icon23

I was given antibiotics when I was discharged from the hospital and I took them twice a day for 10 days with no problems.

So glad to hear you're still doing well.15.5 is amazing. That is the first I have heard about gaining weight in the hospital. I'm so confused. I don't know why I haven't read that until this point. What causes that much gain in the hospital?

IV fluids. I bet if you do a search for it, you'll find more threads where people talk about gaining weight in the hospital--that's how I found out about it, so I expected to gain weight in the hospital.

I have used the Unjury unflavored and chicken Soup and I like both. I have tried 6 different flavors of Isopure and they're pretty gross.

Does the marriot have microwaves?

There was no microwave in either of the rooms I stayed in, but I was informed that the kitchen would warm up food for me if I needed them to.

So glad to hear Icon! How are your recovering? Are you on pureed foods yet? I am doing well. Just had my six week follow-up. Everything is going well and I am super happy with my results. Keep up the good work!

Recovering nicely--no complaints! I am just transitioning to pureed foods and I'm SO happy for it--was getting a little sick of Soup (and strained Soup, at that).

I'm doing great! My surgery was 10 days ago and I've lost 15.5# since getting out of the hospital 8 days ago!

How much have you lost do far and what's your typical daily diet. I'm going real slow and thinking that I'm doing wrong.

I have lost 15.5# so far, which includes the 9# I put on in the hospital, so I'm just starting to get below my pre-op weight. Like I said, today was the first big jump I saw on the scale and that's 10 days after surgery (8 days out of the hospital and off the IV fluids). I was starting to be scared that I wasn't ever going to lose, but it is my understanding that the weight loss picks up after you lose the hospital weight, so we'll see--so far, so good.

As for my daily diet, I'm technically still in the full liquids stage, but I have honestly been adding in a few pureed foods (a few days early) over the past couple of days because 1) I was desperate to chew something, 2) I knew my sleeve could handle it, and 3) I wanted to make sure that I would indeed be able to feel a full feeling (which I didn't on Clear Liquids at all and only sort of did on thicker, creamy liquids--I have since had it explained to me why this is). Yesterday I had a Protein shake for Breakfast, 4 oz. of pureed yellow lentils for lunch, and 3 oz. of pureed shrimp for dinner and the day before, I had a Protein Shake for Breakfast, 4 oz. of strained cream of potato Soup with 1/2 scoop of plain unjury powder for lunch, and 3 oz. of pureed Great Northern Beans for dinner. I also usually get in at least 40 oz. of Water (with Crystal Light) and I'm trying to increase it since I am moving to purees and won't have as many other fluids to help get me to 64 oz. of fluids/day.

Icon how r u feeling?

I feel great, thanks for asking! The cold is pretty much gone and I lost 5.5 pounds since yesterday (according to the scale), which is the first big jump I have noticed on the scale since surgery. Also, I told 3 friends about my surgery on Friday night and they were super supportive, so that felt good.

Turns out I lost 5.5# since yesterday, so make that 15.5# lost since the hospital

Let us know what name you pick! And it doesn't have to be a girl's name. A gal on youtube named her sleeve Franklin. She said it was just like a man. LOL!

I decided to go with Bernice because it means "one who brings victory". So far, Bernice is living up to her name

I'm 10 days post-op, but only 8 days out of the hospital (and therefore off of the IV fluids), and I have lost the 9 pounds I put on in the hospital plus 1 more pound. So, 10# in 8 days isn't bad, IMO, and it's my understanding that I'll start to see more drastic results now that the hospital weight is gone. I'm finally just about over the stupid cold I caught in the hospital and, otherwise, I feel great! Having no trouble getting in my fluids, Protein, and Vitamins. Transitioning to purees in a few days--very happy about that.

Thanks for asking, AmandaRae. How are you feeling?

How intense was the pain after the sleeve? I saw a youtube video of someone that compared it to a c-section. I've had two c-sections and hope its nothing like that. Of course, I won't be all hormonal and have to take care of a newborn. But still, I'm traveling alone and worried about how I'm going to be able to manage without my husband.

