samuelsmom

@ This is not one of those "all or nothing" things. Before starting the one week liquid diet that my surgeon requires, I went out and enjoyed a nice dinner, however I didn't go crazy. I also kept a food journal and once a week ate whatever I wanted during my 3 month waiting period. Ny nutritionist said that was fine as long as it was only 1 day and it was reasonable portions. Not sure how I would have managed eating just rabbit food. I also ate a small amount of dark chocolate every day which my NUT also approved! I lost 27 pounds pre-op which was great! Good Luck.

@@amyecpa I was a week out on Thanksgiving Day and the dietitian told me I could have pureed turkey so I did! I couldn't have much but i really enjoyed it. I also ate a lot of vegetarian chili which is easy to mash up. I was fortunate and could drink the shakes and enjoy Greek yogurt. Good Luck to you.

@ amponder I am still laughing. My fur babies are jealous of the german shephard and want to visit you on market day! Lol

It does get better as long as you keep drinking. I suggest you use a medicine cup and keep sipping. Of course if you really can't drink, then a call to the doctor is absolutely in order.

Ok, unless you are at unusual risk for clots- just make sure you walk as much as you can every day and you should be fine-- most doctors don't give the blood thinner shots once you leave the hospital. For the pain meds- take liquid Tylenol-- it is effective and safe. Being 3 days out that may be enough to keep you comfortable. Now, about the scripts-- that is a real problem. This needs to go to the director of the group as this is not acceptable. You can also call the hospital and complain. In fact, I encourage you to. Why-- because this is one way hospitals identify problems. If patients don't speak up then things are not addressed. So complain! Hope you feel better soon!

I think the starting list is great except for the ibuprofen and flip flops. Do bring either comfortable slippers, crocs, or sneakers. I used my crocs and they were great. Easy to get in and out of and comfortable. I for one could not handle bringing nothing-- for me it was reassuring to know my stuff was nearby if I needed it. So I happily brought my overnight bag! Also , please tie up the back of the gown-- no one wants to see "flappers"! Another consideration-- everyone responds differently to anesthesia. I slept the first few hours and then was wide awake! It was nice to have my phone with me and my husband nearby for company.

I try and use olive oil when I cook and that has been a big help to avoid constipation. I had a different surgery type, so the fat need is not as critical. That being said, lubrication is always good for the plumbing!

Hope you continue to improve and get out of the hospital soon!

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I'm a girl, and I'm 20 years older than you. However, I have been obese since childhood and in the past I felt that surgery was dangerous and I would never consider it. What changed my mind? 2 things: 1) Knowledge that aging is not kind to the obese, they suffer from immobility and die young and 2) It was possible to do this without re-routing digestion. Both of these were like a "lightbulb" for me as I realized that I did not want to be injecting insulin or have a stroke if I could avoid it, and that I didn't have to move stuff around inside which was really a deal-breaker for me. Instead, my stomach was made smaller and I am grateful for it. Good Luck.

@@Vikingsfan8178 It sure sounds like you have answered your own question about whether you can do this on your own! Don't feel bad about past failures. Obesity is a disease which needs treatment. You can feel good that you are seeking help! Honestly, I don't "feel" like I lost part of my stomach, in fact, I hate the term "sleeve gastrectomy." I prefer to call it "Stomach reduction," which is an accurate term! Stomach reduction surgery will help you achieve the health goals you are looking for.

I always had "real food" except for the week before surgery where it was just liquids to help shrink the liver for surgery. Some people have the liquid diet for different amounts of time based on surgeon preference. After surgery you need it while your stomach heals. Other than than, there is no reason or need to have Protein shakes if you can meet your protein goals with your food intake.

@Follly Interesting idea, though I can't agree with it completely. Obesity is a multifactorial disease. A symptom of something else? Maybe in some cases, but certainly not all. My sister and I ate exactly the same food growing up. We had a traditional family and my parents served food from the stove so our plates were about the same. We also got small Desserts and rarely had junk food. My mother did not buy soda or chips. In high school she was 5'2" and weighed 105lbs, I was 5'4" and weighed 180lbs! What was the difference? We ate similarly and had similar activity yet she was ALWAYS thin and I was ALWAYS heavy. When I asked my NUT about this, and she heard that I was 10 1/2 pounds at birth, she said it was a metabolic disease that I inherited from my mother. Guess I was the unlucky one.

