MDumont312

Hi All- Just had my 2 week Post-Op today and doing fine. I started adding a bit of soft Protein last week as I was getting bored. No problems at all. Still losing 1-2 pounds per day and quite happy with that. Got a few questions answered that I had seen posed on the list here: -Stomach is fully healed at about 6 weeks -My Dr. has never heard of your stomach leaking/bursting, but you can always get an ulcer, thus the reason he prescribes prophylactic Prevacid for 6 mos. -They look for 1-2 pound loss for week, so I'm doing pretty well I guess! -Still no lifting until after 6 week post-op, but aerobic exercise is ok...listen to your body. Walking, spinning, biking - all ok, but start back slowly. -Still no baths, hot tubs, or swimming until 6 week post-op -No rice, Pasta, bread, peas, corn -oatmeal is ok! Make sure you're doing your Calcium, multi Vitamin and D3...very important. Other than that...back in 4 weeks for another check. Hope this helps-

Hi Dawn- Are you still on liquids only? Last week I went ahead and added soft Proteins like tuna, canned chicken, crab, egg whites, tilapia, cottage cheese and the like with no problems. After surgery I had gained about 13 pounds in Fluid, which took over a week to lose again - quite frustraing - but now I'm losing about 1-2 pounds a day, which I am happy with. I haven't returned to my exercise yet because I've been hurting a bit. I tried walking a few times last week, but was really sore the next day so I decided to give myself a break. I hope to return to my exercise this week. My 2 week post-op is tomorrow, and I hope to get the 'go ahead' on everything at that point. Overall I am quite happy with where I am at this point. As of this morning I am down 33 pounds, which isn't too bad. I feel better each day and I can't complain. I wish you luck with your DH in the next few weeks as he gets his sleeve. Keep your chin up and make sure to take care of yourself, too!

That is TOTALLY WICKED! So happy for you!! And can't wait for my turn, too! Congratulations!

Just checking back in to see how our 'gang' in feeling... I'm on Day 9 Post-Op and things are starting to get back to normal somewhat now. My stomach seems to have 'receeded' finally. The gas is way down from before and what remains is not painful at all at this point. I am almost back to my pre-surgery weight, which confirms that most of the Fluid is gone finally. I do notice a bit of swelling remaining in my feet, but that is mininal. I am up and walking around like normal now, though I am tired after most excursions. Sunday I went to church but had to nap after returning home. Yesterday we went to one store in the mall and that wore me out. Today I have to drive to work for a brief while, but that is all I have planned for today. My incisions are looking better and seems to be healing well. The smaller ones are closed and the 'glue' has come off of most of them now. The largest incision and the drain hole remain, and all incisions are itchy, which I take as a good sign of healing. My eating...well, that continues to be the challenge. Week 2 food allows me to add skin milk, so I immediately made s/f pudding, which was awesome for the texture. I found a Progressive Soup that had tiny chicken meatballs, so I took the broth and a few of the meatballs, and mashed them up and had that on several days - again only a limited quantity will fit. S/F Jello, s/f cocoa, hot tea and Crystal Light have also been a constant. Last night I jumped ahead a bit and tried a bit of scrambled egg, which was good. I think I was looking more for variety and not because I was hungry. I hope to get back to exercise soon, but I'm still a bit sore. Last night was the first night I slept without pillows everywhere and being able to move around a bit in the bed without pain. It was also the first night I haven't had to take pain meds to get through the night. Oh, and for Thanksgiving we've decided to go out for dinner - my husband's idea - so I don't have to cook a meal I can't eat. Works for me! I hope this update finds everyone doing better each day, and gives a bit of hope to those coming along behind me. Take care, and have a wonderful holiday!

I have to confess that last night my husband, who has been wonderful through all of this, made an awesome dinner for him and the kids (homemade hamburgers and french fries...smothered in gravy, of course! LOL!) I was already 'jumping ahead' on the diet to week 3 and trying a scrambled egg, but I just had to try one of those french fries...I cut that thing up small and chewed and chewed and chewed. It went down fine and I felt ok. So of course I had to have another because I wasn't full, right?! Ended up having 4 fries - even said out loud to my husband that I still wasn't full, but I should stop. Well, when I walked away and went to sit down at my computer, I felt awful, like I might vomit. I didn't, but it showed me that I had made a bad choice and it wasn't worth getting sick over. The fries were ok...I was really just missing the chewing action for sure.

I agree with what every one has said about the hospital stay...it was hard to sleep, but those beds are never like home. Plus the nurses have to wake you to get your vitals just after you've finally fallen asleep...ugh! Once I came home this past week, it started to get better. I did hit a small 'what did I do?!' wall on Friday...crying, hurting, hungry...but thankfully my husband was right there to remind me this is not a sprint, but a marathon...and I am no runner just yet. I'm still in the baby step phase, but I will get there - and so will you. One of the best things I've done is to find this forum...it's SO helpful to hear others are going through what you are experiencing. You don't feel alone, and you don't have to. Hang in there - we're all here together!

Hello Everyone- I just had my sleeve done on 11/15 as well. Apparently I must have thought I was Super Woman going in, because I told everyone I'd be home in a day...NOT! Didn't get home until Wednesday after noon. Much more pain than I anticipated. Very swollen and a lot of gas to contend with. I actually called the nurse today and she said the gas could last up to 2 more weeks...ugh! She did say I could try Gas-x, and that warm liquids help a bit more with the gas. Agree completely with the bruising and swelling. I have 6 new holes, including the drain hole, which was brutal when that was removed before I left. Was advised to keep that covered with a 4x4, but now nothing is really coming out, so I just have a regular Bandaid on it. Lots of leg bruises as well from the Heparin (to prevent blood clots). I did get out a bit today, but it wore me out, so I took a long nap. Hopefully more walking tomorrow. Also I had already stopped with the pain meds, but I decided to be kind to myself and use them if I need them...6 holes in my abdomen is nothing to sneeze at. Felt a bit down today regarding the food - couldn't tell if I was hungry (stomach growling) or gas grumbling...plus my meds got a bit messed up while I was in the hospital. Getting those back on track and just trying to be kind to myself and not push too much. It will get better...it will get better. Glad to have found this forum and hear that others are in a similar place in the early days. Thanks for letting me share-