Penpen

Oh yes, and I forgot about the runs. The thought of not having what you need or not having a place to take care of business would be enough for me to say no thanks. Lol

I had my surgery 12 days ago and the day before surgery, I was doing the same thing you are now. It's normal to feel that way. What calmed me down a bit was when the anethesiologist (sp?) called to ask questions. I told him how nervous I was and he said that even though this was a major surgery, it was a very easy, noncomplicated surgery. He said that he had been present through lots of the sleeve surgeries and he'd never seen anyone that had problems during surgery. That was a relief...why should I be the first? Ha! Also, after your stomach stops swelling...about a week out....you will slowly but surely be able to take more in. I've had my panic moments after surgery but I'm starting to feel a lot better now. You will be okay and you will be able to eat again....eat normal foods....AND you will lose weight! It's a process and what you're feeling is part of the process. After surgery, you may still have your doubts (as I have....why did I do this to myself? kind of feelings...which now I am happy with my decision) because it is tough but you will get through it! You will be fine! Think about how important this is to you and why you considered having this surgery in the first place. By next summer, we will be thin and enjoying our life!

I'm 12 days post op and can't image taking a camping trip now. Mainly because at 2 1/2 weeks, I will still need my Protein shakes which I can't image drinking warm and my pureed Soups which you need electricity for your blender and then warming your food up is another story. Of course, I live in Texas and with the 100+ degree weather days, there's no way I would want to be out in that. Also, I know that I'm just now mustering up enough energy to feel alive again. But it is still very hard. I'm probably getting less than 500 calories a day and it's not from lack of trying. My stomach can only hold 4 ounces at one time. So I'm constantly putting something in my mouth whether Water, Protein Shakes, pureed soups, or medicine. In between, I have to wait for my tummy to empty out before I put something else in. It is hard work and you have to stay on top of it or you will be extremely dehydrated and will not take in enough protein. I know everyone's different. I know there are people on this forum that seem to have surgery one day and pop out of bed full of energy and ready to conquer the world after a couple of days. But this was not the case for me. I just can't image not having my electricity and a/c and running water, etc. Maybe someone else will chime in here and have a completely different outlook at it. Hope that helped! Good luck!

I'm in the full liquids stage which means that I can have anything pureed that will go through a straw except meat...not supposed to push the meats because I was told that it's hard on the digestive system so soon out of surgery. I've had pureed raviolis (yes, it does have meat...I didn't have a problem with it but it didn't taste very good pureed) and bean and bacon soup (yum). Also, my husband took potato soup, a little Rotel, and a little sour cream...pureed it..added water to thin it out....Yum! Also, black beans, chicken broth, salsa, and sour cream .... oh and my husband heated 2 eggs in it to add protein (can't tell there are eggs in it)...pureed....of course, add water until it is thin enough....really yummy! Just some ideas! I'm sure my husband will continue to experiment. If he comes up with more, I'll let you all know.

Hi! I struggled with depression off and on for the last 20 years or so. I haven't been on meds for 6 or more months and have felt fine. I had my surgery June 23, 2011, and have struggled with emotional ups and downs. It has been hard. I will tell you that I seem to feel good when my clothes are a tab bit looser and I'm able to get out of the house. But I think the lack of energy, the constant intake of Protein and liquids AND sometimes pain medication can take it's toll. I've had days were I wake up and I feel great. Then I have days were I wake up and I just want to cry....can't even explain why. Then, I have days like yesterday, were I woke up and felt fine. I took one dose of pain medication and started feeling very nauseous. Really nauseous! So my husband gets the nausea medicine out and I take it. It knocks me out! I slept ALL day until around 5. Then dosed off and on until 7 p.m. or so. I was sooooo depressed because I'd slept my day away. I think what I'm getting out of this is that the hard days after surgery are what get you down. I can understand why someone who is really sick long term can get really depressed. My body feels so out of energy...not sick...but just out of energy. I don't feel like myself and I'm sick of only having liquid. I will chew on ice just to feel like I'm actually eating something. It's just hard! The physical, emotional, and all the change that this surgery brings on is a life change which of course, I knew and read all about before surgery but there's just no preparing yourself for the first couple of weeks after. It's hard to see past what's happening right now and how I feel right now. But in the back of my mind, I know that in just a little over a week, I get to start eating some normal foods...not all liquid. I also know that in 4-5 weeks, I actually get to focus on weight loss and not so much drinking just to survive...drinking to not lose my hair....drinking when I don't want to drink. So I think that depression could definitely be something that you want to keep in mind and talk to your doctor about for the first month or so after surgery. I feel like for myself, that once I get past this initial stage, I will be happy. Like I said before, staying focused on hydrating, not losing hair, and mustering up some energy is gruel-some at times. Each day for me...or for the most part, each day gets a little better. I know once I'm really able to focus on weight loss...I will feel the life breathed back into me.

Thank you so much for sharing this site! I had no idea that flour and sugar and such could be replaced in such a different manner. I'm only 11 days post op but when it is time to have solids, I'm going to try some of these recipes. Yum!

