Day 16 -post-op Doctors Visit

[meggiep 57]

So today was my post-op visit (2 weekish) with my surgeon and I woke up excited just to check in with him.

I made a list of my questions and synced my fat secret food log to my iPad so he could see I have been logging my food, and weighed just before going as I am always wondrring how my scale compares to his huge walk on platform scale with handles. INterestingly I am always a pound LIGHTER in his office- isn't that odd? I remember at other times in my life always being heavier at the doctors.

He was so wonderful today- came in saying "Hello beautiful" and was so excited that I am so happy having had the sleeve. He was really open to hearing some things about my experience that I thought he could perhaps learn from - especially my feeling he could let newly sleeved people know it is perfectly normal to not be able to swallow liquids and that it will turn around- just give it time and don't kick yourself over it.

My questions and his answers

1. When can I go in the pool? Answer- NOW! As long as I do not exercise my core- he wants me to wait until four weeks for that. THis means no class but Water walking is ok YAY!

2. Can I put scar cream on my scars? Answer -Yes- the surface skin fell off and they are safe now.

3. When am I basically free from fear of blood clots? This was because my GP told me to elevate my legs on a pillow at ight and that has been hard. Answer- if I am walking every day I can relax about it.

4. I have been having diarrhea every day- is that something to worry about? Answer- some patients have that as their thumbys (my word not his) adjust to things- and it sometimes helps to dilute the Protein Shakes too. (Not my fave answer as I tend to put my Protein powder in the least liquid I can handle in order to get it down faster ;-P )

5. CAN I START COTTAGE cheese AND NON THINNED YOGURT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AT MY STAGE? Of course this was my most important question- and I got a bad news good news answer- he wants me to stay on thinned liquids and Protein drinks until Monday, my three week mark. But then it is full on mushies, not just adding cottage cheese. That is only five days away and I am not worried- I know I want to heal well and that is more important than what food I get.

The most exciting thing was that he said I am so articulate and knowledgeable he would like me to come to some orientation seminars to talk to prospective patients. I was honored and thrilled about that, that will help me pay it forward as I do want to do, and try to with my You Tubes.

One other interesting thing- I told him I think the sleeve will be THE surgery before long and he said he totally agrees- he has thought that for nine years but just was waiting for the world (i.e. insurance companies) to catch up! He feels his sleeve patients in the long term do better than his bypass patients and I found that very interesting.

SO I see him in a month and will be on mushies until then. I can deal.

[Michelle Cicerello 6]

Yay Meggie - I am so happy for you!!! Are you sure you dont have the same Dr. as I do?? I was told the same exact thing today by mine!! lol

So the count down begins until we can have mushies on Monday.

We are well on our way to the new improved us!!!

Gratz on talking to perspective sleevers, its always nice hearing it from someone who has been there!!

HUGS to you

[mel30 0]

Hi Meggie,

I am glad your visit went well. Sounds like we are getting the same responses. I think you will be perfect for new patients. Thanks for all the videos, they help me so much.

Soon we will move to mushies and I can't wait to see what recipes you come up with

Melinda

So today was my post-op visit (2 weekish) with my surgeon and I woke up excited just to check in with him.

I made a list of my questions and synced my fat secret food log to my iPad so he could see I have been logging my food, and weighed just before going as I am always wondrring how my scale compares to his huge walk on platform scale with handles. INterestingly I am always a pound LIGHTER in his office- isn't that odd? I remember at other times in my life always being heavier at the doctors.

He was so wonderful today- came in saying "Hello beautiful" and was so excited that I am so happy having had the sleeve. He was really open to hearing some things about my experience that I thought he could perhaps learn from - especially my feeling he could let newly sleeved people know it is perfectly normal to not be able to swallow liquids and that it will turn around- just give it time and don't kick yourself over it.

My questions and his answers

1. When can I go in the pool? Answer- NOW! As long as I do not exercise my core- he wants me to wait until four weeks for that. THis means no class but Water walking is ok YAY!

2. Can I put scar cream on my scars? Answer -Yes- the surface skin fell off and they are safe now.

3. When am I basically free from fear of blood clots? This was because my GP told me to elevate my legs on a pillow at ight and that has been hard. Answer- if I am walking every day I can relax about it.

4. I have been having diarrhea every day- is that something to worry about? Answer- some patients have that as their thumbys (my word not his) adjust to things- and it sometimes helps to dilute the Protein shakes too. (Not my fave answer as I tend to put my Protein Powder in the least liquid I can handle in order to get it down faster ;-P )

5. CAN I START COTTAGE cheese AND NON THINNED YOGURT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AT MY STAGE? Of course this was my most important question- and I got a bad news good news answer- he wants me to stay on thinned liquids and Protein drinks until Monday, my three week mark. But then it is full on mushies, not just adding cottage cheese. That is only five days away and I am not worried- I know I want to heal well and that is more important than what food I get.

The most exciting thing was that he said I am so articulate and knowledgeable he would like me to come to some orientation seminars to talk to prospective patients. I was honored and thrilled about that, that will help me pay it forward as I do want to do, and try to with my You Tubes.