I have never had kids, so I don't know about that comparison, but it really does feel like you've done 1000 sit-ups and it gets better everyday. I had surgery on Thursday and didn't take any pain meds after Sunday. I travelled alone and I flew home Monday with no issues. I do recommend getting wheelchair service at the airports on the way home, though--you may feel a little fatigued or just not feel like walking through a large (or small) airport. Plus, it cuts down on wait time in security check line and boarding the plane.

Hopefully this works...trying to post my MX photos. The first bunch should be of the hotel room, then the hotel lobby, then the hospital room, then Dr. Ortiz, Eduardo (patient coordinator), and Abraham (driver).

Do you have insurance and/or a PCP? I am a grad student in Seattle and I have insurance, but it wouldn't cover surgery, so I went to MX. I am doing follow-up care (including seeing a therapist and a NUT) through the providers at school, which probably isn't helpful to you, but if you have insurance, you should check to see if they will cover your aftercare.

Sounds delicious and healthy!

My post-op instructions say not to lift more than 20 lbs, not 10. I have even seen another doctor's post-op instructions that allows lifting up to 30 lbs. I don't have a baby, but I do carry a backpack to school that definitely weighs over 10 lbs and I have had no pain or trouble. I was also lifting my suitcase in the hospital the same day of surgery, after surgery--I packed light, but it probably weighed over 10 lbs as well.

Congrats! I'm really glad to hear that this is going so well for you. I am a week post-op and I'm having no trouble getting in my liquids and Protein, but I haven't transitioned to pureed or actual foods yet. Everything has gone so smoothly so far, I certainly hope that I won't have any trouble with those transitions. I, too, am really happy with this decision and can't wait until I am able to start posting my NSVs and success stories. Now, I just have to think of a good name for my sleeve--you inspired me! Wishing you continued success.

Thanks for your help!

I just added a Before pic to the My Photos section, but for some reason, it shows sideways even though it was not taken sideways and shows the right way on my computer (not through VST). I was hoping to find a way to delete it, or even better, a way to rotate it, but these do not seem to be options. Can someone help with this?

Ok Thanks. Great to know. Can u tell me about the antibiotics or any other pills that you had or have to take? I am really worried about the size of some of the pill. I have always had a problem swallowing big pills. I have always taken chewable Vitamins and Calcium. I heard somebody post about how big the antibiotics were. I'm also worried about the pain medication. There is only one kind of pain medication that I can take that will not make me extremely ill and that is Demerol with a side of nausea medicine LOL. I hope u had somebody that was as good to u as u r 2 me about answering all your questions. I am truly grateful for you. So glad your cold is getting better.

In my opinion, the antibiotics aren't that big--about the size of a Tylenol caplet. There is no problem with it fitting in the sleeve, but I understand that you are saying that you have a problem swallowing pills. The pain medicine is an anti-inflammatory (Toradol is the American name), actually, and it worked much better for my pain than codeine, which I tried one day. The ones you are given to take with you are sublingual (dissolve under the tongue) and they're small.

How long did it take for you to cross the border bk to San Diego?

That's a good question and I'm not exactly sure because there was another patient in the van (who was there for another procedure) and we had to run some errands for her before we went to the border. Also, I tried to nap a little in the van because of my cold. Once you're actually in the line leading up to the border, though, there are lots of vendors trying to sell all sorts of goods and foods and it seemed like that part took at least 30 min.

Wow seems like you have had a great trip from start to finish. I am so very grateful for the great detail you give every time we talk/post. What is a PPI? How's your cold doing?

PPI stands for proton pump inhibitor and it is basically a class of medications, such as Prevacid, that prevent the release of acid in the stomach and intestines. They are recommended for many people for at least 3 months after WLS. You may have read lots of posts in the forums about people who feel like they're starving within a few days after surgery and many people reply that it's probably due to acid in the stomach and not hunger at all and that taking a PPI helps. I have been taking it since I got out of the hospital and I haven't really felt hungry at all since they allowed me fluids after surgery. I have had a little bit of head hunger--mainly wanting to chew something since I've been on liquids for so long, but it's been pretty minor and SF pudding seems to help.

My cold is better, but I'm definitely ready for it to be gone--thanks for asking.

