hugsamber

I understand how you are feeling. My surgery was a week ago. Today has been a rough day. I am in pain. I think that I might have overdid the walking by going to costco yesterday and the mall today. I walked really slow but when I got home I was really tired and my right side hurt. I only had to be on clear liquids for 3 full days. I can now have pudding, yogurt and cream of soups. They are good to eat but I have to go real slow. I am still have problems with getting all of my liquids in. You are right that the mental aspect is what is hard. When I have a craving I eat a SF popsicle. That seems to help. Be careful if you are going to have oatmeal, I would suggest cream of wheat first or yogurt. Something really thin but thicker than water. Just to try out your sleeve. And eat really really slow. I have a lot of gas and air after I eat, I guess I am ingesting too much air with each bite. I walk after I eat and that help a little. I tried to wean off the pain meds but no luck. My program doesn't suggest protein shakes..I don't know why but I mix in some protein powder with my pudding to help out. I have until the 28th with full liquids. Then hopefully will get to move on to pureed! Good luck!

Okay so my previous post was kind of melodramatic...i was in pain, what can I say? I am feeling much better. Still have some good pain on the right side, which is where my largest incision is. I have been walking a bunch and getting in at least 24 ounces of water the first few days. I am not dehydrated and pee like every hour. I have not yet had a BM. Though I am very bloated and gassy. I can feel the gas moving through me, it isn't uncomfortable but it sure does feel good when a bit comes out. I have to remind myself that I just had major surgery and to not do to much. I am off until Dec 27th. I think that should be enough time. I have not been hungry at all, which is a very nice thing. I also have not experienced head hunger yet but I am sure that will come once I am able to eat a little more. Starting tomorrow I can have pudding, yogurt and cream soups. I am kind of excited and nervous at the same time. I don't want to get sick eating anything so I have been really careful, even when I was having jello!

Wow! Congrats!!!

First off let me say that I think that it is great that you are trying to be supportive and researching the sleeve on your own. I have been sleeved since Monday, Dec 13th so I am not an expert by any means. I have dieted in the past and had even lost 45 pounds at once time, primarily by exercising. I had always had problems with my portion control, which was one of the reasons this surgery appealed to me. I felt like I was always hungry. Now I don't really feel hungry, Im not sure if it is because I am only 6 days out or if it will become a permanent thing, but it is wonderful. I eat less than 1/4 cup of pudding or yogurt and stop. I may be able to eat more but I never want to get ill from eating too much and hurting my newly healing sleeve. Every person has the choice on how they want to eat. If you choose to cheat and eat bad or too much you will be sick. If you continue to do it then you have more of an emotional problem with food and should seek help. But if you learn from your mistake or have not made one then I think that the sleeve has assisted you. Has your mom gone through the whole process yet? Pre-op diet, testing and all of that? Does she know anyone who has had the surgery? It is not an easy way out. You still have to make the right choices. This is not a reversible decision. When you talk to her make sure that she understands that you are supportive, but want to fully understand the risks and changes that will need to be made. Having postive support makes all of the difference. Sorry i just read this back to myself and I was a little all over the place...i'm still on pain meds :0) Good luck!

Congrats! The first week is the hardest...at least in my opinion. I was sleeved on Monday so I am only 6 days out. I am still taking my pain meds and walking as much as I can. I still have gas and can feel it moving through me. My tummy also grumbles and makes noises a lot. I had nasuea as well the first day really bad. But since then have been good. I sip, sip sip all day long. It is hard to get in more than 40 oz of water though. I can now have full liquids but only eat a tiny bit, less than 1/4 of a cup and then I am done. Just remember to take it easy. I try to do too much then realize ouch, I need to sit down! Also, the gas x strips helped me a bunch. Walking was the best thing though, even when I don't want to, I walk just in circles around the apartment (its been raining here for a few days). Good luck and hang in there. It gets better each and every day!

Happy Birthday! Hope you are having an amazing day!

