TxCalico

Fluffnomore gave a good basic description!! Your stomach will be sore (like a thousand sit-ups or like someone slugged ya!) but not really painful. Anesthesia can make you nauseous for a day or two, and that's a truly yucky feeling, but remember it will pass soon! As soon as possible, start moving & keep moving -- walking often will help everything! Every day during that first week gets better and easier, and by the second week you're feeling almost-normal again. Plus you are now seeing the numbers on your scale go down, and that's a great feeling!

Geny, today's your yogurt day! That will help a lot! and don't worry about not having a BM yet -- you haven't been eating much at all to make one! It'll happen. Isn't it amazing to NOT hate getting on the scale?

Love it, Sleevie J! Glad you're doing so GOOOOOD! ~and this is just the beginning of our journeys! Lisa DM, I've heard a stall is common around week 3. Hang in there! I'm so glad to see the scale going down instead of UP for a change! pookluvp, have you tried unflavored protein added to soups? That works well for me, and I'm not using shakes as much. and now I can use my Magic Bullet (only $49 at Costco) to puree chunky soups & casseroles into what I can eat, so that's been a BIG help! And now it's November and we are PAST the kickoff! YEAY!

Just a quick note, so much that's been written already is excellent! In regard to your dad: You are doing a lot of reading and research, but he is not. Share with him facts and information that will educate him and comfort him. Print out whatever info you think would help him understand your situation and the sleeve surgery in general, so he can read it, too. That really helped my husband. And as someone said, be sure you are ready to give up the typical American junk-food diet. The sleeve will help a LOT, but it does require your personal readiness to change. Yes, eventually you can have a slice of pizza or a couple of chips, but are you really ready to give most of that up? If you are, then go for it, girl. I wish I'd been able to do this long ago!

Any way to get the med so I can give it to myself? Don't want the hassle of going to a Dr's office every week. Who has time for that?

So would you recommend getting sublingual B12 pills or a monthly injection?

bonniefide, we must've hit 'Post' at the same moment! You sould great ~ Isn't it wonderful to have those first couple of weeks behind you?! I know what you mean about missing *chewing* something! I've been amazed to find that a half a cup of soup will make me feel full. That's a change!! I got a Magic Bullet a couple months before my sleeve for making veggie/fruit shakes, but now it works great to puree Progresso soups and other things I haven't tried yet. (only $49 at Costco!) I'm not rushing into eating anything that's not mush; I want to give my tummy plenty of time to adjust. I'm back at work, too, and my energy level is doing much better each day as long as I don't overdo it. You're off & running, so keep us posted!

ItsMeAgain, congrats on making it thru the worst! That first week was rough for me, too, but every day is getting better. Don't try to do too much too fast (treadmill) -- you're going to have lots of time and energy to exercise after this first month!! Baby yourself a bit and let your body heal. pattierie, I weigh myself only once a week. (well, I have sneaked in an extra weigh-in during the week, but I don't write it down - haha) Someone on here recommended a great scale that shows weight, bodyfat, BMI, etc, so I'm tracking my progress. Feels so good to see the scale go DOWN instead of UP! I was able to add SMOOTH greek yogurt after a week or so without any problem. There are great flavors like key-lime-pie, banana, caramel, that don't have lumps of fruit in them. I love the fruit, but we can't have it yet. On full liquids, you can also have creamy soups (strained), SF Jello, SF popsicles, Gogurts. Here's a website with great info about the various food stages: http://www.murfsurg.com/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.htm Good luck to both of you! Wish more of our October buds would reply. Love to know how everyone's doing!

Howdy! I am doing GOOD! The first couple of days was nauseous, the first week very sore, but after that I've been getting energy back and feeling fine, not super hungry at all. A little stomach upset occasionally, but nothing awful. Most amazingly, I've lost 21 pounds! That just NEVER happens for me. And with the sleeve, I don't have to worry about dieting to lose it and then gaining it all back later!!! Any other updates - how are YOU?

