Vixynne

Okay--got the straight facts from my surgeon on Wednesday. I asked if NSAIDS were gone from my life forever, and I was told "only for the first month"! That directly goes against what one of his nurses told a whole classful of pre-sleevers a week before at the Nurse Education Seminar. She actually handed out a flier that named a whole TON of NSAIDS, and the heading clearly said "Never to Be Used after Surgery"! Apparently that is appropriate information for Roux-en-Y patients but not for sleevers. I was told that the nurse in question is new, and would be instructed not to give that incorrect info out any more. Whew! I feel better knowing my Motrin/Advil will still be around when I need 'em a little ways down the road!

I'm sorry to hear you lost blood during surgery--but it sounds like you had excellent care. Oh no, crazy roommate, that's one of my big worries! (Can you believe I'm more nervous about that than I am about a leak?? Yeah, I'm not right in the head, LOL!) How soon were you able to be up and walking? Did you have a lot of post-op pain? I've had 2 C-sections in the last 15 years, not sure if this procedure is similar pain-wise.

Good luck to you from "down by the Cape"! The surgeons in Mexico have really good reputations from what I've seen!

Holy guacamole! That's incredibly spendy. What brand of vitamins are you taking? Is it based on your surgeon's/NUT's recommendation that you get that particular brand? I'm using good ol' Flintstones Complete chewables--actually, the CVS store brand of Flintstones. Even when I combine that cost with my calcium, which is by Celebrate so it's a little more expensive and my B12sublinguals, it seems like you are really paying a LOT! Here's how it breaks down for me: CVS multivitamin + iron chewables: $12.99 for 150 (one per day) Celebrate Calcium Plus 500 chewables: $20 for 90 (three per day) B12sublingual 2500mcg: $10 for 50 (one per day) That works out to spending about $2.60 per month on multivitamins, plus $20/month for calcium, and $6/month for B12 --even with another $40 for protein powder per month, I'm coming in waaaay under three hunnerd dollars. If I factor in $20 for protein-enriched almond milk, I'm still under $100 per month. That $350 price really does sound like a racket!

Hi, Troopersma--I'll follow your blog! Give mine a follow too? http://sleevahdiva.blogspot.com/ Good luck as you gear up for your Big Day--mine is on Monday. Eeeeeeep!!

I'm right there with you ladies! I keep trying to prep myself and my household for the "buyer's remorse" that I'll probably go through. I'm hoping it doesn't make me TOO difficult to live with while I'm healing, LOL. Started packing my bag last night; bought myself a comfy terrycloth "granny housecoat" that zips up the front--hopefully it will be useful when walking in the halls of the hospital and keep me from flashing anyone! Is it bizarre that one of my big worries right now is that my hospital room is only semi-private, so I'll be having a roomie? Urgh. I know what a whinybutt I can be when I'm in pain--I wish I could suffer in solitude instead of putting on my "visting manners". Then again, my roommate might be whiny-er than me, right? I've got the lip balm and Gas-X and fuzzy socks in my bag; my Nook is charging. I need to find some earbuds so I can listen to music or watch a movie without bothering anyone. I also need to go over my packing list and make sure I'm not forgetting anything. I'm so neurotic about preparing! Yesterday I realized I've accidentally bought TWO bottles of Milk of Magnesia because I forgot that I already had some when I was at the store yesterday! Oy vey.

How's all my July 1st sleeve buddies doing? We're almost there! This is what I've being doing a lot of:

Are you standing at the door, with your bags packed? How's everyone's pre-planning going? I don't have a liquid diet to follow, so it's just wait, wait, wait. I'm so nervous and excited!

I have my final surgeon's appointment in two hours--first, I need to go to my bank and find out if they'll let me refinance my house as part of my divorce proceedings, to get my ex off of the deed so I can own the home free and clear, or if they'll deny me and I'll have to sell my kids' childhood home. Meh. The good news is that in two hours I'll be at the doctor's office, focusing on positive changes for ME!

It varies by surgeon, like a lot (seriously, a LOT) of things about WLS. My surgeon used to use them but apparently doesn't use them much at all anymore, along with Foley catheters.

You bet! There's no way I'm changing my mind--that's one thing I've felt confident about right from the beginning.

Yes, I'm in New Bedford. I knew I wanted the sleeve before I went to the first seminar. When I had my first surgeon's consult (which ended up being mostly with the Nurse Practitioner), I was asked "which surgery were you considering?" I responded that I wanted the sleeve, and the NP told me I would probably be an excellent sleeve candidate. The only surgery I felt that they weren't 100% in favor of for anyone is the lapband; one of the other nurses told me she fully expects to see the band phased out over the next few years.

Thanks! I've only got 5 more days till The Big Day. I'm a nervous wreck, but at least it's a happy-nervous!

In a few days, I'll be where you are tonight--try to get some sleep tonight, it may be tricky to rest well in the hospital! Some of your pre-op time will probably be filled with pre-registration paperwork (surgery release form, medication form, etc.) and some of it will be taken up with things like getting your IV line set up. You're going to do great--good luck!

A few nights ago I made a really yummy almond/cashew butter (or cashew/almond butter for vegasneon, LOL)--I just dumped equal parts cashews and almonds into my Ninja blender. Less than 5 minutes later: pure nothing-added nut buttah! Yummmm.

I'm encouraged and confused by that, Starr--there's a mixed message going out, for sure. I see Dr. K tomorrow afternoon, if he holds still long enough for me to ask him, I'll try to get a direct answer about it--but at least I know it *is* possible to take Motrin and not keel over! Thank you!

Split the difference and mix 'em together!

I'm glad to hear it works for you, too!

My surgeon puts NSAIDs on his "never ever EVER after surgery" list. Like most things about bariatric surgery, your bariatric team might have their own restrictions/rules. I wish my surgeon would change his mind; I don't see how I'm going to get through life NEVER taking a single ibuprofen tablet from now to the grave!

Dr. Kruger only does the leak test during surgery--I think I'm glad about that. I just hope I don't get a leak after the surgery, when swelling goes down a bit.

Flintstones Chewable Complete Vitamins fit all the requirements that I got from Stacy at St. Luke's--and they're not too expensive!

Oh, no! I hope you feel better soon!

It's going to sound weird, but y'know what helped me with caffeine? Taking about 1500mcg of sublingual B12 while giving up the coffee cold turkey. I don't know exactly why, but I can tell you it definitely worked like a charm. Not one headache or cranky/jittery feeling--and I'm someone who would get ALL of those if I missed my morning coffee by more than two hours. I don't even miss it--apart from wanting the taste, LOL.

Here's a silly question: about how long does the ketosis state last? Or is it one of those "your mileage may vary" things? How about a ballpark range---six weeks, a month, two months?