Yes, you need to talk to your surgeon. Do what he recommends. I'm 11 days post op and am now on full liquids. The first week was Clear Liquids. When I reach 3 weeks, I can start on mushies. 7 weeks, I will start on solids.

I know, the gas pains are horrible. I'm 11 days out but by the 8th day, it was as if they just disappeared. I will say though that when I drink my Protein shakes and my Soups, I get a little gassy now but I seem to be able to get over it pretty quick instead of it bloating me all day and me feeling miserable all day. I hope this helps! You will feel better really soon. Hang in there.

My doctors office that I need a calibrated scale.

You're welcome!

Yes, that's were mine is at too but with dent. Lol

I don't know what it does to your period but I was told before surgery that if you are on your period during surgery, it is okay.

Don't be discouraged! I'm 9 days post op and still weigh the same as I did the day of surgery. I've only been getting about 400 calories a day so there's no way I will stay at this weight forever. I do think you need more Protein. I had a goal of 40 grams of protein the first week for each day but could only manage to get in about 30 grams because of sipping and waiting and feeling so bloated. Yesterday I had my first doc's appointment, I was told not to worry about calories or even pounds coming off at this point but that my goal was get 60 grams of protein in. I am to no longer sip and wait...just to drink like normal but no chugging. Also, I was told that my stomach will hold up to 4 oz. at a time. I was told if I didn't get my protein intake up that I would probably lose my hair. I'm also on full liquids now instead of just clear. So last night I had 4 oz. of bean and bacon Soup pureed to a thin liquid. It was very fillling. Don't worry about calories and definitely not weight gain. Remember we just had surgery and our bodies are full of fluids and are slow on digesting. Also, you need to stay hydrated. That alone will help get rid of the bulk and Fluid build up.

I have not had the problem that you're having but I was prescribed the Nexium granule and have had no acid reflux problems. I've been taking them since 2 days after surgery and I am 9 days post op. If you were prescribed the granule, you should poor a pack into 1 tablespoon of water, stir ,and let it sit for 3-4 minutes until it gels. Then stir it again. I can't stand the texture or the taste so I then mix it with about an ounce of grape juice. It goes down smoothly. I know I didn't answer all your questions but I hope it helps a little.

I'm not sure why you're having to do them for so long. I didn't have to give myself shots. Five days before surgery, they had me take a prescription Vitamin k each morning leading up to surgery to thicken my blood. Then the morning of surgery, they gave me a shot of blood thinner in my stomach right before surgery. Then again shortly after surgery. Then 2 days later right before I left the hospital. But that was it. My doctor did advice me not to sleep with pillows under my knees. That that was a big no, no. That my legs should stay straight mostly while I rested. The blood needs to have a constant, undisturbed flow especially after surgery. Maybe there was a reason your surgeon is taking the extra step with the blood thinner or maybe it's just a different doctor, different method of blood clot control. You should call your surgeon and get him to explain exactly why it has to be done this way and share your fears. Ask about the likelihood (sp?) of getting a blood clot and the bruising on your thigh. I had a big long lump come up in my arm where the placed the iv. I had something like this years ago from carrying a large heavy microwave. It caused a huge blood clot in my upper arm and it felt like a huge extension cord running through my arm. I was told by my doctor at the time that because of were it was at, it would break up on it's own and I didn't have to worry about it traveling to my heart. So with the lump in my arm now, I tend to want to panic about but i keep remembering what I was told years ago. The only reason I'm telling you this is because you may be worrying for nothing. Talk to your doctor and let him determine if there's a reason to worry. Hang in there! You'll be okay!

I went to my one week post op visit Friday. I'm actually 8 days out. I had my staples removed and asked lots of questions. I have 7 incision spots. I had my husband take a picture today before we left for the doctor. Maybe I will post it if anyone wants to see. I was told that the largest incision which by the way is were the dent is, is were my stomach came out and that most patients have the dent and they are usually a lot bigger than mine. She said that it is because of the internal cutting and stapling/suturing (?) that they do to the scar directly above it. I have had a lot of pain that seems deep between these two scars. She said that they actually cut through a two inch strip of muscle but I cant remember the reasoning on this. She said this will cause some pain for a while until it heals. Also, she said that one day I will wake up and the dent will have just popped out and things will look normal. I hope this helps with some explanation. It's hard to remember all the details of what she said. Both my husband and I were asking a lot of questions and she was spilling out answers as fast as she could. By the way, she was not the surgeon. I can't remember her title but she sure did know a lot. I really liked her.

I am 8 days post op and had my first doctors visit today. I was told that my new stomach would hold around 4 oz. of liquid at a time. I can now drink like normal but NO chugging it down. I was told that until I'm about 6 weeks out, it is possible to bust my staple line if I intake too much liquid at one time, especially thicker liquids like pureed bean soup, etc. I was also told it should take me about 10-15 minutes to get down 4 oz. ....to pace myself but that I no longer had to sip..wait...sip...wait

My surgery was on the 23rd. That incision for me was the most painful. And something really weird about it is that right above that incision, there is a very noticeable dent in my stomach. I'm not concerned with it because when the weight comes off, it will probably not be noticeable. It looks like they did lipo suction in that one area. Lol The pain in that incision isn't as bad but now I'm having a lot of inner pain were they cut me about 3 inches above that. I'm sure it is just scar tissue forming inside and it hurts when I stretch it or what have you. Can't wait either to hear others' answers.

