CelticHarpist

I was given a gift of a facial with a chocolate martini so I asked my dietician. She said to wait til close to the end date of the gift coupon to do it which isn't until Oct. My surgery was in June. The surgeon said to wait a year for alcohol or just one on a special occassion. The latest research on NAFLD (Non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease), which most high BMI people have even if the doctor hasn't mentioned it like that, shows to try to avoid alcohol consumption as much as possible. Hopefully lessening weight especially by over 20% will correct some of the benign NAFLD problem (also shown in research). If a person is NASH, the not benign condition but inflamed and fibrotic liver, then alcohol isn't recommended at all. This question might be a good one to ask your doctor or dietician because of these factors.

In case someone happens upon this topic, I wanted people to know that there was some soreness after surgery for me but nothing like this image conjured. Four incisions didn't hurt at all, and the major incision which was through the bellybutton area oozed a bit (looks a bit like a chicken foot grabbed me and held on!), and had a longer healing time from soreness. The major scab there is gone but it still looks like it is healing (though mainly knitted). The surgeon explained he cut through a major muscle there so it would feel the worst. As of now, two months post-op almost (not quite), that pain is gone. I am happy I went through with it, and with the results to date. Totally worth it!

Nice to hear your story! Congrats. Your pic looks amazing. My grandmother used to wear a corset - do they still make those? Does yours have whalebones and tie-ups?

Isn't it exciting! My blood sugars are running morning and night about 102-105 and I am not on any medications for it now. This is without more than normal daily exercise-dog walking, housework, etc. It gets even lower if I faithfully aerobic exercise or swim. Taking 1/2 my bp med now and that may be dropped eventually. Nice to have secondary medical conditions improve.(My surgery was June11)

Lol, I had refried beans with low fat parm cheese for my second meal. My first was mushy crab cakes - very yum. Savored verrrrrry slowly. Enjoying every second.

I don't mind the EAS protein drinks one can find at Walmart. I like the french vanilla and the chocolate tastes somewhat like chocolat milk with 17 grams protein.I prefer adkins chocolate fudge for chocolate but that is me. I like adding sugar free puddings to the shakes and ice for a milk shake concoction. Sugar free pistachio is nice in vanilla ones. I also got some sugar free torino syrups like raspberry and mint to make things more palatable.

Smaller utinsels help - I use dessert spoons and cocktail forks or the tiny plastic spoons I got from a nurse similar to what you get in ice cream shops to take a taste test (you can actually buy these). Putting your spoon or fork down between bites helps. I count my chews for each bite and try to get up to 40 - doesn't always work but it helps slow things down.

Mine was 15 minutes before and 30 afterwards. I like the idea of filling up with liquids earlier so you are hydrated.

I love coffee, too, and medical reports show it can be good for folks. My written instructions post-surgery included being able to drink de-caf coffee and tea. I find de-caf tastes odd to me. I talked with my dietician today who told me there are several reasons the written list instructs this: caffiene is a diurectic, and caffiene can also soften stools. She told me to go ahead and drink a cup/drink of it, if I wanted to, daily, as it might actually help my infrequent constipation to abate.

My doc gave me the go ahead after the month check-up. Swimming is a favorite for me. Prior to his okay he hadn't wanted me to bathe or swim with these incisions.

I thought I replied to this so I hope I am not re-posting, but I don't see my reply up. My doc recommends sublingual B12 to help with energy. He has me on a regimen of a multivit, B complex, Calcium citrate plus D3, and a sublingual B12. B12 is the energy vitamin. It is mainly found in meats so your proteins become very important. I know a woman who had a RNY and now needs to take B12 shots monthly due to her bloodwork returning deficient. I hope things go better for you soon!

I too am glad I had the heparin shots following surgery to discourage clots. They are a good thing. The one thing I wish I had known prior to surgery is about a tummy band or binder post surgery. It would have made my belly button incisions (I had five incisions total) much more comfortable. I found Walgreens sells them for about $30. I would have bought one. They are only a certain circumference so maybe wouldn't fit all, but I would have liked one. I understand from another discussion on the boards here that you can obtain them through a medical equipment service as well, and perhaps at less cost.

Hi, I chose the sleeve due to reading ahead and finding it had less complications. I too didn't want the digestive nutritional issues of a RNY or the left stomach inside. I like that the hormonal producing area would be gone. I was terrified prior to surgery due to some offhand remarks of my surgeon and his only having experience doing maybe 1/2 a dozen. So terrified, I had some breathing problems in the recovery area due to my high anxiety. But I knew he was used to stomach surgeries as he is a digestive tract surgeon and had done lots of stomach cancer removals etc. I did the surgery mainly for improved health reasons overall, with the side effect of good weight loss. It turned out fine. I have only had a couple of bouts of constipation for 2 days each time, and I am out a little over a month. It is "newer" due to it being used recently as a primary weight loss procedure but has been around a looooong while as a pre surgery before RNY for extremely large folks. Recent medscape articles are saying the lap band is being less and less used in Europe and mainly only being done in USA now. There have been complications with the lapband. Lapbands are contraindicated for diabetics due to erosion issues. I didn't like the look of them or the idea of something that large, needing adjustments, using a port under the skin which needs a large needle insertion, inside of me. This has been a pleasure (the sleeve). I am looking forward to working with it as a good tool in health.Celtic

I've liked it with applesauce, and with other fruits like peaches in the past. A good friend who is a salsa lover swears by eating cott cheese with tomatos or with salsa in it. Personally my favorite way is to dollop it onto lentil Soup, pureed butternut squash, or other dense Soups like pea. It can be used in place of ricotta in recipes, too.

