MKK

I had surgery on 8/16. I read and read and read entries on this site. It made a world of difference for me. I was on a 2 week pre-op, almost harder than the surgery itself. On that morning, I was scared and apprehensive. Praying did calm and center me. When I came in, they asked a lot of questions I answered 13 times already...lol. What meds am I on? What's my name and date, checking the wrist band. Met with various nurses and Drs that "prepped" me. Got my IV. Surgery was done about 2 1/2 hrs after I arrived. It took about 1 hr 15 min. Woke up in recovery room, felt kinda like hit by a Mack truck, just confused, out of sorts, thirsty!!! Once in my room, got the pain pump. Used more in the first 3-4 hours and tappered off to maybe 6-8 "hits" per day. Pain went from a 9 to a 6 in a matter of a few hours, then down to a 4. I asked for no bladder catheter, I get bad UTIs. So schlepping all the stuff (IV and pain meds stand) in and out of the bathroom was a nuisance. I walked around the unit twice that day. I stayed 2 nights because I had issues with my heart rate dropping. The 2nd day walked 4 times around the unit. Ate minimally while I was there. Rested on and off. Was very bloated. I had to keep mindful that the first week wasn't about weight loss, but recovering. Detoxing from the anesthesia and meds took a few days too. Now feeling really good. The "worst" is behind me and I can't wait to getting better and better and more "normal". It's just a couple weeks of inconvenience, sacrafice and being uncomforatble for hopfeully a lifetime of better living. Good luck, we're all here for you. Keep us posted. Melinda Sleeved 8/16/10 by Dr Lynch HW 333, pre-op diet start 323, surgery weight, 309, weight today 300! Yippee!!!

Hey, Wow, sounds like you're having a very tough time. I get the remorse and the gas and the sternum pain. Can't get much down, haven't had a BM in 10 days...eating colace and MoM tablets, ouch. Here's what has helped me. Have warm tea first thing, losens up and relaxes all the muscles. Eat/drink standing up - goes down faster couldn't stand the Protein drinks, made work arounds such as: sugarfree applesauce with added Protein powder sugar-free low carb yougurt, thin out with skim milk and add protein powder eat tons of s/f popsicles and s/f Jello cup a Soup - even cream of chix - seems like I'm craving salty things, even chewed a bite of scrambled egg to a pulp, know supposed to be on liquids, but I'm listening to my body's cravings sleep on side, hold pillow against my upper abdomen, like when coughing, seems to help Remember - right now it's not about the weight, our bodies are swollen and bloated, priority is recovering from surgery Let me know how you're doing 8/17 sleeve buddy...sending you healing energy your way..... Melinda:thumbup: Dr Lynch - sleeved 8/17 BMI start 45 HW 333, pre-op 323, surgery weight 309, now??? find out tomorrow

Hi there, Wow, I'm in the post-op section....what a long journey. Surgery went well. The first night my heart rate dropped really low - 39, so they decided to keep me another night. Came home and been resting a lot. If I get too active, like cleaning up the kitchen, I get winded and tired. I did start walking last night, just for 5 minutes or so. I've read lots and lots of your entries. Gotten some good advice. What I'm struggling with the most is not being able to get down the Protein drinks. I had no problem on my pre-op diet. So, I am adding Protein powder to applesauce, but can only get about 3 Tbs down at any sitting. That takes over 20 minutes. I am sipping Water all day. Haven't had a BM since the Friday before surgery, so still feel bloated. Gas x strips help. Finally got an ok from the Drs office to take MoM, so far nada. But, I'm remaining hopeful. Other issue is depression. I was of my meds for 2 days while in the hospital. Came home and really realized my relationship with food is forever changed. Which is for the good, but still a loss. Loss of comfort, loss of my stomach. Once the meds kicked back in my mood lifted a bit. The other thing is seeing the foods I used to like and not eating them. Sometimes not even wanting them. Sometimes wanting them but knowing if I tried, I'd get sick. Sometimes feeling left out. Sometimes forcing myself even to get in 300 calories/day. I know with time it'll get better. This is only day 6. Just trying to keep my eye on the prize... a healthier me to enjoy being active with my family more, able to socialize in food settings again, but be able to focus on the converstation, not the food. More energy, looking better, feeling better. Thanks for listening...your turn Melinda Sleeved: 8/16/10 HW - 333 pre-op weight - 323 surgery weight - 309 Dr Lynch

Hi Red, Hope it's going well. First few days were hard for me too. Headaches from detoxing off sugar. The hardest thing for me is giving up Diet Coke. I'm all liquids this week and I broke down and had pizza yesterday for lunch. Back on track now though. I'm have surgery on 8/16 too! I'll look for your updates. Good luck, you can do it! Melinda

