Sydney Susan

Magpie and Pixie, I am feeling lucky... I've noticed the US trend to get you "up and out". Seems amazing to me after my experience, but it seems I'm in the minority. I had thought it was something to do with Australian health care standards setting min requirements for certain types of surgery, but when I posted in another thread that "in Aus it's like this...", 2 other Aussies quickly came back and said they'd only been in 2 (or was it 3) nights.... So it seems specific to the doctor you choose. Have to say my doctor is very experienced (I was his 720th VGS) and his fees were the same as everyone else I approached. Part of our costs are paid by Medicare (national health) and part by private medical insurance, and I had to pay $4850. This includes the surgery, hospital stay in a private hospital, anaesthetist, and every drs, psych and dietician appt before and after surgery. Is that the sort of out-of-pocket cost in other countries? This stuff intrigues me - I'm a great believer in quality health care for all and truly don't understand such "suffering" (and yes, I did think twice about using that word... suffering is every bit what it sounds like) in this day and age in very very civilised parts of the world. Aren't the doctors worried about getting sued if something goes wrong in those early days? Who's pushing for such early discharges? I had cancer 6 years ago and have had a considerable number of surgeries since, one huge and the others more like the VSG, with 4 different surgeons in total. I've never been released from hospital until I was in pretty good shape and after a period on intravenous support and anti clotting agents. I'm not meaning to offend anyone with this post and truly hope I don't. But it's not often we get to compare our different "global" experiences of exactly the same surgery. And then to be able to consider what's driving those experiences. Perhaps deep philosophical thought is going to be my food replacement. Ah, from one obsession to another... oh so easily ; ).

I was sleeved 29th April - in hospital Monday to Friday, with intravenous pain and anti-nausea meds + potassium + fluids till Thursday night (was supposed to me till Fri morning but problems with the cannula of my drip meant it was removed early. On day 2 I felt rubbish even with all that intravenous support. I was still on half hourly obs too... and I was doing well, certainly no worse than other sleevers in my ward. Not even clear fluids allowed till Friday morning. What I'm trying to say is that I think the way you feel is related to your post op treatment, rather than something specifically wrong. No doubt you'll come through this ok, but it seems like a tough way to do the sleeve. It shouldn't have to be a trial by fire. Go see your GP and get checked out, and see if they can offer some medical support for a few days: pain killers, fluids, essential elements like potassium. It could make you feel heaps better. Where are you based? Perhaps someone local can recommend a good supportive service. Good luck. I hope you're feeling even a bit better by now... It's a trend that should continue.

Kulita, my dr says no fizzy/carbonated drinks ever again... So caution with the lemonade, I suggest. Cindy and Kulita (and other recent sleevers), how r things now? Ii was sleeved 'Monday and it's now Sunday. I'm ok though still not getting in a litre of Fluid a day. Bit of pain (short and sharp - not needing painkillers) and periods of tiredness. Generally going slow. Walking for about 15 -20 mins a time. No way feel ready for work. I'm allowed thin/runny liquids only (which includes Soups and Protein shakes) for another week. Putting a teaspoon of Benefiber in "everything", and that is easy enough to do - virtually nil taste and doesn't thicken the liquid (so I've no idea how it works as fibre). If it works I'm going to sneak it in the kids food and drinks wherever I can! Finding it very hard to imagine ever eating a normal meal again - of any size! But I'm reassured by others on this forum that it will happen.

Gigi, now I'm home and 6 clear days post surgery i still couldn't imagine being in hospital only 1 or 2 nights. Your experience amazes me. Still in a bit of pain and drinking relatively little - less than a litre a day - because it takes all day to get through it with small sips, and going faster makes me feel overly full and I have to stop drinking completely for an hour or more. Feel ok but not like going back to work. I'm 52 - perhaps age makes a bit of a difference.... Although I am no "old crock", for sure. Relative to the other sleevers in my ward and operated on the same day as me, I was doing well. Very well, dare I say. I guess this means we're all very different and the most important thing is to have a doctor responsive to our needs.

Wow! I couldn't imagine being out of hospital so quickly - just 1 or 2 nights. I must have a very cautious doctor, but he was no dearer than anyone else.

It depends on where you are a d who your doctor is. In Australia 5 days (4 nights) is normal, but of you are complication free I think 3 nights would be ok. It seems normal practice in Aus to give heparin (anti clotting agent), potassium (to prevent biochemical disturbances) and IV meds (pain killers and anti-reflux drugs) for a few days. I'm really happy with that, but I get the impression this is not done in many locations. Personally I'd try to get a "slow and gentle" adjustment to your new stomach and pulled esophagus.

Wow, aren't our experiences all different. I'm still have daily heparin (anti-clotting) injections, and potassium, painkillers and reflux meds in my drip. Was on half hourly observations till 24 hours ago, still on 4 hourly. I feel completely Molly-coddled. I'm feeling pretty well in myself but then I'm not really exerting myself much - no doubt it will be different when I go home. Cindy, be gentle on yourself. You seem to have had a hectic lead in to your surgery and then it's been all go since too. I was v anxious about it all beforehand but once it's done it's just a question of learning to live with the changes, no more decisions. So I'm calm now. (Well, right at this minute). Don't expect too much of yourself for a week or two - rest, rest and more rest. I'm heartened by the number of people on here who say they went through a rough patch but things are good now. That's the future for you and me too.... It's waiting for us!

