CALLING ANY SC SLEEVERS! MY SURGERY DATE IS...JAN. 20. IM SUPER NERVOUS NOW!

[realrawuncutsleeve 30]

GERYs

[davop56 1]

Mine will be Jan 22. I made a appointment with my PCP and also with the surgeon to ask questions and help with fears. It helped a lot.

[Fatdiva14 47]

@@realrawuncutsleeve

@@davop56

I am right in the middle of you two. I am Jan. 21st. I am nervous, but excited at the same time. I just submitted my leave request. It is really official.

[realrawuncutsleeve 30]

@@Fatdiva14 im glad u mentioned that. When is a good time to submit my leave to my job

[Fatdiva14 47]

@@realrawuncutsleeve

I would do it now, especially since you know your date.

Are you using any STD under the FMLA? I am taking the full six weeks that my doctor recommends, and will work from home the last two weeks of the six week period. The FMLA request protects your job for 12 weeks and the STD leave can coincide with your sick and vacation.

[laurashelby 8]

Hi.....I'm also scheduled for January 20! Am on Day 3 of my pre-op diet.

[SCSleeve 18]

I'm in SC and was sleeved on December 29. Happy to answer any questions!

[realrawuncutsleeve 30]

@scsleeve....wow!!! How was it I wanna get all the details about yo emotions, yo pain your gain or loss should I say...DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS

[SCSleeve 18]

So far everything has gone smoother than I thought it might. I had major health problems last year, so I went into it feeling weaker than I would have liked, so I worried my recovery would be slow and frustrating. It's been picture perfect, and I felt like my doc fully prepared me for what recovery should be like. The preop diet was rough, but knowing I was choosing this surgery and the benefit it will help me achieve made me not tempted to cheat even once. I repeated my mantra of "I chose this and I picked this doc to tell me how to do it, so I'm going to follow the instructions." That helped, especially not being able to enjoy Christmas food.

The surgery itself went quickly, and the hospital made every effort to reduce pain and nausea, so they provided meds any time I asked. I was discharged after two nights and came home on a full liquid diet. That got old, but I'm already on puréed foods since yesterday and variety is great. Since I started the preop diet, I'm down 20 pounds total (9 since surgery weight). I came home from the hospital weighing 8 pounds more than surgery day because of all the fluids they pumped in, but that came off in a couple of days.

I'm feeling stronger every day and have been walking as much as I can tolerate. Today's adventure: walking through costco while it's so cold outside. .

I think the key is knowing what to expect going in, so that every little gas pain, muscle soreness, nausea, etc., seems normal and doesn't frustrate or derail you. I know that was part of the deal and it's been totally tolerable. Everyone is different and I'm lucky not to have had severe symptoms, but at least I was prepared for the ones I've had. 2015 is going to be great!

[realrawuncutsleeve 30]

@@SCSleeve this is great!!! If u dnt mind me asking what was your starting weight vs what you weigh now? How long was u in surgery for? Did u have much site pain?

[SCSleeve 18]

No problem! I started the preop diet at 254.5, was 243.5 on surgery day, and am now 230.5. I came home from the hospital having gained 8 pounds from IV fluids, but it came off quickly.

As for pain, it's mostly just been abdominal soreness. Every once in a while the incision sites itch or are sore, but that's rare. The day of surgery I was in pain, but the pain meds they gave me took care of it. Don't be afraid to ask for meds when you need them - it's hard to heal if you're in pain! My doc stressed that before I went in, so the nurses had orders to provide it.

I still get sore when I do a lot (like after taking down holiday decorations yesterday), but it's totally tolerable. The only incision that ever hurts now is the largest one where they removed the stomach, and that's only once or twice a day tops.

I'm sure all of this will be a blur six months from now.

[SCSleeve 18]

Oh, I was in surgery for about an hour and a half I think.