April bypass buddies.

[OregonTeacher 63]

MichelleTN,

I was just talking to my daughter about you and wondering how you did and are doing. I am so happy to be home. When they got inside me they discovered a "substantial" hiatal hernia so am a bit more sore than I had hoped. All in all, it could definitely be much worse!!! Glad to hear you are doing well!

[MichelleTN 169]

I never knew cream Soup could be so yummy & filling. :-) day 4.

Hopefully mine will be April 22

Highest weight 420

Current weight 391

I'm 5'5 as well

The doctor wants me to lose another 20 pounds or she will post pone it until I do

How was your surgery?

[beachgal2935 596]

5' 2"

HIGHEST WEIGHT: 285

START WEIGHT: 248

CURRENT WEIGHT: 228

SURGERY: APRIL 21st

Edited April 28, 2015 by beachgal2935

[beachgal2935 596]

I had bypass surgery Tuesday, April 21st at 8:00 a.m. at mayo Hospital where I live in Jacksonville, FL. I was on the 2 week Optifast liquid pre-op diet, which I had fun with and loved. Let me know if you want any tips in making it easier and most importantly tastier!

My surgeon was quite pleased with my 15 lb. weight loss. I was so excited about my surgery that I was cracking jokes and having fun with everyone as they prepped me for surgery. I didn't have a worry in the world. My surgeon told me that because I'd done so well on the pre-op diet, my surgery only took 2 hours instead of 2 1/2 hours as he'd previously planned. Once I arrived in my large plush room, my husband, son and parents were there to greet me. I was trying my hardest to converse with them but all I wanted to do was sleep thanks to the anesthesia. The three guys went and visited on the couch/bed and my mom sat in the recliner and we talked a bit. I finally convinced them all to go home and I'd call them later.

Once I woke from my drug induced nap, I woke and honestly I barely had any pain. I was walking by late afternoon and that was great. I never had much gas in the way of burping or tooting as many have. I was told by my surgeon that the CO2 they pump our abdomens with is dissipated through our blood. That's why it's so important to walk, walk, walk because it gets our blood flowing. I also had the pressure cuffs on my legs the whole time I was there. When asked by my nurse what my pain level was on a scale of 1-10, mine was never higher than a 2. She'd inject a lil something in my IV and all was good.

That story changed that first night when the nurse's aid came in to "strip" my drain. My drain had been emptied throughout the day and it was no problem. When he stripped it I thought I was going to come off the bed. It felt like someone was literally pulling my artery out of my left collar bone and I thought I was going to die. I have a very high tolerance for pain and I was crying like a baby. It even left me sore. The next morning when the nurse did it, it hurt again, but at least not for as long. When my surgeon came to visit I asked him why it hurt so darned bad and he said because the drain loops up underneath the diaphram. Anyways, I was glad when he pulled it out!

I passed my swallow test and then my blenderized meal that afternoon so I was discharged the day after surgery around 6 p.m. They sent me home with a prescription for percocet and some nausea med. We filled them and I was glad to be home. I took a pain pill at bedtime, two the next day and then I was finished with them.

I've been totally pain free since Saturday and my incisions look amazing. They were sewn shut from the inside and then glued on the outside and most of the glue has already faded away. I've been able to get my 60 grams of Protein in every day with no problem at all. I drink 2 Premier Protein shakes (30g each) per day and 2 - 4 oz. servings of Campbells cream of chicken Soup (1 can + enough Water to make 16 oz. in my Nutribullet). I have a chronic nerve condition so I'm mixing meds 3 times per day with applesauce, so that adds about a 1/4 cup to my daily caloric intake. My typical day so far is: 474 calories, 62g Protein, 17 fat, 26 carbs, 7 sugar, 10 Fiber.

I'm on this pourable liquid diet for 1 week, week 2 thick pourable shakes, yogurt, etc. and then week 3 is mechanically altered foods: small distinct pieces of tender and easily chewed food low in fat and sugar. meat must be ground or flaked. Then there are stages 4 & 5. Mayo is very thorough with their protocol. I know to always lead with protein and my goal is to get my 60g's every day!

I went to lunch with my girlfriends yesterday and took a little cooler with my Protein shake in it. When the waitress asked what I'd be having for lunch I said "A pretty glass with a couple of cubes of ice please". She brought me just that and I enjoyed time with my friends. We also went to Starbucks later and I enjoyed another 4 oz. of my Protein Shake.

I'm full of energy and already feel this lifelong decision I've made is the BEST one I've ever made!!! I wish the best of luck to all my fellow April buddies and for those who've yet to have surgery, you are going to be so happy

Edited April 28, 2015 by beachgal2935

[MichelleTN 169]

Had my first post op Dr visit today. All looks good. No pain, I've not taken any pain meds. Lost 8lbs. I'm advancing to pureed foods. Now to figure out what's for dinner. :-)

[momfromjersey22 403]

I had my first post op Dr visit today as well. Healing well, can start Vitamins, and have lost 25lbs since pre op diet. Hopefully it will be more at my next 3 week visit. Good luck to everyone!

Edited April 28, 2015 by momfromjersey22

[Alissak77 48]

I am 8 days post-op, feeling great!! Two shakes a day and 1/4 cup puréed food twice a day as well. Getting my liquids in. Put an app on my phone called Baratastic. Love it!! Can track everything, food, Water, weight. I am down 14lbs since surgery day (April 20th). Getting out and walking quite a bit. Doc appt not until May 15th, should be able to add more things to diet then. Really craving some sort of carb!!! A wheat thin sounds awesome right now!!!

Have had no complications so far, no throwing up, etc, hope it stays that way!! Did not like my Calcium citrate in pill form (so damn big, even the petites) so I ordered the Bariatric Advantage Carmel chewable ones, so far loving them!

[Alissak77 48]

** correction, App is called Baritastic, I spelt it wrong. ????

[beachgal2935 596]

My surgery was April 21st but my first post-op isn't until May 26th. Is that what most of you have experienced? I just can't believe how wonderful I already feel.

[OregonTeacher 63]

Beachgal,

I had surgery the same day as you and had a post-op on Monday and have another one this coming Monday. Seems like an awful long time without being checked up on after such a serious surgery.

[KalelsWifey 318]

I agree with @oregonteacher. I had surgery on 4/22 my fup is on 5/7. 15 days post-op... It's absolutely within your right to phone the office to check on this... Also, do you have staples?? I do which is probably why I am relatively close in date so they can be removed... Just a thought.

[MichelleTN 169]

My surgery was April 21st but my first post-op isn't until May 26th. Is that what most of you have experienced? I just can't believe how wonderful I already feel.

Mine was 21st also & I had a 1week check up & then I go back again foe a 1 mo. I thought most go back for a 1week check up to make sure everything is good.

[audnmac8 44]

I'm 21st too and I had my one week post op and lost 27 pounds feeling great!! I just gotta keep going for my goal weight! Good luck to you all

[KalelsWifey 318]

@@audnmac8 Is that all in one week?!? Amazing!!! I am a week out today and have lost 15 lbs this morning. So excited.

Edited April 29, 2015 by KalelsWifey

[audnmac8 44]

Thanks but it's actually from last weigh in before surgery at my Doctors office but I lost 10 pounds from pre op liquid diet so I went from 327 to 303!!