MindiJean

What type of pain killers did you have while in the hospital? What about when you went home? What did you have for anti-nausea in the hospital and at home?

I wonder.....has anyone had the Sleeve done and found that they no longer need psychiatric medications? I am on Prozac for my OCD/Anxiety/PTSD. At the moment I'm taking the liquid form. I just wonder if losing weight helps with "those" kind of issues?

I'm not sure if there is already a thread here for cancer survivors or people who currently have cancer, with the sleeve or pre-sleeve? Would love to know that I'm not alone! I am a bladder cancer survivor. I have my 2.5 year scans coming up next week, along with all my pre-testing for my sleeve surgery. I have my story all printed up already because it's a long one...but I wanted to see if others have gone through cancer here? I believe it puts things into a different perspective if you've come through cancer. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer when I was 42. We found out that I was pregnant, surprise! We had already lost two babies, our son Daniel in the second trimester and then an early loss. We are foster parents and had already had three failed adoptions as well. When we found out I was pregnant, they did an ultrasound. They could not see the baby, but did find numerous tumors in my bladder. There started a whirlwind of tests, day surgeries, chemo, and finally major 12 hour surgery in March 2011, to remove my bladder and rebuild a "fake" bladder inside of me. 2.5 years later, I'm recovering still, have a hernia the size of a basketball due to the surgery, and need to lose some weight before I can have my "big" hernia surgery to fix my hernia, and start living again. My story This is what we consider to be our "last chance" at having a child in our lives. I'm 45 now. I've lost three children and two years ago lost my bladder and uterus to cancer. We've fostered children for years and had four failed adoptions. Last chance adoption. If we can afford it. My life reads like a soap opera. When I was 11, my sisters and I were hit by a car while waiting for the school bus. My little sister Kathy didn't survive. I was raised by a wonderful Mom and an abusive alcoholic Father. And then I married an abusive, drug addicted husband. Stayed with him for 12 years until I had the strength to leave. In 2001, I met Mark, the most wonderful man ever. We married in 2003. In 2005, at the age of 37, Mark and I conceived our first child. In 2006, I gave birth to our son Daniel, too early for him to survive. Later that year, we lost our second child. Fast forward to 2010 (time spent between 2006 and 2010 resulted in our becoming foster parents and having three failed adoptions). At the age of 42, I found out I was pregnant. Went for an ultrasound, where they found numerous tumors in my bladder. I lost the baby and started chemotherapy in Dec 2010. In March 2011, I had my bladder surgically removed, along with my uterus....losing any chance of having our own baby. But, in the end, I was/am currently cancer-free. We named our third baby "Angel" for saving my life. We became licensed as foster parents again, and had a 15 month old baby girl placed with us. On March 1, 2013, after living with us for over a year, baby girl was taken and given to an Aunt in another state. Failed adoption number 4. Through all of this, my husband Mark has been the best friend, nurse, Father, husband, caretaker ever. He deserves to have a child. WE deserve to have a child. We've looked into adoption and have started the process, which could take years.

49 pounds since surgery on 11/20.

What are you planning on making/having for Christmas dinner? Will you just have some turkey and call it good? Will you experiment with high Protein dishes? So far, we are providing a turkey and that's what I will mostly eat. I'm making a quinoa dish with unjury cheese Sauce. I'm making a Waldorf salad with greek yogurt. And brussel sprouts with bacon and parmesean cheese. Our friends are making the dishes I can't/won't eat....mashed potatoes, stuffing, pies.

I'm only five weeks out, November 20. I can't eat anything with tomatoes or a tomato base either. I had issues with tomatoes when I had chemo too. I had some turkey bacon (well, a slice) a few days ago and it went down fine. I've always been funky with what I could and couldn't eat....it amazed people that I was fat!

I can't eat any pork, beef, ground turkey sausage.....makes me pretty sick.

My post op diet.

I was getting all my Protein in by two weeks out, but my surgeon started me on purees while still in the hospital....and he doesn't believe in protein shakes or drinking your nutrition. I eat mostly canned chicken, turkey, tuna, cottage cheese, cheese, Greek yogurt.

I follow what my surgeon and NUT tell me to do. I figure there's a reason that they have doctorates and I do not.

Five weeks out and my first throwing up incident. I ate the tiniest piece of turkey skin and apparently my sleeve did not care for it. Live and learn (and hopefully never make that mistake again!!). I have lost 31 pounds in the past five weeks!

I don't understand people who aren't diabetic taking their sugars regularly. I wouldn't do it if I wasn't diabetic! Low blood sugars can kill.....you need to contact your doctor.

You should have a diet plan to follow, Stage 1, Stage 2.....with amounts on it as well? I would call your NUT and get a copy if you cannot find yours. I'm five weeks out tomorrow and still only eating 1/4 cup!

I thought that beef and pork were two things you weren't supposed to even try until six months out? That's what my NUT said anyway. I tried a tiny piece of ham the other day and almost got sick. Never again.

I am diabetic (although am off one insulin since having the sleeve done). Low blood sugar should be combated with a glass of milk and some form of Protein. juice does no good and can actually harm. How often are you taking your blood sugars?

I was in the hospital for five nights and used a walker first day home, and my husband took a week off to take care of me. He helped me shower and dress and remember my pills, etc.

Did your doctor give you some advice? You should have received a menu for the different diet stages from your NUT

were you given a menu and food ideas from your NUT?

I take two Biotin chewables a day, 5000 each for a total of 10000. I took it through chemo as well. Lost some hair but it grew back quickly.

if you had your stomach cut, you must have staples? Did you have the sleeve?

The people in your daily life should take it easy on the forbidden foods around you for a while. They should eat pizza out, nowhere near you.

Did your nutritionist supply you with the different stage diets? Because everyone's is totally different.

I don't understand the money for tv and phone? I brought my cell but could use, send and receive, phone calls in the room phone? And their television received more channels than at our home....and I wasn't charged for it? You shouldn't need towels or lotions or bath cloth or soap....it is also provided. I brought a bathrobe for walking the hallways. Gas X that I used once. All my other meds were provided for me and they specifically asked us not to bring any outside meds. Sweatpants and t shirt for ride home helped too.

I had my sleeve done for a totally different reason. In 2011, I had my bladder removed because of bladder cancer. As a result (I catheterize thru my belly button into a newly built interior reservoir) I developed a huge hernia. I look ten months pregnant on one side. In order to fix the hernia, weight loss was suggested, to make the surgery less life-threatening. Bonus is that I'm off one insulin, my blood sugars are normal again, I've lost 31 pounds since November 20 and stopped three other meds. And as soon as I'm up to par physically again (April I hope?), I will have my hernia fixed!

Does anyone else have the song "I Kissed a Girl (and I liked it) running through their heads now....or is it just me?