Sexiipisces77

I'm 4 days out and the 4th day seems to be the magic number day . The only real "problem" I had was the narcotic pain meds in hospital made me so nauseous that I didn't have an ounce of anything for the first 24 hours. once the dr. Switched the meds I went home and yes, uncomfortable and sore, your tummy is very bloated and keep in mind you've had surgery! . It did take me until today to be able to get fluids down without pain...it's not like it's pain that you (or at least me) cry about, you just feel it, wait a few mins and try again. I was struggling to get fluids down and then All of a sudden this afternoon it doesnt bother me at all anymore... I
I've slept good every night I've been home and I have taken the prescribed Tylenol with codine so I can sleep comfortably. I look forward to sleeping on my side soon . I also had a hernia repaired so not sure if that has anything to do with the delay in getting liquid down comfortably.
I think the biggest thing to remember is that it is surgery, there is going to be some pain/uncomfort or even things you haven't felt before. this is the first surgery I've ever had so a lot of unknowns for me. I've been very patient with myself and truly giving my body the rest it needs. . I hope you are able to do the same and have the best experience possible. Good luck!

Thank you everybody I have lost 40 pounds so far...40 more to go!!! Happy New Year to you all have a successful weight loss this year!!!

Hey you guys Im home and feeling great! This surgery was nothing like I expected. I can't believe I'm in no pain and I feel so great! No nausea after surgery. Was up and walking around the hospital after the first initial surgery day because I was so sleepy in and out. Just wanted to give you guys my status and update. Oh yeah I was.suppose to have my.surgery on the 27th but 28th is the day God had his own plans. I go by his anyday! Pain free in Tx
[ATTACH]7604[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]7604[/ATTACH]

Hi NVTammy,
I got mine done 12/27 and I'm feeling great already. I was so nervous too I cried a lot the night before and even on the operating table before I fell asleep. My doctor told me it was fine to back out even then but I'm so glad I didn't. I did have to get one shot in the stomach but they gave me the option to get in the back of my arm instead, it was a blood thinner. I walked a few hours after surgery and actually went home the same day so I had to make myself walk as much as possible. The worst part was first waking up and of course getting in and out of bed. On the other hand, I am feeling so much better after only two days so it IS worth it! Good luck to you!

Here are some more things I want you to know about if you are thinking about having WLS and you are having the “Sleeve.”

We have talked a little or a lot about “slimming or phlegming” In case you missed it, when you first start eating regular food you have to re-learn how to eat again and chew. With your new stomach you will need to take small tiny bites and chew until the food in your mouth is almost liquid like. This is nothing like what you had been doing your entire life. In the past you eat and talk and put big bite in your mouth along with a few chews and then swallowing—this will NO LONGER WORK FOR YOU. This is a very difficult thing to change. So with your new stomach and just having surgery you may experience slimming or Fleming. First you will feel like the food is stuck, then it comes back up in a clear liquid –your saliva. It isn’t vomit, so that is why it is called slimming or Fleming. It’s a wakeup call to slow down you eating and chew, and chew and chew some more. Just go to the bathroom or have a napkin ready for the slimming or Fleming if you are eating out. If you try to overeat—which is bad you may experience this too sometimes. For me it was always about not chewing enough.


What are some signs that you are full? At first I wasn’t sure, but sometimes I just got tired of all the chewing, so I stopped eating. I now get the hiccups or my noise will start to run when I am full. I know that other people have said they experienced this too.


It does take some time to retain yourself on how to eating and I know that the first month it is such a process just trying to get all the food in that you need to get in because of your new restrictions. In time it does get a lot easier. Some people actually mourn the loss of food, because you will NEVER EAT the quantity of food that we used to eat---YEAH that is how we are going to lose the fat and maintain that goal weight that we want to have for the rest of our lives.


If you think you are hungry and you are positive that you are having physical
symptoms of hunger this is YOUR OLD thinking brain playing those tricks we have talked about. You now have to start learning to educate this OLD brain into being your NEW thinking brain. Ask yourself do you just "want to eat" or do you really "need to eat" because it has been 3 or 4 hours since you have eaten anything. It is amazing what our brains can and will do to sabotage our way of thinking. You may be challenged by this OLD brains way of thinking for many years. For me I just have to have some self-talks with myself. We have an addiction to food. There is no way around avoiding food, so we need to find the set of skills that will allow us to change our lifestyle. I eat to live, I NO LONGER live to eat! Food is not my main focus in life.


