lilly11781

I had my surgery done in Chicago by Dr. Rami Lutfi from St. Joseph Hospital on August 1st. He is amazing and a very nice man. I would highly recommend him. Good Luck in your search.

Good Luck! By my clock you are already in surgery. I had my surgery Aug. 1st in Chicago. The key to my recovery was to get up and walk as soon as you can and when you get home continue to increase your walks. It really does make all the difference.

Hi All: So here is is Labor Day and I really just want to have a nice cold beer! I am 1 month post op so obviously I have been avoiding all carbonation... I haven't even tried it to see how I feel. But I'm curious if anyone else has... I'm a beer drinker not much of a liquor girl... Lemonade Vodkas are good but just too sweet after awhile. What are your go too picnic drinks? PS: I'm a social drinker not an alcoholic just to make that clear...lol

Hi Gnvpur: I am 2 weeks post op and trust me, the moment I woke up from surgery I thought to myself "Why the heck did it do this! Just to loose some weight." I think most of us probably think that right after surgery. I tried Protein Shakes maybe 4 days post surgery and couldn't do it. They made me so sick. I just had to keep trying and make sure I was drinking them on an empty stomach and very slowly. There was a few days when I could only get 1/2 of a shake down. I still can only drink 1 shake a day and it has to be for Breakfast because my stomach is empty. Just keep trying, you will get them down.

Hi All: I am heading back to work this week and I am so ready to get out of the house. My biggest issue is what to take to work for food? I am currently on purée stage and other than a Protein shake and maybe Soup I don't to ow what to pack. I would love to hear some great ideas. Thanks!

Thanks so much for the ideas! So far I have a Protein shake in the morning for Breakfast, then some applesauce for a snack. For lunch I have soup like tomato or cream of broccoli. Then I might have a yogurt for a snack. I haven't really been that hungry so today I didn't have my yogurt but yesterday I did. So far so good without any problems. Except for today I left out a pretty loud burp and everyone looked at me and we got a good laugh. The people I work with know I had surgery but don't know what it was for. They are going to have to get used to be burping a lot I guess...lol

I have a serious love/hate relationship with my bathroom scale. Right now i'm hating it. I am 12 days post op and my scale is telling me I gained 5 pounds!!! I don't even know how this is possible. I am on the puree stage and maybe getting in 800 calories a day. How the heck am I gaining weight? This is really frustrating and disappointing. Has anyone else experienced this?

Good Luck to you! You will do great. I had surgery on Aug. 1st and I had all the same nerves as you. I am now 11 days post op and feeling great! Heading back to work tomorrow. Good luck, will be thinking of you.

I went to CVS and both the Women's One A Day Gummies. I take 4 a day and then calcium chews I bought from Bariatric Advantage. I hope that is good enough. Hey it's better than nothing right?

Hi All, I am 7 days post op and have a really weird rash on my belly that itches. I have no idea what this could have come from. I haven't changed soaps or detergent or anything along those lines. All I have been wearing since surgery are t-shirts and athletic pants to be comfortable. I had my follow up appt today and my doctor said it couldn't be surgery related because I just noticed it today and usually if a patient is allergic to something it shows up right away. Has anyone experienced this? My incisions look good and are healing perfectly. It's just an ichy rash. Thanks.

Wow when does it start falling out? I'm a week post op and not looking forward to this at all. Does it eventually grow back?

I saw this thread and just had to ask. Has anyone had the same reaction to the Celebrate Vitamins? I am 1 week post op and my NUT just recommended I start my Vitamin regimen with Celebrate Vitamins. Well I just took 2 multi and couldn't get to the bathroom fast enough to throw up. It was awful! The ones I took were samples I received from the company. They don't taste great and I can see myself wanting to gag every time I try to take them. I really don't want to spend all that money on a 30 day supply if they are going to make me sick every time I take them... I don't know what to do?!?!?

Thank you so much everyone for the great advice! I knew I could turn to this site for some good advice and a pep talk here and there. It's also nice to hear that most of you experienced this at least once during your recovery. My follow-up appointment is on Thursday and I hope to graduate to purées then. Thanks again! If anyone else has good advice please keep them comming.

