MinaT

I wanted to tell you about when I woke up from surgery.. I thought I was going to die for about 24 hours.
I had a nausea patch behind my ear. I touched it and touched my eyes (do not recall when. how or why) but this caused my pupils to dilate for about 4 days. I couldnt read close up and everything was a tad blurry.
I was VERY nauseous and needed my pain medicine, just in the hospital, as soon as I was allowed to have it.. every 4 hours I think.
Because the IV was wide open, I had to PEE literally every hour. My doc wanted me moving as soon as possible, so I did not have a catheter . . so every hour... on the dot.. even through out the night, I had to yell for my husband to unhook my legs from the massager thing, my IV from the wall, and help me to the toilet.
THANK GOD for the On-Q pain pump! (ASK FOR THIS at your last pre op appointment with your doctor.. you will need it). The on-q pain pump is kind of like a small hose with holes in it (very small) that goes under your skin during surgery and releases a little bit of numbing medicine for about 3-5 days (mine lasted 5). This is the only way I made it to the bathroom or was even able to move. Once it was time for it to come out, I was really sore and could only imagine what pain i would have been in if I didnt have that thing.
The nurse had me swallow some pill that was ground into powder with a little bit of water. . 2 minutes later my friend stopped by to visit me.. i was gagging to throw up as I was talking to her, so do yourself a favor and save visits for family who are ok seeing you look like death and won't bother you. you really just need to concentrate on walking, breathing normal, swallowing water, and resting! I was really glad after that my mom had my friends wait a couple of days. By day 3 I took a shower, got my nappy hair into a pony tail, and had a splash of make up on.
I got really annoyed with people asking me how much weight I had lost... I mean.. come on.. this started day 2.. I was not up to stepping on a scale because I knew I was pumped full of fluids and swollen and it was pointless. . dont weigh yourself until your first doctors visit.
I think that is everything I wish I knew or had heard to kind of prepare myself! Good luck!

Don't freak out if you gain weight while in hospital. I brought home an extra 10 lbs! And then found out most people do. It came off the first week, but still, if you're not prepared it can freak you out. Also, I loved my heating pad in the hospital and after.
It felt so good on my tummy, very soothing. Good luck.

Hey there. My nutritionist wasn't too concerned with hair loss for the sleeve, mainly the bypass procedure.
My regret is I wish I would have tried more protein drinks and been more familiar with how much liquid I need to drink. I passed out from only drinking a small amount of fluid after day 3 because I felt full when I took a sip. I didn't know that the water and drink would flow right through and that I should be drinking all day long.
In terms of trying protein drinks, I just bought one kind of powder and didnt care for it after surgery. it seemed way too sweet. I have since tried several different powders and Isopure drink flavors and have been able to mix up my "protein meals".
I am very glad I had the sleeve, but this feeling of appreciation is new. I am about 4.5 weeks out from surgery and within the past week (after getting off of the liquid phase) I am finally losing weight (8 pounds in about 10 days). Do not be too hard on yourself when in the first 3 weeks you arent losing anything. Once you start incorporating the mushy foods and regular meals, you will see a difference!
Good luck!

Thanks for the helpful information, ladies!
@MinaT: SOOOO many helpful tips and suggestions... WOW! I was never big into coffee but pop/soda is a habit that needs to be broken. I usually drink up to 20 ounces per day - eek! After reading your post this morning, I decided to take my remaining cans and donate them by placing in the breakroom at work. Instead, I grabbed a crystal light lemonade packet and sipped on that throughout the afternoon. Who knew how good 5 calories and 0 grams of sugar could taste!?
@Kathy: Thanks for the advice and support! Congrats on all your hard work over the last 6 months. You're almost there!!

hi Melissa
congratulations on your pending sleeve - we're all excited before being sleeved.
I was one of those horrible people that did go on a food "funeral" eating way too much - like i was never going to eat them again. its not true that you can't have whatever you want later after surgery, just in small portions.
i'm 6 months post op - never never eaten a sweet, cuz that is my BIG downfall. i don't want to eat a "little" bit, thats like teasing myself.
My advice pre-op concerning the food, you can eat a little more before your WLS, but don't overdue. i regret pigging out too much. whats done is done.
6 months post up im down 75 lbs - 20 left - so i've done pretty well.
some people do lose some hair. i was one the lucky ones - that didn't have any problems with hair loss.
the subject has been spoken of the board - so write a question.
my other regret is that i never did i BLOG. you've obviously got that covered -good for you
best wishes
good luck
kathy

