lkcraig316

Congratulations! I had a very hard time getting all my fluids in the first two weeks--and don't even ask me about proteins. It will get easier as you heal.

It's good that you have done your research before you went in. I spent all kinds of time on these boards before my first visit and he said I was the most informed patient he'd ever had. You are going to do great!

Welcome! You will LOVE your sleeve!

I had to do mine for two weeks. I started it at 231 and by surgery day I was down to 217--so 14 pounds. And that's also how much I've lost from surgery date to now--two weeks out.

And PS my pudding was SF. I just meant I was sick of not having any other options (except broth). Might I highly recommend vanilla/chocolate swirl SF Jello pudding. Scrumptious!

I finally moved to stage two--thick liquids. I have been excited for it all weekend. Bad things first: I have had an upper body rash since about 5 days out of surgery. I treated it with Benadryl and thought it would run its course. By today I was done with it. It has kept me up at night, woken me up early in the morning and I am clawing myself to death. So I was able to get in to see my dermatologist's NP. She diagnosed it as (more than likely) a stress-induced systemic reaction. She said even if I didn't realize I was stressed out about my surgery, my body definitely was. Got a steroid shot and an RX for antibiotics in case I have any staph. When I started my thick Protein shake this morning, even though it was VERY slow, I got horrible pain under my rib cage. This has been happening all weekend. So I called my surgeon's office and his nurse asked me to try taking the anti-spasmodic meds they had given me. (I had not taken them because I wasn't sure what a spasm would even feel like.) She said if that didn't work, I may have to have an endoscopy to stretch it out a bit. Good things: The rash is starting to feel better. About 3 hours after I took the anti-spasmodic, I tried some pudding. SUCCESS!!!! So tonight I had pureed taco Soup. OMG! It was HEAVEN. I was able to eat about 2 1/2 ounces before I started burping (my sign to stop). And it has stayed down fine since. I feel like I can really do this now that I don't have to eat those *!@O)$%(*& sugar free things all the time. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I think this will really help with my energy issues too. Hope everybody else is having a great day! Lisa

I started with the constipation while I was on the pre-op diet. It continued for a week after surgery, but seems to be a bit better. Just remember, there's not much going in so there's not going to be much coming out. Don't let yourself get dependent on laxatives to go.

Oops. I meant poop in my post--not plop.

I am two weeks out tomorrow and so far no regrets whatsoever. I can't answer about bread and rice because I am still on liquids. I was able to sleep on my right side as soon as I got home; the left side took a few days. My first plop was three days after surgery. I was afraid to push so I just waited until I had to go enough that gravity could do its thing. I have only had a loose stool once. Hope this helps!

I had my surgery May 2 and I am going back to work May 31. My surgeon suggested at least three weeks if I had the time available. So I am taking three weeks plus the week of surgery. I am really glad I did. The surgery and anesthesia takes more out of you than you think. I haven't really had any pain issues at all, but I am still very tired. Just in the past couple days have I started trying to get out of the house and go somewhere (other than just walking down my street). I have a pretty sedentary job as an administrative assistant at a surgeon's office. Not only does your body need time to heal, but you need time to adjust to your new eating habits.

That's so awesome, Chicadee! I have the opposite problem. I got a new wedding ring after I gained so much weight. Now, 12 days after surgery, my ring is sliding all over my finger. I figure by the end of month, I may have to stop wearing it until I reach goal and then I can have it resized. I like MrsKoubik's idea, though!

Great job! I wonder how my favorites will taste to me after I get on regular food. I hope some things taste bad (ice cream, sugary cereals, etc.) but the healthy stuff tastes good.

An awesome NSV for you! And before surgery even!!!

I went for my two-week post-op check up today. (Actually, I'm just 10 days out). In those 10 days I have lost 10 pounds. I'd say that's pretty good. I have been stalled at 207 for three days, but I feel bloated and today I have the cramps. Yuck. Monday I get to start full liquids, which includes purees. Yay something other than sweet!!! I'm thinking pureed taco Soup, maybe some bean soup, etc. Hope everyone is having a great day!

I haven't gone back to work yet, but I dread that. I work in a surgeon's office and we have reps bringing lunch 1-2 times per week. By the time I go back I will be on soft foods, so I will have to make smart choices, but MAN my cubicle is right near the kitchen and I can smell EVERYTHING. I'm the person who schedules the lunches so it's very tempting just to tell them they can't bring it.

Way to go! Keep on rocking that sleeve!

Wahoo! That's a good one. I've already noticed, just a week and a half out of surgery, that I am way less sensitive to heat than I was before. It was in the 90s today and I went out and sat on the deck to watch the dogs play and I don't even think I got sticky. Amazing!

I love your picture of the rain washing away the old you. So glad everything went well!

I'm sure part of it could be the low calorie intake, especially if you didn't have a very strict pre-op diet. But I think a lot of it is just the crazy things anesthesia does to your body. And the trauma of the surgery itself.

I'm a full week out and I still haven't driven. I haven't taken pain meds since I've been home, but like Rev Me Up! says, my head is a mess. I'll think I'm fine and start doing something and then the wobblies set in. I'm going to try a short field trip this week, but I'm taking someone with me. The only rule my doc had was wait 24 hours after taking your last narcotic pain pill.

Welcome to the loser's bench, Michelle! I had my surgery last Monday. I agree that the second day was worse. I had some dry heaves that day as well as keeping my finger on that pain pump. Keep walking, though, it helps no matter how bad you want to stay in the bed.

Thanks, Rev Me Up! I was planning to go with my daughter this afternoon to get her crown put on. But by the time I showered, dressed, "prettied up" and ate some broth, I was worn out! Good thing she's 20 and can take herself! I don't plan to rush into moving up to thick liquids, BUT at my check up Thursday, you can sure believe I'm going to ask!!! I don't know how people go back to work after one or two weeks. I'm SO glad I'm not going back until 5/31.

Best wishes tomorrow, meggiep! You will do great and your other body parts will be thankful for what you have done. Please let us know how you are doing as soon as you feel up to it. Lisa

I TOTALLY agree about Baptist inpatient care. Several times my hubby or daughter had to go get a nurse because nobody would ever come even when I called. My stupid IV alarm kept beeping incessantly and I would buzz to tell them but we'd have to listen to it for 15-20 minutes because nobody would come in. But you are right about Spaw and Rebekah. They were both GREAT! I had a hernia repair at the same time, and that is really the only pain I have. The sleeve incisions are just itching like crazy! Wonder why my surgery was only a day before yours but I'm going back for my two week a full week before you? I hope they didn't just schedule mine wrong.

Hugs to you, Barb! It's me from Support Group. I looked for you when I was roaming the halls the day after my surgery, but I guess we were out and about at different times. You are just one day behind me on ALL the same things I'm feeling. The day you had your surgery, I spent mine either dry heaving, sipping, or walking. This Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday I have been "down in the dumps" too. Watching my family eat all the food that people have brought over has just made me so depressed. Not hungry . . . just left out. Allow yourself naps and more naps. I am getting outside now, and the sunshine seems to help my mood. Let's hope it hangs in there for awhile and we don't go back to the day after day of rain that we had the whole month of April. I've been reading, watching movies and letting everybody else do the work. I tried to do some laundry yesterday, but that wore me out. I go back to see Spaw this coming Thursday. When is your follow up? I'm kind of hoping he might let me move along to thick liquids a few days early.