AbacoRaveness

Hi everyone, I supposed when it rains it pours. I am just moving into the puree portion of my post-op diet and I was really excited about it until last night when, out of the blue, I get this AWFUL pain in my tooth/teeth/upper gum area. My instant fear, given the discussion my anesthesiologist had with me about potentially chipping teeth when intubating for surgery, was OMG abcess! So, I go to the dentist this morning and get x-rays. There really isn't any clear cut abcess (they're going to give me antibiotics just in case), but the nerve looks incredibly inflammed! However, the dentist is afraid to touch me because I'm "so fresh off of major surgery." So, now I have an appointment for NEXT week to see an endodontist to determine whether or not I need a root canal. In the meantime, thank GOD I have half a litre of liquid narcotics! Anyone else around that was unfortunate enough to have a dental problem following surgery?

OMG! I am the best person you could have asked for to stumble across this! I should be the poster child for this surgery because I have had a DREAM recovery. I mean... freakishly good. So, therefore, take this all with a grain of salt because it's not really the norm. I had my surgery Jan. 31, 2012. I was supposed to be first of the day, but ended up getting bumped and didn't go to the OR until 2:30pm-ish. I woke up in recovery close to 5pm-ish and was totally lucid... to the point that I explained cell surface receptors to the nurse when I told her that she couldn't give me a morphine drip because it wouldn't work (I got hydromorphone instead). They wheeled me to my room where I said good night to my husband because he was leaving (end of visitor's hours) and promptly hit the button on my drip and had another four hours of blissful sleep. I'm usually an insomniac so I was making the most of that drowsiness! I woke up around 10pm with some pain my chest/abdomen. The nurse told me that walking would help. So I got up and walked maybe a total of 15ft down the hallway before I started to feel neauseated, but by the time I laid back down I guess the gas had shifted and I was back to being relatively comfortable. I consider myself lucky that I did have a catheter, so I didn't even have to get up to pee! I slept the rest of the night away and only pushed that "pain button" once or twice. The next day was the leak test... WORST part of the whole thing. That stuff is NASTY and made me feel kinda sick, but I got through it. chicken broth is ridiculously delicious after that! So, day one: spent either sipping, walking, or sleeping. I think I walked half a mile that day all total. Day two was more of the same and I finally made it up to the volume they wanted me to get. I also walked a mile on day two. They discharged me on day 3. The rest of it is history. My pain was seriously minimal. I've had achilles tendonitis that hurt much worse. My first few days I had to force myself to drink small sips every five minutes to get my fluids in. But other than that, I was back to good in two weeks. I added foods back slowly like you're supposed to, but I've never found one I couldn't tolerate. My energy level was fine and I went back to work full time at two-weeks post-op. I lost about 25lbs the first month. Started exercising at two months. And haven't looked back. I love this life and I'm so glad I made the decision to go for it. Again, my recovery was freakishly good and most people have at least one thing that bugs them. But, you wanted a positive story and that's what I've got!

It should get better by this afternoon. I did a pre-op of three days of only clear liquids. The first 24 hours were the worst, after that I didn't feel so much hungry as exhausted!

I don't know about Spatters3, but I don't drink protein shakes either (I'm 7 months post-op). I easily get 50-60g of protein daily. I think it's because I LOVE meat, cheese, and peanut butter and I'm lucky that I can tolerate them all. My meals are always focused on protein (usually some kind of meat, although at breakfast its either eggs or low-fat cottage cheese) and my snacks are the same way. I eat the protein first, then the veggies or fruit. Sometimes if I'm running late or something, I will start the day with a protein shake, but that's rare.

I am seven months post-op and have had a DREAM recovery. There are no foods that I have found that I can't tolerate. I COULD eat pretty much anything I want at this point. I do occassionally (very rarely) have a coke zero or diet dr. pepper. I can't drink a whole 12oz can and I have to drink it VERY, VERY slowly. The carbonation just makes me uncomfortable. But, sometimes I will have it as a treat because it tastes SO GOOD! Often, I will find myself having a diet soda instead of ice cream when my husband wants to go to the DQ. It makes me happy and it still has fewer calories and carbs than even sugar free ice cream. I don't eat steak much any more. I used to love a good rare (raw) steak. Now I have to chew it into oblivion for it to be anywhere near comfortable in my sleeve and that ruins it for me. I think I've had it once in the seven months since surgery. I still like the taste, and can eat it if I just absolutely have a craving and have to have it, but I really don't miss it at all. I don't like fried foods anymore. I will still sneak one of my husband's french fries every now and again, but ONE is about it. I also have given up chips. Will occassionally have corn chips with ALOT of pico de gallo and LOVE vegetable chips. But those greasy potato chips that I used to love... gross! So, don't think of it as stuff that you "can't ever have again". It will be more like stuff that you could have, but won't really want anymore. Good luck! This was a fairly easy decision for me and I don't regret it at all! But, its different for everyone and I'm glad you're considering all the pros and cons up front!

