Michelle Cicerello

Denise, I had my surgery on May 9th - 11 days ago - as of yesterday I am down 58 pounds, and that includes the 37 pounds I lost on the 2 week pre op diet. Congrats on your loss, that is awesome!

Well, today is day 11 post op and I am doing pretty good, I felt really good later in the afternoon yesterday and I think I over did it, so today I am having some added pain that I dont normally have around my pain incision area. I am still feeling great though, just dont have alot of energy and try to use it when I have it. I am though EXTREMELY happy that I did this, and wouldnt change it for the world!

Joan, your so welcome, anything I can do to help, thats what I am here for. I was talking to my friend who is having surgery on Monday, and I told her, there are 3 things you really need at the hospital if nothing else - Chapstick your own pillow Heating pad if you have those 2 things, you will be set, I was costantly putting on chapstick as my lips were so dried out, and just having my comfy pillow made me more comfortable, and the heating pad helped so much with the gas pains that I had out of surgery. Take all the ice chips you can and all the popsicles they were heavenly - also, I dont know about you, but when I dont feel good, I cant stand to be hot, and in the rooms at Baylor Plano, they have thier own thermostats in each room and I had the nurse turn mine down to like 68 and it was so nice and cool in there, I froze my visitors out, but I was comfy... lol Hope this helps -

Candaceshenea - it is so nice to meet other Dr Nick patients, isnt he and his staff just fabulous?? How are things going for you?

Congratulations!!! :cheer2::drum: That is so awesome, I know your ecstatic!!

Hi Joan - Dr Nick and his staff are AMAZING!! you are in good hands a friend of mine is having surgery with him on Monday, if your surgery was that day, I would stop in and see how your doing Yes, I did have a drain, its not that bad, you will also have a pain ball, with a tiny tube under the skin to keep the incision spots numb - I was able to get the drain out before I left the hospital the next day, but I kept the pain ball until it was empty and was able to take it out myself as its a really small tube/hose whatever you want to call it. This coming Monday (the 23rd) will be 2 weeks post op for me, and the pounds are just melting off of me, let me tell you, I wouldn't change all that I went through for the world!! this is the most amazing thing ever! Keep your chin up, this is the start to your new life, and if you ever have any questions, or want any advise on something, please just let me know, I am here for you

Hi Ruthie - first of all, welcome! Yes, I have trouble getting in all of my Protein and fluids as well, and yes, if you take too big of a drink it will hurt - just sip sip sip - do the best you can on your fluids and protein and with each week it will start to get easier to get in.

lol that is too funny -

yay thats awesome to hear!!! I am hoping to be dancing with you!!

Awww I am sorry your going through this, I really am, but..... You are being to hard on yourself. If we COULD have lost this weight on our own WE would have, but its like alot of things in life, in order to accomplish something we sometimes need help! And you didnt make the stricture, or the narrowing of your stomach happen, this was a surgery, and with surgery, unfortunately there are risks, we all hope that none of those risks happen to us and when they do, yes, it sucks, but your DR is going to do what he needs to do tomorrow to make you comfortable and not cause more damage. A few years ago I had a gall stone get caught in the bile duct of my pancreas, and was in major pain and had to have a scope to go down there and clear out the stone and the sludge and repair any damage to the duct that the stone did - let me tell you I was scared, but when I woke from that, I felt so much better I was thrilled that it was done - I know that is not the same as what your going to have done tomorrow, but its close - You have every right to be mad, but please stop being so hard on yourself, and give your DR a chance to fix things for you. HUGS to you, keep us posted on how things are going

Yes, I think there is a correlation between the surgery and your period. I started 3 days after surgery when I wasnt due until the end of May - I have seen that a few other ladies are having the same issues as well.

