karen091866

4 months post-op---never a single problem while in the hospital for 2 days.
My surgeon put a Scopolamine patch on me in recovery, so that headed off ANY nausea before it had a chance to even begin & I kept that on for 72 hours.
I was fortunate enough not to have need for a post-op drain.
I went home with Zofran to use if nausea was an issue, but never needed to take it.
No issue with Constipation. -- As a nurse, I already knew to be vigilant with my incentive spirometry & to walk-walk-walk once I was home.
I have never once regretted having VSG =)
One thing I will stress as being important post-op is: STICK to your diet schedule. Don't advance to the next phase of foods "on your own because you feel ready"....those phases are in place for a reason...to allow your staple line to heal without offending textures irritating it. (I cringe each time I read about people 'skipping ahead', then complaining about how awful they felt afterwards.
Do what your surgeon instructs you to do....do your best to consistently meet your Fluid and Protein goals...and CALL your surgeon and/or nutritionist if you have problems or questions....they know what is best for each of us.
Best of luck to you! You're getting ready to embark on a life-changing journey!

The first thing that comes to my mind is--> are you getting adequate fluids every day? Are you reaching your Protein goals?
I am a few days past being 4 months post-op & back in the beginning, I had a few days where I felt dizziness creeping in ---I'd look at my food log & immediately see that I was behind on my Fluid intake...Once that registered with me, I never let it happen again.
If you're meeting your Fluid & Protein goals and still feeling this way, I'd pick up the phone and call your surgeon.
They know what's best for each of us post-op.

The first thing that comes to my mind is--> are you getting adequate fluids every day? Are you reaching your Protein goals?
I am a few days past being 4 months post-op & back in the beginning, I had a few days where I felt dizziness creeping in ---I'd look at my food log & immediately see that I was behind on my Fluid intake...Once that registered with me, I never let it happen again.
If you're meeting your Fluid & Protein goals and still feeling this way, I'd pick up the phone and call your surgeon.
They know what's best for each of us post-op.

Awesome! Congratulations! Keep us all posted on how surgery goes...
I am a little over 4 months post-op- & have ZERO regrets!
Best of luck to you on your big day!

I work 40+ hours a week @ a high-level activity job as a nurse. - I took 3 full weeks off...and felt fatigued for several days upon returning to work.
You don't mention what type of work that you do---just that it is very 'part-time'. -- If it involves lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting @ the waist or bending at all, I'd take the longer time off option you're able to manage.
You want to do right by your body & recover 100%---so you return to work able to give 100%, too.

4 months post-op---never a single problem while in the hospital for 2 days.
My surgeon put a Scopolamine patch on me in recovery, so that headed off ANY nausea before it had a chance to even begin & I kept that on for 72 hours.
I was fortunate enough not to have need for a post-op drain.
I went home with Zofran to use if nausea was an issue, but never needed to take it.
No issue with Constipation. -- As a nurse, I already knew to be vigilant with my incentive spirometry & to walk-walk-walk once I was home.
I have never once regretted having VSG =)
One thing I will stress as being important post-op is: STICK to your diet schedule. Don't advance to the next phase of foods "on your own because you feel ready"....those phases are in place for a reason...to allow your staple line to heal without offending textures irritating it. (I cringe each time I read about people 'skipping ahead', then complaining about how awful they felt afterwards.
Do what your surgeon instructs you to do....do your best to consistently meet your Fluid and Protein goals...and CALL your surgeon and/or nutritionist if you have problems or questions....they know what is best for each of us.
Best of luck to you! You're getting ready to embark on a life-changing journey!

Several people in this support site have gone to Mexico for surgery...Most with good results & significant savings.
Search through the topics for surgeries in Mexico to get some information there.
Hope all works out for you!

I don't think just a few days is enough time off. I went back at 15 days post-op and was still really tired. The pain and discomfort last about 3-5 days. The fatigue lasts a couple of weeks.

Several people in this support site have gone to Mexico for surgery...Most with good results & significant savings.
Search through the topics for surgeries in Mexico to get some information there.
Hope all works out for you!

Awesome! Congratulations! Keep us all posted on how surgery goes...
I am a little over 4 months post-op- & have ZERO regrets!
Best of luck to you on your big day!

So you were supposed to have had a revision from band to sleeve in 2013 but you think they didn't actually sleeve you? Have you had any sort of restriction while eating? I can't see how you could not be sleeved and not know. That seems crazy!

Several people in this support site have gone to Mexico for surgery...Most with good results & significant savings.
Search through the topics for surgeries in Mexico to get some information there.
Hope all works out for you!

We can die commuting to/from work...or driving to the grocery store or the mall.
Each one of us had one or more comorbidities when we first met with our surgeon-of-choice...or else we wouldn't have qualified.
Anyone literally terrified of going into an elective surgery should likely do some serious reconsideration.

We can die commuting to/from work...or driving to the grocery store or the mall.
Each one of us had one or more comorbidities when we first met with our surgeon-of-choice...or else we wouldn't have qualified.
Anyone literally terrified of going into an elective surgery should likely do some serious reconsideration.

