CrisB83

Isn't Loritab the best? I have had the pleasure of using it a few times since my surgery, and it does wonders. I have been following this thread, and prayed for you to have success and happiness- I haven't had to deal with a leak, but have had days where I wondered why in the world I decided to do this to myself. I am so, so glad to hear that things are starting to look up for you! May you be blessed with increasing happiness and healing, and may these days of misery become a foggy, distant memory!

We were sleeved the same day- December 20. I also ended up having a small hiatal hernia repaired, so my surgery ended up lasting closer to an hour. I went home the next day, though! I have been to the ER twice stressing that maybe I had a leak, but both times it was gas pain/mild dehydration. I found out today that my tummy LOVES boiled carrots- I can eat about a cup of those at a time, no pain. And they are tasty because I boil them in beef bouillon with garlic. The hardest thing to eat for me is meat (the only kind I try to even eat is the super- thin sliced kind, but even a nibble gives me the feeling that it's stuck at the back of my throat...) the hardest thing for me to learn so far has been that "one more bite won't make it feel better", and to resist the "clean your plate" syndrome.

Aw, jas!! So sorry you are/were struggling! Things for me haven't been the easiest- I feel like a mix between Scrooge and an "urban hermit". I just don't feel like getting out and doing anything. All I want to do is stay at home in my bed or my comfy chair and read a book or sleep. A lot of times I feel really weak, too. Mostly I just feel tired all the time. And it's definitely not dehydration, tho I could stand to drink a little more than I've been doing. I think for me it's just a lack of calories and nutrition. If I eat more than 1/4 cup of anything I feel like I am about to die- really bad chest and stomach pain. It goes away after ten-twenty minutes though. But the punishment definitely quells the desire to eat things in the future...

Sounds like an amazing workout! Yeah, girl! It's probably just your muscles repairing/building. Also, my Wii tells me that it's normal for our weight to fluctuate1-2 lbs in a single day! That's why Weight Watchers only weighs people once a week. Just imagine how proud (and starving/suffering) you would be if you did this regrn without the surgery! You're rockin' that sleeve, baby, so don't let one little pound bring you down! also, from my own experience, sometimes I gain a tiny bit, then lose a lot all at once....

Hey Rosie, fluv your personality! How often are you weighing yourself? How much did you drink/ exercise the day before you weighed? I was thinking that it could be a couple reasons why the scale jumped up a little- either because your body thought it was starving and latched onto whatever it could get hold of, or maybe a little bit if weight from working out- sometimes muscles will retain some extra Water for healing right after a workout. Either way, just keep listening to your body, getting your Protein in, and enjoy yourself working out, and the weight *will* come off. And if it's not fast enough for your Nazi doc, tell him to bite himself where the sun don't shine! Lol!

I'm doing okay, I guess. I am now almost three weeks out from my surgery, and looking forward to getting to the mushy stage of the diet. liquid hydrocodone was my best friend for the first 10 days or so, and now I love me some liquid Tylenol. They don't sell the extra-strength liquid Tylenol in the stores or pharmacies around here, so I had to order it online. My stomach has been hurting really bad the last week or so- it feels like the kind of stomach ache you get right before you throw up. I've also been struggling with feeling queasy after I drink something, but the worst thing is definitely the stomach ache. I went to the ER last week about it, and they did a CT scan and said everything looked normal, and gave me fluids (which helped sooo much with the queasiness...). That's about all I can think of right now for an update. Prayers for good health to all!

Hey everyone, I just joined this site, though I've been lurking for awhile. I am 28yo, and I have been struggling with my weight since I was seven. I wasn't actually overweight, though, until I was nine, but I don't remember a time when it wasn't a concern. I don't have a surgery date yet, but I am going to have the sleeve surgery with Dr. Jayaseelan in Dallas, TX. All I am waiting for is my insurance to approve the surgery, and to figure out what to do about my sleep apnea. It has been a really rough week- I didn't even know that I had apnea until Monday! My first test was last Saturday, and the sleep center called Monday and said that I had stopped breathing 79 times, and my oxygen sat was at 58%! So I went back in Monday night to try a CPAP machine, and apparently that didn't cut it. They brought me back in last night to try a BiPAP machine, and now I am waiting for the results. I don't honestly know what would happen next if the machine last night didn't work, and I'm kind of scared about it all! The upside is that the insurance company will probably approve my surgery quicker, or at least that's what the study coordinator from the sleep center was telling me. My first consultation with Dr. Jayaseelan's office was Nov. 21, and they didn't think it would be a problem to get the approval and surgery scheduled before the end of the year. This is all happening so fast! My husband has been kind of freaked out by all of this so far. He's been great and very supportive, but an emotional mess. Anyway, I have really been enjoying reading this forum, and have been so excited to see all the victories and joys you all have been experiencing. I can't wait to get to that part of my journey!

Kimmie- 15 pounds in 2.5 weeks is AWESOME! You go, girl! I lost 10 pounds my first week after surgery and one pound the second week, so you are going at a fab rate! I remind myself when I start feeling down about not losing more quickly that a little extra time between pounds is a little extra blessing to my shrinking skin, helping it try to keep up!

