nienie

I switch between days and nights 12 hour shifts. Night shift kills me but I try and pack veggies, and lots of protein (string cheese, meats). Also helps to increase protein drinks when working those shifts and just drink more liquids. Some days are better then others but this is what helps me...

I can eat a little rice otherwise all Chinese makes me so nauseated that I usually have to take Zofran at least once and papaya enzyme.

I stopped my metformin ltoo for PCOS for the same reason. Plus I was afraid of lactid acidosis with dehydration. I just told them I stopped it and I see my endo yearly and will let him know. I have had no issues and in almost six months have lost nearly 70 pounds. I wouldn't go back on it but maybe consult with your primary... I never had much weight loss on Metformin to begin with and 500 daily is nothing.

You should really ask your surgeon for Zofran sublingual. I have had nausea on and off and I can relate and now when I have that feeling I just take a Zofran and it helps so much.

No NG tube- I worried about the same thing because the booklet they give us says we do. You will wake up with two JP drains on each larger incision right and left. Those stay in until you leave to help drain the blood and also watch for leakage. They will give you blue ice chips with dye that you will have for the first 48 hours and if you would have a leak they would be able to tell from the drains. I will admit for me the drains hurt when they got pulled out but it is fast and over with in a blink of an eye. I had my surgery on a Thursday and went home around noon on a Sunday. I think I said before I was sensitive to the PCA pump and patch for pain they gave me but once they disconitnued that by Saturday noon I was a new person and up in chair and walking. Prior to that could hardly get out of bed from nausea, and being so gorked from pain med. This is not the norm and another patient who had bypass after me same day was walking marathons around hospital by Friday. They will introduce liquids to you after your swallow study the next day. I initially went down around 2 am and then again at 7am- have to say the stuff they make you drink tastes like dog poo- told them would be better if it was cold and not warm and didn't help I was nauseated. Other then that things went well....

Incisions have to be completely healed.. You run the risk of infection otherwise

Pre-op they just want you to start to prepare for your new eating and drinking styles post-op. I cut done on my pop and caffeine drinking but drank right up until surgery and haven't had any issues not having it after surgery and I am 21 weeks out...

No- they are far for me too. I live in southeaster ND about 45 minutes south of Fargo. Fargo is the closest and that is too far for a support group. I wish we would get one as we have tons of successful people from the area. I use online stuff like this site and then belong to one on facebook.

I could only sleep on my back after surgery and I am a huge side sleeper. When I got home from hospital I actually found sleeping in a recliner most comfortable so I did that until I got my stitches out 13 days later. After my stitches were out I was bound and determined I was side sleeping in a bed. With lots of liquids hydrocodone I was able to side sleep and within another week I had no issues at all...

I have BCBS/Illinios- required to do six months of dietary, had psych, letter from primary. All of my info was submitted end of November and Dec 26 was okay for surgery and had surgery Jan 24!

I buy the Bariatric Advantage Calcium chews and Bariatric Advantage B-1 Thiamine from Amazon. The chews now come in Carmel 500 mg- I am required two take 2 a day. When I buy the 250mg I take 4- easier on the pocket book if you buy the Carmel 500. I initially started with the chewable calcium wild cherry but it was too chalky. That comes in a huge container. I was using Bariatric Advantage B-12 but the sublingual don't melt like they should so I buy spring valley b-12 2500 mcg sublingual from Walmart-love them. I use the Cervoite Jr that I tested when I went to the class and again I buy from Amazon. I will continue to buy Bariatric Advantage calcium and thiamine but that is it. You can also ask someone at Park Rapids what other brands they would suggest.

Well, I had surgery on a Thursday and was discharged on a Sunday which is pretty standard for bypass. Pain was well controlled through PCA and liquid medications. I actually was a little sensitive to the Fentanyl PCA they gave me and was gorked for the first two days and the meds made my nauseous. However, we had a plan in place for nausea and they gave me plenty of meds ie Zofran IV, pherergan IV and scop Patches. Once we realized I was gorked from PCA they changed me to oral liquids and I did much better. You will be sent home with oral liquid hydrocodone too. The first week I was home all i did was sleep, drink and take pain meds because to be honest with you they keep you busy at hospital and wake you often that you don't feel like you sleep much. The ride home from hospital was rough 2 hour so make sure to bring a pillow to help hold on your abdomen. I am a RN and work acute care and work 12 hour shift and also lift heavy patients. For the first month you have lifting restrictions. First two weeks nothing over 10 pounds and no driving. Then until month 20 pounds. I took 6 weeks off and am happy I did. I started to feel like a normal person by a month out but was happy to have the six weeks to figure out Protein drinks, Water, Vitamins and all the fun stuff. So you will probably need 2-4 weeks off if you can go for four do it. I am a little over four months out and am happy with everything. I have lost over 60 pounds with about 40 more to go. Love all the staff at Essentia in Park Rapids. They are so helpful and nice. You have selected an awesome program and great surgeon. You won't be disappointed. Initially, the first week after I said i would never do surgery again but with time out I would do the surgery in a heart beat. If you have more questions please feel free to ask. I actually had two co-workers do the surgery prior to me at same place so I quizzed them like crazy..

