101driver

Mid-November I had my consult; Jan. 30 was my surgery. Good luck to you!

I'm 12 days post op and have been able to eat a 4 oz. container of yogurt with no problem. I also had one scrambled egg and it was just the right amount. Today I had the refried beans with a sprinkle or cheese and tsp. of NF sour cream that everyone says tastes so good. I did! but I ate the 14-1/3 cup too fast, I think, and I was seriously FULL. Now I know the uh-oh, my new stomach is filled to the brim feeling!!

Hang in there, Meredit. I'm 12 days post op and I can't believe how much better I feel today than I did those first few days. If you have the plastic puffer (as I call it), use it. It's so important to work out the deep part of your lungs. I know it hurts because your throat/lungs hurt and every time you inhale you're pushing down on all the sore parts of your abdomen. But believe that it really will help you in the long run. You don't want to develop pnemonia! Just keep following all the instructions and you will heal. I remember reading stuff like that that people posted to my story of recovery (pain! anxiety and emotions), and I can't believe that I feel like I'm on the other side of it and it's only been 12 days. You'll heal and your body will recover. Just keep the faith and baby yourself. You don't have to be Superwoman and heal overnight! hang in there...

Day 9 post-op update...Yeah me! Mid week weigh in and below that awful 300 number!!! :cheer2:

anyone else experience this?

I feel pretty great. When I don't, I realize a little pain has slipped back in the picture. I'm trying to space out my pain meds a little longer. I teach private voice lessons out of my home and yesterday (day 7 post op) was my first day back. It was great to be up, alert, laughing with my students. But after five lessons I was totally beat. Boy did I sleep well last night. Today and tomorrow are sort of light days and then Thurs-Sat are lotsa lessons days. I hope my stamina continues to increase. I know I'd feel way better if I had protein in me. I'm working on that...

Thanks, SasahWLS. I'm wondering if that's what's going on - ketosis. I'm feeling pretty good! Thanks for askin'! All the clear liquid stuff has been a breeze. I "turned a corner" on about day 2 1/2 and was able to really swallow freely without a feeling of anxiety. Now I feel hydrated and healthy. Major complaint is pain in my abdomen, mostly centered around the bigger incision where they took old tummy out. Still taking pain meds, but each day gets better. I have my post op check with my doc tomorrow morning. I'm only getting Protein from chicken broth and NF milk. Can't handle any Liquid Protein : (

