Search the Community

Strangely enough, I'm not as freaked right now as I was 10 minutes ago. Oh wait, here it comes......yep, self-doubt and that horrible feeling in my stomach is back. Ok breathe. In and out, in and out. This is what you've wanted for so long, remember? Just calm down! It's gonna be fine. Molly, you work at the hospital where you have surgery, you've explored all the ins and outs of the surgery, you know what to do and you'll do it. You're super educated about this whole process so, why the freak? Ah yes, that nagging feeling that they're gonna weigh you on the day of surgery and say, "you gained 5 lbs and now you can't have surgery." They probably COULD do that if they wanted to BUT, in my situation I don't think they would. And, I may have gained 5 lbs. I just haven't gotten on the scale in the last 2 weeks since I met my 5% weight loss requirement for surgery. Gulp. My friend who had the sleeve done said that they did weigh her right before surgery in the pre-op area and she had gained 3 lbs but, no one said anything about it. So.....that gives me hope. I mean seriously, what do they expect? I want to stuff my face at every waking moment now. It's terrible, way worse than trying to loose weight. I'm not gonna get to eat most of the junk I'm eating now....well, for a really long time! Ok, I guess that's the point. I had a LARGE piece of red velvet cake at work yesterday. It was so fabulous. I'm really never going to forget it. Or the horrific diarhea after I ate it that looked surprizingly red in the toilet. YUCK!!! TMI!!! I dreamt about Top Ramen last night. I woke up thinking, WTF? I never dream about food!!! Never!!! Am I gonna dream about food now? Oh brother, I sure hope not. I dreamt that I was parked next to another car with 2-3 people in it. When I got out of my car I noticed that they had a large bag of Top Ramen on the shelf that you can see via the back window. I asked them if I could have it. WTF!!!!! LOL In the end, I think it turned out to be cookies and something else instead of Top Ramen. So, I said, "Oh, nevermind, thanks anyways" and I had to leave the bag of whatever with them. Hopefully this is a good sign. Wow, this whole blogging thing is super therapeutic. I'm gonna have to do it more often. Off to work for my last day until October. That is IF they still let me have surgery. lol

I was banded today in Phoenix at a little past 7am. We had to get there at 5am for check-in and we were staying at a hotel about 30 minutes away so we had to get up at 4am.....that is very early. Especially early for someone who took her cpap machine out of mothballs and tried it for the first time in 2 years and couldn't sleep because it was tickling my nose hairs and pinching my face. I finally gave up and got to sleep around 2am. Got to the hospital and did the paperwork. Hubby and 7 year old son were out in the lobby and hubby put a movie on the DVD player so he could watch it and stay quiet. The nurse told me they would take me back and my family could join me after they were done poking and prodding me. This may be TMI, but of course I started my period 2 days before my surgery. They wanted me to get completely undressed and I told them I HAD to wear underwear. So they gave me these mesh panties and a brick sized pad. Well, let me tell you something, the mesh panties and not meant for big girls. I tore one pair before asking the nurse for some scissors to cut the sides a little or I would have no circulation. I had to share the pre-op room with two other people and the nurse gave the woman in the middle the remote. She put it on the news and all they were talking about was the DNC and I am so sick of politics right now. i would have rather watched QVC! They gave me a shot in my belly. It didn't hurt at first but the alcohol they used to clean it after burned like hell. After awhile, it kind of ached a little. Then they gave me my IV in my hand. It wasn't so bad. They gave me cute little socks with grippers on the bottom and the compression things for my legs but they said they would put those on right before. I was kind of bummed because I wanted to know what it felt like. In the meantime, my son is getting upset because he didn't pay attention when I went back and didn't get to kiss me goodbye. He demanded to be back there with me and they eventually got to go back. Not sure why he was so nervous. Maybe it was the fact that my husband joked to our 7 year old son that they were going to carve his momma up like a christmas turkey? Men! Finally, it was time to go back. I got my kisses and got a little choked up at leaving them. What surprised me was the fact that I kind of got freaked out as they were wheeling me into the OR. I actually considered telling them never mind! I just started praying and God took away my fear. It was incredibly cold in the OR and the bed they had me move to was really uncomfortable. That is all I remember until I woke up from the anethesia. They asked me if I wanted tea, something or something and the only thing that I could stand was tea. They brought me warm unsweetened tea(which I usually like sweetened with something) but it was the best tasting tea I ever had! I do have a bit of advice though for them: Do not hand a patient who is high as a kite and not in control of her motor skills a warm beverage. I spilled more than I drank. BTW: Doctor informed hubby I had TWO hiatial hernias. He was able to repair one but I will have to lose some weight for the other. They made me go to the bathroom and get dressed and then walked me out to the front. It was raining and Hubby busted it in his haste to get the car but he was alright. Just banged up his knee. Got home and didn't have to use the wheelchair we borrowed from the hotel at all. I just used it to kind of hold on to in order to keep my balance as I wanted down the hall. I was not in that much pain. I have four incisions and one of them has a major bruise on it. It is later in the evening now and I am really sore like someone punched me but it is not intolerable. I was even able to go out to dinner with hubby and son and I had some broth from some tortilla soup. We then went to Walmart! Blessed be: NO GAS PAIN....yet. I felt what I thought was gas so I took a gasx strip but that was it. Overall, I was pleased with my surgeon. It was sort of a wam bam thank you maam with not really a lot of fussing about but I kind of like that. I didn't really want to stay overnight and they said my surgery was perfect. To top that off, when the nurse weighed me this morning, I weighed 289!!!! That means I lost 25lbs on my pre-op diet! Believe me when I tell all of you future bandsters or even people just on a regular diet....if I can do it, anyone can! I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Thanks for viewing and God bless!

