minimii

It's my birthday! I made it to 26, and the morning of my emergency surgery and even the day after they weren't sure that would happen. I've been home over a week and while I went through some rough morphine withdrawals and thrush, I'm doing ok. Came home on full liquids and tonight (I keep weird shifts with my fiancé) I had some mostly puréed chicken salad. Or life cycle salad since I added an egg to up the Protein I had 2oz and while it feels totally different it isn't making me sick and I have more energy right now than I have since the day before my first surgery. Not that I'm running a marathon or even walking the block quickly but I can shower by myself, and make my own meals.
I will say I almost went to the ER a few days ago for HORRIBLE pain in my drain site. I called my surgeon and while I was laying down with an ice pack he called back. I felt much better, stood up to read him my intake journal, and realized I was soaking wet. I though my ice pack burst. It was my drain, the pain I had was a softball size mass of Fluid that had collected internally but managed to find my old drain tract and started making its way out. Surgeon said this is good. Now if it stops draining and my fever doesn't go down I need to call him but as long as there's some discharge my fever stays gone. It stopped a coule hours last night and my fever spiked to 102.5. Placed a warm compress and no problem sense. It's gross, but part of the process.
I have my first follow up on Tuesday. (I was in the hospital before I even made my first post-op appointment.)
Thank you EVERYONE for EVERY thought and prayer. It's so hard to explain how much that kept me going. Even at my worst, I read. I couldn't respond but I promise I read, I even teared up early on (when the NG had taken my voice away) that was fun to try and mime
Hope everyone's new year was fabulous and is still great. I've never been so grateful for a birthday. And if you wanna share your "staple" soft/mushy recipes I'd much appreciate it

They also work with egg beaters.
I used 4 eggs, beat them with cheese and miss dash. In a skillet heated up onions and turkey sausage crumbles, ham for my son. Heated oven to 350, poured egg into muffin tray (used pam butter spray to help them not stick) then spooned the skillet mixture into the cups. This way I didn't get ham and he didn't get my onions lol. Then stirred each muffin cup to mix it but and baked it for 20mins.

I got my bloodwork results today. I'm 4 months postop. My Rheumatoid Arthritis is officially in remission. This is an absolute shock to me, my PCP, my SUR and my Rheumatologist. It is extremely rare to go into remission when one has a full blown case of RA like I do (did?) I am going to ride this wave while it lasts!! In the meantime, I've given the docs permission to use me as a case study, because apparently my case is fascinating!! LOVE my sleeve!!!

WELL... as of this morning I was able to secure a December date with another doctor (Sheilendra Suresh Mehta, M.D.) he works with now my old doctor (Erik B. Wilson, M.D.). As a matter of fact I met him before I met with Dr. Wilson – what a strange twist of fate. Now I just need to steady my nerves and take it one day at a time. I know God is in control and everything works just the way He planned, not as I planned...
THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUGGESTIONS, YOU GUYS ROCK :wub:

WELL... as of this morning I was able to secure a December date with another doctor (Sheilendra Suresh Mehta, M.D.) he works with now my old doctor (Erik B. Wilson, M.D.). As a matter of fact I met him before I met with Dr. Wilson – what a strange twist of fate. Now I just need to steady my nerves and take it one day at a time. I know God is in control and everything works just the way He planned, not as I planned...
THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUGGESTIONS, YOU GUYS ROCK :wub:

WELL... as of this morning I was able to secure a December date with another doctor (Sheilendra Suresh Mehta, M.D.) he works with now my old doctor (Erik B. Wilson, M.D.). As a matter of fact I met him before I met with Dr. Wilson – what a strange twist of fate. Now I just need to steady my nerves and take it one day at a time. I know God is in control and everything works just the way He planned, not as I planned...
THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUGGESTIONS, YOU GUYS ROCK :wub:

Good luck

Headed to the hospital, time to get sleeved

Good Luck!!

well, tomorrow is my surgery day @ 7:30 am. I'm first up for my doc, I'm so EXCITED! I can't believe the day has finally come. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME, I'm scared to death but oh so ready to be on the post op side of this forum

Congratulations and good luck. It's great being on the looser's bench.

1 package fat free cream cheese
1 package taco seasoning
1 can chicken breast
1 can rotella
1 can drained chili Beans
Great crockpot meal with lots of Protein and freezes great too! Enjoy!

http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/556857-20-delicious-protein-powder-recipes-that-are-not-shakes/#slide-21
Saw this and thought they were neat ideas. Although they don't have calories, etc. listed I'm sure they can be tweaked some.

