TBodmer71

I was sleeved on the 26th. I am still a little sore when bending over. I seem to be getting liquids and Protein in OK. But.........I get lightheaded real easy and I feel like my heart is going through my chest if I do anything physical, (going up the stairs I have to lay down for 15 minutes to get my heart rate down) I was never like this prior to surgery. So, yesterday I went to my pcp for my post-op appt. My oxygen concentration was only 84% and mt blood pressure was 84/54. My doc scared me good when she suggested they may have to transport me by ambulance to the ER. They kept an eye on me, did an EKG, and redid my vitals. My oxygen came up to 98% and my blood pressure came back up to 100/70 which is close to my norm. They let me leave but she made me go get an immediate CAT scan, for a possible pulmonary embolism. The only thing the cat scan showed was decrease lung function, which is understandable because I have COPD. For the next 3 days I am to report to my PCP and have them check my vitals. If they plummet again they are going to admit me.

Hello Everyone, I was sleeved on the 26th. My highest weight was 289. My weight before my pre-op diet was 266. The day of my surgery I was 251. After having surgery I was up to 259. I am now 1 week out and as of this morning I am down to 247. Hooray for me. I am also having difficulty getting in more than 40 grams of Protein. My fluids are around 40 to 60 oz.. Some of my incision sights are still sore. I haven't experienced much bruising except on my arms. My energy is real low but it is getting better. I have been off all pain meds since 4 days post-op. GOOD LUCK TO US ALL!

I had terrible back aches for the first few days. I've been sleeping in a recliner. I've just started to lay on my side on the couch with a pillow propping my tummy. My back isn't spasming as much and I can sleep up to 4 hrs instead of the 2 hr max i was getting. I was sleeved 8/26/13

I got home from the hospital yesterday afternoon. My husband, son and dog were all excited for me to be home. I think if my husband had a tail it would have been wagging faster than the dogs. I got in the house and had a beautiful orchid plant waiting for me. I have no idea on how to keep an orchid alive. The hospital stay was OK except for having to wait a long time for the nurses to respond to your calls. Right now I am not in pain but still really sore. The drain sight is still bandaged up. Other than that I have to hold my belly whenever I walk around.

Good Morning Every one, Right now it is 4:20 am. I am getting ready to leave for the hospital. I have to report there by 6am. My surgery starts at 7:30. Woohoo, yahoo, yippee for me. Happy dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance, My highest weight was 289. My weight as of this morning 251, Total pounds lost during the 2 week pre-op liquid diet, 13lbs. My chance to become a loser has been a long journey but yet has only just begun. See ya'll on the sleeved side. Wish me luck.

We had an awesome time. We arrived at the base of Mt. Washington 3:30 am. I literally only had 2 hrs sleep. The gates opened at 4. We got to the summit at 4:30. Watching the horizon illuminate until the sun crested. Was beautiful. The colors were amazing. Could someone please tell me how to download a picture on a posting.

I wish you a complications free procedure, and a speedy, pain-free recovery. We'll both be on the "losers" bench today. I am getting sleeved at 7:30 am today.

Spanx has become this girls new best friend. I am down 36lbs and I have 2 more days before surgery. But my newly found friend "SPANX" is gonna be with me for about 2 years when I'll meet my new besty.....The plastic surgeon.

I am on day 13 of my pre-op diet. In 2 more days I will be on the sleeved side. What is even more surprising my husband has finally accepted that fact. So as a surprise for me he wants to take me up the Mount Washington Auto Road (in New Hampshire) tomorrow Morning to watch the sunrise. He asked me to look it up to see what time the auto road opens. Much to my dismay it doesn't open until 7:30 am, well after sunrise. Keep in mind that photography is my new found hobby. I was disappointed. But then...........The luck of a life time. I noticed at the bottom of the Mt. Washington web page, they have Early morning sunrise openings 3 times a year. The last one this year is tomorrow morning. Woohooo! My bags are not only packed for the hospital but also ready for us to leave for Mount Washington at 1am. We want to get to the base of Mount Washington by 4am. The gates open at 4:30. Even though I live in NH, I haven't been to the Summit of Mount Washington. The views are supposed to be breathtaking. It is supposed to be in the 30's overnight tonight with Highs in the 50's during the day, but with 100+ mile views. The cameras are charging, the tripod and memory cards are packed. I am ready to go. I am so excited. I am lucky I have an awesome husband, I am lucky that tomorrow of all days Mt Washington opens early, I am lucky that my surgery is still on track for 6am Monday. Woohoo, Yippee, Lucky Me! Oh yeah, I have dropped 11 more pounds in the last 13 days. Woohoo, again.

You could also be experiencing a lot of hormonal changes because of the extreme weight loss. If this is the case the frequency should go away once your weight stabilizes. In the mean time, ask your doctor for a refillable prescription of diflucan (1 pill to cure yeast infection) then keep monistat cream with you to relieve the symptoms.

here's wishing your procedure goes well without any issues, and a pain free speedy recovery.

