hugsamber

I was given two heparin shots, one in pre-op and the other the morning after surgery. The first one hurt and burned and now I have a big bruise in my arm, but the second one was not that bad and I did not get a bruise from it. I imagine that you will get heparin shots while in the hospital but I haven't really heard many people having to give them to themselves once they get home. Each doctor is different though.

So far so good. My boyfriend drove me to the hair salon today so I could get a wash and blowdry...it takes a lot of energy to wash and dry my hair...its super long. Raising my arms up for awhile hurts my tummy as well. Its amazing how clean hair makes you feel! I have no issues showering but I get pretty tired right after. I have to remind myself not to over do it. I don't want to have any leaks or complications so I am trying to baby myself. Today was my first day on stage 2, full liquids. No problems so far. It is hard to get in all of the Water though. I got in about 40 ounces today. Though I did nap a lot so that limits my time to sip! Does anyone know how long it takes for the staple line to heal? I have my month follow up on Jan 14th and thought that the staple line healed in about 30 days....or maybe the chance of a leak decreases after 30 days. hmm...so many things to worry about! I have lost all of the weight and then some from the surgery. That is super cute about the build a bear! I loved having a small x-mas pillow to cuddle on...a bear would have been much better though! I thought that I was going to freak out before the surgery but suprisingly I was quite calm. When I woke up I needed lots of drugs for the nasuea and some for the pain. I kind of had my freak out moment the night that I got home. I was in a lot of pain and wondering why I did this. But each day gets better and better.Having a great doc who makes you at ease helps as well. I love dr Baggs. He made me so comfortable even while in the operating room. All of that helps.

I take my mutivitamin once a day, my calcium 3 times a day and a b12 once a day. The muti vitamin and the b12 went down fine but when I went to take the calcium it made my tummy gurgle and have a lot more gas. I was worried that I wasn't suposed to take anything. Whew I feel much better. Thanks for the quick responses!

When did you start taking your vitamins after surgery? I thought that I was suposed to start taking them right after, they are all chewable, but then I read something that said wait 2 weeks after surgery. Any ideas? I don't want to over do it with my tummy but if I am suposed to be taking them then I want to follow the program. Thanks!

Good luck! I also had surgery on Monday. Each day I feel better and better. Not being hungry is crazy, its amazing though. Im writing my blog for the same reason. To help me be accountable and to document my feelings during this life altering process. Good luck!

Yes my mom is having surgery at Richmond. She is going to have the gastric bypass though. I am doing better each and every day. Walking and sipping helps a lot. I had some pudding today and so far no problems. I am still taking the pain meds and they help a lot with the pain and discomfort. I was able to get in my 20 ounces of water yesterday. Today I am suposed to be trying to get in 64 ounces. Not sure if that is going to happen. But im not dehydrated so thats a good thing!

Yes, sleeping in the chair has been a lifesaver! I would recommend it for sure!

Okay so my previous post was kind of melodramatic...i was in pain, what can I say? I am feeling much better. Still have some good pain on the right side, which is where my largest incision is. I have been walking a bunch and getting in at least 24 ounces of water the first few days. I am not dehydrated and pee like every hour. I have not yet had a BM. Though I am very bloated and gassy. I can feel the gas moving through me, it isn't uncomfortable but it sure does feel good when a bit comes out. I have to remind myself that I just had major surgery and to not do to much. I am off until Dec 27th. I think that should be enough time. I have not been hungry at all, which is a very nice thing. I also have not experienced head hunger yet but I am sure that will come once I am able to eat a little more. Starting tomorrow I can have pudding, yogurt and cream soups. I am kind of excited and nervous at the same time. I don't want to get sick eating anything so I have been really careful, even when I was having jello!

I just had surgery on Monday. I weighed in the hospital a few hours after surgery. I gained 10 pounds. As of Thursday I have lost all but 2 pounds of it. I have not yet had a BM but feel lots of gas moving around. When should I become worried about not having a BM? I am starting full liquids tomorrow, maybe that will help. I just feel bloated and gassy.

Thanks! I am excited for pudding tomorrow! Each day gets better and better. I can feel all the gas moving around inside me. I think that onces that goes away I will feel much better! How are you doing?

Thanks! I am feeling better for the most part. I waited to long to take my meds and I was in some serious pain. But since then I have been taking the meds regularly and that has been helping. I am hoping that by day 7 I will not need any meds as well!

