2goldengirl

SF Giants baseball!

That's the spirit! You've got this! Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

I fell shortly after surgery nd bruised my ribs. I had a small pleural effusion from that. Small amounts of atelectasis and small pleural effusions are not uncommon after abdominal surgeries, that's why all the emphasis on incentive spirometry and getting you up and moving. A larger one definitely warrants the attention yours is getting. Feel better soon!

The smile says it all!

Your stomach probably isn't ready for what you're giving it. I'm Day 16 postop and I can only handle less than a quarter cup of cottage cheese, for example. I know you want more solid food, but your new sleeve is telling you it isn't ready yet. .

Your stomach may not be ready for "real" food yet. Give it a few days. My RD told me to try one new food at a time, and only a little bit, to see how it goes. it was good advice.

Your body needs to rest, and heal. You no doubt lost a lot of fluid and lean mass you sorely needed. If you can get your protein and fluids, in, that's fantastic. Stay off the scale. Do some walking, be gentle with yourself, please!

This isn't about you, it's about her. She had surgery, she's gained some of her weight back. Imagine how that feels. She's probably afraid that you will be more successful than she was - which isn't fair, is it? One thing I know from reading a lot of posts on this board - nobody feels worse about themselves than a WLS patient who has gained some of their weight back. She's probably convinced herself that you will be way, way more successful than she was, which makes her feel even worse about her gain. I'm so sorry about this. I'm sure there isn't anyone you'd rather share your journey with than your best friend.

Yes, carbs from vegetables count as carbs - and veg and fruits are where your carbs should be coming from. The guidelines I was given from my surgeon have targets all the way through maintenance. and I'm grateful that they do, given how many posts I see from folks who weren't given this comprehensive a list. Overall, the rule of thumb is Protein first, veg second, fruit third. Which means if your protein portion target is 2-4 oz, you eat that first. Slowly. If there is room, a couple spoons of veggies. If there is room after that, a little fruit. Skip the simple carbs altogether, there isn't enough nutrition in them to dust a fiddle with. You can do this!

I know the feeling all too well. I fooled myself for years, too. But that's over. Now I have the reverse issue: learning to see the smaller me as I get there. A friend came over the other night. I'm 16 days postop, mind you. And she came to see me in the hospital (I was in twice). The first thing she said was "where is the rest of you"? And she meant it. She sees a big difference already (I'm down 13 lbs. since surgery). I don't see that any more than I did the creep upward, but I'm sure glad she does. And I'm counting on her to keep me "seeing" me accurately on the way down.

It isn't likely that you have stretched your sleeve - but you've definitely lost touch with your restriction. Go back to basics: log all your food, fluids, and activity. Eat small portions, Protein first, and remove distractions while you're eating. Really pay attention to the difference between "just enough" and "too much". You can do this!

I remember your preop posts. It's great to see you knocking it out of the park postop - rotten kidney stone nowithstanding. I had a roomate overnight when I was readmitted. She had a kidney stone and hadn't slept in two days. She was getting huge doses of pain meds and was still miserable. The following morning, she had lithotripsy. She'd gotten moved postop to another room, so I stopped to see her on one of my laps around the floor. She was a totally changed woman with a HUGE grin on her face. Once you get relief from pain like that, it's life-changing.

It depends on two things: first, what your health plan's guidelines are for revision from band to sleeve (they all differ). And second, each surgeon may have requirements of their own for revisions. Call your health plan and ask for a copy of their guidelines for revision of bariatric surgery. Good luck!

The guidelines for gastric sleeve very often are the same as for gastric bypass, which has a longer healing time. That may account for some of the differences. That said, a new sleeve will often dictate matters. You're fortunate that your sleeve is handling things so well. Mine is being pokey and I had to go back to Clear Liquids. I'm just today trying some unflavored Protein powder in them, I tried plain nonfat milk yesterday and it was a no-go. I can't wait for my sleeve to wake up and play along!

