LoserMama

I had to fight to get to stay two days. I was authorized for two days, but they wanted to hurry me out of there since my doc was going on vacation, I suspect, and because I was doing realyl well. I wasn't having it. I was nice, but I wanted my two nights of recovery -- I have 4 kids and 2 dogs to come home to, I wanted the second day/night to focus on my recovery before coming home to the insane asylum. I did have a brief nutritionist visit in the hospital, it was probably 15 minutes or so.

also, are you on prescription pain meds? Those really do a number on us

Today, I am feeling kind of dizzy and lightheaded. Is that normal? Trying to determine source, guess it could be the pain meds, at first I thought it was withdrawal from my anxiety,eds, but I took both those this am, and would normally have that dissipate sooner. Any reasons I should be worried?

We're almost sleeve sisters, sounds like you are doing great so far, that is wonderful. Kind of weird period of time now to no longer be anticipating it...weird, huh? Congrats and Merry Christmas.

I have this same question. I don't need to be able to down a bunch, but I'd love to be able to take a couple of big gulps without worry

I wasn't given specific guidelines for preop liquid diet, just postoperative. I was told 6 days of full liquids and 1 day of clear. I am mainly following the postop full liquid diet guidelines, but I am not JUST drinking Protein shakes. I have had Soup out for the last three nights. The first was a cup of chicken tortilla at red robin, and they blended it for me. Second was hot and sour at a fav Chinese place and they left out all that was chunky for me and then blended the egg and tofu. Tonight was a bowl of Vietnamese pho, just the broth, and then while shopping an orange Julius with protein boost, which was higher sugar I know, it was 175 cal. I am averaging 800-1000 calories per day and 60 g of protein. I have had an occasional bite of real food but chewed it to death and kept it to a bite or two, except for a run in day 2 with 1/2 c of Chex mix. It's hard for me to feel too bad about it when I see such wide variance in practice. The other surgeons in this practice, I was told, would not be requiring a liquid diet preop at all with my bmi. I know thats just me trying to rationalize...lol.

oh well, i didn't eat anything like that good to know it was still okay in your case. My doc said that primarily the diet was for liver shrinkage, and since I was already lower BMI at time of surgery it wasn't a big deal that I had some chex mix. The rest of it was absolutely within the full liquid guidelines, he said. Again, YMMV, each doc has different guidelines. It all worked out fine for me. The Soups were fine, perhaps a little higher fat than they would prefer with one of them. The hot and sour soup they told me was a great choice blended. Depending on preparation of course. PF Changs, for instance, though, is pretty good as far as being low carb, low fat.

I don't take any BP meds, Dorrie. But I'm thinking maybe pain meds? Just not sure. If it continues I'll have to call.

This is mostly a duplicate for December sleevers, but want to share my experiences with other prospective and post-op sleevers. I really had a pretty good first few days, relatively speaking. Here is my whole surgery story: sleep last night, waking up only to take my pain meds to keep ahead of the pain, and that was FABULOUS. I woke up feeling tons better. I know by night time I will not be feeling so great if my past experience with c-sections holds true, but I'll take how i feel right now. This is great. in general, I have tolerated liquids great, not had any nausea, had lots of bloating and gas pain and referred pain through yesterday from the CO2, but all in all doable. I walked 6200 steps yesterday with my small walks around the block with hubby or son. Which, ironically is more steps than I was getting in on average pre-op. LOL. Small walks add up if you do them regularly (lightbulb moment, duh) I really don't WANT anything to eat. but it is hard to see the commercials on TV for yummy things and to smell the foods other people are eating in the house. Hubby has felt bad and I told him, he needs to eat and he shouldn't feel guilty about that! My hubby has been GREAT. He always is. So helpful and uncomplaining, he is the best. He's very supportive. He has a difficult time sleeping when I am not there, so although I would have preferred sleeping in the recliner, I slept in our bed so that he could get some good sleep. with the incline in my bed because of pre-op reflux and a stack of pillows, it worked out quite well. I slept great. The only really bad thing that has happened was that my two year old was sitting on the lower part of the recliner I was sitting on last night, and although I had a pillow protecting my tummy, at one point he suddenly turned and wanted to lift himself up and of course somehow shoved his little hand UNDER the pillow, and shoved all his weight right on the most tender site to hoist himself....OMG. I cried. I couldn't help it. That hurt. One thing, I don't know if its the meds, the wear off of anesthesia or what, but my sleep is heavy and my dreams are vivid and crazy. the last dream of the night I dreamed that I "accidentally" ate beef stroganoff and noodles during the post op clear liquid stage and was sitting there horrified wondering what was going to happen to me. It seemed SOOOO real, I woke up sure I had accidentally done that. Also, although i was pumped full of liquids, I've been able to clear them adequately and I'm not really Water bloated, and I would say that is confirmed by the fact that I've lost a few pounds since surgery when I weighed myself this AM. I was expecting to have gained some water weight.

