DownInSocal

Well surgery is today guys!!! I have not had anything to eat since Sunday night. I am not hungry but feel kinda foggy in my head. Sorry if my spelling is worse that usual. I have to scrub my tummy again with anti bacterial stuff. I am all packed with books, netbook (too watch movies), and iTouch. The hardest part is going to be leaving my wedding ring at home . I am a little scared that my pain won't be controlled after surgery but my DH has assured me he will be right on top of it. My report time is 9 am but parking can be bad at that time so DH and are going earlier. I should be in surgery by 10:30 or so. I will be discharged on Saturday sometime. I will try and post from the hospital on a friends phone if it works like I think it will. I wanted to thank everyone here for all the incredible support you give. Honestly there were times I felt like this was the only place I could go and not be judged and harrased about my choice. Those already sleeved, you are getting huge karma points for helping those coming behind you. Catch you guys on the sleeved side!!!! :cool0:

It is only at night when laying down. I think I am "eating" too close to bed time. I need to stop drinking anything 3 hours before. My husband was thinking mucus too. He said you would just cough before to move it and not even wake up. Now it hurts to cough so it is waking you up. I think I will ride it out and see what happens with being careful about drinking and laying down.

I am feeling better and better each day. No regrets. Thanks for asking! It sounds like you have so much on your plate that some talk therapy will help. I am a better living through chemistry type person. If you need medication to help you and a doctor feels the same way take it but also deal with the base issues. I do talk therapy at least twice a month and want to start once a week. A few days out form surgery I can tell there are still a lot of issues I need to talk about and work through. It is true about being more marketable when thinner. I know I lost out on jobs because of my weight. You will feel so much more confident in the interview when you like the way you look! With the cost of healthcare too I wonder if smaller employers look at heavier person and don't want to hire them knowing their premimums are higher than thinner employees.

I didn't have surgery in Mexico but live on the border. Something to think about: If the mups are not over the counter in the U.S. then you need a prescription for them to legally carry them back into the U.S. I am sure Dr. Aceves can write you a scrip for as many as you want to buy. Use that copy at the border if questioned about the meds. Better safe then sorry. Nothing attracts attention more than a large amount of meds at the border with no scrip from a doctor. Many things can be bought in Mexico over the counter that are not legal to have in the U.S. without a prescription.

What an exciting day! Be sure when you are up to it to let us know how you are!

Keep us updated! Insurance makes no sense and they lie. You get three different answers on two phone calls.

Daisy I think your body had been through so much with the band that this was a breeze. I was a virgin and not sure what to expect :drool5: I am also a big baby when it comes to pain.

I would not say they went away no. The duration of each spasm was less. I have not had a baby but the spasm was almost like a contraction I think. I looked like my sister having a contraction. So you know how the contraction goes and goes and then tapers and stops? That is how it was for me. I would get a break of 1 min and I would get another. This went on for 20 mins and would stop. But the next little tiny sip would start it again. The valium made them fully tollerable. Made the duration shorter, and they came less often. If you do get some make sure the nurse grinds them up! My care nurse was not so bariactric savy and tried to shove the pill in me. Umm no crush it please. It really was not that bad tasting with an ounce of Water. Compared to what you are going through at that point you would eat paint to make it stop I bet. Oh and watch those nurses! Unless you are on a bariactric floor they don't always know that you can't take pills and you CAN'T gulp anything. I got harrased by one for not gulping my Loritab. I told her I couldn't and explained why. I got harrased by another for not drinking 4 of those big jugs of water. What? No way could I drink even 1/30th of that. I had to educate her too. I amost forgot I got harrased for not eating all my "food". They brought me 10 ounces of stuff every meal, broth, Optifast, crystal light, and Jello. Ten ounces? Really? Beat it. Do you have an advocate? My husband was mine. He was my angel and saviour when I could not speak for myself. He pushed my pain button when I couldn't move. He shooed away people who wanted me to do things my surgery would not allow. I was on my period and the Heprin shots.....you get the point. You need an advocate.

You guys and this greek yogurt. I am going to have to find some when I am on mushies.

