altraoiche

To be straight up, I had to buy some caffeine pills and would take 1/4 of a pill to stave off the headaches. I never had any ill effects from taking caffeine.

I weaned off caffeine about 2 months before my pre-op diet because I knew I would go postal if I tried to do that at the same time as my pre op diet, so kudos to you for doing it now. I started by replacing all my coffee with half caff (Folgers brand) and then slowly replace half of that with Decaf. After 2 weeks I went to decaf coffee and decaf tea. I had a headache for about 4 days and then it started to dissipate. Drink LOTS of Water to help with the DT's.

How about half a cup morning, half a cup mid day and 1/2 cup afternoon for a few days and see how that goes? My dr said to gradually come off it, but better now than after surgery.

I'm on December 19!

You don't have to tell them specifically what you are going in for but you need to tell them something. Especially at their age. You're going to come home sore and tired. Their imaginations will be much worse.

I should explain that our play is pretty physical. We play a lot of sports outside and wrestle some times on the floor so those are the things I have to explain we can't do for a few weeks. I guess I should just keep it simple like you said

I'm on 19th!

Mine is Friday the 19th! Sooo excited. Found out 2 days ago

Jess I got the call was a week and a half notice so I'm in a similar situation as you. Very excited head is spinning :-)

Mine is Friday the 19th! Sooo excited. Found out 2 days ago

I have a favor. I am trying to find pics of well-healed scars after VGS surgery. I see fresh ones, but not a lot of healed ones. Would anyone be willing to share a pic of your tum? Various stages of healing (fresh to well healed) would probably be appreciated by all. Thanks in advance.

I LOVE child life specialists!!! Such sage advice from all of you. Thank you!!!

I told my 7 yr old that I had to have something in my tummy fixed and that I was FINE and that we'd have to be careful for a while after. She asked what was wrong and I told her not to worry about it, that I'm fine.
I showed her and my 3 yr old that I had owies and that they have to be gentle.
That's pretty much been the end of it.

I worked as a Child Life Specialist. Part of our philosophy was to explain things to children in the most simple yet honest way possible.
So you say:
"Mommy's going to see a doctor who going to fix her tummy." If he ask if it will hurt, you tell him, "No because the doctor will give me special medicine to make me go to sleep so I won't feel anything and hen he's done, he'll wake me up." If he doesn't ask, don't volunteer it. Explain he's going to stay with grandmom for a few days while you are visiting the doctor. Let him know when you go home you won't be able to ___________ (whatever you call it when your rough house) because your tummy will be sore for a while. Let him know you can do other things like read books together some other less physical activity. Remind him it was like when he got his boo-boo_______ and for a few days it was fun to touch that boo-boo. Keep it all matter of fact and non scary. Children pick up non verbal cues. If your scared and nervous, he will sense it.
You may need to have this conversation more than once. In fact I recommend it. Post op whenever he want to initiate rough play remind him that you can't do _____ right now, but you can do _____ offer reading or an alternate non physical activity.

Way to go Kim. So glad you called your provider. If you are bipolar, you may need an adjustment on your medications and that may be all that is needed. But the Vitamins and Iron are a likely reason for your fatigue. I know I sound all experty, but I am not. I am a nurse though.
I have my surgery sleeve on Dec. 19. The emotional part where I used to turn to food for comfort is my greatest fear.

Way to go Kim. So glad you called your provider. If you are bipolar, you may need an adjustment on your medications and that may be all that is needed. But the Vitamins and Iron are a likely reason for your fatigue. I know I sound all experty, but I am not. I am a nurse though.
I have my surgery sleeve on Dec. 19. The emotional part where I used to turn to food for comfort is my greatest fear.

These are two of my scars 19 weeks out. I've been using Mederma since about two weeks post op.