Dawn306

@@sanman18, you should be OK as long as you don't cheat any more. You still have 7 days, and that is enough to get your stomach empty, shrink your liver, and whatever else they want to happen in the pre-op phase. I only did 10 days pre-op, and then 2 days prior I did clear liquids only. The closer your procedure is, the more important it is to stick to the diet they gave you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You can do this!

That's awesome! I also have a little bit of unsettled feeling with Jello. I just thought it was from the artificial flavors, cuz I also get like that with Crystal Light now (never bothered me before). I am 10 days out today, and feeling more energetic and just better all-round. I also can drink as usual too (don't have to take little sips anymore), so I have to really remind myself to try to go slower. Started full fluids yesterday, and it was great to have more choices. Am trying to get a minimum of 60g Protein in per day, which is a challenge. Yay for Protein shakes, and also yay for unjury chicken Soup flavor protein powder! That's lunch every day.

For the first 5 days or so, I had to take Maalox after every time I drank anything so that it would stay down. Now, at 10 days, I don't need that anymore. Anything thick and white that is for upset tummies should do the trick.

@@jennfred, good for you for insisting on going to the hotel! Really, the Bariatric Pal guys are just fine, and you won't have any problems. @@maggie409 stayed at the recovery house in June, and she liked it. As I mentioned, it might not have been so bad if it hadn't been so darned hot! But the hotel is more what we are accustomed to. Lots of space, all with central air, wonderful staff, and nurses to help if there are medical needs or questions. Plus, my husband went with me, and the Grand is close to all kinds of restaurants, fast food places, grocery stores, etc. so he could go for a walk and pick up some juice, or something to eat for himself without getting out of sight of the hotel. And once I got feeling better, I walked with him over to the Fast & Final grocery store to find some peach juice cuz I was tired of the apple. Just the walk was a challenge, but was so good for me to get outside in the sun and walk on streets and sidewalks and not just in circles around my room. Walk as much as you can. From the minute you wake up from surgery even, if you feel well enough for that. Up and down the hallway in the hospital. Or just back and forth in your hospital room if you need the a/c. INT hospital is not air conditioned in the hallways, just in each room. If it hurts, walk. Seems counter-intuitive, but the walking is what will help the gas to go away (they inflate the stomach area with CO2 so they can see what they are doing during the operation). Trust that you will be fine. Good luck!

According to the Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve (by Alex Brecher), long term weight loss results of the sleeve are about half way between the lap band and the bypass. But without the nutritional deficiencies caused by the bypass. I would suggest that you pick up this book, or purchase the on-line version. It really has wonderful information, especially if you are still in the decision phase.

I agree, it is probably gas. Who knew gas could be so painful! Would be so much easier if it was just a fart! Walk, walk, and more walk. It can't escape through your intestinal tract, and slowly has to leave your body through metabolism and evaporation. The more you walk, the faster it will go away. I had to walk for 5 minutes, then go lie down for a while, then walk more.....etc. I felt so awful, I had to fight with myself to make myself walk, but I did it because they told me that was the only thing that would help the pain. It does get better. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Hi, sorry for the silence. I have been posting on a couple of other threads, one in "Any August Sleevers" and also in "August Sleevers in Tijuana". I had a really rough time of it for the first three days, but now I am much better. Things I've come to know: mix your Water half and half or so with some clear juice. I like peach or apple. It's easier to get down that way. hot liquids are easier on my stomach than cold. broth and peppermint tea are great. And I let my water come to room temp so it isn't so cold that it makes my stomach (or some other place in my gut) cramp. if you have a lot of nausea, try taking some Maalox or similar white liquid after you get your broth down. Also before bed. That seems to sooth my stomach a lot. try to walk at least 20 to 40 minutes each day. It might mean five minutes at a time. But it will make you feel so much better. last, get lots of rest. Lie down when your body tells you to. Lounge around in front of the tv. You need this time to heal, so be good to your body. Kids and hubby have to fend for themselves for a while. They will survive. Best of luck to you all, and thanks for asking about me. This forum is great. If you get a chance to get the book called "The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve" by Alex Brecher and Natalie Stein, I would highly recommend it. It is super helpful, and is a great place to go for quality information that's all in one convenient place. Alex also is the founder of this site, and speaks from personal experience as well as professional knowledge.

