RosieSweetie

My Dr gave me no instructions except nothing to eat after midnight, the night before surgery. I used an antibacterial soap the night before and again the morning of surgery, because I felt, hey, it can't hurt. (And whenever I'm stressed I like to take showers.) So maybe the showers will help you relax! Best of luck with your surgery.

My stomach did at lot of growling at the beginning but I think it is because it is healing not truly stomach hunger. Try some warm chicken or beef broth, it may help you feel better. I find that my brain is hungry, especialy when I go food shopping and see all the things that I would normally have bought, pre-op.(especially with the holidays). I look forward to everyone else making their resolutions tonight - so everyone will be dieting within the next few days! Also, I just keep reminding myself- "your clothes are getting bigger as you are getting smaller" and I am looking forward to being petite again, with a new wardrobe. Just remember to stay hydrated- and - happy New Years! (also my Dr allowed me to have 2 Calcium chews-which made me feel like I was getting a treat)

Thanks for sharing. And Happy Anniversary!

WOW! What a way to start 2012 !

My Dr did a 40 Fr bougie, so I only had a little discomfort for the first few days. But I noticed warm liquids and room temp liquids went down easier. I made a diet ice cream in my Ninja (frozen strawberries, skim milk, vanilla & strawberry extract, packet of equal- pulsed until it came out like soft serve) and I could only eat (in a about a 1/2 hour period) maybe 1-2oz of it but I could drink like 8 oz of very warm (not steaming hot) chicken broth in about 1/2 hr. With Smaller bougies you eat less (so its more of a challenge now) but it is supposed to be easier to get thinner & keep the weight off. Good luck & hang in (ALso, My Dr told me the most important thing is to avoid dehydration- so try warmer liquids)

Thanks everybody for your input !

Did you try taking fish oil (omega 3's or krill oil capsules)? I find this helps my skin.

My Dr said its the lack of enough protein that causes the hair loss, but I think it also has to do with a person individually. I get well over 80g protein a day ( i use protein drinks And the vials of protein at GNC plus any solids I eat are protein), I take all vitamins including biotin- AND my hair is already thinning. ( I had surgery 12/13/11). I bought the Joan Rivers stuff at Harmons and it helps disguise the problem, for now. I think some of us are just luckier (and younger) then others.

My dr told me use Tylenol, but I sprained my neck and it didn't help. I called and asked if I could take enteric coated aspirin- he said yes! Enteric coated aspirin is aspirin with a coating, to protect the stomach. You can find it where they have regular aspirin.Enteric coated aspirin did reduce the pain (& swelling).

Don't worry- the pain will go away. I was sleeved on 12/13- Dr gave me loratab for the pain- also you can use liquid Tylenol (CVS also has a liquid acetaminophen if you can't get liquid Tylenol). I also used Gas-x strips, which I think helped. A heating pad can help too. The first few days are the worst. Try to get as much liquid in as possible- I found it was easier to drink warm or room temp liquids (I use zero cal powerade stuff and chicken/beef bouillon also, crystal lite with a vial of protein in it- and then just sip slowly. The most important thing is to avoid dehydration (If you get dehydrated you will feel weak and may need to go to the ER-with a copay!) As time passes, you will be able to drink more and you will be more comfortable. Good luck & hang in there- (It will be worth it) -Rosie

When you start your pre-op diet, and you cut out all the junk, all the sugar, you will notice that a lot of the eating you are doing is not due to hunger. So you will start to make adjustments. For me, I noticed I needed to get my stress under control without eating as the coping mechanism. After a few weeks, you will not miss the sugar. I did protein shakes and only 1 meal for about 6 mos before the surgery, so after I got it, I was only really doing the same thing minus 1 meal, so it has not been that bad. Also 2 days prior to surgery, I ate only clear liquids (which was difficult for me), so after surgery, I got to at least get my protein shakes back. As everyone will tell you- the weight loss is worth it! Good Luck on your journey. This site is great for support & tips.

