Birdy18

Ahhhh so excited! Best of luck to all my fellow 8/7 sleevers and everyone else who's getting ready to join the losers bench. We can do this

For those of you that are starting today there are a few things to remember.
The first few days are the hardest. When you hit day 4 you will notice a little more spring your step. Day 2 & 3 a lot of people get a little tiny headache, drink more Water and whatever you do, keep busy.
If you walk around telling yourself you are starving or that this sucks, you will, of course feel hungrier and it will start sucking.
Another thing that is important to know, liquid in, liquid out. As you know eventually your bodily functions will change a bit. I suggest if you do go places, take notice of bathrooms. This is usually about day 4-7. There are threads and you may have noticed comments "never trust a fart", there are reasons for this.
This doesn't last all 14 days, but this is something that happens after surgery for the first few weeks. Some people have a harder time going, and for some it's the liquid in and liquid out deal. Eventually you go back to being regular.
I stayed busy, I continued exercising (I did the gazelle twice a day during the 14 day pre-op) and I did a lot of walking.
The biggest thing to remember is that during this 14 day time, you are probably getting better nutrition than you had before, because this has all your Vitamins and minerals and you are not literally starving to death, because you are getting the nutrition you need.
Best of luck and stay positive and it will go by fast!

You may star getting a headache don't worry it will pass. I spent a lot of time on this site to pre-occupy my mind from food and also learned a lot. Just do our best. Good luck

Stories like this make me so excited and anxious! I have 2 more months and then I'll get to rock a sleeve! Congratulations!

As pre-op I want to thank all of you guys for all the truthful posts about you surgeries. It helps so much to hear all the ones that were so uneventful , and not so painful, went easier than expected. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! You guys gave a lot of great info and encouragement. I'm really glad i joined this forum.

I'm 4 days out and the 4th day seems to be the magic number day . The only real "problem" I had was the narcotic pain meds in hospital made me so nauseous that I didn't have an ounce of anything for the first 24 hours. once the dr. Switched the meds I went home and yes, uncomfortable and sore, your tummy is very bloated and keep in mind you've had surgery! . It did take me until today to be able to get fluids down without pain...it's not like it's pain that you (or at least me) cry about, you just feel it, wait a few mins and try again. I was struggling to get fluids down and then All of a sudden this afternoon it doesnt bother me at all anymore... I
I've slept good every night I've been home and I have taken the prescribed Tylenol with codine so I can sleep comfortably. I look forward to sleeping on my side soon . I also had a hernia repaired so not sure if that has anything to do with the delay in getting liquid down comfortably.
I think the biggest thing to remember is that it is surgery, there is going to be some pain/uncomfort or even things you haven't felt before. this is the first surgery I've ever had so a lot of unknowns for me. I've been very patient with myself and truly giving my body the rest it needs. . I hope you are able to do the same and have the best experience possible. Good luck!

I had pretty easy time of it in the hospital. I only used the pain pump a few times after walking my laps. Once home, I never even had my pain meds filled at the pharmacy...never needed them! Other than 2 nasty bouts of indigestion, I haven't experienced any complications.

I had a relatively ok recovery. I wouldn't say I'd do it again but I am allergic to narcotics and opiates so I had NO pain meds until I stumbled upon children's tylenol. If the can take the pain away, it couldn't have been that bad. I was sleeved last Monday. I am returning to the office on Wednesday but if I really pushed I could have gone today. My big reason is that my incisions are under where the underwire on my bra sits, so it can be uncomfortable to wear one. hope this helps. If you have a physically strenuous job, I would take two weeks. Don't overdo it.

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.

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.

Thanks for sharing these stories. I find them inspiring. I am hoping for the best, prepared for the worst physically but am a little worried about the emotional stuff. I did three rounds of hcg last year and early this year (gained it back...I'm sure you were curious) and the 500 calorie diet of lean meat and veggies pushed me into an emotional mess. I slept a lot because I was always hungry and travel for work was a nightmare (taking clients to dinner and ordering fish and steamed veggies; eating 1/3 and still being starving or being in the airport and smelling all of the crappy/amazing food - hell in earth). I hope that my sleev experience is different. I cannot fail again. Any perspective on the emotional aspect and what you did to help would be appreciated.

500 Calories? Holy cow that's not many calories at all. Your "cheating" doesn't mean you aren't ready, I think your body is in shock and you did what you thought you needed to do. Especially at tht time of the month. Ugh... I hope tomorrow goes better.

I think that's a little bit of a condescending generalization towards younger folks. I'm 23- yes I'm young. Do I know what Im in for? Absolutley. I've researched this for years, learned the dos and donts. It's not fair to assume all young people lack the maturity to go through this. Yea there are some who are young and may not be ready for this change, but ive seen older folks messing it up too so i dont think age is the number one determining factor. I agree it is more about maturity and commitment then age. I do agree that more counseling isn't a bad thing but I think regardless of age most could benefit from it.

I would agree that it's a maturity thing, but not an age thing. I'm 19 and I'm doing just fine. However, the idea of having such a life altering change at a young age may seem a little more drastic so I can see why people my age would be freaking out a little more.