Yes, it really sucks. I've had my period now for 21 of the past 30 days now. Hoping it will stop eventually. Like I said, it's not my normal flow - but it's dark brown (TMI) like really old blood. So nasty. And eventually I would like to have relations with my hubby!

A little TMI but I just want to see if anyone else is having this problem too... Every time I drink my protein, whether it's 30g like I am supposed to or a few sips I feel so sick for about an hour. My stomach is rumbling like crazy and I get bad gas pains and until I finally have diarrhea I am just miserable! In addition the stuff tastes terrible and I have a hard time not throwing it up when I drink it. My main concern is that the entire time the protein drink is in my body I feel terrible. I have eaten a few scrambled eggs (usually can only have half of one for a meal) and I feel just fine so I know it's the protein drinks.... They are the same ones I had for liquid diet before surgery and I was fine then. Thanks for any input!

I was released Thursday & I have had diarrhea at least 1 time a day since. Do you think it's just from the anesthesia? I am able to get in my liquids just fine, no issues. Also my Vitamins & b12. Been taking the Prilosec they prescribed. No pain meds since 3 am (yay!), or nausea meds since last night (another yay!). Up at 7 this morning, watched tv, took a 2 hour nap, watched a movie, took a shower, dried & straightened my hair, read part of a book & going to go walk at the mall (bc it's 104° here today, yuck!!). So what do you think the diarrhea is from? :-( I don't feel bad when it happens. Robyn

Hey Ladies... Just wanted to report that I had my 1st non-drug induced monthly cycle.. Sept 1-6... A little crampy early on.. but nothing severe enough to require meds... Didn't bleed like a slaughtered pig (though the regular tampons didn't quite work too well day 2 and 3) TMI.. sorry... but, I'm excited and hopefully, my gyn will tell me that I can get my IUD.... I was diagnosed w/ PCOS 10 years ago... I usually have to do a 5-10 cycle of Provera to bleed.. Got a Mirena Feb 2011... didn't have any more periods until this one.. Gyn wanted me to do Provera again, didn't want to .. just prayed and I think my body if finally trying to act normally... Kind of stuck at 305... but, I'm down another size.. wore a size 20/22 dress from Target yesterday!!!

Hi all..New to this site. Let me introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth and I am 48 years old. Been married for 30 years (in April) I am a night L&D nurse. Have struggled with my weight all my life..I know just like most of us have LOL! Today is the beginning of week 2 post op for me. I have my sleeve placed on 8/29/12. I was in the hospital for 2 very long nights. It started of as a early day getting to the hospital at 0530, surgery start time was 0730. Met with my surgeon and my anesthesia guys that I was fortunate to pick ( I am a nurse at the hospital). So I know I was in good hands. Being a nurse does have it advantages but in my case I was really nervouse because I know just a little to much about what goes on LOL. Anyway, I was given Versed before going to the OR..It is a med used to relax you, which I needed. Only remember being in the OR for maybe 3 minutes and the rest is a blank... Woke up in recovery with only a quick second of feeling nauseous and that was it. I was in recovery for about 5 hours while they tried to get the previous patient out of my room hehe Why would anyone like to stay longer than they have too? Moved to my room and did really well. My doctor does not believe in his patients being in pain and gave me meds round the clock and then extra was available if needed. After day one I had to do a swallow study and I passed thank heavens..My mouth was as dry as a desert. Started off with 1 oz of water for 4 hours, then 2 oz for 4 hours then I could drink as much as I could tolerate...I have to say that first sip of water was the best water I have ever tasted.. Been doing really well the first week. Kind of tired from no rest at the hospital ; / Still sore but getting better by the day. Have had no problems with nausea or vomiting. I do have to say that yesterday I had a weird experience. I took my dog to training for the first time since surgery. I was there for maybe 10 minutes and all of a sudden I got the worst stomach pain, broke into a cold sweat and had to leave. I didnlt know if I was going to be sick or worse...the other end...TMI? Barely made it home and since I have been kind of queazy. had some SF pudding last night and I tolerated it well..This AM I am feeling the same, just kind of queazy, crampy like... I am so looking forward to eating a soft diet, I go back to work next Wed night. I want to start eating a little before going back to work to make sure I tolerate it OK.. Looking forward to getting to know everyone and sharing their VGS journey with them... Much love, Elizabeth

