auntiemel

I originally went under the knife to have the sleeve done in September 2012, woke up and was told that my liver and stomach were "too fatty" to do surgery...it took over a year to get the courage to go back to a different bariatric doctor, and I went to 2 different places after one told me I should have bypass and not sleeve...not what I wanted to hear. I started this journey in January of this year and had 6 months nutrition visits. By the time surgery was approved by my insurance I started my freak out. Each day that got closer, I became more crazy. I started super organizing things, just trying to take charge of what I could in my life I guess. The day before surgery I was so nervous I didn't even eat. By the time I thought, well I guess I should eat something, it was too late. The day of surgery on 9/22, I was freaking out on the inside. I was trying to be cool and calm, but I wasn't. I ended up going into the bathroom and crying wondering what the hell I was doing to myself. Thank goodness for the anesthesiologist and his lovely meds! Once they gave me whatever it was...probably versed...I was out of it and didn't have a care in the world. I don't even remember if I went in the elevator to go to surgery, or how long it was between the time they gave it to me and when I was taken to surgery. I remember they had some sort of blow up thing to slide me over to the operating table, a mask went on my face, and then I was out. I woke up freaking out wondering...what if I went through this all over again and they couldn't do surgery. Luckily, the surgeon was successful, and even told my husband he has no idea why the other surgeon couldn't do it before since my liver was fine. I guess I'm lucky I didn't have it done before, because that surgeon didn't see my hiatal hernia, and Dr. L did. You will do fine! You can ask your surgeon if you can get a prescription for something like Valium so you can sleep good the night before, and I think some allow you to take it the morning of as well. I think having freak outs are definitely a huge part of any surgery. Keep us posted! Good luck!

I took a month off work. I was asleep for almost an entire week after surgery and the second week I still struggled with energy. Today I'm 3 weeks post op and have more energy, but if I lay down, I could still fall asleep lol Can you have surgery between quarters/semesters or during a holiday break?

Thanks @jayhaymom I hadn't even thought of kids meds for that! I hope after I get some today the nausea goes away. I hate this feeling...darn allergies

Yeah! I love Dr. Landerholm!!! Woohoo. I'm in Lake Stevens. 3 weeks post op as of today. I'm down 15 pounds and have hit my "3 week stall," but I know it will pass. You are going to love everyone there. Jillian is a sweetheart, and Bridget is really nice too. Dr. L really cares...he never talked down to me and treated me like he would treat his family members. They have such respect for their patients. I went to a few different clinics and doctors and never felt the same respect as I do at PSSC. Good luck and keep me posted. Maybe we can all go out for tea or something. I drink iced tea and hot tea like it's going out of style now lol...before it was coffee

I feel the same way! Once I get full I swear it feels like it's just stuck sitting in my stomach like a rock. I had a hernia repair and I read that it can take awhile for that to heal and make it harder to eat. I wish I was getting a signal like some people that sneeze or hiccup, but I don't

I can't take my Mucinex and sudafed yet...anyone have a good way to help relieve mucus? It makes me nauseous all day when it starts going into my sleeve.

PPI is a proton pump inhibitor- acid reducer. My doctor said that even without heartburn after surgery, they want the stomach nice and calm, so they have me on 40 mg of Prilosec each day. I figured since peanut butter was ok to put in shakes, licking a tiny bit off a spoon would be ok...big mistake! My nutritionist said I may just be too sensitive for awhile to the higher fat content. Right now I am sticking to water, Apple juice, Soups, eggs, and yogurt. I am so glad there are such flavorful soups out there like minestrone and chicken tortilla, chicken noodle can get too boring.

Converting to bypass would still result in dumping syndrome. Conversion may help with acid control though. Did you have a hernia or was a hernia repaired? I had a hiatal hernia repaired along with sleeve and now my reflux is gone. It sounds like the vomiting/nausea is from the acid. Did they put you on a PPI? I do get nausea/vomiting sometimes and it seems to come from eating/drinking too close together, or eating a good that doesn't agree with me. I tried Peanut Butter and threw that up, I had some shaved lunch meat the other day and threw up, well I can't really say I threw the food up, it was more just liquids and saliva. You could have a stricture or narrowing of your esophagus? Which would make keeping foods/liquids down more difficult. Our bodies are going through such a roller coaster right now and I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I am almost 3 weeks post op and somedays think "what did I do to myself?!?!" I hope that in the next few days you heal and have no more issues. Good luck and keep me posted.

I felt like backing out, but once they put versed in my IV I was a-ok lol...do this when it is right for you and take your biggest supporter!

I'm so glad the sleeve was approved through my insurance, or I never would have had wls. Everyone is different and have their reasons for what they choose ???? I just know my mind could never accept a foreign object or rerouting of my organs. I don't understand why they don't remove the "blind" stomach after bypass. It is essentially useless and should just be taken out...imho

I had gerd and it has resolved with my hiatal hernia being repaired.

