LAN2k

Hi, I'm just out of the hospital Sept.20 after having my sleeve surgery on the 15th so my hospital stay is fresh in my mind. Ditto on the warm cotton blankets and massages, although there were only a couple of choice nurses and student nurses who were exceptional in their care and dedication to me personally THEY made my hospital stay most comforting and memorable. I would have preferred a private room, that said, the 2 patients to the left of me, (I had the window bed), were extraordinary women both were a pleasure to get to know and yes a comfort as well. I wish I could say more but with the sleeve there isn't much to speak of when it came to meals. My last surgery in Stony Brook Hospital, NY, was for an incisional upper abdominal hernia and I was allowed to eat and that hospital had an unbelievable menu!!! All the food was catered from a local gourmet restaurant that has GREAT food. At that time having such unreal meals/snacks etc. was a huge comfort. Anyway best wishes to your upcoming surgery, if you have any other concerns or questions feel free to pm me anytime...I'm at home recovering. God bless.

Hi VegasAngel, My procedure was not open but I recall my surgeon telling me prior to the surgery that I would be sent home with a drain for a few days. He was aware of previous gastric and abdominal surgeries. As it turned out, there was excessive scar tissue and the surgery took a bit over 3 hours. The excessive scar tissue was from previous surgeries, Open Gallbladder 1976 and Open Incisional Hernia (upper abdomen) 2007. Afterward, he explained to me that the incision where the portion of the stomach is removed was made a bit larger than usual. While in the hospital I had a blood transfusion. There was allot of bleeding coming through on my dressing for a while. I was in the hospital from Tuesday the 15th to Sunday the 20th. I was watched closely and I suppose that is why I had home-health nurse assistance. The bleeding has finally decreased and this morning there was significantly less blood on the dressing noted by the nurse. The measurements of the blood draining is also decreased. I have an appointment with him (my surgeon) tomorrow morning. Other than that, other than feeling a little vulnerable and a weird sort of hunger, (on liquids), I seem to be progressing. As usual at the end of each day I do hope everything will turn out OK. Thanks for your concern and continued support.

Thanks Tiffy, I just awoke about 4AM. Apple juice was the only thing I could tolerate day 2 after surgery (after the leak test). I feel as if I am getting some sort of nutrition from it. I guess I should search another topic to delve into post op liquid dieting? thanks again for being here...and that goes for all of you courageous sleevers!!!

Hi Tiffany, hi Jennifer, My tongue is back to normal. At the time the nurse looked at it the fungal erruption was nearly gone so she didn't think it was anything to be concerned about and just told me it was likely from dehydration. I don't know because I was sipping on various liquids including Water all day and that evening into the night. One thing for sure is I notice my mouth/tongue does dry out and I guess that is good so I am forced to keep water close. I am really struggling tonight with HUNGER! I notice though that if I take too big a sip of anything it doesn't feel right going down nor after it goes down so my new stomach is training me to be cautious. Anybody have any suggestions about how to deal with this knawing hunger? Today I had a whey Protein drink made with Jay Robb chocolate and I used Almond milk for fear of introducing regular milk so soon. It took me nearly 50 minutes to finish it. I also had bullion chicken broth and beef broth. Apple juice, cranberry juice, water, and more water, ice cubes to suck on etc. But I am sooooooooo hungry. The home nurse BTW, was super and redressed my bandages so gently and carefully. I am one of those who can easily faint so this is very difficult for me.

Hi Cajun, yes they did give me alot of antibiotics in the hospital. It did look like thrush, however whatever it is/was it seems to be subsiding. My tongue seems to get dried out very quickly too. I'll have the visiting home nurse have a look at it as well. Thanks.

I just brushed my tongue and teeth with baking soda, then gargled with salt Water w/a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. My tongue looks better, not completely clear but much better. Whatever it was/is I think it is subsiding. Although my tongue seems to get very dry with this too. I do think it was thrush it was very fungal looking last night. I am still suspicious however that it may have been a reaction to something I "sipped"? I've been trying different things. In a few minutes a visiting home nurse is well, visiting me and I'll see what she says too.