I had surgery on 8/1 and was discharged on Thursday. I'm not allowed to try protein shakes until tomorrow. I'm allowed to clear liquid protein drinks like Isopure from GMC or the Vitamin Schoppe. They are more of a juice consistence and 20oz contain 40 grams of protein. They really don't taste bad at all. I would try this before a regular fuller protein shakes. I'm learning it's all about baby steps at this point.

I am so sorry to hear this. It is very important that you are as healthy as you can be when you go into surgery like this. This is really for the best and I really like your attitude about the whole situation. A week isn't too long to have to wait. Please keep up posted on your progress.

I have been wanting to post all day but have been busy getting ready for tomorrow! Tomorrow is my surgery!!! I have to be at the hospital by 8:30 a.m. I have so many emotions going on right now. I'm excited but nervous and anxious all at the same time. Right now I am actually feeling very calm about tomorrow. I'm usually a bundle of nerves when it comes to dr. appointments or anything hospital related. I better just enjoy this calm feeling now because tomorrow I'm sure my anxiety will be 10X worse. My biggest fear will be the wait, having to sit there and wait for my turn in the operating room. Good Luck all Aug. 1st sleevers! I can't wait to meet the rest of you on the losers bench!

I'm day 3 post-op and it is getting easier every day. I will not lie, when I woke up the first time after surgery I thought to myself why did I do this... I was in pain and those first 24 hours after surely are the worst. I was just waiting and counting the mins. until I could get my first ounce of water! The nurses wouldn't even give me a sponge to wet my mouth with. It was terrible. I was in the hospital for 1 night and was released probably around 8:00 p.m. on August 2nd. Today is my 3rd day post opt and I am sleeping really well in my own bed. I was able to take a shower yesterday. I got up this morning and made myself some decaf tea. I know now that it will only get better from here. Thank you for all of the well wishes.

Hi All: I have been following this forum for awhile while I was doing my research on the gastric sleeve procedure. This site was so helpful I decided to become a member and this is my first post. I have finished all of the requirements for my insurance and I am just waiting on their decision. If I am approved my surgery will be August 1st. I can't wait to join the rest of you on the losers bench. Lara Chicago, IL

My surgery is tomorrow too! I have the same emotions going on too! I'm sure it just nerves and anxiety of the unknown. We will both do just fine and we will have good stories to exchange once we get tomorrow behind us. Keep in touch I would like to hear how your surgery went!

Hello Birdy18: My surgery is tomorrow!!! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I actually am experiencing a strange calm about tomorrow. I'm sure the morning will be completely different. I'm usually a bunch of nerves when it has anything to do with doctor's and needles etc. I got in at 8:30 a.m. and hope to have the procedure done shortly after! I'll keep you posted on my progress. Good luck with your paperwork, I hope you hear something soon. I think I heard back in a week or so.

Just hang in there! I just got through day 5 of my pre-op diet and I never thought I could do it for this long! You will be hungry and you will want food but you can do anything for 2 weeks when you put your mind to it! Good Luck!

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Good Luck tomorrow!

Hi All, now that I have been officially approved for surgery and my surgery date is set (Aug 1st) I am completely focusing almost obsessively on the pre-op diet. It appears that the two weeks I will be on the pre-op diet will be the two weeks I have a ton of social activities. Argh. My question is how do you get through them? I'm even debating on not going to anything and just locking myself at home without any food insight. Just to get an idea of some activities I have going on during those 2 weeks. Def Leppard - Poison Concert Michael Jackson circ de sole Show Baseball Game - Go Cubs Bridal Shower Bachelorette Party I would love to hear if any of you had/have to go to a social gathering during your pre-op diet and how did you or how will you deal?

Thanks everyone for the great advice! My pre-opt diet consists of 4 low carb slim fast shakes, broths, Water, sugar free popsicles and sugar free Jello. I hear that the first 3 days are the hardest, is that true? I think I will be fine for the concert and show and it might help me take my mind off the hunger. I'm more worried about the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Those are going to be hard but it truly is mind over matter.

Sending you well wishes to a speedy recovery and I hope you get to go home soon!!!!