I have read so much that has helped me and I wanted to share my experience in case anyone else finds things in it that can help them. Day of Surgery Good experience in the hospital. They are a “center of excellence” and really know what they’re doing. I made use of my pain pump through the night but, by morning, was pretty much off it. I wanted to be alert for all that was going on around me and what people were telling me. According to my surgeon, all went well. The only red flag of any kind was an upper GI/leak test that the doc said was “delayed” – meaning I swallowed that god awful stuff and it sat at the top of my sleeve and took several minutes to trickle on through. Even though, I guess I passed. Post Op Day 1 – car ride home...every bump killed. I hate potholes! Got home to find I it was difficult to get comfortable in any chair we have in this house. Forget the bed – no way to get in or out. Rethinking my decision to leave the hospital so soon…maybe should have stayed the extra day. I’m freaking out a little about blood clots, pneumonia, and dehydration. It sucks to feel fear in the midst of feeling so dang crappy. My abdomen burns. Incision pain and weird internal pain… Gave myself my first (of 10) Lovenox shot. This is something I was a little queasy about but it turns out it’s no problem at all. Don’t worry guys – this is easy compared to some of the other hurdles to face. Day 2 – aren’t I supposed to be able to sip? All I can do is splash enough liquid in my mouth and swallow like it’s spit. Any more than that (even the tiniest of sips) HURTS! Waves of pain and nausea. The nausea med my doc gave me helps. But it’s “minty” and dissolves under the tongue. So gross! I can’t tell if I hurt inside (digesting) or outside (incisions) – probably both. I’m a little panicked. My left shoulder is beginning to really hurt – I suspect it’s gas. This is an emotional day. It’s hard to sound upbeat on the phone with concerned family members and not let on that I’m slightly freakin’ out. Day 3 - I think things are getting better. I was able to drink 6 oz. of apple juice (over the course of an hour). That’s the most I’ve had to drink since surgery. I think I’m figuring out what I can and can’t drink. Liquid Tylenol=too thick, I think. Apple juice=nice! Just tried warm chicken broth and that was nice, too! Put some red G2 in the a cup in the freezer – great suggestion by someone out there, I forget who. Left shoulder is better today. Day 4 – keep on course… it’s getting better. My left side is out of “anguish” and into mere “achy.” I’m feeling much better physically. I find that if I stay pretty regular on anti-nausea and main meds, I can keep this thing under control. The best part of the day was a popsicle for dinner. Aaahhh – yum! I was significantly more upbeat and found myself tidying up the kitchen table, folding blankets, and stuff. My family says I look waaaaaaaay better. Day 5 – much better day! I woke up with dry, dry mouth and nausea and it occurred to me that I might be getting dehydrated. I started the day determined to up my liquids and sipped on a 16 bottle of Water. Before too long (about an hour), it was gone! I had 8 oz. of apple juice, 6 oz. of chicken broth, and 16 more oz. of water. I am able to do this! The more liquids I can take in, the better. The sips are nearing drinks (certainly nowhere near a gulp!) and I feel like my body is getting what it needs. I’m able to swallow my small meds (pre-surgery) OK. I was worried about being able to take them, but it’s working out. Got up in the night with a little reflux (generic CVS acid reducer tablets work great!) and – TMI warning – diarrhea! Oh joy. Glad to know there’s something in there to move out, but oy – clean up was interesting considering I can’t really twist/lean in the mid section. Day 6 – Woke up feeling rested and positive about the day. My panic/anxiety is all gone and I’m feeling great. Had warm diluted apple juice for Breakfast. Feeling like the swallowing thing is all good at this point. My big problem now is abdomen pain. Incision areas burn when I bend/twist/reach down. Getting out of bed is the worst. I’m still taking pain meds because of this, though I’d like to wean off all pain med if I could. I can’t imagine exercising in the near future…walking is all I can handle (and not a heck a lot of it at one time). Day 7 – Very sore…wait a minute, could this be gas pain? I’m worried about pulled muscles or abscesses but maybe these are pockets of gas trapped internally? Anyone have any experience with this? First official weigh-in = down 5 pounds! Well, I’ve made it through the first week. In some ways it seems like only as long as a day, but in others, as long as a whole month. So may emotions and changes. I feel like I'm through the roughest part.

I'm Mon. 1/30, too. I'm feeling excited, but am pretty peaceful and happy (not nervous).

Good luck all you Mexico adventurers! See you on the Losers Bench (I'm Monday, too - here in New Jersey).

I've had somewhat of a flipped switch, too. I think it's because I'm so mentally obsessed with all of this that I'm really starting to see food=weight/fat, calorie control=progress. I want to go forward not backward. Also, I've started exercising and I just can't seem to enjoy my old, gorging ways because I know what it takes to burn off those calories. I'm almost to my pre-op goal (lose 30 pounds before surgery - I'm at 29 today and surgery is tomorrow!) so I'm happy that I didn't fully give in to the the pre-op eating free for all I thought I might. I'm even happier that, like you, I haven't really wanted to.

uggg..water weight... I lost 30 pounds in ten days after the birth of my daughter. I was like the dough boy retaining water with the pregnancy (I had pre-eclampsia). But sweat and pee - all good! Even more important for you to get your fluids in so you can flush the IV stuff out. Best wishes and keep the faith!

This is total hearsay because...honestly, I can't bring myself to have any until I absolutely have to...but I've been recommended Unjury (just ordered some). Both the unflavored (mixed in orange juice or orange flavored crystal light) and chicken broth flavored (mixed in chicken broth) have been highly recommended to me.

Good luck Tenshi!! We're rootin' for you. let us know how everything goes.