Wow I am glad the liquid benadryl worked for you VegasAngel. I have a strong aversive reaction to benadryl. I am just getting up now (have alot of pain around incision)...and about to brush teeth tongue and gargle. It looks like this fungal outbreak on my tongue is fading. I hope so. If not my surgeon will probably call in a prescription to my pharmacy to treat it. Thanks for caring.

I just woke, (in pain), did a short salt Water gargle, chrushed two percoset pills and put them in a shot glass with apple juice drank it down. The stuff on my tongue doesn't come off. Thrush is what I think it is, thrush is what my daughter said it looked like too when she looked at it. It does pinch my throat from time to time. I'm thinking WHY? I never had this ever once in my entire life. How did I get thrush? My daughter said she thinks it's because my body is going through major changes, sudden starvation, weight loss etc. I'm also cramping up a bit and have had some very soft stools. Plus I'm still in bandages, bleeding around the drain sight and emptying the drain bulb. Oh how I want this part to be over. I feel so weak. This is such a trial. In the hospital although it was hard at times to get comfortable I felt safe. At home alone my nerves are wracked. I'm rambling now. When the pain meds kick in I'll go back to bed. Thanks all for being here. I'll let you know what happens with this tongue of mine! :svengo::scared0:

sounds right to me too....that is also what the doc said, gargle with salt water brush my tongue good and they will contact me in the am. love your smile btw.

right.....well that is what the on call surgeon said too- he said if it gets worse where my swallowing is affected then to go to the nearest er and have them call him. He said it sounds fungal, like a yeast infection. I suspect this stuff comes out when your body is going through this drastic change in nutritional intake? Thanks love.

hmmm the pill went down fine....and I'm feeling it now. I am just afraid to go to sleep...what if my tongue swells up or something? Am I like detoxing maybe from this necessary fast? The things on my tongue are affecting my throat too like making little tickle pricks that I need to cough up. Thanks for being up and answering my call. xxxooo Since the surgery I'm a changed woman, I grovel and beg for mercy and help...you should have seen me in the hospital!

Yummy I'm thrilled to see that there is diversity in food choices. I hope I can handle the post op time liquid only period.

It's getting nearer to Tuesday:scared0:. I sincerely appreciate your support and prayers. I want to send love out to all of you and pray for all of us to have a complication free surgery with a "speedy and uneventful recovery". Thank you God for being with us.

Thanks Hope4me. :lol0:

Hi all my surgery is nearly TWO days away...Tuesday the 15th. I can't tell you how many times my feet get cold! My intention is to come back here and tell you all how it went and how I am progressing in detail very soon after my surgery. Can I ask for a prayer? I thank God we're in this together. I'll be praying for each and every one of you too. My doctor's name is Baiju C. Gohil in North Shore LIJ, Syosett, NY.

Good thought carolnphx, I have been sharing information with my mother for a few months now. She is fully supporting my decision although she is a little scared. We are close and although I have a sister, (who supports my decision), she lives further away from my mom and self and is busy with a business 3 kids and a husband. My mother now 80, depends on me. She would rather I were able to eat appropriately and lose the weight without undergoing the risk that surgery poses. My dad lives alone and I have not told him yet but intend to in a few days. Since he doesn't have or want a computer, I'll be prepared with printouts from these and other sources if he is interested, depending on how it goes. I hope I get his support. Thanks.

