EagerPenguin

I get that feeling sometimes. I'm pretty sure my problem is stomach cramps. I take my med for cramps (Levsin) and it gets better. Maybe you're experiencing something similar.

Me too! I thought I wouldn't be hungry. I'm hoping that it will dissipate the farther along I get in my recovery, as it's been a little less intense these past couple of days. Hunger was really intense the first week.

This absolutely makes sense. I have anxiety about being anxious because of how I tend to act and feel when I'm anxious. I can imagine it's similar with panicking about an impending panic attack. Not a good feeling!

This surgery made me anxious too, and I'm not normally anxious before surgery. I was able to take my pills beforehand so I'd think you could take something for anxiety before you even leave for the hospital if you have it on hand. I even had a pill with the two hours before surgery (Emend, a pill for nausea they gave me in preop). The anesthesia team is usually in charge of pre-medication for anxiety on the way in to surgery, but they don't usually give the med (I've seen versed, or Ativan, or Valium in IV form used, which are fast acting) until you're heading in to surgery. If you need something while you're in preop, your nurse should be able to contact the surgeon or the PA to get an order if you really need it. Good luck with your surgery. I think you'll feel much better once it's over. Keep your eye on the prize!

I can tell you from experience that elevated liver enzymes (a marker of liver disease) can be corrected. My primary doc ran liver blood tests a few months ago because of a med I'm taking, and then happened to run them again before surgery. The tests came back high the first time, and normal the second. I didn't change anything except how I was eating and my weight; between the two lab tests, I lost almost 30 pounds on my own. I think the combination of the two are what caused the normalization of my liver enzymes.

I didn't eat after surgery. I was sleeved 12/7. My program calls for a week of clear liquids, then two weeks of full liquids until I even get to try soft and purée foods. I don't even get yogurt until the 28th. A liquid diet after surgery seems fairly par for the course, but every program differs. My program calls for 64 ounces of fluids per day, which includes three protein shakes while in the liquid stage, and two protein shakes per day in the soft/purée stage. Total protein at least 60 grams. I think as long as you try to get your protein in, and make sure you're getting enough water, you should be fine. I haven't really consumed anything but protein, water, Powerade zero, and jello for a week, and I was just able to add tomato and strained cream soups two days ago.

I've been soooooo hungry too! For the first week I felt the need to eat something, really eat, all the time. It's been really upsetting to me as I thought I wouldn't be hungry. I was sleeved on 12/7. When I saw the PA on 12/14, she said the feeling like I need to eat something may be excess stomach acid. I'm already on a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole, to keep stop acid at bay) but I think I may need to increase my dose. Also, I've been less hungry since I received IV fluids on 12/14. I had been so nauseous that I wasn't getting my fluids in and became dehydrated. For the past couple days I met my fluid goal so that probably had something to do with reducing the hunger. Maybe try getting even more fluid than you are now? Being farther out from surgery may help as well. Maybe the hunger hormones are still filtering out of the system. Hope you get some relief.

Yes, feeling much better, thank you! I left the infusion center where I got my fluids feeling like a new woman. Yesterday I actually got all my protein and more than enough fluid in for the first time since surgery. Hope your follow up goes well!

You are not alone. My depression has been a little worse since surgery, too. This is a huge lifestyle change and I think it's only natural for your emotions to be fluctuating. We'll get through this though!

I've been worried about hair loss. For the last year or so I've been taking a massive amount of biotin every day, but I didn't think about preventative Rogaine. Thank you for sharing!

Gallbladder issues seem pretty common after WLS. Whether you need surgery or not is going to depend on how bad the problem is, assuming that's what it is. I had mine removed a few years ago, and it was a piece of cake. Outpatient surgery, really easy recovery. Some people have a more difficult go of it, but I think for the most part it's not bad. If the pain radiating to your back gets really bad I'd call your surgeon's answering service over the weekend.

I like Syntrax, specifically their Fuzzy Naval and Vanilla Bean Torte. They seem fairly light to me. I also use Optimum Nutrition Double Rich Chocolate. It's a little heavier but not bad.

I totally agree, it's hard to catch up once you're in pain again. Hope you're more comfortable now.

My process was just over three months. Started beginning of September, surgery December 7. My insurance approval went through in less than a week, and I was fortunate to get appointments with the psychologist, nurse, and nutritionist quickly.

I had absolutely terrible nausea the night of my surgery, too. It did continue for a couple days once I got home, but it wasn't nearly as bad as before. I have a prescription for zofran, and also for Levsin, which is for stomach cramps which contribute to nausea. Those two help keep my stomach under control. Your surgeon should be able to prescribe something for you.

My primary is super enthusiastic about my choice to have surgery. At my preop appointment he even said he was excited! You need a new primary, for certain.

Had my first post op visit today! Got some IV fluids for dehydration...funny how quickly that sneaks up on you. Looking back, I've been really nauseous so I haven't been drinking like I should. I was told part of my nausea could be from dehydration. It's a vicious cycle. Don't drink enough because I'm nauseous and nauseous because I don't drink enough. I'm feeling much better now after the fluids. Also, my diet was advanced! I'm now in full liquids for a couple weeks. I had tomato soup tonight and it was delicious. Hope you all are healing well and for those of you in the home stretch, good luck!

For me, the sleeve has been worse, mostly because of the nausea and the diet requirements. Pain has actually been better for me with the sleeve than my gallbladder though, in part I think because they used the same incision sites over and over for multiple surgeries, I just don't have feeling there anymore. The sleeve surgery really isn't that bad though, just getting back to eating is the main challenge I'm having.

Has anyone experienced continuous bad breath since the surgery? I cannot seem to freshen up no matter how much I brush and use my tongue scraper. I use mouthwash but it soon wears off. I've never had breath like this before.

I saw my PA today for my one week and asked her about it. She noticed my tongue color (which is kind of pale, sort of white, so duh...) and an ulcer on my tongue I hadn't noticed and diagnosed it as probable thrush. She thinks it's probably from the antibiotics. So, I get nystatin swish and swallow. The thought of it makes me nauseous, though I'm already nauseous most of the time anyway. Thank you all for your input, I appreciate it!

My stomach was noisy at first, too! And the burping...wow. My stomach is much better now, I only hear it occasionally. I'm post op day 7.

Thank you!! That's very helpful.

I was nervous too, right up to the part where they put me asleep. I think I felt similarly to you. It was such a relief to me to have the procedure done though. You've done so much work to get to this point, which required some courage in and of itself. Bring that courage with you to the hospital. I hope you can get some rest before your surgery! Though I know it'll be hard. Good luck today!

Is your nausea any better now? My doc sent me home with an anti-nausea med, maybe yours would prescribe something? I've also had a little luck with ginger aromatherapy.

Any time I've ever had surgery, my incisions bruised quite badly. Same thing happened this time, I don't know why. I think the tape you're describing is probably steri strips. My surgeon uses a glue type stuff to cover the incision, and others have staples.