amorga

Wow, I'm surprised at how much time off everyone takes. I was back at work with no restrictions after a week and a half. I was definately tired working in a coronary intensive care unit where we have a lot of heavy patients that need repositioning. They were nice enough to give me a lighter assignment for about a week coming back, but my surgeon gave me no weight restrictions going back. Feel you guys are lucky to be able to get so much time to recover! Pre-made protein shakes were my saving grace. Premier Protein I felt had the best taste and the most protein per bottle. You guys will do great and good luck to you all!

@@xraymomma As I'm sure you know, many PCOSers have issues with facial hair. Many of us hope that it will get better once the weight is off. But losing the hair on you head is a possible side effect post-op. Not sure how it affects those who were experiencing this prior to surgery, but if you weren't, then it should only be temporary and will fill back in once you are eating more and getting in all your protein and vitamins. I have been blessed with a full head of hair so some thinning isn't really noticable, however that "blessing" is extended around my upper lip, chin, and neck as well! Haha! Hoping one day for laser treatments, but oh well, just happy to see the weight coming off.

Well there seems to be conflicting ideas on that. The surgeon says 18 months, but the main physician that follows the bariatric patients post-op says that there's no evidence that a fetus or mother are harmed if she gets pregnant fairly soon. He said they had a patient who they believed got pregnant right before the surgery and they turned out great. My OB-GYN even said she had a patient 3 months out get pregnant, continued to lose weight throughout, and had no complications. Not saying I want to press my luck, but wanted to hear everyone else's thoughts and experiences. Thanks!

So I have a question for you ladies. I have been attempting to get pregnant for two years prior to my surgery and agreed to pause my efforts for awhile. I would like to know how long everyone waited and if they wish they had waited longer or tried sooner. I want to lose more weight so I can be a healthy mommy, but I want to try as soon as possible.

I'm taking nexium for three months. I was sleeved Aug 12th and this was the second time it happened. I have a feeling I may have ate too close to laying down and just want something safe to take away the burn in those situations. I may look into Maalox.

So I woke up in the middle if the night last night with the most horrible acid reflux. My throat was on fire and I could feel it all the way down to my stomach. Water wasn't helping so I took some pepto bismol which was a life saver. However, my surgeon had said not to take pepto cause it can cause ulcers but when I look online other bariatric places say it protects the stomach. Have you guys heard anything about it? I only took a half dose since I don't have a full stomach anymore and was kinda afraid to take it, but I needed relief at 1 in the morning!

I think that would be a great idea. How is that done tho? Is the person who opened the thread able to move it, or does it need to be closed and restarted in the post-op section?

Are you sure you're not just building muscle? Did you take measurements before your surgery? Either way I would start tracking your inches. Sometimes the scale may not go down but the inches will as muscle weighs more than fat.

Last night went pretty well overall. I ended up having to do some CPR on a patient 30mins into my shift and I didn't feel sore afterwards. I helped with some boosting and turning, but not a whole lot during the night. Being a CNA I would imagine you may do a lot more of that, I just lucked out last night was pretty quiet. I did begin to feel slightly sore and tired come 3am and took some Tylenol which helped the achyness. So that would be my suggestion, bring pain meds! I kinda wish I requested to only do 8 hr shifts my first weekend back, but like you I couldn't really afford to be off much longer. Good luck!

Tonight will be my first night back to work, just over 2 weeks after surgery. I wasn't given any restrictions, so I hope it's a good night. I work as a nurse in coronary ICU and it can get pretty crazy busy. A good portion of our patients aren't very mobile and tend to be large, so I do a lot of heavy lifting between turning ventilated patients or assisting a weak one to the bathroom. Love my job, just hope I'm healed up enough where i don't hurt myself. Gonna bring a high protein shake with me just in case I don't get a chance to get a lunch. 7pm-7am, not looking forward to it...

I was given a card to put in my wallet. The other side is for restaurants requesting that they allow me to order smaller portions, or off the kids or senior menu.

I understand what you mean. In the full liquids stage I felt like I was constantly "eating" and drinking. But now that I can have pureed meats, I fill up so darn quick its unreal. I found SF jello and SF Popsicles helped thru the full liquid stage to help with that "hunger" without many calories.

I got sleeved 8/12 and had some pureed chicken breast two days ago. Filled me up faster than anything else I've ate. We were taught that dark meat is generally easier to tolerate because its juicier, but you can do white meat if you can tolerate it. You just have to make sure to not overcook it as it dries it out and makes it tough. Same goes for beef. They also said to buy the more expensive cuts of beef as they have more marbling and are more tender.

