Birdy18

You're not alone in feeling that way. I have gone through questioning every little thing, being almost TOO addicted to these boards. However, I recently posted a question that received three pages worth of responses. I simply asked, did anyone have a normal recovery? The responses were overwhelming. Several people smartly pointed out that not many post saying, "having a normal boring day feeling like myself!" when of course the bad stories stay in your brain.

No one can answer for you whether it's right or not, but if you want additional perspective to balance out what really are the less common complication stories, I'd check out this thread: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/47767-anyone-have-a-relatively-easy-recovery-story/

I'm on the liquid pre op too and the first 4-5 days I had horrible headaches and felt completely outside of my body. I had to leave work early to go home and lie down. Now that I'm on day 9, I feel a ton better. I do sleep REALLY well at night but it's not anywhere near the lethargy I felt in the beginning.

I won't say I've been perfect though. I've cheated a few times with grilled chicken and cottage cheese! You can do it! I have 5 more days to go.

You all are amazing - thank you so much! I'm so appreciating the "smooth sailing" nonupdate-updates! I'm on day 8 of my liquid pre op diet and I won't lie, I'm hating every second of it. 7 more days to go until I hopefully have a boring smooth sailing recovery story.

Also, I've seen a list of "equivalents to lbs lost" shared often on the good ole world wide web. Here's what the equivalent is for 40 lbs lost:

40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of Water or an average human leg

Granted, it sounds nutty but can we stop for a second and think.. a human leg!!!! Or how much a 5-gallon jug of Water would weigh!? That's permanently off from your body - nothing to sneeze at!

I am so so so sorry you feel discouraged, but please don't! I haven't been where you've been, I am on the pre op liquid only diet now and my surgery is next week. However, can I just say that so many people on these forums have inspired me and motivated me, and you are one of them!

I would kill to have 40lbs lost under my belt. I think it's totally normal and expected to have ups and downs with this - and I think your'e entitled to your frustration. But stick with it - know that even at a slower pace, that's still FORTY POUNDS gone from your body - not added. It will continue to go down. You can do it!

Can't wait to not hear "...but you have such a pretty face" said to me directly as if it's a compliment!

Can't wait to rock the fashion and styles I truly love and that's fitting for a trendy 28-year old girl!

Can't wait to not be the "fat friend".

Hi, everyone! My surgery's on the 20th, so a few days after most of you. This pre op liquid diet is THE. PITS. Now that it's the weekend, I dont' trust myself to be out with friends (dinners and bars) and resist temptation. I have 9 more days to go.

My NUT recommended the low carb SlimFast shakes and it is horrendous. I've found other shakes that are better, but if I never have one of those again, it'll be too soon. I'm jealous of those of you that get an egg and cheese a day! I'm all liquid for 14 days. The headaches of days 1 and 2 are definitely gone but on day 5, I still would just love a sandwich.

I love that the silver lining (for most it seems) is that this is one of the hardest things of the whole journey which in itself is a comfort. Every day on this pre op diet is an absolute struggle for me - one day at a time!!

A week of the post-op is easier than one day of pre-op. You can do it---and it will sucketh royally at times, but it is not nearly as hard as you think.

This comment just made my day more than you could know. I'm on day 4 pre op, 10 to go (fmla;lsdfjsldfkj), currently floating outside of my body.. I. Want. A. Sammich.

But somehow knowing others are supportive, that this could potentially be the worst of it all things considered, and that my few grilled chicken "cheats" in day 1 and 2 isn't the worst things in the world.. makes me feel better. Keep the giggles comin'.

Just updating..liquid diet is going great.. only thing i had a problem with ... was the Optifast chicken soup.. tasted like complete vomit.. sorry... but they let me exchange it when i called and told them there was no way i could even think of eating another bite... 12 days to go and counting.. surgical clearance appt was today too.. everything went great.. to excited..

You're doing so well - great job!!

I'm on day.. (where am i?).. 4. The mornings are always easier for me in terms of how I feel. I make my own shake with ice (Shakeology) and am ok until around mid-day. Then the mental fog sets in. I heard around day 4 that you're supposed to feel a ton better, and I'm not sure that I do yet. I feel like I'm outside my body, not really present. Yes, I am aware that I am speaking like a complete alien, but I feel that way! Ah!

The first two days I had the worst headaches (carb withdrawal, luckily cut out caffeine months ago). And I already "cheated" with a few bites of grilled chicken each on those first two days.