Congrats!!! My surgery was dec 13th at 1:20pm. I got there early, around 10am...we live about 2 hours from the hospital, and someone decided to be a no-show so they moved my surgery up to 11:20! So I know how you feel about the late surgery time. That day goes by super fast though. Good luck!

I was given two heparin shots, one in pre-op and the other the morning after surgery. The first one hurt and burned and now I have a big bruise in my arm, but the second one was not that bad and I did not get a bruise from it. I imagine that you will get heparin shots while in the hospital but I haven't really heard many people having to give them to themselves once they get home. Each doctor is different though.

So far so good. My boyfriend drove me to the hair salon today so I could get a wash and blowdry...it takes a lot of energy to wash and dry my hair...its super long. Raising my arms up for awhile hurts my tummy as well. Its amazing how clean hair makes you feel! I have no issues showering but I get pretty tired right after. I have to remind myself not to over do it. I don't want to have any leaks or complications so I am trying to baby myself. Today was my first day on stage 2, full liquids. No problems so far. It is hard to get in all of the Water though. I got in about 40 ounces today. Though I did nap a lot so that limits my time to sip! Does anyone know how long it takes for the staple line to heal? I have my month follow up on Jan 14th and thought that the staple line healed in about 30 days....or maybe the chance of a leak decreases after 30 days. hmm...so many things to worry about! I have lost all of the weight and then some from the surgery. That is super cute about the build a bear! I loved having a small x-mas pillow to cuddle on...a bear would have been much better though! I thought that I was going to freak out before the surgery but suprisingly I was quite calm. When I woke up I needed lots of drugs for the nasuea and some for the pain. I kind of had my freak out moment the night that I got home. I was in a lot of pain and wondering why I did this. But each day gets better and better.Having a great doc who makes you at ease helps as well. I love dr Baggs. He made me so comfortable even while in the operating room. All of that helps.

I take my mutivitamin once a day, my calcium 3 times a day and a b12 once a day. The muti vitamin and the b12 went down fine but when I went to take the calcium it made my tummy gurgle and have a lot more gas. I was worried that I wasn't suposed to take anything. Whew I feel much better. Thanks for the quick responses!

When did you start taking your vitamins after surgery? I thought that I was suposed to start taking them right after, they are all chewable, but then I read something that said wait 2 weeks after surgery. Any ideas? I don't want to over do it with my tummy but if I am suposed to be taking them then I want to follow the program. Thanks!

Good luck! I also had surgery on Monday. Each day I feel better and better. Not being hungry is crazy, its amazing though. Im writing my blog for the same reason. To help me be accountable and to document my feelings during this life altering process. Good luck!

Yes my mom is having surgery at Richmond. She is going to have the gastric bypass though. I am doing better each and every day. Walking and sipping helps a lot. I had some pudding today and so far no problems. I am still taking the pain meds and they help a lot with the pain and discomfort. I was able to get in my 20 ounces of water yesterday. Today I am suposed to be trying to get in 64 ounces. Not sure if that is going to happen. But im not dehydrated so thats a good thing!

Yes, sleeping in the chair has been a lifesaver! I would recommend it for sure!

I just had surgery on Monday. I weighed in the hospital a few hours after surgery. I gained 10 pounds. As of Thursday I have lost all but 2 pounds of it. I have not yet had a BM but feel lots of gas moving around. When should I become worried about not having a BM? I am starting full liquids tomorrow, maybe that will help. I just feel bloated and gassy.

Thanks! I am excited for pudding tomorrow! Each day gets better and better. I can feel all the gas moving around inside me. I think that onces that goes away I will feel much better! How are you doing?

Thanks! I am feeling better for the most part. I waited to long to take my meds and I was in some serious pain. But since then I have been taking the meds regularly and that has been helping. I am hoping that by day 7 I will not need any meds as well!

