Sleeve question

[christoph 12]

So I'm going for my sleeve feb 26, 2013. I've been prepping and starting to incorporate more Protein in my diet. My thought is that will make the pre-op diet easier than just going into it cold turkey. I want to know what is the one thing you wish you knew going into surgery that you didn't?

[joatsaint 2,814]

Not to drink anything after the operation - until I had the leak test. Fortunately my nurse caught me before I took a swallow and said that if I'd had drank anything and had a leak, I'd be in ICU. They said ice chips were fine to eat, it was just any kind of Fluid was dangerous until the leak test.

I had been lurking here on the forum for a few days, and with so many questions being posted daily, there wasn't a anything else that I didn't know about.

The one thing you can't learn here on the board is how long you need for recovery. Some are up and going in a couple of days, others need a week or so before feeling better. Everybody is different.

I probably could have returned to work after 7 days, but it would have been miserable. I was back at work and feeling OK on day 10. But I have a desk job, a more physical job would have required more recover time. So prepare for the worst and expect to be off work for up to 2 weeks.

[NurseGrace 509]

stay away from the ice chips - they made me SO nauseous and so when I got home I was scared to drink - well it turns out that warm stuff was totally fine but the ice made me feel sick.

[christoph 12]

Thanks so much! I've been reading up on here and all over the Internet. Also asking everyone I know who has had weight loss surgery of any type. Unfortunately I don't know anyone whose actually had the sleeve just rny or the band. I appreciate all your input!