CBT

Congratulations! How's your energy level?

I am grateful to be one of those shower early ppl. I was allowed to shower 24 hours post op.

Sensation at the breast bone is my full cue. In the early days, nausea and breast bone pain were managed by chewing very slowly and eating slowly. Of corse what's throwing this assessment off is you have these symptoms when you aren't eating. So what I've seen on the boards is a lot of nausea and pain related to bariatric vitamin regimens. When they stopped the vitamins the pain and nausea went away. Maybe ask about holding your vitamin(s) and see if that helps? I get water nausea. So when I have that I mix lemon or some vitamin water into my water. Glad your endoscopy was negative. I hope it's something simple.

Post op day 3. I'm shocked at how well I'm recovering. I'm not complaining! I showered yesterday and that was no problem. Putting the drains on a lanyard is brilliant Cowgirl Jane. The only reason I needed another person was to get me back into the compression garment. OMG my body is awesome! Toot Toot! (That's my horn and maybe a bit of narcotics) I just want to look at it. I was so focused in getting the shower that I didn't take a long look. I also forgot to look at the back because my breast aug is overwhelming my eyeballs. Yesterday I could stand straight up!!! Same today. I don't know if I am supposed to stand straight up just because I can? The PA is supposed to call me today. I ate about 150 grams of protein yesterday: chicken soup, cold shrimp, protein drink, Fage.... I've been drinking Vitamin water. The one with extra Vit C. I got water nausea on Wednesday and I can't look at water in a cup This morning I walked around my house for an hour. Doing laps in your house is weird so I timed it to help get my kids ready for school. Nothing major at all. No stretching, straining, pushing or pulling. I was just and extra set of hands. I never got tired but decided it was time to get back into bed. I don't know where my physical boundaries are yet. This post wouldn't be complete without poop and drain talk. I have been taking 2 Senna (rx laxative and stool softener combined) twice a day and no poop. So now I'll add Miralax. I just reduced my narcotic by half dose and stretched it out a half hour. I wasn't able to do that yesterday. Dr said stay on it 24 hours for 72 hours. I'm still taking Tylenol. Drain care isn't an issue. I have three. I do think one is kind of pinching/burning sometimes. So i'm gonna watch some movies because I hardly ever have time to watch TV or movies. I'm open to suggestions. I also have some crafts sitting here. I don't think I have that level of focus/concentration yet. What else?

Post op day 2. I came home from hospital yesterday. All has been smooth and uneventful. I'm swollen and the compression garment is giving me occasional reflux? I've not had that history of reflux. My son made me breakfast. Bless him I'm able to transfer myself in/out of bed but I take advantage of DH being here. I'm going to stretch my next pain medication by an hour, from 4 to 5 cause pain seems really well managed now. Going to shower in a couple hours. I'm excited for the shower but more excited to see my body!

That's just around the corner. Yeah!

I just got a peak!!! Wow. Wow. Wow. Just hasn't processed yet how different my body will look. Regarding the length if the surgery: So my surgeon has had the same team for 3 years. Including the anesthesiologist. They all anticipate what she needs and where she's going/what she's doing. She said she doesn't have to ask for anything. She said she feels privileged in that way. Very fortunate. She also does a lot of these surgeries and believes that makes her very efficient. She said when she has to do cases at the hospital (not her team) she has to add half hour for every procedure. I'm finding ice works best to manage the breakthrough discomfort. They're "boosting" my narcotic with Tylenol. Apparently that helps the narcotic and makes it more effective. I'm not in pain as much as the narcotic wears off fast at 4 hours and the hope is the Tylenol will help bridge the gap until the next dose is effective. I ate turkey sandwich at sometime in the night and just had a yogurt. That'll help me feel more human. I'll be super human once I get good coffee.

The research shows that RNY ppl on average lose 3-5 pounds per week and Sleeve ppl lose on average 2-3 pounds per week. I never doubted the sleeve was right for me. Also I no longer like sweet stuff. Instead I prefer savory. My tastes changed early on. Like right after surgery. I too had high starting weight 273. I think SW was 252. Good luck!

Do all WLS surgeons do pediatric surgery? That might narrow your options quite a bit?

It's 4am. I'm still at the hospital. The night has been pretty smooth. I've had an ice pack on my abdomen all night. No pain there. Pain in my boobs from swelling. Now that I have ice on them soooooo much better. Lots of medication on board so I'm sleeping. It's all manageable here with the excellent nurses.

Thanks for thinking of me Cowgirl! I'm doing fantastic! Surgery was 3 hours. Amazing. Five and half pounds removed. I also had mastopexy and augmentation. I'll post more later about surgeon discussion on time. I'm at hospital until tomorrow. Little queasy at times and caffeine headache. Drinking chicken broth as I'm know to get water nausea. Compression is tight. Waiting on ice pack. Everyone from surgical team said I look "amazing." Nurses and PA random remarks "totally flat" "you're one tiny lady" and that I did really great and everything went really well. So glowing reports. That makes me smile. Bring on the healing!

April you are phenomenal. I'm really excited for you. We were to be sleeved around the same time and alas it was not in the cards for you in 2012. This is your year, baby! I'm just really excited for you to get mobility back and to face your fears and come through in all the glory that is you. I love your humor. Sometimes I think we have the same gene pool. Lol. Be well. Breathe.