Thanks all, I am glad that what I am going through is just par for the course - fortunatly I am off of work for 3 weeks, so if i need to just do nothing, thats just what I do... lol I do have to say that today as far as the pain goes from having surgery, its almost (not quite all ) but almost all gone! YAY!!! I am sure once I get to the mushy stage of eating that I will start to have more energy... at least I am hoping I will keep everyone posted and try to be as candid as possible

Thanks! I am glad I am not the only one having the energy issues and the TOM - UGH I am about over that for sure! LOL We will get there, one step at a time

Oh, your so welcome Joan, I hope my updates are not putting any doubt in your mind or scaring you, please dont let them, even with all this blahh stuff, I wouldnt change it for the world! I am so excited for you for your day next tuesday - I know its probably hard to be excited at this point ( it was for me) but you will be so happy you did it - Just remember to take your own pillow, and some chapstick - in the hospital, get all the Popsicle's you can and ice chips, thats what got me through Keep us updated on how things go

I am having the same problem, but I am having that with the flintstones chewables, and had to spit it out because it was making me sick - Gummies sound so much easier for me, but my surgeon told me from the get go to not get the gummies that they are hard on your stomach - I am tempted to use them since some people are here just to get in my Vitamins.

Congratulations, that is wonderful, keep up the good work

Well hopefully the medicine that your getting will help with the enemia and help with your energy level as well, I am keeping my fingers crossed that your in tip top shape in no time

Thank you Kelly, I am really excited!

Wow Kelly back to work already? my hat is off to you for doing it this soon - I had surgery the same day as you and I wouldnt be able to make it back at work this early - just take it slow and you should be ok, but please please dont over do it ok? your still healing from a major thing..... LOL about the gas - I can only imagine how mortified but how much better you felt lol Take care of you!!

Hey Karen - Thanks! I had Dr Nick too, and I had my surgery on May 9th - how are things going for you so far?

lol yeah, thats how it seems to go - when I was on my 2 week pre op diet, people at work kept asking me if I wanted Cookies or to go out to lunch with them, I had to kindly decline - you will make it through, it can be rough sometimes, but it is doable Keep up the good work!!

Awww I totally understand the being scared, I was too - but after the surgery was over, it wasnt nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be - You are doing great, and will do wonderful post op as well - Being scared is normal, if you wernt, you wouldnt be normal.. lol I am so excited for you and your surgery - how exciting

Well, Yesterday I felt like I had zero energy, and I just couldnt do anything, I didnt really feel good, didnt feel like getting in everything I needed to and just felt icky. I was having more aches and pains on my body and from reading I thinks its because the fat is moving and making my body hurt. I had started my period 3 days post op when It wasnt time, and I am STILL bleeding - I didnt walk yesterday like I should have and was really starting to be hard on myself when I stopped and thought, No, my body has been through alot and if I have a bad day here and there, thats ok - I went to sleep last need pretty early and did get a good nights sleep and Now here I am day 9 post op - I feel much better then I did yesterday, so thats a plus, and I am getting more water in this morning then I think I did all day yesterday - I am soo wanting to get tp the mushy food stage so bad, I cannot wait to have refried beans with cheese - lol its amazing how the little things in life we start looking forward to. Heres to having much better days ahead and getting all of our energy back

Joan - Aww you guys are making me cry - I am glad I am able to help you. I do not for one minute regret doing this, I am very excited for the outcome- even though there have been some rough spots in the road, I have had amazing things happen as well, I had high blood pressure before surgery and had to take medicine for it, I am now off of my blood pressure medicine and that feels amazing, I have also had great wegiht loss so far, and THAT is amazing - so even though I have had rough times, the good times FAR outweigh the bad - Keep up the good work, the preop diet does seem daunting at times, but it is so worth the prize at the end

Thank you for that, I am so looking forward to the day that I will not have ANY pain - Getting feedback from people who have already done this is so helpful Keep your chin up, your weight loss will pick up again I really dont know what I would do if I didnt have this forum to come to everyday - this is what helps me and keeps me on track! I love you guys