My surgeon requires a 2 night stay, and I needed both of them. Couldn't get up and around right after surgery as others did due to pain and nausea and weakness, so it took me a little longer to get feeling better. Then I spent 2 more nights in a special recovery floor in a hotel, where I did need the staff nurse a couple of times. So, it really looks like it depends on you, your surgeon, and where you get it done.

It's not a bad suggestion to ask your doc about some kind of anti-depressant. I take Cymbalta, mostly for fibromyalgia, but also for the anti-depressant effect. I have been taking it for over a year already, and just got my sleeve Wednesday, but it's nothing to feel weird about. We all have these feelings sometimes that just seem to take over, and if you are getting them a lot, and they are clearly affecting your life and your health, then you have to do something about it. Keep your head up, make a few notes, then go see your doc. It may take a bit of tweaking to find the right drug or the right dose, but give it a try. Best of luck!

Hi folks, I saw your replies so thought I would jump on quickly to answer. The company I went with is called Bariatric Pal, and their package was supposed to include recovery at one of their "luxury condos", or at a hotel. When they pulled up outside that little house I said no, I was supposed to go to a hotel. But they said that they only put people at a hotel if their recovery houses are full. It wasn't a bad house, just not what I expected. When I just couldn't take the heat, they brought me to the Grand Hotel Tijuana, which is brand new. There are two towers, some of which is still under construction. And as I said, the whole 11th floor is a special recovery floor for people who have come here for surgery, whether it be plastics or bariatric. The staff are fantastic! The atmosphere is soothing.. People are helpful. And it's modern with proper a/c! I think if it hadn't been so hot, I would have been OK at the recovery house, because they provide someone there for you to go get you broth or popsicles or whatever you need. But it wasn't what I am used to, and not what I was expecting by their advertising. So, it's true, you just can't tell what you are going to find when you get here. I don't think they did anything wrong, just a little misleading. My surgeon was dr. Ponce de leon. I chose him because of the advertisements on this site, and he seemed to have the most experience. In fact, all the other doctors kind of bow down to him, and refer to him as the "godfather of the sleeve". His assistant, Dr. Garcia is much younger, and speaks very good english (Dr. Ponce doesn't speak english), so it was like I had two doctors. Dr. Garcia was so wonderful, he came to see me in the hospital after the surgery, and prescribed some stronger meds for me since I was having such a hard time, and again before I was released, to explain everything about diet, and to reassure me and answer questions. I even talked to him on the phone the next day, from the hotel, when I still felt awful and started to have panic attacks. It turns out it was withdrawal from one of my regular meds that I had stopped taking. Once I started taking my normal meds again, I turned the corner and started feeling so much better. it's too bad that we ended up at different hotels. But I really love this place, and plan to come back for a vacation once I can eat real food again! I can't praise the staff here on the 11th floor enough! So helpful, so cheerful, really just wonderful people. For anyone thinking of coming here for surgery, I would highly recommend staying at the Grand hotel on the 11th medical floor. There were a lot of people here who went with a company called "a lighter me", and that company always puts it's people up at this hotel. And they didn't pay any more than I did either. And, you can still pick your doctor. It seemed that Dr. Ortiz was the favorite of the people that I met. Out of the dozen folks I met who had the same surgery, there was one man and one woman besides myself that seemed to have a harder time recovering, with more pain and more nausea. But, we all felt better with just a couple more days of walking and sipping. And mixing the juice with Water. And taking the Gex Gel that I mentioned before. In fact, I gave some to each of the other two who were having a tough time, because their package of drugs didn't include that one. Anyway, sorry for the long post. I wish all of you the very best in your recovery. And I hope that my experience and tips will help others who are struggling. And for those of you who are a little hesitant about coming to Tijuana, don't be! The city has changed a lot! It is a thriving metropolis, with part of the old Mexico we come to expect, and a lot of new construction and services. After 9-11, the tourist industry went way down here, so they went all in to the Medical Tourism business, and they did it well. I would not hesitate to come back here for any other procedure I, or my family needed. @@Pejela, try mixing your water half and half with some apple or peach juice. That helped me. I still feel like there is one spot somewhere on the way down that kind of cramps up sometimes if I take a big sip, but it is getting less and less noticeable. And try not drinking it really cold. That might help too. Good night all.

