educationrulz

This is great Carla. It looks like you're moving closer to onederland. That's exciting. Have you told people that you had surgery? I know that's an ongoing debate here on VST. I had pretty much decided to tell - AFTER surgery. Well, now the after is here and I'm a little gun shy about telling. I did tell a close trusted friend and she was very supportive and felt that I didn't need to tell people because it wasn't their business. I think I'm still leaning toward telling just because I don't want to expend the extra energy on creatively explaining all the great dieting and exercising I did to lose weight. I figure I can say I had surgery and move on. (I don't plan to give any details about my surgery or eating habits.) What do you think?

Congratulations lillita! I'm glad to hear that your surgery went smoothly. I tried the Unjury unflavored protein powder and am not having a lot of luck with it. Each time I try to add it to something it smells and tastes worse than the last time. Luckily, I only bought 10 sample packs from the website, so I'm not out too much money there. Gonna have to get my protein elsewhere I guess.

Well, I'll be having surgery on June 22, 2 days from now. I can't quite describe how I'm feeling but I'm definitely not totally calm and confident. I know I want and need this surgery but I keep having these weird flashes of "Can't I just do this on my own?" or "Do I really need to go get my dang stomach cut out just to lose this weight?" So far, I haven't talked myself out of it yet or picked up the phone to cancel the surgery, but I feel like I'm close to that sometimes. I've been extremely busy this week and have barely had any time to log on and read posts this week. Maybe that's part of the problem because I usually feel better after that. But I'm in the middle of teaching a class and I've been cleaning my house like crazy all week because it's been kind of a mess. So, I really couldn't log on more. My sister is coming with her kids for the week to watch my daughter and the dogs, so at least that part of things has been taken care of. I pretty much just need to go in, have the surgery, and recuperate. So what is wrong with me?!! :001_rolleyes: I feel like heading for the hills and forgetting that I ever started all of this! I know, totally crazy... Any words of wisdom from those who have made it through these last minute freak-out sessions would be greatly appreciated.

I agree that saying you are trying a new diet should be sufficient. Assuming that you look overweight like the rest of us do preop, what reason would she have to not believe you? :thumbup: As for post op, it's hard to say if 13 days will be enough recovery time for a job like yours that involves a lot of moving. It's very individual I imagine. I don't think I could do it based on my experience, but others have. I would just be prepared that if you're not feeling significatly better by day 7 or 8 to contact her and make some alternate arrangements so that you can have time to heal properly. The last thing you need to do is pull an incision or strain something internally trying to chase around after some active little kids. My ONE is running me in circles!

Hey Lis. I hope you are able to get some answers about this soon. I totally empathize with you because I too had a hiatal hernia repair and it has added a level of pain/discomfort that I didn't expect post op. It often hurts in my esophagus to drink and after a few bites, I stop so that the food doesn't start hurting like the liquids. I am so scared of it getting stuck in there and hurting. The Water already feels like a hot poker! I've never had the pain last more than a few seconds, so I can't imagine how awful it must be for it to go on for 10 minutes. Since I'm so soon after surgery, I'm not going to sound the alarm bells right now, but your post is giving me something to think about for a few months down the line if the pain and excessive restriction hasn't resolved. Good luck and keep us updated on what you find out.

How do you do with a good quantity/variety of dense proteins in one sitting? Any restriction there?

Sorry to hear that you're having to deal with this Judy. It seems a little antiquated for you to be wearing these so long post op. Did they give you a reason, like something specific to your medical history that would require it? It seems like as long as you are up moving you shouldn't need them for 10 days...but, we all have to put up with the quirks of our doctors. I suspect that's what this is. But, in a few more days, you'll be free of the torture.:thumbup:

In addition to following up on the counseling, maybe you should see your surgeon or PCP to get some lab work done to make sure your antidepressant levels and chemistry levels in your blood are where they should be. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Hey Monica, June 22nd sleeve sister. I hope things are getting better for you as we end out Day 7 post op. I have had some dark moments myself since surgery but I'm starting to come out of the dark and into brighter moments throughout the day. I think your feelings are totally normal and luckily you can come here and express them. Even though it's been a slower process for me than for others, I'm already proof that it does get better. So, if you haven't turned the corner yet, know that you will soon. Keep your head up and keep logging in and posting until you start feeling better. Don't stay down in that hole by yourself. We'll help you come out!