I started biotin a little bit before surgery. A week before surgery I had to go off all vitamins & minerals. I started the biotin as soon as I thought I could swallow the pill at home.
If you drink any pop (diet or regular) or coffee quit now! Quit before you have to go on the pre-op diet.
I can only tell you things that made things easier on me. I brought one of those soft cuddly comfy throw blankets from Target (mine was brown, one side was soft and comfy and the other side was fluffy). I had it freshly washed and it smelled like home (Downy). It was my comfort in the hospital, I cuddled with it in the chair and it made me happy.
I went into the surgery smiling and humming. Made my nurses hum, even hummed my favorite little theme song to my doctor and anesthesiologists and nurses. It made everyone smile and lighten up and I was told I was one of the most positive people going into surgery and I woke up positive.
I found a decaff tea that was refreshing to bring to the hospital plus I bought my own artificial sweetener (truvia). I tried several decaff teas (after quitting coffee). Bigelow Peppermint Tea fit the bill with truvia. It literally calmed my tummy and felt better than water at first and even though it went from warm to cold, it tasted good cold. Hospitals normally serve hot tea with generic artificial sweetener in a coffee cup. It's not appetizing it smells like coffee though it's hot water. I probably have mentioned this 100 times since surgery in posts. This was my saving grace.
Bring Cottonelle or Charmaigne Box of wet wipes. After surgery your privates feel nasty (after getting the catheter out). It's a little harder to urinate on your own. Wiping yourself is a little hard because your tummy is swollen, but getting some of the orange stuff off you makes you feel cleaner. I also kept a brush on my table, because it was such a comfort to brush my hair because it became a birds nest.
When you go for your walk around the ward, bring along one of those mouth stick wipes because if you talk while you walk, your mouth will dry up on you so fast, especially if you are given the anti-nausea patch and anti-nausea shots.
You will be most likely be receiving shots in your belly every so often for blood clots. I wasn't prepared for this, nor was I prepared for a drain. Ask the doctor if you are getting one. The ted hose they use and compression thing I was afraid of but it actually didn't hurt and was comforting, I was nervous about those. If the ted hose starts rolling down and hurting, makes sure you get someone to fix it.
I made sure I kept my mouth sticks, water and peppermint tea and spirometer and I brought my own Kleenex (Vicks) type to the hospital. Those I made sure were close to me. When I would wake up during the night I would make sure I used the spirometer. I am prone to pneumonia and I used it OFTEN. I would take my big brown blanket and ball it up with a pillow and then cough. I still use it and it's 19 days out.
My hardest part of surgery (I was in the hospital 5 days) was the leak test. I had an allergic reaction to the Gastrique used and it was really hard on me. My face, neck and chest turned a bright red and I got dizzy and sick. Most people just feel sick from their first drink being something like that.
Things I did not use. I didn't use my kindle, didn't change clothes once (all the iv's getting any real pj's on there is no way.) I did have a pair crocs that I used to walk in, which was more stable to me than wearing their socks.
When I came home getting in and out of bed was not easy for me, and I spent a lot of time sleeping in the lazy boy. I walked as much as I could and I started spacing it out 20 minutes walking through the kitchen, living room and dining room 3 times a day.
I had the drain for 9 days and the last few days it started bugging me. Getting it out, was not comfortable but there was HUGE relief getting it out. I could finally actually breathe again.
Realize that no two people heal alike. There are people that sound as though they have surgery and go home and are out walking miles in the first week. You may have had previous abdominal surgeries and have more scar tissue, you may have never had one and aren't used to it and take it harder. Everyone recovers differently and don't compare your experience to others because it's unneeded frustration. Try to remain positive, even when the going gets tough. I had only questioned my decision when I had the reaction to the gastrique, and then when my drain got infected (I have lupus), they were fleeting.
I have tried to stay positive otherwise and it's done me well. I have a brain tumor, and I suffer from Lupus, I had diabetes and sleep apnea, and I suffer from raynauds and severe migraines and I have a lot of things that could contribute to me not staying positive. I had complications during my surgery which were pretty severe and still I would do it all over again. I will be 49 in August, which is how old my Great Grandmother Died due to obesity, and I am built just like her.
Good Luck to you and stay positive, keep a fun song in your head that day, be it a theme song - like Brick House, or whatever current music you like. Mine was the Theme from Sanford & Son and old TV show that I loved as a little girl. The music is happy & funky and to remember the look on my surgeons face or remember the nurses trying to hum it or my husband and son humming it as I was being wheeled out still makes me giggle