[Long Post...] Perhaps this should be in a Post-Op forum, but when I was considering the Sleeve, I wanted to know what recovery was like, so I'll write a few notes here... I was sleeved Oct 14th in Tj by Dr Garcia, and it was a good experience in Mexico! Hospital was clean, personnel very helpful, Marriott was great. I had a lot of nausea the first 24 hours but it passed. My tummy was really sore but not too painful, and I didn't use a wheelchair at any airport on my way home as I felt I should walk. (I won't repeat details about the first week from an earlier post.) Now 11 days later, I'm doing good -- I feel almost 'normal' again! It's just been BUSY around here lately: Three days after I got home from Tj, we had company show up for two nights (long-time friends who are like cousins) and then ANOTHER couple arrived who we hadn't seen in years and they stayed three nights! No visitors for months, and we have TWO couples arrive the week after my surgery!!! Crazy. However, I started feeling a LOT better after that first week, and now I'm amazed that I'm doing so well. It was strange fixing foods for everyone and then eating soups/shakes/yogurt, but I haven't been really hungry and it wasn't too much of a challenge. Altho I'd planned to keep it quiet (just say I had stomach issues so was eating soups), I ended up sharing with both couples what I'd done, and they were supportive and one friend is very interested to learn more. I don't intend to be a commercial for WLS but I'm also not going to hide it, especially if it's someone who might benefit. I'd never heard of the Sleeve a few months ago, until someone told me about it and I started researching, so I want to pay it forward. Anyway, my tummy is hardly sore at all now, I've been able to zip up my jeans (my tum was too swollen at first), and my energy level is much better every day! I'm tired of liquids but not in any rush to push my stomach to do more than it's ready for, so I'll take it slow. We went out to dinner last night and I forgot to take anything with me! and the restaurant had NO soup! So I got mashed potatoes & gravy and it was fine. I even treated myself today to a tablespoon of my homemade guacamole -- I just made sure I didn't swallow any lumps or tomatoes. Yum! I've lost 16 pounds from my starting weight, which is amazing to me cause I haven't seen this weight in YEARS. I can see a difference in my face in the mirror, so it's starting to be real to me. I'm wearing a top today that I bought a year or two ago; it was very snug but I told myself I would lose ten pounds and I'd wear it... Never did until today!! So -- for me -- the first couple of days were nauseating & sore, the first week was tender & slow, but every day since then has been an improvement! If you're getting ready for the Sleeve, be prepared but know that "this too shall pass" and you'll soon be feeling good and looking forward to being slimmer & healthier for the rest of your life! I am. :-)

Everyone responds differently, so be patient with your body. This is the worst, and every day now should get a little better - and soon it will start getting a lot better!

I'm 11 days post-op and also amazed at how good I'm feeling! The first couple of days were rough due to nausea, but every day since then has been better. I'm almost feeling 'normal' again! Hope you are feeling just as good now that your hernia is also healing.

Thanx for writing! I'm doing good -- I feel almost 'normal' again! It's just been BUSY around here lately: Three days after I got home from Tj, we had company show up for two nights (long-time friends who are like cousins) and then ANOTHER couple arrived who we hadn't seen in years and they stayed three nights! No visitors for months, and we have TWO couples arrive the week after my surgery!!! I started feeling a LOT better after that first week, and now 11 days later I'm amazed that I'm doing so well. It was a challenge fixing foods for everyone and then eating soups/shakes/yogurt, but I wasn't really hungry and it wasn't too much of a challenge. I ended up sharing with both couples what I'd done, and they were supportive and one of them is very interested to learn more. My tummy is not as sore as it was, I've been able to zip up my jeans (my tum was too swollen at first), and my energy level is much better. I'm tired of liquids but not in any rush to push my stomach to do more than it's ready for, so I'll take it slow. We went out to dinner last night and I forgot to take anything with me! and the restaurant had NO soup! So I got mashed potatoes & gravy and it was fine. I even treated myself to a tablespoon of my homemade guacamole -- I just made sure I didn't swallow any lumps or tomatoes. Yum! So how are YOU? how'd the tests go? How long have you had GERD? My girlfriend who is interested has dealt with that, and I wondered if it would affect her being able to be sleeved, so please educate me. :-) Let me know how things are progressing! Ginger

GOOD for YOU! Just shows you've been 'hanging in there' and doing what you need to do, and eventually your weight reflects that. You're getting so close to your goal! :-)

This is my one-week anniversary! Dr Garcia & everyone in Tj was great, and I was sleeved Monday 5 pm. I had a lot of nausea thru Tuesday, but it passed and every day has gotten better. No major pain, really, just sore and tire easily. Flew home Thursday, to find we have two sets of company visiting this week! Agh! No visitors for months and now TWO decide to come THIS WEEK??? I'm just telling them I've had some stomach upset lately so I'm eating Soups & shakes. haha Other than the tiredness factor, all is good now. I've had to sleep in a recliner cause I can't sleep on my side yet (and I never can sleep on my back), but I slept a couple hours on my right side last night so that's better. And today at one week I finally feel more like myself again, so the worst is past. Yeay! I'm already down 14 lbs!! from my starting weight, even with the Water weight (IVs etc) that I can still see I have, so I'm glad it's done! (wasn't too sure on that first post-op day!) I haven't seen even this weight in 5-7 years, so I'm happy! The next few months are going to be interesting, to say the least!

