Nowarnp

I have actually done great since surgery! I struggled the first few weeks with nausea and weakness and I ended up taking 6 weeks off from work. Most of the people I know who had the sleeve bounce back much faster. I found my gastric bypass more challenging. Out of my surgical group, I was the only one who had bypass, everyone else had the sleeve. I have followed the plan very closely and as of today I am down 72 pounds. My weight loss has been more rapid than some peoples but I feel good and all I am doing is following my guidelines. I should be exercising more but I do struggle with some decreased energy still but it improves all the time. Best advice I an give you is to have everything set up for you at home. All the foods which you will be allowed over the next 2 to 3 weeks, plenty of Water if you like the bottled kind and all the supplements like Vitamins and Protein powders you may need while in the early recovery stages. Just use small bowls, small plates and plan on continuing to use them which helps keep your portion size down. For the first few weeks, I found toddler size spoons useful because they help keep you from taking big bites. Good luck! Right now I think it is the best decision I ever made!

I worked as an RN in a surgical ICU for years and we used to get all the open gastric bypass patients and I saw all the complications which were much more frequent years ago. After the laparoscopic method started becoming the standard, the complications dropped dramatically and I kind of started thinking about it. That was about 10 years ago and after my weight continued to rise, it was now time.

I haven't had to deal with this yet since I am only 3 weeks post op but last week at our meeting, we were given cards which we can show at a restaurant requesting a smaller portion meal. According to the surgeon and the dietician there, many restaurants locally will either let you then order off the children's menu if you like or give you a half size serving for half price. My surgeon wants to avoid having temptation in front of us if possible. That being said, what is it about those dang biscuits at Red Lobster?!! I swear I would eat mine, everyone else's and still ask for more. I have always thought they are the best thing there and seriously addictive!!! Glad you had a good experience and I will remember the shrimp when I finally start eating out again.

I lost my cat Jenny to old age when she was 22. I was heartbroken and just couldn't get another cat. Since I love all animals, I got 2 Boston Terriers which is what I had grown up with. They are Lizzy and Vicky and the loves of my life! My husband and daughter think I am a bit crazy but I adore my little girls! The center picture is Vicky helping my husband with the planters!

I find it interesting how she turned your surgery into something which was all about her. Her ignorance and lack of compassion and selfishness are showing in her posting. I am very sorry for you and I am sure it is quite hurtful to have someone who you trusted and considered a friend write such a vitriolic piece. Surround your self with those who love you for who you are and who value your thoughts and needs. This seems like a great forum to vent and get support! I had surgery 2 weeks ago and there are still people who I have not told and may not tell unless it specifically comes up. There are so many misconceptions about the surgery it is exhausting explaining it over and over again! Thinking of you and sending good wishes to you!

Congrats! It looks great on you! I hope to someday get into those things buried in my closet.

So I had my RNY on May 6th and the surgery went fine. I went home late on the 8th. My surgeon routinely uses a JP drain for RNY surgery and I went home with one was supposed to come out the following Tuesday. The program I am in is one of the centers of excellence and has great work up protocols in place and very specific post op teaching and guidelines. They are a great group of nurses, dieticians, doctors and other support staff to work with overall. Compared to other people though I seem to be having more pain and a much slower recovery and frankly, I still feel like roadkill. At 0430 Tuesday morning I got up to go to the bathroom and in my sleepiness I managed to put my hand down on the drain and discontinued it accidently myself. My pain though was even before that. No other parts of my abdomen are overly tender. I don't sleep well because of this pain. Its hard for me to stand for any length of time. I am not running any fevers. Basically, I still have this pain which has not diminished much over the past 10 days and feel fatigued and kind of terrible in general. It just seems like everyone else has bounced back so quickly. So many people post how quickly they returned to work and right now I know I couldn't make it to work. Officially I have a max of 4 weeks to take and I let them know yesterday I am taking all 4. I am hoping I will continue improving and do well returning to work then. Is there anyone else who is in the slow lane like me? Anyone been like this in the past with any suggestions?

Thanks for the support! I feel better knowing I am not the only one not racing around the block right after surgery. I have a 2 week post op recheck tomorrow so I will talk to my surgeon too.

May 6th here! I am ready to go!!!

I am scheduled on May 6th! Definitely ready! I started the process in August which was supposed to be a 6 month prep and evaluation time. I managed to hurt my foot increasing my activity and had surgery on that in January and it slowed everything down a bit. I am just very glad to finally have the date! The count down is going on my calendar. I start my liquid diet on the 22nd. I have things ready at home, Vitamins purchased and would have it tomorrow if I could!

An EGD is short for esophagogastroduodenoscopy which is a mouthful to say the least! It is a scope which looks at your esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). A fiberoptic scope is inserted into your mouth for this. You are sedated for this procedure. Many surgeons and insurance companies require this pre-op because if there is a problem with ulcers or some type of anatomical issue, it is better found during this than during surgery itself. They usually also routinely check for H. pylori which is a bacteria often associated with ulcers. My insurance and my surgeon both required this. I know a great deal about these procedures because I am a nurse practitioner who works in gastroenterology and talk to people day in and day out about endoscopies. You need to find out if you need it done. Often the surgeons will do it themselves. I hope this helps!

I hope you are doing well post op! I have mine in Des Moines on May 6th.