beautifuldiva

How long after your surgery were you able to care for yourself. (ie take a shower' date=' walk up and down stairs, mix your own Protein, drive…)[/quote']

To be safe your docs dont want you driving until your off pain meds for at least 24hrs, so it all depends on when you stop feeling pain. Your able to shower as soon as they get your drains out. I was able to shower on my own with the aide of a shower chair b/c my back grew tired really fast. I live in an apt building so physical therapy had be practicing on stairs before i left the hospital. It wasnt hard to get up the stairs, just pace yourself and take breaks when you need to....if you can walk around and lift your arms you can do your own shakes as long as your powder is where you can reach it and not weigh more than 10 pds if you have to lift it. Hope that helps...good luck [=

I wore an abdominal wrap.<---you cant really find them in the stores as i got it while i was in the hospital. Something like a slimming camisole that they sell at Walmart might help alot so that your pants arent directly on your stomach. I didnt attempt jeans until i was two weeks out; and i put on my wrap just for added comfort. Attempt different clothes when you feel comfortable dont push it.

Hi everyone. I have bcbs and was approved within a week. I had my surgery done over at the u of m fairview and it was great! My surgeon dr. Buchwald is awesome and is literally world renowned for his work with bariatric surgeries. He has done many sleeves and has a good success rate.

I think all of us fall "victim" to the dreaded stalls at one or more points in our weight loss journey. I go a few days without loss sometimes and then the next thing I know the scale drops down a bigger chunk. My nutritionist said a good visual for the weight loss is that we shouldn't expect a nice continuous descending line but more like something that looks like stairs going down in that there will be plateaus but followed by a larger drop (at some point). Anyways' date=' as to how much you're eating I can't really say because our bodies are all different and I'm sure our pouches vary in size to a small degree. I can drink a 4 oz shake in 20 minutes but solids are definitely less. My doctor said to eat solid meals over the course of 30 minutes but I have a really hard time stretching meals out that far. I am only a little past 5 weeks post-op so still a lot to learn also! [/quote']

Good to know that im not alone....gotta try harder to stretch things out. Thanks for your advice i feel better. [=

I've reached the first dreaded stall at three weeks out...the scale hasnt moved at all!!! Im not by all means expecting to lose as much as i see others on here losing just kinda hoped that i could miss the stalls!![wishful thinking] Am i eating to much?? I am able to eat 4oz of chicken combined with veggies in about 20 mins is that to fast, to much food? ? I see people posting saying that they are only able to eat a couple spoonfuls of their meal and i can eat the whole meal. *sighs* your help and advice is appreciated...thanks in advance [=

I've reached the first dreaded stall at three weeks out...the scale hasnt moved at all!!! Im not by all means expecting to lose as much as i see others on here losing just kinda hoped that i could miss the stalls!![wishful thinking] Am i eating to much?? I am able to eat 4oz of chicken combined with veggies in about 20 mins is that to fast, to much food? ? I see people posting saying that they are only able to eat a couple spoonfuls of their meal and i can eat the whole meal. *sighs* your help and advice is appreciated...thanks in advance [=

I had surgery just this Monday and any pills I have to take' date=' I have to crush them. Most of them taste so gross and bitter, yuck! When were you allowed to start swallowing pills whole?

Thanks![/quote']

I met with my doc after two wks and he said that it was ok as long as they weren't big pills...and when you do crush them it might help if you mix them with a lil apple sauce to dull the taste or get your doc to give u liquid meds. <<<They taste nasty too but alot better than the crushed meds.

I normally just do my cardio on the treadmill' date=' but i'm working on mixing it up. When I use the elliptical I notice that my feet go numb! Like, all of my toes are tingly and then numb. They go back to normal once I stop... it's very odd. Has anyone else experienced this or understand what's happening?

Thanks![/quote']

This happens to me everytime i get on the elliptical bike at the gym. I just stop every few minutes and shake my legs out. I dont think that there is much way around it

This has to be some kind of world record' date=' but the surgeon submitted my paperwork to insurance on Thursday of last week and it was approved on Monday. Excited! I go back on the 19th to schedule my surgery.

BCBS-Illinois PPO. They are awesome.[/quote']

Bcbs is my provider as well, they are super fast when it comes to getting you approved. Congrats cant wait to see you on the losers bench!

I am new to this site ( I've been reading a lot on it but have never posted until now ) and I am being sleeves on June 18th. I know most of my questions have been answered a million times probably but I still want to ask again.

1. What should I bring to the hospital to wear home? I know they say something comfy but since the incisions are on the stomach...would you recommend big shorts and a oversized Tshirt or like a one piece night gown?

2. Being put to sleep. I'm scared about it. Of course i had the EDG already and i woke up out it crying hysterically. I didn't hurt at all' date=' wasnt scared or anything, and was fine 5 min later. I just didn't have control over my emotions. Anyone else experience that? Will it happen when I wake up from surgery?

3. Pain levels. I am pretty healthy despite being overweight and having asthma...can anyone in my boat tell me how they felt right after surgery?

4. Tell me what you wish someone would have told you before you did this.

Thanks!

