keldolbeth

I had a 23 hour hospital stay and I slept on my stomach the day I came home when I napped like all day! No problems stomach-sleeping ever since. And I slept on my side with pillows propped behind me in the hospital... relieved a lot of pain for me too.

My mom (an RN) keeps reminding me how major of a surgery this was. I've been getting frustrated with my lack of energy at 8 days post-op. She's had a hysterectomy and said the sleeve was definitely more serious and required longer recovery (not just with diet). I had my tonsils out at the age of 24 (the older you are, the rougher it can be) and ended up in the hospital for 3 days with bleeds. I was pretty much back to normal in a week. Yesterday I had my first post-op appointment, as I was sharing my frustrations with the CNP, she assured me everything I was experiencing was normal. She said because it's laproscopic and the incisions are minimal most people don't realize this is a MAJOR MAJOR (she emphasized this) surgery. She said tonsils, appendix, c-section don't even compare. I told her I wished I could see a video of the surgery or an MRI of my stomach because I'm such a visual person and it would help me realize what exactly I've been through. Would probably help with my frustration (and maybe even my few "cheats") too!

I had Cream of Wheat, brown sugar flavor, for breakfast this morning. It was the instant packet kind my mom had. I thinned it with some almond milk and ate about half of it. It went down fine. I'm 8 days post-op and on purees. But, FYI, I didn't have a "full liquid" stage, just clears to pureed, so I'm not sure what it counts as.

Oh, I meant to add, I don't want to outright lie about it so if someone asks me I would probably tell them or maybe avoid the question. I wouldn't say "Oh, that's an appendectomy scar." lol I'm having that problem now because I happened to meet a guy two weeks before my surgery and didn't tell him anything about it. I talked to him a few days post-op and told him I was staying with my parents for 2 weeks because I had surgery. He kept questioning what was going on. I told him I'd tell him when I saw him again. He seemed kind of hurt by it and has distanced himself since. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to tell him because I don't know if he would be supportive or judgmental.

I lost 65 pounds in my 4+ months before surgery. My hope was that everyone would notice that weight loss so when it happened to quicken after surgery it wouldn't be as much of a shock. Apparently 65 pounds on my body isn't that much because very few people noticed. I've only told my immediate family and a handful of close friends. I've asked them all not to discuss with others. Unfortuately, my mom has a big mouth and that worries me. It sucks that she's the one person I really have to worry about. My plan, like a lot of others, is to say "low carb/high Protein and working out," which is what I did prior to surgery. The reason I asked everyone to keep it a secret is because #1- I feel like it should be my decision who knows and how much, #2- if they find out I'd rather it be from me so they have their facts straight, #3- I don't know how I will feel about it in 6 months or a year from now; I may want to shout it from the rooftops, but, again, it's my life, my decision. For me, my weight problem is a very personal issue and my friends will tell you I don't discuss it often. Therefore, surgery is a personal issue, albeit major. I will share it with those I feel need to know, could benefit from knowing, or will absolutely be supportive. Honestly, since joining this site, there have been times I read something and think "F' it. I'm just going to post it on Facebook for the world to see." Thanks for making me feel like I'm not a freak!

I guess I was lucky. I was due to start the day before surgery but hadn't by the morning of. I wore a pad in for surgery. The nurse told me I was allowed to wear my panties, if I wanted, but they would probably pull them down under my stomach. I told her I was due to start. No problem. No mesh panties or anything, I wore all my own stuff. I didn't have a catheter either. I ending up not starting until after I got home the next day but I wore a pad all through the night, just in case. When I was coming to I remember the nurse making a comment about blood on my sheets and I freaked out about my period. She told me the blood was up higher but apparently I didn't care. I kept saying "don't touch me, I started my period." lol She was impressed I was that coherent to worry about it but I was embarrassed. Ohhh, anesthesia! I'm sure they've seen it all!

Oh yes, my "cheats"... I'm 8 days post-op. I'm very fortunate I can stay at my parents' house and allow them to take care of me. I live alone and my mom (an RN) wanted me to stay here for SIX weeks post-op. I agreed to two. lol I knew one of the biggest downfalls to staying here would be the temptation to eat. Granted, I'd be bored all day at home alone but at least there's no bad food in my apartment anymore! There's everything under the sun in this house, even though my parents and sister eat fairly healthy. My surgery was the day before my sister's 21st birthday so twice last week I snuck a teeny tiny piece of ice cream cake (at least it was liquid-ish). I was home alone for a while today and found a bag of Cheetos puffs, the airy kind, not super crunchy. Of course I had to taste a few of those (but chewed to death). (Un)fortunately, it all went down fine. I'm anxious to get home and do my own grocery shopping so I can control my "cheats" better. Overall, I'm not too mad at myself about it because I lost 13 pounds in week 1! And, as someone else said, it can't compare to the habits I had before. Glad to know I'm not the only human here!

