LurkieKitty

I've been having a pretty rough recovery, it started out fine but then it kind of came crashing down. Today I've been doing kind of better, I haven't been able to meet protein goals yet because I've been searching for protein shakes/powders my body would tolerate. I think I may have found one but I've also been dealing with nausea, my body had one of it's extreme well, I'll say "episodes" by which case I went to the E.R. to get checked up to make sure I don't actually pass out since I can't keep up with the losses this time around. I'm taking flintstones multivitamins even though they are insufficient my nutritionist said if I can double up on them that'd be great. Something is better than nothing I suppose, I believe my body is just one of the ones that recovers slower so I've been taking it one day at a time. I haven't even bothered with getting a scale or weighing myself, I'm happy with getting weighed at appointments. My sheer focus is just on getting my body on the actual path to recovering well at this point.

It definitely is normal to feel that way, I had my first surgery honestly, this year. I was having pain from gallstones so my surgeon decided it's best to remove my gallbladder before I have the gastric sleeve done so it was done a month before my gastric sleeve. I was extremely terrified of being put to sleep because my family has lost someone to complications in the past so that was on my mind, but when I was finally there and being prepared my mind was a blank slate. The last thing I wanted was my pressure to rise because I'm prone to panic attacks too, and that would be the thing that could cause complications. What helped me was to focus on things I want to do in the future, just happy thoughts. Another thing that helped was because my plan requires a bariatric group meeting prior, I voiced my concern about being put to sleep there and there was this one woman that was like "it's the best sleep I ever had". Bearing that in mind, I was like "I'm just going to have an awesome nap" when I was walking into the operating room. They didn't even tell me to count backwards, all I heard was the IV might make me feel cold and the anesthesiologist telling me to think happy thoughts... then the next thing was I was waking up in recovery. You don't even realize you went to sleep it seems.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it today! Even if you can't get in on the food as you have before, rejoice! The next year will be better. You can still celebrate that you chose to embark on this journey. Have an awesome and safe day regardless of if you're celebrating the holiday or not though.

Honestly, it's not a bad thing to do that so you know for those once in a blue days where you may not stick to the regime, and that's okay. They're so so rare and far and few inbetween that unless you're someone who easily rears off the deep end it's okay to indulge every once in a blue if it doesn't hurt you. Happy Thanksgiving if any of you are celebrating, even if you aren't have awesome and safe day regardless!

That's awesome~ My plan mentions avoiding breaded food and limiting starches in the soft food phase but it doesn't mention bread. However, after looking around at people's experiences with bread I'm kind of terrified to try it or anything relatively related, even crackers until maybe next summer. The idea of having a blockage from it is what terrifies me the most.

Honestly I was just thinking about this earlier as a thing to do in the far future to celebrate, having a super tiny sandwich. I was thinking, "it'll probably feel like the best thing I've ever had" after going through the stages of recovery.

I'm hoping recovery is going well so far!

The pain on the left side might be due to the surgeon closing you up on that side, for me I had more pain on my right side because my surgeon tends to do all his work on the right side. I'd say if it's too much and pain meds aren't working or if you're out of pain meds to try to contact your surgeon so you can ask what side you were closed on and/or inquire about the pain you feel or you can do so at your post op appointment if they gave you one (typically they give you one for a week after the surgery). You could also inquire about pain medication - try to find out if they can prescribe a little more, or ask what you are able to use in it's place.. One of my bariatric doctors said I can take extra strength Tylenol (which I didn't try, I just dealt with the pain), but every surgeon is different in terms of recommendations.

So I'm gonna have to take a rain check on this I suppose. I tried the Multivitamin and my body abruptly said No.

One thing I did before surgery was train myself mentally to ignore the smell of foods due to where I live, there is food literally everywhere when I go out. The other day when I went for my post op there was dunkin donuts, then burger king, then mc donalds on one side, then there was papa johns followed by white castle on the other, back to the other side there was a pizza place, then a chinese food restaurant, then dominoes, and across from the dominoes, a little caesars. Depending on where you live and if the smell of food makes you hungry, I'd say it's something good to work on. Another thing you can work on is sipping water on a timer to get yourself use to how you'd be taking in water prior to the surgery. Try out different kinds of protein shakes/powders to see if you find a few you like. If you have an unhealthy food or foods you really really like, you could start looking up recipes for healthy alternatives to them and maybe try some of them out while you can; just note that is possible your taste buds can change with surgery.. mine did unfortunately so I find the protein shakes I enjoyed before quite disgusting in taste now. Get use to not having sugar in things too because sugar can be really *really* bad as it has the possibility to cause dumping syndrome.

Congratulations to everyone who has been scheduled! I'm hoping it goes well! I had my first week post op appointment today, I've to go back in three weeks for the switch to the soft food diet. I was cleared to start taking multivitamins and also to start the pureed diet come the weekend. I think the first thing I want to try is a scrambled egg mixed with cheese.

