FindingReneeAgain

My surgery was June 22 and at 5 weeks I was told I can eat any fresh veggie. I ate a sweet pickle at about 4 weeks with no problem. My nutritionist recommended to eat things like carrots and hummus, apples and yogurt, banana and Peanut Butter, etc. She said at this stage I should be eating a more balanced diet. She even stated I can eat Pasta (about 2 tablespoons if ) if I wanted. The only thing she doesn't want me to eat is things like crackers. I include pickles although I don't eat them regularly. I also enjoy the hummus with olives in it. I would say just try a small amount and see what your body says. Mine loves them!

Iron infusions are certainly the quickest way to raise your Iron level. A few years ago I had became very ill due to reflux and my iron level became so low that I had to have infusions several times a week for 3 weeks. It brought my level up quick so hopefully you will see the same results. Good luck to you!

I am happy to say that as of Wednesday the 20th I was one month post op and down 18.4 pounds. My total loss since the start of the diet is 40.4 pounds. I'm feeling very happy and relieved to think that this time it won't be coming back as long as I continue to make the right choices. I'm hoping this next month will show the same results. Just this week I became able to exercise because I was having severe pain on my left side but tonight I felt so energized I just felt like running. (I'm looking forward to the day I can) So for now I'm walking and I'm going to continue to build up my stamina so that I can run until I want to stop.

I had extreme pain on my left side that lasted for weeks. Today I am four weeks out and the pain has finally stopped. I called my surgeon when it turned into something that felt like my skin was on fire in addition to the pain and I was told it would have to work itself out because there wasn't anything they could do and that it was a common complaint. It was on the left side below the largest incision. The surgeon said in the beginning that it was not uncommon to have pain in an area other than the incision site. I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

Congratulations! I know how you feel. I just had my surgery June 22nd. Definitely keep up posted.

I am so excited and psyched and ready and anxious and happy and nervous and, well, you get the picture. Thank you to everyone out here that posts and responds and has given me so much information that I feel very well prepared for all that is to come. I welcome it with open arms.

I will keep you posted and will definitely be coming back for ongoing support.

Mahalo and aloha,

Lulu

I'm wondering if all of the rumbling, growling, and other sounds coming from my stomach are normal after about a week out. I'm eating three times a day but can't usually eat any Snacks because I'm trying hard to get my liquids in and then I feel full. I am still on a full liquid diet and will be for another week but I'm not sure if this is the reason. I even woke up at 3 am this morning with my stomach growling and rumbling. Sound familiar? Is this normal? I don't know.

Congratulations! I'm just over a week out and have lost 13 pounds. I hope to do as well in a month or two.

Hi Tex,

I understand the feeling of being fearful about your kids. I'm a single mother of two and that thought crossed my mind as well, then I came to realization that after all of these years if I haven't already succeeded on my own then I wasn't going to and the only way to be here for my kids was to have the surgery and become healthy. This surgery was for me and my children. Once I resolved my mind to becoming a healthy, active individual that was going to be around for years to come the anxiety left and I never looked back or had another doubt about my decision. With your medical issues you are doing what needs to be done to keep you here as a healthy and happy person. Good luck to you.

Thank you for sharing. I did call the nurse today because I'm still experiencing pain on the left side, when standing and walking, and still swollen. She said that this is one of the most common calls she receives and that it is normal. It is in the area of the largest incision so hearing from you as well sets me more at ease with it.

Hi Renee, congrats on your new sleeve and your amazing weight loss before surgery too!

Discomfort in the left side is common. I’m 10 days out and the only lingering soreness I have is sort of a tugging sensation there when I stand up. Before surgery I remember reading somewhere the left-most incision is where the retractor goes in, so a lot of manipulation in that area. Makes sense that it would take longer to heal. Of course if it’s something really sharp or a new pain, I would call the surgeon.

Good luck & keep us posted on your continued progress.

Hello!

Congratulations to you as well. You know, I've read a lot where everyone has quick post op appointments. I don't return for a month. Odd? I'm looking forward to following your progress as well. May we both be healthy and happy!

Hi Renee! I had my surgery June 23rd. It hasn't been easy but I'm glad that I had it done. You and I sound kind of alike. My first visit with my surgeon I weighed 280. I think that was May 10 or 11. I did have to do a preop diet. On the day of surgery, I weighed 254. I have no idea what I weigh right now. I have my 1 week post op appointment on Friday, so we will see. I would weigh on my scale but it is so off from what the doctor's and hospital's is, that I will just wait it out. For me, I have had no complications but it has been a rather rough week. I can't wait to compare notes. And congratulations to you!

I only told my immediate family and a couple of friends. I'm not comfortable yet with discussing it at work, etc. I don't want to hear any nonsense. I've got enough going on just getting used to my new way of life. The good thing is that everyone knows I have been dieting and lost 22 pounds. They just don't know it was what I had to do prior to VSG surgery. I'm a very private person and I consider this my personal business that they don't need to know. Someday I might change my mind but for now I just didn't want to deal with it.

