Lotte22

Hi everyone. I’m home from the hospital. It’s day three and the pain in the back of my neck and shoulders is unbearable. Nurses said it’s just gas, but I’ve been walking a ton and taking a Gas X strips and it doesn’t go away! This evening I’ve been watching vlogs about post op days 2-5 and it’s got me pretty discouraged. Most everybody talks about how the pain is not so bad etc, and I’m over here with a heating pad on my neck and the feeling of daggers in my tummy each time I take a sip. Luckily, I have not thrown up yet. I’m worried I’m drinking too much and that’s why I hurt. But they tell me to drink drink drink, and if I stopped sipping when it hurts, I’d be dehydrated. So, here are my questions: 1. How much did you eat days 2-4 post op? Today I ate 3/4ths of a yogurt in the morning, a couple ounces of protein shake for lunch, and then about 5 oz protein shake for dinner. I’ve also been drinking a ton. Is that too much? I can’t read my body very well yet. 2. Did any of you have super sharp gas pains in the back of your neck and shoulders. It really hurts and pain meds don’t work. 3. When did your swelling decrease. I’m puffed out like a balloon and very uncomfortable 4. How long after coming home from the hospital did you continue taking your pain meds? 5. Will my stomach ever not hurt when I eat again? I know it’s just day three and I need to be patient, but I’m hearing so many others talk about how easy their experiences were and I’m starting to wonder why I’m so miserable right now. Thanks.

Good luck!!

I drank a lot of water, about 10 oz of protein shake and one full yogurt today. I’m not really hungry, but I also don’t know how much is too much. Is that a lot for day 3??? How much are you guys eating right now?

Hi ladies. I’m following you both now. I’m experiencing a lot of pain. Ugh. Let’s get through this together!

I’m home from the hospital. In considerable pain, but no vomiting so far. I’ve been planning and stressing about vsg for months. I can’t believe I did it. Now I’m just trying to get water in (despite the dagger to my tummy feeling). I hope this gets better soon. The nurses at the hospital were all great except one who told me I don’t look big enough for this surgery in a judgmental tone. I told her it has nothing to do with my looks. I guess some people think of this as plastic surgery. I actually am content with how I look. I did this for my bones and because of my family history. But of course that’s a lot to explain to everyone. Oh, and I’m seeing double. Did anyone else experience that after surgery??? Good luck to all of you who are having surgery this week!!

Thanks everyone. I’m in a lot of pain. The nausea meds I’m on in the hospital are working fine, but these heavy duty pain meds don’t even touch my pain! Every time I drink even a tiny sip of water it feels like daggers to my stomach. Is this normal???

I had my surgery yesterday. The gas pain is awful and morphine can’t touch it. But otherwise I’m going ok. Just really sore. I get to drink some liquids today. We’ll see how that goes? Swallowing saliva burns my stomach, so I’m a little nervous about drinking. But my mouth is sooooooo dry, I’m also looking forward to it. How are you guys doing? For those of you scheduled for today or tomorrow, good luck!!

Thanks everyone. They are keeping me here two nights after all. I had a hernia repair at the same time as vsg. Not sure if that impacted their section. I try to get up and walk around for about 15 minutes every hour, but the gas pain is still awful (even with morphine!). No vomiting yet though, so that’s good. There is no way I could’ve gone home yesterday. They haven’t even let me eat ice yet, so I need the IV fluids!! When do gas pains go away approximately?

I go in tomorrow morning super early. Of course I can't sleep tonight. So nervous. Good luck to everyone!

I’m scheduled for the 26th. I’m pretty new to this forum but would like to follow those who have a similar surgery date to mine. How do I do that?? I’m terrified right now. On the preop diet my BMI has dropped to 32.7. I feel really strange about having this surgery, but then again, I know that if I cancel, my BMI will go right back up again. But still, it feels strange and I’m really scared I’ll have complications.

I’m on 12/26. I’m very nervous.

Thanks guys. I cleared it with my nutritionist and will take benefiber. Oddly, I’m not allowed any veggies or green smoothies on my diet.

You’re so lucky! My clinic makes all patients—regardless of size—do a two week completely liquid diet. I’m allowed only three low-cal protein shakes a day, one yogurt, broth (not soups), and SF popcicles. It’s brutal!

That’s very good to hear! I’m allowed three shakes a day, but if I stay up really late, that’s not enough. Last night I got soooo hungry so I drank another half a shake. It’s not technically allowed, but I felt that it wasn’t a true cheat because the shakes are an approved item. I’m glad to hear that your nurse doesn’t think that’s too bad.

