nmck

I go Wed the 17th. Trying to get the house cleaned and everything in order so I don't have to worry about it when I come home.

Surgery set for 31July. I start a 2 week liquid diet on Wednesday, the 17th. This will probably be harder than the surgery! See the nutritionist on the 18th. Will start stocking in supplies for post op then.
Best of luck to everyone. May we all reach our goals:)

I'll also say I have a friend who was sleeved right after me, same day, and she had no trouble with stomach acid or reflux. She was released to start Protein Shakes next day after discharge. We speculate that keeping me on clear liquids for several more days may have something to do with the stomach acid.

I came home last night to find my approval letter from Anthem!!! :D I left my insurance coordinator a message (at midnight lol!) letting her know, so she can call me in the morning to get scheduled!

I was sleeved on 7/10 at Anne Arundel Medical Center by Dr. Alex Gandsas, who I would highly recommend to everyone. Size 40 bougie. Discharged on 7/12. I am still on clear liquids until 7/18 when I see the doc for one week post-op. No complications; textbook procedure. I have 7 lap incisions that seem to be healing fine. Not gonna lie - the first day was pretty challenging, but I got through it. My one problem has been excess stomach acid and heartburn. I never had a reflux problem before. Hoping this is temporary. Doc rxed protonix and calfate for this problem, and it is definitely improving.
Never used the rx percocet - it usually makes me sick to my stomach, which now I fear. Plus the pain is very tolerable. I used children's advil a few times, but that's it.
3 days out, I walked 40 minutes and went to a party for 6 hours. Was able to take in 72 oz clear liquids. All good.
Using Nutrimetrix for Multivitamin and Calcium, which is highly absorbable powder form you mix in Water. Kinda tasteslike tang. Not too sweet, but needs to be diluted more than the directions IMHO.
Best part - in some ways, I already feel better than I did preop. Just with the 10-15# lostfrom preop diet. I already am experiencing a significant amount of relief in joint pain! I was able to stand and mingle at the party yesterday without pain. No shifting of weight or anything. Usually, my feet and hips would almost immediately be causing me pain.
Very happy with my decision so far!

I asked my surgeon if I could use an abdominal binder, which is like an elastic girlde to support your midesction. I was ordered on after my 2nd c-section and it was great for that support! He said yes and wrote it down in his notes to order one for me.

I guess that is where everyone is different b/c I can't stand the Atkins shakes! Clear liquid for me is definedas anything I can see through. Jello, popsicles, apple juice, sprite, broth. I am allowed to have items with caloriesduring my clear liquid day.

So jealous, but I really think this phase is preparing me for after surgery. I have been buying all my Vitamin addins for my Protein shakes, chewables and so on. I can tell you that the Callogen powder in my morning shakes have everyone saying that my skin is glowing. Go figure. I was using it to combat the hair thinning issue ahead of time. I have also ordered Omega 3 pouches, calcitrate and a bunch of other supplements. Good luck with your 3 days of restriction. Do you know what liquids are considered clear? I have to do that for a full day. Thanks.

Day 2 in hospital, the pain is minimal, it's just the gas I been walking up and down the hallway, had issue once the cath came out it was 10 hrs later that I was able to urinate. I have had sugar-free Popsicle, chicken broth, Water, crystal ligt. Had my leak test this am everything was good. So home I go on Sunday.

So proud right now. I'm at the mall courtyard. The man is having Taco Bell. I'm having a cold Isopure from GNC. I am a beast:)

My pre-op liquid is 9 days long, so you should be OK. I wouldn't drink the magnesium citrate or anything like that b/c you'll only bemessing with yourself more. I think you will probably feel crappy when that stuff hits your blood stream after a week of Protein shakes! This is the last diet you will have to do without your helpful new tool!

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Kristie

Thank you for posting this! My surgery is Friday and it's good to know what yourroad bumps felt like. I hope you continue to improve smoothly from here!

Likely just soreness, BUT if you get a fever call the surgeon ASAP, and if it hurts for longer than it "should", call your PCP...