So far today, I have just worked my way thru 59 oz of fluids and 47 oz of protein,my first day at home, I was told to shoot for 40-60 oz of protein this first week since I am still on clears all this first week. I took a little less lortab this last time, a bit better. I took my blood pressure, its been high postop. They weren't too worried. Its been running about 140-155/90. I don't normally have high blood pressure. They were thinking it was just a reaction to the stress of surgery....not sure.

Thanks Felicia, as I expected now as we get toward evening I am a bit more raggedy even with a good midday nap, but overall can't complain.

Hey sleeve twin, Same here, I hope its not a problem. I mean it's not like I slam or gulp it, but I can drink 8 oz of Isopure zero carb in about oh..30 minutes? So far today, here at 5:30, I have had 48 ounces of liquid, and 32 oz of Protein. I need at least 8 more of protein and 16 of liquid, lots of work yet to do.

Merry Christmas to all and good luck to the December sleevers yet to be sleeved and healing vibes to all already sleeved. I had a NICE full night of sleep last night, waking up only to take my pain meds to keep ahead of the pain, and that was FABULOUS. I woke up feelign tons better. I know by night time I will not be feeling so great if my past experience with c-sections holds true, but I'll take how i feel right now. This is great. in general, I have tolerated liquids great, not had any nausea, had lots of bloating and gas pain and referred pain through yesterday from the CO2, but all in all doable. I walked 6200 steps yesterday with my small walks around the block with hubby or son. Which, ironically is more steps than I was getting in on average pre-op. LOL. Small walks add up if you do them regularly (lightbulb moment, duh) I really don't WANT anything to eat. but it is hard to see the commercials on TV for yummy things and to smell the foods other people are eating in the house. Hubby has felt bad and I told him, he needs to eat and he shouldn't feel guilty about that! My hubby has been GREAT. He always is. The only really bad thing was that my two year old was sitting on the lower part of the recliner I was on last night, and although I had a pillow protecting my tummy, at one point he suddenly turned and wanted to lift himself up and of course shoved his little hand UNDER the pillow, and shoved all his weight right on the most tender site to hoist himself....OMG. I cried. I couldn't help it. That hurt. Here is my whole surgery story: http://losermama.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/first-full-postop-day/ One thing, I don't know if its the meds, the wear off of anesthesia or what, but my sleep is heavy and my dreams are vivid and crazy. the last dream of the night I dreamed that I "accidentally" ate beef stroganoff and noodles during the post op clear liquid stage and was sitting there horrified wondering what was going to happen to me. It seemed SOOOO real, I woke up sure I had accidentally done that. :D

Hi, too tired to say much, I posted a post on my blog though in my siggie. Long story short, sleeved on wed, found paraesophageal hernia also and repaired it, too. Walked a lot in the hosp, was discharged today, at home, had a first walk and am now resting with horrid gas pain... Yay...(weak grin)

