skellertx

Hi! I'm heading into my pre-op appointment tomorrow--all the pre-surgical stuff done, including 6-month diet, psych eval, and insurance approval--and I'm looking for someone in my area. Any takers? Thanks!

Thanks so much for organizing this, Jean! Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

I'm sorry you're having pain. If you are worried about the pain, don't hesitate to contact your doctor to see what he says. Getting in your liquids is important, so keep working at that. Otherwise, sleep, walk, relax, try to take it easy. You can do this!

I made it through surgery and never stopped taking my cymbalta capsules, so I'm not sure what the deal is with taking liquid meds only. Now it's possible that I'm not absorbing the medication as well as I used to, but although I have been a little depressed and weepy, I am not sure if that's because of the surgery and dealing with no food, or if it's because I'm not getting adequate anti-depressants. Time will tell, I guess.

When was your surgery again? If it's been more than a few days, I might give the surgeon's office a call. Try a heating pad and see if that helps. I definitely used gas x strips for the first few days, and they did help manage the gas in my tummy. They won't help if it's gas pain from the CO2 they used to inflate your abdomen during surgery, but that's why I was recommending the heating pad. Good luck, and I sure hope you feel better soon.

Oh, I am so sorry for you, girl!!! Hang in there, and don't give up. It's very likely the ins people will step up at the last minute. Keep calling!

So I'm on Day 8, and can have cream soups in addition to the clear liquid items I could have the first couple days out, and I thought I'd pass along a really good option that I've come across. I found a cream of chicken soup that had no lumps or bumps at all, but a reasonable protein level--12g: Healthy Valley Cream of Chicken Soup which I found at Whole Foods. Also a nice change from the sweet protein drinks are Amy's Soups. Tonight I'm having half a can of Organic Butternut Squash Soup, and while the protein is negligible, 2g/serving (so I still have to drink at least 20g of protein this evening), it's still a welcome change of taste, and great on the calories, too. I've also tried Amy's Chunky Tomato (pureed), and that was awesome! Hope everyone is doing well!

Wow, hang in there, and keep popsicling!!

So what are you using?

I know what you mean about the taste and sweetness of the Protein drinks and powders. It's really difficult to get used to. I finally just gave up and went with the Protein Drink that provided the most protein for the least volume and calories, which so far has been the Premier Protein Drinks that you can find in stores such as costco. They don't taste terrible--the chocolate can pass as chocolate milk, and the vanilla, while a little too sweet for me, is kind of like a pudding. I've also found the unjury chicken Soup is pretty good--tastes like Lipton Noodle Soup without the Noodle. I sure hope you find something that works for you, Amy373 and badabing!

I am finding the Premier shakes are going down ok--not great, but ok. I have also been mixing in a little banana protein powder from Bariatric Advantage into the chocolate and vanilla Premier for a little change and a little protein boost. I'll try some P2B today and some Nectar later. I tried Unjury Chicken Soup yesterday, and it was a welcome change. I guess just keep trying different things until you find things that interest your palate.

Awww, so sorry you had a bad time of it. Hopefully things are better today. I had a similar experience my first night home. Spiked a fever of 102F, and thought I might have to go to the ER, but I figured I'd give it a couple of hours. When I next woke up, fever was gone, and hasn't been back. I didn't start protein drinks until Day 3, so I didn't have that problem, thank goodness. But that first night, NOTHING was helping my stomach settle down completely. Gas-x strips helped, but I even felt like the codein/tylenol I'd been prescribed was irritating instead of soothing. I stopped taking that the second day. Today is Day 7, and I'm feeling much more steady and confident I can handle what my stomach is telling me. I actually got 89g of protein down yesterday, and 64oz of fluid, fully meeting my plan for the first time. Go me! I am hopeful things will be much better for you very soon; just hang in there--you're through the worst of it.

Oh, sweetie, seriously, everyone feels that obsessive and anxious, so you're not alone. As far as post-op pain goes, you should be pretty well medicated and not feel much, if any discomfort while in the hospital. I was a little uncomfortable my first night home (I think it was the transition from the morphine to the at-home codeine), but after you start getting used to figuring out what to do when your stomach grumbles this way, or does this or that, you're golden. As far as handling the post-op diet goes, well, if you're like me, you won't care so much about anything other than trying to make your protein and fluid goals once you get there. Now that's not saying that you won't still crave food and dream about it (omg), when you wake up, you'll know that you really can't deviate from your plan, and won't be nearly as hard to make the healthy choice then as it was before with those GS cookies. I sat down with my nutritionist to go over the vitamin plan beforehand, and how it would fit into my food plan. There are also other meds that you will inevitably have to take--some sort of antacid, allergy meds, any others you are on chronically that you can't set aside yet, and yes, you do need a plan for those. It helped me to put it down on paper. I hope that things work out well for you, and I send you lots of hugs!!

I got home from the hospital yesterday, and I'm feeling very leery of taking in anything other than water at this point. I haven't had any CO2 gas issues, but boy, the gas-in-the-tummy sure can be uncomfortable. Lots of walking when I'm not sleeping, lots of ice chips. I tried some broth earlier today, and didn't get excited. Last night was really difficult, and I spiked a fever for a couple of hours there. But I think it's just the gas and acid settling down, and getting off the morphine and onto the codeine. I feel like just taking it slow and easy, and listening to my body before I push anything. I haven't had any incision pain, although I do feel sore from the deeper incision. Having the drain removed yesterday before I left the hospital was . . . interesting. My main goal is just to heal and get as much water as possible. The rest will come, I'm sure.

Thanks for the good wishes, TexasRN! I'm starting to get excited!

jatherley, I Skellertx, you going to it support group? I couldn't go last night--I'm still trying to get my last few To-do things done before surgery on Thursday. I still have to get my will written and my medical directives witnessed. Obviously, as they are the last couple of things on a very long list, I am not too keen on thinking about those

Hey, the support group at St. David's is meeting tomorrow night for a Zumba session, if you're up for it. http://www.stdavidsweightloss.com/resources/support-group.aspx

Healthbound, how come you didn't just swallow the capsule?

Those of you taking capsules, were you able to take them following surgery without interruption?

That must be so frustrating! :/

Oh, no! Hope you're feeling better quick quick quick!

I think the one night at the hospital is the standard for this surgery, but it doesn't mean that if you need to stay longer because of complications that your insurance won't cover it. So fear not!

But you DO have total control over this entire process--you are choosing to have gastric sleeve surgery. You can call it off at any time. You definitely call the shots on this one. That said, of course I totally understand your feelings: it sounds like the same internal struggle I am going through where part of me wants to make healthier choices, but another part of me wants to sabotage those efforts. Try to tell yourself that it's alright, you're going through with this surgery, and it will help you make better choices in the future. It's what I'm doing, myself, every day, and I know it's not easy!

amiliz06, I know just how you feel, and I did the same thing. However, keep this in mind: you will be able to eat any things after the surgery that you ate before the surgery--just less of it. Maybe that will help a little with the runaway chowdown? It's tough, though, I know!

I guess I would expect my energy level to drop to some extent, particularly if you are going into ketosis on just the two lean cuisine meals and liquids pre-surgery, but that should change once your system clears out. I bet you'll be feeling great just before surgery!