I have seen so many times where people are going along and doing great with their weight loss. Then all of a sudden they are NOT losing anything—they panic—I did when it happened to me. We call these “Stalls.” We have stalled and are not losing anything. Most of the time you are eating all the same and correct things that you have in the past when you were losing weight. Our body just does this naturally--stalls. Mine lasted 9 days one time. This is really normal. I have a few suggestions. Use this site or something like it to track everything you are putting in your mouth. http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/ You might be surprised at what you are eating—that is why I say track it. Remember keep your total calories at 800 per day—if you exercise then you can eat more. This site will help you figure that out how much more you can it by what kind of exercise you did. You also need to make sure that you are not eating more than 20 carbs per day. No white or refined carbs. They should ONLY be whole grain carbs—not whole wheat, BUT Whole Grain carbs—do the best you can when it comes to carbs. If you are having problems with the weight loss you can kick up the amount of exercise you are doing too. The weight loss will start back up again, so don’t panic.


We all stumble and fall along the way, don’t beat yourself up over it. Move on and have a better day the next day.


Be aware that your friends and family may not be supportive of you having WLS. For your family, first they really may NOT understand it and they are scared for you. This is pretty normal. You have been on the Internet, and been educating yourself and doing a lot of reading—you know much more than they do about weight loss surgery and your choice is the sleeve. They have only heard the horror stories that the media puts out there or one of their uneducated family or friends have told them. Your friends are scared they may lose you as a friend because you are going to lose the weight and they will remain fat—yes I call it fat. I know there are a lot of politically correct terms to use, but if I can say I was fat you will one day too. Some of your friends will be jealous. My suggestion is that you can try to educate them some, but take your time and effort right now and use it for yourself. After you have had WLS and they see you are becoming healthy and you are alive and well they may come around. I want you to put yourself FIRST, for the very first time. If they are truly your friends they will be there when you are skinny.


The first month will be the hardest month you will have to do. You are changing everything about how you eat. I want you to keep saying to yourself that it is ONLY 30 days and I can do ANYTHING for 30 days. Once you start the 2nd month and can have regular food, it gets easier.


What do you do about getting smaller clothes? One of my adventures used to be to go to Resale clothing places and sell or trade my larger clothing to them, and then finding some smaller sizes. Just buy what you need to get by for a while until you need a smaller size. It was like a treasure hunt or an adventure for me. I found some places like Goodwill that had brand name label NEW clothing that the local stores gave them. I found some great deals at these places. So consider doing something like this or getting together with some of your friends and trading clothing. I also donated a lot of mine for a tax deduction to nonprofit organizations that give tax receipts—it is really great when it is tax time rolls around and I had all these deductions. I would make a list of everything I was going to donate and how much weight I had lost. I kept that all together in case the IRS asked why I gave away 20 some dress and 10 pair of pants, and 30 tops!


Make sure that you go see your Primary Care Doctor when you have had WLS if you have gone outside of the US for your surgery. I went to see my PCP before I went to let her know what I was doing—I wanted a doctor who would support me in my efforts. I had to do a bit of education and after she had time to read all of the information I left her, she was behind me all the way. She said come back in to see her after being home for 2 weeks and she would check me over and run a blood panel to see how I was doing. She did this every month for a while and started taking me of meds that I no longer needed. I did need to start taking potassium—mine was low after having WLS and I knew this when I left Dr. Aceves—they had run a blood panel after I had my “Sleeve surgery.” I loved the fact that my PCP took me off 4 of my other medications within 3months of me having WLS.


Exercise is important for you in a lot of ways. Walking and swimming are the ones that work best for me. I know that there have been a few people who said they did nothing. Walking helped me lose a little faster and was good cardio too. I try to walk at least 4 or 5 times a week. When I can I try to swim on the days I don’t walk. I know at first it is difficult to start to exercise, but walk around your home then, down the block a little. When the weather is bad—I live in Oregon and we have a lot of rain, we walk inside the Mall during those times. They open up the Mall at 6:00 am where I live, so you can start early. Buy a used treadmill and see if you like walking on it.

