swizzly

I'm a week post-op and I just had about 1/2 cup of lentil Soup and 4 small, narrow, thin slices of pastrami for dinner. I do try to remember to stop drinking 1/2 hour beforehand and 1/2 hour after, as that is the rules I got. I haven't noticed much of a difference whether I'm drinking or not, but I try to be compliant. People in Europe don't tend to drink sodas as much as Americans (though they do drink fizzy Water, which I love and miss), so they're not against the rules here, but they do say to wait a while to have any and then to keep it to a minimum. Oops -- meant to add: They move you to food straight away here, so I didn't have pre- or post-op liquid diet or anything. And yes, I do often feel hungry -- but I can't eat much to fill up.

I really hope you take this in the spirit it's intended, as I have been in your shoes. I just want to suggest the possibility that you do have a "bad attitude" (though that kind of judge-y language is not productive) and that you are very angry, and you are constantly turning the rage on yourself, except when a therapist makes a convenient target of themselves as this one did. All I'm saying is, consider leaning into the negative instead of being scared of it. Running from it...or trying to suppress it through hyper-controlling your food intake, will not ever make it go away. Consider that opening up that can of worms may be difficult and painful, but it may lead to real breakthroughs. Actual happiness and self-acceptance instead of treating yourself like an unreformed criminal who can't be trusted with the silver. Hugs, you can do this.

Hey, we had surgery on the same day. Interesting how different experiences are. I didn't have a catheter (except during anaesthesia I guess?) and didn't have any problem to pee after. I didn't get morphine and had quite a bit of pain, but it wasn't the gas pain I read so much about. It was my teeny ANGRY TUMMY. I was in hospital for six days, but not due to any complications, just due to local practices. The first day without any Water was tortuous for me. The post-op barium swallow was different liquid than the pre-op one, too -- and awful tasting, your description is a good one (but mine was clear, not blue). I had a drain (not sure if it was JP -- but it wasn't coming out my nose), which they removed the day before I left to go home. Drain was sort of disgusting, but wasn't causing me any physical discomfort. Having it removed felt very odd and briefly painful, but really no big deal. The worst thing for me was that they ran my IV through my neck, and all the adhesive Patches they put on (and took off and put on ad nauseum) left a huge rash on my neck. The first two days post-op, I got nauseated and vomited violently (VIOLENTLY. OUCH. And unlike a normal tummy, it doesn't make me feel better after I vomit. Hmph.) several times. That wasn't fun. They kept giving me nausea medication, but it didn't work straightaway. They move you to food here as quickly as possible, so I had zwieback (one teeny piece on a full-size plate lol) on day three post-op. Plus tea, water, bouillion. That moved into Soup and frappes the next days. What's most interesting to me is how I felt after the first couple of rough days. Because I was HUNGRY. Super hungry. Not head hunger, but low blood sugar and rumbly tummy hungry. I couldn't wait for meal times and was disappointed when I got the zwieback on a plate and a cup of broth. I ate pretty much everything they fed me, except a wee mocha frappe that I didn't like. That said, they didn't feed me much, so I wasn't pigging out or anything. It's a bariatric center of excellence, so they have specific bariatric menus. And now I'm home, I continue to be hungry. I have no problem getting in the three meals and three Snacks on my plan, plus 1.5 liters of liquids per day. Don't get me wrong, I can't eat that much at one go, but I'm ready for it when it's time, and I'm happy to eat it. And I don't have to eat all that slow or chew things to death either. I'm torn between being freaked out by it and being quite glad of it. I will be happy to be a slow loser, as long as I'm a loser. I DO miss the clear full signal I used to get -- I used to have a very strong full feeling and would stop eating when I got it. I don't have it now, so I have to relearn what full feels like to the new wee tummy. I am learning, but slowly -- it would be easier if my stomach just felt full. I wonder if I will continue to feel hunger, or if that will fade over time? Sorry, I hope this isn't a threadjack -- I just was inspired by the details of your post! Congrats on the weight loss so far. I think I've lost about 4 kg since surgery, but I forgot to weigh right before. Oopsie.