Despite being in the hospital and the blizzard warning, I've had a pretty great Christmas. Last night was my last bag of TPN, I can have all the Water I want, and I had Tomato Soup for lunch! My family brought presents and we opened them here in my room. I managed to make gifts for everyone while I was here, too. I'll try and get pictures up when my phone stops being finicky. Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes! Happy Christmas!!!!

Hi everybody,
Sorry I haven't updated until now but I had a rough couple of days with nausea, which they finally got under control once they found the right drug combinations. I'm finally home and doing well. I'm sitting here sipping warm black coffee -- I have never liked black coffee but at this point I'll take it.
So I'll recap my experiences so the newbies can get an idea of what to expect.
Thursday 12/20... 1 day before S-Day). Only Clear Liquids this day and let me tell you, I was starving by the time the evening came around. I just kept eating sugar free Jello cups. I had a lot of friends calling to wish me well and ask it I was nervous. Believe it or not, I was totally at peace. I can't explain it but I was not nervous at all. Once midnight came it was nothing by mouth. I stayed up all night cleaning the house - I wanted to come home to a really clean house so that I didn't have to worry about it for a while once I got home. Also we have friends coming to stay with us for Christmas and of course I want the house clean! It worked out well because it kept me occupied. I took a shower at about 4 am with Hibiclens, then it was time to get dressed, wake up the hubby and head to the hospital ...we have to be there at 6am.
Friday 12/21.... S(sleeve)-Day!!! 615am We are at the hospital and waiting to be called back. There are a few people in the waiting who look like they are relatives of patients...Ok, about 7am they called to "come on back"! I kiss the hubby goodbye and they bring me to a room, hand me a big plastic back and tell me to take everything off and put the gown on. The gown is HUGE --- and can't get it to stay on my shoulders. The nurse then takes me to the pre-op room and I get in bed. They called Jay (hubby) so he can come sit with me until I go to surgery. The two anesthesiologists that I'd already met came in to talk to me and both were great. They told me they knew I was concerned about nausea and they would do everything they could to minimize it. Then they tell Dr; Lavin is running ahead of schedule and I would be next and it would only be about 10 minutes before they start! WOW. That was quick!! From that point on everything moves fast. They put my IV in (easy easy) and next thing I know they are wheeling me to the OR. I kissed the hubby goodbye and yelled down the hall that "if I die take care of our cats" , to which the hubby yelled back "we have DOGS dummy" LOL.... SO, now I am in the OR. They switch me to the OR bed and get me situated-- they put a mask over my face and then it was lights out immediately. It is amazing how quick it works. My last conscious thought was them putting them on the mask and me thinking, it smelled sweet. LIGHTS OUT!
The next thing I vaguely remember is being wheeled out and to my room -- I was extremely nauseous and had to pee very badly. I get to the room and all I can think about is PEEING, although I'm not fully awake. They want me to wait. I say I cannot wait -- the want me to use a bed pan, I say no way, just let me get up to pee. The nurse relents and they help me out of the bed. I was totally unstable and so hubby and 2 aggravated nurses guide me to the bathroom.
My nausea is awful and I have pain in my chest and shoulders-- which I knew to expect because of VST! It's the gas they pump you up with --- it goes everywhere. I have no pain in my stomach or my incisions ( I have 5 incisions). I battle nausea for hours-- they give different meds abut nothing helps. They finally find the right combination of drugs.... Reglan, Levsin and Zofran. Thank God!! I slept for a little-- then it was time get up and pee. That scenario went on all night....because they were giving me fluids I had to get up to pee every half hour or so. And every time I had to climb out of the bed and maneuver the IV pole, pee, maneuver back to bed, then try to climb in bed without killing myself! I think I probably did that 20 times. They have me sucking on ice chips and trying to drink a little, which goes good. I am able to sip and suck on ice with no difficulty. . In the middle of night I got up and Jay ( he stayed the whole night with me) and I walked around the entire floor. Then they bring me more liquid Lortab which helps the soreness so much!! It's is great.
Saturday 12/22....1 day post-S(sleeve)
All my nurses were awesome. A couple of my nurses had actually had the Sleeve done by Dr. Lavin, which is cool because they were able to give lots of advice and perspective. I walk around a little but the IV pole drives me crazy. They want me to eat a Popsicle and Crystal Light, which again, goes down fine. I finished the entire Popsicle and was able to sip the Crystal Light. All I want now is to go home and sleep since I haven't actually sleep since Wednesday. The nurse tells me that I should be able to go home but they've got to wait until Dr. Lavin gives the ok. I'm still connected to the IV which means I am still peeing constantly. I am soooo ready to go home.
Finally the nurse comes in and says Lavin gave the ok. Yea!!! It will take a little while though because the nurses have to get the discharge papers together. I get dressed (which feels great to be out of that gown ) About an hour later the nurse comes in and goes over instructions, medications....etc. I sign my discharge papers and it's jailbreak time!!! I hug my nurse, thank everybody and we're off for home to see our fur babies (3 little dogs) that we adore.
We get home, play with our dogs a little and I make some chicken broth, which goes down well. I am not hungry but do wish I could eat something-- head hunger. It sucks.. I am extremely sore all over. It's the kind of soreness that feels like the day after you've exercised hard and you're out shape. Or like if you have the flu and you cough so much that everything hurts. I take some liquid Lortab , lay down and sleep, sleep, sleep with my 3 fur babies next to me. I wake up late in the evening, make some chicken broth, eat a Sugar Free Popsicle and a sugar free Fudgesicle. I walk around the house a little bit and go back to sleep.
Sunday 12/22 2 Days Post-S
I wake up and feel so much better today! It's a big difference and now I know what the sleeve veterans mean when they say every day gets better. It's true.
I'm sitting here watching the Saints game ( we're season tickets holders and are crazy about our Saints) and sipping black coffee and taking my medication one pill at a time. I have had no problem with sipping warm or cold liquids, although plain Water does not go down as easy. I ate a cup of Jello and feel good. So that's it!! I'm officially on the "other side" and it feels good!
Good luck to all of you pending Sleevers!!
~Dana