Thanks for the encouragement. I’m struggling on the liquid diet (still responsible for feeding my family).

Great to have some buddies I’m scared as hell. Of what? I guess everything. I’m not so sick right now that a lifetime of vomiting will be worth it, so I’m taking a risk. I’m a mom to twin 3 year olds. I’m on the pre-op diet now and already my energy is too low to play with them. I’m really scared I’ll be drained of energy for months, maybe years. But I’m devoted and doing well on the diet. I want this. I need this for my health. It’s ok to be scared AND excited!

I’m 38, so I’m in the same boat of needing to postpone my THR as long as possible. With a letter from ortho you should be fine. They even rounded my BMI up for approval.

Hi. I have BCBS and 34.8 BMI. My only comorbidity is joint related. I need a total hip replacement. My orthopedic surgeon wrote a note stating that losing weight would be beneficial to my hip and could prolong my hip replacement. I was approved! Good luck to you.

This is my first post but I’ve been reading a lot of threads on this site and have found them helpful. My surgery is scheduled for Dec 26th and I’m having last minute doubts. I don’t want to go into this with doubts but if I postpone it will cost more money (we’ve met out of pocket max this year but that goes out the window Jan 1st). I also went through a lot to get here: facing disapproving parents, nutritional visits, psych eval, endoscopy, group meetings, etc. not to mention hundreds of hours of research. I feel like if I’m going to do this, now is the time. my BMI is 34, but with drinking tons of Water and wearing my heaviest clothes I was able to get covered by insurance. The reason I decided to pursue the sleeve is because I have Arthritis in my hip resulting from Perthes disease as a child. I need a hip replacement, but since I’m 38 my orthopedist says to wait as long as possible. My hope is that losing 60 lbs could help me postpone a hip replacement, and keeping the weight off could maybe decrease the number of hip replacements I need in my life. Also, I’m in constant hip pain and need Tylenol pm to sleep. I’m desperate to feel better. furthermore, my cholesterol is high for the first time ever, I needed IVF to have children due to PCO (no S since I don’t have the full blown syndrome), and my family history is atrocious (almost everyone has had diabetes and heart attack by 60). I have a double MTHFR gene mutation that makes me higher risk for clots and heart disease. that being said, I am leading an active life, am the mom to 3 year old twins, am strong, and I don’t look too bad. I’m muscular so I carry a 34bmi well. I only mention that because sometimes when I look in the mirror I wonder if I’m crazy for taking such drastic measures. Im sure I’d look better if I lost my excess weight but that is truly not a motivation for me. Is this too drastic for someone with 34bmi? I don’t have diabetes or hbp or super high cholesterol or sleep apnea... I guess there is a line where the risks outweigh the benefits. Like a BMI of 30 with no comorbidities, I’d say it’s not worth it. But for me??? I don’t want to live with regrets. Please share your thoughts. I’m terrified of making the wrong decision.

Nope. But I’m in ABQ, so not far.

Hi. I’m on day two of my pre-op diet. I care for two three year olds and feeding them and having the energy to play all day has been a challenge. But I’m devoted to the cause and so far, no cheating. This is really hard!!! I’m only allowed broth (no soups), SF jello, SF popsicles, 3 protein shakes a day and one low fat yogurt a day... for two weeks. Does that seem more restrictive than most? My clinic assigns this same diet to everyone, regardless of weight or size of liver. my question is when I will get to eat real food again? How long after surgery until I can eat a few pieces of sushi, a few bites of sandwich, or a breakfast sausage? When will life feel normal again and I won’t have to constantly explain my shake when others are eating lunch?

My parents are freaking out. My dad has dieted his entire life and has never been able to maintain. Now he has heart and kidney disease. And yet he still judges me for not losing naturally. The thing that gets me is that he doesn’t see his own hypocrisy.

Hi. My preop diet only allows yogurt, popsicles, protein shakes, milk and jello. I start in two days and am really gonna miss chewing!! I read about liver shrinking diets online and it seems meat and cooked veggies are fine. We’re you allowed veggies and meat? Why can’t I eat anything that requires chewing?????

Agreed. But my clinic assigns all patients the same diet.

Thank you all for your thoughts. I have no intention of breaking my preop diet. I’m just very curious why there is no standard. Seems like there should be one diet proven to shrink livers most effectively. Oh well! It’s off to liquids I go!