Bluesea71

Hey there! I was sleeved 4/16 too! I started a thread under the April 2014 forum titled "April 16th role call - who's with me?" Come join us! There's lots of us 4/16 sleeve sisters there!

Hi there - I had my surgery last Wednesday. For starters, leave the robe and nightgowns at home. You will be hooked up to an IV and a bunch of other wires and there is no way to change into them. The only things I brought that were must haves were: one of my own down pillows from home (as the hospital ones were very hard), my phone, charger and an extension cord as the one available wasn't near the bed. I was too tired to do much of anything but sleep. My iphone provided internet access. I watched about 10 minutes of TV. I didn't have any gas pain so didn't use gas-x. They will likely restrict you from liquids post surgery. I found asking for Water, swishing in my mouth and spitting it out was helpful. It worked better than Chapstick I brought a pair of clothes to go home into, but just ended up putting on a fresh pair of undies and the yoga pants I wore in, new shirt and sipped up sweat shirt. One of the incisions is located where your bra strap is, so an underwire bra is a no-no. I brought a loose fitting sports bra. I'm as vain as they come (will not leave the house without a shower/make up) and I didn't care how I looked. I felt like yuck and just wanted to get home. The nurse gave me a wash clothe to wipe down my face and body. I did put on a small amount of make up and threw my hair in a pony tail. I live 20 minutes from the hospital. I may have cared more if I was traveling longer. Probably not. I didn't have any energy. I had serious nausea in the hospital post surgery. It wasn't until the next day I realized it was the pain medicine in the IV and what they gave me post-surgery doing it. Don't be afraid to ask for something else if this is the case! Good luck! My advise - keep it simple. The hospital provides much of what you will need. The hospital gown they put me in was bariatric size and could accommodate a 600 pound man. My tush didn't hang out in the hallway while I walked!

I think we need to remember that we each have our own journey and our own experience in how we will experience this surgery. We (including myself) can get easily frustrated if we compare ourselves to others and wonder if we are doing something wrong. Listen to your body and respond accordingly. If you're tired, lay down. If something doesn't taste good, spit it out. No need to push ourselves to keep up with the sleeve sister joneses! These boards have taught me that there is no "norm" with how we will respond after surgery. We are all here to support one another! Just remember.... Slower weight loss equals a reduction in saggy skin! I'm reminding myself of that if my weight loss isn't "in check." Who am I kidding? I've had two kids. There WILL be sagging skin in the tummy area.... and I'm ok with that. Kinda. I was cursing every single person on this board post surgery for the first 24 hours. It was brutal (for me) and I didn't understand why people sugar coated it and didn't warn me! I was in a lot of pain. With five prior surgeries under my belt and 2 children ( one I delivered ala natural) I have a very high pain tolerance. I ached and I was nauseous. My period also started the day of surgery. Good times! Good news is I never experienced any kind of gas pain. There are others on this board reporting going home the day of surgery and experiencing minimal pain. Good for them, I was a wreck that first day/night! Then the next day came and I felt 70% better. By the third day I felt back to normal except for the pain we all seem to feel in our tummies as if we did a million sit ups. Not that I have ever been a gym-rat or ever did even 20 sit-ups.....So I'm assuming that's the feeling. Just saying! . by the 4th day I felt good enough to walk 1.5 miles to the library and back. Too bad it was closed for Easter! Yesterday (5 days post-op) I have developed a weird pain in my shoulder area. I wonder if its possible to have a delayed gas issue? It's hard for me to distinguish it from the chronic shoulder pain I experience anyway as I tend to hold me stress there. Sadly, I guess I'm just used to the pain there I do seem to be having an easy recovery. Good for me because I have to return to work next Monday. The perk of being self-employed is I can arrange my own work schedule. The down side to self-employment.... I don't get vacation or sick pay. I don't get paid at all if I don't work! Sigh. I need to go back whether I'm ready to or not. I have always had a hard time with work/life balance. It became even more complicated tending to self care when children came into the mix. The old me didn't plan and ate on the run. The real challenge for me is going to come when I have to go back to work in a week. On one hand, I think work will be a nice distraction from "head hunger"and all of this obsessing I am currently doing over what I eat and drink. Expect me to struggle a bit. I will need your support then. I started using the Lose It app on my iPhone last June 2013. Tracking everything worked for me as long as I actually used the app. I made a pack with myself yesterday that I would start recording everything down NOW. Maybe I will post my results from yesterday so you can see what I'm eating. So I am having an easy time now. But I'm sure my time will come to struggle. This is where I am so grateful to have met others on this board who get what I'm going through. So lets not judge each other, or worse, judge ourselves. Each of our journeys is as unique as we are.

