Papillon

Dr. Podkameni was wonderful. He took great care of my husband and I. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a very skilled surgeon in Arizona. He takes a bit to warm up to you (trying to keep that patient doctor distance) but, he is very friendly once you get past this part. He checked in on my husband and I daily when we were in the hospital. I am so glad he was our surgeon. He is professional and very skilled. The anastesiologist Dr. Wang was wonderful too. He took the extra time to talk to me about the surgery and what was needed for anastesia. I am a singer (as most of you guys know) so it was very important to me. He was willing to take extra precautions and I have not had any problems with my voice. I was able to sing at a voice lesson one week after surgery. Stamina is still coming back but there is nothing causing problems and I am very happy about that!!!

Wow... our surgeon had us on a 2 week clear liquid diet. That was rough... the nice thing about after surgery for most people is that you aren't hungry. And if you are it is nothing like it used to be. I actually visited my family yesterday and they had a huge Breakfast. I had my Protein Shake and honestly it really wasn't unbearable. I thought briefly about that sausage patty but that was it... It was nice to just see everyone. ,

The best advice I can give to you guys is to stay in the hospital an extra day if you can. I was fine the first 2 days but the 3rd (was rough) and I was happy I was somewhere that I could get help if needed. Also nice to have someone bring you broth when you are tired and feeling crappy. *at the risk of TMI it was also nice to have a bathroom close by*

I also think I had an easier time because my husband and I walked a lot the 2nd day. We were both still on morphine so it made it pretty easy honestly. Don't forget to do your breathing exercises... it is counter-intuitive to breathe deeper when it hurts a little but in the end you will be happy you did!!

That first week I will admit was a little rough. Not impossible, but you really need to take it easy and take care of yourself. : )

So far I only feel nauseous after I eat. I have been making sure to coincide my meals with meds whenever possible. How far out are y?u?

Thank you for all of the support guys!! Today I had a few moments where I felt normal haha... Things are moving along I am trying to have patience with myself and take it easy. I am feeling very fortunate that I had some sick time saved and can have a few weeks to recover before going back to work. The cats love this idea by the way!! Lol. ; D

Glad to hear you are doing well!! Make sure to take the time you need and if you can, stay an extra day in the hospital. Day three was the roughest for me but, I am home now and feel a lot better. Each day gets better! :001_wub:

doing better today... day 3 without morphine was brutal. I was very glad that we ended up staying in the hospital an extra day. I needed to be close to a bathroom all day. Happily the south end of things is behaving a lot better now.

We are both home now and were released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Now we are doing our best to follow the doctor's orders. It is hard to get in the recommended amount of Protein. I am adding it to anything I can find ahah. We are on the full liquid diet now so at least there is a little cream of wheat in there and yogurt. It is just a matter of getting in the fluids. I am finding it a bit of a challenge but hanging in.

Last night I was up in the middle of the night for more pain medicine and antinausea meds. I am really thankful that I have them!!

Just wanted to pop in and let you know how we are. This was a huge step and I am dealing with my decision in as positive a way as I can. I assume I will feel differently as time goes by. :001_wub:

keeping my chin up!

Thanks Deb!! We are both really excited. I feel better each day. Day 1 was a little rough but today was great. Soo on to day 3.... I do have a feeling I will miss my morphine pump haha. Hoping I won't wake up in too much pain. All of the staff here have been great. My own room which is lovely and making laps with my husband we have two oasises to grab a drink of Water hehe.. his room.. and mine. :laugh0:

take your husband with you to an information session, It will give him a chance t0 hear about the differences between surgeries. I started out looking into the lapband myself but after hearing about some of the problems a lot of patients had with the band eroding or scaring their stomach I decided the sleeve was the right surgery for me. I was just sleeved yesterday and I admit as the day came closer I was feeling anxious. Thought about grabbing my bags and running haha. I have no regrets, I decided they were not welcome. Bring on this new life!! My surgeon was wonderful and has taken excellent care of my husband and I. I will sing it from the rafters hehe. : )

p.s. we have UHC and the entire approval process took almost a year. 6 months of weigh-ins, sleep study, psychiatric consult,...ect It felt like forever but you will get there!