At three months out, what are you allowed to eat? I will be on regular foods by then, so what soups I will be OK with at three months will be according to personal tastes.

I ended up being rehospitalized for five days. My surgeon said most of her patients took two weeks off. I opted for four. I have a desk job, but I really wanted to have new habits dialed in before adding the distraction of work. As it happens, I'm two weeks postop today and can still only handle Clear Liquids. I'm mighty glad I'm not going back to work on Monday!

There are so many variables here, it's kinda hard to sort out. I'm two weeks postop and all I can handle are Clear liquids. You may need to back off a bit - it's frustrating, but just cause your doc says you can have something doesn't mean your sleeve is ready to process it. Hope you find your answer soon, nausea is miserable.

Remember that neither of you really knows the other. You shared with her what your plans are, she shared her experience. She may or may not have put it well, but you were honest with one another. It's a start. She doesn't know you, she doesn't know what you've put behind this, you don't have a years-long relationship. She's willing to work with you postop. I'd give her a chance.

Funny, we went to a movie last night. I'm still on Clear liquids, mind you. I never, ever, ever get popcorn at the movies. Yet, I was thinking "Gee, it would be nice to have some popcorn some day". Being on liquids too long can definitely mess with your head!

I'm not 1-2 years out, but what I can tell you definitively is that postop capacities vary. Some people can comfortably eat smaller amounts than others. No one case is true for every postop sleever. And there isn't a way to predict which way it will be for you. None of us gets to predict either how soon our sleeve will accept the recommended fluids and Protein, nor can we predict when, or if, we can eat favorite foods once we're beyond the immediate postop period. You can pretty much find a post that matches any opinion, fear, or hope you have. Good luck on your journey!

I am two weeks postop today. My case is not typical. Here's how it went: Day 0 (day of surgery): Handled Protein drink & Clear Liquids just fine. No gas pain. Main incisional pain was at largest incision where they removed the stomach. Hardest is getting in and out of bed. Day 1: Handled Full liquid diet but everything on it was icky sweet, eew. Tolerated oral pain medication which was VILE (liquid). Discharged and got home about 4PM. Fell down two steps in a completely unrelated boneheaded move and hit a concrete floor chest-first. Ouch. Day 2: Everything comes back up. It doesn't even seem to be getting as far as my stomach, I drink, I belch, everything I sipped comes up with the belch. Called surgeon, off to ER per the covering surgeon this is Saturday, BTW). Admitted when CT scan shows my hiatal hernia repair site is so swollen my esophagus is essentially shut. Readmitted to hospital. Crap. Happy to get IV pain meds, though, because ribs hurt in addition to incision. Vomiting is different than ever before, much easier, if that makes sense.. Day 3: In hospital. (Sunday). Tried for three meals to get/keep anything down. Total fail. Day 4-6 surgeon is back from the weekend, says she wants to keep me in and on IV fluids a couple days and start cautiously getting me back to trying to swallow. Day 7, discharged home. I've had to go back to clear liquids, my sleeve hates my Protein shakes. Just trying some plain nonfat milk in the late afternoon. Postop pain is gone, my ribs still hurt. Never have had any gas pain.

I love the Premier Protein premixed, but as of yet, my sleeve hates it and won't keep it down. Be aware that it's trial and error postop to see what your sleeve likes - or it can be, anyhow. postop to see what your sleeve likes - or it can be, anyhow.

Welcome aboard, Kelly! Sounds like you've got all the preop stuff roped and tied. We're here for ya!

@@UltrarunJohn, you have five kids and a wife. If I'm doing the math correctly, you're considering surgery in order to lose 35-40 lbs. Honestly, don't. The sleeve won't mean you don't have to clean up your act around food. Model for your kids taking responsibility for your own health and commit to making better choices. All of you will benefit. Good luck to you.

Twice, initial consult and then a followup after I'd done the visits to Pulm. and GI specialists, and had UGI, EGD, sleep study, and preop visit with my PCP. I also have the ability to email her at any time, which is great.