I will start religiously using stool softener. This morning, I got some idea of what women go through in labor. Sorry if that's TMI.

Okay finally got to see my husband after couple weeks &had sex for first time. No problems noted until this morning... Now having sharp pains on my left flank. Everything has been good until now. Sorry if tmi just want to know if anyone else had had this?

Well, as the title says, I started my period over the weekend. Sorry if it's TMI but it's facts. I have absolutely NO energy and I am 12 days post op. I am so sick of protein shakes, soup, sf jello and sf popsicles I could scream! I go to Dr. on Friday for my 2 week post op and i'm supposed to get moved to mushies then. Surely that will help! Wont it? I'm really having second thoughts on what I have done to myself. I want FOOD so bad! I am not a good one to go without food while on my period at all. Any one have any suggestions or even words of encouragement? A lady down the hall who knows about the surgery said I look like I'm melting cause I've lost weight. I don't know how much because I don't have a scale at home but I hope she's saying that being true and not just trying to perk my mood. Hate this:( Just want to whine and cry but i can't because I did this to myself.

Okay I have my final weigh in is Thursday I have to be down to 313 from 330 that's all good and well I have had it off for about a week now but it is that time of the month and my weight is going from 311 to 316 and I and freaking out with worry because if I don't weigh right no surgery for me any of you have any ideas. All advise is welcomed

TMI: I've struggled with this a while but it occurred to me I can ask for imput here. When I am active (at work, the gym) I sweat so bad in my groin, underwear gets wet and it smells (duh, it's sweat lol!) I've tried pads which helps a little but doesn't cover the whole areas I sweat! I use powder but it only freshens doesn't stop the sweating, and besides, I don't carry it around with me! So my question is, for anyone else who may deal with this, do you have any suggestions short of changing my underwear 5 times a day (haha)?!

I am on the first day of my all liquid pre-op diet, and OMG it is way harder than what I thought it would be. Thank goodness I just have to do it for two days. I am peeing out everything I put into me*sorry if that was TMI*. It is weird the regular pre op diet didin't bother me at all, but it has just been half a day on the full liquid and I am starving. This has got to be a head thing.I am not worried about it though because I am definitely going to do it. Have this happen to any of you guys?

I was going to call my surgeon on Tuesday for the same thing. I am a little over 4 months out and mine are horrible. I cramp like crazy. I retain so much water weight. My flow is so heavy I sometimes have to wear tampons and pads and sometimes still leak. I am so over this. Sorry I am sure this is TMI but maybe someone is having the same issues. I hate this. I have had 3 babies and I am fixed....I am ready for my period to go away.

...You take one bite of something you've been craving and then stop instead of inhaling the rest ...You look for ways to put protein into everything you eat (Molten lava cake with chocolate protein powder =p) ...You want to try on all your clothes every week to see if they suddenly fit ...You feel like you've made the ultimate concoction when you mix two protein filled items into something you can actually get down (A smoothie with yogurt AND protein powder?!) ...You almost pass by the posts labelled TMI and realize you should probably look at it because you're most likely having the same issue ...You can't sleep on your side because it feels like your stomach is hanging and anyone you tell that to looks at you like you just spoke nonsense ...Your stomach is more talkative than you are ...You have suddenly decided you need to name your stomach, despite having it for your whole life =)

MAJOR TMI ALERT I just passed so much gas for the first time (2 days post op) I feel like a new woman, yaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy!

