popsicle_20721

I have been reading a lot of posts regarding complications; at least to the extent that my computer doesn't lock up because this site installs a lot of cookies on my system (another problem…) Many of the post replies include well wishers, which is good, but oftentimes I'm looking for answers to what is going on… with me. I was sleeved on 12/26, hospital stay overnight and discharged home. Initially, I thought things were going to be fine. I wasn't able to take in much, as I was told would be the case, so I wasn't overly concerned, but now 3 weeks post surgery, I am feeling awful. My progress has been up and down; though more down than up; although I have lost weight. I don't think I've consumed more than 10 oz of fluid/nutrition of any type per day, since surgery. I can't drink water, juice, and even protein drinks make me feel uncomfortable. Anything cold seems to make my stomach feel uncomfortable, nauseous, sour etc. I have days where I'm able to keep what I take in down and other days, I am nauseous or vomiting or just feeling horrible. I'm not in pain per se, but I do feel like someone is sitting on my chest or, as best as I can describe it, a sour stomach. I take the pain meds because that is the only time when I feel comfortable, relaxed; but I'm afraid of taking the meds because I don't want to develop a dependency on them, which may have already occurred. Nevertheless, I feel desperate. I feel weak most of the time. The days that I do manage to get out and accomplish anything e.g. walking, go to doctor, do a little work is always followed by a day of vomiting, more weakness and inability to take in fluids/nutrition. I haven't been able to work, and I need to. I live alone, so I've been struggling through all this alone - without family or friends. I do have people that call and check on me and I tell them what's going on, but mostly everyone just keeps telling me it will be alright or how they wish me well. I know they don't know what to do, but I want to scream because I don't feel like anyone can help me feel better and I feel so alone. I did see my doc yesterday and he said if things continue to be difficult he will have me do some sort endoscopy (whatever the heck that really is??) Most folks who have discussed complications refer to acronyms that I haven't a clue as to what they are talking about, so it's difficult to relate or understand whether anyone is really experiencing the same problems as I, or more importantly, has anything worked for them and if so, what has. I need hope, I appreciate well wishes - but I need to understand what's happening to me and more importantly I need to hear from others who have experienced what I'm going through, what they did to help get them through it. Now I have a cold another, complication - though not related to the surgery; but certainly something else that is adding to my misery.

well keep me posted. The gas has gotten better over the last couple of days. Still struggling to find things to eat while still on full liquid without the hunger feeling coming on. I get bored, with the samething every day. Something definitely I have to get use to. I've been told it gets better.

yes - your right. It was someone who was commenting on your post. I do understand the feelings of hunger, as shared in my previous post. This is a major concern for me. I was always hungry with the band, but just couldn't eat anything but slider foods which stalled my weight loss. I'm so scared of this happening with the sleeve, so I've really been following posts from folks like you who are posting about being hungry. Prayerfully I think I've lost close to 10lbs if not more at only 7 days post op, and I would love it even more if after 7 weeks I lost 46lbs, didnt have that much success the 4yrs banded, but the hunger is a concern because that makes me seek unforgiving food choices; please continue posting on your progress. Thank you.

I'm a side sleeper. 7 days post op. I've been sleeping on back. I've also been using a heating pad on my stomach. The meds have helped also.

I don't understand your ticker says you've lost 46lbs in 7wks following sleeve but your post says you've only lost 10lbs - which one is accurate?

Will be interested in hearing your progress and other comments related to this post. I'm 7 days post revision to sleeve, so I'm still on full liquids. I know that I'm behind in getting all my fluids in, especially water, which I find really difficult; I can almost drink anything but water is hard to get in more than a few sips at a time - can't understand this. I seem to need something to eat (drink rather) pretty much throughout the day/night just to keep the rumbling away. Warm liquids seem to sooth the rumbling, but I have to change what I drink frequently because I get bored easy and I'm searching through a variety of acceptable liquids (full) in order to feel "satisfied" like I'm consuming things that I "like." Cream soups, broth, protein drinks, sf pudding, popsicles, decaf tea and even Starbucks (yes - be careful, but decaf option and a tall, which last two days now). I have begun to notice (I think, cause so new) that liquids with high sugar content seem to make my stomach feel "funny," so even though the doc says no anyway, my tummy seems to be saying "don't mess around" and I'm doing my best to listen to my doc, but the way my tummy feels is even more convincing.

Yes. I also have some of the hunger feelings too. It's a lot less than what I had with band, but they are there. This obviously is just a prelimina report because I was just banded on 12/26, so I'm just 7 days post surgery. I'm actually still not eating the full amount of "full liquids" that my doc has me on currently, so the hungry feeling may be a sign of my recovery progress, more than anything else. When I drink protein drinks with 1% lactaose free milk (8 oz) - I definitely feel full and uncomfortable (somebody called it "fat full"). Liquids that are more clear, fill me up briefly, but I'm ready for more after 20-30 minutes - this goes on all day long. Slow, but progress none the less.