Hi everyone, today is a good day! I finally got my pain under control, and learned what works for me to take care of the nausea. Let me first say that for most of the others I have met here in the hotel, they do very well and recover easily. So my experience was not the norm. I had water nausea. Just plain water made me feel sick. So, I was sipping apple juice instead. But the nurse told me that the high sugar content of the juice was what was giving me diarrhea . So, now I pour just a little juice into my water, and it doesn't give me any problems. So, that is one suggestion for you. The other one is: they take you to get a medicine called Graloxen that is like Maalox. I drink a couple of swallows of that after I get my broth or juice down, and it seems to soothe the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. If you are here in Tijuana, the drugstore sells something called Gex Gel, which is thicker than the Graloxen and it also contains Famotadine, which is an acid reducer. It comes in convenient individual serving size foil packets. You just tear off the corner and squeeze it into your mouth. That works the best. I take it whenever I get heartburn, and right before bed. It's works wonders, and allowed me to finally get a full night's sleep. I feel so much better! And I hope these tips help some of you out who may also experience nausea or heartburn.

Hi guys, I guess I represent the few who have a lot of trouble. Had surgery Wednesday . Was released from hospital yesterday. Bariatric Pal guys took me to their " recovery house". A 3 bed 2 bath house. You share bathrooms. Beds are saggy. It had no a/c and it's super hot here. They put a portable a/c in my room but it could only get it down to 77F. Felt like I couldn't breath. Finally told them I couldn't stay there. Insisted on going to a hotel. I have to pay for it myself but oh god so worth it! Everything I drink hurts all the way down. Still very nauseous. Had my very first full blown panic attack last night. Up every two hours walking. Hope today is better

Hi guys, had surgery yesterday. Woke up in tredmendous amount of pain . They tell me its gas. gas has never felt like this before. Now agree with the guy who posted "this surgery hurts like he**! Couldn't walk at all furst day. Today walking some. I was taking morphine for back pain, and I made sure they all knew that. But knowing is different that doing something about it. I got nothing for pain last night. I wished I could die. Today is better. Finally ice chips for my dry and aching mouth! Thanks to those of you who have said it gets better every day. That's all I have to hang onto now.

Okay, good to know! I will put a pillow in my suitcase right now! Thanks, and all the best for your recovery. My turn is tomorrow!

...bring a pillow to hold over the sutures so when you cough it doesn't hurt as much, it's really not that bad the pain just feels like I did a 100 sit-ups but walking is helping Wow! How many sutures to you have? Didn't they do it laproscopically? So you should only have 4 to 5 small inscision sites. What do you have?

@mimanney, lmao!! I was trying to figure out what you meant! Something about my ovary?? bahaha! yes mine does but clear for 3 days, I have Dr. Ortiz and my NUT gave me this plan, just got surgery today and I am doing much better than I thought let you know on my journey. That's good to hear! What hospital are you in? And do you know what hotel you will be staying at? I suspect you will be at the Marriott and I am at the Lucerna. That sounds like a very sensible diet. Did they give you a book or anything written down to follow? I am supposed to get a book called "The Big Gastric Sleeve Book". I also found the diet from that book online. Here's the web address is anyone wants to go look at it: http://obesitycoverage.com/the-big-gastric-sleeve-diet-guide/ @@jfer, that might be a good idea. Where did you hear that? Darn....it's too late for me to run out to shop for such a thing!

Hi @@klo319, I have my surgery tomorrow too! Plus I am flying down to Tijuana tomorrow too, and surgery is same day. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there are no airplane delays, cuz timing is really tight. How have you found your pre-op diet? I was told to have only liquids for 3 days prior to surgery. I did full liquids the first day, then have been doing Clear Liquids today and will do same tomorrow. I find that I'm not all that hungry, so I think a social situation wouldn't be any problem. Stick to what you are allowed - by then you should be allowed full liquids, or maybe even soft mushy food. Take with you what you will need, like a couple of tea bags, a bottle of apple juice, whatever you like. Maybe some yogurt cups, or make yourself a Protein shake to take with you. Hopefully you won't be tempted to eat, since that would likely put you in pain, and you might be sick. You don't want that at a family gathering! Well, good luck! Where are you having yours done?

