Recidivist

I am having gastric bypass on March 4. I have several medications that I take that have nothing to do with weight loss surgery, and I will add the bariatric vitamins after surgery. I've been told that I will need to crush the pills for a while, and I wanted to hear how people dealt with that. Do you put them in a protein drink, in water, or something else?

That's actually good news in a way, because it's not a leak or anything else to do with your pouch. You'll be back on track in no time!

Thanks, Nonsense. I first tried them in Greek yogurt, which someone suggested earlier, but that was disgusting. Right now I'm just pouring the powder into mouth and chasing it with water. Still disgusting, but bearable. I'll try them in water next time!

Exactly one week today. Also, I'm 60 years old, which may be a factor. Your post is reassuring!

Hi, all. Still doing well in most respects: almost no pain, and no real issues regarding the pouch itself. There are two major things that are bugging me: - I get an annoying tickle in my throat fairly often that makes me have coughing fits. I'm not even sure this is related to surgery, but it started happening right afterwards. - I have absolutely no energy. I know I should be walking, but the one time I tried i got lightheaded and nearly passed out. I have a follow-up appointment with my surgeon in a week and will discuss these, but I welcome any input you have!

Thanks, Sheribear. I'm going to do exactly that today. I woke up this morning feeling dizzy and lightheaded. I think I'm dehydrated.

I'm finishing my first week post-op liquid diet today and will transition to pureed food tomorrow. The past week has been quite easy because there is essentially no choice involved. However, I'm a bit worried about constructing my own diet from now on that ensures enough protein. Did any of you find that difficult at first? Does it get easier?

I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I've had almost no pain since returning home, and nothing I can specifically identify as gas pain (aside from some occasional twinges in my shoulder). I haven't taken anything for pain since leaving the hospital.

Thanks so much, Marine. I'm surprised at how good I'm feeling now that I'm at home. However, I feel like I'm a week behind in terms of my recovery. My main challenge is getting enough water and protein--I'm only managing about half of both. I've lost 3 pounds this first week, which is a little disappointing, but it wasn't really a normal work.

Hi, Frou Frou and everyone else. Thanks so much for your messages of encouragement during a rather dark week for me (which is why I haven't responded for a few days). I had a mini-surgery to correct the leak on Wednesday at 10:00 in the evening! (A nurse came into my room at about 2:00 and told me I had to stop eating and drinking immediately--and she got very cranky when I finished the bowl of jello in I had in front of me.) It was not performed by my surgeon, but I didn't care at that point. It wasn't full anesthesia but what they called "twilight sedation." No idea what that means, but it is apparently much easier on the body and recovery is very quick. I think the entire thing took about 30 minutes via a hole in my side. I got to come home this morning feeling amazingly good--little pain, no nausea, no dumping. The only thing is that I can't seem to stay awake for more than 90 minutes at a time before I need a nap. I'm also managing only about half of the daily water and protein quota, and I can't believe how full I feel all the time! I've actually drunk water to the point of pain several times, but I'm learning when to stop. I'm sure it will improve with time, but right now I can't imagine eating actual food. I'm basically at the starting block, where I would have been last Tuesday if I had been discharged from the hospital the day after surgery as planned. Thanks again for your support during the week--it really made a difference.

Thanks to all of your for your encouraging words and support. They repaired the leak on Wednesday (at 10:00 in the evening!), took the drains out this morning, and the infection has cleared up--so I finally got to go home today! I can't tell you how wonderful it will be to take a real shower and sleep in my own bed. Needless to say, it has been a very rough and discouraging week. Apparently, I am today basically where I would have been last Tuesday if there had been no complications and they had discharged me the day after surgery as planned. I'm feeling surprisingly good aside from being completely wiped out--I'm napping every couple of hours. I have minimal pain and have not needed pain meds, no nausea, and I have not dumped (yet). So, I just need to pick myself up and get on with it and put this week out of my head. All of your posts really did help, even though I wasn't in the mood to respond during the week. Thanks again!

I had it last Monday, February 4. There were complications and it has been rough so far.

HI, March buddies. I had my bypass on March 3 and am still in the hospital due to complications. My surgeon told me that everything had gone beautifully. However, I was in pretty severe pain a few hours later and it just kept getting worse. I figured it was just the gas pains everyone talks about and I'm just a wimp. They did a blood test at the following day thought I had an infection, and I had tachycardia, which made them suspect a leak in the pouch. Unfortunately, both were true. I'm spending this entire week in the hospital. Tomorrow they will install a drain to remove as much of the infection as possible, and I'm also on liquid pain killers and antibiotics via the IV. Once the infection clears, they do a second operation to fix the leak. Two morals of the story: Leaks hurt like hell, and if you think something is not right, contact your doctor immediately! i'm hoping this is just a temporary setback and that I'll be back on track in no time. Best of luck to the rest of the February club!

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement. I'm trying to stay positive, but it's difficult after you've waited so long and worked so hard, only to have it go south. They are taking about possibly doing second surgery this afternoon, which is good for me. I can't get out of this hospital fast enough. I have only been allowed clear liquids in the hospital--and no protein whatsoever. I'm sure I've lost weight, but not the right way. I probably won't post again until I'm back home after the second surgery. In the meantime, congratulations to everyone on how much you have achieved already!

Hi everyone. I had my bypass on Monday, March 4. Unfortunately, my outcome was not very good. I had a lot of pain right after surgery and it kept getting worse. I Diid a blood Sample that showed either an infection or a leak. They then did a CAT scan and it turned out it was both. They are installing a drain tomorrow that to drain al the pouch stuff that has leaked into the abdominal cavity. I will have another surgery soon to repair the leak. Hopefully this is just a minor detour and i will make it eventually

Wow, has it been two weeks already? Don't overdo it, and good luck. I'm getting my bypass tomorrow!

I'm reporting to the hospital tomorrow (March 3) at 5:30 a.m. for my gastric bypass. I've lost 17 pounds during the two-week liquid phase and am excited to be on the other side!

Hi, everyone. My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow (March 3) at 7:30. I've done well on liquids and have lost 17 pounds over the last two weeks, which astounds me. I can see a slight difference all ready. At this point I'm excited and ready to get on with it, with just a touch of nerves. I'll be sure to let everyone know how things went, but I don't expect to be back online the day of surgery. Thanks to all of you for the information and support you have all given me!

Hi, Pattianne. I actually haven't had surgery yet. I'm having it tomorrow (March 3) at 7:30 a.m. I'll definitely let everyone here know how it goes.

I'm on day 12 of pre-op liquids and doing fairly well. Surgery on Monday, and I'm feeling both anxious and excited. I had a dream last night that I was gorging on all kinds of forbidden food--cookies, ice cream, pizza, pasta, etc.--and in my dream I knew that I shouldn't be eating them. I wonder how I should interpret that? I suppose cheating on my diet in my dreams is better than doing it in real life.

Adventurer, what do you do to resolve the problem when meat gets stuck? That sounds really unpleasant.

That's a relief--I was envisioning three weeks without a shower!

So great to hear you are doing well, EmzBee. Just focus on taking care of yourself and check in when you can. We are here if you need us.

Brooklyn Kay, did they give you any details on what happened and why they had to do a sleeve instead of bypass?

I had never heard of ricotta bake before this, but everyone here seems to be obsessed with it. That's just an observation, not a criticism. In fact, I'll be trying it myself when I can eat real food again!