Feel free to add me! I need as much help (and accountability) as I can get! AbacoRaveness

I was on ONLY clear liquids for three days pre-op. The first day was the WORST. After the first 24hours it got much easier. I remember not so much being hungry, as feeling exhausted! I think I just kept telling myself that I would get plenty of rest post-op and just pushed through it. Just keep drinking constantly! Water, broth, ANYTHING to keep your stomach filled with fluid will help keep you from feeling so hungry. The exhaustion you just have to deal with unfortunately. It's WORTH IT!

I'm in too! I need some friends on MFP that are going to call me out if I skip a day! Also, need people to ride my butt about fruits and vegetables. Please add me - same user name as here (AbacoRaveness). Let's do it!

Ugh! I hate that for you! I didn't hit my first stall until 7 months post-op, so I can't really offer much advice to you other than to say that I'm a freak and pretty much EVERYONE else that I've ever talked to bemoaned the week-3 stall! It's totally normal and I think duration is probably different for everyone. Don't panic! Just keep on focusing on protein and fluids and you'll get through it!

At 4-weeks out, counting calories was the last thing on my mind. At this point focus on protein as that's most important to allow proper healing (and drinking it is fine if you can stand the taste!). I didn't worry about calories until my 2-month post-op visit. At that point my dietician recommended 1000cal/day minimum, and it still took me about another two months to work up to that. Focus on protein now, and then around two months post-op you'll probably want to start thinking about gradually making your diet more balanced. But, remember, its a gradual, slow process. Don't rush it, just enjoy the journey!

At two months out I was averaging about 800cal/day and when I met with my dietician, she recommended increasing that to at least 1000cal/day. At my six month follow-up both the bariatrician and dietician yelled at me because I was still at 1000-1100cal/day. They want me up around 1300-1400/day. BUT, that's because I'm super active. I bike, I hike, and I ride horses. And these are little 2mile half hour jaunts, more like 10-20mile endurance events (avg. 4.5mph hiking, 13mph biking, and 7-8mph on horseback, which requires significant leg strength and posting). So, they probably wouldn't have been all up in my grill about it if I was less active, but they were really concerned that I'm not eating enough to sustain me. Basically, eat when you're hungry and focus on BALANCE! Does that help?

So, I have (had?) PCOS and have been on "the pill" to stay regular for 12 years. After my surgery, my endocrinologist suggested stopping them for a few months to see if everything would regulate itself post-op. It did! Yay! But this month I started them again for actual contraceptive purposes (what a concept!). BUT I think I might quit them all together! Since I started them again, my weight loss slowed ALOT, which is ok, but I also don't feel great. I feel like I'm starving, I'm fatigued, I'm an emotional roller coaster, and my skin is breaking out. It's not worth it!!! Anyone else have this experience???

I have RLS. Found it years ago in a sleep study. Neuro was convinced I had apnea, but I didn't. Just RLS so bad that I woke myself up every ten minutes. He prescribed ropinerole (Requip). Its an alzheimers drug and, at the time, was off label for RLS. It's been like a miracle drug for me. I cried the first time I slept all the way through the night. I went through years of hell to get that sleep study. Finally resorted to throwing myself on the floor of my doctor's office screaming and crying and demanding a referral to a sleep specialist. They decided that writing the referral was easier than calling the police. It was embarrassing but turned out to be 100% totally worth it! That said, RLS like symptoms can be related to potassium deficiency. RLS itself is linked to iron deficiency. Everything and its brother is linked to inflammation and Vit. D deficiency... so if you have either of those good luck actually getting treated for anything!

From someone who works in healthcare... don't be a hero. If you're hurting and you have pain meds, TAKE THEM. Its only when you have to go back asking for seconds or thirds that you need to worry. I was off pain meds by day 3, I tend to have a really high pain tolerance. Then, about day 5 I realized that anesthesia had cracked one of my molars when they intubated me. I developed a dental abcess and had to wait several days for a root canal. I don't remember the second week post-op AT ALL because I was drugging myself into oblivion so I wouldn't have to deal with that toothache! If you have the meds and you need them... TAKE THEM!