Thank you all for well wishes, I am excited and nervous. Going to try to get some sleep tonight so I can wake up at 5, take a shower and be to the hospital by 6:30. My brother is taking me there, and then my husband is following, because he has to drop off our two littlest ones at daycare, which doesn't open until 7. So I am hoping they don't whisk me back immediately, my surgery is scheduled for 8:30, so hopefully I'll get to see him before I go in. my bag is packed, my brand new travel cpap is downstairs by the door and I loaded up on water all day to hopefully make it easier for them to start my IV tomorrow (I'm an awful stick) I am a big geek, so I'll have devices to get online, if I feel up to it, I'll try to post tomorrow night or the day following. They said I'll be in either one or two days, and while I know the hospital isn't greatly restful, my home with 4 kids bouncing off the walls right before christmas isn't too restful either, so I think I'd still prefer the interruptions of the hospital to people needing a lot from me all the time Hubby is great about deflecting the best he can, but 2 year olds won't get it, and the 4.5 year old will barely get it. the older two, 13 and 11, should be helpful. Hopefully I'll be joining that loser's bench soon!

I am jealous that you get to come home to full liquids! I have Clear liquids for a week first. The loser's bench side will respond, but here is what i did. I am somewhat worried because I hear so often that our tastes change post-op and that things that were good pre=op won't be palatable post-op, but I wanted to have stuff on hand too. I have: 2 cases of Isopure RTD Zero Carb (orange and grape) 2 cases of Premier Protein RTD from costco (which I am regretting -- eww) A big set of samples from Vitalady -- my favorite purchase so far - REALLY like myofusion samples. nectar samples of the fruit flavors unjury chicken Soup Unjury Unflavored Body Fortress vanilla Target whey Protein powder -- chocolate New Whey Protein Bullets Jello -- both premade and not sugar free pudding eggs Crystal Light broth Mini plates, bowls, silverware, etc from Bed Bath and Beyond Magic bullet (life saver so far during pre-op) Boxes of smooth soup that are pourable so I hopefully don't waste too much -- pacific natural brands I think? Tomato/Red Pepper, Black Bean and Carrot Cashew Ginger Soup in hand cans of creamy tomato Honestly though, I am hoping I can hear that I can do the same thing post-op I did pre-op when I get to post op full liquids, which is get soups from places I really like, like PF Changs Hot and Soup Soup, and blend them and add unflavored protein. I don't know if that will be allowed post op though.

Rainsong, sounds awesome! I am wondering too, so happy for you. Today I had pre-admission labs. the nurse there told me that to minimize pain from the CO2 they blow us up with, to lay as flat as possible to avoid the gas rising, for the first day or so. She said that way it will not be as likely to cause pain. Anyone heard that? I am up tomorrow. I am spending today getting last minute errands and being lazy while I can!

Ditto this -- hope it went wonderfully!!

Good luck tomorrow jasleeve! Hope it goes great! Hey thegerm -- congrats -- how is your early recovery going? Sweetie, you know I'm praying for ya and know it will go great! welcome SherylO! I know what you mean about beign able to taste the burger...last night I swear the world was conspiring against me with so many food commercials!

I would say that would probably be it -- were you on a liquid diet or just a low carb pre-op diet?

Good luck! I'm one day behind you on Wednesday -- I hope it goes wonderfully!

Cool, thanks!!

So true that each pound lost preop is one I dont have to lose later. I am hoping it's a bit easier to be on liquid diet post op. right now the idea of a full week of clear liquids....omg!!!

Did you find any in there I plus sizes?so far everything I have clicked is teeny tiny.

Good luck to you on Monday!! I have my insulin pump sitting in my closet, I only had to use mine during pregnancies, but I hav head these thoughts of , hey could I sell this crap when I don't need it anymore?? I feel differently about the cpap, its a love hate relationship, I hate that I have to use it, but I have used it for so long that I have become kind of ritualistic about it as a cue for sleep and have found it difficult to sleep after it. Doc told me I won't be on cpap in the hospital because some of the air goes into the stomach and he doesn't like to risk anything adding pressure to the new sleeve, that I can start using it when I get home again after the sleeve has had a couple of days to heal.