Hey Lisa, I don't know how big a Zoloft pill is, but I was taking small pills in the hospital the night of my surgery after my leak test or by the next morning (the time line is a little fuzzy.) Of course your surgeon has to approve this, but I think once you can swallow enough Water to carry a small pill down to your stomach, it will sit there and disolve just fine. My first couple of pills were a little rough to get down, but no vomiting or anything. Definitely call your surgeon ASAP and clear this with them. I'm surprised your discharge instructions didn't include this... They didn't give you any meds by mouth when you were in the hospital? Most stuff can be found in some variation in liquid form if the pill is too big...I think they should have already covered this with you before discharge.

Glad to hear that you are staying positive. Post Op is definitely a day by day experience (struggle). Don't slack off with your drinking like I did and you should be fine. Getting dehydrated was AWFUL!

Angie, I think this part of your post says it all. Who's to say you can't be like your mom? That's the point of the surgery, right? :thumbup:

That's great news! It's amazing what this surgery can do for people. I hope to drop most of my meds too. With the weight loss from my preop diet, I've already noticed that my hip isn't hurting anymore, so I guess that's already one med I've dropped.

Congratulations Skye! I've been following your posts and waiting to see when you would get a date. I'm so glad you have one now. I'm not quite sure why you want to torture yourself with a liquid diet, but good luck :thumbup: I totally understand your thoughts about telling your family. I decided to only tell my sister and she blabbed to my mom, so that took care of that. My mom is not at full health, so I didn't want her worrying about me. But, in the end, it worked out. I think you should consider telling one trusted family member and swearing them to secrecy if necessary. That way, you'll have someone to run interference for you with the rest of the fam and maintain contact with the hospital when you can't make calls. Maybe you could just tell them you and your friend are going to Mexico for vacation...:laugh0:

Well, I may have spoken to soon on this one. After my sister left to go home this past Sunday, I totally fell apart. I stopped moving around, stopped eating, and stopped drinking! I just fell apart! Good Lord I was a mess and ended up dehyrated and feeling like I was going to die. I guess there's more to be said for having some moral support around than I ever thought. I drove myself to the doctor's office Monday and after reviewing everything with the nurse my suspicions were confirmed - dehydration! It wasn't bad enough for me to need an IV but I went to get an EKG just in case (because my heart was trying to beat out of my chest for some reason:scared0:) and the EKG was normal. So, I went to the little cafe in the doctor's office building and bought some gatorade and started working on my sipping skills. Since yesterday, I'm alternating gartorade with Water and meeting my goal of 32 ounces of Clear Liquids. As of yesterday's stage in my post op diet, this should be combined with 32 ounces of full liquids for a total of 64 ounces. I drank more clears since I wasnt' getting that much full liquid in. I still get that tight feeling in my esophagus (I guess that's where it is) when I'm drinking, so I hope that gets better with time. It would be so much easier to get in fluids if it didn't hurt after every 3rd sip. Any advice on that would be appreciated... Today, my diet progressed to pureed/soft foods. I scrambled an egg this am and was only able to eat less than 2 tablespoons. The recommended amount for this stage is 4-6 tablespoons. I pureed a low cal froz dinner tonight and still couldn't get in 2 tablespoons. Overall, I can tell that I am slowing turning the corner today and on the right path. I did some things around the house, went to the grocery store, and took my daughter to ride the carousel at the mall. I was exhausted and had to take a nap after, but I did it. :laugh0: Hopefully, I can make it to the park tomorrow and do some walking. My mood is improving and one person I know mentioned that I appeared to have lost some weight. Although what she is seeing is really preop loss, it still gave me a little something to look forward to when the real losing kicks in. Thanks for everyone's advice and support. I've got to remember to make myself log on when I'm not feeling well because it's easy to get lost in self pity when you feel like crap!:tongue_smilie:VST really helps keep me out of that mindset. Judy, I'm glad to hear that you're doing well. I think you'll find lots of info on postop diets in various areas of the forum. These should give you some ideas of things to eat. I posted mine in my blogs. DON'T GET DEHYDRATED! :thumbup:

Have you tried warm liquids? After a nurse suggested a cup of tea to me in the hospital when I was struggling to get anything down, I latched on to the idea and ran with it - especially after remembering that several people on VST had success with warm liquids after surgery. Eventually, my esophagus and stomach loosened up enough for me to get more liquids down, including water. I'm now enjoying cold water, which was extremely painful on my esophagus the first two days. I had the hernia repair and that extra bit of pain was AWFUL right after surgery. My esophagus didn't really loosen up until the night before I went home. I'm also taking liquid gaviscon until I can swallow my acid reducer - which is a big pill.

