RhondaLynn

I am 2 weeks post op, for some reason I didn't get the actigal or the generic ursodiol prescription when I left the hospital. I had my 2 week check up with the doc yesterday and asked him about it. I was suppose to get the Rx and didn't. I went yesterday and filled it, while reading the info on the drug ursodiol which is generic actigal I read that one of the side effects is ......."hair LOSS" Ok.. could part of OUR hairloss also be from these drugs??? I know that surgery/rapid weight loss can cause hair loss, but we are suppose to take this medicine for 6 months.. that is about the time line that most folks lose so much hair.. Now that I've ranted.. can some of you veterans come in and say something? I really, really don't want to lose what little hair I have. Rhonda

I was sleeved on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and returned to work on Monday, Nov. 7. I am a high school secretary and sit on my butt all day.. The first 2 days back at work I only stayed 1/2 day. but I "COULD" have stayed the whole day. At night I go to bed very early, by 8 each night that first week but I get up early also.. It just depends on how YOU feel, I had a great surgery and have not had any pain, only discomfort. Everyone is different. I would plan on 2 weeks and if you are like me you could go in 1/2 days for a while. Rhonda

I am 12 days post op. I have noticed a terrible "taste" in my mouth that is not my NORMAL bad taste. My daughter came to visit this past weekend and said I had horrible breath. (hubby can hardly smell due to afrin overuse). What I'm asking is has anyone else had the bad taste and bad breath? It is not a metalic (blood) taste but it is a weird taste. Rhonda

I could sleep on my side as soon as I got home. it hurt some as things shifted inside but then settled down and felt fine. I also could turn over and sleep on my other side and it also hurt some as things shifted inside. while being fat, I don't have a huge belly so I just figured that was the reason, because my friend who is mostly fat in her belly couldn't sleep on her side for a long time. She finally put a pillow under her belly and it seemed to help. Rhonda

VERY INTERESTING!!!! I would like to hear from an expert on this. Rhonda

I have a question... I know the doctor says increase Protein.. and everyone says Biotin, Vitamins etc... but what about fat in our diet...???? Fat is something we are ALL trying our best to cut out,and really are not eating much of....what if we added a small amount of fat? someone who is knowledgeable please post a reply to this! Rhonda

I was sleeved on Nov. 2 and went back to work on Nov. 7. I only worked 1/2 day, but could have made it the whole day. I worked 1/2 day for 2 days then stared back full time. I am a high school secretary and sit on my butt at a computer all day. so it was fairly easy! Rhonda PS__I have no idea why this is underlined... I can't take it off!

Hi ALL! I had my surgery last Wednesday, 11/2! I am back at work today Monday 11/7. Now I do work at a desk so it is not "hard" work. I was taken back to surgery about 8:15 am last wednesday. I woke up in recovery and felt fine except naturally felt "drugged". I was back in my room by 11am. the doctor I had was wonderful and even tho we knew there would be some complications I felt went fairly quickl I knew there might be complications becaue I had an incisional hernia from a surgery years ago, I had the mesh put in. We knew there might be scar tissue and the doc said it probably would be about 1hr longer than normal.. it was. When I got to the room, I was sleepy but did not hurt. I assume they had given me some good pain meds. I slept some then woke up thirsty, I was given a small amount of tepid Water to drink. mostly needed to wet my mouth. They give you a medication that dries your mucus out. so my mouth was like cotten!! I sat up, I walked to the bathroom and walked around the room some. I never had pain, just discomfort like I had done a lot of sit-ups! (the 6 small incisions on my tummy) I slept/awoke/walked/slept.... in various order... in the afternoon I still didn't feel any pain... I felt I had better get "ahead" of the pain so I asked for something thru the IV.. the only thing available was morphine... which is fine with me...I love morphine!! I got a dose and slept for awhile. I had lots of company in the afternoon and evening. THe hospital I was in was really great.. they had a suite of rooms for all the bariatric patients.. my hubby got his own connecting room and his own little living room, with a couch that made a bed. For supper he got a filet mignon!!! I got broth!! but boy did my broth taste good!!! I asked for some pain meds so I would be able to sleep. I am a VERY light sleeper and knew I would not sleep well. I got more morphine... yippi!!! I had taken my sleep mask, and my noise machine so I actually slept eally well in my morphine induced sleep! I woke up the next morning early and walked the halls. My doc came in and said I could go home after lunch. so I napped, walked and walked some more. After a lunch of chicken and mashed potatoes, hubby had a wonderful looking lettuce wrap with a fabulous looking key lime pie we packed up and went home. On the drive home I got really tired. I dozed most of the trip (30 minutes). We got home and both decided to lay down and take a nap. After the nap we got up and messed around the house. I still had no "Pain".. On Saturday, I got up went with hubby to the feed store, went to the barn and watched him do stuff there. (we have horses/cattle/chickens/and 1 goat) I got tired so he took me home for a nap. That evening, I just messed around the house, went outside, read, enjoyed my view. Sunday morning, I got up went to Sunday school Worship service, and went out to eat... to eat I had turkey/dressing/potatoes. I asked for extra gravy and mashed my turkey in it. then added non flavored Protein poweder in my dressing and mashed potatoes. I could not taste the powder and it added protein to my meal. I naturally only ate a VERY small amount. I took the leftovers home and have since divided them into tupperware and have 5 more meals. I told hubby that our grocery bill might go down!! I got up this morning extra early so I could sit and eat my Breakfast. I fixed instand oatmeal w/protein powder added. it was good and apparently I ate it too fast.. because I got waves of sickness, hot, and sweat breaking out... I laid down for 10 min and felt better. I finished getting dressed for work, I work at a high school in the discipline office. so my work load is all sitting on my butt. I have felt fine after getting to work. I have drank about 1 cup of water and have just now eaten one of my "meals" of turkey/dressing/potatoes. I have eaten it very slowly and other than my tummy growlilng it has gone down fine. so... If you think it can go smooth.. well it can!! I just hope it stays this smooth and pain free!!! I have lost about 15lbs from the 2 week Protein shake diet and since surgery. Rhonda

I was on the liquid Protein shake diet 2 weeks before surgery, I couldn't handle the NOTHING BUT shakes, so I cheated some... but when I cheated I cheated with lean protein. The favorite thing I cheated with was costco's turkey jurkey..... it was tasty and gave my mouth a workout. I would chew, chew and chew some more.. that definately got me prepared for the post op eating. I lost 10 lbs pre-op. My doctor has us eat Liquid only for the first day of surgery. then we move on to mush in the hospital. the foods I eat are just as mushy as the paste I ate in the hospital. I have a small (tiny) food processer and I have pureed chicken, turkey, Soups, etc.... it taste just like it is suppose to... but looks like babyfood! not the first pureed babyfood that you feed your baby, but the next state.. soft, some lumps but soft lumps of food. Saturday I made chicken and dumplins... they were yummy. I actually didn't food process my poprtion, but put the small amount in the bowl and took my ford and mushed it up... then when I would eat my tiny bite.. I chewed and chewed and then chewed some more till the food practically disinigrated (sp) in my mouth and just vanished. I am suppose to eat pureed foods for 1 month, then will move on to "soft" foods. so at Thanks giving I plan on eating the regular meal... just smalllllllll amounts and will use my food processer on the turkey and anything else that might be "firm". I know each doctor has different rules and you need to follow the guidelines your doctor sets for you. MIne thankfully allows mushy food quickly. By the way, I asked my doctor when I could ride again... he laughed and said... well you can ride immediately after surgery if you can GUARENTEE (SP) you won't hit the ground... its not the riding that will hurt you but that hitting the ground that can get you every time.... since I don't have a dead head horse. I can't guarentee that.... he then said 6 weeks... yuk! I am now 12 days post op and over the weekend I was cleaning stalls. I naturally wouldn't scoop up a "BIG" pile of poop but did smaller loads. Made my darling daughter push the wheelbarrow out to the poop pile. (I probably could have done it, but heck might as well ride this "helpless" stuff for awhile!!!) I have been going down to the barn since 3 days post op.. those first few days I just watched while hubby did chores but by 7-8 days post op I did the feeding, I was just always very careful not to get bumped, pushed or {shudder} kicked! we have a new mare and they are still getting the "pecking order down" so I actually do have to watch for those kicks... Not that I've actually had to dodge one. but you never know!!!! I still am not allowed by hubby to drive the 4-wheeler but do drive the golf cart. Our 4-wheeler is heavy and twisting it around could pull something. I expect I will be allowed back on it next week or so. Being back at work has been fine... I worked the first 2 days for just 1/2 day.. then went home and napped. The 3rd day I stared working all day. Now I am a early to bed person so each night that first week back at school I would go to bed about 8-9 each night. (got up at 5:30-6) This past weekend I didn't nap on Saturday but did take my normal sunday afternoon nap. then went to bed last night about 9pm. got up this morning at 5 and walked 1 mile. I have done so well, if it wasn't for the tape on my stomach (steri-strips) and the fact I can't eat but a small amt. I would think they REALLY didn't do the surgery. I feel great. I have had 2-3 episodes of feeling too full, I think it is not the actual amount I ate, but ate too fast, because I would burp (I am a champion burper)..... so eat SLOW! Rhonda