So sorry to hear about your cold. I hope my surgery and recovery goes as well as yours has. How did the airport go. How did the assistance go at the airpor?. Where they there to help you?

I had already asked for wheelchair assistance for the flight home when I booked my ticket, so when I got to the airport in San Diego, I just told one of the outside check-in people for my airline that I had requested wheelchair service and he sent another person inside to get the wheelchair. It took just a minute. I needed my boarding pass, so he wheeled me up to the ticket counter first and that all went as normal, except she also asked if I was able to walk to my seat on the airplane by myself and I told her I was. Then, I got wheeled to the security check-in and that was kind of nice because I got wheeled past the long line of people up to the line for First Class people which only had 1 person in front of me. They asked me if I was able to stand for long enough to do the body scan, so I did that, but no one reminded me to take the liquids out of my bag, so after my stuff was x-rayed, the TSA people had to open my bag, take the liquids out, then x-ray my bag and the liquids again separately. By the way, in the bag of things that A Lighter Me gives you when you get out of the hospital that includes your antibiotics and pain meds, they also give you a 12 or 16 oz bottle of liquid medicine to settle your stomach (it's basically milk of magnesia), but since you're not allowed to bring a bottle of liquid that large on an airplane (you can if you check your bag, but not in a carry-on), I left it behind in the hotel. I had never opened that medicine because I went to a pharmacy and bought a PPI instead. After I got through the security check-in, I got wheeled to my gate and I tipped the guy that wheeled me through the airport $5. He left me in the wheelchair and I only had to wait less than 5 minutes before a woman who worked for the airline came up to me and asked if I was ready to board the plane--this was before they announced boarding for anybody. She wheeled me along the ramp that led up to the plane, then she asked me if I was okay to walk to my seat by myself, which I did--it was nice being the first passenger on the plane. When my flight arrived in Seattle, I got off the plane like normal, but as soon as I got outside the plane, there was someone waiting on the ramp with a wheelchair with my name on it. He wheeled me from the plane to where I asked him to take me (outside, to arrivals where my friend picked me up). My friend wasn't there when we got outside, so the guy said that he would wait 5-7 minutes with me. I didn't time it, but he waited at least 5 minutes with me in the cold before my friend showed up. I also tipped this wheelchair driver $5. I highly recommend using the wheelchair service.

I just had surgery on Thursday and my period started 2 days later. I have a Mirena IUD and my period has been somewhere between non-existent and irregular for the past couple of years.

I'm so glad you're doing well and glad you got to go shopping. I did not see your post before I went to bed last night. Today a good friend of mine's brother passed away with cancer. I spent the day with her and her family. My friend who is also being sleeved with me was there also visiting. I just happened to tell her that I am still worried about icon23(She reads the forum every night but does not post) She told me to calm down and that you did answer my post last night. That made me feel much better. LOL I almost feel like you are family. I have never worried about a complete stranger before LOL I hope your flight home today went well. You may have All ready posted in a different spot. I am going to look now.

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend's brother. Thank you for your caring and concern. I, too, have grown to care sincerely about many people here on VST and I truly appreciate everyone who has reached out to me as I am going through this life-changing event. I made it home safely a couple of hours ago and I have just been resting. I realized sometime late yesterday that I caught a cold after surgery. At first, I thought my throat was just irritated from the tube that the anesthesiologist put down my throat because the night that I had surgery I wound up coughing up a bunch of phlegm (wasn't too painful) and it just generally felt irritated, but it turned into a cold. I think that's part of the reason I spent so much of the past couple of days sleeping. Other than the cold, though, I feel fine. Today was the first day that I didn't take pain medicine at all and, even with coughing, it doesn't hurt. I also don't know if I have mentioned this yet, but I am having no trouble getting in fluids. I do feel full if I drink a lot, but I don't feel any pain or restriction while I'm drinking and I'm able to drink a 16-20 oz bottle of Water or other Fluid fairly quickly (I guess I should time it, but it seems like I can drink that much on an empty stomach within 30-45 min). It's amazing how much better I feel everyday. I wish for everyone to have such smooth recoveries (and no colds).