Freja

I am with you! I am not intrested so much in the numbers. I love the way I feel and the way clothes fit. I stepped on the scale after surgery and I was up but it was while I was in the hospital and it was from the IV fluids. I was devistated and even though they told me to expect it I was still upset. Not to mention my feet' date=' hands and face were swollen so I should have known my weight would be up. But at my 9 days post op I lost it all then some.

I will wait and use other indicators to track my weight loss, I know as long as I follow the plan I will lose.

How far our are you? I am 13 days post op.[/quote']

Hey there,

I'm 11 days out. Working out the rules between my new tummy and me. Rule number 1-eat very slowly. LOL. I made a list of goals/rewards based on clothes size. I'll leave the weight stuff to my doctor. Do you have any mushy tasty Protein meals? I've done refrained Beans, tuna, and crab.

Hey Fellow Sleevers,

After reading the thread, I refuse to step on a scale. I'm determined to wait until my scheduled doctor's appointments. I'm sticking to my routine: Protein Shake for Breakfast, Protein pack meal for lunch and dinner, lots of Water, with 45 min, 4 days a week of aerobic work out, I've returned to work and I feel pretty good. My clothes are my barometer for me. They are fitting a little looser and that makes me very happy. I'll find out my weight in a month. I'm just thrilled to be on the journey.

Congratulations! Feel better!

Hello November sleevers!! Surgery in the morning... wish me luck.

Good luck! You will be fine. Initially, upon waking, I was in PAIN. The kind that makes me want to cry. By the time I was wheeled into my room, I felt a little better. My body has been improving daily. My thoughts...

1. Don't be afraid to use your pain pump.

2. Sip as much Water as you can. You do not want to dehydrate. However, still sip. Gas is very uncomfortable and gulping water is one way air can get in.

3. Walk, walk, then walk some more. Walking help me with gas, anesthesia hang-over and loosening up sore muscles.

I had buyers remorse for about 12 hours. Now, I am thrilled with it. Trying to name it.

Finally, get plenty of rest to allow the body to heal. Burping and farting are good things. Do it! You'll feel so much better.

It was pretty straightforward. I reported, they prepped me and gave me happy juice. When I woke up, I was in a lot of pain. Within 6 hours, it began to subsides. I'm scheduled for the leak test in the morning. Thank you for the real life experiences. That really helped me and kept my anxiety down. That and the support of my family, friends and the people on VST. Gong back to slieepnowZp

I'm sleeved. I'm reporting to the losers b***h move pain Handl

It's gonna be fine ladies and any gents preparing for surgery this week. I'm a week post-op tomorrow and the difference in just a week is like night and day. Follow the rules. Get up and walk as soon as you can. Even if its just to the bathroom to brush your teeth. Do it. Makes walking easier later. Hold a pillow against your abdomen if you have to cough or move' date=' especially when standing up. Put the foot of your bed as low as possible, your head up high, swing your feet over the side, then use your elbow to push yourself up so that you're sitting on the side of the bed. And don't forget to breathe. Lol. Then rock back and forth, count to three, on three exhale as you stand up. And just stand...get your bearings before you move. Keep hold of that pillow when you try to stand....your incisions will hurt just moving, standing, etc. that helps the pain and helps you feel in control for some reason. And use your spirometer and do your breathing treatments. And just deep breathe, cuz that helps you get the anesthesia from your system.

Most of all...use your morphine pump. I did and its what got me the rest I needed.[/quote']

Thanks. That's great advice!

The hospital called me today and I have to be there at 8:30am. I am not really nervous' date=' more excited! I'm sick to death of this pre op diet and ready to move on to the next phase of my life![/quote']

I'm excited for you. You'll be fine. Just think healthy. Hope to hear from you soon. I'm the next day and totally agree-blah, pre op diet. We'll be reporting to the losers bench.

I have the same problem. My stomach gurgled so loud earlier that my daughter thought I farted! I also run to the bathroom all the time. I think it sticks around until surgery

I stop consuming milk Protein and I feel much better. Try that. We're almost there. New body, here we come!

Freja' date=' are you drinking Protein Shakes that contain lactose? I was at first and that was what was doing a number on my stomach ... I am over 2 weeks post op and I am so sick of Protein shakes and I have been avoiding lactose as much as possible bc pre op I was already iffy with the lactose and post op it is worse.Just wondering if this could be your issue?[/quote']

The lactose knowledge was right on time. Feeling much better! Thank you! 2 days to go!

Freja' date=' I'm sorry to say I just had to suck it up on pre-op. My stomach was a mess and so unhappy. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> The last two days, I think I just drank Water, because I was soooooo over Protein Shakes. They were making me gag at that point![/quote']

Well sucking it up, I am. I have a question and I hope it's not too personal. How long did it take for your bowels to return to normal duty? I asked because this is really sucky! I'm scared to travel too far from my bathroom.

