Back~To~Amy

I am on a 21 day liquid postop diet. I have a feeling it's gonna be a long 21 days too. I'm trying to stay positive about it ny thinking of all the weight I'll lose while I'm on liquids. Stay strong! This is only temporary and you can do it!

I love pickles. Right before surgery, I found and purchased a huge jar of this sweet and spicy pickle that is my all time favorite. I'm only 3 days postop but I hope one day to be able to add them into my diet.

It wasn't painful for me either but you do have to take small sips. I'm only 3 days postop and the thing I notice is every time I take a drink I feel the gas pressure building in my chest right between my breasts. Then, I usually need to burp to release it.It doesn't hurt. I just feel it. I have had minimal gas pains and none, other than day 1, we're very bad.

1.) Yes 2.) 2 weeks...two shakes a day, 3 high Protein Snacks a day and one dinner with 5 oz. of lean meat, 2 cups of non- starch veggies and 1 fat serving. 3.) I'm only 3 days post op. I've had pain from just shot me to very little. Of course, the very little was when I got a bolus of morphine on top of the morphine pain pump. Today was my first full day out of the hospital and I had to call the doctor for a stronger pain relief. I'm still not able to stand up completely due to the pain.

Good information to know considering I'm on liquids for the next two weeks and 4 days.

I say leave him at home. You will be doing a lot of sleeping and he will be bored. Plus, if he complains you will be more worried about him than you and you don't need that.

I only have pain in one of my incisions.....the big one on the left side. I've never been stabbed but I'd venture to guess that the pain in that incision site feels like I was stabbed multiple times!

How long does of take to stop hurting so intensely? And how long were you nauseous? I had surgery on Tuesday and the only thing I can get down is Water. My Protein makes me gag! I know I need it, but right now all I really care about is keeping hydrated with water and trying to alleviate some of my pain. I am certainly having "buyers remorse" and not liking my surgeon right now! How long did it take to feel somewhat better than feeling like you'd been run over by a Mack truck?

Thanks y'all for the quick replies. A friend of mine I met on here reminded about the heating pad. It is making a world of difference. Good to know I can give myself a little break on the Protein and just concentrate on my Water. Yesterday, I got over 50 ounces which I thought was pretty good this early out. I'm definitely not getting dehydrated. I will work on protein after I heal just a bit. I'm usually not a weenie when it comes to pain, but after this surgery I sure feel like one! I do feel somewhat better and less hopeless after reading your posts and now that my pain is down to around a 2 or 3 from the 6 or 7 it was when I made the original post.

As I'm sure most of us know, the physicians all have their own way of doing things that they believe is in the best interest of their patients. For example, my doctor keeps us on liquids for 3 weeks postop because he has a 0 leak record if a person didn't cheat that. I've not come across any other surgeon who is quite that conservative. He does it because he believes it is best. Just as another doctor has a different protocol that he feels is best. Best of luck to you!

I worry about a doctor who will only let you use 1 or 2 kinds of shakes. Is he getting a cut? I'm 2 days post op. I did my preop with the shake of my choice twice a day and one low carb meal of real food. Dr. Nick told my mom he could really tell I stuck to the diet as my liver looked great. The key to liver shrinking is low carbs. I don't think a specific shake Dr. Kim recommends makes your liver better. I'd call his office.

Hi Robin. I just sent you a friend request. This won't show up on my FB, correct? I'm not out about my surgery to most of them.

I too was planning in the lapband and switched to the sleeve. I'm now 2 days postop. For those who mentioned they hope this pain is like the gallbladder pain, I wished that too. My gallbladder was removed in 2007 so maybe one forgotten that pain, but this pain seems worse. And I am having more nausea with this procedure than I did when my gallbladder was removed. If I can give a word of advice, it is to take your pain and nausea meds regularly and don't let the pain or nausea get out of control.

So here is my description of the events for today that I posted on my blog. I know a couple of people who are using Dr, Nick so I put his name and which of the two hospitals I had surgery at so people using him can get more details. It is also for others as well but as we all know, surgeons vary. Well, there's no turning back now. I had surgery at 6:00 am today so I'm officialy on the losers bench. Well, actually I'm on the losers bed. For anyone who is a patient of Dr. Nick Nicholson at Forest Park Medical Center, this may be most helpful to you: I got to the hospital at 4:00 this morning. At first it was a lot of hurry up and weight. I got my ID band between the 4:00 and 5:00 hour. Around 5:00 am I went back to the holding area where I got changed on ONLY a hospital gown and where I got my IV. The first attempt was a failure. She got it in but it just did'nt do. Oh, and they used Lidocaine to numb the area. Lidocaine stings a bit, but it makes the IV going in a lot smoother from my perspective. I barely felt anything. I would call what I felt, pressure not pain. Now, all I had to do was meet with the Anesthesiologist and my doctor. Oh, and his surgery nurse. She popped in and identified herself before Dr. Nick and the anesthesiologist. Shortly thereafter I saw Dr. Nick and the anesthesiologist. Things went quickly after that. Within minutes of the anesthesiologist leaving my room she came back with Verced....the drug that relaxes you and there and then I was off. I remember going into the operating room and getting on the OR table. Next thing I know, I woke up in recovery. I have no idea how long I was in surgery or recovery. I told my Mom who was with me to ask Dr. Nick about my liver. He told her it looked awesome and he could tell I did a good job on the preop diet. Hallelujah!! Okay, this is where I describe everything so far after surgey. If you only want the "pretty roses" story, I'd suggest you stop reding now. So I woke up in Recovery. I have no idea how long the surgery lasted or how long I'd been in Recovery. I didn't wake up with a catheter or a drain. Yay! I woke up with cotton mouth, and a pain ball inserted at the site of the large opening. Mostly though I woke up with INTENSE pain. At that point, I wondered what in the heck I had done to myself I truly wished, at that point, that I could rewind time knowing the pain so that I wouldn't put myself through that I know I sound like a whinny baby but I really am not. I've been told by other doctors that I have a high tolerance for pain. But not today! I think it was more physical pain then I've ever felt in my entire life. They just couldnt give me enough pain meds this morning but, after what felt like an eternity, I was able to get enough to calm the pain down enough for me to tolerate it. Thank goodness for the Morphine pain pump. It doesnt completly kill the pain but, it makes it manageable. So that pretty much sums up surgery day for me. I think that is all for now. Pleas excuse any spelling, grammar errors or any part of this that may not make sense. I am on Morphine ya know. ~Amy

Thanks. I'm due to leave the hospital today and can't wait!

Thanks y'all. @ Eric, there is pain but the nurses are very good in helping you manage it. Even while on the pain pump, I asked for bolus pain meds that they put in my IV. I'm now off the pump and on liquid pain killer. I even "got in trouble" from my nurse for trying to be a super hero, as she called me, by not asking for meds I need. Now. I'm asking for them as soon as I feel like need them.

Good luck to all June 6th sleevers! I had surgery yesterday and posted a new thread to update y'all. Here it is:

Thanks Cookie. I know this can be a roller coaster gift and It's nice to have reassurance. By the way, I said I didn't have a drain, but I do. It wasn't until the nurse pulled out this little bulb of stuff from the pocket on my hospital gown that I realized I do have one.

Just arrived at the hospital for my 6:00 am surgery. Waiting to check in.

Met with my doctor......check. Yikes! It's time.

Met the anesthesiologist......check! Getting closer.

2nd IV attempt........success! Now waiting for the good drugs for my nap. :-)