Every time I'm having a particularly tough moment with the all liquids, I come to this forum. It does help, but I feel like I'm struggling so much more with the pre op than other people have mentioned. I guess my will power and addiction to food (both physically and emotionally) are just coming to a head. I'm just willing the 10 days I have left to pass by as quickly as possible but I admit that this is really really hard for me!

I live outside the US (in Europe) and my program routinely scandalizes Americans to the point of them sort of yelling at me and calling my doctors "quacks" LOL (on this very site even). Yes, there are no liquids phases (except first three days post-op) and no Protein shakes/supplements involved. Though you do take Vitamins supplements as prescribed, they are also huge believers in (1) getting as much nutrition from food sources as possible from day one, and (2) keeping your digestive system active and running as normal by keeping "real food" in the system instead of liquids/purees (too much of this makes your intestines "lazy" according to them...LOL...who knows whether that's true or not). The clinic and program are run by some globally recognised experts in the bariatric field (including publishing, doing studies, etc.), so they can't be entirely wrong...

But yeah, it's very different to almost every other program I've been exposed to via the online forums. I do know of one person from another forum who had surgery in Denmark and had some very similar experiences as mine, e.g., the requirement to keep good carbs in your diet, eat balanced meals, not go too low-cal, etc.

ETA: I had very soft-cooked veal with gravy and mash + very well-cooked broccoli on day four post-op...and it was awesome. I was starving!

EATA: Naturally, I wasn't even allowed liquids until I passed the leak tests, though!!

Wow. As someone on day 4 of a 14-day liquid diet, what I wouldn't give to have that doctor and pre op right now! Oddly enough, I'm craving a piece of grilled chicken or fish - anything solid. I've previously read about people disliking Protein shakes because they were too sweet, which I didn't understand until now. I really have to bite the bullet and get those things down! The pre op is so much harder than I thought it would be!

Thanks again to everyone for sharing your amazing "normal" stories. It helps my head.

I know what you mean, and feel exactly the same way. I've lurked here for a while and thought about surgery for years. I went to my first seminar just last month and have my surgery scheduled for Aug 20 exactly. I'm on day 3 of my pre op liquid diet and just have to have my pre op tests (EKG, etc) with my PCP on Friday, then it's all waiting time. Only a month really has gone by though. When you know, you just know!

Keep us updated on your surgery date. I could always use more mid August surgery buddies!

I also "cheated fair" as my husband called it. I had to have a solid Protein like grilled skinless chx breast, just a little or hit the floor. I still lost 18Lbs and had my surgery yesterday. I went for 9 days without cheating, but I did make sure not to eat anything but Clear liquids for three days post op. I felt guilty, but I had to be able to. Function too.

Thanks for sharing your positive support! I laughed out loud when I read "or hit the floor." I'm on my 3rd day and am thrilled that it's almost 2 pm and I dont' have headaches yet. The latter part of the day (especially night) is the worst, but I know that once I get through this first initial hump these 3-4 days that the side effects (carb withdrawal from my crappy "normal diet") can go away.

Just remember that sticking to your pre-op diet can lead to fewer incisions and faster healing time. If you can remember that right before you eat something off the diet, it might help! Headaches are usually a sign of caffeine withdrawal , btw.

Thanks for the tip! Every bit helps. I actually cut out ALL caffeine a few months ago, so I really think its' the carb withdrawal more than anything!

Yeah--I cheated too, but I made mine "smart" cheats like grilled chicken breast strips without skin and asparagus. I still lost weight and it was fine. I felt like a wuss because I cheated on day 1, but I realize now that it really gets easier as you go. Day 3 or 4 it should be noticeably easier for you. It is tough to get through the pre-op. If it was something you could do well you probably wouldn't need surgery. Hang in there. It is way way way easier to do a liquid diet after surgery--like there is no comparison.

You have no idea how relieving it is to hear someone say this! I'm on day two (really, it's only been two days?!) of pre op too and I snuck bites of plain tuna and had pieces of grilled chicken (no skin) yesterday. I'm in a constant mental haze and fog, and the headaches are pretty unbearable. Just thinking about your comment and knowing that beyond hopefully days 3 and 4, it'll get better. Don't even get me started on the BMs...

I had the single incision sleeve gastrectomy my Dr. Alan Saber at University Hospital in Cleveland Ohio. It was the best experience I could have ever had! The recovery time for me was about a week and the best part is you can't even tell I had surgery!

Wow! When was your surgery? What was the biggest annoyance recovery wise? Any tips?

Where in Chicago?

