Facing the Battles

Well, well people ask themselves everyday why so many people are overweight. Doctors tell patients to loose weight. Ever think about this is why? Not everyone has jobs. Not everyone makes a lot of money. People struggle. As some people are just lazy. Some people want food that is quick.  I hear about it all. I see it all. So many people rather go to fast food because they are hungry. They say it's fast food. Many people are on the run. So many rather pay the cheapest method they can for food. While some people just love carbs. Some people don't even want to get out of their cars to get food. They say let's get drive through. It's all about money & laziness.  Think about it, for example McDonald's & Wendy's have a dollar menu. Do you ever see a salad on it? "No" , but you see French fries & frosty's. Which those are the most unhealthiest foods.  When you have a picture like this, it is sad. I think it is wrong to eat junk food is cheaper...

I have lost so much weight. When I go through my closest I have so much clothes that's huge now. What do I do with my clothes? I actually been taking pictures of everything. I post clothes on eBay and posh.  I been doing eBay for a while. A lot I have sold. Sometime you have to list things a few times till it sells. I just joined posh. I feel like it is a slower process on their to sell. As I do feel a lot is also networking. Joining buy, swap , and exchange groups help also. 

After I had surgery in Oct by March I felt pain. I found out I had a incisional hernia buldge . Took time to make appts, doing tests, and get a date. Of course I decided to ask to do my surgery in Aug. so I could enjoy part of the summer. Then I find out I'm having surgery 4 days before my birthday. Great way to celebrate!  Now yes there are many questions when you hear you need a hernia mesh. Everyone sees it all over tv. I got calls why are you doing the surgery etc. I actually talked to some people I knew that had it done. They all did not have issues. As they all felt better after the surgery. As I just had it done, I can't say nothing bad.  So yes my skin wasn't right either , so a plastic surgeon fixed my skin. My pain dr told me my incision looked like a starburst. Now I fell my stomach so bloated, swollen, and fat. I can't wait till it goes flat and heals. It is black and blue. My incisions look like a sail boat. They were glued not stapled. I'm happy about ...

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...

Starting sept 22 I had to do a two week liquid diet before surgery. I thought it be harder then it was. I had 4/5 protein shakes a day (gnc lean shake, 310 nutrition )I had chicken broth and added a few sliced carrots. The day before surgery it was a clear liquid diet. I had protein water shake from vitamin store, chicken broth, and ices. I had to do some prep also. I thought it be worse .  Oct 6 5:30am I'm at the hospital. I went into surgery. I was little nervous. Once your put out you don't even know what goes on. I got into recovery, I was very sleepy. I know when I finally did wake up I was gagging a lot. I had a few different nausea medicines. Finally I got a patch that helped me . I don't remember all that much. Drs past me and my parents I was in la la land. The nurse kept checking on me.  Later on prob closer to 10:30pm I got a room. I had a great nurse took my vitals and let me sleep.  Of course you wake up with so many ivs, yet you only remember one put in....

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.

I haven't blogged in a while and I was told I need to go back on blogging to talk about the life of after surgery and update. Its almost been 11 months since I had nissen fundoplication surgery. It has changed my life so much. I had it back last April. All I remember was recovery was hard. I was in a lot of pain. Though when you hit rock bottom and medicines aren't helping your going to try the next step. I wrote a few blogs update till 5 month post you can read. Since the surgery I ended up getting 3 balloon esophageal surgeries. The first was in June, then need another in Sept. After Sept I was fine till Feb. I went a good 5 months perfect, no major problems. I was having pain every few months going to Er's. I was like hotel hospital you might as well make a room for me. Sometimes even going into the er they still can't find out what is wrong. That they send you back to the Dr's that send you to the er, discharge you or keep you over night on iv's. Then bring...