SqueakyWheel&Ethyl

Staples? What staples? I just have steristrips.

In a few days you'll feel a lot better and more energetic, but pace yourself. Don't overdo it or you'll be in bed all day the next day.

I had a nasty headache, too. I don't know if it was caffeine withdrawal or residual anesthesia. Either way, it will pass. The puffiness, though, that could be Water retention. Check with your doctor, to feel better.

Ethyl was born after my surgery. She's the voice in my head that says, " You're gonna be sorry you just did that."

Before you make the decision to undergo the Roux-en-Y, PLEASE discuss the following with your Doctor. This procedure makes it (my surgeon's words) impossible to give the patient a liver transplant in the future. You may think, 'So what? My liver is fine.' I was like you! Then, found out I have a rare auto-immune disease and will probably face a transplant in a few years. So, my surgeon excluded me as a candidate for the Roux-en-Y. I told him EVERYONE should be excluded then, because somewhere in there future, something could happen ... An injury or illness... And they've lost their chance to survive! He said this is a balancing act decision made based on how high risk the patient is ... If they could die without the Roux-en-Y. So, talk to your surgeon AND your PCP about the impact it will have on any future liver transplant need BEFORE you move forward with it. This is information that SHOULD be shared PRE-OP, and I don't know that it is. Everyone I know that has had a sleeve (I had it earlier this month) was not aware of this very important piece of information.

I would track the estimated percentage that stayed down. Just guesstimate.

I do, too! It disturbs me that a decision as huge as WLS is made every day by people unaware of this IMPORTANT piece of info. I understand this applies to the Roux-en-Y procedure. I hope there are other bypass choices that don't endanger the opportunity for a liver transplant.

You can exercise right now. Even resting, sitting on the sofa watching TV, lift weights (I use 4 lb hand weights) doing arm curls, etc. Google to get exact arm exercises to be done in a sitting position. You can march in place while sitting in a chair. Raise both feet off the floor with legs extended and hold for 15 seconds between rests. Walk from one end of the house to the other. Cut yourself some slack. You are weak. You are on pain meds. Don't push too hard. This is the recuperation period, not time to prepare for a prize fight. The more active you are, the less gas you'll have and the more you can work the drugs out of your system. And, movement really does reduce overall pain. Good luck!

I am telling EVERYONE to only consider bypass as a last resort. It should be reserved for those who are so overweight, they will die within months if something drastic doesn't happen. When I met with my surgeon, he asked me why I wanted the sleeve over the band or bypass. I said I didn't want a foreign object inside me long-term (nix the band), and I didn't think bypass was necessary because I could get the results I want with sleeve (-118 lbs). Plus, Dumping Syndrome is a real concern with bypass and it is pretty much non-existent with the sleeve. He agreed. Then, as we discussed my medical history, he said I wasn't a candidate for bypass anyway, because of my liver disease. Why, I asked? Because part of what is removed during bypass surgery is NEEDED tissue to complete a liver transplant. And, since we already know that it is likely I will need a transplant within the next ten years, I am excluded from bypass. I argued that, if this is true, NO-ONE should chose bypass EVER! They would be giving up their chance to survive, if they needed a liver transplant later in their lives. What if they suffered an accident or an illness? He said they consider all that when they decide on bypass, and that it is reserved for those that they deem WILL DIE without it. So, if you have an OPTION, don't chose bypass. You never know what the future holds.

20 lbs in 2 days?!? Wow! I was told to rest whenever I felt like it and just start over with getting the fluids in when you wake up. Don't fret over not getting enough because of sleep. Just steady sip, as tolerated while awake. It took a couple of days for the gas cramps to stop. All the trapped air has to absorb from your abdominal cavity through your bowels before it can be "released." The more you walk and stretch, the faster it will go away. As for the sore stomach, I only had one incision that was tender the first few days. My whole stomach didn't feel beat up at all. Just rest and if you are hurting, take a pain pill. "Don't be a hero." That's what I was told by the nurse specialist who coached me.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Wow. Really?

My surgery was at 2 pm. I walked to the at BATHROOM (not "groom" as this darn spell-checker would like you to think) at 3 am. It gets easier and better every day.

That's what God made those awesome wigs for! I plan on cutting most of mine off when I get to my goal weight anyway. A whole new look. And, with wigs, I can have fun with lots of alter-egos. I bet my husband will like that, too!

I cheated today. Puréed is still a week away. But I wanted to feel texture in my mouth. Scrambled eggs are on my puréed list. I mixed an egg with a little of my double milk, whipped it, then scrambled it, until it was fully cooked, but not dry. I ate tiny bites... Mincing it up good. Within 30 minutes, I ate 1/2 of that egg! Yeah, it felt funky going down, but I swallowed a tiny sip of water with each bite, and it seemed to work. AND, I satisfied my urge to chew something. And, since it was only 1/2 of an egg, I don't feel ashamed.

Send in the suggestion to the webmaster. Great idea!

There is! Your main profile page! A place for one BEFORE and one AFTER photo.

Ha ha! I JUST purged my closet and am about to start on my dresser! Three garbage bags full of clothes to donate to Goodwill!

Love the recipe sharing. Thanks! But how does it taste? If I feel like I have to hold my nose to choke it down, I won't even want to try. But if the flavor is pleasing enough, I will try it and the recipe in your signature, too.

Me, too. And when I get bummed, "Ethyl" (my alter-ego... my body after surgery) whispers to me, 'that was a part of our past life. Remember? The life that didn't work for us? That's a toxin that hurts us. Those old memories will fade with time. We just need to turn our focus back to our new life - our rebirth. If we expect good changes, we must also expect habit changes. We ain't goin' back!"

Great! I wish more people would blog their happy stories. We need to hear these. Thanks for sharing yours.

I'm having this same issue. Looking forward to more comments. I just remind myself that if I did chow down it would just make me sick. And, I go look for protein. Seems after I drink a couple of ounces of a protein shake, that urge dies down.

You embrace faith. So, you already know that it all happens in His perfect timing. Perhaps, this reschedule was part of His Plan. Perhaps, it was done to avoid some problem you don't need! Perhaps, the new date opens the door for something wonderful to happen in your life... For your path to cross with someone special who otherwise would have never met you. Hold on, my friend. God has a Plan for you and this reschedule is a part of that. It will all fall into place and you will succeed. Keep having faith.

Where does one find collagen to buy? What stores? Or off the Internet?

Strongly recommend Nexium, Protonix, Prilosec, or something comparable for post-surgery. Birdie, THREE protein shakes a day? THREE?!? How? I'm lucky to get one down over the course of a day. I balance them with cream soups made with double milk. Managing to meet my protein requirements that way. My dr has me on full liquids for three weeks. Then, purée. Can't wait. I can have scrambled eggs on the purée diet!