Golden

Thanks so much for posting such an honest story...to be truthful, this is one of the things I fear the most happening! I know that I have real issues with the emotional aspects of binge eating, which is why I got to the size that I did. And even though I've gone through phases in life where it's under control, I worry that I won't ever be able to beat the "dark side" completely. I was self-pay and didn't have any pre-surgery requirements, but I started seeing a therapist on my own 6 months before surgery just because I knew I needed to. Regardless, I still often feel like the issues are not or can't be "resolved." It's truly a lifelong battle that you have to take one day at a time. I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't beat yourself up. Even if you had seen someone beforehand, it would still be really, really hard... You've clearly had some rough circumstances to deal with and are doing the right thing by dusting yourself off and looking ahead to what your options are now. The same thing could have happened to any of us. Luckily, there is great support on this board for whenever you need to vent or bounce ideas around. Happy to have you here!

Sitting in ER waiting room right now, freaking out! Started noticing pain in my right ankle this morning but didn't think much of it. Shopped all afternoon and when I got home noticed it was swollen and tender - on the right side only. So scared of a possible blood clot, if that's what it is, how do they fix it?! I'm 5 weeks out today, anyone else had this? I am praying it is just edema or something ... :(

Thanks guys - Butterfly, I'm glad your stomach pain was only that! Better to be embarrassed than in trouble, right?! I think they did the Ddimer test for clots, but not the other. I haven't had any swelling or redness in the ankles anymore and never had previously, so I'm pretty much chalking it up to a fluke at this point. But if I ever get it again, I will be sure to ask about the possibility of gout...although here's hoping there's no need as the weight comes off!

I didn't have too much trouble with gas pain - I know for others it's been awful though. The second night I was in the hospital I couldn't sleep from it. Having a heating pad really made a huge difference, as did having someone around to do "karate chops" on my back. Other than that, just walking it off was the only way! Hope you feel better soon, just take it a day at a time. Or an hour at a time if that's too much! Don't get overwhelmed, this part will be over before you know it.

Hi all, so sorry I didn't respond! I sent a reply from my phone at the time that I now see didn't post, and ended up going out of town unexpectedly so by the time I got back, this topic must have been pushed far down the page - only noticed now because I'm trying to set up a ticker! So after a LONG night at the ER, they basically couldn't tell me what was wrong (!!), so I still left pretty nervous, but then I do tend to be a bit of a hypochondriac. But when it's a potential blood clot, who can blame me?! I did go back to the doctor to follow up on it and began sleeping with my foot elevated at night and trying not to stress it. The swelling eventually went down on it's own and the doctor thinks it was like edema in just one foot. WEIRD and very scary, but I'm glad it wasn't more! Thank you guys so much for checking up on me and again didn't mean to not answer! I'm 9 weeks out this weekend, so I think I'll do my first real update post and check in with everyone...xxo

Thanks guys! Still waiting to be seen...One thing is that it's a general ER and I am scared to admit I had VSG in Mexico! I only said I had bariatric surgery recently... Have heard such awful stories about how people are treated - do I lie and say I had it in CA or something? Will they ask for details? Arrgh

I'm so excited to hear that about EmergenC!!! I had though I couldn't have it because it's considered "effervescent"?? How exciting, has it helped you at all?

Today I am three weeks out - I am planning to have some pureed lentil Soup for lunch and would really love to sprinkle some cheese on to melt in it. Maybe a silly questions, but what were your guidelines regarding cheese? I don't have any specific info about it in my instructions packet and can't call the doctor on a weekend... but it seems like it would be okay. Just wanted to take a poll while I think it over, lol. Also, I see a lot of people writing about Laughing Cow cheese, but I've never been able to find it in a grocery store, where do you buy it?

I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and my surgery was done by Dr. Armando Joya. I paid $10,000, which included roundtrip airfare, all pre-op testing, medication, one night in the hotel pre-op, two nights post-op, prepaid taxis for transportation. Dr. Joya's surgical assistant Dr. Espinoza came to check on me in hotel during recovery, and their nutritionist Nathalie gave me all her personal contact info for questions. I know it is a bit more and a further distance than people sometimes go, but I had a few reasons. First, even though there are a few other Mexican surgeons that are more popular by name, Dr. Joya was right on par in that I was never able to find a negative thing about him. On the contrary, I found many accounts of people who had a great experience and who were open to emailing and chatting about their time there. Second, I really liked the location. I knew I could do it cheaper if I went just over the border, but the resort and beach city of Puerto Vallarta is really beautiful, and it made me feel better about dragging someone along with me to know that they would be able to enjoy a really quality vacation while I recovered. Luckily I felt well enough to enjoy it too! The Krystal resort has a number of pools and is right on the ocean. It is very cheap ($20 a night) to upgrade to an ocean view room, and the restaurant was more than willing to bring me chicken broth through room service. I have no regrets thus far - my recovery has been smooth and completely uneventful (knock on wood). I never had pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. (knock on wood again). I would recommend the experience!

