Jessica.O

Draytonp- I am one week postop today. Feeling good, minimal pain, no nausea. Just feeling weak and wobbly.... I cant wait for some cottage cheese on Thursday, lol. The liquid diet pre-op, for me, was easy the first day. The second day was hard. I was emotional and hungry! The third day I was so nervous about my surgery I couldn't have eaten if I wanted to. Be prepared for diarrhea ???? I had no problems with VBSC or Fair Oaks. Everyone was great. Did you know it is a bariatric center of excellence? That means they are held to higher standards than non-excellence hospitals.

Karlam- Me too!! Super sensitive nose and often have a metallic taste in my mouth. I'm one week post-op bypass today.

Karenlee- I could see my husband doing the same thing. God love them but they often don't understand how hard this process is for us! I am one week post op today. Perhaps instead of telling him that you're mad/disappointed for him cheating you could tell him how it affected YOU. I would feel like my husband wasn't bring supportive if he did that. Emotions run high when you don't get to eat, you're scared about surgery and how much your life is going to change. To him its a piece of chicken but to you that was like gold! I haven't eaten anything more than a protein shake for 10 days now and I would give my pinkie toe for a piece if chicken right about now.

Hi draytonp Are you having bypass? What is your pre-op diet? Mine was three days of clear liquids. My surgery was July 1 with Fitzer and I'm doing well.

And on the poop thread- my PA said it could be a week or more to have a BM. She says long as things are moving (gas) you're ok.

My RNY was July 1 and I've been on a clear liquid and protein shake diet since then. The past two days I've been thinking about real food. I'm having cravings big time! I know I can't risk damaging my pouch so I won't act on the cravings but I'm wondering if anyone else is feeling this, too. Is this what "head hunger" feels like? How do you differentiate between head hunger and true hunger?

I packed two sleep shirts but ended up just wearing the hospital gown the whole time. I didn't think I'd want to wear it but since you can open then in the back and down the sleeves it made it more comfortable in bed. I think in my sleep shirts i would've had a hard time keeping them from pulling on me or getting stuck under me when I rolled over. Pack your own pillow! Hospital pillows aren't very nice and you'll want plenty of support. I also used mine to hug on the ride home, i strapped it to my chest and belly under my seat belt. I also brought my own slippers with a good tread on them so i didnt have to have a nurse take on and off those slipper socks all the time. I ended up not using my iPad or reading any books or mags that I brought. Iphone and the hosp tv were enough stimulation for me. Good luck!

I did it!!! My surgery went well and I've been in the hospital for two nights. My surgery wasn't until 3:15pm so I was recovering well into the night. The abdominal pain was tolerable but I had such pressure on my back! It felt like someone was pushing my spine together from the top and the bottom, i just couldn't get comfortable and no one could tell me what the pain was from. Then my saint of a nurse gave me a Xanax and I was able to relax and snooze a bit. The rest of the night was snoozing off and on, very tolerable. My PA told me the next morning that can be a symptom of gas build up in the abd cavity. My anxiety about the lack of info on the cause had been making it worse. The second day had its ups and downs. The pain at the surgical sites (I have six incisions) was what I had expected but the gas build up was quite painful. It sat right under my sternum and made it hard to get good deep breaths. It was like a constant pressure on my chest. This waxed and waned for 24 hours but once I got up and walking (and farting a bit) it improved a lot! Drinking has not been painful for me, neither has taking pills. I will find out today if i get to go home, it will all depend on whether I'm in taking enough liquids orally to maintain hydration without the IV fluids. Sorry for the long post, i just hadn't felt up to typing until this morning. Thanks again for all the prayers. JO

Good luck tomorrow all my fellow July 1 surgical friends. See you on the other side

Lucky27- I am also really scared and have a terrible fear of anesthesia. Be sure to ask for a "pre-med" when you get to the hospital and tell them how nervous you are! They will give you a Valium or something similar to help with the nerves. It should also help your anesthesia and recovery go more smoothly.

Thanks everyone! I'm a ball of nerves and probably won't sleep at all tonight but I'm excited, too. I'll be sure to post here as soon as I'm ready and able after my surgery.

That is fantastic! I can't wait to be there, too. My surgery is tomorrow and hearing your onederful news makes me feel a little more optimistic.

My surgery is in 24 hours and I'm a mess today. Diarrhea, weak, weepy. I don't know how much of that is the fact that I've only had clear liquids and Jello for three days and how much is nerves. Also got my period yesterday morning. I'm feeling really scared and need some support from you all. How you other July 1 people feeling??

Me too! July 1, excited and scared.

My surgery is also July 1. We're so close!

I am also July 1 but I'm having the bypass, not the sleeve. My preop diet is three days of clear liquids only. So clear juice, water, broth, and Jello. It's day two this diet and although I'm very hungry I'm finding it easier than I had anticipated. I'm a little irritable but not "hangry" like I thought I would be. The icing on the cake? Started my period today, too.... I wish I could just sleep until Tuesday!!

Pik, your post here reminded me of I had a conversation with my mom the other day. I was telling her how nervous I was about my bypass and that I was afraid I wouldn't do well. What if I can't adhere to the rules? What if there are complications? Etc. She said it's a weird position to be in because technically this is an elective surgery. It's not medically necessary like a ruptured appendix. If I need an appendectomy there would still be fear and nerves and apprehension but it would be easier to climb onto that surgery table because I would know that I NEEDED it. Bariatric surgery isn't elective in the same was as a boob job is though.... it's intended to help us to live longer and healthier lives which leaves it somewhere in this gray zone. We need it to thrive but we don't it to survive (well, most of us anyways aren't in immediate danger). You NEED to have this hernia repaired. If you're already going to be poked and prodded and hospitalized you may as well get them both done and over with! One recovery for two procedures and a shot at a brand new life. You can do this!

Kim- one of my big apprehensions is how conservative my surgeon seems to be with pain meds. His standard protocol is oral pain meds in hosp (not IV) and none to go home. How is your pain level?

It's day two of three of my clear liquid diet. Well really three and half since my surgery isn't until the afternoon. I,be got to say, I'm glad I'm doing this instead of the two week limited diet that others have mentioned. I'd LOVE to have some egg or a protein shake right now but three days of a stricter diet seems easier to me somehow than two weeks with a bit more variety. I guess it's easier for me knowing that my surgery date is so soon. I'm feeling really hungry but I have more energy than I had anticipated. I'm sticking close to home so I don't smell yummy foods at the movies or the mall but I've been able to get out with the dog and it's ok. I was worried that I would feel lightheaded or wobbly with no food. I haven't been as cranky as I thought would be either. Just hungry and feeling sorry for myself. I saw a commercial today for Bob Evans and had to scramble to grab the remote to change the channel. I just keep telling myself that this will be worth it and there are people out there who go longer than this without eating NOT voluntarily!

I am also having my surgery done by Dr Fitzer at Fair Oaks. My surgery is this Tuesday, all these months of waiting are up and the big day is right around the corner. I'm anxious about it but also so excited to start my new life. Today was the start of my three day clear liquid diet. I had a really nice dinner with friends last night and my last Cadbury bar when I got home. I'm definitely feeling hungry this evening so I'm trying to stay busy in an effort to distract me from the rumbly belly. When is your surgery Karaya? I don't know anyone personally who has had bariatric surgery so I'm glad to hear I have a couple of allies here on the forum.

Hi fortune8- I have a surgery date of July 1 with the same surgeon as you. How did your surgery go? Was it very painful? I'm really excited but also starting to get nervous.