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I have staples right now (they're coming out tomorrow) and I was told to remove the dressings Day 3 or 4 (I can't remember) and keep the sites very dry. I'm not sure what instructions I will get after my staples come out tomorrow.

My surgeon includes any type of protein drink or protein powder mixed with water in the "clear liquids" phase, even if they aren't clear. You could ask.

Whoa...surprise! Best of luck and I hope you have a good recovery.

Nah, don't worry. That's a great loss. I was 15 pounds up a couple of days after surgery ( !), and now am showing two pounds down from my surgery day weight. The body is still swollen and adjusting and you're not eating much.

The pink liquid might be Carafate. It coats and protects the stomach, so definitely try to get that in if you're feeling nauseous.

I do the liquid. Thirty seconds under the tongue, then swallow and I'm off ...

I'm not using pantozol (I'm cracking open a Nexium capsule and sprinkling those granules), but I found this online (grain of salt, of course): I've been sprinkling my Nexium granules on top of a spoonful of applesauce and I haven't had any problems.

I just had my revision on the 22nd. So far, so good. My pain has been well under control, and I feel pretty decent overall.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I'll up my spirometer use and relax a bit.

I am on day four and I have been running mild fevers in the afternoon/evenings...around 99.5 degrees since day two. My nurses when I was in the hospital were not concerned about it at all and said not to worry unless it got up to the 101-102 level. They said it was a result of being put under anesthesia and the phlegm, etc. in the lungs that needs to get up and out. I am still using my spirometer that they gave me in the hospital. By morning the fevers are gone. Has anyone else had this happen?

Whoops, it somehow got posted twice, if a mod can delete this one, I'd appreciate it.

Well, I am home from the hospital after a successful band to sleeve revision. I had to be at the hospital by 6:45 am, and I was taken back to the pre-op area in about 30 minutes. After having a brief convo with my surgeon and anesthesiologist, I was put into my hospital smock and off I went to the ER. They moved me onto the table and that's pretty much all I remember. I woke up in the recovery room. I remember having a hard time keeping my eyelids open. Anyway, my blood pressure was really high, so I ended up staying in the recovery room for about three hours. My mother was going crazy, etc. My surgery itself was only an hour and a half. After my BP came down somewhat, they took me up to my hospital room/suite. It was really nice. Private, with a recliner and sofa that your loved ones could sleep on if they want to. I was fixed with a pain pump, and I slept a lot that first night. I was, however, up and ambulating down the halls within four hours of hitting the room. Overall my pain was well-controlled and I only felt pain when I had to get myself out of bed, etc. The worst part was not being able to have any type of Water. My throat was soooooo dry. The next morning I had a barium swallow to check for leaks and I was fine. That night I began running a low-grade fever (99.6), but my doctor nor my nurses were concerned about that. I was told it was due to the gunk in my lungs due to being put under. My temp was down later on my second day, and I do have a small low-grade fever now, but we'll see how it goes. My catheter was removed in the middle of Day 2 because I was getting up out of bed really well. This morning I was told I could go home. I have a stack of prescriptions and I"ve managed to get down one Protein shake. I still don't know how to drink those (how fast?), but I'm figuring it out. I'm a wee more sore today, but I'm sure it'll get better.

Well, I am home from the hospital after a successful band to sleeve revision. I had to be at the hospital by 6:45 am, and I was taken back to the pre-op area in about 30 minutes. After having a brief convo with my surgeon and anesthesiologist, I was put into my hospital smock and off I went to the ER. They moved me onto the table and that's pretty much all I remember. I woke up in the recovery room. I remember having a hard time keeping my eyelids open. Anyway, my blood pressure was really high, so I ended up staying in the recovery room for about three hours. My mother was going crazy, etc. My surgery itself was only an hour and a half. After my BP came down somewhat, they took me up to my hospital room/suite. It was really nice. Private, with a recliner and sofa that your loved ones could sleep on if they want to. I was fixed with a pain pump, and I slept a lot that first night. I was, however, up and ambulating down the halls within four hours of hitting the room. Overall my pain was well-controlled and I only felt pain when I had to get myself out of bed, etc. The worst part was not being able to have any type of Water. My throat was soooooo dry. The next morning I had a barium swallow to check for leaks and I was fine. That night I began running a low-grade fever (99.6), but my doctor nor my nurses were concerned about that. I was told it was due to the gunk in my lungs due to being put under. My temp was down later on my second day, and I do have a small low-grade fever now, but we'll see how it goes. My catheter was removed in the middle of Day 2 because I was getting up out of bed really well. This morning I was told I could go home. I have a stack of prescriptions and I"ve managed to get down one Protein shake. I still don't know how to drink those (how fast?), but I'm figuring it out. I'm a wee more sore today, but I'm sure it'll get better.

I'd thin it with skim milk or fat-free sour cream if you can handle dairy. You could also use chicken broth. Another option is to buy the "instant" mashed potatoes and then just use extra Water.

150,000 Americans cross the border into Mexico for travel, tourism and business every single day. Of course you want to use caution and be smart, but honestly, the chances of anything happening to you in Tijuana are pretty slim.

Well, I think this was a success. Although it would have been great if you had been able to walk away, at least you were able to eat less than a full strip. That's less than 130 calories. How many strips would you have eaten if you hadn't had the sleeve? So, you take the lesson and try to do better next time.

Splenda and pumpkin pie spice is pretty good.

I'm glad you're feeling better. I had to have an IVC filter put in last week, and having that surgery has sooooo relaxed me for this one. Granted, that was a quick, easy procedure and the VSG is major surgery, but just going through the entire pre-op, being in the operating room, waking up, etc. has helped me because I feel like I've had a "dry run". lol. I'm sure I'll be plenty nervous the day of, but right now I'm sleeping great and feel pretty good about my outcome.

It's great to hear the various stories. Thanks for the well wishes.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but according to our nutritionist "full liquids" consist of things like milk, Protein shakes (the non-clear varieties), watered down cream of chicken Soup with all solids removed, etc. Yogurt and cream of wheat show up in the following stage for me. Every doctor is different, though.

I'm interested. How do we join? ETA: Oh I see the instructions above. Never mind.

Yeah, I'd tell them ASAP. No idea why you would wait until the last minute. I would imagine you wouldn't like that if you were the one hearing that an employee was leaving for an extended period with virtually zero notice. I am taking the day off before my surgery, but that's because I have my Mom coming in from out of town and I have to get my dog to the kennel, etc. I think I'll be taking two to three weeks off.

I was self-pay. I had my initial visit with the surgeon in March and I will be sleeved on May 22nd. It was about a month until I could get in for my psych eval (who knew psychologists were so busy...lol). A week after that I was able to pay and get my surgery date. Then I had all my other pre-op tests, etc. in this last month. Now I'm a week out.

It depends on your surgeon and what medical problems you have. I had a DVT ultrasound on my legs about a month before my procedure, then just bloodwork, chest X Ray and an EKG on the day of my pre op. I had already had a bunch of heart tests, including an EKG and a stress test about a year before, so they didn't need to do any additional heart tests on me, fortunately. The day of my surgery I know I will have a urine pregnancy test, because one of those has to be done within 24 hours of being put under. That should be it.