I made it through my surgery. I got released form the hospital on Tuesday morning. I was in a lot of pain Tuesday night but things have been slowly improving. It hurts really bad when I cough but I know that coughing helps get rid of the junk inside me. I have been walking and sipping a lot. It is hard to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Laying on my back hurts, because it stretches my tummy out, and laying on my sides I can only do for a little bit. I am using almost every pillow in the house to be comfortable sitting in a chair in our living room. I still cant believe that I went through this. I am not hungry at all and have not had any bouts of nasuea since monday night. I did weigh myself in the hospital after surgery, even though they say not to. I gained 10 pounds! Since then I have lost 8 of those pounds. It is crazy. My doctor took pictures of my old stomach, my new stomach and my gallbladder. I have to admit that my new tummy is pretty cute! I have also been taking the pain meds regularly. So if my post seems like a lot of rambling we can just blame it on the drugs. I just wanted to check in with you all to let you know how I am doing, gonna go nap so more. Seems like I am napping the days away!

I would like to prefice this entry to say I am in huge amounts of pain and on drugs so I am having my boyfriebnd transcribe for me. Here is how it went down. I arrived at the hostpital on Dec 13, around ten AM. My surgery was not supposed to be scheduled until 1:20. Someone decided to chicken out so they got me in at 11:20. They called me into the pre-op area and had me change into my cute little gown and cute slippy socks. I sat down on a comfy recliner. I was nervous on the inside but was trying to maintain my calm. The nurse came by and asked me a hundred and one questions. Then proceeded to poke me to death in order to start my IV, I guess I was not the only one scared because my veins did not want to come out of hiding. Two different nurses stuck me four times without any luck. Finally the anithiologist came. It also took her a while, but she managed to find a small vein and start some fluids. Meanwhile, I got a heprin shot, for blood clots, in the arm. That SOB hurt like the dickens. It burned like an M.F.er and I have a gigantic bruise from that little shot. Finally, after sitting in Pre-Op for over a half hour my mom could come back. I talked to her for a few minutes before the took me to the operating room. We said our goodbyes. I got off the recliner and walked down the hall to operating room number five. It looked just like ER Grey's Anatomy without the cute actors. All I remember is having a gas mask with oxygen flowing. Then the surgeon came in. He asked me some questions. The anithiologist told me to take a breath deep. I was out. I awoke to nausea and gagging. I was in the recovery room for about four hours because no beds were available upstairs. I was extremely nauseous the whole time so they kept me pumped full of meds. I was unable to see any of my family while I was in recovery. Finally, around five thirty they had a bed open. As soon as they wheeled me upstairs I got into bed and was asking to walk. I wanted them to remove the catheder and put on my own jammies. Twenty minutes later I went for my first walk. The removed the catheder, which was not painful at all. I went into the bathroom and my mom helped me put on PJs. I felt much more comfortable in my own clothes. I had a few more bouts of nasea, but they gave me anti-nasea medicine which seemed to help. My thoat was extremly dry and hoarse. The result of a tubes being down there as well as a camera. I started walking every couple hours. Which seemed to help. All my family left with the exception of my stepdad for who thank goodness stayed and was a life saver. I was having to wake up every hour to go to the restroom. Since I was already out of bed I decided to go for walks. My pain seemed to be in good control with the exception of the first hour in my room. Something was wrong with my pain pump because the drugs weren't flowing properly. Once they fixed it I was good to go. I slept on and off throughout the night and around seven thirty AM when my surgeon came in. He asked how I was doing. If I was naseous if I was keeping the water down and if I was having any problems. At that point I was feeling pretty good. The surgeon said I could have breakfast which consisted of Jello, tea, and broth. He said that if I could keep those down I would be discharged. I had a little bit of jello, a taste of the broth, and couple ounces of the tea. All with no problem. I was ready to be discharged. The discharge process went fairly quick. I was surprised because I thought it would take a lot longer. I was discharged at ten thirty. The car ride home was bumpy and occasionally painful. Once I got home I tried to find a comfortable position to lye down. This has proven challenging. The couch I sink into and the bed is difficult to get into. I did manage to nap in both locations for about thirty minutes each. I ate some Jello and drank some water. Thus far I do not have an appitite. I took a shower to get all the sticky tape off and to get rid of the hospital smell. I then tried to lie in bed but it was extremely painful. I tried to lie propped up and on my sides. Movement of rolling over and getting up is so painful it can bring tears to your eyes. I am now lieing in bed on my side and after a bunch of painkillers I am still a four out of a ten. I guess I figured since I was feeling okay in the hospital I would feel okay at home. I am surprised about how much pain I'm actually in. I know that some of the pain is probably from the gas but most of it is from the procedure. I know that each day is supposed to get better but when you're in pain it feels like it is going to last forever. I am hoping that today is worst, but one can only wait and see what tomorrow brings. I know that everyone says the same thing. At first we say "Why did I do this to myself?" and later" I am so glad I did this. " I am sure I will feel the same way. Please remember this is a drug induced blog. I am starting to fall asleep while I talk. I will post more later.

Well today is the day. I have to be at Richmond at 11:20 for a surgery time at 1:20pm. Wish me luck!

