Nancy Rivers

Good luck to you tomorrow!

Sounds like you are doing well. Congrats on the loss! I'm a day behind you, and was feeling great this morning - until about an hour ago when the diarrhea came back with a vengeance. So, now I'm sitting in my bedroom about 10 steps from the bathroom sipping on my Water waiting for my tummy to settle back down. I did take a Zofran last night even though I didn't feel nauseated - but I thought it might help me sleep. It did - I slept like a baby - only waking to pee. Although I have a headache today (which is one of the possible side effects of Zofran) - so I'm not sure I'll keep taking it. Perhaps just when I really need to sleep... lol Yeah, I'm sure the surgery has screwed with mine - I was supposed to start TOM the day of my surgery and it hasn't come yet. We'll get through this though!

It's great that you are home now! I know what you mean about wanting an adjustable bed. Do you have a recliner? That's what I have been using. I found that I would rotate between the bed and the recliner - especially when I would wake up feeling like I couldn't breathe - I would sit in the recliner for a while and end up falling asleep that way. Sounds like you're doing well!

Good luck!

If you can have someone help you the first week or so with your children (I am assuming they are young), then you should be fine. I don't have children, but I know that day 4 post surgery is the first day that I really felt "normal" again. I think it has something to do with when your surgeon allows you to start eating pureed foods - my surgeon allowed it on day 3. I felt so lethargic until then, but as I started eating some pureed foods on day 3 I did start feeling better. That's just my opinion though. Everyone is different when it comes to this. I have been told that there are certain foods that I should never have again - but most of those are things that I never had before, so it's not a big deal to me. It's mainly the "empty calorie foods" that are on this list. With the VSG surgery, approximately 70 to 90 % of your stomach is removed (the actual amount varies depending on your stomach's original size and the surgeon involved). What is left is the part along the "lesser curvature" which is the least stretchiest part of your stomach. So, it is really unlikely that your stomach will ever stretch to it's original size. It is possible for it to stretch some - so you do have to watch what you eat for the rest of your life otherwise you could end up reversing the benefits of this tool. It is a commitment to a completely new way of eating and looking at food. The surgery is just a tool to help you with that commitment. Check out all the areas on these forums - you will find a LOT of information here. I would also recommend attending some support group meetings in your area - especially any for the surgeon that you are thinking of using. Talk to those people as they will be a great resource for you too since they will have first hand knowledge of that surgeon.

I had 2 leak tests done - one was during surgery and didn't even know it happened. The second one was the next day and I had to drink a solution while they watched it on x-ray. I didn't think the solution tasted all that bad - but it was the aftertaste that I didn't like. There was no pain involved and it took less than 5 minutes (it took them longer to get "transportation" to wheelchair me from the room to radiology and back than it did for the test!)

Robin, I think you and I are in the same boat! I have always been one to freeze others out as I'm always hot. Unfortunately that hasn't changed and the way it sounds from others, it probably won't change at this point. Too bad, I was really looking forward to being cold.

Welcome to the forums! Congratulations on making the decision and getting your date! That is awesome! Every surgeon is different in their requirements for food plans. Follow the directions that your surgeon gives you as they know what is best for their practice. When I was on my pre-op diet, I could have Protein shakes as well as "real food" items like salads. That made it more bearable. A full liquid only diet would consist of clear fluids - Water, crystal light, Isopure, broth, sugar free jello; as well as liquids that would fit through a straw - milk, yogurt, Protein Shakes, pureed Soups, etc.

I'm so sorry you are not feeling good. I would definitely get in touch with your surgeon and have him check it out.

Congratulations! That is awesome weight loss!

You will do it! You have done such an amazing job so far, I have no doubts that you will make it to "overweight"!

Congratulations! That is terrific!

That is so amazing! Congratulations!!!

Congrats on getting through the stall! Wow, I hope I never get one that lasts that long!

Congratulations!

I'm 4 days post-op and can have pureed eggbeaters now. I had one earlier today - and well, I think it was a bit too soon. It didn't come back up, but after 3 bites I couldn't eat any more. I think I'll wait a few more days before I try it again.

Yeah, my food plan is pretty generous. If you can have pudding - I really recommend the Kozy Shack brand that has no sugar added. I have the tapioca pudding - 70 cals for 4 ounces, 11 g Carbs (5 g sugar, 4 g fiber), and 4g protein. It is on the high end of the sugar limit for my plan, but it is so tasty! It goes down SOOOOO easy for me. It could be thinned if needed.

I get to have pureed meat in this stage - so I just had some tuna mixed with low fat miracle whip. Just puree it up and it's pretty tasty.

I just got home from the hospital. My surgeon said that it would be just an overnight stay and then they would release me if everything was ok. I had the leak test this morning and it was fine. I've been able to keep down 8 ounces of beef broth and 16 ounces of crystal light with no problems. Once I finally peed on my own (after they took the catheter out), then they released me. I really haven't had much pain - just around the incisions, but that was expected. They also gave me something for nausea which is why I don't think I have had any problems with it. The nurses were impressed with how well I was doing. Apparently there was another patient of Dr. Northup who had surgery yesterday too and was in a different room. According to one nurse even that patient was impressed with me as she saw me going past her room a lot. I hope she gets out soon. They gave me 2 prescriptions to fill, so hopefully I can get them filled tomorrow.

Well, I TRIED to get the scripts filled today - but the pharmacies that I stopped at do not stock the pain medication and can't get it from their suppliers (liquid oxycodone). I did get the anti-nausea med though and may try that tonight to see if it helps. Today I have had a little bit of pain around one of the incision points - but not bad - I would say about a 1 on the scale. I have felt really good today though. Much more normal anyway. I went to see a movie and stopped at Cracker Barrel before hand (I had some time to kill, and needed to eat). I ordered an egg beater (it's allowed on my plan right now). It was HUGE. I had 3 bites, chewing it to death, and was full. I seriously thought I was going to be sick, but I wasn't. So lesson learned - wait on the eggs. Tonight I'm having some tuna mixed with low-fat miracle whip. So far, it's gone down ok. It will take me forever to eat the full 2 ounce serving though. I hope to get through half of it.

Well, I was able to sleep a bit better last night - actually was able to sleep for about 3 hours before waking up and having to sit upright for an hour before I could go back to sleep. The dry cough is still around - I think it is due to my throat being irritated from the surgery. At least that is where I really feel it when I do cough. I think most of the gas from the surgery has now passed - it's just the digestive gasses left that I'm used to (I have always been really gassy). I have not gotten the prescriptions filled yet for the liquid pain medicine (oxycodone) or the anti-nausea medicine. Today I do plan to go out, so may get them filled today. I am not supposed to drive for 2 weeks, but since I am living alone, that really is not an option. I will definitely take it easy when I do go out though. This is the first day that I really have felt that I could drive somewhere if needed. Jello was part of my Clear Liquids diet. Now I'm on full liquids/pureed which includes things like pureed eggbeaters, pureed Soups, applesauce, pureed cottage cheese, pureed meat in addition to Protein shakes and milk/yogurt. I think that is helping with me feeling a bit better.

Welcome to the forums. You'll find a lot of information and support along the way. Feel free to ask anything - I've seen some rather interesting topics on here.

Glad you are feeling better.