My old time eighties stomach staple

I had this in 1982. I was around 22. What I remember most is how abusive my surgeon was. They served me a soft diet, bland meal and I nibbled on it. When he came to see me, he threw a tantrum. he left me in tears.

In nursing school, I was working the OR and the same asshole threw a piece of bloody, cancerous colon at a nurse for not being fast enough with the bowl. He needed his butt whipped in a big way.

I was young, I tolerated the surgery well and healed quickly.

I'd battled weight my entire life, since childhood. It was the one thing out of my control. I had weight loss surgery because it seemed to be the only answer for me. But it was a fail.

The stomach staple simply never worked. When my surgeon went in for a VBG in the mid nineties, they say they saw little evidence that staple lines were ever there.

Rich Curried Chicken

This is my first attempt at one of my own recipes. I generally am not a measure sort of cook, so amounts are estimated.

Chop up 4 potatoes,

2 onions and

2 or 3 apples, depending on size. Cook these until almost soft in a stick of real butter.

(This recipes is NOT low fat. But we DSers can snarf all the fat we want).

I added about eight boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into strips. You can use breasts if you like. Skinless is best.

Then I added

3T curry powder

2T flour

Stir everything around, brown the chicken to take the pink off and

Pour in 1 can, 14 oz, of coconut milk

Add 1/2 cup raisins (optional) for that yummy unexpected sweetness

and about 1 tsp of red pepper flakes, less if you don't like spicy.

I add a 1/2 cup sour cream

and about a cup of water

and simmer for a while to meld all the flavors together, at least half an hour...

Add 1/2 cup green peas or garbanzo peas to finish.

Yum!

Curcumin

I've been taking this the last month, just one rather large capsule a day, 900mg, because I wanted a protectant against the toxins in the appreciable amounts of fat I'm releasing in my blood. since I now have rheumatoid arthritis, I also like it for its anit inflammatory properties. It's also supposed to do a lot of other stuff, but who knows. It doesn't hurt to try it though.

From Wikipedia

In vitro and animal studies have suggested the curcumin may have antitumor, antioxidant, antiarthritic, anti-amyloid, anti-ischemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-inflammatory properties may be due to inhibition of eicosanoid biosynthesis. In addition it may be effective in treating malaria, prevention of cervical cancer, and may interfere with the replication of the HIV virus. In HIV, it appears to act by interfering with P300/CREB-binding protein (CBP). It is also hepatoprotective. A 2008 study at Michigan State University showed that low concentrations of curcumin interfere with Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) replication. The same study showed that curcumin inhibited the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to viral DNA, thus inhibiting the transcription of the viral DNA. This effect was shown to be independent of effect on histone acetyltransferase activities of p300/CBP.A previous (1999) study performed at University of Cincinnati indicated that curcumin is significantly associated with protection from infection by HSV-2 in animal models of intravaginal infections.
Curcumin acts as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage. Curcuminoids induce glutathione S-transferase and are potent inhibitors of cytochrome P450.

Dangers of taking too much of the stuff

Kawanishi et al. (2005) remarked that curcumin, like many antioxidants, can be a "double-edged sword" where in the test tube, anti-cancer and antioxidant effects may be seen in addition to pro-oxidant effects. Carcinogenic effects are inferred from interference with the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, an important factor in human colon cancer. Carcinogenic and LD50 tests in mice and rats, however, have failed to establish a relationship between tumorogenesis and administration of curcumin in turmeric oleoresin at >98% concentrations.
In animal studies, hair loss (alopecia) and lowering of blood pressure have been reported.
Clinical studies in humans with high doses (2–12 grams) of curcumin have shown few side effects, with some subjects reporting mild nausea or diarrhea. More recently, curcumin was found to alter iron metabolism by chelating iron and suppressing the protein hepcidin, potentially causing iron deficiency in susceptible patients.

