Newbie! And I Have Some Questions :) Please Help!

[Tekara3927 265]

Hello everyone! I am SO thankful to have found this app on my iPad! I am 25 years old, with a wonderful, amazing daughter who just had her first birthday yesterday! I am in the middle of this process here, already have had my evaluation, done the pre op support groups, am losing my 15 lbs for my surgery and do the endoscopy on June 8th! I am totally nervous, but then again so excited to finally get the help I need to be comfortable in my own skin! Now I know when you get the surgery, the nurse told me I will t be able to lift for 2 to 3 weeks...... I'm having an issue with this.... How can I not hold my baby? How was the pain? I'm nervous about my skin too! I hope to lose at least 100 to 120 lbs... Am I going to be saggy? Any help would be appreciated! I also recently quit smoking, (for the 3rd time!!!) how do they test your nicotine levels? I was told as long as I quit a month before my surgery I will be all set. Thanks everyone!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

You may need help with your baby for the first week or so. I had no pain to speak of, but I have seen ohers on here who say they were in pain for the first few days. You will get pain medication.

As far as skin goes, it does stretch out. You're young, so you have a better chance of some tightening. You really can't lose over 100 lbs though, and not have some saggy skin.

[futureskinnypants 193]

Good luck! I'm still pre op so i can't answer a lot of your questions. I've heard from people that don't exercise at all..have lost 100+ lbs and have no saggy skin. I've heard from others that exercise like crazy and have extra skin. I guess it just depends on your body. I'm going to do everything in my power to not have excess skin. I don't want to need skin removal surgery. As far as your baby, that is going to be hard. i heard about people that put a small pillow up their shirt so the kids don't hit the incisions. Your baby is very young so she wont understand . Maybe she'll understand Ouch or owie! I don't have kids but i have a pug and a lab. My pug loves to be on top of me always. I just purchased dog steps to put near my bed so i wont have to lift her. i plan on training her to use them for the next 2 months so she'll be ok and i wont have to lift her. so far so good! i also plan on using the pillow trick when i'm at home b/c my lab is very rough too. Maybe you can figure out a couple tricks to help you so you wont have to really lift her. Endoscopy-i don't have to do mine til the day before surgery so im not that far yet but everyone i talked to said you wont remember a thing, but might have a sore throat. Pain level-again, i'm not out that far, but i've been in contact with 2 girls from the forum that have been through it....last week my one friend had it she said the pain (the night of surgery) was a 3-6 depending on how you move. She said day 2 the pain decreased. last night when i spoke with her (3 days out) she said she was just sore. She also got her period so that of course doesnt help. She had problems with nausea and the meds were very expensive so she went to cvs and got a "seaband" its a Bracelet for sea sickness, chemo nausea, etc....she said it works wonders. Good luck this forum is amazing to find answers. Ask and you shall recieve!!!

[Tekara3927 265]

Thanks girls ! This app is the best! I'm finding sooo much useful information!

[Magsnlucy 10]

Hi. I'm 5 days post op and I'll be honest with you, it is painful. I'm very tender inside my belly and my incision sites. So far I can't sit up straight and can't really stand for long. When I do stand I have to take it slow because it hurts to stretch out my belly. The only thing that is comfortable is lying on my back. I'm only 21, just out of school for the summer and I am SOOO bored. Lol I have been trying to walk and get around a bit, but you need to listen to your body and stop when it says stop! Another painful part for me is the gas pains. They have been horrible! I know that is just from me trying new liquids and learning what I can and can't have. A HUGE suggestion I would ask your doctor or nurse is "what am I going to feel like after surgery?" That is something I wish my doctor had explained more to me. They can teach you about how you are going to feel and how to manage pain. Sorry this seems really harsh, but I figured you wanted to hear the truth from someone who is just out of surgery. As far as your baby, honestly, you may want to wait until she grows a little before you have your surgery. The point of recovery is to really only focus on yourself and you getting better. And because one year olds are so dependent that's pretty much impossible. Good luck!

