Craig Wildi

@magneticmama It was really refreshing to see that level of care, wasn't it?!

You'll be fine, don't worry! I was scared to death on the days leading up to my surgery, but it couldn't have gone any better. You will be surprised afterwards, how little pain you had when you woke up! Best wishes for you tomorrow!

I also ran into the frustrations you are having. I was sleeved on 12/28. Came home on the 30th, lost a few pounds for a few days, then it just stalled.I was stalled about 8 days, and loss resumed a few days ago. I also posted my frustrations here, and was set straight by a few of the great members on this forum! Rest assured, the losing will resume. You have lost a lot already, I think the body just freaks out and says- Hey, I need to hold onto what I have, something is going on here!, and then you stall. I noticed right away, that during my stall, I was retaining Water. Not sure why, but I could tell immediately. I also could tell a few days ago, that my kidneys had finally had enough of retaining water, and started getting rid of it. Often. Perhaps it was all the meds they gave me in the hospital, or the constant IV fluids, who knows.... Anyway, the people on this forum are so helpful, and have answered several questions for me. Also, they have given me the support and kind words of encouragement, when I needed them most. Best of luck to you on your new journey!

I had a similar amusement park experience several years ago. They smashed the safety bar down on my body so tight I thought I was going to die, then after the ride, they had much difficulty unlocking the safety bar. Everyone waiting in line was looking at me, or so I thought. Ever since, I have avoided amusement parks. So embarrassing!

I am in the same boat, stuck on a sandbar and going no-where! I had VSG on December 28. I have been stuck for about 6 days now. It is very discouraging, considering I have been exercising every single day and following the liquid diet until this past Wednesday when I was changed to pureed soft foods. I lost about 25 pounds before surgery and only about 6 pounds since surgery. The past 6 days is exactly what always happens to me when I diet. I lose lose lose weight the first few weeks, then it just stops. If it doesn't begin working, then I guess it was a tool in my toolbox that I didn't need.

I'm glad that I stumbled across this post. I also was sleeved on December 28, 2015. I've had absolutely no problems, except for some difficulty swallowing once I was moved to the pureed phase this wednesday. I also fell into the trap of weighing every day. I have been stalled for about 6 days now. Makes no sense because I lost about 25 pounds in the 3 weeks prior to surgery. I'm exercising hard every day, I am following the diet. But I am stuck, and it is very discouraging. I decided today, that I am not getting back on my scale for a while.

My diet was high protein, low carbs, consisting of Premier Protein shakes (4-5 per day), sugar free pudding with a scoop of protein powder added, sugar free popsicles, chicken and beef broth, and Kroger Carbmaster yogurt. I was on my pre-surgery diet for 3 weeks, because I was awaiting approval by my insurance, was hoping for an end of December surgery date, and if approved quickly, my surgeons office wasn't sure if I would have surgery the week of Christmas or the week after. As it turned out, I was approved, and was scheduled for December 28.

I began watching that show last year, way before I decided to make a change myself and have VSG. I watched the new episode yesterday, like you, because I had DVR'ed it. There are parts of the show that I think go to far, such as the shower scene. But I will say, that the young lady on the new episode seems to be one of the most serious in her attempt to shed the weight and take control of her life. I learned a lot from the series.

@Crylyn81 I promise that no-one was as nervous as I was! When I arrived for surgery on December 28, I told them immediately, that as soon as they had my IV started, to go ahead and give me two doses of Valium in the IV. I've learned that trick after several other surgeries in my past! But they really should give patients with nerves issues, some sort of anxiety med to take about a week prior to surgery. If it helps any, I will say that my sleeve surgery wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, it was one of the easiest, least painful surgeries that I have ever had. I had absolutely NO issues whatsoever. Haven't even had nausea, and I have not taken any nausea medication to date. If you have any questions, I will be glad to share my personal experience with the surgery.

@LEILE Great to read that your surgery went well! Keep us in the loop!

Y'all are going to think I am crazy. I'll go ahead and preface my questions and concerns. I went today, for my post surgery doctors appointment, then attended a short nutrition information session. During the nutrition session, three other people who had surgery the same day as me (December 28), all had lost more weight than myself. I was the lowest weight loss, at 26 pounds, as weighed during my pre-surgery visit and labs on December 23rd. I'm very pleased with that amount of loss, but I wonder if I am doing something wrong, or not doing something right? The only thing I have done differently from my pre-op diet is, take in less fluids, for the obvious reasons, and every day to date it gets easier to get my Water intake goal. I'm exercising daily, and have done so since returning home from the hospital post-op. I walk briskly (2.5 mph, for a half mile to a mile, twice a day). Next week, I am going to begin water aerobics or fitness swimming, because it has little impact on my knees and back. Also today, I was released to advance to the soft/pureed foods phase for two weeks. So, what can I be doing differently, adding to, removing, etc from my daily routine, to get my metabolism up, and weight loss up? Thank you in advance, Craig

I guess every doctor is different. My doctor had me resume a couple of my meds that are in pill form, while still in the hospital after surgery. I'd ask the pharmacist or your primary care doctor before taking apart or crushing any meds, some of which my be time released. Just my opinion.

Thanks for bringing the egg issues to light. Now I know I need to be careful the first time I try eggs.

P.S., since starting the pre-surgery diet until now, I am 31 pounds lighter today, and of those 31, since coming home from the hospital Wednesday, I have lost 9 pounds. Seems like I am losing about 2 pounds a day, which is astounding!

