Happy Camper

Best of luck to you! This is a great tool.

Oh Libbe keep the faith honey at least the leak has stopped. We are thinking of you and saying our prayers. Hugs

I have been using my Elliptical now up to 25-40 minutes and I mix it up. I just got Country Dance 2 and used that today, whoa it kicked my "u know what". I am excited for tomorrow . Hard to believe I would be excited for exercise. Usually 5 days a week.

I have posts this under the complications section so apologies if this is repeat for anyone reading. I will keep as brief as possible. Sleeved November 1. Drain removed November 11, stomach pain started next day. By November 16 I was having emergency surgery for a large abscess in my abdomen which went down the exact path my drain was located, the surgeon could see it. I received treatment which included a product called "Acellular Xenograft" which speeds up the healing process, it is actual pig cells. My stomach was left open to heal from the inside out. I am now 60 days post op from sleeve surgery and have never had one night without a large surgical dressing on my stomach. I shower with Saran Wrap around me but, am looking forward to next Friday because the insurance company denied covering my treatments and I appealed the underwriters, sent in photographs and guess what...they changed their decision which was based on the fact the material was considered experimental. It was this treatment or a vacuum strapped to me and trips to a wound clinic. My hope is by my appeal being accepted by Anthem, it will help someone else in the future. All through all of this, I remain excited about my sleeve and my future health. I wish you good health and no complications!

Definitely at your stage you have to take it slow. Others have given you great information. Dehydration is your biggest concern early on. Keep up the fluids, sf pops, I like G-2 which is less sugar. My doc also said not to start Vitamins until week two, priority was fluids and if you have other mds you have to get in. Nothing bigger than tic-tac. Best to you, Take care

I am late to the topic for you Lola but, you received great advice. Good to hear you are feeling better. Just please listen to your body and don't be afraid to call your doctor. This is serious and they get paid accordingly. Take care of you and good luck on this journey.

Wow Kathy - I have not heard of anyone with a nicked Spleen. This I can tell you - generally when you are up and moving it helps tremendously. Walking and sipping, though clechet sounding,really do help with that trapped gas (if it is the gas). By three weeks, I had a second surgery for a complication and I did not have the type of pain you describe. You need to get your lungs going, definately. And honestly, because of the spleen maybe that is adding to your shoulder. If it gets too bad, I would call doc again. Take care.

I also do the brown turkey breast from costco with a Baby Bel cheese round - total calories 120 or if I add another piece of turkey it is like 170. I also eat the following: 1/2 banana with 2 tsp skippy Peanut Butter Peeled and sliced apple (chew well) dipped in skippy peanut butter (this has fat in it but, I use very little) Albacore Tuna mixed with Johnny Garlic's ceasar dressing instead of mayo (you can find both at Costco) Shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce (yummy and lots of protein) Campell's Cheese Soup mix with chicken Breast (I found this on the forum, it was okay goning to try other versions) Chicken Enchilada (microwaved chicken breasts in garlic and bouillon, then shredded them, opened a can of enchilada sauce dipped my whole wheat tortilla in the sauce, sprinked with fat free cheese, added a couple mexican stewed tomatoes and rolled them up - baked only until cheese was melted and sause bubbled. I could only eat 1/2 but had the other half for Breakfast today yummy. Smiles ~ Sandy

I am not sure if it is okay but, honestly I would NOT do it. Along with other things Nyquil has a lot of alcohol in it and this early on you do not need that in your tummy. Think of it like a baby's tummy - it needs time. Have some chicken broth with some extra frest strained out garlic - that will help your cold Take care, Sandy

I too am sorry you are feeling so bad, question do you have a cpap machine? I have recently learned that machine can fill your tummy with air, you are full and are not eating. The other thing is seriously, you need to get Fluid down. If you can't eat not so bad and don't worry about the meds. First and foremost you need to stay hydrated. Take it a step at a time. 17 days is a long spell - try to get some gatorade down you need the ellectrolites. I drink G2 it does not have all the sugar. Then move slowly - Water does bother some tummys. Go back to the basics, if no chicken broth get a cup o noodles, make it and just drink the broth from that - a little less oily in my opinion. If that sticks with you, try some simple split pea Soup - it is a little thicker and just lick the spoon if that is all you can do. THEN try to get some of the meds in - specifically the acid reducer. Let us know how it goes, if you can't get anything on board, you need to go back to the doctor or the ER for fluids. I wish you the best, Sandy

I thought mine were excessive, but it seems you have more: Up at 4am 1/2 Protein drink (costco premier brand) take Biotin (5000 meg) Next: Mixed in my 1/4 c natural applesauce is Omeprazole (PPI) Potassium 10 MEQ, which is two pills mixed in Bariatric Advantage B-50 complex (yuck) I then chew: Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate 500 mg Bariatric Advantage complete multi-formula Evening add to meal: Potassium (2 more pills) So all in right now I am taking 9 pills in some form a day. It does seem like you have a lot extra, maybe after your next blood panel you can come off some? I did a workup last week for my check up this Friday. Hopefully you are feeling better too

That is so special, congratulations. Wishing you many, many years of happiness and love.