Thanks all! I did go ahead and start melting a bit of cheese into things and it's gone down great as well as made some of the bland Soups much more delicious. I'll look out for Laughing Cow on my next grocery run, I only looked in the regular cheese section which explains why I didn't see it!

I went back to my desk job on day 9 of recovery. It was fine, although tiring. It's an odd sort of fatigue - I wasn't in pain, but I reached a point where I was just "done." After that point I just really couldn't be productive physically or mentally anymore. It rolled around about 3 or 4 o' clock, so I had to suffer through the last hour and a half of the day being very sluggish. Getting the train home after that felt like a monumental effort, etc. I'm at 3 weeks now though, and my energy is much higher, although not completely back. I overdid it a couple of times and it was not a nice feeling, so DO ask for the help you need - you won't need enough to be imposing on anyone, and it will make a big difference for you feeling better faster to not push it. As far as feeling selfish, I completely understand, but don't!!! In the long run, it is very unselfish because of the reasons you listed for why you want it. It is not selfish to want to be a healthy person. No one is going to be mad at you for needing to take it easy for a few weeks when it ultimately means that you will be around for an extra decade or two! Good luck and congrats on working hard and saving up!

So I live with one of my coworkers - had reservations about it, but it was just the best option financially as we we're both mid-twenties and not "settled down." I didn't tell her or anyone else that I was planning to get surgery, just said I was going on vacation to Mexico. Explained away my pre-op diet by saying I wanted to lose some pounds before going. Unfortunately, there's a lot of crossover between my job and my social life, and it got really hard having to avoid situations with food and alcohol, worrying that everyone wondered what was wrong. Also I did have to tell my roommate after getting back, and I felt guilty thinking that she'd have to lie if anyone asked her what was up with me. It's a tiny office and yesterday our boss was out, so I decided to tell my supervisor. I say "supervisor" but she's only a few years older than me and we hang out socially, so it's really just a title. Anyway, I tried to bravely tell the story with a smile on my face, and was all ready to explain how I didn't mean to be secretive, just needed some time to get used to things before I started telling people. I never even got the chance - she blew through a few judgmental questions ("Did you go to a really reputable clinic or something?" Ummm, NO, I just had it done in a rusty van behind a 7-11! I mean what kind of question is that?!) and then insisted that the reason I was tired at the end of the day was not that I'm recovering from surgery but that I'm starving myself and not getting enough nutrients. When I tried to explain that I actually have seen a nutritionist and there are plenty of ways to make sure I stay healthy, she just ignored it. On top on it, my roommate starting piping in saying she'd "never seen me eat anything" since I got back. I've had Jell-o, Protein shakes, Soups, yogurt, etc. all in front of her!!!!! It was so unsupportive and just ended up feeling like a humiliating ambush. I didn't even get a chance to finish before they just changed the subject and I pretty much just slunk away. I already forgive them - they haven't done the research I have and I can't expect them to understand. It just made me feel awful, and now they will go and tell people what a "crazy" thing I did. I never should have said anything, it wasn't their business to begin with. It's just really hard to keep up a lie, and I thought I'd be saving myself trouble. Might I add that I got this lecture while they sat there drinking soda and stuffing their faces with brownies! Like that's so "healthy and nutritious"!!!!

Hi guys - Did anyone else ever just get an old fashioned stomachache out of the blue after surgery? I will be 3 weeks out on Friday and have only had yogurt and pureed cottage cheese so far along with my broths and jell-o, etc. So I don't think it can be something I ate, as those things have gone down fine. It's a weird, achey, ugly sensation in my belly and it's making me so nervous. I don't want to eat anything, it just feels gross. I've been sipping Water and took a chewable Tylenol, which has been taking care of any discomfort, but not this. I hate this, has anyone else had it?? I've been feeling so normal until now!

Thank you! I tried going back a stage and just had some hot tea and a very thin Protein shake tonight. Feeling much better!

I was up and trying to walk about two hours after coming out of recovery. A word to the wise: that's too soon! I remembered everything I'd read saying "walk walk walk" (and let's face it, I was still pretty out of it). It took two nurses to help me get up, and then I took about three steps and got nauseous. Sat down in the armchair in my room and started falling back to sleep, LOL. Anyway, was able to get up and walk for real the next morning. No nausea and not much pain. I had someone with me and you will probably need someone to grab hands with so they can kind of pull you up - I was way too sore to just sit up on my own. But it wasn't awful pain, just soreness. Two weeks later I still have to sort of roll sideways to get out of bed because I'm a bit sore, but it's no biggie. Walking is fine, it's really lifting, as someone else said. Yesterday I carried two grocery bags home and it turns out they were too heavy because I am really ouchy today. Not a good feeling, so be careful not to push too hard too soon! good luck