One other interesting thing- I told him I think the sleeve will be THE surgery before long and he said he totally agrees- he has thought that for nine years but just was waiting for the world (i.e. insurance companies) to catch up! He feels his sleeve patients in the long term do better than his bypass patients and I found that very interesting.

SO I see him in a month and will be on mushies until then. I can deal.

[wishes 125]

That is awesome, meggiep. You are such a bright person on this forum. I cannot imagine how much help you can provide to people looking to make the leap to VSG. Good luck, and congrats on your great appointment.

[meggiep 57]

Yay Meggie - I am so happy for you!!! Are you sure you dont have the same Dr. as I do?? I was told the same exact thing today by mine!! lol

So the count down begins until we can have mushies on Monday.

We are well on our way to the new improved us!!!

Gratz on talking to perspective sleevers, its always nice hearing it from someone who has been there!!

HUGS to you

That is so funny! I was so sure you would be given the green light today- but I might have known we are cosmically connected. I admit I am thinking of trying ONE spoonful of sugar free pudding- just to see!

Hi Meggie,

I am glad your visit went well. Sounds like we are getting the same responses. I think you will be perfect for new patients. Thanks for all the videos, they help me so much.

Soon we will move to mushies and I can't wait to see what recipes you come up with

Melinda

SO you are on full liquids until Monday too? The Red Velvet gang is so connected. I just wish I could have cottage cheese or yogurt without milk thinning it....something with some toothsomeness!

[Michelle Cicerello 6]

Funny you should mention the "trying" thing, as I did try some thinned out refried Beans.... YUM... Shhhh

That is so funny! I was so sure you would be given the green light today- but I might have known we are cosmically connected. I admit I am thinking of trying ONE spoonful of sugar free pudding- just to see!

SO you are on full liquids until Monday too? The Red Velvet gang is so connected. I just wish I could have cottage cheese or yogurt without milk thinning it....something with some toothsomeness!

[meggiep 57]

Funny you should mention the "trying" thing, as I did try some thinned out refried Beans.... YUM... Shhhh

Ooh did it go down ok? Tell tell!

The funny (or not so funny) thing is I had my afternoon Protein shake really late- thats the one I really hate drinking and have to choke down- and so I had my "dinner" thinned cream of wheat- too soon after it and found myself with something I can only describe as sort of foamies- and enough icky feeling to think it might come up! Very shocking for the thin liquid phase. I took a shower and then felt better, waited a while to drink more liquids.

I wonder how Kelly is doing on her mushies?

[Nancy Rivers 24]

That's wonderful that you are doing so well! Thank you for sharing!

[swizzly 901]

Alas, five more days. I hope you won't be gnawing on the furniture by then. It's great that you are doing so well, I'm very happy for you.

[Michelle Cicerello 6]

It really was good, and it went down just fine - they were thinned pretty good, so its not like I really "cheated" just nice to have some new flavor - only 4 more days until we can have some texture!!! YAY lol

[kellyw74 258]

YAY! I am glad that your visit went so well!

I sent you a personal email yesterday, did you get it? I wondered if you would even read it, I think you were the one that said you didn't know how to work it. Anyway, it is at the top by the part that says "signed in as" next to that is a drop down arrow with a number next to it. If there is a number there, that means you have a new message. you can click on that arrow and it will take you to your email. Just an FYI!

I am so glad you are doing so well and get to eat "real food"!! My first experience with real food was uneventful as I told you all. The chicken salad felt stuck, so I didn't eat it again! BOO! Then I did egg salad and was afraid to eat it after everyone told me to be careful! I am just finding this eating thing to be a chore! I did make that ricotta bake and ate that for the past 2 days and it went well. I am going to have it for Breakfast again today and then that is gone! I made tuna salad for my lunch today and pureed the hell out of it. It is kinda runny. I hope it goes well. I think it should, it is kinda soupy! LOL I also took a bite last night and felt fine after eating it, so fingers crossed. I always get scared trying somthing new!

How exciting that your Dr. wants you to speak to others about your experience. What an honor!! He must think highly of you and your achievement!! That is great!! :D :D

GOOD FOR YOU!!

I weighed this morning and lost another 1.5lbs!! I think the Protein I am now allowed to eat is helping! I still am not eating much. About 1/2-3/4 c a day, but it is def. making a difference on the scale. I had to stop drinking the Protein drinks. Those things not only gag the crap outta me, that is what was giving me the shits! Man, that was insane! If you are having the squirts, I bet it is those drinks! Those thinks SUCK!

I am so happy for you and Michelle. We all are doing so well. It makes me

Have a great day!!

Hugs,

Kelly

Ooh did it go down ok? Tell tell!

The funny (or not so funny) thing is I had my afternoon Protein shake really late- thats the one I really hate drinking and have to choke down- and so I had my "dinner" thinned cream of wheat- too soon after it and found myself with something I can only describe as sort of foamies- and enough icky feeling to think it might come up! Very shocking for the thin liquid phase. I took a shower and then felt better, waited a while to drink more liquids.

I wonder how Kelly is doing on her mushies?