I saw you've already gotten your surgery date, Beanzilla, but I thought I'd share my experience as well. At my largest, my BMI was 61. I was referred to a specific doctor by my aunt. One of his patient reps told me I'd have to lose 70-80 pounds before he would do the surgery. I was crushed. My doctor "doesn't like" to operate on a BMI>50 due to added risks and complications. I decided to see another surgeon, who I ended up loving. She told me she had no limits on BMI and had operated on patients with BMIs in the 70's. However, I was self-pay and she was $6k more. I decided to start the process with the first doctor and get some more information before giving up. He told me I would have to lose 40 lbs before they'd even schedule my surgery and 70 by the time I had surgery. It seemed daunting considering my track record of never having lost more than 20. However, being self-pay and the fact that my insurance would not even cover any complications due to surgery, I decided it was best to continue with this doctor. They put me on adipex (diet pill) and I worked with a dietician on a low carb/high Protein diet. It was the best thing for me!!! I know timing is an issue but I was lucky because I'm a teacher and started this in January with the intent of surgery in the summer. I'm 7 days post-op now and lost 65 pounds prior to surgery and dropped my BMI by 10! (The dr only held me to the 40 pounds. There were no consequences for not hitting 70.) I think I'm more proud of that weight loss than I will be anything post-op. lol I can't imagine going straight from my old habits into a surgery 1-2 months later and not having to change much prior. I was freaked out that I couldn't do it because I've been severely obese my entire life. I was pissed at the doctor for making me lose the weight but it allowed me to gain a ton of confidence going into this process. I'm sure you know more weight means more risks but the doctors are the experts. Just try to stick with the pre-op diet as best as possible. I had to do 4 weeks as well, even though I had already lost 45 at that point. I'm glad everything worked out in the end... good luck!

Wow, I was told much different... light cardio is ok at 2 weeks post-op:walking, stationary bike, swimming. (I can't wait to go swimming again!) I'd probably go for water aerobics over laps. And at 4 weeks out, most other exercise is ok, including lifting.

You can add me to June 25th with Dr. Curry in Cincinnati.

Ugh! I know I'm not the only one but it does suck! I'm 6 days out and have no energy because I'm struggling to get any kind of Protein in. I've tried shots, Isopure clears, unflavored powder and idk what else because my mom has been shopping for me. She dilutes them with Water, ice, crystal light, Powerade zero, etc but I can still barely drink 3 oz of it. I'm still on clears too so I can't try shakes yet... but all that changes tomorrow, thankfully! I'm getting shakes and meat and dairy and everything else I can to try to get my energy back up! Also, there's a thread somewhere (can't remember where) about good places to get protein powders and websites you can order samples from. I just placed an order of samples from Vitalady.com. I'm not going to just stick with one thing, I have to find something I can live with! I feel like a child with my mom checking on me every hour to make sure I'm drinking. She's a nurse and has been freaking out about my blood sugar because I've been sleeping so much. Good luck!

There's a topic in the powder room forum on this exact subject... should be near the top, it's been a popular subject.

I take Wellbutrin and Zoloft. Since surgery (Monday) I have been taking the Zoloft but not the Wellbutrin since it is a larger pill. My surgeon told me to talk to the prescribing doctor and my pharmacist to see what they recommend and if there are any other options. I feel like I'm doing ok without the Wellbutrin though, I've decreased my dosage the last few months anyway. I'm not sure how much your surgeon will be able to tell you besides "crush it." I think mixing it with pudding, applesauce, etc would definitely help. However, a side effect of Wellbutrin is actually weight loss, which is why my DR started me on that first, months before surgery was a definite.

I am 4 days post-op today... I guess I'm doing pretty well, minus some common side effects: low to no energy, difficulty getting enough protein, soreness, head hunger. I did have a good amount of pain and nausea the first few days, haven't taken pain meds since Wednesday and anti-nausea meds since Thursday. I did have some dry heaving about 36 hours post-op. I was only in the hospital one night and did have a good amount of upset stomach and pain while there. I REALLY want some real food right now. I'm still on clear liquids until Monday, which is my first post-op appt. I'm already planning my meals for next week! lol Pureed is going to be so much better than liquids. I'm having trouble finding protein drinks I like. I haven't been as good with walking as I should be... I have such low energy and sleep a lot. Plus, it's been near or at 100 degrees this week in SW Ohio so I refuse to go outside! I'm really curious as to how much weight I've lost but I'm still over the weight limit on my parents' scale (where I'm staying for now). Ain't that a b*tch?! I love hearing how everyone else is doing since I don't know anyone else in my "real" life who is going through this!

This thread is making me so happy and so sad! I had been addicted to Zumba for a year but tore my meniscus in a class a year ago. Dr said it wasn't bad enough to be surgical so I just have to lose weight. Easier said than done, right? Part of the reason I'm getting the sleeve. Anyway, everyone feels lost the first time but I still loved it. If you have the option, I suggest trying multiple instructors, every one is different. For me, it's a lot about the music they choose. I prefer more current pop and hip-hop music than the international stuff. I found an instructor I loved and stuck with her. We actually became good friends because I went to her classes so much! lol But don't give up! You will start catching on eventually. Trust me, it's really exciting when you've been doing it a couple months and know some of the routines and the newbies are looking at you with awe. It's a great feeling! lol They think that fat girl is out of her mind being in that class but then I show them all up! Oh, also, check out aqua zumba if you can! It is AMAZING... low impact, not as much cardio but good strength training. You can go to zumba.com to search for classes, locations and instructors for any type of class you want!