I started biotin a little bit before surgery. A week before surgery I had to go off all vitamins & minerals. I started the biotin as soon as I thought I could swallow the pill at home.
If you drink any pop (diet or regular) or coffee quit now! Quit before you have to go on the pre-op diet.
I can only tell you things that made things easier on me. I brought one of those soft cuddly comfy throw blankets from Target (mine was brown, one side was soft and comfy and the other side was fluffy). I had it freshly washed and it smelled like home (Downy). It was my comfort in the hospital, I cuddled with it in the chair and it made me happy.
I went into the surgery smiling and humming. Made my nurses hum, even hummed my favorite little theme song to my doctor and anesthesiologists and nurses. It made everyone smile and lighten up and I was told I was one of the most positive people going into surgery and I woke up positive.
I found a decaff tea that was refreshing to bring to the hospital plus I bought my own artificial sweetener (truvia). I tried several decaff teas (after quitting coffee). Bigelow Peppermint Tea fit the bill with truvia. It literally calmed my tummy and felt better than water at first and even though it went from warm to cold, it tasted good cold. Hospitals normally serve hot tea with generic artificial sweetener in a coffee cup. It's not appetizing it smells like coffee though it's hot water. I probably have mentioned this 100 times since surgery in posts. This was my saving grace.
Bring Cottonelle or Charmaigne Box of wet wipes. After surgery your privates feel nasty (after getting the catheter out). It's a little harder to urinate on your own. Wiping yourself is a little hard because your tummy is swollen, but getting some of the orange stuff off you makes you feel cleaner. I also kept a brush on my table, because it was such a comfort to brush my hair because it became a birds nest.
When you go for your walk around the ward, bring along one of those mouth stick wipes because if you talk while you walk, your mouth will dry up on you so fast, especially if you are given the anti-nausea patch and anti-nausea shots.
You will be most likely be receiving shots in your belly every so often for blood clots. I wasn't prepared for this, nor was I prepared for a drain. Ask the doctor if you are getting one. The ted hose they use and compression thing I was afraid of but it actually didn't hurt and was comforting, I was nervous about those. If the ted hose starts rolling down and hurting, makes sure you get someone to fix it.
I made sure I kept my mouth sticks, water and peppermint tea and spirometer and I brought my own Kleenex (Vicks) type to the hospital. Those I made sure were close to me. When I would wake up during the night I would make sure I used the spirometer. I am prone to pneumonia and I used it OFTEN. I would take my big brown blanket and ball it up with a pillow and then cough. I still use it and it's 19 days out.
My hardest part of surgery (I was in the hospital 5 days) was the leak test. I had an allergic reaction to the Gastrique used and it was really hard on me. My face, neck and chest turned a bright red and I got dizzy and sick. Most people just feel sick from their first drink being something like that.
Things I did not use. I didn't use my kindle, didn't change clothes once (all the iv's getting any real pj's on there is no way.) I did have a pair crocs that I used to walk in, which was more stable to me than wearing their socks.
When I came home getting in and out of bed was not easy for me, and I spent a lot of time sleeping in the lazy boy. I walked as much as I could and I started spacing it out 20 minutes walking through the kitchen, living room and dining room 3 times a day.
I had the drain for 9 days and the last few days it started bugging me. Getting it out, was not comfortable but there was HUGE relief getting it out. I could finally actually breathe again.
Realize that no two people heal alike. There are people that sound as though they have surgery and go home and are out walking miles in the first week. You may have had previous abdominal surgeries and have more scar tissue, you may have never had one and aren't used to it and take it harder. Everyone recovers differently and don't compare your experience to others because it's unneeded frustration. Try to remain positive, even when the going gets tough. I had only questioned my decision when I had the reaction to the gastrique, and then when my drain got infected (I have lupus), they were fleeting.
I have tried to stay positive otherwise and it's done me well. I have a brain tumor, and I suffer from Lupus, I had diabetes and sleep apnea, and I suffer from raynauds and severe migraines and I have a lot of things that could contribute to me not staying positive. I had complications during my surgery which were pretty severe and still I would do it all over again. I will be 49 in August, which is how old my Great Grandmother Died due to obesity, and I am built just like her.
Good Luck to you and stay positive, keep a fun song in your head that day, be it a theme song - like Brick House, or whatever current music you like. Mine was the Theme from Sanford & Son and old TV show that I loved as a little girl. The music is happy & funky and to remember the look on my surgeons face or remember the nurses trying to hum it or my husband and son humming it as I was being wheeled out still makes me giggle

