MeMeMEEE

Thanks for asking this question - this is how I get too! I assumed "full" due to swelling right now. The pain is like when before you took a big gulp that didn't sit right - very odd to me and I hate it, even though it does pass quick.

all you can do is try!! Have you met any deductible already this year? Can you change to a lower deductible plan starting January? Just a couple thoughts!

yes - and liquid Tylenol counts too

That is so awesome - and him being a teen makes it soo much better!! It is great when our kids are proud of us!!

I was sleeved Monday and I have felt very tight and it takes me my whole day to get in my 64 oz of fluids, I am still working on about 4 more ounces right now and very ready for bed (been up for 15 hours now). I have to dink slow, it is a good hours to get in 6 oz but it is usually much less - more like 3-4 oz. SF popsicles seem to be easier (maybe helps the swelling?) but so does the broth. All sweet things make me very phlemy so I try and avoid them. I have gotten 1 whole shake down the last two days but before that it was maybe a few ounces of them. My Dr uses a 40 Bougie. Do they have you on a PPI? I can tell it helps some for me. Hope your swelling goes down soon!

I'll add you to our "official" list -see the top of this forum! Can't remember if there is anyone else on 8/30 yet!

Finally a chance to sit down and do this - I started my pre-op diet on 7/25, had it easier than most as I was allowed to have non starchy veggies and a limited amount of more carby items such as hot Cereal, applesauce, v8, sf pudding and light yogurt as well as all the liquids. Had to drink the magnesium citrate on Sunday August 7th - not as bad as I feared, added a limeade mix in to it and was able to get it down. I had to do this at 4pm and was only allowed 1 Protein drink and Clear Liquids that day so there wasn't too much to "clear out." Monday August 8th I had to be at the hospital (Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL) at 9am. I was ushered in to the pre-op area pretty quickly by a girl I went to school with (nice to see a familiar face). Her sister was also a nurse in pre-op so another familiar face. Once all my registration info was taken I was brought a gown and pants to put on, Aunt Flow was visiting so they brought me their version of undies and pad. Once I was all prepared they began attempting my IV - first person tried once and the vein rolled, second person got right in and the vein blew but of course she had to shoot some stuff in to be sure and that BURNED. They then had someone come from Anesthesia to do it and they got one. My advice, don't let them "numb" you - that shot hurts more than the IV and it doesn't work that great. Of course they were running behind in surgery. My pick up time was supposed to be 11am but ended up being around 1pm. Got a short snooze in. I woke up in my room around 5 pm I think (first thought it was 6 but I believe I was reading the clock wrong). Not sure how long I was in recovery. Woke up with a second IV in on my opposite arm and a few more stick marks. The original held through the first day and the 2nd was bad before the first. More on that. I didn't feel bad, very tired and tender, my kids were there and kept waking me up when the alarm sounded - guessing low heart rate. Two friends stopped by later too. I had a young guy CNA to take care of me and he was fun - very talkative and told me why he thinks iPhone is better than android LOL. Walked several times throughout the night and apparently a lot farther than most, circling the floor a few times. Had some ice chips. Not much sleep that I remember, seemed like I would just doze off and they would come in for something. Used the pump that night, not morphine but I don't remember what it was, same sleepy side effects but didn't make me sick at least. Tuesday - The next day I lost my fun guy and got a crabby lady She was a little rough with me when she got my band to scan and I will blamer her for blow my IV, not sure if that is true but within a few hours I had a swollen arm of Fluid. Of course they didn't believe me and pushed some of the stuff in to prove it, ouch. And of course the 2nd IV was already bad too, I had thought so since almost the beginning but they didn't care. 2 more stick and digs before they called the PIC team to bring their ultrasound machine and find a vein - they rocked and got me one in my left arm bend - bad spot but it stayed good until they removed it after 2 more days! So day 2 was traumatic for me with IV's (yes, the one thing that I was scared of) and I was supposed to start drink 8 oz an hour starting at 4pm so I could get in 64 oz in 24 hours and go home on day 3. That didn't happen, I just can't do 8 oz in an hour. My air in my room also went out so it was 80 in there most of the day, after being 60 early in the day Wednesday - Day 3 at 7am when the team came in and let me know I wasn't going home until my 64 oz were in, I got smart and realized hey I am awake longer than 8 hours in a day and so I just began doing what I could getting 3 - 6 oz in each hour. It added up and I went to bed at 8pm with my 64 oz in. Thankfully they were in there fixing my air as well - the Dr said I had men crawling out of the ceiling to see me That day I gave up the pump, no way to get in fluids while you are sleeping because of pain meds. I did try the Lortab liquid and that was nasty (but counted toward my liquid ) . Told the nurses I wanted liquid Tylenol and they got it ok'd. At this point I am not sure I even needed it but just went ahead and took it as I could. They took me off the IV but left it hep locked. The team kept asking me why I wasn't using the pump and I let them know because it made me sleepy and I can't sip while asleep. This is the first day I showered and it was awesome. Slept great that night and walked short walks when I woke up. Circling the floor isn't fun when by yourself. Thursday - Day 4 the team came in at 7 and let me know I could go home that day. I was READY!! Got a shower, got dressed, packed up, worked on my liquids and left around 1pm. Didn't walk much after home that day - figured I was good after the morning! Spent my day and evening on the couch, in bed at 7:30 after my fluids were in. Slept great! Got up around 1am with hubby and drank some fluids and watched a few shows, back to sleep at 3 am and up at 7am. Friday - Day 5 I probably over did it. Showered, did laundry, went to a garage sale at my sis in laws (driveway on incline, parked at bottom), went to a restaurant where a friend waitresses (she had RNY 10 years ago) and she gave me a nice bowl of broth. That went down NICE!! Ran some Christmas lights to a friend getting married today to use. Went to Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree with my husband. Stayed up way later than I should of - but got my fluids in! Got to bed around 11pm I believe, after I read a little in bed. Much easier to get comfortable in bed last night. Saturday Day 6 TODAY Slept til about 7am. Got shower, loaded dishwasher, put a few things away. I have spent most of the day so far on the couch. That's it so far! I do have a wedding to go to tonight, skipping the reception though! A few other things that just don't fit in anywhere else - I did get Lovenox shots days 2,3,4 in my thigh, didn't hurt. My doctor does a scope while you are out to check for leaks, no separate leak test. I was not allowed to use Gas-X strips. I didn't have any gas pains to speak of though, guess walking took care of them. My hospital did not have heating pads but did give me heated blankets - not the same. I had my daughter bring mine from home and I did use it the second day some. My pain was never above a 4 mostly around a 3 the whole time on a scale of 0-10 (10=worst) - with exception of the IV digging. My driving restriction was only if I took Lortab so I can drive.