Gastrectomy's have been around far longer than RNY has. Ulcers and cancer have been removed that way for over 100 years. The first partial gastrectomy was performed in 1879. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1893089-overview#1 Although it may have been unsuccessful then, medicine has advanced so much! Plus, it doesn't say why the surgery was unsuccessful. A leak is a small risk, but there are leak risks with RNY as well. They are still cutting in your stomach and intestines. I hope you choose what is right for you. ????

I was on a 3 week pre-op and I ate what I liked, but modified it. I had zucchini boat pizza, montreal seasoned chicken on salad, and taco salad. I had attempted to have this surgery before and had 1 too many food funerals...I woke up without surgery being done. Good luck!

theworldaccordingtoeggface.com is amazing too! So many recipes! And Michelle is so nice and a great inspiration

Try some gas x and walking. That's what I was told by others. If I eat or drink too much, I do get a pain in the middle of my chest. The first week I was so gassy, I was burping nonstop! I felt like such a pig LOL. I was just talking to a gal at my surgeons office and she has the sleeve as well and told me that the middle chest pain is like the food hitting a brick wall and our body saying "no more." I too had a hernia repair and it was only painful for a few days. The worst I felt was when I vomited and it felt like my stomach was trying to go through the hernia repair. It was so painful!

I noticed I have little whiteheads on my cheek...Ugh! I hate acne! Although they say that all the hormones are releasing from our fat cells...I hope I don't end up with acne like I had as a teen! Oh the horrors!!!

I have a larger incision by my belly button, I'm assuming that's where they pulled my stomach out. It was numb for a few days and then the feeling came back. I didn't have pain that ever measured that high on the pain scale, but we are all different and my acupuncturist said I have a really high pain tolerance. If the pain meds aren't helping, I'd call your doctors office. Also try a heating pad, or maybe even ice the area. I am 2 weeks and 4 days post op and there are times when I feel like I've been kicked in the gut. Today my niece almost fell over and I jumped to grab her and for the next hour, I could feel all the incision sites. Remember, they had to cut through muscle to get into our abdomen, so it will be sore for a bit. I asked the same question last week haha...I'm a hypochondriac now lol

Congrats! I was passed out for almost an entire day lol. When people were talking in my room I kept telling them to go away because I couldn't sleep with their yammering away.

Anyone else get acne post-op? I have hormonal/PCOS issues and don't ever really have cycles, so I'm wondering if these little acne mean I'm going to start my period. I didn't post on the ladies forum, I know, I don't care if guys chime in...you never know, you guys might know females that have had surgery and have input for me ????

IV fluids! It gets better. Hang in there ????

I understand lol...each person reacts so differently. I know a gal with RNY and she can drink wine and eat sweets like before. It's so crazy how each of us wake up and our bodies either accept or reject what we put in them. I'm trying to eat like a baby and introduce one thing at a time. Eating and drinking is so different now. What was your experience?

You can still get dumping syndrome. I am 2 weeks and 4 days out and if I eat something sweet, even applesauce, it can go right though me. Even peanut butter made me feel ill since it is high in fat. Each person is different and some with bypass can still eat candy and sugar and not be affected.

my personal reasons why I chose the sleeve: 1. I am a volume eater! I may not be shoving Oreos and junk food down my throat, but I overeat, even the good stuff like fruits. 2. I am already anemic, have low Vitamin d and b12 levels, so I did not want to have issues with malabsorption. 3. The thought of having most of my stomach removed doesn't bother me, hut I get the eebie jeebies from the thought of having my intestines movers around. 4. I don't really eat a ton of sweets so the major possibility of dumping syndrome being a deterrent wasn't needed. 5. I also love to bake during the holidays! Like Graham Elliot, he chose the sleeve so he can still taste test what is being made. Like I said in #4, I don't eat a lot of sweets, but being more prone to dumping syndrome wouldn't be good for testing recipes. 6. My mom has a history of colitis and ulcers, and was hospitalized once and had to receive blood transfusions...that alone made me want to leave my intestines alone. 7. I have had migraines since childhood and NSAIDS help me. They can be used occasionally with sleeve (at least some docs ok it) and with bypass you can't take them at all. 8. With bypass you have a small pouch and your anatomy is changed and if something happens and a medic or doctor needs to scope you, the can perforate your pouch if they aren't advised you have had bypass.

@@MariaW I absolutely love ice cold drinks and slushes still. I'm 2 weeks and 4 days out and drink both ice cold and hot beverages.

I'm trying to blog mine...it does seem like a chore sometimes, but I've posted quite a bit adayinthesleevedlife.com I'm trying to hold myself accountable for my sleeve and how I'm utilizing it