I think that, with food AND with smoking, you really need to take things one day at a time. Or one minute at a time, when the crisis/craving hits. I have never been a heavy smoker, I would average maybe one pack per week. But I did quit for 15 years and then take it up again, for no apparent reason. Sigh. I quit again a couple of weeks ago, but I mostly miss it at work -- it's a social thing, take a nice break, see colleagues in the smoking room, have a chat. I miss that. Instead I've been having more coffee meetings. On my pre-surgical instructions here, it just says I shouldn't smoke after midnight the day before surgery. Which made me just laugh. I asked the surgeon about it, and she actually said it would be better to quit at least a week before.

I'm 42, married, no kids. I have always looked very young for my age (and been treated accordingly at work, but I digress), but OMG!!! A few days ago I was in the grocery store with a (VSG) friend who is 35 (?) and has two kids. The checkout clerk was a friend of hers and she asked my friend if I WAS HER MOTHER. Just. shoot. me. I was like, maybe I need more makeup. Yeah, maybe the 40s just suddenly all caught up to me at once. I mean, good God! Getting sleeved on Thursday, so let's all effing hope that it takes 10 years off me!!

Glad to read this update and to hear you don't have an ulcer or lingering gall problems! I hope my sleeve turns out to be as awesome as yours!! :)

There's no such thing as a lie of omission (or comission, frankly) when it comes to one's personal issues and the workplace. NO ONE at work has any need to know about ANYTHING to do with your personal life. You took legitimate medical leave for a legitimate and necessary medical procedure. They don't need to know jack about it, frankly. If they ask even more nosy and inappropriate questions after you go back, you are under ZERO obligation to say a thing. However, to get along and not be perceived as pissy, then tell them exactly whatever story you want to tell them. Yeah, you had surgery to remove an ulcer -- if you even want to tell them that much. People also tend to lose weight and have special diets after gall bladder surgery. You could use that too, if you want. For the most part, I prefer finessing things by giving the least amount of info possible and then smoothly changing the subject to the other person. Most people like to talk about themselves, so it's pretty easy to do. Good luck -- I hope you kick the ciggies again!

I am BMI ~38-39 but I was (1) easily and readily referred by my PCP to the bariatric program, (2) approved straightaway by insurance (though that is no longer even necessary), and (3) enthusiastically encouraged by the bariatric physician, the surgeon, my gynecologist, and even my ENT. Yeah, some of my American friends think I am "not big enough" -- but in a country full of slim, healthy people (who smoke a lot lol), I am definitely big enough. Only two more days. I'm sorta freaking out...

Yes, here they start serving you some normal foods already in hospital, from like day 2 post-op; maybe after a few days of that, I'll figure out what to do when I go home, as I have no Protein shakes or special blenders or anything. (Also, they have no pre-op diet.) Guess I'll figure it out as I go...

I was also on the borderline re: BMI -- actually was like 38, but have high blood pressure (um, thankfully? LOL). But as of 1 Jan this year, there is no longer a requirement that insurance has to approve, and they dropped the BMI to 35 (30 with comorbidities). So I would have been fine anyhow. My surgery is scheduled for the 24th of Feb. Re: "taking the easy way out" -- this is my recent rant about that: Perhaps it is just me (and saying this as pre-op, keep in mind) -- but rather than "the easy way out," I think it's the "only effective way out." I don't care if people think it's the easy way out, I am happy if it IS the easy way out. After all the blood, sweat and tears of losing weight and regaining it again, and being fat in a fat-phobic world, why the feck should I NOT take the so-called "easy way out"? How about the only way out that actually shows any indication of being effective? If someone ever wants to have words with me about taking the easy way out, they will find not arguments about how difficult it was; but rather a single, non-rhetorical question back to them: Why should I NOT take the easy way out? The idea that it should should be hard and grueling and painful and permanently dangerous and risky and especially painful and potentially ineffective after all, ya big fat fatty with no willpower, is based on the premise that being fat is everyone's own fault, is a clear moral failure, and that they haven't been able to keep weight off is because they are just wrong on many different levels. I cannot even express how vehemently I reject the entire notion that fat people are "bad" and deserve only some "very difficult and punitive way out." No. Just no. It's my business when I have my blood pressure treated due to medical need and I feel no need to tell anyone that I'm taking the easy way out by popping a pill for that. Neither do I need to justify my well-considered decision to have a surgical intervention for my BMI-related medical need. This is, for me, a hopefully permanent solution to a chronic medical problem, not an undeserved shortcut. I'm quite passionate about this.