Had my surgery on the 13th. Dr.Podkameni was wonderful and Dr. Wang the anestesiologist was really nice too. He took additional precautions because I am an opera singer. Everyone has been really wonderful. I am making laps around the floor with my husband and happy to report we both had our first leak test this morning and there were no issues.

thanks to everyone on the board for being open and sharing their experiences. Your support made surgery less frightening.

p.s make room... I am dancing on the bench with my husband. :laugh0:

I have found that strained hot and sour from PF Changs is still amazing! Especially with a few dashs of mongolian fire oil hehe.. as a matter of fact it is time for dinner... *heads to the microwave*

Congratulations GG!! Focus on the wonderful change! One step at a time... or swim stroke hehe. You should feel awesome!! I can't wait to join you.

If you are looking for something with a little cinnamon and pizazz... Zhena's Gypsy tea - Caffeine free- Chai is very nice too. I used to drink about half a pot of coffee every morning at work, the tea gives me a similar tactile experience and I love the flavors.

Congratulations!!! You are very easy to understand so no worries.. we aren't the grammar or spelling police haha.

Glad to hear you had a great time!! Curry is not very hard to make if you feel adventurous... you can get the spice at the grocery store. (it will be milder than the real stuff but it works) take some chicken and simmer it in the curry (about one tablespoon or two) for about 30minutes with a little butter or water... and boom you have some yummies at home! There are tons of recipes for Indian food online. I love curry!! I will miss rice after the surgery eheh but I won't miss my huge jeans. ROFL

thank you!!

Wow... ok starting to really hit home. I have done my prep work, followed the diet, behaved myself haha, and soon surgery. I can't believe the day is finally almost here. Honestly, I have been up and down all day hahah about ready to tear my poor husbands head off one second and dancing around the house the next. LOL Any words of advice from everyone who has made the journey to the bench? I decided the other night when I woke up at 1:00am that negative thoughts and fears were no longer welcome so they better shove off. haha We leave for the hospital Monday at 5:00am. Wish us luck!

For unflavored Protein Unjury is great. I have been using it in my Vitamin Water pre-op and you can't tell it is there. Changes the color but the flavor is not changed. My husband and I ordered some samples from them and a big container of the unflavored so we can add it to everything.

I have been on a pre-op diet for almost two weeks. I can understand the need for one. I think it would be very hard to go through caffeine, calorie, and portion size withdrawal all at the same time while healing. I made sure to stop caffeine the weekend before. I do miss coffee but, I am to the point now where I hardly notice. Listen to your doc.

Congratulations!! You are trucking along!! You should feel great about the changes you are making in your life! One step at a time... don't compare yourself to anyone else. Celebrate your victories, they belong to you!

hang in there Lisa!! I went to a friends house to play games while on the pre-op liquid diet.. it was rough eating Soup while they were having a nice taco salad but, I survived. now, would I want to do that every night? GAWD NO!! hahah You are kicking butt don't feel bad about wanting to get to the next step or feeling excited! I am with you. I am already looking forward to mushies and I haven't had surgery yet hahahah

Hang in there!! 48lbs is amazing!! I am the same way with trigger foods... I cleaned out my house... and it all went to work or friends hehe. No more sabotage at home! I am also lucky because my husband is doing the same surgery on the same date so we can support eachother. When I hear of people ordering wings and pizza the day someone comes home from surgery I get sooo mad, that is just criminal. Have a heart and eat before you visit if that is the case.

Ahh thanks Erika! I appreciate your kind words! I am getting closer one day at a time, I really can't believe the surgery is on Monday. Time flies. The process from approval to the day of, took almost one year. I am doing great. The diet doesn't really bother me anymore. I get a little growly before dinner at 6:00pm but we have been having Soup when we get home and that really helps. Sooo if I don't pop on before hand see you all on the flip side... oh and move over I am dancing on the bench! LOL

I haven't, but wanted to pop in and tell you congratulations! My surgery is on the 13th we will be days apart.

sounds good to me... I have been living off of P F Chang's strained Soup for the last week and will be getting some more tonight. :confused1: Amazing how your perspective can change in a week. I would Celebrate a mushroom right now! haha : D