I had surgery Tues, 12/13-got home Thurs. , Fri I had tremendous pains in my calves, my Dr told me go to the emergency room. After being there about 5 hrs(still nauseous with diarrhea- I had an EKG, vascular ultrasound on my legs, blood testing- they determined I had low Ca & Mg. They told me go home and call my Dr.-they gave me nothing! I left ER & my DH took me directly to my WLS Dr., still with pain in both calves that I could barely walk. He told me take liquid vitamin, Ca chews and drink protein drink, which I did and felt much better. Now I take liquid vitamins, sublingual B-12 and Ca chews, and I am doing 1000% better. My Dr told me he was afraid that the pain may indicate blood clots, which can break off & got to your heart (causing heart attack), brain (causing stroke) or lungs (causing death) which is why he sent me to the ER. hope its just a Mg & Ca deficiency , so the pain will stop within an hour or so. (This type of deficiency is not that uncommon after surgery, especially if you had nausea & diarrhea). But again, it could be a blood clot, so contact your Dr. Good Luck and God bless.

I was sleeved on 12/15- I was extremely nauseous and I had diaherra for the first week, along with severe shoulder pain. (A heating pad and walking around my living room really helped it). I had surgery Tues, got home Thurs. , Fri I had tremendous pains in my calves, my Dr told me go to the emergency room. After being there about 5 hrs(still nauseous with diarrhea- I had an EKG, vascular ultrasound on my legs, blood testing- they determined I had low Ca & Mg. They told me go home and call my Dr.-they gave me nothing! I left ER & my DH took me directly to my WLS Dr., still with pain in both calves that I could barely walk. He told me take liquid vitamin, Ca chews and drink protein drink, which I did and felt much better. Also, he told me stop taking Loratab, it can make you nauseous and take liquid Tylenol instead. (For me Zofram did not do much-when I stopped taking Loratab, I stopped Zofram too). This helped tremendously. Now I just take liquid vitamins, sublingual B-12 and Ca chews, and I am doing 1000% better. Also i have been able to go shopping - I just make sure I bring liquids with me (premixed protein drink, isopure, crystal lite, or crystal lite with protein vial in it). So it definately gets MUCH better! HANG IN THERE! Good Luck.

I just got sleeved 12/13/11, so I am excited about my future, But this is a tough time of year for a food addict. For Christmas, I have always done a lot of cooking and baking, especially cookies. This year Christmas can't be food centric. I bought ceramic gingerbread houses for me and my family to paint & decorate, and we made some ornaments . My DH said, "you know its not eating the cookies that's fun-its spending time together" How right he is! (Note- he is tall and pretty slim, just a little in the belly!)It's so important to have family support. Happy holidays to everyone!

I had it for 7 -8 days, then it stopped.I think it may have also had something to do with anesthesia, because I am still on liquids and I don't have it now. I also had insomnia for first 7-8 days, where I only needed to sleep a few hours a day- that has also stopped. Just be assured that nothing lasts forever and it will get better.Hang in there and remember, there are a whole lot of us out there, going through the same things.

I am not a Dr. but I would not take anymore medicine now and I would call the Dr NOW. Even if you get his answering service leave a message. I think this may be a life threatening situation, so I would not take any chances. If he doesn't get back to you in a very short time, I would go to the emergency room. (I don't want to scare you, but I think this is a very,very serious situation). Good luck, and be well.

I definitely feel cold more. My husband was opening peanut butter (which I don't even like) I was 2 rooms away and I could smell it ! So I am definitely more sensitive to the smell of food. Now that I feel better after surgery (a week ago), I feel more tempted by food, but I am still on liquids so I am not really hungry. And, Yes,Yes,Yes, my stomach growls like a caged lion!

I am 1 week today. My Dr told me at least 48 oz fluids, and try to get 60g protein. I use powerade zero. I am also taking liquid multivitamin and 2 calcium chews,along with 2 prevacid (open capsules and put into spoonful of low cal yogurt). My Dr used a 40 bougie so I am not having vomiting issues. When I feel full, I get a tightness in my chect or I feel I have to burp. I am also eating chicken bouillon, protein vials, protein shakes, creamy soups strained, high protein pudding, and I made low cal ice cream in my Ninja (skim milk, frozen strawberries, raspberry extract or substituting frozen peaches and peach crystal lite for peach ice cream and pulse it until it turns into a soft ice cream consistency-maybe 30 sec). i find it easier to have warm liquids- but the ice cream is a treat, so I feel like I 'm not suffering. I can only have a few oz of it at a time though).