I am sorry you are having so much pain. Please don't suffer in silence! Let the nurses know, or the doctor, or your coordinator or facilitator, or whoever is with you. Make sure you get on some pain killers. As for the gas, I know lots of people have the same trouble. All you can do is walk around to get your body metabolism going so that it can get rid of the gas. If you are out of the hospital, some people say GAs-x helps. If you can, send someone to the local pharmacy (or farmacia if you are in MX) to pick some up for you. Here's hoping for a day full of burps and farts so help you feel better

@@Pejela, how are you doing? I will be there tomorrow for my surgery. It's late in the day at INT hospital. I stay in hospital for 2 nights, then they put me up in the Laverna hotel. So I guess we won't meet in person Unless we ask to stay in the Marriott. I don't know, I think we have to go where they put us. I hope everything went well for you and that you don't have too much pain or gas. Keep me up to date!

I have 2 containers of the chicken soup flavor on order, so this post was timely, thanks! And regarding the salt-free broth, I wasn't told to limit my sodium, at least not on my pre-surgery liquids. Was that in your post-surgery instructions? I agree with @@drmeow, at week 3 you should only be eating mushy (soft) food, or even pureed food. I found a link to the big gastric sleeve diet guide online which outlines the stages of post-op diet very clearly. Here it is, hope it helps!: http://obesitycoverage.com/the-big-gastric-sleeve-diet-guide/

OK, @@baylorbears281, have it your way. I don't feel sorry for you. If you really had a negative experience, why don't you tell us more about it? In enough detail that it might be helpful for the other people who are looking for guidance and support? Your little shout about hurts like he**, and your snarky replies dont help anyone.

@@englandgirlsleever, thanks for posting right after your surgery! It's great to hear that you are doing so well - especially for those of us who are still waiting for our turn to come. I got sleeved yesterday! Everything went great, took me a lot longer to come around after than expected! I also lost 7kg from my week pre op diet yipeeee! Still in hospital and get discharged tomorrow! Still on water at the moment, for all people who are doubting having it done, believe me it worth it! X @@Pejela my surgeon is Dr. Ponce de Leon. He has specials on here, and he is the head of bariatric surgery at the hospital he works out of. I see that you have Dr. Ortiz. I hear that he is one of the best! I wonder if we will end up in the same hospital? I am not sure that I know the name of the hosp I will go to. There are a couple. And do you recover at the recovery "condos" or in the hotel? Hi @@jfer , I actually don't feel hungry on full liquids, because it seems like I am having something every couple of hours. Besides what you mentioned, you could have yogurt drinks, or kefir (I like the kefir for the probiotics), and fruit juices. Various kinds of broths, tomato juice, or mix tomato juice half and half with either chicken or beef broth - I like that too. I find the kefir coats my stomach and helps with the hunger pangs, and fruit juice has natural sugars which also help me. For after, make sure you have lots of broth and every kind of clear liquid you can think of. GNC has a liquid form of calcium (I like the blueberry flavor), and they also sell a multi-vitamin powder that you mix with water - it tastes like fruit punch! If you can drink herbal teas, try Celestial Seasonings or Stash in peppermint flavor - it is soothing to touchy tummies. This SURGERY hurts like HELL!!!!!!!!!!!@@baylorbears281 Right, NOT helpful! AND, is the very opposite from everyone else's experiences on these boards. IF you have had the surgery and IF you experienced a lot of pain, I am sorry for you because the doctors and nurses are supposed to help keep your pain under control.

Why are you sad to get the sleeve? The sleeve is the current "gold standard", in other words, the medical researchers believe that it is the safest, and the most effective procedure. Not only that, but the sleeve has fewer long term complications. And if that is not enough to convince you, the sleeve is the only WLS that leaves you with enough of a stomach that you won't experience nutrient deficiencies. And if you currently take meds for other conditions, you can continue to take your meds without worrying about them not being absorbed properly. Go forward - get the sleeve! It really is a good choice. Good luck!

Thanks for this article. One thing puzzles me though. What about the claim that the stomach produces the hunger hormone called Ghrelin, and that if you have 3/4 of your stomach removed (gastric sleeve), then your hunger is automatically reduced because there is less stomach tissue and therefore, less ghrelin?

@@Geron Girls, and @@volgirl, could your headaches could be from caffeine withdrawal? Cuz that can give you a nasty headache that doesn't respond to medication.