Is my sleeve big ?!

[KimberlyBranco7 64]

I am reading about people that can't drink down a 8 ounce Protein shake .. I am 5 days post op and able to drink it in 30-45 minutes. As the day goes on it does get harder .. Should I talk to my surgeon about this !? Anybody could drink 8oz in that time frame ?

I also hear people getting gas .. I walk around the neighborhood everyday for 10-20 minutes depending on pain level and I have had no gas.

I'm starting to think my sleeve is not as small as others .. Disappointed

[sleeve30 33]

Def talk to your surgeon...ask him what tube size he used

[Scraglycat 19]

No, don't worry. Your surgeon didn't become a surgeon without a lot of practice :-)

I was worried three months ago I had no sleeve, as in the doctor forgot to sleeve me. Haha.. I could drink easily. I really was where you are :-)

Then I hit soft and solid food...and wham. I had restriction. When you eat/drink shakes, they can go directly into small intestine...but when you eat dense Protein, it cause your pyloric valve to close and keeps the food in your sleeve...don't worry, this will go away.

The size bougie may affect size of sleeve, but very tiny differences.

[Scraglycat 19]

P.s. You just are doing well :-)

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Here is a picture of the different bougie sizes. You're fine. Eight ounces in 45 minutes is not that fast. It's a good pace, to be honest. You will definitely be able to get your fluids in which is a HUGE plus for you.

[RickM 1,747]

I was also a bit concerned when I found that I could down a bowl of broth (6 - 8 oz?) and a half cup of juice within a sitting (30 min or so?) in the hospital while my wife when she went through this some years ago could barely put away her nominal stomach size in liquids in those early days (and I had a 2.5 oz VSG stomach measured at time of surgery while she had a 4.0+ oz DS stomach) I was assured by the doc that these are just normal variations, and indeed over the years here I have seen reports from both ends of the spectrum. Some people will experience more inflammation from the surgery, restricting flow thru the stomach, and some people's pyloric valve will be a little looser in allowing fluids through than others. A cup of Protein shake in a half hour or so was no problem for me the first week.

The real test of your restriction will come when you get into solid foods and see how much your stomach holds when the pyloric valve is closed while things are being digested.

[Rosanna swfl 6]

Here is a picture of the different bougie sizes. You're fine. Eight ounces in 45 minutes is not that fast. It's a good pace, to be honest. You will definitely be able to get your fluids in which is a HUGE plus for you.

image.jpg

Wow, scheduled for 31st, I never knew how small the sleeve is... And you're quote about pants falling down hilarious

[gomekast 559]

Another thing to keep in mind is Soup and broth are sliders. They wont fill you up.

One more good thing to think about it that your sleeve is numb until a good 4-8 weeks post op. Mine was numb well into month 2-3.

[AAA022414 13]

Another thing to keep in mind is Soup and broth are sliders. They wont fill you up.

One more good thing to think about it that your sleeve is numb until a good 4-8 weeks post op. Mine was numb well into month 2-3.

What do you mean by numb?

[Rebellious Butterfly 91]

Here is a picture of the different bougie sizes. You're fine. Eight ounces in 45 minutes is not that fast. It's a good pace, to be honest. You will definitely be able to get your fluids in which is a HUGE plus for you.

please explain the bougie stuff to me I'm new at this

[Rebellious Butterfly 91]

What do you mean by numb?

i would love to know as well

[gomekast 559]

When they do surgery, they use meds to numb things down there. Our new sleeves are numb for several weeks until the meds and trauma effects have worn off.

Its why they stress measuring measuring measuring until you can fully feel your sleeve. That usually doesnt happen until you hit the later food stages and varies from person to person too. But they are all numb for a period of time, even with me and i had a double stricture for a while.

[gomekast 559]

please explain the bougie stuff to me I'm new at this

A bougie is what the anesthesiologist uses to form the shape of the sleeve. Its a tube thats placed down your throat. They work hand in hand with the surgeon to do the surgery.

My brother in law is an anesthesiologist and has said that in the grand sceme of things the size doesnt really matter. Their all pretty small regardless, but that often times behaviors of patients havent been changed enough and some look at the size as a reason or excuse to really change. Again...he's your typical dr type, so take that with a big ole grain of salt!

I do know that on youtube, Endobariatric channel has a ton of great videos on tons of different questions. Go check them out..i learned a lot there in the beginning of my journey.