[Tekara3927 265]

Thank you dear. And good luck! The gas pain may be from when they blow your tummy up with the gas to be able to see everything. It's hard for the gas to escape your body. She's almost walking, ( my daughter) so I think it might be okay, and I have to get it now, otherwise I won't be able to. My health insurance is up in October. I hope you feel better.

I'm hoping to have friends and family alternate days off to help with my little sweetie. We will see, I'm so nervous, but so excited. Keep in touh! Let me know how it goes!!

[Magsnlucy 10]

Thanks! I'll tell you though, from writing the first response last night to writing this one today, I feel SOOO much better! You can do this!

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

My surgeon told me not to lift anything over 12lbs after surgery, I can say I am 12 days out and I have bent that recommendation more than a few times. I have actually gone as far as lifting & carrying 35lb cases of Water. I haven't had any problems, but if I do incur any it will be totally my fault.

[Tekara3927 265]

Let me know if anything happens. My little girl just got weighed today, she's a healthy 20 pounds. I don't want to lift her a lot, but there's going to be times when she gets bumped or needs a mommy hug and I want to be able to be there for her! It's crazy to think that being able to pick up my daughter could ultimately make my surgery decision! Lol, maybe I'm crazy, but I love my baby!

[Failure 32]

Not sure if this might be a good idea or not, but maybe instead of having to lift her you can get down to her on the floor. I'm not sure how your pain level will be or if this is not advised, I don't see why not sitting is sitting and laying is laying but you know maybe if she needs you you can get real close to her on the floor and put your arm around her or have someone stay with you so they can lift her to you I'm sure that won't be bad! If you don't want her near your incisions then perhaps you can lay on the couch or on the bed and have her laying next to you. As others have said it should only be a few days at most that this would be an issue I'd guess. I'm still pre op so not like I know anything more

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

Let me know if anything happens. My little girl just got weighed today' date=' she's a healthy 20 pounds. I don't want to lift her a lot, but there's going to be times when she gets bumped or needs a mommy hug and I want to be able to be there for her! It's crazy to think that being able to pick up my daughter could ultimately make my surgery decision! Lol, maybe I'm crazy, but I love my baby! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I don think that I'd let that dictate my decision. Just make sure you have a bit of help nearby (as much as possible) and try going down to her rather than picking her up to you. It's only for the first 2-3weeks. I know you can make it through.

[Tekara3927 265]

I've been thinking the same, I'm getting my surgery in the beginning of July I'm thinking, so she should be walking by then. She's almost there, so definetly to change her, she will be on the floor. Eating? I'll figure that out.... We will see.

I was kidding about it literally affecting my decision, but it is something that's making me a little upset. But she is pretty independent, and will probably do better than I will! Thanks ladies!!!

[tjmom 200]

It was nite my child but my grandchild that i was worried about ... But .... He was totally ok with G'ma getting on the floor with him...he understood G'ma has an owie ! even showed him my bandages so he could relate...

Not lifting is for your safety ... Don't want to tear open your new stomach and cause a leak... Even if you had to find a neighborhood school kid to be there with you the first couple weeks ((school should be out for summer)) would be a great help... Or a niece or nephew?

hope it helps .... Good luck!!

[georgia728 17]

So I'm 25 going on 26 7-28 :-) I'm a single parent of a little boy who is 18 going on 19 months an he has been walking since 9mths so he jumps run the works for a little boy omg. He's so use to me picking him up an showing him that love he cries a lot of times he's also 33 pounds sound lead heheheheh :-). Thankful I'm at my dads but tomorrow we are going home. Get help, I didn't hurt at all after surgery I felt great but getting him in an out the car seat and giving him baths we can't do picking him up bc he's sleepy I can't do. If you can get help get it bc this is temporary you don't want to hurt the rest your life bc you didn't allow yourself to heal :-) congrats hun oh yeah my surgery weight was 283 I'm now 271 as of yesterday :-) can't wait to start working out

[Tekara3927 265]

Thanks everyone! Great ideas and responses! I didn't even think of getting a school aged kid to help me! That genius and perfect timing! Thanks!!!!

I definitely don't want to be ruining my sleeve when I get it! I'm so excited, I think I'm about 30 days from my procedure! Eeeeek! I'm so ready to be skinnnny!