Mommamea, thank goodness! When you have a chance read my post under complications about listening to your body. I am so very glad you did. I waited and ignored my pain thinking it was my sleeve. I agree with the others, good healing to you and thanks for letting us know, folks really do care. Take care of you.

Mommamea, I developed an abscess (infection) at the site my drain was located. I do not want to frighten you but, this is NOTHING to mess around with. The infection did not go through my peritoneal cavity and after I was taken in for a CT scan, to check for leak they did emergency surgery. I NEVER HAD A FEVER. I am still healing with an open wound in my tummy. My sleeve surgery was 11/1, my second surgery was 11/16 it has cost more than the original surgery and set me back in many ways. Please is there anyway you can go to the ER? I wanted to wait a day and my nurse said she would not advise that, my hubby drove me to ER 3 hours away and a few hours after that I had emergency surgery. Infection is serious. My prayers are with you, please let is know. If you want to discuss anything further, please just send me a note.

Today is your day!! To anyone who needs a little encouragement, know others have been there and we will help where we can. Happy New Year! Sandy

Happy New Year! I would add the following: Scale Small containers (like the zip lock type) Different types of broth ( I cooked my own ahead and froze it in small containers for ease of prep time) water bottles with oz on side, I used these for protein drink measurement and ease Loose clothes easy to put on G2 - my favorite is grape Once you graduate to full liquids: split pea soup (this was my life line!)

"One more thing - I have noticed a tendency to complications more for people who don't follow the rules in one way or another. Be diligent in your preparation, give yourself enough time to heal, promise no one nothing while you are doing so!" UMM Sorry but, I just need to share, I do not think this is a statement I can agree with Pookeism. I followed everything to the letter. You could not find anyone who measured, ate only prescribed food, stayed sterile (my hubby thinks I have mysophobia) and I developed a major complication. The abscess was not my fault. Things happen Being scared is natural. Learning all you can helps conquer fears. Ultimately, it will be a decision you have to be comfortable with.

Susan - I do so appreciate you, Irene, Tiff, Ken (sorry missing others) - the one thing I wanted when I joined this site was to find folks who had real life experience with the sleeve. With the formation of this site it makes it possible first, but the people make the difference. My daughter has the lap band (almost 2 years),has lost 70 lbs and is happy. I knew that was not for me, with the sleeve procedure as a stand alone, it is new. i consider all of us the pioneers and hope that others in time will continue to look to us like I looked to you, Tiff and Irene etc. I wanted to know there were real people I could take my questions to and you all have been there. I live in a remote location without access to support groups. Before I joined I am certain there were others but, the regulars who take time out to post do help like Lissa, Longer-Life,Libbee, Rootman, Feed your Eye, thinoneday, ThomasCPA etc these folks are all making a difference for someone and that is fantastic! I am just very appreciative is all. Take care.

Carbgrl, Education is the best medicine. We post about complications to help others not to "freak" anyone out. People are all different and our bodies adapt to this surgery in different ways. Some things are out of our control, but if you are going down the weight loss surgery path, you have exhausted all other means and your health both physical and mental, are depending on you to rid yourself of the excess weight. Please just think of this as education with real people, so you know some things that can potentially happen. If they do, more often than not-there is a correction. My abscess and second surgery do not hold me back from saying, I am glad I had the sleeve surgery. I feel better today, with an open wound on my tummy than I did 4 months ago when I was in the approval process. I know I have extended my life to move forward with my hubby into my twilight years I wish you strength and confidence in your journey.

Alex, Just wanted to thank you for starting this site. To have the vision and foresight to grow this into thousands who support and gain information on a topic that impacts millions of people in the world of all walks of life, is wonderful. As you make subtle changes to the site we do notice and it is always in the spirit of making things better. I for one look forward to the evolution. To the moderators, most of you share your experiences and help others to get started, where else can one find support like that? To all who give their time, you are paying it forward. Have a Happy New Year!

You will go on and will be successful in whatever you choose to do. Congratulations!

Lucy i would be willing as well. I am only 8 weeks out but, I come with a complication from the surgery which could add to your overall scope. Just let me know. Thanks and good luck!

To say it will be a certain time, may be difficult honestly. I have read here a large scale of differences. From a woman who was released from the hospital a few hours after her surgery (amazing) to days in the hospital or more frequently folks having to go back because of dehydration or other issues. I personally would say plan on two weeks and that would include your hospitalization. You will not be taking in calories in the beginning so your energy will be low and the kiddo 's will not understand. This will be a time for YOU. You will go home from the hospital on liquid pain medicine and rest helps you to heal. You will be better off to take it slow then to rush things and end up with an issue. Just my thoughts. Good luck to you, I wish you the best.

F a n d a m t a s t i c! Congratulations Lissa!!

I do not want to freak you out but, my tender hard area was an abscess that I had to have emergency surgery for....please contact your bariatric team and let them diagnose it is nothing to mess around with. My surgery was 15 days after my sleeve surgery. And please go back to the recommended diet.