This thread just made my day. Thanks all you sleeve-lovers!!

Congrats on the successful surgery and recovery AND on quitting smoking!

I'm 42, sleeve date 24 Feb. I'm not too bothered about having waited to do this, life has its rhythms. I wasn't willing to do a DS (ever, as 41 was my highest BMI -- though my surgeon referred to it as the BMW of surgeries lol) or RnY (again, not keen on anything touching the intestines), though I've looked at them several years ago as possibilities. The sleeve was the first thing that said YES to me. (And I didn't even know about the band until it was already not done anymore in this country due to too many complications.)

I am 24th Feb, Dr Kern I am also becoming a freaky little freak-out machine. I get light-headed from stressing about it sometimes lately. This is not my first surgery, but I'm much more nuts about this one than I was for what was arguably a much bigger, fully open, longer surgery. I feel like a bit of a dork about it, if I'm honest. Right, so I'm in on the Feb thing.

My surgeon just told me to eat totally normally, and not to do any kind of dieting prior to surgery. I am a bit envious of all the rules and guidelines you get in the US, because I don't really know what to do apart from all the pre-tests.

No advice here, but I am SO GLAD to hear things went well for you! And yay for the anaesthesiologist being so thoughtful. Hope your fever subsides and things sail smoothly along! :-)

Me=ENVIOUS!! Congratulations! You look totally fabulous. How tall are you? Someday I hope to join you instead of being pea green. :confused1: Dee

+1 I would write it and craft it and hone it to a razor-fine edge, mmm. And then not send it. Not because I'm scared to say what I think and stand behind it, but because I think getting it out of me, and then having the strength to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself (or share them with actual friends) instead of giving that kind of power away -- well, I think it feels pretty damn good. Plus, I agree with both of Jane's posts!!

I think it's awesome if you just stop having nightmares about the original situation, which was truly horrifying. A good dream is welcome -- and surely success will follow! :blushing:

Oh my good god, woman -- you look AWESOME! I am quite envious just now, I swear. :thumbup: I find that completely inspiring. Well done you.

I'm 5'7" and about 250 and I have zero problem fitting into plane seats in economy class, or even on the smaller short-flight jets/prop planes seats. They're not too small for people our size, and you don't need a seat-belt extender or anything either. Not comfy and roomy or anything, but not too bad. Have a fun trip!!

Thanks for that, Jane -- I had not even heard of that one before.

Lyn, that is extremely helpful -- and quite an encouraging outcome you've had! Thanks so much for sharing all the information. I am waiting to see what happens here, as it would be covered under my insurance, but I don't want to be told what I can/can't have in terms of surgery. If they want me to do GBS or DS, I will probably just self-pay, and Belgium would be quite convenient. The price is very good too! Thanks again, I will PM you for more details if I go that route. I hope you keep losing so fast and feeling so good. :thumbup: Best, Dee

If any of the Belgium sleevers are still around, would you mind sharing the details of your surgeon? And how much you paid for the surgery? Thanks in advance, and hope you're sitting pretty on the losers' bench!