Tonight, after a particularly long day, I came home in a bit of a foul mood and started contemplating what to have for "dinner" (the quotations due to me being only 2 weeks out today with very limited choices) and ended up making a cup of miso Soup from a mix I bought at the health food store. I had to post the outcome of the evening on the forum, because I knew it was the only place where people would understand. Background info, I saw the doctor this morning and she said I can try advancing to slightly fuller liquids like yogurt or cottage cheese, being very careful to see what I tolerate. She also recommended, due to our gallbladders being stressed on such a low fat diet (apparently they need fat to function? Learning stuff every day), that I add a tablespoon or so of olive oil to Soups, to increase the "good fats" in my diet. So, feeling brave and desperate for a change in menu, I added the oil and also about two tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt to my soup, even though I've been pretty fearful about advancing my stages. My insurance sucks and I have major anxiety about causing any problems. Well... It. Was. Amazing. The olive oil made the soup taste just a bit richer. The yogurt was very broken down by the warm soup and the pieces I fished out pretty much just melted in my mouth. Whatever - I feel like I just ate a meal fit for a king. I had to get up twice and putter around, to distract myself from eating too fast. But it went down great! I just had to share. That bit of yogurt was the first thing I've had in a month with a consistency thicker than milk or Water, and that feels like a HUGE victory!

All has gone well for me so far at 1 week out (knock on wood) but I think I will feel a bit nervous and overprotective of myself until I reach that 8 week mark... I know that a leak is the biggie as far as complications are concerned, but is there anything else recently sleeved people should think about, or watch out for? What other kinds of complications are there and what kind of symptoms might there be? Not trying to scare myself or anyone else, just want to be extra prepared.

Don't worry - I wasn't jumping up and down with excitement either. I was nervous, but resigned to the fact that it was the right thing to do. I just made up my mind that I was going to push all those feelings away and distract myself. I really just pretended it wasn't happening, until they came to get me and then I got very choked up as it became so real! Luckily I was then knocked out very quickly! Here's the good part: After you wake up and realize that you're okay, you get a chance to focus on all the great things that happen next. It was a real delayed reaction for me...after a couple of days went by and nothing was wrong and I felt okay, it was suddenly like "Oh wow, I'm going to lose all this weight!" lol - THEN I got excited. Of course I'd thought about all that already, but my nerves about the surgery had been taking control. Just get through it and take care of yourself. It's okay to be nervous or even a little sad beforehand. Any feelings you have are okay - just don't cancel, and remember that soon you'll be looking forward to the next bit!

This sounds soooo good. But, I am only 12 days out, am I allowed to have acidic things like tomato and orange juice yet, or will that irritate?

Thanks guys - I have worried about both of these things. I have not had pain or nausea as I know some have. But I worry about doing too much, as I've read about nerves that are still healing and not able to detect fullness. And it seems like it takes ages to drink a cup of Water, although it's better than it was initially. I sip constantly throughout the day and have sf Jello, but I think I am probably only getting in 40 oz liquid or so and I'm on Day 10. Just worried that I will do something wrong and hurt myself... I have crap insurance, so any complication will be dealt with on my own dime, which makes me extra paranoid. I called a local bariatric doctor (not cold called - was recommended by a nutritionist I've been working with) and they were so nice at first, and then straight hung up on me when I said I'd had surgery in Mexico. I get that it's a liability for them or whatever, but no need to be so mean, right? Feeling a bit low today I guess. Also the first day back at work and I'm wiped...but tomorrow is another day!

Hello all - was just sleeved on the 27th and am one week out tomorrow. I've only just come home from Mexico and am on my last pain pill (which is little - 10 mg of Supradol). It does not make me groggy or loopy at all, just take the edge off a little bit of post-op discomfort, which usually feels like an uncomfortable internal tugging sensation when I've been up and around too long. I think a regular dose of Tylenol would do the same trick, so I'm just wondering if that's okay to take after 1 week? Should it be children's Tylenol? Is there anything I should NOT take? Second question - do Syntax nectars and hot chocolate mixes (the Protein ones from Bariatric Pantry) count as full liquids, Clear Liquids or what? My nutritionist keeps referring to full liquids as ones with "residue." Anyone? Sorry if this is a bit disjointed, I literally just came in from the airport and had no Internet all week! Just questions I know I'll be asking myself in the morning...

I'm one of those with you - also in bed watching TV. Best wishes! Everyone keeps telling me the first day is the hardest - it will be over before we know it!

What is everyone doing post-op in terms of vitamins? I am scheduled for surgery on the 27th and am trying to get as much in place as possible. I've read people saying that they had to wait two weeks to start taking vitamins, other people are taking them 5 days out? Can anyone tell me what you took and how soon? Also HOW, did you have to crush them up, get liquid ones, etc? There is so much conflicting info on this topic, any guidance would be much appreciated!!

Thanks for the input, Tiffy. I was sooo hoping it's not the case

I am leaving for surgery in Mexico on Thursday and just wondering exactly which pre-op tests they do? Without any testing done prior to arrival, what happens if they find an issue? Today I walked home (it's a longish walk, a couple of miles probably) and it's a really hot day. By the time I got home, I was feeling twinges in my chest if I took a real deep breath, and I have noticed twinges here and there over the last few months that feel like my heart. While I am obviously overweight, I don't have any co-morbidities and I've never had an issue like that before. It worries me...if I get to Mexico and something is weird on my EKG, what happens???