My first alcohol was a little over two months post-op. I tried a margarita (tequila). A few days later I also tried a mojito (rum). I had no trouble with either of them. BUT, there are alot of empty calories in those AND I can't really drink enough fast enough for it to have any effect. So, I've pretty much decided that I won't be drinking any more. I don't need the temptation to stretch my sleeve or the empty calories. Good luck!!

Welcome! It's nice to hear from someone else that has had a relatively easy time so far. I was starting to worry that maybe I was just a FREAK! LOL. I was sleeved on Jan. 31st 2012. Feel free to friend me! Tiffany

I'm the odd duck on this site. I had a dream recovery! Progressed along with no trouble, haven't found a food yet that I can't tolerate, and haven't hit a stall (knock on wood) yet. Probably when my time comes I will be hit with something horrible, but in the meantime I'm using my ridiculous and disgusting positivity to be a cheerleader for others. That said, I started seeing a therapist about a year and a half before my surgery. I had always been kinda tightly wound and had bouts of anxiety on and off, but around that time I had several life events that just pushed me over the edge. I continued to see my therapist through the whole pre-op process and I'm still seeing her. I don't know how I would have done most of this without that support. If you're having depression or anxiety I would highly highly recommend seeing a therapist. It's hard to find a good one, but once you do you will find relief and solace there. It can be hard at times, but will help to bring about so many positive changes in your life. AND, like this surgery, a few months later you will wonder why you ever waited so long to do it.

I'm ok with coffee in general, BUT post-op I do better with decaf. Also, I used to like my coffee strong with very little creamer but now I have to cream the bejeezus out of it! Fortunately Kroger brand fat free, sugar free vanilla creamer works well.

I got it from my dentist (Coast Dental), but I've since learned that you can get it at Walmart!

It wasn't until my two-month post-op appointment with my dietician and bariatrician that they suggested that I start trying to incorporate more vegetables. They said that at that point I should start to try to focus more on "balanced" meals than just Protein, but it would be a slow process. The caveat to this was that I had a dream recovery and I haven't found anything yet that I couldn't keep down! As far as full. I've had the full sensation since the beginning. So, I can't help you with that one! I'll tell you, sometimes, when I'm eating something super yummy I will go from "satisfied" to the Thanksgiving/stuffed/overfull feeling. I sometimes get down on myself about it, but then I really look at just how much I've eaten and its still less than a cup of food total. I'm very careful most of the time only eat until satisfied because I don't want to mess up my sleeve, but we all have moments of weakness!

I was never specifically told anything about my spleen. Although it was just my automatic assumption that anytime they are cutting part of an internal organ out there is a risk of internal bleeding. I had a JP drain for two days after my surgery and had some bloody stuff coming out, but that is totally normal. Although, that said, it depends on how much you bleed anyway. I'm not a bleeder and never have been. In fact, my surgeon was so concerned with my lack of bleeding during the surgery that he proceded to give me heparin every six hours post-op to prevent clots (DVT or PE etc). So, if you know that you have a clotting problem, it might be a reason to get concerned. Otherwise its probably one of those "adverse events" that affects 0.01% of people who have the procedure.

Good advice from Isabel'sGma! My surgeon told me not to get on the scale every day and NOT to worry about weekly trends. He said to focus more on month-to-month changes.

The weird taste is probably ketosis, which is the process that your body uses to burn fat for energy so it's a good thing. The best way to manage it is to invest in a tongue scraper. There is a kit from a company called BreathRx that has a tongue scraper, mouthwash, and breath freshening spray that was my lifeline during the ketosis phase.

I'm so excited!!! As of my weekly weigh-in this morning, I am OFFICIALLY under 200lbs! Whoo Hoo! That sure has been alot of years in coming! I have lost 58lbs so far. I was carrying around my all leather western saddle this past weekend, it weights 45lbs, and I was thinking how I can't imagine carrying that thing around all day! But I've lost that plus another 13lbs... it would be like carrying around my saddle with my cat in it! (Stupid cat!) I'm also now able to wear shorts that I haven't fit into since college! They looked better back then, but that was over ten years ago!!! I'm loving this sleeved life!!! Pictures below!