Oh! Didn't notice you were Chicago too! I'm having my surgery done at St. Joseph's in the Lakeview area with Dr. Frederik Tiesenga. He also works with Dr. Lutfi and they both offer single incision as an option with the sleeve.

I, too had a very uneventful recovery--no nausea, no vomiting, no pain. It was difficult the first week or two to get in enough water--I did the best I could and always managed enough so I was never dehydrated, but it took awhile to get in 64 oz, partly because I wasn't a Water drinker before surgery. I went back to work at 2 weeks post-op, got physically tired easily but I could concentrate. As someone else said, it's a full-time job just drinking all day the first couple of weeks.

I'm sure you will do great.

That's helpful - thank you! I don't think I fully understand how focusing on getting certain foods will take time to ensure you do it correctly and well, so that makes sense.

I'm a little over 8 weeks out and I feel the same way. Haven't eaten more than 300 calories in the past week. The thought of eating makes me so nauseous that I just don't. Saltines are a savior. I upped my PPI to twice a day so hopefully that will help. Have an appt a week from today. Trying to hold out til then.

Hope you feel better!

Sorry, but what's PPI??

I'm actually getting the sleeve done via single incision in Chicago on August 20th. My doctor offered it to me, and I found out he has actually taught the other surgeon he practices with. I've heard slightly less recovery time and potentially less pain with this, so I'm excited about it.

Oh wait, one last question for all of you sleeve vets: as far as mental clarity and energy, how quickly did you feel capable to be back at work even if you didn't necessarily go back at that time?

In addition to the immediate physical recovery, I've also read a lot about varying degrees of energy and being able to do a great job at work. I only ask because I will be starting a new job exactly 4 weeks after my surgery, and just trying to gauge if I'll be able to bring my A-game.

THANK YOU so much for sharing your recovery stories! I feel so much better. I've been a total basketcase of emotions and nerves that hearing these unexpected positive, normal or hilarious (Butterthebean comparable hangovers, ha!) recovery stories just really helps to balance my perspective and sanity. Thanks everyone for the amazing responses and support - don't know what I'd do without all of you!

What you all are saying makes so much sense, especially Dooter in the below. All of the pain and complication stories have stuck in my head because they are more memorable that I was beginning to question what the norm was, even if "I feel totally normal" isn't really a post you're more apt to put up.

One thing I've noticed around here- aside from the "NSVs" we never really report when we "feel good." It doesn't seem that interesting or require a response. Most people post when there is trouble, or can wear a smaller size pants. We just don't think to say, "hey, by the way, I had a really non-complicated surgery." And maybe we should, just so all you noobs can see that it's not just doom and gloom in your future. I think there are a great number of us who had a terrific experience. Hopefully you'll hear from more....

I'm on day 1 (5 hours and 51 minutes of day 1, but who's counting?) of my 14 day pre-op diet before my surgery on Aug 20. I'm getting pretty nervous and anxious about how I'll feel after recovery and have been reading about everyone's experiences.

What I'm interested in hearing about is if anyone was pleasantly surprised with how they felt after surgery or with their recovery? I've read so much about pain and complications, I'd love to hear about those that may have had a breeze!

I know that everyone is different in terms of their recovery, but i think I'm psyching myself out and for some reason think that this may make me feel better about things (if that makes sense). I'm also having my surgery done as a single incision (just through my belly button) so wondering if that has made a difference. Thanks, all!

After resubmittal I was approved this morning. The surgeon's office already called and scheduled my surgery for August 20!!!

Yipeeee....I'm headed to the loser's bench!!

Hooray!! I was approved this week too and have the same surgery date! Such a relief, right??

I had the single incision and have no regrets. Small "scar" and little pain. Can barely see it. I am very happy with the results =)

Wow, really! What was it like the first few days after? Any other tips to ensure a smooth recovery? Lots of walking?

Hello Birdy18:

My surgery is tomorrow!!! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I actually am experiencing a strange calm about tomorrow. I'm sure the morning will be completely different. I'm usually a bunch of nerves when it has anything to do with doctor's and needles etc. I got in at 8:30 a.m. and hope to have the procedure done shortly after!

I'll keep you posted on my progress. Good luck with your paperwork, I hope you hear something soon. I think I heard back in a week or so.

Ahhh!! Good luck! I'm wishing you a speedy and smooth surgery - definitely keep me updated on how things went and how you feel. Also, congrats on making it through the 2 week pre op!! I heard today about my insurance and was approved!!