5 days out and just saw the video of my surgery

[vibsriv 0]

hi all, firstly thank you sooooooo much for all the advice and topics on this forum:thumbup1: i have been on here since i came across this surgery as a possibility for me from a friend of my brother who is a surgoeon himself :cool0: which was great to have a personal connection in the surgical team still i wanted to do lots of reading and was still unsure coming across all the medical jargon pros cons facts etc. but really when i found you guys it totally took me over the edge.. mainly cause its real people with real stories ups n downs emotions etc. that really help to feel that i know you all and can reach to you anytime.

well now im 5 days out had my sleeve on the 6th of april, and coicidently at a turning point of my life over all with family work life, and appereanltly perfect timing for my body as once they went in they realised there was a unusal growth inside my stomocah ( luckily the part they took out) god does really have things happen to one at the right time for the right reason:cheer2::cheer2:

since im 28 and in seemingly good health and what you guys call a light weight at 210lbs the doc only gave me a 5 days high protien low carb low fat no sugar diet, on which i lost 7 lbs approx ( as im not checking my wight till off full liquids - the doc office is im due to go for one week follow up on tuesday) but i wish now he would have given me more days and full liquids as most of you as my liver still hovered over the stomach line a tent (not fatty but enlarged for which instead of having a single incision i have one more..

i also just saw the video of my surgery not at all like the example video, a question relating to that has any one of you seen yours.. also i saw that a few like 1 or 2 staples were left the thing did the last sealing..the dr says thats "innate material " and not to worry but you now ill still wonder..

also the swelling of your stomach ont he outside how long does it take to go away i feel preg.. and bloated.. im walking a bit not super long, but doing arm and leg exercises ( my own version) lying down ..

also any other tips you guys can give me for this new beginning..

thank you

PS. how do you get your ticker on here..

[LAN2k 18]

Welcome to VST, congratulations on your surgery and thanks for sharing. I don't think my surgery was video taped as was yours. That is pretty cool. It sounds to me like your doing great. Although it's beneficial that your moving your arms and legs while in bed, it is still very important that you get your body upright, standing and walking and frequently. Short walks are OK. The bloating will subside as your incision/s heal and as you heal internally. I'd say in about 3 weeks you should feel fairly normal (not so sore and bloated). Keep us posted on your progress and best wishes on your WL journey w/the sleeve.

[vibsriv 0]

Thank you, im walking at home at the moment. tommorow is the day set to venture out.

I have a bit of dry caugh though and that kinda makes the mucles in the belly specially around the belly utton sore like hell.. i am not allowed to take any cought Syrup so wanted to know if you guys had similar thing and what did you do as its mainly at night and i cant sleep.

and how much later did you all start weight training , could i start things like yoga or pilates sooner....

[*susan* 1,709]

Be careful with that cough. Did they give you one of those breathing things to take home with you? If so, it is important that you do that several times a day.

I started walking regularly the day I had my surgery. As for my physical exercise, such as the weight training, my doctor had me wait six weeks. That seemed about perfect to me.

My surgery was not videotaped, but that would have been interesting to see. I understand where you are coming from with them finding the growth on your stomach. When they went in to do mine, they found three tumors on my liver and removed them during the surgery. I consider that a huge blessing, as who knows what would have happened had they not been discovered during my revision surgery.

Best of luck to you.

[Dee 39]

Call your MD about your cough. I also had one also after my surgery (mostly at night). It can be a sign of acid reflux. You might need to up your Nexium (or other acid reducer) or start one. I increased my Nexium from 20 mg to 40 mg and the cough is gone.

Dee

[vibsriv 0]

susan, thanks i was thinking as to what that could be, a cyst or what, the doc has sent it for byopsie.. so i find out soon.. my doc says the coughs are expected and not related to acid reflus.. i am tols to take steam.. what do you mean when you say be careful with the caough anything serious .. and what are those breathing things..

[pnw218 14]

Congrats on your surgery! You will love it soon : )

With prior abdomimal surgeries, I would hold a pillow up against my stomach if I was going to sneeze or cough. That helps a little if it is painful.

I was driving in less than a week after this surgery, and also kept a pillow or folded up blanket on my stomach. I wasn't taking any pain meds so it was ok for me to drive. Even if I was riding in the car and not driving tho, I still used the pillow. Helps give some cushion if you have to stop fast or something.

You will feel better every day!

[Itstime 0]

The breathing apparatus is a hand held plastic hose with little balls inside a connected piece, (weird description) that you inhale as hard as you can and make the balls go up to the top. All to make you use all your lung function post op when it is so important to prevent blood clots. You want to keep from having shallow breathing as much as possible. Also walking is very important.