Good question! I'm interested in knowing too.

Congrats! I'm one week and one day post op. It has been a tough week. One of the hardest things for me was drinking all day when I felt like I was going to explode. The gas and the bloating was worse than any of the other pains. I was using the Gas-X strips and they did nothing for me. Then yesterday, the gas, bloating, and pressure was almost nothing. That was the first day I actually felt kind of normal. It will get better with each new day. This last week was hard and there were days I wondered why I did this to myself. But today I'm doing laundry and washing dishes. I'm getting more Water in and it seems that my tummy can hold a little more Protein. Now I'm getting excited and am very happy with my decision for this surgery. Hang in there. You will feel better real soon too. [quote name=sungbyrd' timestamp='1309504011' post='172287] Well its done. I am doing okay except for some gas pains that is keeping me up. I was sent home with a pain pump. It is going flat so I have to take it out tomorrow. I lost 10lbs in 4 days. I started at 239 and I am 229 already. I have been walking every two hours for about 10 min. It seems water is a little hard to digest which is strange to me. But I have been sipping warm hello all day.did not finish the glass. I am having food dreams every night. My blood sugar have been normal everyday. I am looking forward to being insulin free. I go back to work in 3 weeks. I hope everything will be great by then.

I'll be a full week post op tomorrow. My husband will be home until next Tuesday. I'm so thankful he has been here. Really, I needed help up until yesterday. Just as Becca said, he has not only helped me with getting up and down but he has brought me all my fluids, protein shakes, and medications. I honestly don't think that I would have been able to take care of myself the way he took care of me. And also, having him there to encourage me and to tell me I was going to be alright when I'd have a moment of panic. I know everyone is different but this is major surgery and I think it is important to go into it with that mindset. If you don't need the help, then you can send them home but be prepared just in case.

I don't think there's anything wrong with your new tummy. I will say this, I'm never hungry as of so far but when my husband cooks for him and my son, the food smells really good and I wish that I could have some. For me, just feeling so bloated and being sooooo sick of the Protein shakes, broth, grape juice, the same thing over and over maybe why I could care less about eating. I think if I could have real food and wasn't so bloated all the time, I think I would be hungry. The last couple of days I have been dreaming and talking about what foods I will eat when I can finally eat. I have even been thinking a lot about the foods that I can puree when that time comes. So I don't think anything is wrong with you. Also, I don't really know the difference in the sizes of bougies that a surgeon uses. I know that right before surgery, my surgeon and I talked and I told him that I was afraid that I would panic after surgery when I couldn't get much down. He said that he thought that he would give me a size 34 then. But then he said that he thought I would do good with a size 32 and that it was up me. So I decided on the smallest size. Maybe your bougie size was a little bigger. Do you know what size your surgeon gave you? Just a thought. I'm not sure that there is a big difference in the sizes but it could be a reason.

Hi Jcollins! I had my surgery June 23. I think what you're going through is normal. I get anywhere from 15-25 ounces of liquid in, in a day. My Protein is the hardest thing to get enough of. I'm probably getting anywhere from 20-35 grams in daily right now but it didn't start that way. It has been a slow build up. I think the first couple of weeks are really hard because are tiny stomachs are swollen and we are just so busy trying to stay hydrated and learn our new way of eating...sipping. I don't know about you but I constantly feel bloated and full. It hurts and I'm so NOT hungry. I'm having to force myself to take in what I have so far. I think it will only get better from this point. Keep us posted. I love comparing notes and love knowing that I'm not the only one going through what I'm going through.

Oh and I think that the burping is to be expected. As soon as I can remember after surgery, I was needing to burp but they would get caught. I had the hardest time getting anything to come out. I would get to the point were I would think I needed to throw up. I would go through all the coughing, mouth watering, nausea...AND then, a burp would come out and I'd feel better. Now, they come up fine but still hurt a little. I let out a little moan everytime one makes its way to the surface! lol My husband's constantly asking me if I'm okay. I'm sure that will get better too. Everything seems to be improving daily. And I'm thankful for that!

Hi! My surgery was on June 23 and it has been really hard to get all my liquids and protien in. My husband has been trying to keep track and up until the last couple of days, I was only getting about 15-20 ounces of liquid in a day. I'm getting a little more in now but it is so hard because I feel full and bloated all the time. I have not been hungry at all! And the Protein shakes, I'm so sick of them. I almost gag everytime I see one tiny glass full. I've been on clear liquids only this first week but tomorrow, I start full liquids which means Soups. Yay! My husband went ahead tonight and fixed me a tiny helping of tomatoe Soup mixed with milk and unflavored Protein powder. I could only take in about an ounce. My stomach felt like it was about to pop. It didn't hurt but it felt as if I just had a huge plate of mexican food, then had seconds! It is so weird to me that so little will go in. I mean, I knew that was what this surgery was all about but actually experiencing it...well, it's just really weird. lol I love that there are others to jump on here and compare notes. Thank y'all for sharing!