Tip I have to share - those 3oz paper Dixie cups (typically used in the bathroom) are a God send along with plastic spoons. Otherwise I would have a ton of dishes to wash if I had to dirty up a whole bowl/cup for a tiny portion of cottage cheese or whatever I'm eating. The 3oz size also makes it easy to measure just the right amount!

You can only purchase unjury at unjury.com. I add the non-flavored to Jello (recipe is on their website) and a scoop to my crystal light/Mio beverage. I also bought the chicken soup flavor but I can't stand it at this point. I like my Soups really hot and you can't heat their soup up past warm or the protein gets clumpy. Unjury is medical grade protein used in hospitals, so some people feel more confidence buying that verses the local deal at Target or Walmart. My tummy talks to me all day long. It's loud enough for others to hear!

Bring your favorite pillow, phone, charger/extension cord. Leave all the rest at home as you won't need it. There's no way to change out of the hospital gown with all of the IV's, so don't bother bringing your own sleepwear. The first 24 hours are AWFUL but I felt 70% better the next day. I'm now 4 days out and besides feeling a little tired, feel back to normal. I didn't have gas issues or anything. Good luck. If the pain meds make you nauseous post surgery, don't be afraid to ask for something else. Until they ok liquids, ask your nurse for Water to swish your mouth and spit out. It helps with the dry mouth. Good luck!!!

Did your Dr tell you to start taking all of your vitamins right away? I was told for the first two weeks after surgery to just take my 2 chewable multivitamins and B1 daily and B12 weekly. After two weeks add calcium, iron and vitamin D.

I had my surgery on 4/16 (3 days ago). The first 24 hours were AWFUL, the next day I felt 70% better and today, outside of some slight soreness in my abs (like I did a 1000 sit ups) I feel back to normal. I haven't had any trapped gas pain or anything. I took all of next week off of work, but could easily go back if I needed to now. The only accommodations I would need to make is using a rolling backpack to carry my files around vs. carrying them. My job is very sedentary too. Here's the thing- none of us know what our personal experience will be like. Of the people I know who got sleeved the same day as me, I seem to be having the easiest recovery. I would rather be conservative and plan for more time off. It will be nice to have some time to make lifestyle adjustments next week... But frankly, I think working will be a nice distraction from the "head hunger" a lot of people report having. I am too busy to eat when I'm at work! If anything, I will have to set reminders to eat and drink!

The Naked shakes are the refrigerated drinks near the vegetable section in the grocery store. It's my understanding that they contain a lot sugar/carbs, not enough protein and they are high in calories. The premiere ready made protein drink I use has 30 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, 4 grams carbs and 160 calories per 11 oz serving. Maybe compare the two to see how it measures up. You will receive lots of valuable information once you start your program.

I agree with what was said so far. The only thing I would add is protecting your surgery wounds. You didn't mention where you are going, but you don't want to open yourself up to some serious infections if you go in the ocean or to foreign bacteria our bodies aren't used to if traveling to a foreign country. My fiancée had a minor arm surgery last year, a few weeks before we went on a vacation to Cancun. He ended up with a serious staph infection likely caused by bacteria while traveling. This led to a second surgery and several months of antibiotics. You can't take a bath or swim for at least 30 days post surgery.

Posting a picture of my post-op scars the day after. Please note the "sad face" in the middle around my belly button! My doctor didn't put any tape or dressings on. I have internal stitches and outside there is surgical glue holding the skin together which will dissolve on its own. Quite a bit of bruising though. The 5th incision cant be seen, but is located under my breasts in the middle.

I just looked at my discharge papers. Mine says to not expect anything before a week. I can see the concern, our body is in shock and they want to make sure everything is moving along, so to speak. In still not sure where the poop would come from though if we are only eating/drinking clear liquids! Protein drinks would do it! Lol. I've never discussed my weight, pooping, urinating, etc. so openly. Love this forum!

