smallvegan

I didn't have a drain, but one of mine started hurting and the skin around it turned pink. I saw the MD immediately and she put me on antibiotics. She told me I had an early cellulitis, which if left untreated, could have gotten much worse and required IV antibiotics. I was cured very quickly on the antibiotics. I am not trying to scare you, but just want you to know it's important to get it checked out. I had my surgery out of state, so I called my surgeon and sent him a picture of it and he agreed I should get it looked at, so I saw my PCP. Hope it turns out ok for you!

I was asked to lose 5% of my weight prior to surgery, which wasn't too hard, but didn't have to do any sort of liquid diet until the day before surgery. My nutritionist said that a lot of surgeons put their patients on liquids so they'll lose the 5%, rather than asking them to lose it on their own. She said their practice doesn't do this since you are on liquids for 2 weeks post op. They don't want you to be on nothing but liquids for a month, which happens if you do it 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks post. Just my experience, and you really should check with your doc since they all seem to be a little different. Good luck with everything!

Took two, but could have gone back after a week.

Mine took a week before I stopped looking 11 months pregnant. Then a few more days till it was back to "normal".

So excited to move on to Phase 2 tomorrow - FOOD. I have really had no trouble being on the clear liquids for the past two weeks, but suddenly tonight, I am very excited to chew! I can't believe tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my surgery. Feeling GREAT! Down 18 since surgery, 34 if you include what I lost pre-op. Hope you are all doing great too! Lauren

I can't sleep on my back, so I tried my side right away and had no real problems. My tummy was a little sore when I slept on it, so I sort of hugged a long, king sized pillow and that helped a lot. Good luck! Lauren

Well, I just saw that you are not in the US and that your glucose is resulted as mmol. That is far different than mg/dl that I am used to seeing! When you said it was 2, I thought you meant it was in mg/dl and I wondered how you were still talking, lol! It is still low, but not nearly as low as I thought you were talking about. Glad to hear you are following up with your doc and I hope you feel better soon!

I still believe she should re-check it. She asked for advice, and that is mine.

As a nurse, I can tell you that a blood sugar of 2 isn't possible if you're still conscious. You should try again so you know for sure what you are dealing with. Hope you feel better soon! Lauren

I tell pretty much everyone. I have had nothing but love and support from everyone I've told (so far at least). The weight is melting off and I'm not interested in skewing the truth when folks ask how I did it. It's ok if people have their opinions. I'm sure they had them about my weight before. That's their issue and really doesn't affect me.

I had the same fears about the sleeve. I actually worked with a therapist for the past year or so to help me with my binge eating/overeating issues. I think it was a life saver. Now I am using this tool, the sleeve, as a way to take off the weight. I was too afraid to do it before I worked out my issues with the food! Lauren

Best of luck! I had mine last Tuesday and I am doing GREAT!

I was in surgery less than an hour. No drain, no foley. The only issue I had was nausea from the anesthesia. They were aggressive about treating it though, which I appreciated!

I was sleeved on Tuesday and swear I've burped with every sip, no matter how small the sip or how slow I take it. Figured it was from the gas in my abdomen. Hoping it goes away or at least doesn't happen all the time when I go back to work!

Got sleeved yesterday! Was not the least bit nervous, just excited. I though I'd get nervous when they wheeled me into the OR, but I was literally out within one minute and then next thing I knew, they were waking me up! Had a bad experience with the anesthesia and was so nauseous. Nothing they tried helped and I started vomiting. NOT fun after belly surgery. Finally, they found the right combo of meds and I was like a new woman. Having some gas pains and just generally exhausted today, but feel so much better. I was released this morning and have been walking, sipping, napping, repeat all day. My belly is so swollen that I look 11 months pregnant, but the Gas-X strips are starting to kick in. All in all, not bad and I am just so happy. I feel like my new life is just waiting for me now! Lauren

After all these months, I can't believe my surgery is in less than two hours. Still so excited and nervousness hasn't set in yet. Guessing that will come as I lay on the table. I have been reading this board for so long, I just have to say thanks to all for your posts. They have educated me, energized me, and prepared me. I just feel calm and at ease with my decision. I am so ready to start this new chapter of my life. I'll let you know how it goes! Lauren

Been a nurse for 14 years. Getting sleeved on August 14th. So it seems 14 is my number this year!

Welcome! I get my sleeve in August and I can't wait. Thanks for sharing your story!

Good luck to you both. Let us know how you did!

I'm an August sleever now! Just got scheduled for 8/14. I have to lose 5% of my body weight prior to surgery, and I only have 2 pounds left, which should be a breeze, so they let me schedule. I am so excited I literally had trouble falling asleep last night. When I finally fell asleep, I dreamt about the surgery all night. Got my FMLA forms all submitted today and I'm ready to go. Wish it was sooner, but I'm trying to enjoy the journey and be patient!

Just scheduled my sleeve for 8/14 and I'm so excited that I can't sit still! I have been reading this board every day and I can't wait to be on the other side of the surgery. I have all my pre-op tests done and I just need to lose 2 more pounds which will be no problem. I am just so excited! Never thought I'd be excited about surgery! Lauren

I wouldn't trade my Vitamix for anything! It is pricey, but worth every single penny.

Hi everyone! Just joined the group and I'm so excited to be part of such a wonderful community! I am pre-surgery, hoping to have my sleeve this summer. I am currently finishing up all my "pre-reqs" and working on losing the 5% of my weight that the MD requires. I am getting very excited to get it done! My story is probably similar to a lot of yours. I was thin until college. My "freshman 15" was more like a freshman 50 and it just went up from there until I was 100 pounds overweight. I have tried every diet I know of, including a liquid diet I did about 6 years ago. I lost 100 pounds then and was so happy! I thought it was for life, but you know the ending to that story. I have since spent a lot of time working on the issues that caused me to use food and I was able to stop my binge eating. I feel I am finally in the right place to do this. I am so ready to be out of this "prison" that my weight puts me in. There is so much life out there that I miss out on. Either being afraid I will be too fat or just too uncomfortable or tired. I have so much on my to do list! I look forward to exploring this forum and getting to know you all a bit better! Lauren

Thanks Kimberly! You are doing great! Reading all these posts and seeing all these success stories is getting me even more excited!

I am vegan and getting sleeved (hopefully) this summer. My doctor and nutritionist tell me it is do-able, but difficult. The issue is that in order to get the protein you need, you usually get too many carbs (tofu is like this) which can slow your weight loss. Most vegan protein shakes have the same problem. I am working closely with the nutritionist, but it is possible I may need to go vegetarian during the weight loss phase and back to vegan during "maintenance". I REALLY hope that isn't the case, but my health has to come first and I must lose this weight! -Lauren