I might go up to two capsules a day though (around 2 grams). This RA is kicking my butt. Fat and an element of black pepper, piperine, helps with its absorption. The LA Times had a great article on it, citing that despite all the test tube studies, there's little hard evidence as far as human studies that it helps. But it doesn't hurt. At least if you don't take craploads of the stuff

Cole agrees that there's little downside to trying curcumin. Because the compound is so poorly absorbed, he sees little potential for harm. Studies have found that people can take 7 grams a day without side effects, although it’s possible that larger doses, or use over longer periods of time, can upset the stomach and perhaps increase the risk of bleeding.

LA Times

Hmm. I think I'll go make some chicken curry now :-)

Vitamin regimen

I take the basics to start

I'm supposed to take a separate ADEK and was referred to sourcecf.com to get the chewables (children, bubblegum flavor). My doc said the bariatric advantage multis high in ADEK were fine though. I just finished my first bottle.

Those damn things are high priced and taste nasty though. They ring in at about $40 a bottle for a two month supply. I just ordered the multivitmin caps from vitalady.com that don't seem that different as far as nutrients. They run almost $40 (throwing in shipping expense) for a three month supply...a bit better.

I'm swallowing pills better now. I also got six bags of chewable chocolate calcium citrate with D, ten bucks a bag, but I bought five and got one free. Once these are done, I think I'm going to the Calcium Citrate pills at Wal-mart. They run $15 for a twenty day supply (120 pills). They have more D and now I'm swallowing pills now, I'm not crazy about chewables. Or I might keep these bottles as a back up and order some suckable lozenges through vitalady. I have about three bags of chewables left. They're going fast.

Wal-Mart has stand alone dry D now. It's pretty cheap. I'm upping my D even though I don't have those labs yet. can't hurt. I bought the 400IU and the 2000IU. I'm taking an extra 400 with my citrate chews.

As far as iron, I take a Ferro-Sequels (ferrous fumarate) from Wal-greens. It's $22 for a three month supply and I'm pleased with it. It doesn't jack with my stomach or cause me constipation problems like iron has in the past and it seems to be holding my labs fairly steady. 11.9 hgb is great for me.

As far as other supplements, I try to get extra protein, one scoop (18 grams) in my coffee every morning, but I'm working at being more consistent at this. I take 20mg of generic prilosec twice a day.

I don't need my diabetic stuff, insulin and pills, or my high blood pressure meds anymore!

I ordered Omega 3 from cormega from vitalady because of my RA because of its anti inflammatory properties. Hope it helps. I also take curcumin with piperine once a day because it might have a protective effect because of my fat loss which releases toxins and its anti inflammatory properties.

Got my first labs

My surgery was February 4th, 2009. I was in the hospital intermittently for three months post op because of complications.

I've just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was told that anemia often goes with. I'm newly menopausal (last period was Dec. 2008) and that stems some blood loss.

CBC

WBC 6.9

RBC 4.84

Hgb 11.9 low (normal is 12.0-16.0, so I'm almost normal. This is great for me. I was eight point something in the hospital and needed transfusions)

Hct 37.4

MCV 77.2 (normal 80-96)

MCH 24.5 (normal 28-34)

MCHC 31.7 (normal 32-360

RDW 18.8 (normal 11.5-14.8)

All the white blood cells are normal and

Platelets 232

Vitamin B12 637 normal

Folate 25.3 high (normal is 2-20)

TIBC/Iron tests pending

A1C was 5.9! Goodbye diabetes!

BUN 6 low (normal 9-23)

Potassium 3.1 low (normal 3.3-5.5)

Everything else on the panel was normal including calcium, protein and albumin.

I get more tests in three months.

New Medical Diagnosis

Apparently, I have rheumatoid arthritis.  I had terrible pain, joint swelling, fever of 101 back in April/May.  I could barely walk and had to be assisted to the bathroom.  My surgeon was jumpy because of all  my prior problems post-op and promptly admitted me when my mother called him.