I had mine Dec. 28. I was nervous, to say the least, right up until they put that gas mask over my face and told me to count up to 10. I recall trying to beat the gas to get "4" out of my mouth, but I think I got half of it out. LOL Woke up in recovery, pain was pretty intense. But, thanks to a wonderful morphine pump which I had control over, I was feeling fine after a few button presses. I was placed in a room after surgery, and within 3 hours, I was out of bed, and walking the hallway, doing the required walking to prevent clots, and to help remove some of the trapped gas from surgery. I walked the halls every few hours until the next morning. Lord knows, they don't let you get any sleep in the hospital, might as well be walking. I used the morphine pump only a couple of times after being in a room the day of surgery. They took the pump the next evening, because I had not used it in 24 hours. Went home on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Could not drink very much Water or Protein shakes that day, but each day since has become easier and intake has risen to almost where it was pre-surgery. Soreness seemed to increase the first couple of days home, but quickly subsided. The trapped gas is miserable for a while, sometimes felt like I was having a dang heart attack.Today, I am nearly soreness free. Did a mile on the treadmill, no problems. I will be glad when I go to the pureed stage, I am sick of shakes and broths. Hope that helps.

YOU SAID IT! I hope I never see another protein shake again, when I am done! And I started the liquid diet Dec. 7, because we were unsure if I would get insurance approval to have it done the week of Christmas. Ended up a week later, so an extra week of the shakes!

I was also sleeved on 12/28. My experience was about the same as you describe. I was discharged Wednesday at 11am. Returned home, and that day I managed very little fluids. I had about 14-15 ounces of Premier Protein shake (premixed), and maybe 8-10 ounces of Water. Thursday, I was up to 3 shakes, a couple of bottles of water, and a couple of sugar free popsicles. Every day has been an increase in Fluid intake. My pain level was almost non existent, just soreness around my gut. Felt like when I have had bronchitis and get muscle sore below my ribs from coughing. The trapped gas was killer the first couple of days, but then has decreased every day since. Been doing a half mile on the mill every day starting Wednesday, and upped it to a mile today, split into half this morning and half this evening. Good luck to each of you, on your journey!

December 28 was my sleeve surgery date. Had to be at the hospital at 7:00 am, for pre-op. I was in a private room after surgery, by about noon, my wife tells me.I woke up to the worst pain I have ever been in, but it honestly did not last too long. The nursing staff had me up and walking a few hours later. I did a lot of walking on my own, after that. I used the morphine pump pretty sparingly on the first day. The fist night in the hospital was terrible. I was exhausted from not getting any real meaningful sleep in the days prior to surgery. Well, the nursing staff woke me every hour and a half or so, for meds and vitals. Day 2, Very little pain, most of which was gas pain. They took my morphine pump because I had not used it since the prior evening. I walked several times during the day, and I began to have serious shin and calf pain in both legs. I hadn't thought about it, but I was walking sock footed, instead of putting on shoes, which was hell on my legs. I got a little bit of sleep last night, more than the night before. Day 3, My surgeon came in early this morning, and said that he ordered an ultrasound of my legs, to be sure I did not have clotting. He said if I ate my liquids Breakfast, and kept it down, and my legs were free of clots, that I would be going home by lunch today. I was discharged around 11 am today.I can honestly say that the pain overall, was manageable, and on a scale of 1-10, probably a 2. Since I have been home, I have drank most of a Protein shake, and some Water. This gas pain is unreal at times, coming in waves. The pain lasts no more than 10 or 15 seconds, then goes away. Again, manageable pain. I got on my home scale (it is a very accurate, old style doctors office scale, with the slide weights), before leaving home Monday morning, and my weight was 329. When I got home today, I was at 319. When I started this process, my weight was 349. I lost 20 pounds during the pre-surgery diet (I was on it for 3 weeks instead of 2). Anyone wanting to know more about my surgery, who has surgery coming up, I'd be glad to tell you my experience.

That is probably the major difference. I am about 180# overweight, with severe sleep apnea, hypertension, and pre-diabetic.

I'm very surprised that it is even done as an outpatient procedure. They had to do an incredible amount of stuff to me in the 0-48 hours after surgery. Lots of meds, IV fluids, blood thinner shots, and so on, diet, walking, labs, vitals. Knowing how much they had to do with me after surgery, I wouldn't have opted for an outpatient procedure.

I just had my surgery December 28th, and I could not IMAGINE doing it as an outpatient procedure. They did way too much stuff in the hours and couple of days after surgery, that I just couldn't fathom the risk of doing it as an outpatient procedure. Just my opinion.

I still cannot believe that I have had no nausea whatsoever. The gas has really lessened today, I suspect thanks to a couple of BMs. The soreness around my gut is still there, but was to be expected. No pain meds needed today. Best of luck to you, stay in touch!

@jane13 Thank you! Glad to be here! Happy New Year!

@destiny_77 Everything went great! I am surprised how little pain I had. I agree with you, that when I woke up in recovery, the pain was horrible, but they quickly had it under control. I expect the soreness will probably get worse in the next couple of days. I was discharged this morning, and home now. The only issue that I ran into while in the hospital is, I was doing a lot of walking without shoes, only the hospital socks, and my calfs and shins are sore as the dickens. I mentioned the sore legs to the nurses, and this morning the surgeon decided to send me down to have ultrasounds to make sure I didn't have clots, before he would discharge me. I knew it wasn't clots, but I respect that he was cautious enough to make sure.

I am in the short rows now, surgery is four days away (Monday Dec 28). I went for pre-op testing and appointment with the surgeon Wednesday morning, and it really has set in now, that this is going to happen. I am super excited, but I must admit, the pre-surgery jitters have me. Its nothing new, the nerves always get me before any surgery. Lordy Lordy