I was screened for gall stones but had none so they left mine in. No Actigall to date but the doctor warned due to dietary changes that I might start to develop those. The nice thing is my kidneys and gall bladder all looked great in the ultrasound. I was given a temporary prescription for preventing reflux my first couple of weeks post surgery but I had no trouble with reflux so he said I could stop the Rx.My doctor doesn't use a bougie but uses something less invasive through the esophagus that he uses when placing a lap band during the surgery. He made very miniscule incisions except for through the bellybutton. He doesn't overstitch as the surgeons in the practice here use a special staple with several rows that isn't the usual ones sold to hospitals - I guess they cost a little more but have less leakage problems. For me: no drain. 2 nights in hospital. It does seem that diets and foods are varied by doctor and by dieticians on these boards. Everyone has a preference I guess based on what seems to work best in their experiences.

My doc's guidelines have it added weeks 3-5 or soft stage. Perhaps you could zip it through a blender to make it more mushy? I ate yogurt without fruit during my mushy stage. Blended cott cheese would be simliar? Maybe you could ask a dietician about that. I first ate cottage cheese the first day of my 3rd week as I craved it, too. Tasted great!

I had two problem days of this but colace liquid worked for me. My dietician recommended Milk of Magnesia every three days, but I didn't need it after getting through that first hurdle usig the colace.She did recommend I start something from the local health food store called FOS (Fructooligosaccharide)- at 1/4 tsp daily for a week, then 1/2 tsp daily for a week, up to 3/4 a tsp daily for the rest. I guess it is used a lot in Japan for intestinal health. It is a slight dietary Fiber. Seems to have helped me.Celtic

I wished I'd bought a binder pre-surgery. Saw one later at Walgreen's for $30. Medical supply store sounds like the way to go. I would have found it more useful than holding a small pillow to the area. I did have postsurgical pain - most intense of course the day after surgery, down significantly the second day, but a small nagging pain for about 3 weeks. The doctor said it was from his major incision by the belly button where he had to cut through a major muscle. It is gone now except a twinge once in awhile at four weeks post. I craved fish, too. One of my first mushy food days I had crab cake consistancy crab and relished every long drawn out chewed mouthful. Celtic

I got the variety pack from amazon too but haven't opened it yet. I did get the Torino SF peppermint and use it in decaf coffee, also put some in SF lemonade as I like the COlorado Garbanzo restaurant Mint Lemonade prior to surgery.Celtic

WootWowWow! YOU CAN see the difference. Congrats. I had mine on the 11th as well. Down 28# and am with you - looking forward to the next 25.Celtic

My doc and dieticians won't let me take any gel pills. I found some liquid colace that seems to work as well. Celtic

I'm on the last day of my pre-op diet before surgery. My worst day was feeling not well on Wed-Thursday which was almost the 5th-6th days of the 10 I had to do. Had some upper leg cramping Tuesday night which kept me awake; maybe that contributed (walking and more fluids seemed to calm the cramps). Then all was fine again for me. Had one EAS and one adkins so far today. Propel water, Diet V8 Splash berry, and took myself to my fav chummy neighborhood place I've had to avoid - they made me 3 oz of grilled chicken without oils and coated with yummy oregano, wonderful mixed veggies including my fav asparagus and boxed all the rest of the grilled chicken dinner in a plastic bag for me to freeze before I even saw it. (My doc has his patients eat that amount of fish or chicken or lean pork daily.) I've been diligent on my pre-op. Hope it pays off tomorrow!

Good luck to all those like me who are getting sleeved tomorrow! PEvette Vanb0052 Readytobeslimxoxox Blondeej Dr. Aceves, KamloopsMom Healthy Mama Kat1 Pam2011 bogeydog blackdahlia Detroit_Tom May all go well.... Celtic

Thanks all! I wasn't sure I could get online today. Appreciate the well-wishes.

Mine is tomorrow at 730 AM. Overwhelmed is a familiar feeling. I am better today about it. I bit the bullet and called my doctor yesterday (even though a saturday) and talked some things over so I feel a bit better. Wonder how many pre-surgical calls these docs get from jitters. My dog is at his sitter. (Lol, had his hair cut today so no one would have to put up with his early summer shedding). Finishing some last minutes things at work, to then go home and install an AC for comfort post surgery. Colorado used to be so nice in the summers but now AC seems a must for evenings. Keeping busy with something constructive seems to help!