MinaT

Absolutely wonderful news!!!! I'm a day before you and I really do feel like I've turned a corner too, I almost laid on my side this morning. I'm still struggling with protein shakes, but though I had some seriously complications during surgery, the pain is less, I can pick things up off the floor, I do have some incisional pain and still some gas, but I do feel much better.

What day are you being sleeved, the 22nd? Where are you getting this done? I never heard of anyone going on soft solids the 2nd day. Will you be having a leak test first? Worry about getting your fluids in before you try food. Did you have to go through any sort of pre-op diet, psych eval or anything else with the doctor? Maybe someone else had the same doc as you and can help you out.

Dad, listen, nobody is going to fault you for not posting. I brought my cell & kindle and I didn't use either one. I was in Monday - Friday late. I didn't even log in when I got home I believe. Take care of yourself if you can log in, do so, but really it should be all about you and healing.

Good luck Karen. I did you send the pureed sheet I had didn't I? It's all kind of weird, but the tuna seems good and the whitefish eh not too bad. I was hoping I was going to get to go to pureed today but I still have a few more weeks. Praying tomorrow goes better for you.

It's usually when you progress to full liquids. I am techinically allowed to eat it but our nutritionist advises against says it's still has too many carbs - I am suppose to eat only things that have 6 or less carbs but even the yogurt has 15 grams. I'm confused as heck about all this.

6 month program with monthly food, water & exercise log, 14 days pre-op 3 shakes a day. 9 days of clears - 4 full weeks of Full Liquids - then progress to Pureed, Soft & regular (at the doctor's discretion) - not really sure because I'm still on full liquids. I don't see surgeon until June 27th and the nutritionist again July 9th. I am hoping I don't have to go to July 9th on just liquids.

My back started hurting me directly after surgery. I had lost 70 prior to surgery but I am assuming my back is hurting because of the pressure they used during surgery. I had hernia surgery and adhesions removed and I had a complication during surgery. I'm also two weeks out today and still can't lay on my side and there's no way I'd be able to sleep on my stomach like I normally do. When I had my gallbladder out I was able to roll to the side while in the hospital.

Congrats Katelynrose I added you to the June compilation thread located here http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/

Good luck to the following June Sleevers tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all. Dadto2, a quick shout out to you as you have been such a big supporter each day of June rooting everyone on. Enjoyed your blog today June 19, 2012 Sunshine25 -- DFW area DadTo2 -- Dr. Nicholson, Dallas, TX Littlebits Zoobdude -- Dr. Almanza Lehg520 - Dr. Kristin Noonan Katrina81 Katelynrose (new one added I noticed on the board)

Not in the amount of time. I was on 3 shakes a day that = 600 calories for 14 days before surgery, I only had one sf popsicle and 1 sugar free Jello in all that time plus Water. Since surgery 14 days ago, I am hitting under 200 calories a day and barely hitting 20 grams of Protein since surgery. I have not had solid food in over 28 days. The nutritionist told me today, I have enough protein stores to get through this hard phase of getting in my Proteins. You are fine.

Way to go, congrats.

I was on 3 shakes a day = 600 calories and I lost 10 pounds only in 14 days and one or two of the days I gained like 2 pounds. If you were steadily losing before surgery it's the body catching up for sure, if not, it's the Water weight first, then the body says...wait a second here, this is something I'm not used to, I think I'll hold onto the calories a little bit to see what she's doing to me. It's perfectly normal. I lost 60 pre-surgery - 10 pounds a month basically so that's why I only lost 10 during the last two. I was happy with going into surgery knowing I lost 70 pounds on my own

I'm so glad that you got in and got care for the blood clot. How scary for you. Congrats on your weight loss. While you were in the hospital did you receive shots in your stomach several times a day for clots?

I was sleeved June 4th. I take a shower and I sit on the toilet seat to dry off and blow dry my hair. I relax in between each thing. I did great yesterday, went to my parents and today, I cannot drive yet even. Today I showered and I was so tired, but I knew I had to go to the store. I went to the store and I was nervous because my stomach would grumble and I was worried I would have to go potty, I was worried about people running into me with the cart, and I can barely hold my head up right now. I am tired. I have good days and bad days, and I have had a nap every day except one. I know there are many posts by people doing great, and it's wonderful that other's are doing good and it makes me honestly happy for them, I just make sure I remember no two are alike and we all went through major surgery and some of had more adhesions, hernia's, complications, some of us have diabetes, and other chronic issues that will make healing a little more difficult, sometimes our age has something to do with it. Give yourself at least a month and 1/2 to recuperate. I have a sister in law that's in her early 30's, very healthy, very fit, and she had hernia surgery, that's it - hernia surgery and it took her over 2 months to not feel completely exhausted all the time and for the pain to go away and even six months later still would deal with some numbness and weird issues on her belly. She actually jealous I'm doing so good, and she doesn't even know that I got the sleeve, she only knows about the hernia surgery and adhesions!! No two are alike, but I can tell you what you feel is completely normal. Vitamin B I have forgotten in two days in a row...duh....thanks for the reminder

The peppermint tea is what helped me with the caffeine withdrawal and it was my saving grace in the hospital with gas and pain. I swear when they bring the food tray they brought me clear hot Water in a coffee mug and a plain decaff tea and the water smelled and tasted like coffee and it disgusted me. I had the nurses bring me a styrofoam glass with hot water and I did my own peppermint tea and truvia. Even cold it felt good. I usually sipped on that and water all day long. It's the first thing I drink when I wake up in the morning to take my medicine. It's the last thing I drink at night. If you don't like peppermint try something that honestly makes you feel good. I'm grateful I found this.