This is my one-week anniversary! Dr Garcia & everyone in Tj was great, and I was sleeved Monday 5 pm. I had a lot of nausea thru Tuesday, but it passed and every day has gotten better. No major pain, really, just sore and tire easily. Flew home Thursday, to find we have two sets of company visiting this week! Agh! No visitors for months and now TWO decide to come THIS WEEK??? I'm just telling them I've had some stomach upset lately so I'm eating Soups & shakes. haha Other than the tiredness factor, all is good now. I've had to sleep in a recliner cause I can't sleep on my side yet (and I never can sleep on my back), but I slept a couple hours on my right side last night so that's better. And today at one week I finally feel more like myself again, so the worst is past for this 60-year-old. Yeay! I'm already down 14 lbs!! from my starting weight, even with the Water weight (IVs etc) that I can still see I have, so I'm glad it's done! (wasn't too sure on that first post-op day!) I haven't seen even this weight in 5-7 years, so I'm happy! The next few months are going to be interesting, to say the least!

Countdown... Only FOUR days until my sleeve on Oct 14! I'm on liquids, and since Dr Garcia allows a light low-carb dinner, it hasn't been too bad. I go to Clear Liquids this weekend, then fly to San Diego Monday am with surgery Monday pm. I've been too busy at work to think about it much, which I guess is a good thing! but all of a sudden, it's almost here! What have I forgotten? Passport & check tucked away in my purse, cash for tips, compression stockings for travel, books to read, baggy pants to wear, slippers for my feet (that always seem to get cold even if I'm comfortable), Gas-X,... What else do I need to remember NOT to forget? Valium for when my nerves finally go nuts??!? LOL Anyone else at florence Hospital? Wish us all luck & blessings! (^.^)

In the airport on the way to San Diego, I guess it is startin'! And after a week of liquids I'm not really hungry... or I'm nervous. Wish me luck & blessings!

In the airport about to fly to San Diego... guess it's happenin'! Yet after a week of liquids, not really even hungry. Good luck & blessings to everyone on the same journey!

Awesome! Thanx for the tips! I always have lip balm with me -- if I was marooned on a desert island, that would be my ONE must-have! Listerine strips noted. and great idea re DVDs & Skype, since I don't know if my phone will work. Why earplugs? for music or to keep out hospital noises? I'm bringing a couple books, but after the past few weeks I'm actually looking forward to sleeping & doing nothing! How are YOU doing now, atlchick?

ONLY FOUR DAYS! I'm flying to San Diego Monday morning and being sleeved by Dr Garcia Monday afternoon ~ weird! A week from today we'll be DONE! In fact, I'll be back home by this time next Thursday... Where are you being sleeved? Luck & blessings to y'all! (^.^)

ONLY FOUR DAYS! I'm flying to San Diego Monday morning and being sleeved by Dr Garcia Monday afternoon ~ weird! A week from today we'll be DONE! In fact, I'll be back home by this time next Thursday... I've got a busy weekend, so hope to get 98% packed tomorrow, Friday. Got my passport & check hidden away in my purse, single bills for tips, baggy pants, Gas-X, what am I forgetting? Where are you being sleeved? Luck & blessings to you! (^.^)

I've also wondered how long after surgery before we can fool around? Anyone know?

First - Find a support group! Your doc should know of one or more, and you'll meet others who can help you and you can help them! Second - You need to have someone stay with you overnight! Everything should go FINE, but you need to have someone there "just in case" you have a pain or fall down or whatever. In the hospital, nurses are there to check on you, but at home, you should not be alone at first. You could always take a cab home, but someone needs to be at your home. Do you know someone who is also overweight and thus would probably not be judgemental? Ask him/her to help, and they may be very interested in what you're doing. Very best wishes to you! Keep us posted.

Silly question, probably... What do you use to puree? Just a regular blender?