Mrs. Whatsit

I also had my surgery on Monday, March 31st and I was discharged Friday evening. I stopped all the pain meds on Wednesday. I had so much nausea that I could not move a muscle without heaving. I was certain it was the pain medication and I was right. By Thursday night the nausea was better and by Friday evening I felt almost human. I have pain but I'm not taking any of the prescribed pain meds. I'd rather hurt that feel like I'm going to puke all day long. My stomach does spasm with every swallow. My doctor says this could last a few weeks. I see how this surgery causes you to lose weight - it's impossible to eat!

I am so sorry you're going through all this! I've had kidney stones and they're awful, plus if you take pain medication it will just make your constipation worse. I can only offer you positive thoughts and prayers and I feel so bad for you. Hang in there!

If you're constipated, try and find Smooth Move Tea. I bought it at my health food store. It took care of my constipation problem. As far as milk goes, I use almond milk and haven't had any trouble. You might also try Hemp milk. I didn't really like the flavour of the Hemp. I had my surgery on Monday and got home today. Believe it or not, I pooped today. I couldn't believe it but I was thankful, lol.

lol, this is the first thing that has made me laugh all week. I smoke pot in Florida and it is ILLEGAL in Florida. Big flippidity deal. I'm 55, I have fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy. Would the powers that be rather I was taking oxycontin? If someone wants to come arrest this grandmother for smoking a little herb to help with her pain, then by all means bring it on. And then when you're done, I'll do my own investigating and dig out all the skeletons in your closet. I had my sleeve 5 days ago. I haven't smoked weed since December. I stopped smoking cigars in November but have probably smoked 15 since then. I smoked a cigar one week before my surgery. I'll try and wait 2 weeks before I smoke a cigar (and yes, I told my doctor all this info) and I'll smoke pot the next time I have a bad fibro flareup. Frankly, I'm not a big believer in telling my doctor everything. He's not my shrink. I'm an RN and I know what the doctor needs to know. If you're having problems, he needs to know what you're doing so he can evaluate it and decide if it's the cause. If you're not losing weight, then tell your doctor what you're eating and let him figure out what you need to change. Contrary to popular opinion, doctors are not the morality police and neither are members on a forum. I don't know anything about you and it would be completely inappropriate for me to tell you what to do or not to do. Likewise, you don't know me and are not in a position to tell me what I need to do or need to not do. All I can do is share my experience. I enjoy smoking and I don't really care what others think about it. I'm sure there are plenty of you who do things that I think are ridiculous but big frigging deal! We're here to support each other with our weight loss not judge each other on the other areas of our life. I will end this by saying I just got home from the hospital today and am rather irritable. My stomach is doing the spasm dance, which it has been doing all week. If I stepped on your toes, I apologize. I was aiming for the ground next to your toes.

I had my surgery Monday, March 31 and was discharged home today. It has been a bloody awful week and right now I'm regretting everything. My doctor allowed me to go to full liquids today and I had a 4 oz protein shake when I got home. It took me an hour to drink it and my stomach kept having spasms. He told me I could have some creamed soups and I tried that tonight. Big mistake! I think I still had a stomach full of protein shake. I haven't been able to get in any fluids. I'm going to try a popsicle in a little while. I'm glad you all are here and I'm glad to read both the good and bad stories. It helps to know that there are others having a bit of a rough time. I'm sorry you're having a hard time, but I'm glad to not be alone.

You look fantastic! Congratulations on your hard work.

I had my surgery Monday, March 31 and was discharged from the hospital today. I can tell you right now I regret having ever heard of bariatric surgery. I've had a lot of surgeries and this was far and above the worst surgery ever. Everything I drink causes my stomach to spasm. I got home tonight and thought I'd have some soup. I seriously thought I was going to die. I might try a popsicle in a few hours. There is no fricking way I'm going to be able to drink 64 oz of Fluid, let alone get down my Protein shakes. I was not expecting this to be easy but I did not expect this much nausea and this much pain. My doctor said everyone is different and responds differently. I wish he would have told me worst case scenario before I had this surgery. I hop you start to feel better soon.

roses, I have to be at the hospital in 1 hour and 45 minutes! I'm thirsty and hungry and scared. And I seem to be pooping a lot too. Good luck to you!

Like Crazyjaney, I am a nurse. I worked in a Level 1 Trauma Center for 18 years, all in Critical Care and the last 2 years in the Recovery Room. There are certain standards that must be met before you can be sent to your room. Your pain needs to be controlled, your nausea needs to be controlled, you oxygen levels need to be up, you need to arouse easily, and you need to be making some urine. It can sometimes be difficult to hit that fine line where you are comfortable and yet not zonked out. They can't send you to your room when you're totally zonked out because they won't have you hooked up to a monitor. Outpt surgery is completely different. They can't zonk you out because you have to wake up and get the heck out of there. They give you enough drugs so you're a little bit comfortable and then get you ready to go home. Inpatient Recovery is a busy place, especially in a big hospital. You have the patients, the anethesiologists, the nurses, the assistants, and various other people. People are always coming and going. I loved working there.