My surgery is today! At 1:20pm!!! I also had weird dreams about the surgery and food. I was nervous up until last night and now I just can't describe how I am feeling. Not calm but quiet and not talkative. As far as what to bring I was told chapstick and a small pillow for the ride home...helps with the bumps in the road. Good luck! It looks like we are both getting a pretty nice present for Christmas!

Well Monday December 13th is tomorrow. It is my surgery day. I have to be at the hospital at 11:20 for a surgery time of 1:20. It is almost a 2 hour ride (with traffic) to the hospital from where I live so I will be leaving early to make sure that I am not late! I have packed my bag, I always over pack so it was hard to close! Here is my list: Slippers Robe PJs Panties Blanket and small pillow for car ride home gas x strips toothbrush and toothpaste hairbrush cell phone charger and cell phone ID and Kaiser card binder (for kaiser patients) breathing thingy (its called a spirometer or something like that. Kaiser gave them to us.) chapstick tampons and pads (really really sucks that I started my period this morning) My mom is making me a "care package" which includes magazines, Dr. Alvarez's Vertical Sleeve book and a movie) I am hungry and my tummy is growling a bit. I can drink water until midnight....so I have another 3 hours. I am trying to fill up on that! I feel like I am not tired at all and will be up all night. Plus I have cramps and it really sucks. I don't feel nervous right now, I feel weird though. Really quiet. I am sure that I will be really nervous in the morning. I just wish that I could fast forward 3 months. Well next time I post I will be sleeved....

My surgery is Monday as well. I finally got called late Friday with my surgery time...1:20!!! I was hoping for first thing in the morning. Now I have all morning to worry and be anxious! I also have been cleaning all weekend! I guess I am trying to get things prepared for when I come home. My boyfriend is also very supportive. I just wanted a really clean place so that he doesn't have to clean and take care of me. Good luck tomorrow!!!! Next thing you know we will be sleeved!!!

Dec 13th is coming up very very fast! I like to think that I am prepared but I know that I probably am not. Now I am just waiting for a phone call telling me what time I have to be at the hospital on Monday. I am not sure if what I am about to do has sunk in yet though...

Yay!!! I was wondering what date you would get! My mom is having surgery on the 3rd as well! Mine is Dec 13th!

Well I have to admit that I have not always followed my preop diet to perfection. Through Kaiser they want you eating a certain way and well I would on a few occasions have a cheat day or rather a cheat meal. Just this past Friday, 9 days before my surgery, I drank two margaritas and had a veggie burrito. I felt really guilty about the alcohol. I guess it was sort of my last meal. I just now worry that my liver is going to be all gigiantic and slippery during surgery. I think that I am just getting really nervous about the surgery in general. I will be sticking to low carbs and high protein until my surgery which will mean that I will be doing that consistently for 8 days. I have lost a little over 30 pounds during this preop period. I just hope that I will be okay and that my liver will not cause any difficulties during surgery. I can't stop thinking about this surgery. It is so crazy that I am doing this to myself. I know that it is just nerves and that almost everyone goes through these feelings before surgery. I just wish that I wasn't so freaked out. I am sure that I will have a mini panic attack when I get into the operating room. Then being in the hospital overnight by myself. I guess I just need to stop thinking about these things and try to think about 2 months from now when I have lost weight and can eat and drink easier and not be in any pain. During my preop class last week the case manager gave us relaxations CDs...maybe I need to go and listen to it!

Tiff...you are so inspirational! Just reading your posts makes me feel so much better about my decision to get sleeved. My surgery date is fast approaching on Dec 13th! Your posts always answer so many questions and you always have such great advice! Thank you so much for continuing to post and for providing such great information and encouragement to everyone! By the way, you look AMAZING!

Yeah I don't really get the no protein drinks either. I figure I still will add protein powder to stuff to keep my energy up during the first two weeks. I don't want to get all tired and run down.

I have only been out to Richmond twice so far. Once on Nov 12th for my psych appt and then on Dec 2nd for my pre-op classes. The other times I got to go to vacaville. Which was wonderful because I am in Sacramento. Congrats on our surgery date. That is super close! Are you all prepared?

Lisa...As far as your monthly is concerned, it does not matter if you have it during surgery. You are not allowed to use a tampon during surgery but a pad. They recommend wearing some ugly throwaway panties with a pad and then when you get in the surgery room tell the nurses to just throw them away. They will give you a gigantic pad to use. Then after you wake up you can put on a clean pair of panties and use your own pads (which they recomend because their pads are gigantic and not comfy). I had to stop my birth control a few weeks ago so I am all out of whack. I am hoping not to have to deal with it during surgery but if it happens oh well. Just a little embarassing but nurses have seen it all.

Congrats Stacey on getting sleeved!!!! I just went to my pre-op classes in Richmond today. I am all set for surgery on December 13th. Yikes it is getting soooo close!