I really hope they figure out how to regulate your heart beat soon. I can't imagine having to spend more time than usual in the hospital trying to recover. =/

I commend you first of all for realizing you need comforting and reaching out. A lot of people put themselves in danger by not doing so. You have gone through a lot and I know how hard it is to keep going, I can tell you now that your mom, even though she may not walk amongst us anymore, is proud of you. Hang in there, think about the reason you're going through this journey and your resolve to see it through to its conclusion. When you feel like the world is crashing around you, take a moment to breath, think about the happy memories she gave you. You could make it a goal to give others good memories like she has given you as a way to thank her as well as grieve in a positive way.

Today I decided to try some ensure max protein. They wanted to switch me to the full liquid diet the day after the surgery while I was still in the hospital, I didn't feel ready. I gave my new tummy a bit more healing time before I put something so heavy into it. So far I had 1 ounce of it just to test the waters. I seem to be okay so far. I'm going to try another ounce after waiting about 30 minutes. Hopefully this starts to curve the intense hunger I've been feeling since after the surgery, I've yet to feel the sensation of being full; hopefully that's not a bad thing.

Day two of recovery going towards 3 days, my doctor requires that all gastric sleeve patients spend a day in the hospital to monitor if they're keeping things down and monitor if they are getting in enough fluids, so I didn't get to go home until yesterday evening. I was so happy to be back home where its nice and warm, the hospital was trying to start me on the full liquid diet yesterday and I don't think my lil pouch is ready so I've been sticking to clear fluids. They even gave me apple juice that wasn't sugar free so I had diluted some of it to drink. In the hospital all they gave me for pain was Tylenol which thankfully was enough for me, I've just been having a lot of issues with Nausea. I'm not exactly sure why, I did throw up the first day but it was mostly gastric fluid and oldish blood. Since I woke up I've been having rather intense feelings of hunger (I think I got unlucky, I never felt this hungry before surgery.. like, ever. In fact my lack of appetite was often an issue), then the hunger turns into nausea. I'm not sure what to do about that, but did give me Ondansetron for dealing with the nausea. It might be because I've been sticking mostly to water, in the first 24 hours I managed about 5 ounces of water and 1 ounce of broth. The next day about 5 ounces of water, 2 ounces of diluted apple juice. Today I've managed about 3 ounces of water thus far.

I am scheduled to get the gastric sleeve tomorrow morning and like the worry wart that I am, I am still doing research to prepare myself as much as possible. I have a few concerns/fears mostly related to recovery right out of the gate that I'm hoping I can find answers to. I know it will definitely vary person to person, but I'd still like to brace myself for what's to come.. or rather, what *could* come; Not so much rarer complications but the way your body actually feels. Here is the questions, thank you so much in advance to whoever takes the time to answer these! • My apologies if this is worded weirdly.. but, How did your tummy feel after the surgery? Were you able to *feel* your stomach, internally due to the surgery? - My reason for asking: I feel like I would have to mentally prepare myself if surgery can make my stomach feel like it's an open wound/raw. • Did you have to have a drain? Note: I'm not sure if this is absolutely necessary, I assume they would discuss it with me tomorrow. If so, how did that feel? Did it hurt or feel weird when it was removed? - My reason for asking: I didn't know this was something else that gets done with the surgery, I feel like the removal of it would make me rather queasy from the sensation. Yet another thing to mentally prepare for. • How long did you have to be on clear fluids after the surgery? If so, what clear fluids did you have? - My reason for asking: The clear fluids for two days prior has been hard for me since I've just been having chicken broth (which doesn't taste that great) and water, I might have to get some unsweetened apple juice or something. I don't think I can have something like Gatorade unfortunately due to my Citrus allergy. • Did you prefer cold, room temperature, or warm fluids? - My reason for asking: I imagine that if I'm able to feel my stomach in a weird way I'd probably be rather nauseous and prefer liquids on the warmer side. • Sipping. This one is a point of major confusion for me. Would the process of sipping be taking in enough just to wet your tongue, or is it enough to swallow? How long did it last for you? When were you able to drink down 1 ounce of fluid in one go even if slowly rather than over the course of 30 minutes or so? • Something I read said you won't be able to drink anything for the first 24 hours and that fluids will be through the IV, is that true? - My reason for asking: I tend to get a dry mouth/itchy throat when I don't drink water for awhile, so that's another worrisome thing. • How did you sleep in the first week? If you are a side sleeper, when were you able to finally sleep on your side? - My reason for asking: I'm a side sleeper, laying on my back tends to be extremely uncomfortable, I typically can only fall asleep on my back if I'm exhausted.

Thanks! In all honesty, I was confused when they said it because I thought the whole reason for not drinking or eating anything before a surgery is so you don't hurl and choke on your own fluids or whatever while under. Mine is at 6 AM however, I kind of wish it was in the afternoon so I'd have more time to prep for it. I hope your recovery is going well! I wanted to try Gatorade while on this clear diet I have been on for two days, but I've a Citrus allergy so I didn't want to risk it. Even apple juice can cause me issues if I have too much of it, but I still like apple juice at least and I'm hoping I'd be able to have some unsweetened, possibly diluted? apple juice some time after the surgery is done, I don't know if they would allow me to have it the day of, maybe the day after? Did the Gatorade work as intended, though?

Hello! I'm new to posting on the forum although, I have been lurking without an account for quite some time. My surgery is also tomorrow. They gave me three Ensure pre-surgery clear, they said take two by midnight, and the other 3 hours before the surgery.