smallgirlsxthree

I don't knwo if you have a family or not, but having some meals made ahead for them a freezing them helped alot. That way you don't have to worry if Dad feeds the kids frozen pizza or take out for 3 days while your in the hospital. I had my sister come over the week before surgery and help me clean the living daylights out of my house-nothing worse than laying on your couch not being able to do anything and staring at the cobwebs in the far left corner of your living room!! While I was in the hospital I would have killed for a heating pad, they just kept reheating a wet towel in a bag in the microwave. It didn't seem the same at all. I had really bad pains in my neck and shoulder from the gas trapped in my belly. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital, so make sure that you pack enough socks and undies for a couple extra days just in case! I am 12 days out right now, and I can pretty much do whatever I want around the house. My husband still doesn't let me lift the laundry baskets or bend over and pick up the kids toys, which is kinda nice! Let yourself be a "baby" for a couple weeks, it's not like we don't all deserve it! I'm going to start making some blankets and a couple of scarves for Christmas, so if you have a hobby like that you can stock up on some stuff that you can do to pass the time. Good luck with your surgery!!

I stopped in at work today (I work at a hospital) when I went to the dr's office, and one of the girls I work with asked me if I had lost some weight! I've been off of work for almost a month now, with having 2 carpal tunnel surgeries also, so they haven't seen me in a while. I was so taken off guard lol I haven't told them that I had weight loss surgery, I just told them that I had a hiatal hernia repaired-which I did with my sleeve. I have only been at this for 12 days, and I've lost 30 lbs, but I can't really tell that I've lost anything yet. But to have someone notice was GREAT!! I could get used to this!!!

How are you going you be able to work 11 days post-op?? I'm an xray tech and it's absolutely mandatory that I take 6 weeks off, because I can't be released to lift any type of weight before then.I know that if someone started to fall in front of me, I'd try to stop it whether I was supposed to or not. The risk of messing up all that's went on in my belly is soooo not worth it. I'm 11 days post-op today, and I still have pain in an incision site whenever I bend over and I'm still pretty uncomfortable when I stand up for too long. I can't imagine working right now, I'd be useless at moving patients or anything for that matter lol I'd try to get some more time off...just saying!!

I started my journey in April 2010 with my initial consultation with the surgeon, I had already had my 6 months supervised diet with my family practice doctor. I could have had all of this done LAST year, if I could have made up my mind to quit smoking then. I had a sleep study in December 2010, diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I then quit smoking in March 2011. I then had my psych eval in February 2011, and had to have 6 follow up sessions after that. Those follow up sessions took me into June when I finally got into a therapist! Every time I talked to the surgeon's office, there was something else that they were waiting on it seemed like. I finally got released from the psychologist in July 2011, then it was all sent to the insurance company in August. I got the insurance approval at the end of September. FINALLY!! Then when they asked me when I wanted to do it, I froze up lol!! I had to do all the pre-op labs, EKG, CXR and 2 week pre-op diet also. I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand on September 28, left hand on October 12, and my sleeve done on October 14. 3 surgeries in 2 weeks. But I wanted to get all of it done while I was off of work. I've lost about 27 lbs or so since 2 weeks before my 1st carpal tunnel surgery. I haven't told alot of people what exactly my stomach surgery was for, didn't figure it was anyone's business. I'm loving that I finally did something for me and my husband supports me all the way!! He works with several people who have either had the sleeve, their wives did, or the had the RNY, and he comes home with all sorts of stories for me and tips and stuff-I love it! Good luck with your journey!!

I went to my surgeon today for a follow up, and he thinks that I have an infection in my colon from too many antibiotics from having 3 surgeries in 2 weeks. I have to take some medicine for a week and hopefully it will get better. He doesn't think that I'm lactose intolerant, but I bought some Lactaid today as a back-up if this doesn't work!! I'm scared to eat or drink anything but water, because I have to go to the bathroom all the time!! I'm glad I don't have to be at work right now, I'd be dying of embarrassment lol

Yep, drinking 6 oz of milk with protein every day. I have alot of burping, but I figured that it came with the territory for a while. I am on a pureed/mushy diet right now, and I've been drinking my water and even getting a small glass of milk in on top of my protein shake. I feel like I'm doing ok with that part, it's the "end" result thats so bad! Could it be from the protein shakes?? I see my surgeon tomorrow for my follow-up, guess I'll have to ask him about it, UGH!!

