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fit2Bme2014

Gastric Sleeve Patients
  • Content Count

    157
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About fit2Bme2014

  • Rank
    Expert Member

About Me

  • Biography
    Starting my journey to living a healthier life at an 'average' size.
  • Gender
    Female
  • Interests
    Photography, Gardening, Canning, Swimming, Crocheting, Camping, Hunting
  • Occupation
    Disabled... right now.
  • City
    Somewhere
  • State
    OR
  1. It's weird. Other sleeve patients don't seem to want to hear the I've had it as easy as I had it. No vomiting, minimum nausea, able to do self-care: clothe myself, I get off the pot myself, in and out of the shower myself, make my own meals myself. It's almost like it's a badge of honor to have had some sort of complication or malaise after surgery. No wonder the nurses made the comment like they did. No wonder they were so impressed and so surprised I was getting out of bed and walking without prodding and prompting. Smh

    1. Show previous comments  2 more
    2. butterflypinup

      butterflypinup

      Keep it up! I am happy to hear this even if I end up having it rough. Im praying I have it easy too. I hope that you continue to have it easy. :)

    3. PdxMan

      PdxMan

      There are many threads here with similar sentiments. Many folk who have an uneventful recovery do not create threads stating such, but there are some out there. Perhaps you can start one?

    4. fit2Bme2014

      fit2Bme2014

      I'm afraid I might get beat down and flamed,if I did

  2. fit2Bme2014

    My VSG experience

    My surgery was Wednesday, April 2nd. I'm amazed at how well I am doing. I'm sitting here, on my bed, just chilling cause you know, I just had major abdominal surgery and probably shouldn't be up doing my normal things. Lol! All silliness aside, my heart goes out to those of you who haven't had such an easy time. Please be kind to yourselves and get well soon. Several of you have asked if I would talk about my experience having the VSG surgery. Here it goes: The ninth day before surgery, I started a modified liquid diet (2 shakes & 1 low-calorie frozen entrée) for five days. The two days before surgery I was on a clear liquid diet (with a magnesium citrate chaser to 'clean me out'). 4/2 Wednesday - Surgery Day. I couldn't have anything by mouth, not even ice chips. Before surgery a nurse put a Transderm Scōp® patch (Scopolamine) behind my ear to help prevent nausea. During surgery my doctor found a small hiatal hernia which she fixed. When the surgery was completed she did a 'leak' test. Everything went well, and I was transferred to recovery and then to my room where my family was waiting for me. Once I was back in my room, I was told that they would have me up and walking within four hours. I couldn't have anything by mouth until the next day when I would have another leak test. My mouth and throat were so dry; I honestly think that might've been the worst part. About four hours later the nurse and aid came in to get me up for a walk. Though I was uncomfortable, mostly because of the JP drain, I didn't require any assistance getting up and ended up walking to the end of the hall causing my nurse and several others to remark, "wow! What a good job! We never see "these" patients do that." Yeah, "these" patients. Smh Through the night they would poke and prod me with needles. One of the test was a blood sugar. Though I have never had an issue with blood sugar, my numbers were above 120 two times. Interestingly, this is quite normal for patients who just gone through surgery. Their protocol for bariatric patients is, if the blood sugar is over hundred, they are given insulin. So when the second test came in high, I was given insulin. Their reasoning is, you heal better and have less chance of infection when your numbers are below 100. 4/3 Thursday - The next morning I was taken to radiology for another leak test. I had to drink yellow colored contrast so that they could watch where liquid went after I swallowed it. I asked the tech if my doctor was there and how soon she be reading report, because I was so thirsty. The radiologist, behind the partition, called out to me and said everything looked great. About an hour later I was started on clear liquids. My first meal consisted of: chamomile tea, broth, and cherry Jell-O. Along with my meal came a measured medicine cup. And, I was told to drink 15 mL every 15 minutes and track it on the form provided. I could tolerate everything except the Jell-O. I had a PCA (patient-controlled analgesia infusion pump) which was removed once the IV in my hand infiltrated the next day. At that point I started receiving Roxicet which is a liquid Percocet. I continued to get up either on my own or when it was suggested and each time, walked a little further. One of my nurse remarked she was very impressed because again, "'these' patients need continual prodding to get up." I ran a low-grade fever of about 100.4 throughout my stay. It was normal the day was released. 4/4 Friday - that morning I was instructed to drink 30 mL every 15 minutes and track it. My release was dependent on whether or not I could self-hydrate enough. I was able to take a shower on my own and dress in pajamas that I had brought from home. I continued to take walks every few hours. I was released that afternoon. Yay!! The entire time in the hospital, I had very minimal nausea, no vomiting and the pain was easily controlled with medication; I should mention the pain specifically related to the JP drain was pretty startling at times. 4/5 First full day home. I started phase 2 diet which consists of smooth foods, purées and 60-80g of protein in a liquid supplement. My surgeon requires her patients to walk 30 minutes each day, even if it's in increments. So, I went to Walmart to pick up my prescriptions and walked the store for 30 minutes. By the end I was pretty wiped out. I've had very minimal nausea, no vomiting and the pain has been easily controlled with the Roxicet. I feel weak, especially when I forget that I've had surgery and overdo it. Several times I've felt shaky and/or dizzy. My muscles feel a bit noodily. I've been able to handle all of my self-care and meals without help, i'm just slower than normal. I was also sent home with a prescription for the Scōp® patch and a sublingual anti-nausea medication; if you have a tendency toward nausea, I suggest you talk to Dr. about these meds. I'm still a bit swollen but not as much as my first day home. Oh! The gas pains. They're pretty sporadic and only last 10 to 60 seconds, but boy oh boy do they smart!! I know this is pretty long; I hope that it's helped somebody out there. If you have any questions, feel free to post them below or send me a private message.
  3. Three days postop, first full day home and I got to start phase 2 foods. Yay, right? Not so much. According to my program, phase 2 foods are: Jell-O, applesauce, supplements, creamed soups, cream of wheat, cream of rice, pudding and purées etc. I was able to get down an ounce of applesauce and only because I had to empty my Prilosec capsule into it so I could take the medicine. I've been drinking my iso-pure zero which has 40 g of protein; beyond that, I have no idea how I'm going to get in 60 to 80 g of protein today. I was hoping to try some soup but I have no appetite. My instructions say that I should eat even if I'm not hungry. I think there's a small part of me, an irrational part, that is afraid that if I start eating I won't stop, like I have in the past. Thankfully I'm not much pain or very nauseous. I'm just very tired. What are some other phase 2 foods I can try?
  4. Three days postop, first full day home and I got to start phase 2 foods, which are: Jell-O, applesauce, supplements, creamed soups, cream of wheat, cream of rice, pudding and purées etc. I was able to get down an ounce of applesauce and only because I had to empty my Prilosec capsule into it so that I could take it. I've been drinking my iso-pure zero which has 40 g of protein; beyond that, I have no idea how I'm going to get in 60 to 80 g of protein today. I was hoping to try some soup but I have no appetite. What are some other phase 2 foods I can try?