Hi Denna! Join the team. Our other memeber Ann is still hanging out in the hospital on the account she has such a great view. I had my surgery around 11:30 Wed and was discharged on Friday. I have had some gas but not as bad as others. I just walk it off. That lump is probably your tired and confused diaphram. If it gets worse ask for help. To be honest I have not been hungry since surgery (actually the Sunday before surgery). I think it was / is nerves sometimes though. I also know I am missing some signs of hunger. I drink my little bits of Protein like clockwork so I also might be overriding hunger before it gets bad. What does the hunger feel like? We can do it!!! We have got passed the worst part. It is all uphill......ooops I mean downhill from here!

Required. In fact a not so nice member of the "team" emailed me the day before my surgery to make sure I was still on clears and said they could tell if I was following my diet after surgery and staying on liquids. I was being scolded and had done nothing wrong.:thumbup: I won't do anyting to risk my staple line (and by proxy my life) so I am just going to trod through however long he sees fit to keep me on liquids.

Oh this is such a tough one! Ugh. Umm... Are you getting professional care for your OCD? I would start by asking them. Lets keep you sane too!

I had to do a prep and was not hungry after the prep at all. I drank some apple juice and Water and that was it. My paper said I could continue clear liquids the whole day of the prep and then nothing after midnight (the night of surgery). I stayed away from Jello just in case. No red or blue but I didn't want a green scar or something crazy :thumbup:. Just kidding, maybe. I am overly cautious person.

Ex smoker here. Probably soon to be known as the smoking nazi of the board. I quit a year ago. I had no idea a year ago I would be having WLS. I needed to have another surgery and my surgeon who I loved would not do it if I smoked. I promised I would quit and I did. This was about the 4 millionth time I had tried but I was dead serious and ready to quit. It was not easy. I still dream about cigs sometimes. The cravings do go away! The depression about not being able to smoke does go away! That is all I can tell you. It is pure willpower and want to change that gets you through the first 6 months. Soon you will start to feel and live as a non smoker. You will wonder why on earth you smoked in the first place! It stinks! It is expensive! I have better things to do with my lungs like a nice 5 mile walk and my money like a nice outfit. My WL Suregon tests for nicotine. I don't know if yours does. If I was "caught" smoking by him I have no doubt he would have dumped me like a hot potato.

I am 4 days out of surgery and I can tell you that you will never be able to eat the way you did before surgery. This fact really sinks in ohh about the time you take your first sip of Water. I am going to be kind of rough on you but it is out of wanting you to better yourself and be healthy in all aspects. You must deal with your food addiction without transfering addictions. It seems you have admited to your problem with food, that is the first step. I highly suggest some counseling while you go through this process. It will teach you coping skills for the triggers that cause you to "use". In your case food. I am in no way healed from my addictions (food, cigs, and abusive men) but I am 20 times better than I was in February when I really got serious about dealing with problems and got help. I quit smoking a year ago, and I divorced my abusive ex 4.5 years ago. I am taking food a day at a time. I can tell you 4 days out from surgery and not feeling any hunger makes the tempation much easier. Have you reached your bottom with food? Are you tired of being fat? Are you sick of being the fatest in the room? Are you tired of the clothes? Are you sick of the health problems? Get honest with yourself.

Vegas if things get too bad ask for some from your PCP. You can use a pill crusher (my husband found one at our local CVS) to mush it to dust and then mix it with an ounce of Propel Water. I did not even taste it. The Propel covered it up. I understand not wanting to take narcotics but I think sometimes you just need relief from an ongoing problem. You have been dealing with this for so long. I was about to lose my mind after 24 hours of it. I can't even imagine going longer. You must be made of steel. Drinking no cold liquids does help but my nurse mother states warm liquids can really get the juices flowing in the stomach. I guess we are in a catch 22. I feel like my new stomach is a baby. I have no idea what it needs sometimes. Are you hungry? Are you gassy? Are you acidy? Did I swallow to fast? Did I swallow too much? Am I in the wrong position? What on earth do you want? I have zero regrets. I would do this all over again 10 times. Oh no hernia or repair needed cajun.