I completely forgot about Smooth Move. I have also used it and it works great.

You might try Colace, a stool softener. I know constipation is very common after this surgery. There just isn't a whole lot of food to digest and move down the colon. I hope everything works out okay for you.

My surgery is also Monday morning. Good luck!!

Oh gosh, thank you for sharing. I am so worried I'm going to back out. My surgery is in 8 hours and I'm still ambivalent about it. I'm really afraid of the surgery and I'm afraid I won't be able to do all that's necessary afterward. I'm afraid I'll want to eat everything and that I'll stretch my stomach and gain the weight back. I'm afraid my skin is going to be so droopy that I'll end up looking like a shar pei dog. Ack! I think I'm overthinking it. I tend to over worry things and I'm kind of caught up in my own anxiety. Thanks again for sharing. You've helped give me a little courage.

Tomorrow is my surgery day. It has been very helpful to read how everyone is doing post-op. At least I won't be surprised when I start having weird symptoms - burping, stomach grumbling, etc. It would be really scary to have all these symptoms and have no one to talk to about it. One thing I'll mention - if you're having a sore throat after surgery, keep in mind that not only did they put the breathing tube down your throat, they also put the bougie. That can cause some throat irritation. I hope everyone starts feeling better and I guess I'll see you on the other side.

I smoke marijuana for pain control and there is no medical marijuana in Florida. I list it along with all my other medications. I've not had one doctor say anything about it. I haven't smoked any since December and I'll try not to smoke any after I get home. It just depends on whether my fibromyalgia flares up or whether I get a migraine. I'm hoping neither of those things happen.

I'm a nervous wreck too. My surgery is in 8 hours. I'm afraid I'll back out right as they wheel me into the operating room. My entire family is opposed to it so between dealing with their fears and mine, I'm a mess. I have no advice for you, just that you are not alone. Good luck!

I'm right there with you. I have to be at the hospital at 0600. I'm the first case of the day. I have to tell you, I am a nervous wreck. I even made out a Living Will. I've had many surgeries and never bothered with a Living Will but I'm really nervous about this one. I hope all our surgeries go well, without complications, and mostly pain free. Good luck!

I had terrible back pain when I had my gallbladder attacks. It felt like someone was poking a hot Iron rod in through my back and out the front of me. I first started this in December. I started exercising every day, quit coffee, and stopped smoking on January 1. I wanted to be in the routine of it by the time I have my surgery. Good luck and hope your pain goes away.

I flew last Sept and purchased 2 seats, the aisle and middle seats. I did not want to be the fat person that hangs over into the aisle and onto the person next to them. I also asked for a seatbelt extender when I first got on the plane. It was well worth the extra money to buy 2 seats. I was comfortable and it made the trip much more enjoyable.

I had no idea what a bougie was. My doctor never mentioned it. This link helps explain it. http://www.nationalbariatriclink.org/bariatric-blog/gastric-sleeve-surgery-whats-your-bougie-size/

I'm in week 2 of my pre-op diet. 3 Protein shakes and raw vegatables. I am starved, tired, and cranky.

Thanks Jane.

Not to generalize but surgeons as a rule are generally asshats. They've never had to develop any bedside personality or interpersonal skills. The worst, in my opinion, are the neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, and trauma surgeons. Being a nurse in a Trauma Center for 20 years has given me a rather jaded opinion of surgeons, lol. I am very fortunate. My surgeon has a gastric sleeve. He understands obesity and all the emotional and physical issues that go with it. The nurse running the program had a gastric bypass. So the support is pretty amazing. I've been pretty stressed about this whole process and I'm not sure I would be able to go through it if I didn't have such an amazing bariatric team. I'm sorry your doctor is a jerk. Make sure you write an online review on Healthgrades. That way you'll spare someone else the same misery. Good luck!

My surgery is March 31. Thank you all for being so honest. Believe it or not, it does make me feel better knowing that some of you are having a bit of a hard time. I'm really nervous about the surgery and reading about some of your problems helps me to prepare myself and to not be surprised when things are tough. If everyone talked about how easy it was and then I had some troubles, I'd feel like a total failure. I am prepared for pain and nausea and I am worried about getting in all the Protein and fluids. It never occurred to me to try a vegetable protein in chicken broth. I'm going to add that to my shopping list. Thanks again for talking about your regrets. I hope you all feel better soon.

Hope you're feeling better. Sounds like you have a bit of a stomach virus.