Hello I'm about to be "sleeved"...The date is set for September 15. I am female and 54! The way my body has sort of slowed down, I hope I am not too old for this. I'm nearly 100lbs overweight and I have tried and failed to sustain significant weight loss for too many years. At this stage of my life I am really seeing/feeling the consequences of having excessive fat everywhere on my body. It is no longer only a what I look like issue, my health is rapidly going south. I consulted with my primary care physician had some bloodwork done to check my thyroid and was diagnosed with hashimoto's. I went on armour thyroid and tried synthroid too for a year or more. My journey really began last summer when I became determined to do something about my ever increasing poundage. Taking thyroid meds didn't do anything to increase my metabolisim or energy. In mid May I started to swim at a local beach for 2-2.5 hours. I did this daily, (weather permitting). After that I'd take my bicycle on a 5-6 mile ride, daily. I would eat around 7 high protein/low fat/ lots of veggies.....and admittedly the portions were large as a have always been a volume eater. In earlier decades of my life, this type of regimen would generally work and I'd knock off up-to 30 lbs.....add phentermine (Doctor assisted) and I once lost a whopping 76lbs. But even then as soon as I stopped with the pills the weight crept back up. Back to last summer--by mid September I finally stopped the daily beach swims and weighed myself and to my dismay :thumbup: I only lost 3 lbs.:confused1: It was at that point that I picked up a piece of literature about bariatric weight loss surgery for Lap Band and Gastric Bypass procedures which was mass mailed from a local hospital's "Center for Bariatric Excellence". I went to the informational session and after that consulted with the surgeon there about the Lap Band. I went home that day and began to spend hours daily on the internet researching and came to the conclusion that I felt most comfortable with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I had to switch gears and find another surgeon because the one who would have done the band considered the sleeve "experimental". I found another facility and did everything necessary to have my doctor submit to my insurance carrier for approval and the procedure has been approved. I will meet with my surgeon this week. I am very glad that this forum is here since I am comprising a list of concerns and questions to bring with me to my surgeon. It is a comfort to connect with others here. I have found good information, sincerity and humility within these threads. I am a little scared, have a very low tolerance for pain and I realize that I am likely in for a shock where my eating habits are concerned. I am praying that this procedure will go well and that I will not crave to eat gargantuan amounts of food thereafter. I also hope my body will release the lbs which are crippling me physically, and emotionally. I hope I have not put anyone here to sleep. Please feel at liberty to advise me constructively. Thanks to all and best wishes.

Thank you Cajun, you are a woman of courage and strength.

You are right Cajun and I need to hear that since it is exactly why I made this decision to begin with. I worry that nothing goes wrong mostly. When I had to have an abdominal hernia repaired I knew I had no choice. I'm second guessing myself since this is elective. I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how many sleeves my surgeon has done but he is the only doctor in the team of bariatric specialty surgeons who does/has done the sleeve. I think if I were a self pay and went to a doc who had the successful stats I have found here, I'd feel less apprehension. I found a reputable hospital relatively close to home so my parents could be with me. The hospital has a "center for bariatric excellence" or whatever, and their are 3 or 4 doctors on the team. My surgeon is the only one who does the sleeve. You have reminded me of why I have wanted this and I just hope I will get it right.

It is reassuring to hear from you all. Please keep in touch and thanks much for the support.

Hi Steph, thanks for reading my story. I just moved, Sept. 1st, myself and 2 cats into a 1 bedroom apt. It was a necessary move, since my daughter took back custody of her son, now 14 who I'd been raising since he was 2. Alot of change alot of emotional and physical strain. I've got my kitchen in order and bathroom. I am working on my bedroom and hope to have things ready before September 15. I've been on the pre surgery diet and sticking to it with little effort since there is so much to do and I just don't have that 30 year old energy any longer. But I am getting so scared so scared that something may go wrong. I would express all my thoughts here but there are just too many. It seems such a drastic thing to do...laparoscopic surgery seems like such an awkward way of maneuvering I just wish I were not so afraid. I've had thoughts of last minute backing out. Yours is the first post directed to me since before I disconnected from the www for this move and my computer was reconnected at my new address. I am very glad to see words of encouragement. My grandson is now back with his mother. This morning my 80 year old mother said she had an awful dream last night, that there were cats all around and one of them looked just like one of my cats. In the dream she was saying "I can't take all of these cats, all I can take is 2 " That got me thinking... I worry. All this stress is just getting the best of me. I just hope and pray I make it through. Thank you again for being here.

Congratulations! Only 2 days now. How are you doing? My sleeve surgery is scheduled for 9/15. I'm sort of stressed. From what I've seen so far the sleeve may do the job for you. Here's wishing you a very smooth and speedy recovery- keep us posted, we're here for you. God bless. L-

Hi all, some of you may already know, but I'm scheduled for the sleeve surgery on Sept. 15. I'm on my 3rd day of 2 protein shakes and 1 light meal.

It's a good thing you found that out! I'd also like to know how. It is interesting since the morphine is supposed to deaden pain. Did your allergic reaction cause the drug not to work effectively? :confused1: PS- I do hope you are feeling much better.

Congrats to you Kelly...Again, it is so great to know how well you are doing. Oh how I wish I too were having my surgery in Mexico! I hear nothing but good things. Keep us informed on your progress. -LAN-