Well, I wish I coul honestly tell you that there is nothing to be concerned about. But the truth is that there is the potential in any surgery for complications.
The good news is that serious complications on a virgin stomach are very rare. Leaks rarely happen and when they do, they are repairable.
I can say, my experience has been super smooth, but for some people the first month or two are just miserable
The only deaths I have ever even heard of associated with this surgury were due to the patient severely abusing their sleeve.
I can say, when I decided on this, I simply faced the reality that I really didn't have a life before the surgery, so what did I really have to lose?
Nervousness & wondering if you are making the right decision are completely normal, and believe me, the last day or 2 before the surgery, you will be ready to pick up the phone and cancel at least a dozen times. But once it's done and you get past the initial adjustment and discomfort. It's all blue skies & rainbows
OK, maybe not ALL blue skies & rainbows, but mostly, with an occasional rain cloud.

I still remember my first post in this forum.it was something like,
Is this too easy? I'm really afraid since this is causing me no real adversity that I am going to fail at this.
Needless to say, I'm almost 11 weeks out & it is definately working, and I'm not a failure. I haven't had any real issues yet.

I was very fortunate and was in basically no pain from the beginning. Slight soreness for a day or two but that's it. I started walking a little at a time as soon as 2 hours out of the recovery room. I think it was on day 3 post op or so that I walked half a mile at one time. The next day I walked a mile and a half at one time.....though a bit slow. I never threw up nor had any problems with food other than getting my Protein in the first two days. The worst part of the whole thing was having that catheter removed. After that, it was a breeze and I felt normal about a week or week and a half post op.

I have had an uncomplicated walk in the park with this whole thing. It was absolutely awesomely easy and complication-free. I didn't have a hernia, didn't need much pain medicine post-surgery. Was eating normal food within the first week (that's how they do it where I am) and have been fine ever since. I never lost my hunger as some people do with VSG, but that's not really been an issue anyhow. I've done really well. Good luck!!

My wife is an RN and ER director, so yeah, we were prepared for the worst as well. Being that she only sees sick people, we really never imagined my recovery. I have not taken any pain meds since being discharged, was walking right after surgery and have never gotten sick. The only discomfort I had was quickly cured by gasX strips the first week.
Congrats and good luck.
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I had a really easy, uncomplicated recovery. I left the hospital the day after my VSG/hernia repair. My surgery was 9 am and I was off all pain meds by 11 am the next morning. I really attribute my successful recovery to my activity level prior to surgery. I was in the gym every day for a minimum of an hour. I will say, though, even though my physical recovery was great, I did hit some emotional bumps along the way that I wasn't so prepared for. I'm now 5.5 weeks out and the emotional bumps seem to have leveled out.
Good luck to you in your journey to a better you.
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The moment I woke up I was in pain. They gave me good meds. and then I was good.
That night there was discomfort (particularly gas in shoulder) but I walked the halls of the hospital anyway. People who walk get rid of gas faster. You know they blow up the insides with air to see and work so that has to come out.
I have been fine, no problems at all-- not even nausea- which many complain of. I take a PPI from day 1 to avoid heartburn and haven't had that either.
Today is 3 weeks exactly. I can drink with no problem- was able to 2nd day. I can eat pureed food and not experience pain or discomfort.
I have never felt regret.

I went into surgery expecting to die, and accepting the gamble because of all my health complications. I woke up and went "What?" because I truly didn't expect to wake up. When they wheeled me into my room, I got up off the recovery bed, walked around the hospital bed, and sat in the chair. I never did get in that hospital bed. My only pain was in my thighs from trying to use my leg muscled instead of my tummy muscles, but that went away quickly. I took pain meds three times after surgery, then refused any more pain meds.
I drove myself home the day after surgery, about a 40 minute drive. I started walking up and down my hallway the next day and I've been high energy ever since. In 10 months I've lost 110 pounds, plus I feel amazing!!!
This is the third best gamble I've ever taken (having my boys were #1 and #2).

I did not realize you were so close!! Congratulations friend and keep me posted!

So good I feel guilty! I am on day 6 post op and doing well. I am doing great and 8 lbs down since surgery day. I had nausea when awaking from surgery (Probably because I refused the sea sick patch due to previous side effects it gave me) so needed Zofran through IV to manage it. Not severe, never actually threw up just felt it when I would move. Used the morphine pump often for first 10 hours after surgery, to be safe, pain was not very bad but wanted to sleep through nausea. I was up to use bathroom with out any trouble... late the first evening... and a couple times during the night, tummy soreness/pain getting out of bed but that is about it. Walking, and tiny tiny sips started in the morning of the first day. My nurse lined up 3 medicine cups of various fluids, chicken broth, snapple lemon tea, warm chamomile tea and I tried them. Just little sips like swallowing saliva. Up to the bathroom often because of IV drip so did not worry to much about getting liquids on day 2, but managed about 15 of the 1oz medicine cups by the conclusion of the day. Funny thing was to love the camomile tea... never a pre-surgery favorite. Also was glad I had Splenda in my purse.... they only gave the pink stuff. Diet Snapple became my favorite by day 3 in peach or raspberry but needed to be watered down. Broth was too salty and every smell was so intense.... so weird.
I was surprised there were none of the complications I had read about... lips not chapped, no vomiting, drinking was easy by day 3, only thing was tummy pain felt like the most major pain from an ab workout I had ever had. Walking was fine just pain in tummy incisions so holding that part or supporting it with a pillow helped. To put the pain in perspective by 10 hours after surgery I never had any more of any type of pain medicine. There has been no struggles with BM's but starting day 5 it became very watery. Today was the first day of school for my youngest so I did my hair for the first time and made his Breakfast and lunch, took pictures -but he is in 6th grade so I did not walk him the half mile to school or go to his class with him. (this is to tell you I am up and about fine)
You will do so well, I think it is easy to expect all the bad stuff to happen because when we read it we remember it. No regrets at all and so excited still totally not hungry....