Ok. I need some input. I'm on The pre-op liquid diet. The problem is I seem to have a lot of gurgling going on in my stomach. It is a lot of air and I don't know what I can do about it. I won't even start talking about the bathroom visits. Any suggestions on how to alleviate this problem?

I'm 4 days post op and last night was the first night that I pretty much slept through the night. I woke up once at like 4 but I did sleep from 9-6:15. It's hard to sleep but it's getting more manageable. The best advice I can give is ride it out as best as you can. Ad if you haven't pooped yet...try Smooth Move tea. Omg it was a Godsend! That is a huge part of the battle with the gas. Get that flowing and it goes a long way towards helping you feel so much better.

Where can I get this tea?

I completely understand. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I hope it gets better for you. It helps me to stand and drink then walk around. It WILL GET BETTER!

Great advice! Stand, drink, then walk.

Lol...pardon my french...but this sh*t sucks...im grinding thru watching everyone else eat Thanksgiving dinner...im holdin out...and im surprised how easy it is actually...but everything smells great...stay tuff everybody...my surgery is this tuesday the 27th...

I am so there with you. Made it through dinner. The food smelled delicious, but it didn't bother me as much as i thought it would. I really enjoyed talking and laughing with my family. Relaxing with fam watching the game, now. Then we are going to get the tree and shopping.

Wednesday is my day and I feel so fortunate to have found this site. I feel more confident because of the information I gained here. It's good to have people who have gone through it talk to you about it. Thank you and happy holidays!

I just completed day 1 of the preop diet. I'm hungry and have a headache. I'm keep telling myself I'm in the homestretch. My NUT said this would be the hardest part of the journey. I certainly hope so. chicken broth isn't so bad, but too much of a good thing is still too much.

Just attended my nutrition class and got my pre-op diet food. Surgery is next Monday' date=' so only one week pre-op. Doc has me on post op plan of 1week clear liquids, 3 weeks purée and 8 weeks soft. I'm excited to get this journey started![/quote']

I know the feeling. I have an appointment today to get the specifics of my preop diet. I start tomorrow.

Worried that something will go wrong like having a leak or something. Excited and scared.

Off to hospital this morning...I am ready...next time I post I will be sleeved

Good for you! This is the first day of the rest of your life!

Hello all! I was sleeved yesterday. I am home and feeling fine. It was almost easy. Well' date=' at least compared to what I thought it would be. The hardest part was trying to get some sleep in the hospital. I am tender and sore and a bit tired. But I feel strong and confident. I am happy to be in my quiet home. Thanks to all for your suppot. And, hey there sleevers to be, QUIT WORRYING!! Unless you use that emotion to clean. It was great walking into a clean, quiet house. Seriously, don't worry. Goodnight all.[/quote']

That's just what I needed to hear! Feeling like I have major changes coming in more ways than one. So this weekend, I'll clean. ☺

My approval came today! I'm waiting to get my final directions from my doctor. Mixed feelings and I don't know why.

Yay good luck are you on an all liquid diet?

Yes. I'm wondering how that will work.

Hey everyone. I am new here. I am getting sleeved on November 28 in Jacksonville FL. I started the process at the end of may. I'm currently starting my pre-op diet tomorrow which seems to be a bit different than most I've read about (high protein' date=' non starchy veggies and no carbs etc then liquids 24 hrs before)

Anyone else close that could be my 'sleeve buddy'[/quote']

I am scheduled for the same day. However, not scheduled to start my diet for a week. I am excited and nervous at the same time, but I want this. I'm ready to be healthy!

Omg! I didn't think November would ever get here but now with just two weeks to go I think I'm getting scared! : /

Someone on this site quoted Bill Cosby..."you have to decide you want it more than you are afraid of it.". That has become my mantra about everything...my career change, my moving and my choice to become a healthier me. I want those things more than I'm afraid of the change. Let's go November Sleevers. We're up!

Hello November Sleevsters' date='

I'm a late OctoSleeever less than one week out and I thought that you guys might want to hear some of the details of what "little things" to expect as surgery day approaches. I remember how I was constantly flipping between excitement and nervousness as my day approached. Fortunately with this site and my doc's office I felt I was fully informed as I could be, but still, there was much "unknown." I'm posting this on two different Nov Sleever threads I have seen so sorry in advance for the repeat.

Obviously bear in mind each doc and facility is different, and each person's circumstances are different, but you all already know that!

