VSG one month ago

[twoboysandagirl 109]

One-month since my VSG

I have been thinking about my last few months and how I desperately read every post I could fine before surgery to get as many opinions and experiences as I could. I decided that I would post some things about my experience so I can maybe help the same way all of those others helped me.

My surgery was 6 December at a Naval Medical Center San Diego. I had fantastic care while in the hospital and the only stumbling blocks were I was so dehydrated from the pre-op diet and colon prep that they had a very hard time finding my veins and on the second day my vein gave out and they could not find another vein to use. After 10 sticks they finally called in an anesthesiologist and they found a vein. My arms and hands were COVERED in bruises. This was my first surgery so I did experience a little trouble waking up (it took me four hours to be awake enough to move from the ICU) but I finally came around.

As far as the first few days after surgery the worst thing for me wasn’t the pain it was the fear. I was in pain, but I found that the more I walked the less it bothered me. I walked at least twice an hour, two or three laps around the nurses station. On day two they took me off my pain pump and said I was ready for lortab (an oral pain killer-tastes nasty). When I finally got my first dose, like 4 hours after coming off the morphine pump I was in a lot of pain and I was scared to death to swallow the lortab. I did not want to throw up and I just knew I would. I completely freaked. My wonderful nurse and my patient husband helped me settle down and I got the medication down (although it took me 45 mins to take 2 tblsp). I would have gone home on the evening of day two but we live 3 hours from the hospital and my doctor wanted me to leave early in the day so I left on day 3 around 11:00am. I didn’t have a drain after surgery to worry about I didn’t have external staples or stitches they used derma bond. By the time I got home on day 3 I was in a lot of pain (and very grumpy). I went right to bed and stayed there ALL night. I took pain meds until day 4 and was in pain still on day 5 and 6 but wanted to see if I could do without the pain meds. Occasionally, I still have pain, like when I bend over and tie my shoes or when rolling over in bed, but I do not have constant pain now.

The nutritionist set a Protein goal of 70 grams for me and 64 ounces of Water a day. I could not get my protein all in until almost two weeks out and at 1month it is still a struggle EVERYDAY. I still have not met my water goal once. I get about 48 ounces a day. However, I know this will come. I have had days where I felt like I can’t do this anymore and feel like I can’t see past the Protein shakes. I have trouble seeing the future and understanding what my life will be like a year from now. I do not understand how I will be able to eat enough to get all my protein in or eat and drink shakes (right now I average 300 calories a day and I have to work at each one).

One month out and I feel good. Since taking Vitamins and B1(started at two weeks) I have more energy. I can “eat” soft pureed foods but I am only able to eat about 1/8-1/4 of a cup at a time. I am having some problem with acid reflux and planning to ask the doctor to switch my prilosec to something else. I am also having trouble with Constipation. I assume this is from all the Protein Shakes and lack of “food”. I currently using milk of magnesia but it is so harsh on my stomach so I am going to ask for something else at my 6 week post op.

I guess maybe most importantly (to some) My high weight was last August at 226.5, Day of Surgery I weighed 206, Day two I weighed 214 and I currently weigh 185.5 (as of last Sunday). I did learn that I couldn’t weigh every day because it makes me crazy. Once a week is enough for me! Good Luck to all of you just starting. Thank you for all who posted before because whenever I have a question I know I can find the answer here on Vertical Sleeve Talk.

[pumpkin07 32]

Sounds normal, right? I could have written many of those same things. But here I am 11 mos out and I feel pretty normal. It is scarey, I was so scared. But it is a day by day thing and as you can see it gets better and better, and all the while you are losing weight - which is secondary to your health though I agree.

48 oz of Water is probably good and I had about the same caloric intake for a while. Try sipping real broth bc it will be a nice contrast to the sweetness of the Protein shakes.

It is a process, like most things. And an important one. Yeah you!

[Oopsseedaisy 90]

Thanks for posting!! I am in the category of not yet sleeved and reading everything I can find. Thanks again for providing the straight up truth about what you went through so others like myself can go into this with eyes wide open.