I have to be at the hospital at 10:30am... about to get out of bed, although I got MAYBE 3 hours of sleep.

Hi! I'm a teacher in Ohio but not a July sleever... I'm an "9 hours from now" sleever! lol I had to do pre-op diet for 4 weeks- 2 in school, 2 out of school. These last two have been horrible because I don't have much to do and have all day to think about cheating! Over a month's time, of course I've cheated a few times! lol But I've lost 65 pounds since my first appointment in January. My doctor said I had to lose 40 before he'd do the surgery so I figure my liver HAS to be smaller despite the soft pretzel I had Thursday! lol Btw, here, our students were out of school June 5th but teachers' last day was the 14th. We always have several contract days extra at the beginning and end of the year. Teachers go back August 17th, so my school always has a short summer. The person asking about self-pay, which I am, my DR charged $14,700. I looked into two other doctors in the area and they were close to and over 20k.

Since you don't have a surgery date yet, are you going to be doing this long-term or short-term? My doctor made me lose 40 pounds before he would schedule me. It took 2 1/2 months. They put me on Adipex, an appetite suppressant and stimulant, to help. I did a 3/2 plan, which meant 3 Meal Replacements and 2 "lean and green" meals. If you're allowed, I would recommend Protein bars over shakes. My NUT gave me the option and I had a shake maybe twice. Having the bars made me feel like I was really eating something. I don't think I could have done it without the drugs! lol Could you cut the shakes in half and eat them over two servings? That way, you'd be eating 5x day instead of 3. Eating more frequently helped me. I wasn't eating a lot but what I had could hold me over for 2 hours, definitely not 4-5.

I can't say I've had more than usual irritability. However, I did when I started dieting in February and went low-carb. My doctor made me lose 40 pounds before I could even schedule surgery. However, I've been on the pre-op diet for four weeks (my surgery is in 10 hours) and have had no energy whatsoever. I commented in other thread that I had gotten very dizzy and light headed while working out two weeks ago. When I came home I got the chills and threw up. I called the NUT and the DR and they said to stop working out. I wish they would have said "go have a piece of chicken!" lol Going to the gym was a way to stay busy and not think about food! I'm a teacher so I was on the pre-op diet for 2 weeks in school and 2 weeks out of school. I didn't feel too bad while I was still working because I had a schedule and routine (and was working out 3x week). The last two weeks I've just want to sleep all day. It's normal for me to develop a wacky sleeping schedule during the summer, like staying up super late and sleeping in. However, it's not normal for me to sleep 12 hours every night and spend the day on the couch. It's been very tough to get anything done lately. I'm glad I'm not the only one because it was starting to make me worry that I wouldn't have the energy later to keep up with everything my DR wants me to do.

I asked my bariatric surgeon and my primary care doctor, both said it's ok to stay on the pill throughout.

I'm on the pill (orthocylcen) and I'm due to start the day before my surgery. Ugh! I'm wondering if any of you having the post-op period problems (say that 3x fast) are/were on the pill or were having periods naturally. I'm hoping with having my hormones regulated I won't have this problem. I'm considering just starting a new pack and skipping my placebo because I really don't want to have to deal with my period while recovering.

I have to wear Spanx shorts with skirts and dresses but it's not as much for smoothing things out as it is for preventing "chub rub" aka my thighs rubbing together. I can already tell my excess skin is going to build up on my inner thighs so I will probably always need them. However, I do have some Spanx camis for lifting my boobs and flattening my midsection... those can be thrown on the fire! I actually prefer wearing them in the heat... I like a layer of protection between my underwear and clothes so there are no sweat marks. FYI: I prefer regular shapewear to Spanx. I don't find the actual "Spanx" brand to do much for me. I have old shapewear from Lane Bryant (they don't have much in their own brand now, mostly Spanx) and some new stuff from Avenue and Fashion Bug. (Plus, store brands are cheaper.) They smooth things out much more but aren't any less comfortable than Spanx.

I asked my CNP and she said I can have sex whenever I feel up to it, just take it easy. I thought it was funny since I can't swim or work out for two weeks but I can do it!!!

Trust me, just another day in the Amazon neighborhood. I know you were probably joking but you can get a great deal from Amazon. That's actually where I bought my last vibrator. (Should I have used a code word for that? lol) Not because I was embarrassed to go to an adult store, just the opposite, I have very specific tastes and couldn't find what I wanted anywhere locally! There was such a huge selection on Amazon. Moral of the story, knock yourself out!

That's crazy! I've never heard about weight narrowing your vaginal canal. Damn, I always loved getting that compliment from guys! I don't want my "friend" to think I had a kid and didn't tell him! lol