I usually eat all of Santa's Cookies. This is the first year I have ever thrown them in the garbage! Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Here is the run down. I never thought I would get a leak, well I was wrong. I got a leak, but the good news is it wasn't so bad. Just a little scary... All this new stuff happening and going on.
No fever
No body aches
No pain meds
No nausea
Two stents, for 6 weeks
I am on 3 strong antibiotics and they are working
I learned I am allergic to the contrast used for the swallow study. yikes!!
6 nights in the hospital so far
I have receive/d the best care- everyone is prompt and compassionate
I will go home on home health service for antibiotic IV antibiotic treatment for a few weeks.
The goal is for me to be home before the holiday
Thank to those who have posted positive and heartfelt messages. It has been these very words that get me thru. I am optimistic I will be fine, but to know I have the support of so many others is truly amazing. Thank you kindly for your messages. I appreciate them a great deal.
I will keep you posted as I progress and get to leave the hospital.
Best,
Sannah

i cant believe that today marks a yearsince i changed my life. wow!
i walked in that hospital as one person & rolled out in a wheel chair as another!
i went thru hell & back to get where i am but i am so glad that i made it!
i started at 273lbs. im now 142lbs!
thank you for all the love & support everyone!

7 days till sleeve, 7 days to a new me

7 days till sleeve, 7 days to a new me

7 days till sleeve, 7 days to a new me

after 100 lb weight loss, I wanted new picture for drivers license
talked to clerk about my wt loss and WLS - he told me he had gastric bypass 5 years ago (small world)- and except for about 5-10 lbs he sometimes teeters with, he's doing great (water, Protein et al - doing terrific) - he lost 170 lbs and he looked great
even though clerk didn't have the sleeve, its nice to see someone "long term" post WLS - continue to be successful
i have heard some people do gain all their weight back, i guess that can happen to any of us (not to me of course!!! )
he called other clerk over, showed my old license to her - they both couldn't believe it was me!!!
If i do say so myself ( and I do!!!) my new picture is pretty darn good - all modesty aside i DO look great - feel great too

Yep. I ate every favorite food I could think of while I was quitting tobacco. Then I went on the pre-op diet and never looked back. Funny thing was I would catch myself watching Man vs. Food while I was recovering from surgery. My wife could not believe it. I told her I was living vicariously through the host!! :-)

That's my date too! I've really learned a lot from this site and am starting my preop diet Tuesday. Good luck to you.