I was referred to a rhematologist by my surgeon and the rheumy gave me medrol (a steroid) IV.  It was like magic.  The swelling went down and boom, I was fixed.  It took this long to see him at his office.  He said I had RA (verified by bloodwork too) and said if I didn't take RA meds for treatment, there was an 85% chance for joint damage with severe disability in the future.

Well, dang.  Then I looked over at the RA meds and checked my insurance.  The ones on TV, the biologics (Humira, Orencia, Embrel) are incredibly expensive...as in around $1500 a month.  They don't come in pill format and must be injected.  My insurance would only pay 70% of these types of drugs.  Remicade you get IV in the hospital every couple of months and it costs $1200-$1800 a pop.  I can't afford several hundred dollars a month for one med.  The biologics zap your immune system, leaving you open for infections and at higher risk for lymphoma.  Just dandy.

Then there's the DMARDS such as methotrexate and arava, nasty drugs too, but my insurance pays for most of these.  Lots of side effects.

In the meantime there are NSAIDS and corticosteroids.  I was on prednisone a month or so ago and it dampened my looming flareup right down.


The rheumy told me to take 1600 mg of ibuprofen a day without fail.  Prednisone is hell on the tummy too.  Even with 20mg of Prilosec twice a day, what is that going to do to my poor stomach?

Ah, hell.  I think the RA was triggered either by the trauma of surgery or some med I had during my extensive hospitalization.

Menopause was also triggered.  My last period was the month before my surgery in January and it's July now.  With everything else going on, I'm not noticing any menopausal grief such as hot flashes or mood swings.  I guess being period-free is good for my tendency to low iron.

And sob!  My hair is coming out by the handfuls for the past couple of months.  I have male pattern baldness like all the men in my family!   It's too hot outside to contemplate a wig, a weave or even a headwrap.  At least my receding hairline is cool.

I suppose this is enough moaning for now.  On the bright side, I lost another pound, 71 pounds total.  Just got labs drawn, I'll call Monday for the results.  My tube has been pulled too and that's much better.  My diabetes is resolved, my sleep apnea gone and my high blood pressure much better.

What happened after my DS

Here it is...I replied to a lady who's going in for a DS with the same surgeon.  Last February Dunshee and Stewart (who has since moved) said they've done around fifty DS.  I'm sure it's more now.

Dr. Dunshee is very good.  Dr. Anthone trained him.  I have faith in him...but I had two WLS before and was a very complicated revision.  He said I was the most difficult surgery he ever did, period, and he's done lots.  Dr. Stewart (he just relocated and is no longer with the practice) assisted him with the surgery and also follow up procedures (EGDS, stent placement).  Also an excellent doctor.

I had complications...they basically had to reconstruct my stomach, which was a mass of scar tissue... I was on the table six hours, the longest time they've ever taken doing a DS.  My blood pressure dropped dangerously after surgery and I had to have blood transfusions...was admitted to ICU.  Dr. Dunshee came and inserted a central line and I was put on Dopamine to stabilize.

I was in the hospital in and out over three months, ICU twice.  Dr. Dunshee pulled me through.  I know I would have died with a lesser surgeon.  He was attentive, caring and pro-active along with being technically adept, but most importantly, did not try to rush in with multiple dangerous surgeries as some would have done and killed me.  (I'm a RN, I know the drill).

At the time it was hellacious though.  I couldn't eat or drink for months.  Did tube feedings.  I still have my tube in.  Revisions are the toughest surgeries.

But now I'm back on track and eating!  Doing good.  Lost 70 pounds so far!  Struggling to get protein in...drinking shakes.  I can eat all the soft stuff with small amounts of soft meats and recently salads.  I missed salad terribly.  Will probably get the tube out soon, but i use it to take big pills (I crush them) and anything nasty.

It's a big surgery, not a light and breezy thing like some make it out to be...but for me it was worth it.  I think I made the right decision with sticking with Dunshee and going through with the surgery.  My sleep apnea and diabetes are gone and my high BP is lower.

P.S.  My common channel is 100 cm.