I knew you would understand about the spasms. It was so upsetting because my doctor and the other doctors (I don't know there seemed to be ton of them) just told me I was drinking too fast. Drinking too FAST? I am drinking 1/16th of an ounce every 20 mins and that is too fast? Stick it where the sun does not shine dude. I finaly got a nurse practioner to listen and help me. I was at my wits end and almost hysterical though. Oh the other favorite excuse was my breath tube caused it. Umm no. It is when I swallow anything but my own spit. Are you still having trouble? Can you ask for some valium? It really does help. It lessens the lengths of the spams (from start of spasm to finish) and how many you get. Obviously you can't take it all the time but a little dose at night might help get some dinner down.

If I am allowed to advance to mushies on September 17th I will have been on liquids 23 days plus 2 pre op.

Oh boy. What a wild ride the last few days have been! Ignore my spelling. I can't be bothered with it. I had to wait hours all dressed up in my butt showing gown. They wheeled me back around 11:30 or so. They put the mask on and told me too breath deep and thats it. I remember waking up in the anesthia recovery room begging for someone to help me. I was holding on to somebody in the room and wouldn't let go. I think I was in pain and scared. The next thing I remember was waking up in my room with my wonderful, loving, awesome husband by my side. I had a morphine pain pump. It worked for the most part. I am not one to lie though. I don't want to scare anyone reading this later away but I was not one of the ones who found it to not be very painful. August 26th was one of the most painful days of my life. HOWEVER I would do it all again and you can make it though! I was supposed to be up and walking but only walked once. I just hurt too much. Second day: The spasms in my stomach started when I took my first drink of Water. I knew from this site to make it tiny and it was about 1/16th to 1/8 of an ounce so it was not too big. My stomach was just upset with me on the second day and let me know. I found holding my breath for just a few seconds helped when the spasm started. The nurses don't want you doing that but if your diaphram is moving your stomach is too. Don't hold too long though. I can only describe the spasms like a pill the size of a dinner plate went down wrong and is now stuck in my throat and then starts moving through my stomach. The third day I had had it it with the spasms and complained to anyone who would listen. Finaly I got some valium for them and that really helped! Ask for some if you need it. They crushed it up and I drank the mix by the sips. They did not go away completly but they came less often. You simply can't drink anything when you spasm for 20 mins after and stay sane. Ask for help! Spent the night at home last night. My doctor is stingy and I don't have much loritab. Maybe 6 doses so I am just dealing with discomfort. I can do it. I will try some liquid tylenol later today. I slept on my side for the first time last night and it was blissful. No regrets so far.

Welcome! I am three days post op and I had dreams about food the first two nights. The night after surgery I was watching people eat and couldn't get to them. The second night I was in a lunch line picking stuff out but the stupid lunch ladies would not give me anything. I think the dreams are for a few reasons. I don't know about you but I am not hungry at all so I don't think it is physical hunger. I know I have an addiction to food. When I quit smoking I dreamed about smoking so it does not surprise me when I "quit" food I would dream about it. My husband pointed out that you are exposed to food no matter where you go. In the hospital my roomate was on a normal diet and got a huge tray of food. I got 1 oz of Jello that I never bothered to try and eat. Eating is also social. I came home last night and my family was tired and just wanted quick pizza. I ordered it for them. It was strange watching them eat. I was not hungry and really didn't want any but felt I was not a part of the group because I was trying to get a few ounces of Propel Water down not chowing on pizza. Last night I felt a loss of the social part. Hang in there. I know it will get better. Hopefully my ramblings let you know you are not alone.

Wow about the beans Steve! I love beans. I was planning on them being a big part of my protein after I am cleared for soft foods. I will have to make sure they are well cooked and pureed. Did you have a bad time with beans?

I would bet from a physc standpoint this is anxiety about what is going to happen after you swallow. All the negative things that happened right after surgery taught your brain to be cautious about eating. I am 3 days out and I wonder what will happen with each small sip.

I have been nothing but an itch factory since surgery. It seems like everyone else put up lots of answers but you are not alone.