SueRN

Wanted something With an Italian flare .
This was sooo easy and surprisingly good.
ricotta blended with black olive hummus, oregano and rosemary. Coat pan with olive oil, add ricotta/hummus blend, drizzle olive oil and grated Romano cheese, bake for 30 minutes at 350.
May try roasted pepper purée next time.

It's terrible that you've had these complications, and such a difficult recovery, however leaks are a risk, infection is a risk that we are informed of prior to giving consent for surgery. It sucks that it happened to you but it sounds like you had appropriate treatment and the complications are resolved?
It also sounds like your surgeon is as frustrated with you as you are with him. He was nice and kind post op and now he is rude. Maybe a new physician is a good step to take? Yes, he's a professional, but also human and some people just don't work well together. It might help you take a step back and hear what your doctor is saying to you. Long term use of narcotics is bad for your physical and mental health. They are addicting and people do develop a tolerance, needing more and more to get the same effect. They are hard on your now altered GI system. That isn't a judgement just a fact. Getting off them ASAP is always advisable and most people on long term narcotics need help to do it. Also, it is common for those of us with food issues to develop other not so healthy coping methods. Your doctor knows you, and he says you have a problem. You owe it to yourself to at least explore the possibility and get help.

Yes and no. Sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I've participated in the open version of this surgery as a first assist and know it isn't the simple procedure they make it out to be. Lots of vasculature and major organs to deal with. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't scare the crap out of me. I know the complications, although rare, are very real and can be horrible. So maybe the knowledge is scary but it's also an opportunity to stack the deck in our favor, chose a skilled surgeon, and comply with all the pre and post op instruction to reduce the risks of complications. This surgery is a calculated risk to avoid a lifetime of complications from obesity.

Wanted something With an Italian flare .
This was sooo easy and surprisingly good.
ricotta blended with black olive hummus, oregano and rosemary. Coat pan with olive oil, add ricotta/hummus blend, drizzle olive oil and grated Romano cheese, bake for 30 minutes at 350.
May try roasted pepper purée next time.

My BMI is just slight higher than yours and I've had those comments and honestly think they speak more to the growing obesity epidemic in this country. According to the BMI chart I was given by the NUT 30 is obese, by 35 we hit morbid obesity. It's called morbid because of the effect on health.
It's almost like the overweight range is our new normal.

Wanted something With an Italian flare .
This was sooo easy and surprisingly good.
ricotta blended with black olive hummus, oregano and rosemary. Coat pan with olive oil, add ricotta/hummus blend, drizzle olive oil and grated Romano cheese, bake for 30 minutes at 350.
May try roasted pepper purée next time.

Everyone's diet seems just a little different. Not sure if it's surgeon preference or related to technique.
Anyway I think mine is fairly conservative so should be safe. Week one was Clear Liquids with added Protein Powder that made clears, so pretty much fruit flavors, Unjury chicken Soup, or unflavored. Week two is full liquids, cream Soups, strained, Protein Shakes can be made with milk, pudding, Greek yogurt. The more solid full liquid like yogurt and pudding is about 2/4 cup. Week 3-is puréed 1/4-1/2 cup and week 4 is soft. Regular after that. Hope it helps, but please call your surgeon. Did you see a NUT? I can call mine anytime with questions and she get right back to me.

Wanted something With an Italian flare .
This was sooo easy and surprisingly good.
ricotta blended with black olive hummus, oregano and rosemary. Coat pan with olive oil, add ricotta/hummus blend, drizzle olive oil and grated Romano cheese, bake for 30 minutes at 350.
May try roasted pepper purée next time.

Mine was Monday. Immediate post op was painful apparently I'm a light weight when it comes to drugs, fall asleep and forget to breath. So spent a little longer in PACU than normal with no pain meds until the breathing was better.
As soon as they let me up to walk I felt much better. Walked every hour and was as close to pain free possible after surgery. Only used the morphine PCA to sleep.
Was allowed to go home the next morning. Still relatively pain free except sipping fluids was uncomfortable. Post op day 2 was probably the most difficult, gas pain, incisional pain, and fluids were a challenge. But all has gradually gotten better and now am drinking slowly but easily. Staying up late to try to catch up.
So I'd say it wasn't as easy as I hoped but not nearly as difficult as I feared. Pain at its worse 6, and now it might be 1-2.

Fingers crossed for a smooth and complete recovery this time around.

I'm only 7 days and on full liquids out but for me that little twinge of pressure/ pain is my new sleeves way of saying "slow down, you've had enough." If I pay attention and stop for a few minutes it soon passes and I can resume sipping my meal or drink. Pretty sure the sleeve can't stretch with liquids, and is fairly resistant to stretching permanently.

My BMI is just slight higher than yours and I've had those comments and honestly think they speak more to the growing obesity epidemic in this country. According to the BMI chart I was given by the NUT 30 is obese, by 35 we hit morbid obesity. It's called morbid because of the effect on health.
It's almost like the overweight range is our new normal.

I feel 100 percent better post op day 6. Not totally pain free but pretty close. Felt great night of surgery, absolutely awful post op day 2 and 3 and have been gradually improving since then.
Pain after surgery usually gets worse as the anesthesia gets out of your system and gets better from there.
Hang in there you will be back to normal before you know it.

I wrote the post about the unfortunate patient who ate the chicken. I wish she was the only one who ended up in trouble due to noncompliance. So if you aren't ready then take a step back and work on whatever issues you have.
I did gastric sleeve because I am just like you, a volume eater. I can go all day without eating and be fine but one bite and I'd eat whatever. No off button. Both of my friends who chose sleeve were the same way. I'm just day two, but both guys are several months out and did great. The sleeve is your off button signaling you've had enough. But you have to be totally committed to following the post op plan because to not is dangerous. I will tell you I have no desire to eat post op and the pre op diet was a struggle for me too.
Maybe set up an appointment with psych and talk about your fears.

I wrote the post about the unfortunate patient who ate the chicken. I wish she was the only one who ended up in trouble due to noncompliance. So if you aren't ready then take a step back and work on whatever issues you have.
I did gastric sleeve because I am just like you, a volume eater. I can go all day without eating and be fine but one bite and I'd eat whatever. No off button. Both of my friends who chose sleeve were the same way. I'm just day two, but both guys are several months out and did great. The sleeve is your off button signaling you've had enough. But you have to be totally committed to following the post op plan because to not is dangerous. I will tell you I have no desire to eat post op and the pre op diet was a struggle for me too.
Maybe set up an appointment with psych and talk about your fears.

Yes and no. Sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I've participated in the open version of this surgery as a first assist and know it isn't the simple procedure they make it out to be. Lots of vasculature and major organs to deal with. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't scare the crap out of me. I know the complications, although rare, are very real and can be horrible. So maybe the knowledge is scary but it's also an opportunity to stack the deck in our favor, chose a skilled surgeon, and comply with all the pre and post op instruction to reduce the risks of complications. This surgery is a calculated risk to avoid a lifetime of complications from obesity.

I saw my surgeon, Dr Schneider, in Boston, MA yesterday and was cleared for surgery. Surgery date is 2/24. I need to lose 10 lbs before then, and pre op diet starts two weeks prior. I am excited and nervous! 2 months and counting!

Just got the call today that I was approved!!! So excited!! I meet with the surgeon Thursday for consult and to pick a date!!!

Yes and no. Sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I've participated in the open version of this surgery as a first assist and know it isn't the simple procedure they make it out to be. Lots of vasculature and major organs to deal with. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't scare the crap out of me. I know the complications, although rare, are very real and can be horrible. So maybe the knowledge is scary but it's also an opportunity to stack the deck in our favor, chose a skilled surgeon, and comply with all the pre and post op instruction to reduce the risks of complications. This surgery is a calculated risk to avoid a lifetime of complications from obesity.

I won't have my sleeve until 12/16 and am 7 days into the liquid pre op diet, so I get it's hard, but...
I have worked as a surgical ICU nurse for almost 2 decades. I know exactly what happens to those who don't follow instructions. I'm sure some get away with it, but I've seen enough patients who ruptured their stomach staple line by eating the wrong things too soon. Once you've watched a 30 year old women fight for her life for months on a ventilator, overwhelming infection, multiple surgeries, only to lose in the end, because she ate half a chicken 1 week out, cheating is not an option. I've personally taken care of a few patients in the same situation, some lived, some didn't but it was a hard road either way. Why risk that? I don't say this to scare anyone away from the procedure. I was scared. Spoke to my surgeon and his experience is the same, he hasn't personally had a complication in his patients unless they were non compliant. It's a relatively safe procedure, and the surgical team does all they can to educate us, but some people just seem to know better or maybe should have never passed the psych. eval.

I was sleeved on July 11 2013. I am a little over 5 months and I feel great. I thought it was time to post some photos. I know it helped me when I was thinking of getting sleeved. So hope it can help others too. I now have no sleep apnea and my blood pressure is normal. No more aching feet is a plus too.
 

It's terrible that you've had these complications, and such a difficult recovery, however leaks are a risk, infection is a risk that we are informed of prior to giving consent for surgery. It sucks that it happened to you but it sounds like you had appropriate treatment and the complications are resolved?
It also sounds like your surgeon is as frustrated with you as you are with him. He was nice and kind post op and now he is rude. Maybe a new physician is a good step to take? Yes, he's a professional, but also human and some people just don't work well together. It might help you take a step back and hear what your doctor is saying to you. Long term use of narcotics is bad for your physical and mental health. They are addicting and people do develop a tolerance, needing more and more to get the same effect. They are hard on your now altered GI system. That isn't a judgement just a fact. Getting off them ASAP is always advisable and most people on long term narcotics need help to do it. Also, it is common for those of us with food issues to develop other not so healthy coping methods. Your doctor knows you, and he says you have a problem. You owe it to yourself to at least explore the possibility and get help.

My surgery is on Monday.. Only thing I'm worried about is the pain as well I am 58 years old 237 pounds I don't look it but I do feel it... I'm scared of hospitals good to other people are here to help..

It's bad!!! I've had a section and it doesn't compare. Sorry

It varies depending on your tolerance for pain and if you're having other things repaired as well. For instance, I had a hiatal hernia repaired as well as VSG. My pain waking up was a 9, but I have a very low tolerance for pain. The night after I was taken off the pain pump was difficult but as I was weaning off , it got better. At home I was prescribed Roxicet and I used it as needed, mainly for soreness or pain from incision site where my drain tube was. Hopefully you won't experience any pain. Good luck