ma46

Congratulations! !

Do you cry when you look in the mirror? Do you have to wear pants with elastic waist? These are a FEW things that got to me and I literally could go on and on and on. The battle physically and mentally of being obese is horrible. I have one thing to say. NEVER question your decision to have this surgery. I literally talked myself out of the operation TWICE. I'm 14 weeks post op and I'm still adjusting to my new tummy but my life has made a 360. I'm falling in love again and the best thing about it. It's with MYSELF. Do this it will be the best thing for u

So great to hear from an OR nurse. I have been a nurse for a long time but never had surgery - and I am so fearful of how I'm going to handle the operative scene. I'm really a chicken...

There are what I consider to be serious complications like major vomiting, major nausea for days on end, blood clots, leaks, etc. Then there are minor things resulting in painful incisions, minor nausea for a day or so, maybe even vomiting once or twice. Most of us have had some of the minor symptoms after surgery, but very few have the serious stuff. Personally, I had no problems at all. I was up walking 2 hours after geting to my room and walked off the minor gas pains from the residual air they pumped into me. I went home the day after surgery and went for a walk that evening. The next day, I began a regular exercise regimen (slowly and lightly) on the treadmill. I had some minor stomach pain the first night home that kept me from sleeping, so I got up and took some liquid pain med and it settled down right away and I got to sleep. I'm now 3 1/2 months out and feel great. I've lost 78 lbs and am 3/4 of the way to goal. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. My advice to you is to do everything the doc says to do, keep yourself in the best shape you can and keep a positive attitude. It's gonna be fine. Good luck.

The best case scenario is pretty common, but a back-up plan is a good idea. I thought the surgery wasn't big deal except for the annoying gas pain. I went home, drank my Water and hit my Protein targets in a couple of days. I went back to work easily in a week. I am 5 weeks out and I am working 60 hour weeks easily. I eat what I am supposed to and I am losing about 5 lbs a week. I have no heartburn, no pain and no drama. No foods bother me.
It is not a big deal for everybody. I helped to start with that attitude.
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It is REALLY getting frustrating how judgmental people have been on this forum lately. So much so that posts such as izuri's make me refrain from posting, our visiting nearly as often. A simple "you should be careful to follow your doctors recommended diet" with your recomemded tips would suffice.
Seriously, get off your high horses people...

I can understand your concerns and wanting to be fully prepared prior to going in. I will start by saying everyone is different in how things go for them post surgery. Also anyone having problems is more likely to post on here in the early days reaching out for support, so it may seem that there are a lot of problems for people in the first few weeks post op.
My experience was pretty good. I was terrified of having surgery, but my need for getting to a healthy weight overrulled my fears. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy that part went. Roll in to room, asleep before I even realized what was happening, woke up and was surprised to be done. I was off pain meds by the following morning. The effects of anesthesia and the pain meds were ganging up to make me very nauseous so I stopped the meds and felt sore, but manageable. I was miserable, day two in the hospital. Just tired, bored, hated the bed, nauseous. When I got over my pity party and really started walking, I started to feel a lot better. By day three, I felt really good and was sent home. Sipping Water was really hard in the beginning. I just really had to focus on SIPPING and not trying to drink. broth helped, but I would have to reheat it constantly because it took so long to get down that it would get cold. Protein shakes suddenly tasted terrrible to me (but I like them again now) and were really hard for me to get down. I could only drink an ounce the first day and slowly built up to four ounces. I found that each day got a little better. For me, pain and nausea were not an issue, but getting in the liquids was a chore. By the end of two weeks I was really craving texture and flavor of food so was happy to get to pureed. By week four I could drink all eight ounces of a Protein shake, but it still takes me about 30 minutes. I could only eat a few small bites of food before I was full. I am eight weeks out now and feel great. Making sure that I get all my Protein and Water in is still a bit of a chore. It's really just a matter of planning well and executing the plan (both things I need to get better at) But the good news is that I have very few cravings. I have learned the signals of when I am full and when to stop. Sometimes, if something I am eating is really good, I am dissapointed that I had so little of it before I get full, but I get over it when I step on the scale and see the progress that I have made!
I hope this has helped a little. Like I said before, everyone's journey is different, but the common thread that I have seen on this forum from the veterean sleevers who are four months out and beyond is that most have seen incredible weight loss and are really happy they did it, despite some of the bumps and struggles along the way.

I'm with Smoggy! I Protein up my coffee fix. It's a treat (2-3x week) but I mix up 1/2 cup of skim milk with 1 scoop of unflavored Unjury protein in my bullet, take it to Starbucks in my Venti iced tervis type cup, order a Tall Skinny Vanilla or Caramel Latte iced and they mix it up for me with 1-2 Splenda. It's 220 calories and 31 grams of protein. Yummy, protein packed, plus I feel like its special.

I'm a coffee addict. They gave me coffee in the hospital after my leak test, and I've had it every single day since. I do tend to have issues with excess acid (go figure), but it's worth it--I drink probably 2 large iced coffee drinks a day. One drink will last me several hours. You just have to be careful with the acid and to stay hydrated (extra Water, please!). Since I drink milk in my coffee, it's one way I get a little Protein in, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :-)
But you definitely need to do what your doctor says. Mine didn't have a problem with it (maybe he was really listening when I told him I was a coffeeholic!), but he also didn't prescribe Prilosec for me--I found out about that from folks on this forum. The coffee thing is something I know I should probably kick for my health, but wow.... I just don't want to. How horrible is that?!?

My only regret is that I didn't do this years ago. Sure I miss not being able to eat as much as I used to, but that was the whole point of me being overweight. After 4 months since surgery I have gotten used to eating 3 to 4 bites and laying down the fork and I can't remember when I could go for second and third helpings. Its life changing and you have to get used to new habits but it is all for the Best!

My husband is the only person who knows. Not everybody keeps it secret because they are "ashamed" or "uncomfortable" with their decision. I am just a very private person. I am pretty introverted and don't really hang out with people. I have a few close friends, and I might tell them after the surgery. I have always kept all of my dieting attempts to myself because I don't think people need to know about something so personal to me. Nobody at my work will know about my appointment except for my boss and all she needs to know is that it is an abdominal surgery that is keeping me off work for a week or two.
My husband is a RN and is very supportive of my decision to get the surgery and will be taking the time off to take care of me while I heal. I am grateful to have such a great, caring person in my life. He is the only support that I need right now. Maybe that will change after the surgery, but right now he is the only one who needs to know. You, know, besides you guys...lol...

I am 2 months Post-Op and my biggest problem with my sleeve is eating out! It is not ordering food, because I am on regular food. It is telling the wait staff I do not want a drink with my food. I am treated like a space alien, when I say "I do not want anything to drink." The wait staff will circle back around and check to make sure I do not want anything to drink and look at me like I am crazy. I love it! On Thursday, The Olive Garden waiter felt I needed a Water, so he brought me one, even though I did not ask for a drink. I think I am going to start telling them I have a water/soda allergy! Lets see how they react. Honestly, other than throwing up a few times from accidentally overfilling my pouch, that is the only problem I have. Pre-ops, feel comfortable knowing life goes back to normal pretty much after six weeks, but your stomach limits you and I love it. I just finished eating 10 wheat thins with cheese and I feel satisfied. Before, I would eat the box. So feel confident that the sleeve works out. Read my blog, if you want more tips! Happy Journey!