[/quote']

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I wore home some loose sweatpants and a loose top. The shorts and tshirt will work just fine just make sure the elastic in the waistband doesnt fit too snug on your belly b/c that might be a little irritating for your incisions. The one piece dress might be your best bet though... my body seems to love anesthesia therefore i just didnt want to open my eyes i just wanted to sleep...i kept asking for my mom when i woke up...but i was a ok after 10 mins take a deep breath and relax your gonna b ok. I have asthma as well and i felt just fine after surgery. Unlike alot of ppl on thr forum i had my surgery done open...which means i just had one long incision instead of several small ones so i had some discomfort and a slight pulling sensation from the incision site but thats nothing your morphine pump cant fix..lol [=

I wish someone would have told me about it sooner (yea kinda cheesy but true) and that if an asthmatics blood pressure is running high dont give them metoporol!! It reacts horribly with asthma and causes you to constantly be coughing up never ending phlegm and feeling as though you cant breathe. If your blood pressurr is running high after surgery make sure they dont give you that b/c it had me feeling horrible.

I hope that helps

Well it all depends on how long you will be there. I packed two night gowns w/matching robes(alot of us get really cold after surgery so i used them for when i went on my walks up and down the hall) and my own slippers. I also packed deodorant, powder, toothbrush and toothpaste(i like my own but they give you some) i also packed a few panties. I only wore one of my nightgowns because until you get your iv out you cant manuever your arms through it and you wont be able to wear underwear until your catheter is out. I didnt bother with a bra b/c of how high my incision was. Just bring the basics....i also brought my favorite quilt just to have something that was mine, i brought a book that i never read as well...lol. anesthesia had me knocked out most of the time..i wore home the same clothes i wore there b/c your in them for such a short time on surgery day so they aren't dirty and chapstick b/c your lips get really dry..oh and a comb lol b/c your hair is bound to be all over the place. I hope that helps *i was there for 6 days btw

It definetly is an individual thing. When i came home from the hospital i slipped some into my chicken broth and i about cried it was so hot. Im almost a month out and can tolerate heat as i used to before. Its a trial and error thing, i wouldn't start testing things out until your a few weeks out just for safe measure. I hope your sleeve lets you have it again. [=

-d'andra

So i saw this post and had to jump in and say hello to everyone....so HI lol [=

-d'andra

This is a subject I've been thinking about too' date=' mainly because I only get 30 min. for lunch at work and it's hard to drink anything in between (OR nurse). I'm worried about becoming dehydrated, so I was wondering how long before I could drink faster? It'll take the entire 30 min. just to chew the food, nevermind taking sips of Water AFTER eating.[/quote']

Everyone is different im almost a month out and can gulp, just take it easy. I would suggest walking around with your water bottle at work to make sure you get it in. I could gulp at 3wks with just a little discomfort but it went away after a few seconds. During the first few weeks your not going to be getting your full 64oz b/c your body is adjusting. Take your time and build up to your full 64oz. Good luck [=

-d'andra

Hi was sleeved may 17th 2012 @18. We do exist lol

-d'andra

The best Protein shake i love is slim fast 20g Protein 2-4 carbs and i do Adkins shakes if i want strawberry ..

Slim fast strawberry is my love as well and the milk doesnt bother me either.

-d'andra

I was about 3 months out before I could enjoy spicy foods again. I don't really like hot hot stuff but really flavorful food. You will get there.

Im there now and so happy. I was able to put the same amount of pepper on my food and it felt good. [= happy days are here again

-d'andra

Yes you will eat pho' date=' lo mein etc.. just not so much of it- I can eat about 3 bites of noodles and then i'm done you can imagine totally not worth it so I will eat spicy veggies instead.... you learn to fight/choose your battles... but yes you can eat spicy foods agian-[/quote']

....i never thought about the spicy veggies i will try dat next time

-d'andra

That is right. It is the waste from burning fat. It will slow down. It isn"t so bad now is it?

Im cool with it now knowing what it is but i still have it.

-d'andra

Ok the title pretty much says it all. hygiene is important to me so im always brushing my teeth after meals and such. I brush my teeth right before bed and when i wake up during the night i do sip Water. We all knoe Water has no taste yet i have the worst breath in the morning. Whats up with that??

-d'andra

Just realized i didnt read your whole post. My bad...lol i believe ketosis is the issue.

-d'andra

-d'andra

Well' date=' I am approved and have a surgery date set for June 29. So many good emotions about this. I am so excited to get this journey in my life started. Just not looking forward to the liquid diet that I have to start on the 15th of June. I just have to take it one day at a time. [/quote']

Congrats on your date!!! I've heard the liquud diet can be a bummer but its great imo because it challenges you to follow a regimin and not give in to temptation which is what you'll have to do after surgery. I hope everything goes well for you! good luck [=

-d'andra

No' date=' I had that a lot before surgery & thankfully not since. This is a sour taste, like you get after sugar-free drinks. It is almost always there, no matter the flavor I am consuming. I just wondered if this was common & does it go away?[/quote']

It may be the aspertame flavoring that goes along with those drinks. I would suggest a different flavoring. Like with my Water i now use mio instead of crystal light b/c i dont like the after taste. Just look for drinks/flavoring that dont list that as an ingredient.

-d'andra

Is anyone else experiencing a constant sour like aftertaste in your mouth no matter what you put in it?

I would agree that sounds like acid reflux. I would suggest making an appt with your doc and getting him to prescribe you an acid blocker. It will help alot with the taste and block hunger that is sometimes associated with it. I hope that helps. [= good luck

-d'andra

Yes straws are since they can produce air I went to buy a Protein shake and out of habit I used it but yes should not use straws!

I only used it once the other day and it went fine. My doc is ok with it so i am too.

-d'andra