melmssc

Hi Staci- I read your story and it was very similar to mine. It was a scary feeling. I felt so weak afterwards and like I said I almost broke my big toe awakening from my nap. It was awful. I have been having more regular bowel movements post this incident. How are you feeling today?

I'm 6 days post op.First day with no pain meds!!!!! I went number 2 today after giving myself an enema and it ended up with me feeling flush, having to take breaks, and feeling weak. I would lay down between having the urge to go. It was exhausting. I was literally naked and toweling my face to combat the flush feeling. At some point, I just napped and woke up 5 hours later. I got up only to find that my left foot was asleep and I almost broke my big toe as I got up from my nap and my foot started buckiing beneath me. It was nothing short of a nightmare. I had been doing soooo good. I just felt so bloated and backed up that I broke down and gave myself an enema. Has anyone experienced anything like this?? If not, consider yourself lucky because this is not an experience that I would wish on anyone.

In my program, on your first appointment they ran labs that checked for all kinds of things (one which was nicotine). I am not a smoker and so obviously I did not test positive. They claimed that they would run labs again at your pre-op, but maybe because I didn't test positive the first time they did not and only did a blood type screen in case of need for a transfusion. Good question.. They did warn us sternly at the seminar that you would be cancelled if they found it in your system (pre-op).

They warned us that this would be tested and the surgery could be cancelled, but they only ran a blood type test on me the day before surgery during me pre-op. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Thank you for your post! I was starting to think that maybe this was really abnormal. I feel so much better this evening. It was just a scary event.

I did find that part strange. I would think that the balloon would not be as invasive and therefore would have less complications??? I had heard of band leaks and adjustments, but i haven't heard that about the balloon. I would trust my surgeon- unless you feel like he is trying to sell you something.

In my experience, my program/surgeon is very conservative. He did not try to "SELL" me on anything. He laid out my options and what would work best for my body shape and health history. What I will say is that my surgeon no longer does balloons nor bands. They are more prone to leaks, risks, adjustments and lower weight loss. It is a short term fix. They have the sleeve somewhat down to an art form.

This looks amazing!!!! You should put it in Bailey's May newsletter.

I only lost 8 pounds during the 2 week pre-op. Just wait, because the day after my surgery I was up 4 pounds from my pre-op weight. I need to update my stats, because 5 days post op I was down all of my pre-op loss plus 8 additional pounds. Some people lose more at different stages, but with the amount that you are eating the weight MUST come off!

I haven't found this to be the case at a week out, I still prefer ice water. I also love the SF ice pops. Even in the hospital they gave me ice water, ice chips, etc... Are you able to drink hot broths?

There are many husbands and wives that have both had the VSG after seeing the success that their spouse had. I think that it is a good thing that she is being self- informed about the surgery whether she decides in the end if it is right for her or not. It shows you that she takes your health very serious for her to research the procedure and send you things. It is so important to have the support of your family and friends, because it is a "new normal" for everyone. I worried a lot, but then had to say that it is my life and my decision. I do not want a life riddled with health problems and prescriptions for obesity related diseases. I am also capable of making the most out of my sleeve right now. I am relatively healthy and am active. In a few years going down the path I was on, I might not be able to say that and any surgery or weight loss attempt would be a major uphill battle. Interesting observance:There were more males having gastric surgery at my hospital than women during my stay. I would go to support groups and seminars and it was always 10 to 1 women to men. It could be just a fluke, but it was at least a 3 to 1 ratio of men to women during my recovery.

You are pre-op?

I just had my surgery May 1st and had some of the same fears as it relates to food. I can say that I am not hungry and do NOT feel like I am missing out. I can't see any reason that you can't still be a foodie after the sleeve. Your portions will be smaller- so springing for fresh, organic ingredients (fish, veggies, cuts of meat, etc...) will be a wash as you focus on quality over quantity. There are sites like the bariatric foodie that I have been looking at. I think that your relationship with food will change, but it has to if you want a healthier lifestyle. The positive is that you can choose a smaller portion and be satisfied. A portion size more in line with what we should have been eating all along. As far as your spouse, I can't say anything because mine is not overweight. What I can say is that i have family and friends that struggle with their weight and my future success with this surgery could plant a seed in just one of them to take control of their health (with or without surgery). As your wife embarks on this journey with you she is at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, for her, you will have a tool that limits your portion size and gives you a satisfied feeling and she will not. Good luck and keep us posted!!!

I just had my surgery May 1st, but I think that i can help answer your questions. The unflavored power like Isopure is great to make your own protein shakes or to add to any foods for extra protein (like cottage cheese or refried beans). It really helps if you find some of your pre-surgery protein shakes too sweet post-surgery. The nectar which could be referring to Syntrax nectar is good for the variety of flavors that they sell. Some of the flavors taste more like kool-aid or frozen cocktails. There is a coffee one that I want to try. I don't know about chicken soup??? I can have cream of chicken soups the first 2 weeks, but they market some that have 15g of protein on this site. Who knows???

I think that my fitness pal does this. The baritastic app might as well. Good luck!