I made it through my surgery. I got released form the hospital on Tuesday morning. I was in a lot of pain Tuesday night but things have been slowly improving. It hurts really bad when I cough but I know that coughing helps get rid of the junk inside me. I have been walking and sipping a lot. It is hard to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Laying on my back hurts, because it stretches my tummy out, and laying on my sides I can only do for a little bit. I am using almost every pillow in the house to be comfortable sitting in a chair in our living room. I still cant believe that I went through this. I am not hungry at all and have not had any bouts of nasuea since monday night. I did weigh myself in the hospital after surgery, even though they say not to. I gained 10 pounds! Since then I have lost 8 of those pounds. It is crazy. My doctor took pictures of my old stomach, my new stomach and my gallbladder. I have to admit that my new tummy is pretty cute! I have also been taking the pain meds regularly. So if my post seems like a lot of rambling we can just blame it on the drugs. I just wanted to check in with you all to let you know how I am doing, gonna go nap so more. Seems like I am napping the days away!

Well Monday December 13th is tomorrow. It is my surgery day. I have to be at the hospital at 11:20 for a surgery time of 1:20. It is almost a 2 hour ride (with traffic) to the hospital from where I live so I will be leaving early to make sure that I am not late! I have packed my bag, I always over pack so it was hard to close! Here is my list: Slippers Robe PJs Panties Blanket and small pillow for car ride home gas x strips toothbrush and toothpaste hairbrush cell phone charger and cell phone ID and Kaiser card binder (for kaiser patients) breathing thingy (its called a spirometer or something like that. Kaiser gave them to us.) chapstick tampons and pads (really really sucks that I started my period this morning) My mom is making me a "care package" which includes magazines, Dr. Alvarez's Vertical Sleeve book and a movie) I am hungry and my tummy is growling a bit. I can drink water until midnight....so I have another 3 hours. I am trying to fill up on that! I feel like I am not tired at all and will be up all night. Plus I have cramps and it really sucks. I don't feel nervous right now, I feel weird though. Really quiet. I am sure that I will be really nervous in the morning. I just wish that I could fast forward 3 months. Well next time I post I will be sleeved....

Well today is the day. I have to be at Richmond at 11:20 for a surgery time at 1:20pm. Wish me luck!

My surgery is today! At 1:20pm!!! I also had weird dreams about the surgery and food. I was nervous up until last night and now I just can't describe how I am feeling. Not calm but quiet and not talkative. As far as what to bring I was told chapstick and a small pillow for the ride home...helps with the bumps in the road. Good luck! It looks like we are both getting a pretty nice present for Christmas!

My surgery is Monday as well. I finally got called late Friday with my surgery time...1:20!!! I was hoping for first thing in the morning. Now I have all morning to worry and be anxious! I also have been cleaning all weekend! I guess I am trying to get things prepared for when I come home. My boyfriend is also very supportive. I just wanted a really clean place so that he doesn't have to clean and take care of me. Good luck tomorrow!!!! Next thing you know we will be sleeved!!!

Dec 13th is coming up very very fast! I like to think that I am prepared but I know that I probably am not. Now I am just waiting for a phone call telling me what time I have to be at the hospital on Monday. I am not sure if what I am about to do has sunk in yet though...

Well I have to admit that I have not always followed my preop diet to perfection. Through Kaiser they want you eating a certain way and well I would on a few occasions have a cheat day or rather a cheat meal. Just this past Friday, 9 days before my surgery, I drank two margaritas and had a veggie burrito. I felt really guilty about the alcohol. I guess it was sort of my last meal. I just now worry that my liver is going to be all gigiantic and slippery during surgery. I think that I am just getting really nervous about the surgery in general. I will be sticking to low carbs and high protein until my surgery which will mean that I will be doing that consistently for 8 days. I have lost a little over 30 pounds during this preop period. I just hope that I will be okay and that my liver will not cause any difficulties during surgery. I can't stop thinking about this surgery. It is so crazy that I am doing this to myself. I know that it is just nerves and that almost everyone goes through these feelings before surgery. I just wish that I wasn't so freaked out. I am sure that I will have a mini panic attack when I get into the operating room. Then being in the hospital overnight by myself. I guess I just need to stop thinking about these things and try to think about 2 months from now when I have lost weight and can eat and drink easier and not be in any pain. During my preop class last week the case manager gave us relaxations CDs...maybe I need to go and listen to it!