blizair09

The pain isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but it is still there -- especially if I am not careful about how I sit down and get up. My biggest issue is that I get really tired pretty easily, but even that isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I can't imagine going back to work right now. I am not going back for another month plus. It's a full-time job keeping up with what I need to do to be successful (fluids and protein), walking, and keeping up all of these appointments.

On my plan, yogurt doesn't come in until Day 10 post-op.

Wow! Hats off, man. I have had tremendous success pre-op, and I am hoping to mirror your success post-op. Best wishes as you continue your journey!

Trust me, the doctor is going to make sure that he/she has secured his/her money long before you get that far along. I only had about $1400 left to hit my out-of-pocket max, and I had to pay a $700 "down payment" to the doctor before they would even schedule the surgery. I decided a long time ago that WLS is just as much of (if not more) a profit-driven business as it is a results-driven healthcare endeavor.

I wish you a good day tomorrow. I was just there last Wednesday, so I know exactly how you feel. I'm not perfect, but at 3 days post-op, I am in MUCH BETTER shape than I thought I would be!!

I am taking my partner on a tour of southeast Asia as a graduation present for 3.5 weeks in December-January (which will be about 3 months post-op for me). I am planning on taking Protein power and a shaker to use as needed, but I am hopeful I'll be transitioned back to regular food (low carb/high protein) at that point. This is also the first time I'll probably have any sort of alcohol, but we'll just have to see how that goes when the time comes...

@@Sherbear2, I was in the hospital overnight. I came out of surgery about 5:15pm on Wednesday, and I was in the car on the way home Thursday about 10:30am. My surgeon counts "Day 1" of post-op as the first day you wake up in your own bed, so that was Friday in my case.

Everything is much better for me yesterday and today (Days 2 and 3 post-op). Yesterday, I was able to get down 40 oz of Fluid and 21 grams of Protein (mixed in 1.5 cups of beef stock). Today, I have gotten down 60 oz of fluid and 21 grams of protein (mixed in 1.75 cups of chicken stock). I occasionally get a little overzealous with my sips, but my new tummy reminds me not to do that. I hurt for a few seconds and then I'm fine. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday morning for my first follow-up. I'm anxious to hear what they say about my progress. I am not going to weigh until then since that is what they asked me to do. All in all, none of this has been as bad as I thought it was going to be. I really hope everything continues to look up!!

I spent the night, and I found that I didn't really need much of what I packed. The hospital provided slippers for walking, and they asked me to wear the hospital gown the entire time. I did brush my teeth before I headed home the next morning.

I'd have to say that I was the same on one level or another. Since I followed such a strict six-month pre-op diet, I just kept moving along with what I was doing until 3 days before when I voluntarily did a liquid diet. Even though I knew the surgery was happening on September 28 (insurance approval and all), it didn't become "really real" until I started that liquid diet. And, even at that, it wasn't "completely real" to me until we showed up at the hospital that morning.

I gave up alcohol during the second month of my six-month pre-op diet. Some days it is still hard to believe that I haven't had any in 5.5 months. My plan is to see about bringing it back in (in small amounts, of course) mid-December, but we'll have to see how everything goes between now and then. I have made peace with the fact that drinking post-op will NEVER be like it was pre-op, and I have re-conceptualized my social life where food and alcohol isn't the centerpiece of everything.

I had my surgery last Wednesday (September 28). I was (and still am) sore, but I have been able to get around just fine (including stairs). The only real challenge is bending over and picking something up off of the floor. Actually, this whole thing has been SO MUCH easier than I thought it would be.

I had my surgery last Wednesday (September 28), but I have been on a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat pre-op diet since March. (I lost 99 pounds pre-op!) I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to stop my life while I was getting control of my weight and my health. I have been open with everyone in my life about my journey (pre- and post-op) and my partner and I go to all of the same social outings that we always have. When we go to bars, I just don't drink; when it involves a meal, I always bring my salad dressing and order something appropriate. And now that my surgery is done, I'll go to the event and just sip Water and take my Crystal Light to-go things and unflavored Protein in a baggie. I say all of this to encourage you to not hole up while you do this. I have found that keeping up my social calendar makes the journey easier and more fun, and having a brigade of cheerleaders is awesome, too! All my best!

Welcome home! I am on Day 2 post-op, so I understand how you are feeling right now. I am trying to have 4 oz of Fluid per hour. I just take it one sip at a time. Yesterday, I was only able to get 24 fl oz down, but today I should meet the goal of 32 fl oz. In terms of broth, I just do small spoonfuls at a time. I just finished 1/2 cup in about 30 minutes or so. I am having the same brief pain when I swallow, but it is better today than it was yesterday. Also, the pain pills are helping tremendously!

I have been having a little bit of trouble with the Water, too. I have been sipping Powerade Zero all day today, and it is going down much easier. (Also, since this is Day 2 post-op, I can add Protein powder to Clear liquids and that has given me a ton more energy...)

I have found that the walking is making me feel MUCH better.

Well, the day has arrived. I have to be at the hospital at 10:30, so we will head out that way in an hour or so. I didn't make it to 100 pounds down, but I have lost 99 pounds in my six-month pre-op diet journey. I am pleased with that. My body just doesn't want to give me that last pound. The last 3 days with liquids weren't that bad at all, but I am convinced that re-establishing my relationship with food over the past six months made that experience (which sucks under any situation) so much better than just going into it straight from an "anything goes" diet. (And 14 days of having to do that would be so difficult even with the preparation.) I am certainly filled with anxiety at the moment. I'm ready to get this done and move forward with the second half of my weight loss journey. I've never had any sort of surgery in my life, so I doubt I will shake these jitters, but it is time to be a big boy and just deal. I wish all the best to those out there who are also having surgery today. "See" you on the other side of it!

So far, so good. I am really sore and I am learning just how much Fluid I can sip at a time. I still have some gas pain, but that is getting better, too. And THANK GOD for the painkillers. I am almost to 32 oz of fluid today (which is what the surgeon wants). Beginning tomorrow, I can mix unflavored Protein powder with my Clear liquids (with a 40 oz goal), and next Thursday, I can start having Protein shakes (with a 30 gram protein goal). I am not hungry AT ALL. Yesterday, I had 1/4 cup of broth and 1/4 of a Jello cup. I've been working on that same jello cup all day, and I am still not done with it yet! My first follow-up with the surgeon's staff is next Tuesday morning. I'm not going to weigh until then, so we'll see where I am at that point. And I am SO glad my parents are here with my partner and me. That is making the whole situation a lot better. (On top of the fact that this hasn't been nearly as hard as I thought it would be...)

I'm not a big pill fan, but these pain pills have been invaluable the past two days...

In my situation, I am hitting the out-of-pocket maximum for my insurance this year. So as I was meeting all of the insurance requirements pre-op (nutritionist, psych eval, chest x-ray, EKG, 6 diet visits, clearance visit and labs with my PCP, etc.) I knew that all of that cost would come off the final amount I would have to pay for the hospital, surgeon, and anesthesiologist.

My surgery was Wednesday (9/28) and I am having this same issue. I am sipping 4 oz of Water per hour, and almost every sip involves a pain. It's nothing I can't handle (and the pain pills are helping immensely), but it is there...