I just finished some egg drop soup. The protein shakes are a bit harder, because it seems like it takes me a while to get them down. This morning I had my Silk, Isopure, PB2 shake and it tooke more than an hour, but it was 30G protein. My paper said to limit protein shake to 8oz and consume it within the hour. Good luck!

I packed a thin robe to cover up while walking the floor, a travel neck pillow, gas-x strips, laptop, socks that had serious tread on the bottom, basic toiletries, Biotene for fresh breath and to alleviate dry mouth, a book and phone charger.

I had mine the same day! I was told for the next 2 weeks- it is supposed to be pourable liquid consistency. I have been doing my protein shakes, SF jello, SF ice pops, SF pudding, unsweetened applesauce, thinned greek yogurt and just added some cream soups and broth. I am aiming for 60g of protein today. They told me to worry about water first and then my protein.

I wanted to tell you all what I experienced, because I know how helpful it was to view others stories pre-op. I was sleeved May1st. I had to check in at 6:15 am. Surgery was at 7:30. I can remember they gave me an anesthesia cocktail as I was leaving my pre-op room and I don't even remember actually being wheeled in to the surgery room. The procedure lasted 30 minutes and my surgeon said it was boring and went without a hitch. I woke up in the post op recovery room in pain and nauseous and they drugged me up. I made it up to my room about 10:00am. I immediately went to the restroom and walked around. They had warned me that I might need a catheter, but I didn't get one, because they thought I would be capable of getting up. I remember between the hours of 12-6 having severe pain under my rib cage. Like almost crying pain. I found the pain pills to be hard to swallow. The first one actually got stuck and it took me 5 hours to get the other others down. In the mean time, I was given Toradol through my IV and that really helped. I got that 3 times and it was like a miracle for pain relief. TIP: stuff your pill pieces into jello and swallow it. The oxycotin was the easiest to swallow. I walked every 4 hours and and my husband slipped me gas strips as often as I asked for them. The gas pains are terrible!!! My blood pressure was hypertensive going into surgery and never got above 120/70. It even went down to 106/66 the day that I left. ****I was not and am not hungry****. I never finished my broth, jello or G2 at any meal that I received. I did have SF popsicles 4 times during my stay. I spent 1 overnight and on Day 2 felt so much better. I woke up around 5 and got up and walked. I took a shower. I can honestly tell you that I felt 100% better. This is Day 3 post-op and I am now home. I wore my leg compressions overnight. I drove my kids to school this morning and then came home and took my pain pills. I'm keeping a log of my water intake. One take-away is to pick a good hospital that specializes in bariatric care. I was treated so well and felt like I was in good hands at all times. Everyone that came to see me echoed that sentiment. Another take-away is that gas pains are no joke. Invest in gas strips. Don't be shy about asking for pain meds. My nurses were on top of it. I have had the support of family and friends on this journey. Don't go this alone. If you have any questions, please post while this experience is fresh on my mind.

I am still wearing the pre-surgery nausea patch still. I plan on taking it off on Saturday. I think that it helped, but like I said I woke up nauseous. It was no fun!! They got rid of it by meds in my IV. My nurses checked on me every 4 hours and were on top of any pain or nausea that I had. I will keep you posted. May 10th will be here before you know it!

A few things here. My incisions were high up and the velcro band that they wrapped my stomach up in got bunched up on that top incision- so that could have been adding to my pain. All of my pain was high up in my chest. Like around the breast bone. I think the gas pain was from the CO2. Wrong on the pain meds... I needed them; as well as, nausea meds as soon as I woke up in recovery. I even got the stomach nerve block during surgery and it wore off 4-6 hours after I made it to my room. I used pain pills as frequently as I could that first day. It was oxycotin and hydrocodone. I was in pain and walked and used the restroom almost immediately when I got to my room. The turning point was when they would give me a shot of Toradol in my IV. It really helped!!! My surgeon described it as ADVIL on steroids. I got 3 of those and they were wonderful. I'm now at home with hydrocodone. I have only used 3 of them. I felt 100% better that second day in the hospital and I really attribute to walking frequently and the Toradol.

They are gas-x extra strength dissolvable gas strips. They melt on your tongue. They really help and freshen your breath. The gas pains are really as bad as they say they are. I ordered mine from Amazon.

The surgeon laid out the options and thought that the GSL was a better option for my situation. He said since I don't have a bmi over 40 nor diabetes that the bypass was not my best option.

I failed day 1 miserably. I made it all the way to 8pm and then I had dinner (eggplant parm) and some cookies. I felt kind of bloated and headachish. I thought the exact same thing- maybe I should have taken this time off too. Good news!!! The last 2 days, I have not cheated and am filling better and with more energy. I am also starting to like my morning shake. Hoping tomorrow goes better for you!

How are you liking the Quest flavors? I'm doing Premier ready made shakes and the clear ones too. So far the flavors are okay. Nothing great- just okay. I really like Isopure- 0 carbs, 100 calories and 25g of protein per scoop and then you can flavor it with Mio, SF pudding, PB2, etc.... I have the flavorless and it mixes well with hot and cold liquids. A friend of mine even put it into her refried beans and cheese post op and said it mixed well. I think in the long run it will be my go to non-ready made. I have a big sampler pack of Nectar Syntrax that I'm going to start trying tomorrow. 75% down with day1😀