HELP! I am feeling nervous, anxious and fearful about the sleeve

[JacobsMommy 27]

Greetings everyone,

I am so overwhelmed of the thought of another surgery. How will I know the sleeve will work for me? How will by body look after I lose the weight?

I am extremely afraid of the pain and not being able to make it through the first three days? Can I really make it through? Is the pain really that bad? Some of those YouTube videos are horrific!! Can I really do this?

My thoughts are over taking everything in my life right now and it's all centered around the sleeve surgery.

Maybe I am placing too much thought into it, but sometimes fear grips my heart and I cannot image how life would be afterwards.

HELP!!

[joatsaint 2,814]

This is a really exciting/stressful time - I remember it clearly. If you have good pain meds, you shouldn't really experience extreme pain. I remember feeling lots of pressure in my chest and some aches in my shoulder - all from the gas. But nothing painful from my new stomach or the stitches. If I hadn't gotten the hiccups the day after surgery and stretched my new sleeve, I don't think I would have been more than a little uncomfortable.

[JacobsMommy 27]

Thank you for your words...it really mean a lot. I appreciate the links. It was very helpful

[yaly88 18]

Don r you worry we all been there the pain medication will help you a lot the only pain you fell it s when you get up to use the bathroom, move side to side and get up to walk and before you do any of that take or ask for you pain Meds 30 minutes before that way all you feel is discomfort not pain. As for the rest of your worries leave it all to God he will take good care of you I promise. Wish you all the best,

[1959JimmyJames 61]

I had surgery 3 weeks ago, today. I feel really good now. You are worried about the first few days, and those are the worst. I am a band to sleeve revision. Surgery took about 4 hours. The doctor had to do something else that I needed. That is why it took longer. When I woke up in post-op, I had a bad headache. I didn't feel my abdomen pain yet. I just had a headache. They give you ice chips and that helped the cottonmouth. I kept saying," my head hurts", and the reply was, "I can't give you anything yet", then I would raise my hand to my head and feel it being pushed back onto the gurney, and heard someone say "lay still". Then I would say, "my mouth is dry", and ice chips would magically appear on a spoon in front of my mouth, and the whole cycle would be repeated again and again and again. When you get to your room you will be hooked up to a pain pump. You will have the control in your hand and when the button is lit up you push it and pain medicine will will enter your IV and you will feel better. I didn't have a catheter. I was up the first night for a walk and a bathroom break. The second day was about the same and the second night. The morning of the third day I was taken to radiology for a swallow test and after a couple more hours I was released to go home. I was given a liquid pain reliever that helped alot. It is very strong but tasted horrible. The only time I hurt was when I would get up to go to the bathroom or move from side to side in bed. Around the fifth day post-op I stopped drinking the pain reliever because the taste made me want to puke and I didn't really need it anymore. I am not making light of this. The pain was strong and I felt like I had been beaten up real bad, but if you drink the pain killer and try to stay still and sip Water constantly then you will get through the first 5 days. After that I was moving around pretty good with out any pain reliever. Thank God for my wife. I feel wonderful now. I am down 26 lbs already in 3 weeks and I am not doing any kind of exercise yet. Just walking around the house and helping out with the kids. Watching TV is bad. But it is boring without it. It's not the shows that are bad, it's the commercials. I am not hungry anymore, but when I see a food commercial for pizza or hamburgers or steak and lobster or something else that is delicious, I start to feel like I am starving. It is an instant reaction to the image. I am just amazed at how much control these images have over my behavior. I am being very good and following the plan that I was given. One more week and I can eat a normal diet again. I am waiting to find out what that is like. Good luck to you.

[Jmashell2014 2]

I am 4 days post op and I do feel like I'm on a downward curve. Honestly the worst part for me has been the gas and just trying to get used to the small amount of liquid. You will make it for sure, I had many of the same concerns and even post op I have to keep telling myself this is a tool for my total health not just weight loss so the discomfort I'm having is small in comparison. Hang in there and your in my prayers.

[Mississippi Girl 124]

you will do great. they will give you pain meds. the very best thing you can do for yourself is to walk, walk and then walk. good luck!

[JacobsMommy 27]

All of you are amazing and so helpful. Your words are encouraging and my mind is a little more at ease by your response. I can do this! I am not a sucker! LOL LOL well a little, but my hubby will be here to help. And I am sure no amount of pain for a moment will compare to how much better I will feel in the long run. Thank you for your prayers and I pray you all have a successful journey as well.

[JacobsMommy 27]

1959JimmyJames, I appreciate your honesty!! Ice chips magically appearing?! LOL LOL I am glad to know that and a iv for pain meds which I can control? ! YES!! That make it a little easier. Congratulations on your weight loss

Edited April 8, 2014 by JacobsMommy

[Patsypatrice 44]

Greetings everyone, I am so overwhelmed of the thought of another surgery. How will I know the sleeve will work for me? How will by body look after I lose the weight? I am extremely afraid of the pain and not being able to make it through the first three days? Can I really make it through? Is the pain really that bad? Some of those YouTube videos are horrific!! Can I really do this? My thoughts are over taking everything in my life right now and it's all centered around the sleeve surgery. Maybe I am placing too much thought into it, but sometimes fear grips my heart and I cannot image how life would be afterwards. HELP!!

I had my sleeve on 2/26 & it was a very good experience! Minimal aim, no nausea or gas pain & only one night on hospital. First three days were a breeze. Good luck!