mythreechildren2001

I actually asked my Dr about this prior to surgery because I sneeze a lot. He said it may cause pain but it wouldn't do any damage. You probably irritated the healing muscle from your incision. It should feel better in a day or two.

My dr gave me a 30 day prescription for omeprazole, but there are no refills on it. Is that standard or because I've never had reflux before? I'm approaching the 4 week mark (Tuesday) and I'm antsy about changing anything. Everything is going well, but I go back to work Monday so this is no time to start having issues. lol

This is a big fear of mine as well, because my hair is EXTREMELY thin already. I have gone to many, many drs about it, and they can't tell me why I've lost so much. I actually wear a hairpiece, which no one (other than my family and closest friends) knows about. I'm afraid if I lose any, I won't even have enough to clip my hairpiece on to. It's so humiliating. No one in my whole family...men or women...have a problem with hair loss except me.

I have Cigna and they didn't require any specific weight loss, just that you go through a medically supervised weight loss period. I gained 12 lbs during the 6 months...and then even more before I finally had surgery. I was approved on the first try. I chose Cigna through my school system over Blue Cross for that reason. Our Blue Cross policy would have required a 10% weight loss, and I knew that I didn't have it in me any more to do that. Your policy may be different. My PCP actually recommended the surgery, in part, based on the fact that I had actually gained 12 lbs.

I'm going back to work Monday (1 day shy of 4 weeks). I'm a teacher so that is our first day back after summer, and I've needed every day of these 4 weeks. I've had a lot of incision pain, which is just now feeling good on a consistent basis.

My first 5 days were pretty much all discomfort although every day got better. After that I would have good days and 'less good' (none were horrible) days. I'm just over 3 weeks out, and I'm sleeping in my bed again and getting a lot done around the house, etc. I go back to work Monday when teachers go in for inservice. I'm really thankful that I had a full month to recover. I know there are others who seems to recover in days, but I was definitely not one of those! Don't worry though, it gets better so quickly that it's very easy to forget the discomfort. It already seems like so long ago for me!

Thanks to everyone for the super encouragement! I hate that others know exactly what I'm feeling, but I'm so glad to know I'm not alone! Intellectually I know this too shall pass...it has to work! But I'm just so anxious to see some real progress. I've failed so many times that I have a real problem trusting that it will indeed happen this time. Hopefully I will look back at this thread in a couple of months and laugh

Wow how scary! I'm so glad they have you fixed up! I hope you recover quickly!!

My surgery was on the 12th. My surgeon wants me to have a bowel movement at least every other day. He told me to take milk of magnesia to achieve this. I haven't had a problem with constipation yet, but I've been expecting it. Even so, I haven't lost any weight in over a week.

My dr won't let us take anything for 6 weeks. I'm 3 weeks out, and I cannot wait. I simply can't do the liquid calcium citrate, and I know I need it.

You look FABULOUS!!!

My surgeon uses a 34. He said that it is a good size that gives good results without creating problems.

I was sleeved 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I will be going back to school a week from Monday. I teach middle school special ed. I'm fortunate because I have a kitchen in my classroom, so I can keep everything I need there. I have a stove, full sized refrigerator, and microwave. Like most of you, I only get 25 minutes for lunch as well which wasn't always easy before the sleeve so I'm not looking forward to that challenge. At least I will be a whole month post op by then, so that will make it a bit easier...I hope!

My nut told me to take 2 Flintstones complete every day. I don't love them, but I can tolerate them. I can't imagine ever being able to swallow a huge vitamin/calcium citrate pill again, but I'm hoping I will be able to do so. My information packet said I can take them at 6 weeks post op...but I wonder if I will really be able to.

Last night was my first night to sleep in my bed, and I'm now 16 days post op. I don't know what I would have done without my recliner, although it looks like a lot of people did just fine without it. I was so glad to get back in my bed, but I just couldn't do it before last night.

I just don't know if I will ever be able to do it. I'm a rule follower, and I'm really trying but I don't think I'll ever get it.

That should be ok. It doesn't matter which day of the month you go, just as long as you go once during each month. Good luck!!

I don't know what I would have done without my recliner. I'm 2 weeks post op today, and I am still sleeping in my recliner! I just can't roll over yet without pain because of my largest incision. I've tried to get in bed, but there was just no way. I told dh it may be another week before I'm back in bed. We bought a recliner when dh had rotator cuff surgery, because the dr told him he had to sleep in one. So fortunately we already had one.

Unfortunately for me, I gained 15 lbs. My Cigna policy had no requirements in regards to weight loss, just that I actually met with my dr each month and discussed what I was eating and how I was exercising. By the time I began that process, I truly didn't have it in me to even attempt another 'diet'. Twenty-five years of failure was enough for me. I got approved on the first attempt!

Thanks for your replies. It's a lot better this morning, but I can tell I'm just going to have to take it easy with it for a while longer. Thanks again!

I'm 11 days post op and my largest incision is causing me a great deal more pain today than it has since the very early days right out. It does not look infected in any way. It has a 'football' shaped scab that is just under an inch across and just over a quarter inch from top to bottin in the center (the widest area). Did anyone else have sharper, more intense pain at this point? Other than this one incision and the pain from that, I feel fabulous! This is the only thing that keeps me from doing all the things I would like to do physically.

It is my largest incision from which they removed the stomach. It just felt so much better and then BOOM it's hurting soooo much more all of a sudden. I'm definitely doing more because I feel so good with the exception of that one place. I hope it's just a momentary setback. Thanks

I went for my one week follow-up earlier this week, and I got a new list of dos and don't from the nut. The latest info I go said to avoid drinking with meals...then in parenthesis it said (no more than 1/2 cup). That made me feel a whole lot better. I can totally do that!!

I'm only 11 days out, but my dr said it should get better as my pcos symptoms go away. Time will tell, I guess??

I'm so sorry you're struggling right now. As much as I read and read and read before surgery, I was not prepared to deal with eveyrthing that went along with the first few days. I only spent one night in the hospital, and I was soooo ready to get home. I know you must be so sick of that hospital bed, and you just want to get home. Things will start to improve soon for you, I'm sure of it! For me, things really, really began to improve on day 5. Now at day 11 post op, I could not be more thrilled with my sleeve! Hang in there! I don't know if you're a praying person, but as soon as I read your post I said a prayer for you. Your life will get better in so many ways! You won't even believe it. I'm off blood pressure medicine, and I'm sleeping great without my cpap already! Be strong and know that everyone here is thinking of you!!