OMG this is TMI, but I have had the WORST problem...I am 9 days post-op, and I have been having the most obnoxious, smelly, LOUD gas! It is soooo embarrassing. I have had problems with bloody bowel movements a few days post-op, but now I have pure water diarrhea and this horrible gas-not a good combo!! Has anyone else had this problem? I'm pretty sure it's not gas from the surgery now, just of my own making. Please tell me that this goes away...my daughter called me poopy pants earlier today, and I deserved it! HELP!

I had my sleeve done on the 14th, and my Upper GI showed alot of swelling also...the contrast was dribbling thru the end of my stomach and refluxing pretty bad. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital because I couldn't drink, so they gave me steroids to try and shrink the swelling and I'm taking Protonix for the reflux. I'm still having trouble with the reflux, and I've noticed the gurgling is still happening alot. I know what you mean though, it feels like you've swallowed a bubble with every drink-pretty uncomfy!! I burp all the time lol Hopefully it will get better as we go along!!

I struggled with the pre-op diet also...cooking supper was the worst part of my day!! Have you tried any sugar-free candies? I still love sugar free Werther's, Jolly Ranchers and Life Savers. They let me have them after my surgery too, they've been great for me!! Good luck dear!

I feel your pain soooo bad!! I quit about 8 months ago after smoking for 16 yrs, and just had my surgery last week, but I think everyone is just waiting for me to start smoking again. My husband has even told me that he thinks I'll start again!! I still think about having a cigarrette, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. Someone gave me a good piece of advice when I quit-how can you let a little white stick run your life? How is it possible that that stupid stick is stronger than you? That has stuck with me, that and the fact when someone thinks I'm going to fail I get ticked off and prove them wrong lol I gained 48 lbs when I quit smoking, and getting back down to that weight is my first goal weight. I really think not smoking is going to be a struggle for me for the rest of my life, it was too big of a part of my life not to be. I had a little realization the other day though, I noticed that I can taste food better now! And I haven't had sinus cold yet. I really hope and pray that you can quit again,and prove to yourself that you are stronger than that little stupid white stinky stick!!

They called me back, and the surgeon said that the diarrhea is still from my gastrograffin UGI on Sat, and the blood is from the surgery...not so sure I'm comfortable with those answers?? I hadn't had a bowel movement since Monday, and the blood was bright red not dark red. So confused...

I'm waiting on them to call me back now. Funny thing is, I have only had really soft bowel movements since my surgery. Dr told me to start Miralax within the next week because I'd need it...ummmm nope!! Hopefully I'll get them to answer me soon.

Has anyone had any experience with bloody diarrhea? I'm 5 days post-op, and have only done it once, but it's scaring me a little bit!! My lower abdomen is still pretty sore from the surgery, but it hurts pretty bad now...any advice appreciated!!

I was dx'd with Barrett's in my EGD also, it made it where I could not have the Lap-band, but the dr said that the I could still have the sleeve. I still have to have an EGD every year for the next five years to monitor it, but losing the weight and having the hernia repaired will help the GERD and then help the Barrett's. Good luck!!