My surgeon allowed regular food including raw veggies at six weeks. He just stated to only try one to two new foods a day so that I would know what foods I didn't tolerate. I would check with your surgeon for the specifics though because every program is different as far as advancing foods and what and when they allow things.

I really think I would let my employer know. I always have been told that if you have something coming up where you might need some time off you should let them know when they hire you. You would hate to have surgery have complications and be out work for a long time and they didn't even know you were having surgery. If you have a very sedative job most can go back about 2 weeks. Most surgeons will suggest week in a half to two weeks. I just know that there is alot that happens after surgery and trying to get fluids in, vitamins in and just feeling like you have energy to do anything is about all i did for the first week. Although you usually don't even start vitamins until a couple weeks post. When people have their appendix or gallbladder out they usually need to be off work for 2 weeks. I would really discuss this with your surgeon and see what he recommends but I know realistically that you will need more then two days post surgery.

First off what surgery are you having? Second, what kind of job are you working and what job requirements? I can't imagine having surgery Friday and going to work Monday- I was in the hospital for four days and then I was off work for six weeks. I probably could have gone back at the month mark but prior to that no way. I work as a nurse and 12 hour shifts so that wasn't an option. I would highly doubt you will feel good enough to go to work Monday so if I were you I would tell your employer and see if you can start a week or two later then your start date.

I didn't have to have a pre-op diet. Did they tell you that you had to specifically go on liquids or anything like that? If not usually you just have to eat/drink nothing after midnight the night before surgery....

I had my surgery with Dr. Wroblewski and Dr. Smith saw me over the weekend. They are both awesome surgeons and have a top notch program. I highly recommend either surgeon. Good Luck. If you have any questions let me know- I had surgery in January and I don't regret one minute of it. I should add that another girl I know had Dr. Smith and loved him and has been successful with her surgery....

Here's a website with some good low carb recipes. I met this lady from an Atkin's support group and she put this together.. http://www.chattumslowcarbrecipes.webs.com/

Go to the Atkin's site. I am also carb sensitive. I have lived a low carb lifestyle for quite some time prior to surgery and now after. They have awesome recipes and there are tons of great low carb meals out there.

If you are unable to hold liquids down then I would be very concerned and call your surgeon as you can easily become very dehydrated and ill. I also tell people that if they get sick like vomit after they eat or it hurts call their surgeon. Even on my bad days I was always able to drink and get Protein in.

I am four months out and still have bad days. I use Zofran frequently to help with the nausea. Saltine crackers also help. My nausea has been since surgery and somedays I can eat something and be fine the next eat the same thing and nauseous. On my bad days I just drink protein drinks and water....

The special K Protein drinks don't really have enough protein. I looked into them. I used to do Atkins but like I said post surgery didn't like them anymore. I would check out vitalady.com she has tons of brands and samples you can try...

Not sure how far post op you are but after four days in the hospital all i did when I got home was sleep for the first week. It is what your body needs. I would drink, walk and sleep. By two weeks out I started to get more energy. It wasn't until one month out I felt like I did pre-surgery. Just hang in there.

I will tell you that the protein shakes i liked prior to surgery I no longer can tolerate. The two that i use daily are Unjury chicken broth and Syntrax Nectar. You can buy samples at unjury.com and they have other flavors too. I also like Syntrax Nectar. I use the kiwi strawberry. I ordered initially from vitalady.com as you can buy individual samples of a variety of different kinds and also other brands. Pre-surgery I liked the milky tasting protein shakes. I used Atkin's and some of the powders that Walmart carries. Post surgery the milky ones make me nauseated so I can't do them. I could retry them but the thought still makes me feel ill. I usually make my protein shake the night before so it is cold. I use a scoop and a half of the Nectar for about 35 grams of protein in about 12 ounces of water. I like it and use my protein shakes for meals still and am almost 4 months out. I know buy alot of stuff off of amazon.com but initially didn't want to buy in bulk without sampling first... So good luck

I had gas problems especially as I introduced new items into my diet. I used gas ex and Devrom chewable pills. I still use the devrom as flatulence can be a problem post gastric bypass. I take the Devrom (2 pills) with each meal). My flatulence is much better as is the gas.