So many thoughts and quesions racing through my mind. Am I doing the right thing? What will happen when I'm thinner? Does this mean all the "if onlys" will happen? Like... I'd ride bikes with my family if only my knees didn't hurt as much and I wasn't out of breath... I'd be happier and more confident if only I could lose the weight... I'd have a better chance at a promotion if only I were thinner... I won't need a seat belt extension when flying, if only I could lose the weight I can fit in a roller coaster seat, if only I'd loose some weight I wouldn't be so b_tchy and yell at my kids, if only I were happier with myself because I lost weight. Will there be complications? Is this really safe? What will my body look like after I lose the weight? Will I need plastic surgery? How expensive will that be? Will I be able to keep any food down, will I vomit and break open staples? Will I have enough energy to go back to work? Will I be able to stay on the liquid diet for 5 more days? Nervous in Nashville - Melinda Surgery date: 8/16/10 Starting BMI: 45 Surgeon: Dr Lynch Sanity level: questionable

I did lots of interenet research, went through my insurance company. They recommended a "Center of Excellence". I chose Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center. I contacted them, attended a seminar and watched a on-line few videos. Baptist ran my insurance, which required 6 months of documented weight loss effort with monthly vsisits. That was frustrating. I was well qualified between my BMI and other health issues (sleep apnea, high blood pressure and cholesterol, pre-diabetic. My family doctor did the 6 month "weight loss effort" with me. She wrote the letter of recommendation and sent it along with progress notes to the surgery center. Then had a visit with my surgeon, and was able to schedule surgery within weeks. Had an upper GI and other pre-op lab work on Friday. My surgery is for Monday, 8/16. Overall, about an 8 months time period. I'm on the pre-op diet now. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. It was a long process, but I'm glad I went through it. Good luck. Melinda Dr Lynch Starting BMI - 45 Lost 6 pounds in first 5 days on pre-op Surgery 8/16/10

Thanks everybody for the warm welcome! Day 8 of pre-op and really struggling. Had the upper GI on Friday. Left me dehydrated and all bound up. Waiting for the laxatives and stool softner to kick in. How do people work on this "all liquid" diet? I can't concentrate or articulate. Feel stupid. Hanging tough... Melinda Dr Lynch - Nashville TN date of surgery 8/16/10 BMI 45

Hi there, Boy do I understand how you feel. I have surgery scheduled for Monday 8/16, started the all liquid phase of my pre-op diet. YUK! I found sugar-free banana popsicles and sugar-free black cherry Jello that is helping me make it through. :thumbup: Had the upper GI on Friday - more yuk! Became dehydrated and bound up. And trying to function? How do people work while on this? I'm stupid, not recalling converstations, not articulating clearly. :crying: I lost 6 pounds in 5 days on the pre-op (with 1 small meal and on my period). If I can do it, you can!!! Well, actually I'm trying to do it....my surgeon said if I come in next Monday morning and not have a a significant weight loss, he's sending me home! Not sure what he defines as significant, but I know it's more than 6 pounds. LOL. Can you imagine coming all this way (8 months of jumping through hoops) and blowing it? If I could stay on a liquid diet I wouldn't need surgery, right? Hanging tough! Melinda Starting BMI -45 surgery date 8/16/10 Dr Lynch

Hi everybody, Thanks so much for sharing. I'm on day 4 of the pre-op diet. Feel much less bloated. Very loopy though. My surgery is on 8/16. I'm anxious. I've been in the process to get to this point for 8 months. Videos, psych evals, seminar, countless doctors appointments, co-pays, "documented monthly weight loss efforts". When the insurance company asked for that one, I was livid. My BMI is 44, I have high cholesterol, sleep apnea, sore knees/joints, borderline diabetic, high blood pressure, struggling with obesity for over 11 years. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Well, now that I'm on the other side of these past 8 months with surgery in 10 days, I kinda understand why. Some folks may opt out, not in it for the long haul. Even though I have a couple friends who had gastric by-pass last year, I'm sitting here feeling all alone. My procedure is different. Then I read some of your entries...you're feeling the exact way I do. I'm getting ready to cut out 75% or more of my stomach -so barbaric. Why can't I just do this liquid thing.... because before long I'll be eating pizza and ice cream, to the tune of 5000-6000 calories/day. I choose life today! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this website! I'm going to keep reading. I'd like to hear from you, how did you do it? Melinda Surgery: scheduled 8/14 @ 7:30 a.m. CST Doctor: Lynch Ideal weight loss goal: honestly - 150 pounds but I'll be happy with anything over 100!