  5. fit2Bme2014

    Being released!

    I'm being released!! Other than feeling a bit weak and wonky, I feel good! Pain is controllable and nausea is very, very minimal. Gas pains, when they shift, are awful, though. Oh, and my whole body is swollen, especially my face, from all the IV fluids I received. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts! Hope you are all doing well. ❤️????
  6. I'm being released!! Other than feeling a bit weak and wonky, I feel good! Pain is controllable and nausea is very, very minimal. Gas pains, when they shift, are awful, though. Oh, and my whole body is swollen, especially my face, from all the IV fluids I received. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts! Hope you are all doing well. ❤

    1. BigGirlPanties

      BigGirlPanties

      congrats!!!! the swelling should go down gradually... glad you are feeling good (over all)

    2. mona832

      mona832

      Yaay! Congrats

  7. Thank you!! Im doing great. Surgery went well. Doc told my mom she fixed a small hernia while she was there. Walked enough the nurses remarked they never seen one of these patients do that well. Having mild discomfort at the incision and A LOT of pain where the JP drain when I try to take a breath or move, and that's calming down. I gave a slight fever. No nausea so far. Been sleeping a lot. Mouth is soooo dry. My nurse gave me a mouth moisturizer. Your thoughts and prayers have meant the world to me! ❤️

  8. My praying friends, I ask that you say a little prayer for me and my surgical team. I'm having a procedure done this morning. I really appreciate it...and all of you.

    1. Show previous comments  1 more
    2. Mikee57

      Mikee57

      prayers are being said right now

       

    3. ProudGrammy

      ProudGrammy

      good thoughts and wishes being sent your way

      be well

      kathy

    4. Cupcake

      Cupcake

      sending you well wishes and speedy recovery.

  9. My praying friends, I ask that you say a little prayer for me and my surgical team. I'm having a procedure done this morning. I really appreciate it...and all of you.

  10. fit2Bme2014

    April 2014 pre-op group

    Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'm gonna be sleeved tomorrow (April 2)!! Im excited about what my life is going to look like once I lose the weight.
  11. fit2Bme2014

    Tomorrow!

    Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'm gonna be sleeved tomorrow!! I'm excited. Excited to get it over with. Excited about this new chapter in my life. Excited about what my life is going to look like once I lose the weight and hopefully the compulsion it's driven me to eat.
  12. Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'm gonna be sleeved tomorrow!! I'm excited. Excited to get it over with. Excited about this new chapter in my life. Excited about what my life is going to look like once I lose the weight and hopefully the compulsion it's driven me to eat.

  13. I was talking to my therapist about this yesterday. My surgery is tomorrow, and I'm very concerned that I'm going to fall into the trap I've seen many on these forums, fall into…going back to the way they used to eat, after surgery. Therapist told me something I found very interesting. He said, eat food is really a meditative process. Its the way my brain has learned to filter out all the noise and chaos and focus in, very narrowly, on one thing. Even the movement of 'fork to face' is rhythmic and meditative. Isn't that interesting. So now, I'm having to learn new techniques, teach my brain different ways to soothe and filter. I think I'm going to take up crochet again, during my recovery. That's a pretty rhythmic activity. But food can never again be used as an option for self soothing, at least not for me. And there is sorrow there, thinking about that. But, the excitement about what lays before me is so much greater. What have you taken up, in place of food?
  14. I'm having my surgery tomorrow and wondering if there's anybody else having surgery tomorrow, April 2 as well.
  15. Pray for me, y'all. Tomorrow started my two day clear liquid diet with magnesium citrate chasers both days, in preparation for surgery, Wednesday.

    1. Shells_Almost_There

      Shells_Almost_There

      Stay focused on the goal - you're almost there and you can do it!!! :)

       

    2. Dawnakers

      Dawnakers

      YAY for you!! You can do it!

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