RickMG

Sorry, don't believe you. That's not the same person. Wow, you are an inspiration. Thanks for this thread. I hope you feel as good as you look.

When I saw the title of this post I thought it's amazing because I made that statement yesterday and I'm over three months out. I, thank goodness, have never had any problems that have made me feel like I was ever operated on with the exception of eating that last bite that was one bite too much. But it's what I am quoting you on that bothered me and I did have a huge problem on the first day I was going back to work and had to stay home. I was just five days out and I got so constipated that I thought I was going to end up going to an emergency room. The old joke of the different body parts saying to each other which is the most important turned out to be true. I shut down and was ready to die. If you were a week out before you went you might want to do something before what happened to me happens to you. Here's what the nurse practitioner told me to do from then on until I was sure it wouldn't happen again. First, get a bottle of Benefiber and use it once a day. Then, if you don't go everyday, take Miralax the next day (keep up the Benefiber). Both of these are powders and you dissolve in a little milk or any drink. You'll never know they are there. Also, I used the Equate brand as it's much cheaper than the name brands. If you don't go in three days, take a swig of Milk of Magnesia. That works within a half hour to an hour so don't take it unless you know you'll be close to a bathroom then. I'm telling you, I've heard that a lot of sleeve people have this problem as it's hard to stay hydrated. Please know, I don't want anyone to go thru what I did as I've never had such pain. Other than that, good luck.

Thank you and look forward to meeting you.

Hey everyone. I got sleeved Sept. 25, 2013 by Dr. Morales at DePaul. I have had absolutely no trouble or pain ever (I'm wondering if he really did the operation). I've lost only a total of about 35 pounds and that includes 10 pounds lost before but I am a grazer (just figured that out as I wasn't before). I need to stop it. I feel so much better than I did before and even though I've lost more weight before, I never could keep it off so that's why I finally went this route. I haven't really exercised much other than a little walking as I'm too tired after work to do anything else. My new years resolution is to start walking the mall again. Used to do 4 miles a day when I lost the weight the last time and want to get back into the routine, it's just that first step. Anyway, anyone going to the SSM New Years party on the 15th at DePaul the weight loss institute is putting on? I'll be there. Hope to see some of the forum members. Rick

I've been eating it since about 5 or six weeks out and probably could have eaten it sooner as I've had no problems eating anything, just eating too much of anything. I really like Jack Links because it always seems fresh and not completely dried out.

I always drank diet coke. No water, 2+ liters of Diet Coke a day easily. Best stuff ever and I don't like water unless I'm really hot and sweaty. I have not found anything, anything that quenches my thirst like it. I'm feeling better without it but would love to end the day with a diet coke If I have te top off for a few hours and it gets flat what's the harm in drinking it. Too scared now to do it. Anyone doing it?

I use Premier Protein that you can get at Sam's or Costco. They taste exactly like chocolate milk out of the dairy case and the great thing is they are 30 grahams of protein each. The vanilla taste just like the chocolate to me but have a little powdery feel so I just get the chocolate now.

I got mine on Wednesday, probably the same day as you. I have a few bruises around my belt line and the area around my navel is getting redish looking and is tender to the touch but other than that I feel great. Went to a BBQ competition today where my daughter and son-in-law had a booth and walked all around and had a great time. Have not been the least bit hungry since starting the clear liquid diet a week before surgery so been VERY lucky there. I was able to sleep on either side easily last night but because of the tenderness on my belly I avoided it when going from one side to the next. It doesn't hurt unless I push in or rub on it. For some reason the night after the surgery I could lay on my right side but it hurt if I laid on my left side for any length of time so I didn't. I can't imagine the pain not going away very soon. Glad that's all you're having problems with.

I'm sure it will, just go in with a positive attitude. You'll do great. Best of luck. Thank you, like stated above, I think attitude has a lot to do with it. You'll do great and best wishes for everything going well.

Well, came home today. I had a horrible night last night but nothing to do with the surgery. I got a cold and was coughing all night. It's bad enough that you never get sleep after the surgery because they are checking on you and give you medication what seems like every hour so along with being super tired I was hurting from the coughing. That seemed to go away by mid morning and by noon we were out the door. First thing I did was go home and hit my bed and slept for about six hours. Feel great and cannot say enough how great everyone at the hospital, nurses, staff, radiologist, everyone was. I'm going back to work Monday (desk job so no big deal). Again, I feel great. Just got the second of my Premier Protein shake down so one more. Just have to remember to drink slowly but even the pain of drinking fast is not that bad but it does remind you of not taking that second drink fast. My nurse had the sleeve in March and she's down 85 pounds and wouldn't change a thing. She loves it. I did weigh 4 pounds more today when I got home than when I left for the hospital from all the fluids they pump in you because I barely ate anything the entire time in the hospital.

Just had my chest ex-ray and everything was perfect, no leaks or anything. Best news is I have had absolutely no pain whatsoever. Now they do give you pain medicine plus the 3 day Novocaine whatever that is. Like said by others I'm sure I will but I can take pain, I just was worried about the nausea and keeping things down or which I've had no problems. Honestly, I could've went to work today I feel that good.

I just wanted to give a very short report on my surgery experience. I'm in St. Louis and used Dr. Morales at De Paul Hospital. Check-in and pre-op was great, and entertaining as the nurses were really great and fun. The anesthesiologist came in, asked a bunch of questions and went over what he was going to do. Another great guy. Stated I'm going to be out before I leave the little pre-surgery room and I was. Dr. Morales came in and described the surgery again and answered any questions I had. I woke up in recovery in no pain, feeling only bad heart burn. They said that was normal and that it would go away with walking but they were going to give me Pepsid which they did and helped much but didn't take it entirely away. After they got me to the room and took an order for me for "my lunch" and hooked me up to everything, I tried sleeping but they come in so much to take vitals that was kind of a waste. I got up and took a walk and couldn't believe how much nothing hurt, how much energy I had walking and how easy it was to walk normal speed. Walked quite a distance too. Back in the room again I tried sleeping again and did get a little in. Went walking again and walked pretty far this time and didn't even feel like I was doing anything out of the ordinary (walking is out of the ordinary for me). Just a quick note on the diet too. I started a week ago today on my clear liquid diet and honestly never felt hungry. To anyone looking for a good Protein drink I got the Premier Protein chocolate and it, to me and another guy at work who I gave one too, is fabulous. Taste exactly like chocolate milk in the dairy section. I get mine at Sams but he got some at costco and said they were about 20 cents each cheaper at Costco. The vanilla tasted exactly like the Chocolate with a little taste of powder inside so I won't be choosing that one. They have 30 grams of protein and 160 calories, 1 gram of fat in each carton. So, I hope this continues but thought this might ease some folks fears so wanted to get it on here.

In less than 12 hours I'll be in the operating room. I've been on the liquid diet since last Wednesday, so a week. My diet has been just four things. 2 cups of bullion Soup once or twice a day. 5 Premier Protein chocolate drinks a day. Crystal Light, about 5 glasses a day. Two or four sugar free Jello snack packs. Have had four single sugar free Popsicle's the whole week. I have not felt hungry once but did crave carbs yesterday. If I didn't feel full it would have bothered me but what's unbelievable is each night I feel like I've over eaten but I've lost 10 lbs. My biggest worry now is not being able to eat for awhile. I have avoided watching Diner's, Drive-Ins and Dives and Man vs. food though all week.

Don't worry about a thing. If all you had were two puffs and the last time you actually smoked before that was over a month ago, you have nothing to worry about. I thought that I wasn't going to have the nicotine test until right before the surgery. I smoked two cigars on Sunday and they called me on Monday and asked me to go get the test. This was almost a month before the surgery so I was having my last cigars. Anyway, put off the test until that Friday. It really worried me because they didn't call with results by the next Tuesday. A week later they still didn't have the results and told me that was normal on nicotine tests. When it did come back they called and said it was negative. I checked on the cigar board and nicotine has a half life of something like 3 days or less. Of course cigarettes would be worse because I didn't inhale cigars but it's been plenty long for you. I don't know what's going to be worse, the cigars or the food.

Thank you and I will update as soon as possible. I only met Dr. Morales once a few weeks ago for about 15 minutes and I assume he'll come in and visit before the operation. He seemed like a great guy then and like you said everyone else has been terrific too. No, hadn't attended any meetings. I'll see how I feel afterwards but don't know if I will plan on any. I like this way. 25 lbs in less than a month, that's fantastic. I hope my results are as good. Thank you for the good words about Dr. Morales and the best wishes.