First: my personal stats: mid-30's male, borderline diabetic, sleep apnea, hypertension, very high BMI (59 at highest weight)

Pre-op: No specific liquid diet other than days pre-op clear liquid only, NPO after midnight night before surgery. But my doc required 5% weight loss pre-op, and NUT recommended min 2 weeks of high protein/lo-carb diet consisting of 2 protien shakes a day, one 4-6 oz lean Protein meat dinner with some veggies, and "healthy" snacking (greek yogurt, cottage cheese/string cheese, tuna, etc)

Day before surgery: Pre-op hospital check in with administration (ID card, insurance, any pre-payment if needed, etc), and Nurse (review medical history, meds, allergies, planned post-op care, weigh-in).

Day of surgery: Check-in pre-op 2 hours before surgery, led back to a curtained bay where I was instructed to "take it all off" and put on hospital gown, compression stockings, and non-skid socks. Instructed to use the bathroom to empty bladder, met briefly with surgeon and anesthesiologist, nurse took vitals, started IV, administered a heparin shot in my belly, and placed a scopolamine patch (for nausea) behind my ear and administered an anti-nausea med Iv as well (either phenergan or reglan I think), and also an oral zantac for acid reduction. I waited in the bay on the gurney watching TV for about an hour as all this was going on, and then they came to wheel me back to the OR. I slid over to the OR table and they put some warm blankets on me. The anesthsiologist gave me some "happy juice" through the IV and I really think I was out in less than 10 seconds.

When I woke up in recovery all I felt was extreme pain all across my abdomen and rising up to my ribcage. I'm pretty sure I heard someone say "Dilaudid." The next thing I really remember I was already in my room. It was about 4 hours after my surgery start time. A nurse was standing over me and I felt I could barely talk because of extreme dry mouth and dry/sore throat, but I was extremely nauseous and in pain. They gave me Dilaudid for the pain, Phenergan and Zofran for the nausea, and some glycerine swabsticks for my lips and mouth. For the next three hours I was in and out of sleep, waking up only by the gas pressure/bloating. That was really the worst part, the extreme sense of fullness/pressure in my abdomen.

The surgeon visited with me that afternoon and told me it went well, that he also removed my gallbladder because it showed a lot of scarring (I already had known gallstones and this was a possibility going in), and told me he did not visualize any hiatal hernia or ulcers. I had four little wounds for the ports, the largest of which was at my belly button and barely visible. No sutures or staples, as all were closed with Dermabond (surgical glue).

Finally around 5 pm (surgery was 9 am) I got up to walk around the nursing unit with a nurse's aide, used the restroom (they measured all urine output - my first was 600 cc which they said was good enough. I did that two more times that night, about 8 laps total. I was told that walking was the best way to relieve the gas pressure. They wouldn;t allow Gas-X strips that first day.

The next morning they gave me a tray of clear liquid to try after the PA came around to visit me. broth, Water, tea, and crystal lite with Juven mixed in. I really couldn't tolerate even two sips due to the ridiculous pressure I felt it placed in my stomach. I felt SOOOOO Full. I did many walks that day and they tried several different anit-nausea meds. I didn;t really ask for any pain meds because it was not that kind of pain, just extreme fullness. Finally after my doc saw me they gave me Decadron by IV, and within a couple of hours I was starting to feel better. But by that time it was late evening and they had decided to keep me an extra night because I couldn;t tolerate the liquids. The next AM I was able to tolerate about 4 oz of fluids and they allowed me to be discharged. FYI no "leak test" performed -- I know docs vary on this nationwide.

Meds at discharge, in addition to the multivit, Calcium, and Iron, was liquid Lortab for pain. I've only used it once. It makes me groggy and really doesn;t help the bloating/gas pain, which is the only pain I really had. I declined any nausea med.

Things I brought to hospital and used: Toothbrush/paste (which also made me dry heave after gargling the first 2-3 times), Gas-X strips, iPhone, deodorant, change of underwear/socks.

Things I brought but didn't use: cell charger, biotene rinse, cepacol throat spray, house slippers, headphones, a book, robe.

Post-op course so far: No complications, just getting fluids in is the hardest thing. Combined with the diarrhea (sorry), risk of dehydration is greater. Doc recommended at least 64 oz Fluid and 60-70 grams protein. First day home (post-op day two), I only got in about 6 oz (plus the leftover IV in the hospital), next day 14 oz, next day 28 oz, and yesterday 36 oz. I have to force myself to keep sipping and keep walking, but every day is getting a little better. I have no hunger whatsoever. I drove post-op day 4 for the first time (since I wasn;t taking pain meds), just to the pharmacy and back to get a liquid calcium since the chewable I had was making me nauseous. Showering was fine as soon as I got home, just told no soaking in a tub and pat the wounds dry. No creams or lotions on the wounds for at least a week.

Fist post-op visit is next week, but had post-op phone call with the nurse already. Full liquids only until post-op check. I'm off work for two weeks.

Hope that helps some. Sorry it was so long. Good luck to all of you!!!![/quote']

Thanks. That was awesome information.

I love your attitude. Your excitement is contagious. Now I'm thinking about names for my sleeve. ????