237 lbs

@@Vikingsfan8178 Since you are youngish -- why not visit a bariatric weight management center and work their program and see how you do? I went on a plan and worked for a year only to realize that I was gaining and losing the same 15 pounds. At that point I went through the process and had the sleeve done. I am very surgery averse and don't go to the doctor unless I really need to, however, that year gave me the evidence I needed that surgery was the best option. I am down 65 pounds and glad I made this decision. Good Luck!

I'm sure the surgeon wants to make sure you have all the options, however, I would definitely recommend the sleeve. Why re-route digestion if you don't have to?

First thing I would do is call my insurance company or go on line and read the requirements for surgery. Every insurance company has different requirements. I would also research surgeon groups before picking one. And I would recommend looking up the hospital ratings also. Most groups have a weight loss seminar-- you may want to go to 1 or more to see which you think fits you best. At that point you should be ready to make an appointment with a surgeon's group UNLESS your insurance requires a referral. It seems that for most people it's about 3-6 months depending on insurance and physician schedules. Good Luck.

This is one of those situations with no easy answers. It comes down to weighing the benefits and the risks and making the best decision for you. The likelihood of a leak is small but surgeons are obligated to point out anything that might happen even though it is unlikely. Good Luck to you.

@Countrygrrl My mother passed away 11 years ago and I miss her dearly. I admire your taking care of her in her time of need. It's easy when things are good and a whole other story when your care is not appreciated. But of course you do know that it is the "dementia talking" when the conversations are unpleasant. Now for the rest of it. In honor of my mother I will give you the response she would have given me: "Get out of this bad relationship!" and "In an open relationship? don't get mixed up with trouble!" So, imagine a short and stout Sicilian with a house dress on, ankle socks, and sneakers waving her arms in front of you and you have it! All kidding aside, don't bring yourself down with bad relationships, you're worth more than that! Good Luck.

Thanks for sharing! Great to hear! @@harley_quinn25, I have also had 2 c-sections and this is nothing in comparison! I had the IV pain medicine where you control it and I took a total of 3 doses. To by honest, I didn't take them because of pain, either. I took them to help me sleep! What I found the worse was the gas pain and it was relieved by walking. At the hospital I was at the nurses would come in every 4 hours to help you walk. I decided that I wanted to go home as soon as possible so I walked every hour. I viewed it like a work assignment. at the top of each hour I did 10 breaths with the incentive spirometer, then I sipped the Water until I had one ounce in, and then I walked around the hall, increasing my time each hour. In the remaining time I relaxed until the start of the next hour. By viewing it like a job assignment, I was able to stay very focused. My surgery was at 3:30 PM on a Wednesday and I was discharged from the hospital Thursday afternoon! One more thing to add: for some reason l could not get comfortable in a bed. The nurses gave me a recliner at the hospital and I slept in one at home for about 2 weeks. When I asked the nurse, she told me it was common for side or stomach sleepers not to be able to sleep in their own beds for anwhere from a few days to several weeks.

For Monday, 1/26 At 238 which was my goal! Will try for 234...

I understand your mom's view completely. My mother was very anti-surgery unless it was absolutely essential. Bariatric surgery, as you probably already know, is considered "elective." That being said, almost everyone going this route has struggled for years and this "elective" surgery can be life-saving. Obesity is a disease with a myriad of treatment options. For some people, non-surgical works, for others it doesn't. I'm sure you have thought long and hard about this. Don't second guess yourself. You can respect and appreciate your mother's concern and still stick with your decision and treatment plan. Good Luck!

I think you need to ask the surgeon for more details. What you have described is very unusual for bariatric surgery. Hope you feel better soon!

The first time I had popcorn was about 6 weeks post-op. I enjoy it for a snack with the 100 cal. bags; especially if I am watching a movie!

I'm sorry you've had to go through all this! The sleeve has actually been around quite some time. And there are stats from several years, although, not nearly as long as the RNY. Both the sleeve and the RNY are completely different surgeries from the band, so it is unlikely that you would have the same issues. I had the sleeve 2 months ago and have not had any problems. I can eat anything in small quantities and have had good weight loss so far. I am a fan of the sleeve because I couldn't handle the idea of rerouting digestion and I really didn't want malabsorption and dumping. However, I would recommend that you continue to research this and make the best decision for you. Good Luck!