So it is done. I had surgery on the 10 th and it was more difficult than I anticipated. My blood pressure skyrocketed and I was in recovery for 3.5 hours before getting moved to my room. My poor husband waiting and pacing. I had horrible nausea and dry heaves. The dry heaves were the absolute worst. You are scared that you are going to injure your staple line or you suture sites. It's miserable, and scary. I developed an agonizing headache in the night so now I had nausea and headaches. I would dry heave every time I got out of bed. I did do some walking. The next day my headache finally waned and the nausea was better controlled with phenergan (sp). The follow up test went well and I finally get the bariatric diet tray, now it's been 36 hours since I had Water or even ice chips. That was extremely frustrating, I just wanted something to drink. Sipping was definitely welcome even with the bit of discomfort. I was able to walk and my stomach and incisions didn't hurt at all, just kind of tender. I.got released from the hospital around 4 pm. I did have some nausea on the way home but didn't quite dry heave. We picked up my prescriptions and went home. I went to bed. I woke around 9 pm, time to take medicine and such. One sip of water and I heaved it back into the sink. Took my mess and back to bed I went. On the way home from the hospital I began having very strong chest pains, but figured it was just gas pain. It continued through the night whether I sipped or not so I became worried. I could breathe just fine but I was beginning to worry. I was ready to go to the ER the next morning, but waited to call my doctor first. I explained to the nurses what was going on and the next thing I knew I was on the phone my surgeon directly. After explaining the pain, a tightening and then subsiding in my chest. He said that it is a known phenomenon, having to do with scraping the stomach from the diaphragm and to jus watch it and make sure I don't have shortness of breath. That made me feel a lot better. I think my anxiety was making it worse. My full day home went pretty well. I moved around some, did take some medicine to control pain and nausea but all in all I felt pretty well. Today is my second day home and I start full liquids and getting in my Protein. I feel pretty well, I do still get the chest pains but my breathing exercises are still good. The nausea is all but gone (thank goodness). Everyday does get better. I am excited about the positive changes this will have in my life and so thankful for an amazing doctor and hospital staff and supportive husband, and no complications.

All you pre-op diet folks, first, good luck and second, just remember that the purpose is to help your surgeon and make your surgery safer and your recovery faster! Trust me, cheating isn't worth any extra pain or a larger hole for the liver retractor post-op.

My pregnancies were pre-sleeve, but just wanted to reassure you about your vertical incision. I also had a "Classical" c-section with my first b/c it was am emergency. My second pregnancy was twins, and the docs never worried about my vertical incision being a problem and it wasn't. Don't worry about that!

I had my preop nutritionist meet and meeting with my doctor before my 24 July surgery. I am stoked and ready to go. I started my 10 prep early just to make sure that my liver is nice and skinny to make my doc happy and I went to support group last night. I have the suport of many people and I am grateful for that. My wife is getting me all the food goodies that I will need for the immediate future. I ordered my Vitamins and my calcium citrate will be here on Monday. Just waiting for the 24th.

I'm excited...mine is the 17th. Went to GNC today and got my liquid Multi-Vitamin and Isopure...will finish the rest of my shopping the weekend. Start my Clear Liquids Monday! Ready to do this!!! ☺

Tomorrow is my day! At 2:00 p.m. I will officially become sleeved for life!
I've enjoyed a very restful day with my hubby and daughter. I was even able to make them a good lunch and didn't mind smelling or seeing the food all that much.
My only problem yesterday and today has been dealing with acid re-flux/heartburn that has been my companion for years and years. This is mostly caused by my hietal hernia that's getting fixed too! Since I was trying to stick to my clear liquid diet, I only mixed some baking soda in Water to try to alleviate the burning a couple of times.
My bag is packed (gown, undies, toothbrush, hairbrush, slippers, notebook, kindle, charger, gas X, cpap). My husband will be with me the whole time, my parents, and my two daughters will be there to support me. I'm so ready. I hope I can sleep tonight. Speaking of that, guess I'll go to bed.
Best wishes and fast recovery to my fellow July sleevers, to July 12th sleevers, to all of us sleevers!
I'm so ready to be on the post-op side!
Tammy

I have my date! July 31st. I'm excited, and as of now, not nervous! I start my 2 week clear liquid diet (I can have 1-3 Protein Drinks a day) wed the 17th. I'm more nervous about that! Lol.

july 9th sleever - im 2 days post op now! felt NO nausea at all!! (knock on wood) pain is about a 3, and my cuts are starting to itch, which means they are healing! I couldnt eat anything for first 24 hrs, but i found out my doctor didnt want to do the swallow test, so i was able to go straight to the clear liquids! im on full liquids now for 2 wks, then pureeds for another 2 wks. so far, ive been drinking Water, Protein Shakes, Jello, tea, pudding, will have some potato Soup tonight.
Biggest discomfort - after drinking, it feels like my throat gets blocked and nothing can go down, then it passes and i take another swallow, then the fullness comes again. its an ongoing battle, lol.
good luck to everyone going this month!!!

liquid diet sucks!! But nothing changes if you're comfortable, right?

yeah, not enjoying my clear liquid diet today. i am hungry and feel light headed and headachy.

Thanks so much Vixynne! I just came home today. Doing great other than the head hunger. More difficult than I realized.