My last words of wisdom are the following
Saying yes means you will do something new, meet someone new most likely and make a difference in your life.
Be true to yourself. It is you, your authentic self, the one you were in the first grade, before you leaned to massage your personality into a form that would suit others.
Sometimes it is hard to hear the message because of all the external voices and they are so loud.
Voices that are loud are always meant to bully. DO NOT BE BULLIED.
So carry your courage in an easily accessible place. Be your OWN authentic person when it comes to Weight Loss Surgery. This is ALL about you and NO one else.
Last you don’t need the approval of the Bully. You know what is right for you, follow your heart and go for it.

I am always here if you want to ask me more questions, or I didn’t cover something that you are thinking about. I read my E-mail daily.
I know it is a BIG step to take and there are a lot of things to think about, you can and will be success.

I just left the hospital and was soooo freaking out the day before and the day of. Crying and nervous, sitting in front of the window writing down questions to ask the doc like, what happens in case of a needed transfusion, what is the complication rate, on and on!!! I think your mind plays tricks on you and all of the research and preparedness you have done seems to go out the window!!! I totally get it! As a matter of fact when I was rolled into the preop area I asked the nurse if it was too late to back out LOL She said "here here, this is some meds to help you relax" and off I went to la la land!! So I'm on the losers bench!! I have had no complications, a little bit of nausea and a little bit of gas pain but so far great!! I'm so glad I didn't back out but let me tell you it was a close one! I'm sure you will know when the time is right but don't think it doesn't happen to almost all of us! You will be fine =) I, and I know others on this forum ,will be praying for you to you to have a safe and fabulous journey!!! Get back on the saddle girl!!

Hello, I am 35 and started trying to get pregnant 1 1/2 year ago, before surgery. I started off weighing 326 lbs. I had my VSG on 4/29/2012. I am now 210lbs 8 months later and just found out today I am pregnant. Prior to starting, my dr have me the go ahead. All my labs are great and I feel healthy. I say you have you surgery and get healthy first because you risk yourself and babies life. Good luck

I just went to a class and registered at the hosptial and got a little freaked out when I found out I was going to have a drain put I . I have heard mixed feelings from people on youtube about it and I also heard not every doctor does it so I was hoping mine didnt. I was all over the place by the time I left.. im much better now ..still scared but im going to leave it in gods hands. Monday is the day.

Don't worry too much about it. It's normal to fear the unknown, but a few days post op when I was walking I was thinking to myself, "wow, I seriously wound myself up and I'm perfectly okay."
You'll do great!!!!

I'm still pre op so I don't have any advice to give only support and encouragement. I hear everyone say that this is what to expect at first. I'm so dreading this stage! But it's been proven that it too shall pass. I pray it gets better for you. I'll be in your shoes in 70 days, I'm lifting you up in spirit and praying for a swift recovery! sending hugs your way!

Got sleeved yesterday am!! In so happy to finally be posting in the post op section.

Congrads on your recent 'sleeves'!! My thoughts and prayers to you for a speedy recovery. I can't wait to be on the losers bench also!!

So I had my surgery today at noon. I'm sitting in the hospital recovery room. 5 small incisions & I'm on a liquid diet for 2 weeks. Overall, it wasn't too bad. A little bit of gas in my tummy from when they inflated it, but I have been walking & that helps A LOT. Anyone that is pre-op.. It wasn't that bad.. Pain is a 2-3/10. Well worth it. Today is the beginning of my new life!

Sorry I didn't do it sooner.
My only regret is the misconception I had about how life would be after surgery. Before surgery, I had a lot of 'last suppers' / 'food funerals' because I thought I would never be able to eat normally again. Instead, I have found that I can eat my favorite foods, but I do so in normal size portions.

Hi everyone I am ascooke's sister. Feeling very grateful to be feelin much better. I am still in the hospital but hoping later today will be the magical day my doctor says I can go. On Wednesday surgery they made it clear finding the scar tissue and cutting the bowel was very unusual and that indeed almost cost me my live. On Saturday another emergency arose when a bowel was found out of place! After Yesterday's emergency surgery I feel like a new person. Pain is under control. Appetite is non existent but I have a wonderful husband who makes sure I get in 4oz hourly all day and the focus is on protien. The sleeve side of things seems to be going great. The scar tissue and bowel would have been a problem in any case my abdeomen need to be acessed so I am not blaming the sleeve for that. This was just a fact of abnormality in my body which I pray is now fixed.
I would not discourage anyone from the sleeve as a matter of fact the only thing I would discourage is keeping it quiet that you are having surgey because now I have to explain what happen and I fear it will put a bad light on the surgery to some people who could really benefit from it.
Thanks for the prayers!