I'm finally home from my surgery!! I went in on Friday and had my surgery at about 7:30 a.m. For the first several hours after surgery I was in soooo much pain it was pretty much a blur from all of the pain meds and anesthesia. By Friday night I was doing alot better, still had alot of gas pain and pain in my shoulder from my drain pushing on my diaphragm. I still had alot of fluids going in and a catheter too, but I got up Friday evening about 12 hrs post-op and walked around the halls. Saturday morning I got my Upper GI done, and that didn't go so well. The bottom part of my sleeve was pretty much swollen shut, and the gastrograffin was barely trickling thru. The dr. told me that the swelling would go down with time. So the rest of the day Saturday I couldn't hardly drink without urping and I had severe reflux. Guess who had to stay an extra day??? I didn't get barely any fluids in until after lunch on Sunday. They gave me a huge shot of steroids to help the swelling go down and Prilosec to help with the reflux. After the steroids kicked in, I felt 10,000% better. No more urping!! I'm still on thinned down pureed foods for another week til I can go to full on pureed foods. I'm able to get more liquids in, and my Protein shake is going down good. I slept like crap in the hospital, so I'm praying my own bed helps to make a difference tonight!! I was weighed the day after surgery and was +7 lbs, then +5 lbs 2 days after surgery, then today I'm down 3 lbs from my pre-op weight. Good luck and no complications to everyone else!!!

Thanks Chris!! I'll be up at and leaving at 4:00 am , so hopefully we get to sleep somewhat early!!! See ya Sunday!

Smallgirlsxthree has been an email/screen name for about 10 years-I have 3 small girls, last name is small...play on words lol. I have never in my life been called small, little, petite, cute, slender or anything like that-other than my last name!!! Stephanie, once we start rocking this sleeve, we can call ourselves the Slender Sleeve Sisters!!

I also used Chantix, I loved it! I took it for 3 months (no one ever tells you that you can do that-DO THAT!! lol) It stops the nicotine from getting to the receptors in your brain, so when you take it for the first week and still smoke, you don't go through withdrawals. It can give you some funky dreams, and it makes some people's stomaches hurt pretty bad. I didn't have any side effects, but it completely worked for me! It's going to be hard no matter how you do it, good luck!!!

Oh no!! I hope you get to feeling better!! A pre-op liquid diet for 4 weeks would be so rough, ugh. I had just started getting sick the day before my hysterectomy several years ago, didn't tell anyone at the hospital...figured I would chicken out and never come back and do it lol!! I got soooo sick with a chest cold for the next week after my surgery-I thought my insides were going to rip out from coughing so much! I felt like an idiot going to the dr. one week post op for medicine to stop coughing...such is life. I hope all goes well for you!

That's funny Chris! I had to start my pre-op diet last Friday terrih1, they're making me do it for 2 weeks. Today was pretty hard because we went grocery shopping for a pot luck we're going to this weekend...I was just about drooling by the time we left the store. My poor hubby was saying things like "here, look, cheese!! You can have cheese!!" and I'm standing there eye-balling the cinnamon rolls. One more week, eye on the prize, one more week... lol! I'm so glad that there are other people going through this with me!!!

Exactly Vsg Doll!! I've been picking, plucking, waxing, shaving, bleaching and worrying for too long! I'm thinking that the laser hair removal sounds like a good idea, but I think I'm going to give myself some time to lose some weight at first to see how it turns out. If it doesn't go down as much as I'm wanting, I'm most definately looking into the laser hair removal. It would be nice not to have to worry about it for once!

I'm sooooo ready to be a Loser! Glad to meet you!

I quit 2 weeks ago, and it was manditory for the 2 week pre-op diet. I still mourn my morning coffee ...I'll have it again someday!

I'm scheduled for October 14th in Grinnell, Iowa with Dr. Stephen Sundberg. I'm past being nervous now, I'm excited!! I am getting a little tired of my pre-op diet, but it's a means to an end-the end of the UNHEALTHY me!!! I'm in love with this forum, and since I will be off of work for 6 weeks after the surgery, I'll probably be one here quite a bit out of pure boredom if nothing else lol. Wishing everyone well!!

So how pricey is pricey?? I've been curious about it for a long time...and I'm kind of chicken because it looks like it hurts! I'm a sissy lol!! I started the extra hair at an early age too, but I could get away with bleaching it for a long time. Now it's a daily management thing-pretty embarrassing last week when I couldn't take care of it when i had my carpal tunnel surgery!! My hubby will help me with alot of things, but that's pretty much crossing a permanent line! Thanks for the info!