Reason Why No Food For 3 Weeks & Update

[Sleevedreamz 107]

Yeah' date=' your reaction to anesthesia sounded deeadful. When can you start getting around?

And i just posted on another thread how I'm sure (i hope!) a protocol will be established once studies show what's best: nutrition after surgery or rest stomach so can heal. Its just all over the map how diff docs are![/quote']

It was just so unexpected that it threw me for a loop. I'd never had surgery before so it was not the best 1st experience. My muscles have all but stopped hurting as of today so while I'm still taking it slow, I've done a tiny bit of walking. I am still VERY swollen and tight around my tummy and my largest incision so it is still very painful to move around for long. It could be that my lack of ability to move around much at first contributed to the swelling and pain I'm feeling now. Everyone else seems to really not complain much about pain for long so I feel really behind in my recovery, but like my hubby said, everyone is different and it may just take me a little longer. I am definitely looking forward to being able to get up and do some walking without feeling like someone is ripping me apart.

I love the info and support I get here bc otherwise I wouldn't really know what to expect or how to gauge. I don't know anyone in my own life who has had any type of WLS.

[doxieville 799]

Gosh, that really sounds awful and I've heard of that reaction before. Hopefully each day you'll get better!

[Sleevedreamz 107]

Gosh' date=' that really sounds awful and I've heard of that reaction before. Hopefully each day you'll get better![/quote']

Thanks, I think I am well on my way! Plus, it's hard to be down for too long over it when I am already losing weight after only 3 days. That makes everything seem worth it!

[PiggyPantsPaige 10]

I hope my leak test is the same!!! I'll find out next week. Sounds pretty neat(:

[MsDimplesGA 25]

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna ask for a leak test like the one you had when I go to see the doc on 10/24.

[doxieville 799]

Definitely speak up! My surgoen is excited that I am so curious and ask questions. As soon as he saw that I was really into seeing & understanding the leak test, he glowed. He broke it all down in laymans terms so I could understand everything. Do docs & surgeons have a tendancy to become drones & forget we are humans? Absolutely! I think it's up to us to bring them back to the 'real' world & make them talk to us. I've had many docs w all my auto-immune issues, and I've had both knees replaced. I won't tolerate a doctor who acts like he's God. This is my body, and if you are messing with it, you are darn well gonna tell me what you are doing with it! :-).

So yes! Speak up! Ask to see what he's doing & explain it to you.

:-)

[Butterthebean 8,146]

That's some great information. I hope everyone reads it and takes it to heart. It would answer a lot of the questions that get asked around here.

[doxieville 799]

That's some great information. I hope everyone reads it and takes it to heart. It would answer a lot of the questions that get asked around here.

Thanks! I've learned so much about WLS in just a few short months and i'm thrilled to be able to help others through my experience. I remember how confused, concerned & kinda lost when I first started looking into WLS. There is just so much confusion because everyone's protocol is different. I feel that if you've picked your surgeon wisely and have done your research, then post-surgery you need to trust your surgeon and follow what he/she has set up for your program. Here at the forum we can help guide, support & encourage by sharing our experiences. That does not mean that someone should igore their docs advice and do something that someone else is doing.

OK....stepping off my soapbox now. :-)

[socal13 7]

Great info.. thank you

[NerdyMHC 76]

PLEASE do not take any offense to this comparison!!

A good way to look at stretching the sleeve is comparing it to the practice of creating holes in ones earlobe. You need to start with a small circle, and then slowly move to a bigger size as the earlobe stretches. If anyone knows the correct terminology and process for this, please let me know. Thanks!

I lived in the Amazon as a child and the Indians native to that area would stretch out their bottom lip. They start with a small one as a child and over time would put in bigger ones until the lip

is fully extended. So, it does take a lot of work to stretch the sleeve. It IS doable, but you'd be pretty darn uncomfortable for a long time! Dr. Duperier said empahatically that he has seen very few people actually stretch it so that the size stops being a tool. When it doesn't work it's always been because of poor diet choices, and snacking continually.

Hope this helps!!

I have stretched ear lobes and I call it gauging, so we would be gauging out our stomachs instead of our ears