Lisa's Hope

Thanks Spatters! You would think so, wouldn't you!?

Good luck and God bless. Not all experience are like mine. I'm sure you will do amazing!!

I have intended to blog about my surgery experience before now but haven't felt up to it until today. I am now 8 days post op and things are getting better. I have been having pain in my chest and upper stomach which has been pretty unbearable since surgery. It is getting less day by day, thank the good Lord above. I guess I didn't really know to expect the pain as it has been for me since I hadn't heard most people describe this sort of thing before I had surgery. I will keep praying it will get better each day and I'm sure it will!! As of today I am down a total 27 pounds which includes pre op and post op. I lost 15 preop and 12 the first week post op. I am so grateful to be losing this weight. It is unbelievable to me. I'm still trying to get enough fluids in and it has been hard but like I said everything gets better each day that passes. Well, I didnt really get to write about my experience with surgery. So I will just elaborate on it a little. I wasn't really scared at all when I arrived at the hospital at 8:30 am on the 21st. I had to go through admissions then back to surgery prep one. Once there, they took vitals and gave me a gown and told me to get undressed. The nurse came by and took an assesment then it was back to surgery prep two. There I was talked to by the anesthesiologist and asked the same questions over again. I was so ready for the "feel good" shot. I kept asking for it. The nurse finally gave it to me and I didn't care what happened at that point. LOL I remember being wheeled back into surgery and them strapping me down. The next thing I knew I was waking up with the very terrible pain in the top of my stomach.(exactly where the pain comes and goes now. It was like huge painful contractions) I realize not all patients feel this, but to me it was very painful! I was moaning and I remember the nurse there wasn't very nice and kept telling me to stop. I was thinking she better be glad I can't say much. At that point I remember regretting what I had done and questioning myself. The next thing I remember was being hooked up to my pain pump and realizing I had a pain pump inside the top of my stomach as well as the morphine pump in my IV. The pump in my chest was where all the terrible pain was coming from. The pain catheter was threaded directly into my stomach. I was then taken to my room and for the next few hours I slept. I began walking about 5 hours after surgery. I walked every chance I got. I knew I wanted to come home the next day and not stay two nights. I absolutely hate the hospital. The next day we were asked to WALK down to xray and get the leak test. I thought that was horrible asking everyone to walk down there with there IV pole and all. Anyway, I made it and it showed that I had ALOT of swelling and it was very hard for the liquid they gave me to go down. It finally did and didn't show any leaks at that point. When I got back to the room, we were given trays of broth, jello, and popsicles. I ate what I could and kept it down. I asked the Dr. if I could go home and he released me. I had a two hour drive home and by the time I got here I was in so much pain I could hardly bare it. It was really hard for me for the first few days but I'm feeling better now and looking forward to my new life. I do pray every day that when the swelling goes down, I don't have a leak. I just know that I have to keep trusting GOD and let him guide me through this. I go for my one week post op appointment tomorrow. Which actually will be 9 days. I'm looking forward to getting my staples out and continuing to heal. Still amazes me about the weight loss. NO WAY would I have been able to lose 27 pounds in three weeks any other way. I plan to rock this sleeve and for the first time in a very long time, learn to love me again. :wub: I love you guys. Thanks for all the support!

Congratulations!

I've never had to do them before with any surgery so was surprised by it. I have wondered what might happen when you get off of them. Still a risk for a clot??

Congratulations ChaCha! You are doing so awesome.

Hey Carla, It hasn't been too bad to take the shots. They gave them to me in the hospital and then sent me home with prefilled syringes. The needles are so small it doesn't hurt. You will be fine. I have 4 more to go. I only had to take once a day.

No I don't have a drain tube. I did however have a on Q pain pump that was threaded into the top of my stomach.

It is strange how surgeons differ. I've been allowed protein shakes 1st day after surgery. I thought that was strange. I haven't been able to get them in though. On my surgeon's diet we are supposed to have 1/2 cup protein three times a day. I've not been able to do that at all. It makes me sick to drink it. On the second stage we are allowed yogurt, grits, puddings SF and all clear liquids. I would love to have grits. Scared to try them though with this pain.

Thank you Mely. I hope you are better as well!

I think you know exactly how I feel. This crap is painful. I will be 8 days post op tomorrow. It has slowed down some. I just hope it will gradually go away soon!! I'm supposed to be on full liquids this week and I'm hungry. I wish I could have something besides Clear Liquids.

Yes I thought that gas was it at first but I'm eating gas x strips all day. I'm thinking maybe I had more swelling than most. When they did my swallow at the hospital, it was hard for them to see the fluid going down. My surgeon told me it was swollen but I just wonder when it will go down. I just wish the pain would stop. The best way to describe it is a labor contraction only in my chest and stomach instead of in the abdomen. I'm not a baby and I can surely take pain but this is crazy. I'm losing it!

Post Op 7 days and still have terrible pain (contraction) in my chest and upper stomach. Is this pain ever going away and what the heck is causing it??!???! I've tried to be patient but darn it, this crap hurts!! Contracts even when I'm not swallowing.

Where id you get it?

I would say you will need someone with you for at least the first week.

I'm having the contraction pains right now. I was sleeved on Monday. I guess it is pretty normal. I will be glad when it stops.

I guess we are the unlucky ones.

I'm sorry you are having a hard time lizzy. I was sleeved on Monday and have a lot of pain in the middle of my chest. Feels like I'm having a heart attack. Kinda like a labor contraction only in the chest and top of the stomach. Try drinking gatoraid. It has been my life saver. I know we aren't supposed to drink sugar in anything but there isn't alot. It will make you feel better. It will still hurt when you swallow but can keep you hydrated. I've doubted my decision too. Over and over. I'm praying for you. We did choose this but we didn't choose to be in pain and have problems. God Bless

Thanks. I was thinking about a leak too cause the pain is so horried!! I was told that I was very swollen after surgery. I sure hope it goes away. It feels just like a CRAMP. Last for about 5 seconds and then gone. It hurts alot. I will be relieved when it goes away.

I was put on 30 mg of previcid and I take gas X. What kind of meds are you taking?? I keep thinking it is getting better but it isn't really.

I was sleeved on Monday also. I still have this awful pain in the middle of my chest-stomach like cramps. I was told by others it was just gas but I'm beginning to get worried that it may be something else!! Except for that, everything else is ok. I can hear when I drink, the sound of the liquid sliding down my sleeve. It is weird!! Glad you are doing so awesome!! Congratulations:)

Thanks girls! I'm giving myself the shots. They aren't painful but I wish I didn't have to do it!

Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone else was put on Heprin shots the first 10 days post op?

Thank you everyone!! I'm still in pain and not sure why. Dr. did say I had a lot of swelling. Anyone else have pain in the middle of their chest like spasms or squeezing??? Just won't go away. I feel I could get alot better if that pain would get better.

Aww thank you so much Kathy. I really can't believe how much pain I've been in. When they did the barium swallow they said I was very swollen. Not sure why It has been harder for me. Now I'm just praying I don't have a leak when the swelling goes down. I don't know what I would do with my friends on this forum. Thanks again. I will keep you posted.