For Upper GI before surgery they use barium. It's thick and chalky. Basically tolerable. If you do it as they tell you to they won't make you drink the whole thing. It's really not that bad. When they do upper GI after surgery they do not use Barium. #1 it could harm the stomach and it is too thick and it could harden and and cause constipation. They use something called gastrique. This stuff makes Barium taste like skittles and yummy goodness IMO. It's more of a clear liquid and the taste is so horrendously vile and the girl that had surgery before me barfed it up. I got through it and my entire face, neck and chest turned a bright red and got blotchy. I was nauseated the rest of the day. To me, that is probably the worst thing I dealt with the entire time I was in the hospital and I even had a drain that became infected lol.

Wolf, I just called the nurses today because I really am struggling with the Protein shakes at 2 weeks. I am more tired today than I have been in a while. She told me not to worry so much about my protein, get my Water in first and foremost - get as much protein in as I can. She said you will not become protein deficient in such a short time span (2 weeks). It took me from 8 - 11:50 to get in 8 ounces of muscle milk light which is only 11 grams of protein. Each sip of my med cup made me want to gag. I learned one thing, no more blending in the magic bullet. That whips way much too air in my shake which bloats me up even more. Unfortunately, my surgeon's office believes in 4 weeks of full liquids before pureed. So we're looking at ways to get in more protein without the flavors of shakes (which I used to LOVE!!!) I will try adding unflavored to Soups to see if that helps. I went back to myfitnesspal.com. I found a way to change the targets ranges (hahaha after almost 8 months now). I set it to 600 calories and of course I'm averaging 200 or less a day. She said that is fine. She is allowing me to add 1% cottage cheese to my day as long as I smash it down well and chew very well.

The drain drains out excess blood and Fluid. If there is brown, green, black or coffee grounds in it, it is bad and could indicate a leak, infection etc. Normally the drain starts out red, then progresses to pink and near the end you end up with some yellow fluids - all = okay. The drain is a very good thing. However, I feel that my drain was in a day or two too long. Eventually your body decides they want that foreign object out of you and it rebels against it. Truth is when the drain came out, my pain was cut in 1/2 and breathing opened up for me. Another thing many patients need to ask about is the spirometer. Spirometer is one of the things that has cut down the huge issue with people getting pneumonia in the hospital. It's a little plastic machine with a breathing tube. You expel all your air and then you suck in and it measures how much air you can get into your lungs. You use it at least 7 times an hour and then try to cough once or twice. If your hospital doesn't use it, find a way to pick one up to bring with you. Your lungs with thank you.

Very good job Wolf. I started back using the myfitnesspal.com again, Sad but true this is my typical day 2 weeks out: The day before I only got in 14 grams of Protein. Oh how I used to love Protein shakes and that love has turned to loathe lol calories 194, Carbs 19, fat 4, protein 22, sodium 388 potassium 530 ps I get in 64 ounces of Water no problem.

You look beautiful!! Congrats!

I guess I should go into it more while waiting for an answer. I had the same issue. We were given something called Spirometers. It's where you blow out all your air and suck into the tube and it measures how much you can get into your lungs. At first the first goal was 500 - 750 - 1000 - 1500. I had a problem with 500 and they were wanting me at 1000 and I could get to 750 then I got to 1000 then back to 500. This was constant. I use Ventolin and they gave me an air chamber to help me. If you don't have a spirometer, call the doctor's office or call a doctor and ask for one. This will help you from getting pneumonia. If you have pain hold onto a pillow and try to cough. Use decaff peppermint tea to help curb the flem. Do you have a drain? If you do have a drain, the cord you see hanging out....is actually HUGE on the inside too. It was hard to get my breath sometimes. I had the drain for 9 days. When the drain came out it was the biggest sense of relief. It seems that the drain ended up pressing up against my diaphragm which made it harder for me to breath. I also had post nasal drip that was goign down causing more flem. About day 4 in the hospital I woke up in the middle of s leep coughing and choking on flem. Make sure you walk walk walk a lot. I did, but it didn't seem to help much, but it probably prevented pneumonia. See if you can get your hand on a spirometer and use it a few times every hour. It does get better. I understand what you are going through and I hope that it clears up soon.

Do you have a drain? I had the same feeling. Do you use a spirometer?

Sign up for my fitness pal. You can go forwards and backwards in the logs I believe. I did this before at the same doctor and didn't keep my log and quit the program. The second time I did it, Once a month I had to turn my food, exercise and Water journal in. I still keep my log two weeks out. For those just starting out, it always pays to be safe and use the log or journal. It really is important to see where you struggle and to learn portion control and get an idea of carbs & Protein, etc. Good luck to you.

Prayers to all the June 18, 2012 Sleevers! ChrissyDeex3 VeronicaH Pteri -- Dr. Srinivasan at Emory innerme Naturals -- mommieof3 Kymwalla

Poor thing, I'm sorry about your complications, go slow. I'm 2 weeks out and still having issues with protein shakes though I can drink water and peppermint tea all day long.