So.. I was sleeved on monday and Im feeling better everyday. Yesterday was TOUGH, but I slept through the night last night. I am having trouble getting in my fluids, but I am trying. I cant wait to feel good again. Tomorrow is a new day!

ready4it hi there, i can only imagine what a hard time you have been going through with you pending WLS - frustrating to hear one thing then a change, then.............hopefully this time will do it
all the waiting, and "annoyances" will be worth it - you'll find that out
having the sleeve has changed my life - my health and happiness
after 20 years, no more diabetes meds/insulin - no more blood pressure meds, no more CPAP
you'll gradually see the many benefits of WLS - hopefully this time will do it, i think 3rd time is a charm!!!!! How about saying "a charmed life?"
Here's to a brand new happy new year - starting DOS 1/10/13 - first day of the rest of your life
good luck

I was crying when they wheeled me into the operating room. I was so scared. And I made sure my surgeon knew. But I was also very excited. I'm 9 days out and it's been an interesting journey so far. Proves to me that i can do anything that I put my mind to.

I was TERRIFIED!
I knew I was gonna die on the table. Just knew it.
The morning of surgery everything moved so fast and my family was there I was back in the OR before I could think about panicking. Before they put my mask on I asked my nurse, Will, if he'd tell my family I loved them then I woke up in recovery making fun of my dad's age so they say.
Don't be too nervous! It's pretty easy.

Nov. 5th here too. I'm a little nervous just because of the fear of the unknown I suppose. I mean, you can read all about it and talk to people who've had it done but you really don't know just how it's going to affect YOU until it's been done. Mostly though I'm just excited and ready to get it over with so the healing can begin and I can start dropping this weight and actually participate in life again. I've wasted too many years being unhealthy and consequently have missed out on a lot of things in life but NO MORE!

Thank You Fiddeman!!!

I have had surgery twice where the surgeon put me under. Both times it went fine and the doctor's support team did everything to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. It is a very relaxing experience, but over in an instant. Coming out is a little like waking up slow ( which never happens to me). Before your eyes are open, the sounds of the recovery room start to become more and more audible, until yours eyes open slowly. You usually are not able to feel much because of the IV pain meds. I personally like the experience and must be the odd person out in that opinion. I put complete faith in the doctor and the team of medical professionals. Please be comfortable that the doctors are very good at what they do and will do everything to ensure your comfort.

I was more afraid of the anesthesia than the surgery so I understand. I made sure my surgeon knew my fears and he talked me through them. The anesthesiologist team was wonderful too. They gave me some of that "I don't care" in my IV before wheeling me to the OR and after that I only have random snap shots of being in the OR. Then like someone else said, they were waking me up. I felt like I had literally blinked.
They look at all those tests we take pre-op and make sure they are doing everything just right. You'll be fine hun!

When the time comes, you'll be ready to get this done!
Tell them you've never been put out before. They'll help you through it.
I was sleeved almost 2 weeks ago. They wheeled me in and had me move to the operating table. I asked why ORs are so cold. (Go ahead and make small talk- it keeps your mind off things) while I was asking the nurse a few questions, the anesthesiologist was hooking me up (he sat behind me- they usually do). Next thing I knew - I was done. And even now, I don't remember that part much. I could swear I dreamt while out but they say you don't. Maybe it was a weird little hallucination on my part while waking up.
You'll do great. The anesthesiologist is your best friend. They do this all the time. You'll meet yours before surgery. Go ahead and tell yours that this is your first time out too.

Being put to sleep is scary for anybody. You are not in control and that is a scary thing. I do have to say though that anesthesiologists have had numerous years of training and know what they are doing to keep you safe.
You won't even know you went to sleep when you wake up!
Don't let this fear deter you from this decision that will change your whole life. Think about how many surgeries happen everyday and the percentage of problems. It very very low, something like 0.01%.