I am pre-op, but have read that the hunger can be stomach acid to be relieved by prilosec or something of that sort. Also, when you are hungry, drink water. It often is a signal that you are thirsty or dehydrated (that goes for pre-surgery hunger, too).
To avoid snacking, consider setting a schedule for consumption, i.e., your surgeon suggests 4 meals a day, so eat at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm (or whatever works for you, of course). If you feel hungry between those hours... drink water. Sometimes making rules to follow can help us follow our own guidelines, rather than being without boundaries.

Liquids...I eat every couple of hours. Once you start real food, you can only eat a few bites, so I usually eat something every two to three hours...sometimes I only eat twice a day; sometimes 6 times a day. When you are just out of surgery, I mean, up to 3 weeks post op, the communication to your brain that you are full or hungry just isn't quite there. Once you start eating real food, it is heavy. I ate five grapes the other day and thought I was going to burst. I am one of those tasting cooks...so by the time I get food ready for everybody, I am full...I have to quit that. Just take it slow. The first few weeks are a little frustrating because of the limited selection. Remember, the inside of your stomach is having to heal over the staples, so be very careful about eating anything. Just stick to your liquids and mushies...or whatever your doctor told you...I was on mushies until 6 weeks out. I still occasionally do mushy days...Yesterday, I had one Jimmy Dean sausage biscuit(which was not at all good), and then I had one bite of tomato, about 2 ounces of turkey, one 3 oz bag of planters trail mix, 2 oz chicken poppyseed casserole (without the poppyseed and no rice in it...I also did my chicken in my food processor on the slice, so it is small pieces) 2 oz collards, and I was so full, but I felt like a pig...so it will get easier with time...and the weight will come off consistently. I will be eight weeks out Tuesday.

i was told to either go brush my teeth (Nobody wants to eat after that), chew on the end of a straw or munch soft ice when I wanted to snack from boredom and I'm already halfway thru a box of straws and I'm still PRE OP. but I'm down over 10 pounds

It's actually 11 days out now and although I too am on liquids, my doctor did say I can have anything that will go through a straw (just not actually use the straw) so I have had some very thin cream of wheat and potato soup. I'm having some digestive issues so I stopped even that, but my doctor said that if I felt ok after then I could continue to progress from very thin to puree.

I'm on clear liquids for the time in the hospital and then come home to two weeks of full liquids followed by 6 weeks of pureed before hitting soft foods. At 8 days it sounds like you are progressing pretty quickly. Also, I have been told that they usually pump in about 10lbs of fluid during surgery and hospital stay so to lose 7 lbs at 8 days is awesome! That's what I'm hoping to lose per month!

Hi Leaha, I also had the sleeve on the 22nd and understand what you are saying. I have haven't been over-eating or even snacking because I almost always get diarrhea after I do eat and sometimes even after the shakes. I hope this physical learning curve is over soon, it seems a bit different for us all.
One of the things I think you are describing is what I call Head Hungry, thinking about food, picturing it, tasting it, smelling it, the experience of it. Then the reality of food for us now, is nothing compared to our imagination. But that's why we are doing this, to learn new control, new habits. This sleeve tool will allow us to lose weight, while gaining time to make our new way of (eating)life so normal that we never gain the weight back. That's what I'm reminding myself today anyway, everyday seems hard so far, but there is no going back. Don't worry about the number of lbs lost yet or clothing size, just concentrate on nutrition intake, the rest will come. It just has too!

