InProgress

How far are you from FL? You're supposed to stop every hour to walk for 10 or 15 minutes. That certainly figures in. I had to do a lot of arranging and rearranging for vacations because of mine. I had my surgery last Mon and honestly I could've gone on vacation this week (with minimal walking, bending, stretching, etc) had I not had my extra appendage (drain) until Tuesday. However, I think I'm in the minority. And with reservations and deposits it makes it iffy for sure - especially if you are far from your doc. However, if you could HONESTLY lay around in the hotel and rest without the stresses of home, feeling guilty or your family being angry, I'm thinking it might be some good r&r but remember you won't really even be able to go out to eat in the evening very easily because of your diet. Good luck on your tough decisions, Congrats on your upcoming sleeve and keep us posted!

I had mine out Tuesday and I'm telling you, I feel like a new woman! I slept on my stomach that night and it was A. Ma. Zing. The doc told me it'd take 3 seconds and it pretty much did. You can do anything for 3 seconds! I had lost a lot of weight by then too but I'm super big so it was normal. Good luck today and keep us posted.

What do you mean by wait the time? I wait at least 30 minutes before and after before I drink. I got an app on my iPod that has reminders so I set it to go off every hour during the day to remind to either eat or drink and I also get up and go to the bathroom, copier, something to move a little. I also have a vitamin reminder set up. It's been a lifesaver. I drink 42 gram protein "shots" and try to add protein to other stuff as possible. That's another big reason why I'm excited about mushies - protein from actual food!

Yeah my instructions were rudimentary as well. Today I got some clarification at my doctor's appointment and unfortunately they vetoed oatmeal for me until next week. I do get to start on mushies Monday though so I'm pretty psyched. I don't want to eat more - just more variety. Still, with the addition of my strained "regular" soups, I'm thrilled!

Ok, dumbest NSV ever but I'm just so excited to be on this side of things that I had to post. One week & one day post op (27 # down!), I was talking to someone in my office and fidgeting when I realized that the little rubber finger, page turner thing fit! It cut off circulation before! It's the small things.

Oh, and as far as amounts, I've been told 4 oz of stuff but I rarely eat that. Hope this helps a little.

I was on "full liquids" the day after I came home from the hospital. Essentially I was told cream of wheat (strained), cream soups (strained), SF pudding, SF gelatin, and SF ice pops. Somehow in my stupidity this translated to only cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, etc. Finally I got online and read "anything that is liquid at room temperature" (Livestrong.com) and a whole new world opened to me. I went from hoping to just sleep until this phase was over to feeling part of the real world again. Yesterday (1 week post op, my first full day back to work) the girls were going to Bob Evans so I had their potato soup (strained of course) and those few bites were heaven! Normally I would think it was too many calories/carbs but since I've been eating so little that I'm dizzy in the shower I knew it was appropriate for me at that time. Today I'm putting some tomato juice and chili powder in my tiny slow cooker for dinner. My hubby is worried about the spices but I don't make mine very spicy at all! We'll see how it works. We're going to my dad's next week and my step mom LOVES my white chili so I plan to make some for them and have some of the broth myself. I'm looking for any other ideas as well!

I slept in my bed all but one restless night when I spent part of the night on my loveseat with pillows around me and a footstool. My recliner just sat there. After I get my drain removed today I am praying I can sleep on my stomach at least a little tonight!

Mine comes out in an hour and a half. I don't expect pain but momentary pain has to be better than constant irritation!

They took my stomach out through the right side.

They say the anesthesia stays in your fat cells for a few months but you will especially feel it the first few weeks. Let's face it, we all have plenry of those or we wouldn't be here. Lol. Plus, your body is used to operating on a whole lot more calories. I'll be a week out tomorrow so I'm certainly no expert but I feel like this is just something we have to deal with for a little while. Just think how much easier moving will be when you are 50 pounds lighter!

I was the 18th, 2nd patient but a black out ensured I didn't get in until after 1 and surgery started around 2. I got out Wednesday evening after my surgeon finished his procedures for the day. I was released around 5. The first night, though tired, I still felt energized. They said the hoped I could make it to the nurse's station on my first walk and I circled the floor at a quick pace. The newness wore off though and I rather enjoyed my few "extra" days but I could easily have gone home the next evening. You'll be fine. Your doctor may have a plan but so does your body and the two will determine what is best together.

I feel like I have a normal pain threshold and the spin has not been bad for me. The recovery room sucked but that was over in minutes. I had the expected shoulder pain for a few hours but it was NOT bad at all. I used the pain pump intermittently and took the liquid Loritab once in the hospital and once the night I came home. The "pain" as I see it (for me only of course) is equal to my trainer being ticked at me on an ABS day. My drain hole is starting to bother me a little because it wants to be healed but the dang drain is in the way but other than that it really isn't bad. I only had to do 2 days of Clear liquids preop but it was clear liquids ONLY and I did it at a softball tournament. NOt fun. Lol. I don't have any comorbidities but I am really big so even though there's nothing else to cause extra pain, moving probably pulls more for me than many. Obviously it's different for everyone but that's my 2 cents.

Glad to hear you're feeling well!

I hate my drain! Honestly some times I feel like it's the worst part of the surgery. Third boob hanging around, wires & tube sticking out of my body to impede healing, & don't even get me started on how it makes it difficult to rest my hands in my boobs to read or text! However, those things are minor in comparison to other issues we could have. I just wanted to encourage you about the removal. I don't see any way on earth that it could possibly NOT hurt to have it removed and I haven't experienced much bothersome pain at all post surgery (I've only taken my liquid Loritab twice) but the nurse told me that no one ever complains about it hurting when it comes out - they all unanimously say it "feels weird". So my take is - it's a necessary evil at this point. And my 18 pound loss since Monday makes it slightly more bearable Btw, I get mine out Tuesday. You can do this!