all preference. Personally I like the premade bottles better then the powers of shakes in general. If you don't mix it well you can taste the powers at times .  2.   Everyone on online knows about 310 shakes. Many celebs do it. They come in vanilla & chocolate. They have limited edition flavors strawberry , mocha , & Carmel. My favorite is the Carmel. I didn't like the strawberry one of this. Mixing these shakes you can mix it with yogurt & fruit. I'm a fan of the nutribullet.  3.   This one is alright. It is a thinner tasting. Though it does not fill you up.  4.   Many people like premier. I hated them all. Tried it wasn't a fan....

Hey everyone , I haven't blogged in a while. I am going to talk about protein snacks. Protein snacks are good to snack on throughout the day and some are used as meal replacements.  1.  Kays natural protein chips. This one is one I get about all the time. I have a nutritionist that gave me a sample of this. After I loved it. Everywhere I go I bring them to snack on. I get people come up to me and ask what are those? Friends , doctors offices ask me can I try one. They come in many flavors such as kruncheez , crispy parm, pretzels, almond puff ,Mac & cheese puffs , and many more. My favorite one is kruncheez. They have 12 grams of protein in them, 1 gram sugar , 14 carbs , 130 calories. I buy them off lucky vitamin or vistacost .      2.   Think thin protein bars . Yummy! Everyone loves junk food and junk food flavors. Now you can get cupcake flavor , salt Carmel , smores, cinnamon bun, and many more flavors. I eat the ones that are protein and fibe...

I been home now from the hospital almost two weeks . Now I been a very positive person , happy , but now I been a mess. "Sometimes I want a scream and shout and let it all out".  It is an emotionally rollercoaster even more once your home. I breakdown and can relate to Lea Michelle's song cannon ball. Though it's great to have your own chair and bed again. My parents don't help me much. I have to walk to the bathroom in pain. All I want to do is sleep. Then when  I wake up try to have fluids. Take more pain med and fall back asleep. I had knee issue before hand so it is hard for me to stand and walk even more now. Since the surgery my back has been killing. I had an open cut up high, so I am walking hunched. I can't stand straight .  I did get a mini fridge that has been helpful and closer to me to get too. I have steps in my house. Though because of pain meds making me dizzy and my knee it is easier.  I also came home on antibiotic cirpo. Then a few days late...

Hey I haven't been on this in a long time . We'll I had my first nissen fundoplation surgery two years ago. Last year I had my second . Now I'm going in for 3rd . After the first everyone hopes to never have to go through surgery again . Two years after my first larascopic surgery , I went away and I started throwing up a lot. Right after I came back I went to my surgeon. I went take take an upper gi scan. I found out I had a sliding hitial hernia back again. Also that my wrap slipped into my chest. I went back in for surgery . I was told it might be done larascopic or open through chest. Both surgeons were on stand by . I had an epidural put in my back. They had problems with it coming out , I was scared. Finally after hrs they got it out . My surgeon was able to do the surgeon larascopic full wrap again. After the second surgery I was able to sit up and move around then the first one. Of course I was in the hospital 4-5 days. I had to follow the same diets as the first ...

A lot of people been asking me , how did you lose so much weight? Almost a year ago I had a major stomach operation called nissen fundoplation. Since the surgery your stomach doesn't handle as much anymore. No this is not a gastric bypass. This surgery is for serve acid reflux. Since the surgery I have been on a fluid and soft food diet. I can't handle solids even after esophageal surgeries. I was doing fine for months. I dropped a lot of weight. Friends are telling me omg you look great, tell me your secrets. I have people telling you are getting to thin ,are you eating , are you anorexic?I tell them are you kidding me. I can only have what I can handle. People that do that go through these surgeries don't understand. Don't let anyone bring you down, you have to be strong. handle what you can. Some people want to lose the weight and wants my secrets advice you can do it. Though unless you went through surgery it might be harder. I was on 800 calorie diet. I was on baby...

After nissen surgery you are told to follow a liquid and then a soft food diet till you can increase to solids again. Not everyone can. I'm addicted to whole foods, but I'm not telling everyone to go run. I drink a lot of protein drinks or I buy protein mixes diary free. I been sticking to a lot of soy also. I can handle soy yogurt but can't handle regular. I need very thin. In the beginning I was on earth's best baby food. Hey the strawberry banana was yummy. Anything like carrots puree , mash potato is ok to have. ices, jello. Now with pasta I can't have small noddles they get stuck. The best is lasagna noddle. Chew it in small pieces. Its a flat noddle. There are many sites you can look up after surgery diets or what best fits you.

Now its is officially 3 weeks since from surgery. I been good the whole time. Following dr's orders. I figured I been to weak I can increase my diet. My surgeon told me I can try a lasagna noddle. Something soft like that. I try ravoli. Bad decision. Break down point. It got stuck in my throat. I'm coughing everything pulling stomach muscles and the incisions. I thought I'm going to end up in the hospital on iv. I thought this is it I'm to weak, I can't eat regular food. Later I tried lasagna still got stuck but it was much better eating then the ravoli. The only problem I had with that was the sauce. The sauce gave me a little burning sedation in my throat. Well on a positive note at least I tried it. Guess I'll stick to the puree, liquid, smoothie, and protein shake diet for the next 6 months .

For a while I had pain, sick, & best of it all doctors couldn't figure me out. I'm a mystery, just great! Never give up. If you have a go for 4-5 opinions do. If you have to repeat tests do. Things change over time. So recently 2 1/2 weeks ago I just had a major stomach operation. For once in my life I wasn't thinking about it before I went in. I enjoyed every weekend. I got my mind off it. I wanted to think positive. I go to the hospital. Lets do add I brought my pink peep keyring with me as a good luck charm. Her name is peep. I have an obsession with peeps. Anyway as soon as I went into the hospital of course your going to freak out. A nurse came to talk to me & we get into a covo about American Idol. Anesthesia came to talk to me. Hi I tell her just to let you know I'm not going to be an easy patient. I want anti nautious med, I need something to relax me, iv in the arm only. She tells me are you and your surgeon plotting against me? No! haha. My pressure...