I'm gonna attempt to do that. Write stuff. The ppl who've written before me are a gold mine of information. It helps me make it mental. I will plan to post on the 19th. I'm overnight in the surgicenter and I don't think I'll take my phone...? I'm staying really busy today. Grateful to be the first case Oh! I made a pot of 1) chicken, sweet potato, butternut squash, and spinach Soup and 2) a pork, Lima bean and corn crockpot for post op easy thaw meals. I premeasured and froze them so my DH can quick fix for me. I want to eat really well. I know I won't be hungry so I want whatever I eat to be super dooper nutritious.

Yes!! Get your life!! Woohoo!!!

There is some limited implied consent for the listed emergency contact and the person you're released to simply because you've brought that person into the hospital room with you. You need to make your wishes very clear to your surgeon, anesthesia, anesthesia nurse, and every nurse you talk to while you're there. I'm sorry you are so isolated. I'm glad you have support here. I wish you the best.

Scout how long was your surgery once you were in the OR?

Hooorah!!! Thanks for the update.

The psych eval is all about catching psychopathology, mental illness that is otherwise undetected or untreated that included Body Dysmorphic Disorder and history of or current eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. These are things no one should be hiding if they are having WLS. The other stuff, like being a jerk (lol) or neurotic or having daddy issues aren't determinants of WLS. Just really good info for your team to have. Several of you mentioned the lie scales. It's important for your surgeon to know if you have a tendency to fake good. To be people pleasing, etc. this WLS stuff has such an impact on identity. Don't stress. It's not easy to feel like you have someone digging so deep. But it's not like "all will be revealed tonight on Bariatrics" (not teasing) look at the personalities of some of the people on this board! You got nothing to worry about My psych eval was long. Two appointments. First appointment was testing and the second was interview. I knew based on her interview that she was recommending me to surgery. She said things like "when you go to a restaurant you will just not take home a doggie bag..." She was talking about my life post sleeve. I had my next surgeon appointment scheduled and told her when that was so she had the eval done and to my surgeon. It's important to be honest. It helps your bariatric team know how to support you. Good luck peeps!

I know right? I keep reading the average is 4 hours. I think it's because there is no tightening of my lower abs because I've had ventral hernia repair. So it's really a lot about skin removal and lifting. I'm going to have to ask cause the time difference is stuck in my head.

All through the preop. Talked with the surgicenter nurse. First case. 6:30 am. Scheduled for 3 hours. Dr said probably 2.5. Amazing. Lower body lift with breast lift and implants in 2.5 hours Getting through the weekend will be interesting. I'm too busy in the week to think about it. Eeeeeeaaaaappppp

In feet usually Vitamin D or minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium but usually for cramps like Charlie horse. Are you taking bariatric multivitamin? What is the doctor saying so far? What have they prescribed? No fractures? Both feet at the same time?

Do the bottom of your feet feel crunchy when you massage them? Can you massage them? I had plantar fasciitis once. I thought I'd die trying to walk. With PF no pain other than when weight baring. I know gout is very painful. I hope you get relief soon.

Fiddle you can have your wife take a photo of you at the corner of a wall to check your posture. Shoulders rolling/hunched forward is a problem for many ppl. We do so much in front of us (typing). I had a PT who had me do similar exercises to your shirt. Basically you stand up straight, roll your shoulders back and down to set them, arms at your sides, palms facing forward (rotated) and pump you arms back. You'll feel it. 30 reps three times a day. This is where Pilates/yoga/acupuncture/massage can be helpful in the mind body connection. In Pilates and yoga there is a constant reminder to set your shoulders into the sockets before you use them. In body work you get instant feedback on muscles you're holding and what is weak. Your therapists will tell you if you ask. They can feel it. I used to pop out rib heads on the right side from lifting without setting my shoulders that caused muscle tension/pain/weakness. If there isn't a tear, weakness often comes from the small muscles doing the job of the big muscles because the form is compromised.

Left side symptoms may also be calcific tendinitis. I had both in left shoulder: calcium and medium full thickness tear. Calcium shows on xray. Tears do not but some surgeons have sharp clinical skills that will clue them into MRI earlier than a PCP (IMHO) I agree to see an Orthopedic shoulder surgeon. S/he will evaluate your weaknesses and give you good feedback as well as diagnosis and/or tx options. My surgeon is also an ironman athlete. He was highly motivated to get me right back to were I want to be. So don't despair

After 6 months out, I really really really struggle with the concept of all ppl are on the same nutritional plan in "XYZ" Bariatric practice. It's not good science. Your food requirements need to be tailored to you. Your metabolic rate. That's obtained through testing. Are you hungry? That would be the first clue you're not eating enough. Feeling sluggish. Second clue. You are putting out high cardio and something has to feed your metabolism. I'm not trying to sound harsh. I feel frustrated when bariatric practices appear to drive ppl through like cattle. I'm not saying that's what's happening to you. But I think something is nudging you to better understand what your metabolic needs are. I'd ask for metabolic testing. I think your instincts are suggesting you are overtraining for the amount of calories you are consuming but you need validation before you increase your calories. I don't think your trying to cheat your sleeve. If you were losing 3 pounds a month I might not respond with all this ranting. But three pounds over three months on those calories with your level of commitment does not add up. People can diddle all they want about the best energy sources (complex carbs, fast carbs, fats...) but for health it's about having enough to burn. Fiddle is right on. You do not want to give up your lean muscle. (For those who don't know, lean muscle is every organ in your body as well as hair as well as what ppl typically think of as muscle. So that's your heart.) Just feel empowered for your health and wellness. Listen to your self.