Hey Sherri, Judy, and Jave. Congrats everybody! Looks like the June 22nd crew made it home intact. I alternated between mild fidgeting and extreme sleepiness in the hospital. When I was fidgety, I walked. When I was sleepy, I napped. It seemed to balance out because the hospital staff said I was doing really well with my walking. I'm still a little uncomfortable and looking forward to that big turning point when I start to feel "normal" again.

I'm due to start pureed foods on Day 7 post op. I'm a little behind schedule with advancing my diet so I may still be on full liquids for a couple of extra days if I don't feel ready.

Congratulations SWANY! It sounds like you are having smooth recovery.

They started me on small pills in the hospital the night of my surgery after I passed my leak test. It was a little uncomfortable the first couple of times I took them, but no problem really. I think I took a zyrtec and a prevacid in pill form. When I came home, I needed to take omeprazole but it's a pretty big capsule. My doc told me to wait until the second week to try that one because it might get stuck, so I'm using a liquid acid reducer until I can take the omeprazole. Your surgeon should be able to tell you which pills you'll be cleared to take. Then, you can give that info to the prescribing doctor and let them decide if they need to substitute something.

Find a liquid that you can tolerate as soon as possible and drink as much of it as you can to stay hydrated. For me it was warm decaf tea. You'll feel better as your stomach becomes used to having something in it. Also, get up and walk while in the hospital everytime you go to the restroom. It moves the gas through you faster. Good luck!

Hey guys. Thanks again for all the good thoughts sent my way. I really appreciate it. I made it home Thursday afternoon, two days after surgery. I forgot to mention earlier that I passed my leak test Tuesday afternoon after surgery. I tried to get it postponed to the next day because the throught of putting anything in my mouth that soon after surgery was repulsive, but my doctor wouldn't hear of it. I guess that's why he gets paid the big bucks because he knows best. I had some issues with my pain and nausea meds in the hospital but once that was straightened out I began to feel better much more quickly. Other than that, the hospital experience and care was great. I had to call the doc's office yesterday to ask if I should try taking my big horsepill omeprazole. The doctor actually got on the phone when I called and talked to me for a few minutes. I thought that was nice. So, he suggested liquid gaviscon until my stomach is less swollen and can handle the omeprazole without it getting stuck and making me vomit. The gaviscon seems to be doing the trick. Up until Friday afternoon, I wasn't able to tolerate much other than warm decaf tea with splenda. I've finally added popscicles, Italian ices, and plain Water. The thought of Jello is not appealing to me for some reason. I just want to make sure I don't get dehydrated at this point. Luckily, water is going down much easier now and I can get a good amount of that in fairly quickly. It's kind of weird that I have a quick to advance post op diet and can't enjoy any of it. I should have been on full liquids since yesterday morning, but I just got around to drinking a little bit of an Atkins shake earlier today. I'm glad that my taste buds are still ok with the Atkins shakes because those will be a big help. I guess I'll try some mashed potatoes or cream of chicken Soup later tonight. I'm a little worried that I don't seem to feel the restriction when I eat certain things. I am getting that stuck sensation in my chest with some things that I drink but it usually passes quickly. For some reason, I can down a small popscicle in a couple of minutes without any discomfort but I can't drink much broth or eat much of the italian ice cup at one time. The Atkins shakes slide right on down without any problem. I haven't tried to push anything to the point of feeling full yet. Should I expect to feel more restriction when I start things like mashed potatoes and thick Soups?

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the good thoughts and well wishes. I had surgery Tuesday a.m. as planned. Things were rough right after surgery. I had a lot of pressure pain in my chest and abdomen. The nausea has been pretty bad also. Overall I'm still dealing with pain and nausea but I think things are worse because I had hernia repair also. I'm walking alot but having trouble drinking enough. Totally dependent on my IV right now.Based on what everyone else had posted, I expect to be feeling much better in a couple of days. I hope my fellow June22 sleevers are ok too. I can't believe I'm on the loser's bench! Yeah!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. There are several of us taking the plunge on the 22nd, so hopefully we can all come back in a few days and post our progress. The VST crew here has talked me down from the fit of nerves I was having (for the most part) and I'm just ready to be on the recovery side now.