They do help me out, and because it's in a positive environment I feel a lot better, like taking some me time... They say the first one loosens and the second extracts (sorry tmi) but some people only want your money so will tell you to come more frequently... Your choice I suppose

Helloah! Just wanted to pick your brains... A little background on me - for those of you who don't know - I am now over two years out and not at my surgeon's goal yet... I ma just 9lbs off. I have been this weight since October and I am starting to think that 'this is me'... I will continue the Quest of weight loss, but part of me has started to accept that this might not happen now. I've gone from a UK 22-24 to a UK 14, with a total of 75lbs gone. Most of the fat that is left on me is around my middle!! My legs are ok... I have got a lot of muscle there, ss I am not too worried about the bit of thigh fat that is left - I am too old for mini skirts now...lol So, my thoughts are now turning to finishing this job and getting rid of the excess, saggy and wobbly skin that is really bothering me. I have just returned from a beach holiday, and having to wear a swimming costume, I now realise that the skin is more of a problem than my weight... it really does effect me both physically and mentally. I want it gone... my hubby agrees... and we will have to pay for it. My sleeve surgeon does a TT at a good price so he will be my first port of call. Also the boys are in pretty poor condition now... pretty much skin - no shape left - sorry for TMI! Again, this is really effecting me mentally and I would also like this sorted... I don't want to go big... just round...lol! Now, the actual operations don't bother me at all... what worries me is the time in recovery. So, for all those that have had either one or the other, or both can you please answer: How long were you in hospital? How long was recovery? How long did you have off work? Are you happy with the results? Also, is it possible to have the two operations done at the same time? If so, how much extra recovery time is needed... or is this too much at one time. I am a teacher, and my school's sickness policy is very strict. I would tell them about the TT; and stress that is it for medical reasons, not vanity (ok, so that is partially a lie, but you gotta do what you gotta do) - however, I wouldn't tell them about the uplift!!! I would be very grateful for any replies, comments or advice that you have for me; the good, the bad and the ugly! Thanks in advance =]

So.... I am 4 wks out now and today I had a new and not so pleasant experience. I had very bad diarrhea and it was oil like. There was oil floating in the water around it.... Should I be concerned?? Really sorry if TMI.

lol, not laughing at u, but this also happened to me but the gum also pulled out my tongue ring! i swallowed the metal ball and i was freaking out! called the ER and my doctor. They both told me if i start to feel sick to go stright to the hospital for xrays. if not it will come out the other end, sorry if tmi!

I'm 3 days out and had been just battling gas, but I heeded the advice to never trust a fart, and boy am I glad I did. My first bm since surgery has been diarrhea. Anyone had this happen to them before? I had 1/2 an Atkins shake mixed with 1/2 skim milk, about an hour ago. Now, explosions. Sorry, if it's TMI. It feels good to not be so stopped up, but now I'm worried about my hydration status? Anyone?

Ok, now for some TMI talk... How is everyone doing as far as going to the bathroom? Is anyone else really constipated all of a sudden?

Wasn't really sure where to post this question.. But after having lap band surgery... Was your cycle regular or did you skip a month? Maybe tmi but just curious .. My af is expected a few days after surgery .. Just wondering if I'm going to have to deal with that along with recovery lol

Hey sleevers, (some TMI) My surgery was the 28th (Tuesday) and I have been so miserable. All I want to do is sleep... I force myself up to walk around the room every hour or two and take deep breaths, half the time using the spirometer. seems like everything makes me throw up even though I am on zofran, I started using the subpositories and it works better... Just had a Popsicle, it was so nice to have a non-nasty taste in my mouth for once and know I'm getting some liquids at the same time. I do have problems with taking all of my meds and vitamins without throwing them back up.. I still have "foam" in my mouth and when I throw up, it's just more foam. Anyway, I just wanted to see if it is a normal thing for us to feel so miserable the first few days or weeks? Thank you! Ps: if this didn't all make sense i blame the drugs! Bethany: I had the same experience. Everything made me nauseous, even gas x strips. They finally gave me Ativan ( sublingual ) and Toradol for pain which is non narcotic. Narcotic pain meds can make you more nauseous. That combo made all the difference for me and I immediately began to feel better. I was throwing that frothy crap, all meds, and anything else I swallowed. The Ativan did the trick. I hope they find something that works for you soon!

Hey sleevers, (some TMI) My surgery was the 28th (Tuesday) and I have been so miserable. All I want to do is sleep... I force myself up to walk around the room every hour or two and take deep breaths, half the time using the spirometer. seems like everything makes me throw up even though I am on zofran, I started using the subpositories and it works better... Just had a Popsicle, it was so nice to have a non-nasty taste in my mouth for once and know I'm getting some liquids at the same time. I do have problems with taking all of my meds and vitamins without throwing them back up.. I still have "foam" in my mouth and when I throw up, it's just more foam. Anyway, I just wanted to see if it is a normal thing for us to feel so miserable the first few days or weeks? Thank you! Ps: if this didn't all make sense i blame the drugs!