Wow Kulita, drinking the day after... I'm amazed. Where did you have your op? I've still another 24 hours to wait till I get anything to drink. Feeling pretty good and v happy with my care so far. Expect to go home tomorrow, on protein shakes. Still not a bit hungry though - on a drop so not thirsty either. It's so interesting to hear how differently this surgery is managed in different locations. I'm in awe of those who travel to Mexico and get discharged to a hotel after 1 or 2 nights.

Well, surgery is 2 days behind me now, and I'm not feeling too bad. Not a barrel of laughs of course, but nothing unexpected. Am on "nil by mouth" till Friday, same day I go home (????). Don't feel hungry but lips get very dry - hard to talk for long periods. I'm out of bed and walking relatively easily, and encouraged to do so. Main pain is from the point at which my stomach was pulled out - apparently creates a large-ish hole in the muscle which then needs a stitch, and a bruise. I'm interested to hear if others experiences post- op are similar to mine.

Yes, the Aussie got it! Am at the hospital now... Gulp, gulp, gulp. Or should that be Sip, sip, sip.

It just sounds like "real life". Don't sweat it. No one's perfect - and that applies to you and your hubby. Making you cook pork buns at all would have made me feral! It's the end of the school holidays where I am, and as I'm on the pre-op diet I've made my 14 yo son cook dinner every night for the whole 2 weeks (with my support). When he complains I remind him that I'm not eating it, so really doing the shopping, supporting him and cleaning up afterwards (that's our deal) is about as good as its going to get. So far, so good... And I think he might be starting to enjoy himself now.

I'm being sleeved tomorrow (gulp). In 24 hours I should be awake with it all over.... Or should that be "just begun". We have v good medical care in Australia so I'll just go with the flow as my doctor suggests. He gets a really good rap on Australian forums... fingers crossed they're not all paid announcements ; ).

This is my surgeons website, on which he says 85 to 90% of the stomach is removed: http://www.oclinic.com.au/weight-loss-solutions/gastric-sleeve.html. But I notice Wikipedia says 75% removed and "A Lighter Me" says somewhere between the two. Perhaps the doctors DownUnder are meaner???!!!!

Sassy Senior, I also believe 85% of the stomach is removed, leaving it at 15%... I've read that numerous times; shall try to find a link and post it here. Also, my surgeon said the stomach does stretch "a bit" over time, and technically you can be "re-sleeved" if it stretches too much. But he didn't suggest that as an option we should all consider... Just a discussion point at an information evening.

Celticsoul, I think some very wise words have been said above, but surely the biggest thing to hold on to is that you have chosen to come back to this place and ask for help, which says you are searching for ways to get back on track. Good for you. Are you hungry? Or has your eating been related to stress, depression or something like that? Depending on what the reason is, ypu may need to visit a dr, psych or dietician to help you restart... we all need help occasionally. You've lost the weight before so at the very least have confidence in knowing that you know what to do and that your sleeve worked for you in the past. You can do this because you have done this before. Good luck.

I'm booked in for 29th April, and feeling v wobbly right now. It seems such a drastic thing to do. Although I have only about 70lb to lose, I have a growing list of weight related health problems that are really affecting my personal and work life, and an awful family history of early death from cancer and heart disease. I'm not a junk food eater but I do love food... and drink and entertaining. So does my hubby but he just doesn't seem to gain weight. I read someone call her VSG "the end of (her) love affair with food", and while that's probably what I need, I'm really hoping that down the track there'll be some enjoyment of food again. Can any long termers out there reassure me?

Cheer Mama, I know just where you are coming from. I'm also getting less and less fit and watching my husband "do" things while I sit on the sidelines and watch. Not the way I want to lead my life. I have to keep remembering that for a while now I've been complaining that "I'm 50 not 60", and in the last 6 months I've changed that to "52 not 72, because that's how I often feel.

Thank you both for your posts. Beth you said just the perfect thing! And congratulations on how well you are doing. Kay, where are you located? Where are you being sleeved? I'll be at the Mater in Sydney at 10.45 Monday... the woman with a sheet over her head in pre-op... that's what I did last time I had an op. I was terrified but that was for cancer and there was nothing optional about it. It went well and I recovered well too, so it's not as if i have had a terrible experience.

I'm booked in for 29th too, and feeling v wobbly right now. It seems such a drastic thing to do. However, although I have only about 70lb to lose, I have a growing list of weight related health problems that are really affecting my personal and work life, and an awful family history of early death from cancer and heart disease. I'm not a junk food eater but I do love food... And drink and entertaining. So does my hubby but he just doesn't seem to gain weight. I read someone call her VSG "the end of (her) love affair with food", and while that's probably what I need, I'm really hoping that down the track there'll be some enjoyment of food again. Can any long termers out there reassure me??