Hi all. I have done great w/my surgery. In fact I had no gas pain and no real pain at all!! I had some discomfort but that felt like I had done a bunch of sit-ups. I have been back at work a couple of 1/2 days then yesterday I was full day. I was tired by the end of the day but fine.... I am looking forward to the weekend tho! My doctor was great/ my hospital stay was wonderful! and so far I have lost 7 lbs since surgery! for a total of 17 lbs total since starting the pre-op shakes. so I can already feel a difference in my clothes. Rhonda

You would think there would be a more "consistant" plan among doctors about the post op- liquid to mushy food time line.... make sense???? I also have read on here and other forums that there are doctors that do everything from nothing but liquid for 1 month after surgery to like mine.. 24 hr liquid then to mushy food. I know my doc is a great one... I have spoken to lots of folks who used him and so I have complete faith in him. I am trying to make anything I eat as soft and mushy/soupy as I can. This morning my sweet hubby scrambled me an egg (soft) and I ate it. I ate it very slowly and took the 30 min. but I should not have eaten those last 2 bites!!!! I started getting sick and started burping. (thank goodness I started burping) and was sick to my stomach with a feeling the last 2 bites were in my throat. as I was driving to school i burped up some liquid bubbles that was very slimy! I got to school and walked around burping more and now feel just fine. but needless to say.... I will take those last couple of bites slower now. Rhonda

I understand your concern. I know each doctor is different. Mine has me on liquid the first day, then for 1 month afterward I have to eat very mushy foods and Soups. In the hospital they brought me a "paste" of turkey and chicken" that was thick but ground up very fine. I chopped my turkey very fine also and added the gravy to make it more mushy. I also ate mashed potatoes in the hospital that were acutally thicker than what I made mine. I thank you for the reminder though!!!! sorry if this is "underlined" for some reason I cannot get my typewriter off it. Rhonda

Sandy good luck tomorrow 11/1... what a wonderful daya for you.. some others of us will be going under the knife on Wednesday 11/2. My hubby and I went on a mini vacation for the last 5 days. We took the horses and rode in the mountains of North Carolina. It was wonderful to get away right before the surgery, it kept my mind busy with enjoyment. My last meal (I cheated some) was a filet mignon that hubby cooked to perfection! a small amt of baked potato and some asparagus sauted w/butter and garlic.. yummy. now I have gone back to the shakes... I only cheated twice on my 2 weeks of shakes and tried my best to make my cheating high protein! so maybe they won't fuss too much! Well, I'm back at work playing catch up and need to try and get ahead for my surgery on Wednesday. I am planning to be out Wed---Fri. I plan to come back on Monday even if I have to just stay 1/2 day. I know I will be dragging, but here at work there are a couple of things that just need to get done.. then I will probably go home each day! Rhonda