my diet plan said I could have decaf coffee with substitute sweetner e.g splenda, I'm a "big" Starbucks fan at least one grande a day for years, use to be a venti drinker; that was breakfast. In preparation for revision, I started to reduce size from venti to grande and recently went to 1/2 caffeine, now at decaf. Never had sugar, the mocha syrup was enough, which I always cut in 1/2 anyway. Today I'm 4 days post surgery and had a "treat." e.g. tall (the smallest size), decaf mocha, with only one pump of chocolate and no whip cream. I tried it with skim milk, but it was awful so I changed to 2% milk which I am to avoid, but it was a "treat" so I did have the 2% milk. I was only able to drink a few sips, but it felt warm and I felt human again. This new no sugar, no/low carb everything is very difficult for me; although I'm trying to stick with the diet plan. I haven't been able to eat anything except clear liquids since surgery - which is normal, though I'm not getting the amount of fluids I'm supposed to be getting, in.on a daily basis. Still in spite of the 2% milk I had today, I did so much better in my eatng today than I have since surgery. I actually felt full at one point and had to stop eating/drinking anything else. I feel a little guilty, but like I said, I also felt good to have something I actually enjoyed. Starbucks can make any drink you like the way you like it, but you probably have to start with a basic drink that you like and then have them make it according to your preferences. I have mine down to how many pumps of syrup to put in my drink - no foam (air), no whip cream and low sugar content, for me that is decaf coffee. Try different things until you get it right.

I understand the feelings of jealousy. I was banded in 2009. It was horrible because most times I was hungry and the only food I could tolerate were slider foods, that put the weight on. in 2011 my DIL had a sleeve, she was a little heavier than I was and less than a year after her surgery she looked great. She could eat what she wanted, but less of it and seemed so happy with her WLS choice. I couldn't believe that I had made such a mistake, but felt it was too late to do anything about it. I stuck with the band for many months later, while she continued to lose weight, I either gained it or would be vomiting most of the time. The worse thing .. most people don't think I eat a lot of food anyway, but I gain weight with no problem. I recently revised on 12/26 so my "new" weight loss journey is just beginning. I am praying that I will be more sucessful with the sleeve. Right now I am feeling a little hungry, but not able to eat more than a few sips of this or that at a time.

just had band removed and sleeved in one procedure on 12/26. Doc did not mention there being a possibility for slower weight loss progress, but my band experience was horrible e.g. 20lbs only after 4 years; never had band fully filled either, just couldn't eat anything with 4-6cc's. I guess we will see how it goes.

My post op diet says no gatorade, specifically

I wish my doc had told me about band problems from beginning - he actually recommended I get the band, which I did. I'm sure the problems were probably mentioned, but I think I was so excited about being able to have WLS that I didn't do enough research before deciding. I've been using the heating pad too and it's helped also. This time I did do a lot of the research, and I know that I've got to make changes regarding my eating habits for anything to work. In a way, the band provided good practice in terms of reigning in my eating habits, so hopefully the sleeve will help me get where I would like to be as a goal. Good luck to you as well.

Hello - My name is Sharon. I recently had surgery on 12/26/2012 so my journey is just beginning. This is my first full day home post surgery. I underwent revision surgery e.g. from a lapband to gastric sleeve. In a way I feel like a failure because I already had one WLS that didn't work for me; and now, here I go again with another one. If this doesn't work, I'll just give up. I'm 52 yo and sometimes think what does it matter if I'm overweight, who cares anymore because I'm getting older, BUT I care; so here I am again - praying that it works out the way I hope. Right now, I'm not feeling very good. I feel bloated, like something is pressing on me e.g. gas. I'm told it's my new stomach. I can't tell whether I'm suffering from gas or pain from the surgery, both feel uncomfortable. I'm having a terrible time getting my fluids in. Doctor's instructions say about 32 ounces a day, but I'm not making anything near that amount. I switch back and forth in the type of fluids I try to take in, but when that gassy feeling or pressing feeling comes on, it's so uncomfortable I stop. Mostly I spend my time in bed, wondering if this all will be worth it in the end. I desperately want to do better than I did with the band. I think when you have had one failed surgery, it's harder the 2nd time because you have all these doubts, PLUS, you are feeling awful the first few days post surgery. I could use all the words of encouragement I can get right now, especially knowing that what I'm experiencing is normal for my situation.

Well today has been much better. I slept on and off all night, but woke up around 7am, my usual time. About midnight last night I ate a tsp full or two of sugar free pudding. I hate this sugar free stuff, always been a problem for me - but I did it. It felt good to eat something else except water, broth and apple juice. It seems like I have little cups of all types of stuff sitting in the fridge, but still not getting all the required fluid in, doing my best. I am peeing and don't feel dehydrated. Sometimes the mental picture of real food comes to mind, but I know better and wouldn't dare try it, I want this to work for me. Anyway, I also walked on my ellipitical machine for 10mins today, took a lot out of me, but was proud of myself. It is cold, wet and snowy outside and I'm still fighting a cold; so figured I would give the elliptical a try. One day at a time. I hope to continue speaking with many of you as the days go by.

To make matters worse, I caught a cold a couple of days before surgery, so now I'm also dealing with sinus congestion, which actually got better while I was in hospital, but now at home, it's starting to be another problem to deal with. I have the humidifier going and I use my CPAP when I sleep, but add this on top of some shoulder pain that just started from sleeping on the same shoulder and to say I'm feeling horrible is an understatment. I'm sorry I sound so down, but this is my experience right now and I figure if anyone can relate they could assure me it does get better. Thanks all, I think i'll walk to the mailbox and check my mail. Then I'll try to take in some more fluids, just a couple of ounces it seems every hour or so. All this seems so strange.

Thank you. I've been walking around the house, slowly. I take the pain meds, which generally makes me sleep. I don't know if it's gas pains or pain from the surgery, but it is uncomfortable.