SeaLegs

Do what you need to do to heal. Surgery is a shock to the body. Use your pain medication, get some rest, use your breathing thingy, walk early but remember you are not training for a marathon (yet!). We all respond differently, so ask yourself what YOU need at the moment to heal and support your body. Best wishes!

What kind of nurse are you? Is light duty even an option? Do you get breaks? We had a thread about this over the weekend, which made me decide that the 4 weeks I arranged is probably not enough and I'll probably take 6. (We have FMLA insurance so I can do this.) I had a band to sleeve and I am in my 50s, things that I think are making me bounce back more slowly than I had expected. So maybe think about how it would go if you did need more time. BTW, you are not responsible for your manager's happiness, if you need surgery, have a baby, whatever, it's her/his responsibility to deal with it.

Off-topic, but your family of lawyers cracks me up and I love how you handled them!

I can't wait to try these when I'm eating real food!

You guys are lucky, I still feel dehydrated and have to sip all day and can't seem to get all my fluids in (2 weeks out).

What do you like? I don't know about you, but we're not talking huge amounts here. BTW, it's really easy to make your own, if you have any interest.

My surgery was Oct 7. I was on a liver shrinking diet for 2 weeks, then just Clear liquids the day before. In surgery, the stomach around my band was inflamed and there were some adhesions to my liver and diaphragm with a little bit of bleeding I am told. I had really bad pain across my chest and boobs the first night from the CO2 (and yes, I was tested for heart problems), but pain medication helped and the more I walked, the faster it got better. Did not use GasX or such. I used my pain medication as much as I needed, I don't think there is much value in trying to tough it out, better to rest and heal. Eventually just a sore spot where my old port was (and where they pulled my stomach out), but that damn port always bothered me. At home I found my pain got worse by afternoon and I would use some medication then, and sometimes at bedtime, for about a week. No other problems, except it's hard to get Water and Proteins in unless I start right when I get up. If you have the time, throw some Protein like chicken or fish and a leafy green into the freezer for when you get into the puree stage. Stop and Shop really did me in!

Done.

Funny you should say this, because I've worked at my hospital for 27 years (interrupted, so I only have 6 years of seniority) and I feel the same way, very replaceable. Plus there are social aspects...I'm not part of the cliques, so I expect no mercy. I only told a couple of people myself, just didn't feel like discussing my decision, but I'm sure everyone knows (and the clique people have rendered their opinions in my absence).

Just spoke with my friend. She went back at 5 weeks because there is an "old battle-axe" at the bariatric practice who would not authorize more time. She says she could have used a week more, and take what you can get.

Congratulations on the sleeve! I'm a Labor and Birth nurse. I arranged for 4 weeks off. I am a little nervous about it. My manager says "there is no light duty on this unit", so I don't expect to get any slack. We have to lift patients, push beds, stretchers and wheelchairs, sometimes emergently. I was sleeved on October 7th, and right now my world is doing food prep and chores at home then crashing in the afternoon. It's hard to get all the food and Water in. One of my colleagues had a RNY recently. The day she came back after 6 weeks, she got the toughest assignment on the unit, was pale, dehydrated and dizzy (but refusing offers of IVF). At this point, I am a little worried, too, about my ability to work full out for 8 hours (breaks are not a given). I'll give her a call and see what she has to say. Since it has been busy and short staffed for a long time, my managers asked me to delay my surgery date til the beginning of the next time schedule, just to make things easier for them, which I did. No other hassles (yet). I am as interested as you are to see what people have to say.

Thanks, you all, for your inspiring words. I have always been really shy, and would love to meet someone. Also meet people around my own age to hang out with.

I hate clothes shopping, and fortunately, I wear scrubs at work, so don't need a lot of work clothes. I tend to do mail order, and have a roomful of clothes mistakes from things I should have returned but never did (one of my postop projects). Fortunately my best friend is a shopaholic who considers it a challenge to find things at TJ's, thrift shops, etc. For her, it's a stress reducer, for me, it makes me want to jump out of my skin. Part of me still wants to hold back some fat clothes, just in case. After years of different diets, and the inevitable weight gains afterward, it's hard to have faith emotionally. Although with the band, I gained some back but not up to my top weight. Does anybody else feel this way?

Just had my 2 week appt, but really it was 10 days. I came home 3# heavier than the day of surgery, and am now 2# less. My surgeon laughed when I told him how all the people on the blog already had the pounds melting off at this point. He told me I was still post op and healing, and was surprised that I was exercising (albeit just a little). He said I would be very pleased starting a month after surgery and everything was going as expected. So maybe it's not a stall, but a "haven't gotten going yet".

If you have a larger incision that they pullled your stomach through, I think you are asking for a hernia.

Also, I would not have stocked up on so much powdered protein and premade shakes. Don't need as much as I thought. Me, too.

Ditto the above: deep breathing, sips of whatever temperature is right for you, and use your pain medication so you can rest and let yourself heal.

When and if you have the sleeve, the suppression of the ghrelin surge at night should help. Do you eat sweets or high-glycemic carbs? Artificial sweeteners still stimulate insulin and I know they can set me off into carb cravings.

When you fast, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. It's normal for your appetite to be depressed now, but it may really start kicking in once you start eating. I wonder if your mood is being affected too. Keep in mind that this is only temporary, and when your appetite comes back, stay on track. Every one is unique, and the way your body now deals with fasting may be different. Perhaps a consult with your nutritionist would be in order to help you deal with this. This is a learning opportunity, not a failure.

I'm with you, the sweet mixes make me want to retch (sp?), plus artificial sweeteners induce an insulin response just like sugar and the carb thing is a big problem for me. I've been trying to come to terms with this, because the pre and post op diets are heavy in artificial stuff. So I have been using unflavored protein powder and tossing it into whatever. Kefir, some frozen berries and pp for a smoothie, adding it to soup, etc. Eggs are a good additon, too.

Best wishes...and don't be afraid to use your pain medication, OK? Relax and let your body heal well.

I'd hate to see you waste your time taking something and have it not work....In your situation, I usually call the pharmacist and ask all my questions about absorption, compatibility, food, etc. They are really knowledgable, have lots of resources at their fingertips, and are usually very happy to take the time to help you. Try it!

I had such bad pain across my chest and boobs after surgery that they drew cardiac enzymes and did an EKG. It improved each time I did my walking circuits around the nurse's station and as my bowel sounds came back.

Electrolytes can be found in many fruits and vegetables and their juices, sports drinks, milk, coconut water.

Good quality sleep is important for health and weight loss, too! Ideas: Work really hard at getting your fluids in during the day, and that might also space out and limit your food intake. Make sure you are getting electrolytes (Have you had bloodwork lately?), if you are a mouth breather at night you might be dry. Put a humidifier by your bed. (They have these cute little humidifiers that hold one bottle of water at Walgreens that are super.) The rumbling in your stomach might be all that water gurgling around. Best wishes...