Hi Sandy, good to hear from a sister sleever. You will be one day ahead of me, I'll think about you on Tuesday. Where are you from and tell us a little something yourself! In fact all us sleeve sisters should. I have sent a private e-mail to a couple and told them about me.. but I will post it here since we are all becoming family now!! I am 53 years old, I weight 233 (down another pound from this diet), I live in rural North Georgia. I live on a farm, my hubby use to be a full time farmer but we got out before we were bankrupt. He has been in insurance for 25 years. We still live on the family farm, we have cattle, 4 horses, 1 goat as a companion for a very old horse, 4 bird dogs, and some chickens. My passion is trailriding! We trailride every Saturday, in fact we are leaving in the morning (probably 3-4 am) going to North Carolina trail riding for 5 days. I will come back to work for 2 days , I am a High School secretary in the discipline office. My hubby and I were on WW he lost 60 lbs and I lost 18.... he has gone on to lose over 100lbs... I cannot lose it.. so sleeve here I come!! He is extremely supportive! in fact he really will be a lifesaver when it comes to helping me... he cooks and will not only cook for himself but will help me fix my mushy foods!! Rhonda

I found that if I used fat free or 1% chocolate milk it made my shakes sooooo much better. even if it was chocolate powder I put in the chocolate milk. Then add a sweet n low. Rhonda

Free2be-I am happy for you also!! I am sure you are a bundle of nervous excitement.. good luck and post as soon as you feel up to it. I will keep you in my prayers! Rhonda

You know it's that SISTERHOOD that did the trick!!! I am so happy you have that weight off your shoulders! even tho I was told over the phone I was approved I didn't believe it until I had the letter in my grubby little hands!!!! I am soooooo happy for you! Rhonda

WOW, we are all right there together!! lets keep track and help each other! I also am doing this not only to be thinner, but i am "almost" a diabetic. I know that sounds crazy but I had bloodsugar that was high a few years ago.. lost a little weight and they took me off meds.. now it is slightly high but no meds yet. My cholesterol is wayyyyyyy too high, and I take blood pressure meds. That along with the weight is why the insurance approved it. Rhonda

I am suppose to be drinking 5 Bariatric Advantage shakes a day. I can't.. I drink 3, with lots of Water in between. I also have to have some solid food in my stomach some.. thus I eat the turkey Jerky. it is soft and really lean. I have eaten a small amount of food each day, so far it has always been very lean Protein. I am trying my best to just eat protein and no carbs and no sugar. I work at a High School as a secretary and in the morning usually mid morning I am so hungry. I have had my jerky this morning and right now I am about to go to lunch and drink my shake... I am not hungry so just drinking the shake while my friends eat their lunch will not be too hard. My doctor will do surgery, I will be on full liquids the first day, then starting the 2nd day I will be able to eat "mushy" stuff. I will be required to eat mushy for 4 weeks. I really don't worry too bad about the musy, I know it will get BORING but I can live with that. It is this liquid only I can't live with. Lets exchange e-mail and keep up with each other that way also. mine-- rchitwood@gcbe.org Rhonda

Hello my new sleeve sisters!! I am also slotted for sleeve surgery on November 2!!!! I am on the liquid shake diet and it is not easy. I understand why the high Protein to lose the weight before surgery, but I don't understand the only liquid??? It is one question I should have asked but did not. I am doing ok with the shakes but I cheat with "turkey jerky" It is high protein and it still give me a little something acutally in my stomach, about middle of the moring is when I sit at my desk and starve! I am in North Georgia, having surgery in Rome, Georgia. What state are ya'll in ? Rhonda