I wouldn't expect to poop at least a week after surgery. What's to poop out anyway? We haven't ate anything! The urine we are expelling is still IV fluids from post-op hospital care.

The Butterfly Jiggle. I foresee a new dance trend coming our way! ????

I'm home tonight. Nausea is gone, but now replaced by that sore feeling of doing 1000 sit ups. It hurts so bad to cough! I would much prefer this as that first night was brutal! I had anti- nausea meds put in the anesthesia and also two types feed through the IV. I finally figured out it was the pain medicine they were giving me that was making me nauseous and I stopped it. I'm easily taking in liquids now and praying every day gets a little easier!

Hi everyone! I'm impressed you gals were able to check in yesterday! I was a wreck! I'm convinced this experience is like childbirth - if we were able to remember every detail with the same Intensity as in the beginning, I don't think anybody would do this!!!! Holy. Cow. I've have 5 other surgeries in my lifetime and the pain and recovery of this is much, much worse. They found a hernia they had to repair during surgery, so the most pain has been where my stomach was cut and the hernia, I assume. One of the incisions really hurts. No gas pain as of yet. My report of a must have in the hospital - your favorite pillow. The hospital ones are hard. I Have found it helpful to lay on my side and have pillows also prop me up in back. Forget bringing any fancy nightgowns. There would be no way to put it on with all of the IV and other wires connected to you! I have Terrible nausea so was dry heaving all day/night. Good news is I feel a tad better today. I can only eat an ice chip or two, so worried about getting hydrated if I don't have the IV. My doctor should be stopping by in a bit. I'm tempted to stay a second night if they will let me.

I'm Having mine today at 9:30!!!! Just had IV put in!!!!

Buttetfly2014 - tomorrow is my day too! I started an April 16th check-in thread in the April 2014 forum. There's a few of us! Join in so we can stay connected and support each other! Good luck tomorrow. My surgery is at 9:30 (pacific time!)

Clock is about to strike midnight. April 16th will soon be here... And unfortunately no drinking or eating after that time! Positive warm thoughts and big hugs to all of my sleeve sisters! Can't wait to check in on the other side!

Yes! Just ate some from trader Joes and it filled me up!

Princess Suzy - my surgery is tomorrow too! Join us on the April 16th roll call thread I started under April 2014 forum so we can all stay in touch and support each other!

I just started a new thread for April 16th sleepers under the April 2014 board. Check in so we can monitor each others progress and support each other!

My surgery is tomorrow too. Relax... We are going to do great!

Last weekend I went on a trip to Yosemite to Celebrate my fiancée birthday. I had never been in April and it was wonderful! The weather was warm enough for shorts and there was hardly anyone there! My inner athlete had a battle with the body I have allowed to fall apart the last decade. My brain still thought I could hike the trails I could easily manage when I was fit in my 20's. The first day we attempted upper Yosemite falls. I. Was. Dying. While I didn't physically hurt, the altitude change made it hard for me to breathe! I had to give up 3/4 into the strenuous hike and turn around. The next day we hiked Vernal falls all the way to the top via the mist trail. Boy, that was brutal. I had to stop every 2 minutes to catch my breathe but I DID IT!!! At the top, I had my partner take a fat video of myself talking to my thinner, athletic self I hope to meet in a years time. We have made reservations to come back to Yosemite in April 2015. I will complete both hikes and make a second video of post-op me and stream the two together so they are talking to each other. My surgery is in three days. Wednesday, April 16th. I am a not afraid of the surgery. I feel prepared for how hard the first few months will be. I'm excited to take off the weight that has prevented me from living my best life the last decade. 2014 is my year. I'm ready. Bring it on!

Have you been to Disney World before? In my experience, most of their rides accommodate heavier people (at least compared to other amusement parks.). I have a thick middle and could get on everything. Just avoid any rides you had difficulty on before. I bet you could google the subject and see if anyone has posted any advice/tips. I will admit, when in line for rides, I tend to scan the crowd and find someone bigger than me ahead of me in line. If they get on, I know I will be ok!