Newme48

Congratulations!

I quit on New Year's Day. My surgery was on feb 5th. My surgeon tested my urine twice and warned me he would not do my surgery if I did not quit. I did start back up about a week ago. Very disappointed in myself. I am going to quit again soon I hope. I know that smoking is terrible for wound healing and can cause ulcers. I hope to be smoke free by the end of the month.

I would talk to the person in the surgeons office that handles filing and communicating with the insurance company. Explain your situation just as you explained it here. Maybe they can somehow make you a priority whenever communication is slow. The week after my surgery I lounged around for a couple of days and took things easy but I ended up looking for things to reorganize and clean. It was surreal. Be strong and think positive. Is there anyone else that can possibly help you if your husband is out of town? Make a back up plan with them just in case your husband has to leave for Dubai. I would suggest make ahead meals that you can freeze for the kids. I don't know how old they are but even if you contact your circle of friends and family to make a back up plan for each day after your surgery, that could ease your mind. Other school moms to arrange transportation, etc. I think once you explore any possible opportunities that will take the worrying away and help you to see clearly that everything will be okay. If you live near me(Windber, Pa) I would be glad to help you!! Good luck! Keep us updated.

Good for you! Sometimes you need to break a rule once in a while. I have no desire for bread and hope I never do and I used to love Cuban bread with butter and strong coffee. Yum! I don't think I would be offended by amazon, or other strong replies. We are all on here for a reason: for support, information, laughter, ideas, advice, etc! I think some people care so much that they do not want to see anyone fail. While I do not want to see you fail- you do have a tool. How you handle and take care of it is solely up to you! You know what you can handle. I like anti bands suggestion with the lettuce wrap! I never would have thought of that!! Before my decision to have this surgery I ate fast food constantly. Sometimes I would have 2 burgers ha ha. I hope that you are doing well and have an awesome weekend!!

The preop diet has many benefits for you as we'll as the surgeon. You want to shrink your liver as well as the internal fat in your abdomen. This will make it easier for the surgeon to see and maneuver around your stomach. If it is easier for your surgeon to work, then your surgery will go faster and the less anesthesia time you will need. It will go by fast. I really liked Swanson's beef and chicken broths! They made it tolerable. Good luck to you!

Follow their instructions and keep yourself moving and hydrated. Best way to prevent clots. Good luck to you!

Congrats!! It always motivates me when someone compliments me!! Keeps me on track!

I think the sleeve would have been less painful if it weren't for the intense gas pain(the gas they use to inflate your abdomen) but you may not have that pain so don't get worked up over anticipating the pain. Take your pain meds as often as they can give them to you. Don't let it get out of hand. My pain only lasted less than two days. Plus I was so excited that it didn't matter much. Good luck to you!

Congratulations!!

I believe I am taking the smaller dose. It is a pink and white capsule and I take it twice a day. The info on the bottle says to take with food. I have not had a problem so far. Hope it gets better for you!

Thank you for taking the time to share your story. I am sorry you had to go through all of that. I sincerely hope you are on the mend and able to start enjoying life. I wish you and your husband the best! Please keep us updated, too!

All I wanted to do was sleep. I had a lot of shoulder pain from the gas used for surgery. Walk, walk and walk some more. Request your pain meds every 4 hours for at least the first 2 days. Don't let the pain get out of control. You will do fine! Good luck!

Thanks!

Keep your intake light and hopefully you are still on clear liquids. Do you think maybe they should check your sleeve for a leak? Just in case? I hope all goes well. Sorry you had to go through all of that. Keep us updated. Remember infections slow down the healing process. Keep fresh dressings at the abscess and frequent changes to encourage the drainage of pus.

I believe most hospital programs have a dietician as the nutritionist because they are so versatile. They already make rounds on patients when consulted for their diet in the hospital and have complex understanding of nutritional requirements for patients receiving nutrition via an IV. They make a superb nutritionist for any surgical program. My nutritionist (dietician) visited me to see how I was tolerating my fluids while in the hospital.

I also like the centrum chewables! Make sure your vitamin includes the multiminerals too.

I had not had mine for 11 months and whammo after 10 weeks post-op it decides to come for a visit. I take it as a sign that as you are losing weight your hormones are reacting in a positive way. Good luck to you.

I think in advertisements such as photos and videos people lower their masks so they can pick themselves out later! Ha ha. When you are there and IF someone has their nose out you should politely ask them to cover their nose. A good nurse will understand immediately. Good luck to you!

Good luck to you! It will fly fast for that I am sure!

Prayers and hugs to you and your girls. Keep us updated.

Praying for speedy recovery! Congratulations to you!

Please don't wait till tomorrow night. If you want to try something I would put a rubber glove or better yet have someone else put the glove on and GENTLY help things along. I know this sounds gross but it will help. I would also use some type of water based lubricant. (This is only if the u-know-what is knocking at the exit door). Probably TMI but from my own experience it does work.

Yep people I am here to say some people neglect to clean the lint out of their belly buttons! You cannot imagine how hard it is to clean some of them. I had one patient that I ended up using a lot of q-tips and peroxide only to pull out a huge glob of lint! Yuck! At least I assume it was lint!

An hour for the procedure is average. Every patient is different though, follow your preop diet so that your liver will shrink making it easier for your surgeon to see and maneuver around your stomach. The easier it is for your surgeon to work once he is inside your abdomen- then the quicker your surgery will be and the less gas they will need to use, reducing the chance of shoulder pain. They really shouldn't tell you there will be "no"pain from the gas. They inflate your abdomen with c02 and this is easily gotten rid of by your body but it can rise to your shoulders and make your first night very uncomfortable. The only cure is time and getting up to walk. If it does happen to you, please know it will go away after about a day and a half. I have had a couple of surgeries were they used the gas to inflate my abdomen. When I had the sleeve was my first and only experience with the shoulder pain. The absolute best thing for you to do is get up and walk. It is good for your circulation especially to prevent blood clots and helps your bowels to 'wake up' from the effects of the anesthesia. I wish you a pain free surgery and recovery. Good luck to you. You will enjoy your new tool! Take care and keep us updated!

I would try one more call to the receptionist and tell them what you are considering. You have patiently waited and no one has called you back. At the very least someone should let you know what is going on. Good luck to you.