Lucky you. I've paid $600.00 so far out of pocket. $200.00 first fee when I met with the nutritionist at month 4 of pre-op. $200.00 on the first day of 2 hour meeting with the nurse nutritionist and they sent me home with 42 (14 day supply) of shakes for the pre-op diet. $200.00 on the last pre-op appointment with the head nurse, where I received my spirometer, my last testing orders.
I get free appointments for life with the nutritionist, and the head nurse, free monthly group meetings for life, etc. discounts at a fitness club by my home.
My insurance is 90/10 - and unfortunately medicare (my secondary) doesn't cover the sleeve yet, and since my surgeon changed hospitals from Methodist to St. Mary's they have to redo their Centers of Excellence Bariatric thing for medicare.
I'm hoping medicare picks up all the ekgs, upper gi etc. I have heard nothing about tummy tuck or the pan(whateveritscalled) surgery.
Thanks for the awesome information and wow - what great friends. I don't really have friends that live near me and truthfully only one friend and my parents know about the surgery.
Looking forward to hearing more about your journey and being in the June 2012 club with you!

Your diet is exactly like mine. I started my preop diet on Monday. Day 6 I've had 3 protein shakes a day, some propel zero, and in 6 days I've treated myself to two sugar-free popsicles. Go me, go team! I feel a little stressed because I see how people advance so much quicker on their diets than we are going to be allowed to.
Then I start reading this forum and I see how people try eating after 3 weeks and are in horrible pain, I see how people that advance too quickly don't lose as quickly or how people are upset that they can't eat like they used to at a month out. I see some people have complications that probably would not have been so bad if their diet after surgery went a little slower to give the belly time to heal.
I think in the long run raindrop, the way our doctors are doing it is going to be better for us. I'm sure there are people that had no problems after the first week, but we chose our surgeons for a reason, and I think the way we are doing it is for the best.
There is a list located in June 2012 sleevers called June Sleevers Compilation - Good Luck & Well Wishes and I added you to the June 5th list. That's a busy busy day
Best of luck to you!
Good luck to you.
http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/

Add me, please! Tuesday, June 5th, Dr. Nick Nicholson. I had my first NUT and pre-ops yesterday! Woo hoo!

Happy Surgiversary!! Thank you for your story, it definitely gives me hope too. I love hearing stories like this!!

I'm so sorry you are having so many issues. My best suggestion for you is to give it a week or two without weighing yourself. Give yourself time to heal, you have been through a whole lot more than so many people here. Your priority should be trying to get your fluids in, your protein in, and healing from surgery and healing from everything else. The weight will come off, but the stress you are under because of the complications are too overwhelming than to sit and worry about the scale right now. It will turn around eventually, right now getting healthy in your body and your mind is important. Eat and drink right and leave the scale alone until the clotting issues and the water retention issues are out of the way. Sending prayers your way.

You are so inspiring and I loved your video, and I love your blog. So very happy for you and your every day successes. Great job and you will reach your goal!

Call the insurance company. I did, three times. First time they said it wasn't in their system yet. I called two days later, they just received it, I waited two more days and called back and it was approved.
Why wait for the mail, call them, the number should be on the back of your card.

I soooooo miss my cokes but they dont taste as good as skinny will.

I'm with you there. I have been a coke addict forever! Several years ago switched from Coke to Coke Zero to lose weight (didn't work). Went cold turkey 11 days ago. Hope to have the surgery soon, so I can smile about the pounds, and maybe forget the longing for the fizzy little bubbles.

Awesome!!! Congratulations!!! I made the VERY same decison a week ago Satururday and I'm a long time Coke addict. Coke has made me smile so many times, but dropping those pounds is going to make me smile even more.

Hi Joni,
I tried something and it worked! I have a liquid protein shake and I added a scoop of whey protein (26g of protein). Between the 5oz of shake and the one scoop, I am getting 34 proteins. I could not drink it all, but will sip on it until it is gone. Then at supper I will do that again. That will put me Over 60 gms a day! For now, while I am struggling to get 4oz at a time down, this may be my plan. Not sure how I will get all the water in though. I guess I will sip it when not sipping the protein cocktail LOL!

Good luck Cheryl.