Hi Tammi! Just coming here to do a little recap of my days! I did the same yesterday, a little too much, not sore so much as very tired. But I slept good! Very achy when I woke up - like I had a good workout with sit ups LOL Ps. today was the first day I was below my presurgery weight - and I counted it

added to calendar!!

Congrats on your "wake up!" WTG on the quiting smoking!!! Weight loss so far is awesome!! I will be 40 this year, married my first daughter off on 1-1-11 and my youngest just turned 16 and of course is so adult LOL I decided this year was for ME! I started the process in January and was just sleeved Monday. Someone posted this on facebook a week or so ago and it really hit home for me - The one person I can truly count on... that I want in the front of my cheering section... that I must love above all others... that I know is going to pick me up when I'm down... that is going to be with me until I die... is me. Basically it says what you realized, no one is bringing anything to you on a silver platter or white horse, you have to love yourself enough to take the steps to get what you want!!

I had my surgery Monday so today is 6 days for me. My belly is still swollen but I don't think as bad as even yesterday. I haven't tried anything besides stretch pants on, have a wedding to go to today so I will have to - anxious myself to see how that goes!

Glad to hear you are home and doing well.

gotcha!!

Congrats - we've got a calendar at the top of the forum here - I will add you to it!

I can't take the calcium chews until a month out but am taking huge ones right now, I won a bottle of cinnamon ones at my support group and I like them so much better than the berry flavored ones.

You said it!! It's is hard to have that taste and blow it!!

How is everyone doing? I have seen a check in from a few of you!

You can do it! My hospital has a walk for Obesity in October to benefit the food pantry - I am planning to do it!

That's what I have heard,

I have felt the same, about 8 years ago I went on weight watchers at work and in the end got to goal, 75 lbs lost. I was so proud, everyone was proud of me. We moved to FL the year after I made goal and I gained 20 lbs. Still not a bad weight for me, size 12. I was so ashamed when I came home for visits! Then we moved back to IL about 4 years ago and complete failure - gained all back plus 35 lbs. Even more shame, So when I decided to do this I only told people who were like minded - wanting to lose weight, struggling, etc. I had my sleeve Monday and pretty much the cat is out of the bag - read: facebook and anesthesia don't mix LOL Well I just simply asked for prayers around my surgery time, nothing specific. I was so worried someone would try and talk me out of it (my mom and husband already tried). I have only run in to one naysayer as of today and she just "could never do anything that drastic" - I understand, I said the same for years. I'm not even 40 (this year) and when I noticed myself getting winded or breaking out in a sweat doing simple house work, I knew it was time for drastic. I have found support from people I would never has guessed and this thrills me. I have had people ask me how much I have lost and I simply explain to them they advised me not to weigh until my post op visit due to IV fluid retention. I peeked and I have gained a few pounds from that but no worry. I have put them off for a few weeks anyway!! Maybe by then they won't bother to ask and my success will speak for itself. I believe there isn't really failure at this, more just the levels of success. Doctors consider less than 50% excess weight lost a failure but I would be thrilled if I lost only 45 lbs. I would be better off than I was. That is success to me.

the sugar free popsicles are great to just crunch on for a snack. Also can you make your shakes with milk?

I think you can do that! Have you mixed in any sugar free syrups or yogurt? Or maybe fruit?

Hi guys! I have day 5 today I guess - ended yesterday with 100 calories - seems pretty bad! I really liked the broth in the hospital, it said vegetable consomme when they brought the ticket. Looked that up - sounds like alot of work. I had a can of Progresso french onion in the cabinet so I have made that and strained it. The sugar free popsicles go down well. I would love a nap but then afraid I won't get my fluids in. Got up for a couple hours around 1am with my husband and got 8 oz in then so felt a little ahead so far. Really need to try some protein again today, had maybe 3 grams yesterday and maybe 10 the day before, a few on Tuesday. It just sits so heavy. I am just on the Tylenol liquid, Lortab was just too nasty sweet for me. No real pain, just tender from the surgery sites. Went to my sis in laws today because she was having a garage sale, got my walk up and down her lane. Now ready for that nap I mentioned No real hunger thank God! Supposed to go to a small private wedding tomorrow - not sure I will have anything to fit my big bloated belly

Lisa - I was the day before you and wow the drinking sure is a challenge! I want a nap but if I do I might not get all my fluids in, you know? I sure am hoping it gets better quick!

Hi Kami - hang in there! what are you allowed to have?