GNC and vitamin shop sell vials of protein, and BJS had a box of them for like $19- I don't like the way they taste alone- but I add them to poweade zero strawberry (shoprite) or crystal lite, and they are doable.(I also hate the taste of robitussin, so if you are stuck, I guess you could take them as a shot, like robitussin). Also GNC has a 30g protein chocolate pudding that's not too bad, as long as your hopes aren't too high. (You can buy 1 can and try it- if you like it, then you can buy a six pack box for like $19). I have seen protein jello shots online- but i don't know how they taste. Has anyone tried them?

This is one of the best discussions I have read. Thanks to all of you. I think as obese people we have been conditioned to have to apologize for our size. When we finally get control of our lives, then we are supposed to apologize for how we did it? No way! When I am obese, I find some people feel that they are "superior" to me, even though I am much more successful than them in all the other areas of life (work, marriage,children-just to name a few). Now that I am becoming beautiful again, they are very ticked off. This is what I think leads to the "took the easy way out" comments. The sleeve has given me the inner strength to say "no I won't eat that" to people who try to derail my health. The sleeve gives me strength to not have to "finish my plate" or "just try some" just to make someone else happy.

I find everyones' posts interesting. I personnally hate it when anyone remarks on my weight, whether I gained weight or lost it, but particularly when I lose weight. It makes me very uncomfortable that people are paying that much attention to little (or big) ol' me. I especially hate it when other men, for example a boss, comments.I feel the only one who has a right to comment is the person I share my body with- my husband. So, I think others feel the same way I do. Since I do not want to make others feel uncomfortable,(I don't want people to think I want to intrude into their personal business, so I never comment about someone else's weight. If anything, I will only say, "you look nice today". (I didn't realize by me not commenting, someone would feel hurt or disappointed. I just try to treat others the way I would like to be treated. ) I thought it was bad manners to comment on personal issues, like weight. So I learned something new today!

Hi, I just got sleeved 12/13. I rejected RNY and lap band also. (Many people that got lap band do not lose the same wt as those with the sleeve, and some with the band end up getting it removed, and then get sleeved, because of complications). I also have decided not to make any big announcements that I got sleeved- I am only telling my husband and daughter. (I have a coworker who did tell, and he got such negative comments..."took the easy way out", "wait, you'll just gain it back".) I found these website very helpful- there are many great people that post many helpful ideas. I check in whenever I feel I need support or have a question. Good luck on your journey, whatever you decide.

Hi. I just had the surgery Tues 12/13, came home Thurs. My doc told me no pills- I am on liquid multivitamin (after the surgery- about 1 1/2 wks before surgery Dr told me to stop multivitamin), Prevacid two a day (either crushed or he told me to break the capsule and sprinkle it in yogurt), and gas-x strips, as needed, and chewable calcium. I am on a liquid diet, at least 48 oz of liquid and he said try to shoot for at least 65 g protein. I use the lean protein shakes from GNC which have 25 g protein with vitamins.(Love the vanilla, hated the strawberry and chocolate). Good luck!

Wow! You are such an inspiration! I love that you will celebrate by going to the gym! Good for you!

I am 50. I have been really fighting this weight battle my whole life (except when I was born- I was premature- the only time I was ever underweight!). I looked into bariatric surgery starting about 15 years ago, after I was getting chest pains and the cardiologist told me I was 50% overweight and he recommended the RNY. I was shocked, because even though I knew I was fat, I was in denial and did not think it was "that bad". Anyway, I did not want every thing rerouted, so even though I went to many seminars, I did not have the heart to go through with RNY surgery. But I still kept trying to diet. I would lose weight, then regain it back plus 10 or 20 lbs more. Then lap band came out, and I have alot of sensitivities to chemical and metals ( I had to get a copper iud removed because it made me sick), so I was afraid of foreign materials in my body. So I kept trying to diet- I was always hungry, then I'd lose weight, and regain more. The cycle continued until I got up to 308 lbs and I felt totally frustrated. Then a co-worker got sleeved and I saw what a big difference it was for him. I researched and researched, and went to more seminars. Bottom line- I got sleeved. I think you should not feel you need to wait until you hit a specific weight. In my case, I did emotionally eat, which I realized when I did pre-op dieting, but I also realized that I was eating huge volumes of food, because I was hungry. No diet could shrink the size of my stomach and make me less hungry. The sleeve actually reduces the hormone grelin (which makes you hungry), as well as reduces the size of your stomach, so you won't feel as hungry. Good luck what ever you decide- but find out as much as you can before making a decision.