Hello! I was sleeved the 20 th, and I've lost 21# so far (since preop diet). I would say that there are two things super hard about this: witnessing food sights/smells that I know I can't eat yet, and the other is freaking myself out over the slightest bit of gas or pain, thinking I might have a leak (esp after reading some of the stories on here about people who had them...). The best part is smaller clothes! Also, I have felt a lot colder since the surgery, and it has been fun getting to enjoy cute sweaters and scarves. Plus, I got to buy some smaller clothes and underwear, and that was very fun!!! As far as recovery, I have gone to the ER twice in the last week with abdominal pain, scared to death I had a leak. They did a CT scan and said I looked great, so they chalked the pain up to weaning myself off the pain meds, gas pain, and just basic post-surgical discomfort. I had esophageal spasms the first week of recovery every time I went from laying to sitting, but acid reducers have pretty much resolved it. Today was a really good day.

Christmas dinner was ok- I was surprised that the only temptation for me was the ham! Usually I am a starch/sweets addict... I just put my protein drink in a pretty little glass and sipped it while everyone else stuffed themselves. I felt pretty superior when everyone else was stuffed and in pain, and I was still feeling really good! So, I would say it was a good experience, overall!

Thanks so much y'all! The idea about esophageal spasms seems to fit really, really well- I'm going to ask my surgeon about it tomorrow when I see him for my one week follow- up. Y'all are awesome!

I am 6 days post op, and I have been having trouble figuring out the right solution for my morning pain! It's getting to the point that I am scared to go to sleep at night! This is what happens: it feels like a severe muscle ache at the back of my mouth/ top of my throat, plus a slight ache in my ribcage. If I do nothing, it gets progressively worse, and feels like sharp, tight muscle spasms in my throat and chest. It only happens first thing in the morning, and occasionally if I drink too quickly. laying down makes it much worse. At first I thought it was from my BiPAP machine forcing my "breathing muscles" to work harder while i was sleeping than normal, but it happens whether I use my BiPAP or not. Then I thought maybe it was from acid, so I took extra antacids- no luck. I thought it might be anxiety- took a dose my anxiety meds before bed and upon waking, and it didn't affect the pain- just made me sleepy. The only thing that really helps is my liquid hydrocodone- I don't want to get addicted! I've been trying to take less of it, and I do great during the day, but everymorning it feels like my throat is trying to tie itself in a knot! Has anyone else felt this? What is it, and what helped?

Jaz- how are you doing? Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I'm about to go over to my family's for the traditional Christmas eve dinner- not looking forward to being surrounded by yummy food that I can't eat... Otherwise, I am 4 days post-op and feeling mostly back to normal.

Sorry- double post!

You can try adding different seasonings to your soups- I found that Tony Chachere's Cajun seasoning worked wonders. Also, adding a bot of seasoned salt helps too! I couldn't even have creamy soups when I was on liquids, though. I had to sit through an early Christmas dinner, and all I had was broth, jello, a small glass of skim milk, and a glass of crystal light. It was hard, but you can do it! Crystal light fruit punch was also a big help to me- it helped me feel a little normal since I haven't really had fruit punch since I was a kid.

Hey everyone, I was sleeved on the 20th, and am now home. I have a moderate amount of pain, which is well managed by my prescription of liquid hydrocodone. It's a miracle- I wale up feeling like crap, and five minutes later feel like a million bucks! A little bit of pain meds goes a long way with helping get the gas out. Also, gas-x strips really help. I was able to go home after one night in the hospital, which I was more than okay with. It's much better being at home. I thought I wanted to be in the hospital as long as possible, but I got really tired of having to stay on top of people squirting things directly into my blood, and poking me with sharp objects at all times of night. Good luck to everyone, both waiting and recovering!

Thank you grace! On my way to the hospital! I'm feeling excited, and a little emotional. Jasleeve- bet you're done by now, praying for a speedy recovery!!

Last night before SURGERY! they put me on a cleanse- magnesium citrate- and I hate to be indelicate, but IT WORKS. Eeeewwwww.

Thanks Kari! So do you still have cancer? If so, it must be so stressful with that on top of wls and everything else going on this time of year! My hubs has been super sweet to me and is looking forward to the results, but the whole idea of surgery has him in knots. He's practically been writing my epitaph the last couple days here lol!

Jas- are you counting down the hours? I am!!!!!

The EGD wasn't so bad until I woke up from the anesthesia. I must have fought them when they were doing the procedure because I had a fingerprint-shaped bruise on one side of my jawline/throat area, and was very sore on both sides. I am only just now not quite so tender on the sides of my face!

Good luck favoredone! I know how much you gave been wanting this- praying for you! Also, good luck and prayers for rainsong!!! My surgery is less than 23 hours away! I am sooo ready for it to be over and be recovering! Jasleeve- we're almost there!

36 hours til surgery! My surgery is scheduled for 10 am.... Ack! I am scared!

How are you doing now, GIMB? Things here are going good- my surgery is the day after tomorrow.... Sooooo nervous!

Haha, I read that somewhere else on these boards I think. My therapist said that the golden rule of trust with a surgeon is whether or not they have done the procedure 1000 times. If so, you're good!