Try an unflavored protein to mix with the broth. MIxing the unflavored with crystal light is real good also. I am currently using the syntrax nectar brand but I hear alot of people really like the unjury brand too.

I've read that it is easiest to sleep in a recliner for the first week or 2. I am shopping this weekend for a new livingroom set with a recliner.

In my teens and 20's (when I was thin) I was always a 38B. BTW I had one child at age 19. In my 30's I started putting on weight. At my highest weight of 289 I wore a 44D. I am still pre-op but have lost 31 lbs so far. But the girls are hanging. They've never hung before. I went bra shopping last weekend and I am now in a 42D. But if they start to look like skin socks they are definitely going to be surgically enhanced.

OMG.....I didn't know what it meant either......Now I'll need to add this to my goals to hit list.

I am currently on my 5th day of the stage 2 (low carb, non fat, high protein, full liquid) diet. After Surgery I will be on clear liquids only for 3 days. Then I'll be back on the stage 2 diet for 4 weeks. Yup......6 weeks of liquids only.....ARGH! From there I'll graduate to pureed diet for a few weeks and soft for a few weeks and lastly no restrictions, except for when my tummy says "no way". I am hoping that by the holiday season I'll be able to participate with the "food" festivities, but with much smaller portions.

Welcome. You will find many stories of inspiration, courage and strength here on VST. Wishing you the best on your journey.

Good luck on this journey of better health. Right now January may seem like an eternity, but your calender will be full of appointments. Time will fly. My suggestion would be to get all of your ducks in line. Start doing everything as early as possible. Schedule your psych evaluation asap. It seems some of them are scheduling a month or two out. Start moving (I don't like the word exercise). Even if it is just walking. Try to increase the time or pace as the weeks go by. Start trying different Protein shakes. Please keep in mind you want to find ones with less that 5g of carbs and at least 20g of protein and most importantly find ones that you actually enjoy. Believe me that can take some time. Keep doing your research. The more you know of what to expect, the more prepared you are for when it happens. Good luck. Keep us posted.

I've had abdominal surgery many, many times before. It seems anytime I've been given the morphine pump I get constipated. I have learned to have colace (stool softener) on hand. It is gentle and effective. My suggestion for the "pushing", bring a small pillow to press against your belly. It helps with the discomfort. Most times that I've had surgery (including my hysterectomy) I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until I've produced a BM. Good Luck in achieving that ahhhhhh moment.

I too eat out of boredom, especially at night while watching TV. Over the last few months I've simply (but not so easy) cut back and/or replaced the night time Snacks with a healthy alternative. I am now starting my 4th day of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I've been battling the evening munchies with sugar free popsicles. They really help curve the head hunger for me. Good Luck to you.

Their are many condom babies out there. That is one form of BC I wouldn't trust. Did the doc suggest the ring? It was the best BC I ever had. Way better than the pill. What about an IUD? Those have come a long way in recent years too. Both of these you don't have to worry about a "missed dose".\

Good Luck on your journey. Like the previous poster said, January will be here before you know it. I would recommend that you start all your research now. Start trying different Protein Drinks. (Nashua Nutrition sells 1 serving samples) Read, read, and read some more about the procedure, recipes, success stories and even the horror stories. Start exercising now. That way over the next few months you'll be ahead of the game and more physically fit for a more speedy recovery. You can slowly work your way up in just about any kind of exercise. I simply started walking. I started out at 5000 steps per day. I now average between 10k and 12k. You can simply get an inexpensive pedometer and track your progress. Most insurance companies require a documented exercise program and this fit the bill for me. The more informed you are the better prepared you are. Oh yeah, and don't forget to keep us posted about your journey. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am now starting day 3 and I am happy to say......so far so good. As of this morning I am down 5 lbs. My goal for these 2 weeks is to lose another pants size. To my amazement, one of the girls at work noticed my jeans were getting "baggy in the butt". They were brand new jeans that I've only had for a couple of weeks. (I bought 2 pair). I started this journey in a really tight 24W. I've gone down to a loose 20W. OMG, OMG, OMG......Size 18 here I come! All this and I am still pre-op. Woohoo!

I am just starting my 3rd day of my 2 week pre-op stage 2 diet. You should be proud of the fact that you've made it this far. But, don't risk having to start all over again. You'll never forgive yourself. I am hoping by the time I am posting this, you haven't eaten anything and you are on your way to be sleeved. Best of luck to you. Wishing you a trouble free speedy recovery.

Woohoo! I woke up this morning. I am starting my second day of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. Yesterday I weighed 264.2. This morning I stepped in the scale and it read.....drum roll please.......260.8. My fat percentage is 51.6 and my BMI is officially out of the severely obese range. My BMI is 39.9. Yippee, yahoo, hooray. It seems as I travel along this journey I have so many things I can Celebrate as accomplishments to keep my spirit up. My next goal......to lose a pant size before surgery. Happy Dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance