BitterSweet*

Gallbladder.

Gallbladder.

@@snowkitten, how did your appt go today and how are you feeling?

@@blondebomb, that was a good tip about the liquid lidocaine. Thanks for sharing that.

1) A fasting blood sugar of 96 is on the higher end of normal. Not abnormal but on the higher end of the spectrum. 2) Surgery is traumatic and will cause a spike in blood sugar, not a decrease, even though you have not had anything to eat or drink. 3) Sometimes the Fluid you are given has dextrose in it, which will raise your blood sugar. 4) Checking blood sugar on post-op weight loss patients is normal. If you're too low they treat it. If it's too high, they treat it - and yes, with insulin, even if you're not a diabetic. The only issue to really check on is the discharge order for meds. The other stuff is normal. Hope this helps. =)

=( So sorry. I hope the pain eases and you begin to feel better soon.

Till that muffin booty of mine is gone. I like my regular booty, but not that extra booty that sits on top. It's sort of like boob spillage from a bra. Not cute.

Take something for reflux.

It is natural for blood pressure and pulse to slightly increase after eating; that's normal. Figure out what your resting heart rate is then check it after you eat when it feels faster to you. Make a note of it and if you feel something isn't quite right, call your doctor.

@, it sounds like you are having a really rough time. I think it's easy for things to get misconstrued online like this. I didn't find anything you said offensive or sarcastic at all. Btw, I really appreciate all of you taking the time to reach out and share. I'm one of those people who've done a great deal of research, not just about preparing for surgery, but moreso afterwards - which I think is really what matters most. It is eye-opening to know that even the best preparation pales in comparison to reality. I really needed to hear that. Better days are coming girls. One day at a time.

Madigan is a great hospital. I'm a military wife also, and if you get the referral to the weight loss surgery program, you're already approved. You'll have to go through their "program" of nutrition visits etc. but you start out with an approval and the only thing that'll get you kicked out of the program is weight gain. You don't have to lose weight, but you can not gain weight. That's it!

How fast are you talking about and how much of a difference is it from your normal, resting heart rate?

Damn, a tablespoon of cake. Thank heaven's it wasn't more since your reaction was so profound! I'm sure it will get better with time. =)

You sound 100% ready for this surgery. If you have changed your life that much and still can't drop weight, the restriction of a sleeve may be what you need. Madigan is a great hospital. I did many of my nursing clinicals there. Good luck at your first appt; I hope you get approved right away. Are you a military wife or just trying to have your surgery done at Madigan?

Awesome!

@@cheers92, I don't think pain 3 weeks out from laparascopic surgery is normal. Soreness is normal but actual pain is not. I don't know if you've ever had surgery before and maybe you just don't have a basis for comparison? If you are having pain to such a degree that would warrant the use of Percocet three weeks after surgery, I'd go for another checkup. If what you're feeling is actually soreness, then everyone is right; it's expected and should begin to ease with each passing day. I hope you begin feeling better soon.

Yep. That learning curve is really hard. I've read posts by others feeling the same way. Not fully realizing the dynamics of the relationship they have with food until after surgery. It will get better. Hang in there, go for a walk or window shop cute and tiny clothing on the internet. Focus on other things to get through this moment.

@@snowkitten, I hope that you went to the ER to get checked out. I understand your apprehension in overthinking it, but this is not the sort of thing you can take chances with. It may be nothing, but it could be something. Btw, I know every surgeon is different but it is becoming alarming to me that more and more doctors are omitting ordering EGDs pre-operatively and not doing a leak test after surgery. A visual inspection of a newly cut organ is not adequate. Cut things bleed and bleed a lot. Exactly how can they differentiate between bleeding from the boogie cutting the stomach, and a leak in the staple line? Blood is blood and that's the entire point of having patients drink barium after surgery; or at the very least they can run methylene blue through to check for leaks. Hopefully your surgeon did something. I really hope things are fine and that you begin feeling better soon.

I've had to take half of a muscle relaxer when the cramps got that bad. Call your GYN and see if they can prescribe something and in the meantime, put a heated pack on your back.

My vote is regular Gatorade, split with 50% water. You'll get the fluids you need, flavor without too many carbs, as well as needed electrolytes. You can even add in unflavored protein powder to that 50/50 mix in order to help with daily protein needs.

They are going to love your blue hair at the hospital! Good luck to you. You have such a positive attitude and I think that will translate to phenomenal success. =)

Welcome to your first lesson in keeping your mouth closed about your choice to have surgery. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. The comments, attitudes, and snears will come and that's the primary reason I'm not saying a damn thing to anybody. I really could care less what people think and I'll have plenty to focus on after surgery besides other people's thoughts about my choice. It's insulting and rude to say the least, but for some reason people seem to come out of the woodwork with their 2 cent comments about WLS. Not interested.

It sounds like you are ready for the before part. They can manage your anxiety while in the hospial, but what about afterwards once you get home? A lot of people get extremely concerned about every little thing that feels weird in their body after surgery. Have you spoken with your doctor about that part? I think that's where I would focus my nervous energy, so that you have the clearest expectation of how your body may react to these changes. Hopefully you could return to those learned things as little things come up - sparing you from an anxiety attack or unneeded trips to the ER. I hope your concerns become nothing but a distant memory for you and that you do really well. Good luck!

Exactly. I know lots of people are getting this surgery done without an endoscopy before hand, but polyps grow on the inside of the stomach. The stapling device (bougie) used to cut your stomach does not allow them to take a peek inside your belly. They can look at the removed portion, but what about the sleeve you're left with? Many people have conditions unbeknownst to them, just like you described, and are completely asymptomatic. I really find it astounding that some surgeons do a VSG without knowing the actual health of someone's stomach before hand.

Run like you are on fire if your surgeon does not require an endoscopy. The procedure is ordered (or should be) to give your surgeon the best assessment of your health before surgery. The endoscopy is done for the following reasons: 1)To assess your gallbladder; if it's diseased they will remove it during surgery, which will likely save you from a 2nd operation down the road. 2) To assess whether you have a hernia of any kind, which would also be repaired during sleeve surgery. 3) To look for any structural abnormalities, polyps (pre-cancerous growths), which would be removed during the endoscopy; check for H. Pylori, which would require treatment with antibiotics (2 different ones) for a couple of weeks; and for signs of significant GERD / reflux disease.