I'm pretty sure you can. The FMLA source I talked to asked if I would be applying for it. I didn't since I had enough PTO/EIB banked I wouldn't need it.

Got the green light to advance to the puree stage today! So excited to be able to have some different flavors! Tuna and light mayo have never tasted so good!

Today is post-op day 9 and I'm feeling so much better. Still only getting about 32oz of liquids, barely hitting my protein goals, and tire quickly, but my pain has almost gone away. I have slight aching in my upper abdomen and my incision sites are itchy, but I can move around better and am finally able to lay on my side comfortably to sleep! Can't wait till I can sleep on my belly again, but it's a start and I'll take it!

Post-op day five and I'm hoping the incision pain gets better soon. I practically have to give myself diarrhea (TMI, sorry) in order to have a BM cause it's too painful to push. This may sound crazy to some, but I'm so looking forward to the puree stage so I can get more protein in with less volume. It takes me 4 hours to get down a smoothie of Greek yogurt and a half cup of milk. I feel I spend all day trying to get my protein in that it doesn't leave much time for fluids. One thing I'm super happy about is that I've lost 4.5 lbs since surgery day. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery!

@@ayscott74 Kudos to you for going back to work so soon. I got sleeved the 12th and can't imagine going back to even a desk job right now. I'm a hospital nurse so there is no way I could possibly go back yet as my job requires a lot of lifting. I still have moderate pain around the incision site that they pulled my stomach out of and placed two deep muscle stitches. I'm taking liquid Tylenol during the day and liquid lortab at night since it makes me sleepy. I feel the need to brace that incision site as well cause I can feel it pulling and it's painful to walk around without. I'm excited to start full liquids today so I can get more protein in and hopefully get to healing faster. Good luck to you!

Post-op day 2. Came home from the hospital yesterday feeling pretty good. But now that I'm not getting the scheduled toradol or IV Tylenol, I'm in more discomfort now. The liquid lortab, chewable gasx, and a nice dense foam pillow to hug have helped a lot. Made the mistake of trying to sleep in my bed last night as I had to wake my hubby up early to help me out of bed cause I was too sore. My power recliner will be my bed until this phase passes. No nausea since the day of surgery thank goodness, but I'm having a hard time getting my fluids in cause all I seem to want to do is sleep. Need to get moving more today and hoping that will ease some of the pain too.

I was sleeved yesterday and was so sleepy all day. Woke up more in the afternoon and walked a couple times. Still having some pain in the upper part of my abdomen, but nothing I can't tolerate. Need to get moving more today and hopefully all that gas they pumped in can work its way out. Wishing all those sleeved a speedy recovery and everyone yet to be sleeved a safe surgery!

Surgery went great this morning. Had some decent pain earlier and was using my PCA, but now it's tolerable without it. Only been nauseated twice today. First time was after the incentive spirometry and the second was when I sat at the side of the bed for the first time. Much better feeling tonight and boring to go home tomorrow :-)

Having surgery in the morning! Have to be there at 8:30, so not too early thank goodness. Been trying to run all my errands, do laundry, clean the house, and get my dogs cleaned up today. I had to work all weekend so everything had to be done today. I had started questioning whether this is still a good idea, but then my back and knee started really hurting today and all doubts went out the window!

Miralax helped me a lot. Dissolves completely and no taste. It does take 1-3 days to work tho. Took a capful Monday night and had no results by the morning, so took another 2 capfuls....let's just say don't make plans to be anywhere for about a day and a half! LOL

I'm at the end of my third week on my liquid diet and I can honestly say that food doesn't have much power over me anymore. I can see people eating and smell the food and I'm fine. I think to myself, "That smells really good and I bet it tastes wonderful" but I have no urge or overwhelming desire to eat it. At first it was really bad for me and I had serious thoughts of stealing people's food right off their plates! But it gets better and I think me and "Karly" will do just fine after surgery.

Got the best news today! I'm OFFICIALLY official! Said I've lost enough pre-op weight to satisfy their requirements and my surgery is confirmed for 10:30 Tuesday Aug 12th. So super happy! As far as meds, I will be on a special bariatric multivitamin, vitamin d, b12, an acid reducer for 3 months, and a gallstone preventer for 6 months. Come on Tuesday! I'm ready to do this :-)