I have United HealthCare and they covered my procedure. I called and spoke with them and they told me that it could be covered if I met the criteria. They needed a five year weight history, past attempts at losing weight and medical conditions, and a BMI greater than 40. Testing for me included Upper GI, Endoscopy, Psych eval, following a diet with my nutritionist and showing commitment to change, EKG, bloodwork etc.. I started the process at the very end of March, took my appointments 3 to 4 a day when possible, and had my surgery June 22nd. Good luck to you!

Hi,

I had my surgery on June 22nd and I'm planning on returning after 13 days (July 5th). I'm hoping for more improvement because as of now I'm still having pain on my left said when I move and walk along with some swelling. My surgeon's nurse told me today that this is one of the most common calls she receives from people after the surgery and that it is normal. I'm hoping I'm ready on Tuesday. I didn't have the liquid diet prior to surgery just a specialized diet but now that I'm post op I've been on liquids and it's driving me crazy already. I'm just keeping my eye on the prize. A healthy me for the first time in my life! Good luck to you.

Congratulations on your approval!

Thank you all for your responses and warm welcome. I'm looking forward to being a part of the VSG community.

Glad to hear the good news. You should be able in increase gradually over the days as I have. As you said "Keep sipping on!".

Hey Renee - Thanks for the response. I have been trying, but there is no way I can get in all that I need to. I have a large glass of ice Water with me at all times and I sip, sip, sip. I've been able to get down about 10 ouncs of Protein drink today. I find my self belching a lot and I don't know what that's about. I don't use a straw so I'm not swallowing air, at least I don't think so. Anyway, I'm feeling much better, easier to get up and down and I just keep the liquids nearby and keep sipping on!

Hello!

I had my surgery on June 22nd. I'm still having pain in my left side when I move but nothing else really bothers me. In the past couple of days my Fluid intake has finally increased and I'm close to consuming my 48 ounces of Fluid. I'm still working on hitting 60 grams of Protein but I'm building on that daily as well. I'm currently on a full liquid diet and will be for another week. I'm already feeling tired of the Protein shake (started drinking them back in April when I was placed on a special diet by my nutritionist) but I'm drinking 4 ounces every morning which gives me 25 grams of Protein. I'm very careful about the "sipping" and so far have only been reminded twice that I was drinking too quick but I have to think about how I'm drinking every time I reach for something. I barely consumed any fluids in those first couple of days and a Protein Shake wasn't even an option for me until day 4. My first three days after the day of surgery was Clear liquids only. Any other questions please let me know. I'm glad to compare notes.

Hi all - Well, I'm 2 days out from my surgery. I came home from the hospital today and am still moving a little slow around the house. I am moving though. I have to say the hardest part is getting up out of the chair or bed. The pain really is not that bad. Actually, about 3 days before my surgery, I pulled a muscle in my neck and that hurts more than the surgery did. I'm on my way now. Haven't been able to eat much and drinking a protein shake is taking me forever. I'm having a hard time with 'sipping' but when I do take those larger gulps I remember why I'm not supposed to.

I'd like to hear from any of you who've had surgery in the past week and compare notes.

Thanks,

Hi everyone! I have been overweight my entire life and have thought about having weight loss surgery many times throughout the years but my insurance didn't cover it. I then found out that United Healthcare started covering WLS again and I decided that it was time to make a major change in my life. Years of weight loss and gain can finally come to an end. I became sleeved on June 22, 2011 in Baton Rouge. I wasn't a good candidate for the Band because of GERD and I felt the bypass was just too much of a risk for me. So I decided on the Sleeve. A lot of research went in to my final decision and I feel I have made the right choice. I began the process back in March of this year and it felt like the never ending journey with all of the appointments, tests, procedures, sometimes 3 or 4 a day, and then finally came the approval. YES! My highest recorded weight was 345 pounds and my weight at the start of my journey was 280 pounds. I began the diet my nutritionist put me on in late April and I was 258 pounds on the day of surgery. I weighed today and I am now at 245 pounds. I have a long way to go but this is a wonderful start and I know I am on a new path to a healthy new me. I am still having pain on my left side though when I move and I am still swollen. I'm not sure if this is common but any feedback would be helpful. The low grade fever and constant restroom business have stopped thankfully and I'm looking forward to brighter days. I'm on a full liquid diet for another week and then a week of soft foods. I don't really know anyone close to me that has had this surgery so I searched the internet for answers to my questions and thankfully I found this site today. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who has posted on a variety of topics. I've spent a lot of time reading and the knowledge I gained today was priceless. I look forward to following all of you on your journeys as I embark on mine. I'm excited to see where my new "sleeved" life takes me.