kellyw74

i told my work months in advance that i would be taking time off. i only took a week, but my boss knew about it long before i even had a date! make sure they are informed. Kelly

i noticed that about my chair at work the other day! i actually have room on both sides of me in the seat now! YAY FOR US!! :D Kelly

i have not, but eggface rocks. go check out her website. she has lots of good ideas for all food stages! theworldaccordingtoeggface.com Kelly

awww. your hubby sounds like mine. he calls me skinny minny! LOL Kelly

I checked in at 11 am. My surgery was at 3pm and I spent the night. I was released at 11:45 the next morning. Kelly

The first 3 days I had the worst gas!! It was AWFUL!! I did not have any pain other than gas pain tho. After the gas broke, I had diahreah for a couple days. Then, I was really sore! Kinda like I did 20,000 crunches. LOL I slept a lot for about 3 days and then, I felt fine. I walked everyday a little more and more each day. That helps you to feel better and not get stiff! I did everything myself and didn't have my husband do it for me. I went back to work on day 7 and felt tired, but I became anemic after surgery and that was a problem for about 3 weeks. Now, I am 6 weeks out and feel great! You will do great. This surgery really doesn't produce too much pain as our stomachs do not have nerve receptors like our fingers do. Just remember that you did have MAJOR surgery and just because you feel fine, you do need to rest! That is what was said to me over and over. LOL Good luck to you! Kelly

Sorry you are going thru this. How awful! Kelly

I took lots of things, magazine (didn't read), gas x (didn't work), clothes (didn't wear), house slippers (didn't wear they gave me sock slippers). the only useful thing I took and used was my ipod. listening to music was so much nicer than people puking! Kelly

Good job Apple!! You can really see the difference already!! Hope your kidney infection is getting better! Hugs, Kelly

welcome and good luck on your upcomming surgery. i will save a spot for you on the loser's bench!! Kelly

OH MAN!! I did not realize that you had not worked for your employer for less than a year. Yeah, you have to work for at least 12 months! SUCK! Well, still, the sleeve is worth it and if they fire you over having surgery, they are assholes and you can always get another job! Kelly

FMLA is Family Medical Leave Act Google it and get the information about it. And I agree with the other's...start keeping notes about what was said and when. If they fire you. Sue them! They can not do that! Kelly

i sipped for like the first 10-12 days then i was taking normal drinks. i can now take 2-3 sips thru a straw and swallow at a time without issue. if you take too big of a drink, it will hurt in your chest....at least it did for me! you will not have to sip forever! Kelly

Could be a number of things. COuld be dehydrated, not enough food. DO you take bp meds? I was severly dizzy about day 6-10, finally went to my pcp and he took me off my bp meds. YAY. also did blood work and i was severly anemic as well and my electrolytes were really low! you should go see your dr. or at least call them!! NOW. Kelly

How much time are you taking off? There is such a thing called FMLA if you are thinking of taking a lot of time off! Then they can't fire you! What an awful thing to say to someone that is having a medical procedure done. How lame! Kelly

So it has been a little over 6 weeks for us Red Velvet member's. How the heck are you all doing? I have not seen any posts from Michelle or Meggie for a while. Have you all fallen off the face of the earth?? I am doing well, I am still on modified regular foods until August. I pretty much eat anything that doesn't have skin or seeds and isn't dry. Nothing raw and no Beans or bread products. I had my first post-op visit last Thursday and my Dr. was blown away by my progress. I have lost 70% of my excess weight. YAY ME!! Mind you 55lbs was pre-op! However, he was so happy and just kept telling me how great I looked. I am having a much better time with my foods now and can pretty much tolerate anything I eat and am not having that "stuck" feeling any longer. Dr. said it was swelling and now that is gone, I am good. He wants me to not chew to liquid consistancy any longer, that way the food stays in tummy longer. So far, so good. I thought it would make me sick, but it hasn't! I have to go in August and have my blood checked to see how everything is going, but I feel great, hit Onderland yesterday, and bought size 12 pants this past weekend. Are you kidding me??? I have not worn that size in like 10 years! I hope the rest of you Red Velveter's are rockin' it too! Hugs, Kelly

My nut told me to take good old trusty Centrum when I was able to eat regular food. The chewable vitamins from BA were making me feel awful. It was weird because just all of the sudden they started when they didn't pre-op or 4 weeks post-op. She advised that Centrum has everything you need including iron. I buy the Walmart brand it is comparable to Centrum and ALOT cheaper. I have no trouble swallowing them and they DO NOT make me sick! Kelly

I also wanted to add that I also stopped losing when I went to the soft food stage. I was so discouraged. My surgeon advised that almost all of his patients stop losing when transitioning to this stage. It is because of the "soft caloires". He said that once we are able to eat more solid foods we will start losing agiain. Welp, he was correct. I was on that stage for 2 weeks and did not lose a single pound!! When I went to the next stage of food and was able to eat meat! BAM!! Lost 4 lbs in 5 days. So, don't fret, it is just the food and all the carbs and calories in them. It is ok tho, we have to do it. You will get there too. Kelly

I also ate most of the above and the following: Turkey Meatloaf pureed with chicken gravy...yummy Dinty Moore beef stew pureed Wendy's chili pureed Any type of food can be pureed if you put a little mayo or gravy on it for moisture. It is better to add gravy than Water for added flavor. Kelly

That is so weird because you would think that it would swell and take up room. I am only a little over 6 weeks out and have not tried bread yet and it will be a long time before I do, but that is scary, good to know, but scary! Kelly

Thanks everyone!! Kelly

Good job!! Kelly

you look AWESOME!! Good job! Kelly

I just had my copay and it was $50.00 that I had to pay upfront. Most insurance companies make you pay at the time of service now a days. Kelly

My dr. told me that reflux could get worse and if you don't have it you could develop it. I took nexium for years before surgery and this was a BIG issue for him with me. I have had no real issues with my reflux since surgery. I do still take my nexium and will continue to take it, but I am glad becuase I was fearful that I was going to be really sick with acid issues. Kelly