Wow...so many things - Putting on socks and shoes (and tie the shoes) with out feeling I've just had a major battle Crossing my legs Gardening and being able to get up and down/bend over Not looking at stairs and worrying about having to stop 1/2 way up to let the burning in my legs fade Not being so out of breath all the time Sitting in a chair at 90 degrees without falling backwards because my stomach is in the way Sitting in a movie or on an airplane and not having the side arms of the chair dig in No seat belt extender on airplanes Shaving my legs with ease Giving myself a pedicure Those are just a few off the top of my head

Hi dom1985! i added you to the list - updated cluster listing: circa - 1/27 Tif 2.0 - 1/27 VSG Ready - 1/30 101driver - 1/30 barnbrats - 2/1 im sooo excited - 2/1 yecats - 2/4 bedhead - 2/6 dom1985 - 2/6 BluebonnetMagonlia - 2/6 Reddi4change - 2/6 dragongrl75 - 2/7 justkeepsmiling - 2/9 bratvp63 - 2/13 Dooter - 2/13 jlholmes5 - 2/15 Capt Derel - 2/17 AmeliaBedelia73 - 2/22 malyss - 2/22 Jerry Weikert - 2/22 lanini - 2/28

Welcome, Reddi4change! updated cluster listing: circa - 1/27 Tif 2.0 - 1/27 VSG Ready - 1/30 101driver - 1/30 barnbrats - 2/1 im sooo excited 2/1 yecats 2/4 bedhead - 2/6 BluebonnetMagonlia - 2/6 Reddi4change - 2/6 dragongrl75 - 2/7 justkeepsmiling - 2/9 bratvp63 - 2/13 Dooter - 2/13 jlholmes5 - 2/15 Capt Derel - 2/17 AmeliaBedelia73 - 2/22 malyss - 2/22 Jerry Weikert - 2/22 lanini - 2/28

It's so nice to hear from all of my new Sleevey Cyber Friends! Thank you for your good wishes. mesaucdo - I went to USCB!! I graduated a hundred years ago. Another thing we have in common!

Hey Malyss - I had a stress test, too. No big woop. The weird thing was that my doc requested I not go on the treadmill because of my knee pain (even though I go on it at the gym, but...whatever). So they put in an IV and shot me full of adrenalin stuff to cause my heart to start beating fast as if I was exercising. SO WEIRD FEELING! It only lasted a few minutes, but it was quite strange. All's well that ends well - I got clearance after that. So hang in there, Malyss - you'll get there! Congrats, Dooter on your clearance. Hi lanini - welcome. updated cluster listing: circa - 1/27 Tif 2.0 - 1/27 VSG Ready - 1/30 101driver - 1/30 (I got bumped up from 2/6 to 1/30!! - not officially a Feb. girl any more, but pretty close) barnbrats - 2/1 im sooo excited 2/1 yecats 2/4 bedhead - 2/6 BluebonnetMagonlia - 2/6 dragongrl75 - 2/7 justkeepsmiling - 2/9 bratvp63 - 2/13 Dooter - 2/13 jlholmes5 - 2/15 Capt Derel - 2/17 AmeliaBedelia73 - 2/22 malyss - 2/22 Jerry Weikert - 2/22 lanini - 2/28

Thanks for your well wishes everyone! I'm so excited and a little nervous.

woo hoo! I got a call this morning, too - bumping me up from 2/6 to 1/30. Yippie!

Hi Bedhead...I got a called from my surgeon's office this a.m. and it is possible that I'm going to be bumped up to 1/30 ...!!! I'm excited but... wow, that's really soon. So I might not be a sleeve sister with you (just a close cousin or something...) : )

Hello Babygirl63 - I'm from Cherry Hill, too! I'm going to be sleeved on 2/6 by Dr. Neff at Kennedy Stradford.

Yes! Before photos so we can see our wonderful transformations! Here's our cluster - did I miss anyone?? Please add yourselves or anyone I may have missed (there are a few late Januarys in there because they're looking for buddies, too) - circa - 1/27 Tif 2.0 - 1/27 VSG Ready - 1/30 barnbrats - 2/1 im sooo excited 2/1 yecats 2/4 101driver - 2/6 bedhead - 2/6 BluebonnetMagonlia - 2/6 dragongrl75 - 2/7 justkeepsmiling - 2/9 bratvp63 - 2/13 Dooter - 2/13 Capt Derel - 2/17 AmeliaBedelia73 - 2/22 malyss - 2/22 Jerry Weikert - 2/22

Wow - there's quite a cluster of us in early February! We can buddy up and all bemoan clear liquids...