I'm right @ 4 months post-op and have experienced much the same thing w/ coffee...I soon found that it wasn't so much the coffee I was wanting, but something flavored...so I bought several Torani sugar-free flavorings...in the flavors I once enjoyed in my coffees (hazelnut, cinnamon, etc) and I use them in my Protein shakes...and that quelled the craving.
I avoid coffee altogether...it just wasn't worth the stomach upset it was causing. We have enough going on with managing our new limitations and needing to be so disciplined that I simply couldn't be sidetracked with heartburn, nausea and the fear that if I "insisted on drinking that coffee", I might barf....not a risk I was willing to take.....Torani flavorings are a wonderful thing! <3

I'm right @ 4 months post-op and have experienced much the same thing w/ coffee...I soon found that it wasn't so much the coffee I was wanting, but something flavored...so I bought several Torani sugar-free flavorings...in the flavors I once enjoyed in my coffees (hazelnut, cinnamon, etc) and I use them in my Protein shakes...and that quelled the craving.
I avoid coffee altogether...it just wasn't worth the stomach upset it was causing. We have enough going on with managing our new limitations and needing to be so disciplined that I simply couldn't be sidetracked with heartburn, nausea and the fear that if I "insisted on drinking that coffee", I might barf....not a risk I was willing to take.....Torani flavorings are a wonderful thing! <3

Wow--after reading this, I feel truly blessed. We've got United HealthCare through my husband;s employer--and my portion was $600 ... Six hundred dollars. Period.
It must have to do with your specific plan. He works for a huge company, (so the out-of-pocket cost to subscribers is less).. and we have the PPO option plan.--Not sure if the PPO part would make any difference, though.
In the end, though...when anyone reaches the point where weight-loss surgery is even on the table...the benefits SO outweigh any costs associated with it. If you need the procedure done, there is always a way to wiggle funds around and make it happen.
I am about 3.5 months post-op and don't regret my decision one bit. Never a drop of "buyer's remorse"...
I can't put a price tag on health and happiness. <3

Yes and it makes me mad suddenly I'm worth speaking to or being treated with respect I just passed a year post op and it's still all ppl want to talk about and loudly too about how much I've lost and how wonderful I look seems idiotic I've always been a decent person and now everyone is so " proud" of me what right do they have to be proud or not they had nothing to do with the loss or the gain before that

@@Alex Brecher
Some day's the difference still surprises me . I have more value because I'm in a more acceptable package.
People are so inundated with the media selling us we are not good enough. We are sold the image of what beauty is. We are sold that overweight is not acceptable. I will always appreciate the people that can get past the appearance thing.

There are no sensitive subjects here among us......just the occasional overly sensitive, easily butthurt member.
Just a dude's perspective, here.....due to prolonged back pain issues and other poor health stuff....the months leading up to my sleeve surgery were a drought of activity of any kind. Very unusual state for me. It was something that I never saw coming and when it hit......so did the near immediate motivation to get out from underneath controllable health issues once and for all....the decision to have wls was made.
Abdominal hernia patch job done at time of sleeve. The desire to get busy and get my groove on was there a couple weeks after surgery....but the hernia wound kept me in check. About the time I hit the 6-8 week mark it was game-on....ready to rock 'n roll when the opportunity presented itself.
For reasons other than surgery the opportunity has been a rare occasion, but I stand ready, willing and able.
At 4.5 months.....I can say that it is on my mind about as much as it was when I was a teenager.

I had my 3-month post-op appointment yesterday, 2/15/16 & mentioned something similar to my surgeon.
I am one that has struggled w/ weight for a majority of my life--but have had periods where I enjoyed a healthy weight for periods of time. Since having my surgery & dropping a great deal of weight in a short time, I definitely am perceived differently....But here's the caveat....I also see myself differently. This being the case, it is up to ME to adjust how I navigate the world.
The newly-added attention has kind of made me a bit of a turtle....I'll think I have my 'sea-legs' and be out shopping or whatever...then some sort of new attention comes my way...and "into the shell I go".....Not that the attention scares me, but it is foreign. My philosophy has become: "I'm the same person I've always been. If you didn't have time for me before, I don't have time for YOU now"....and this is what works for me. I'm not going to wade in the shallow pool.
I have tried to find words for it...and there aren't words...it is just how society is. Obesity is like the proverbial "Scarlett Letter"...when we are overweight, we stick out...we do not "blend"....Let's be honest with ourselves....I'm not trying to start a battle of words on this page by any means...but our lifestyle choices made us different from the mainstream - and society is harsh. People who have always been a normal weight cannot relate to extreme weight loss...and why should we expect them to? I have light brown hair...and cannot relate to stigmas associated with blondes or redheads...and don't want to.
This is MY life, my journey...and I have to find my own way. Those closest to me DO understand the struggles---because I've taken the time to explain them. If I can't "own this" and be honest and purge myself of everything associated with the extra weight, I'm not going to ever emerge from that shell.
I kind of liken the process to AA or something...we have to first ADMIT that there is a problem...decide to get help...seek support from others that understand (this website, our 'in-person support groups', family)---and then we have to WORK OUR RECOVERY by exercising, eating healthy, DOING what the Nutritionist TELLS US TO DO...and Living the Change ---every...single....day. * Disclaimer * that doesn't mean we aren't human...and it certainly doesn't imply that the road will be easy --- Stay focused...and keep your eye on the prize!
My decision to have my sleeve was about being healthy...and nothing more. I shouldn't have to hope anyone would have issues understanding that.

I had my 3-month post-op appointment yesterday, 2/15/16 & mentioned something similar to my surgeon.
I am one that has struggled w/ weight for a majority of my life--but have had periods where I enjoyed a healthy weight for periods of time. Since having my surgery & dropping a great deal of weight in a short time, I definitely am perceived differently....But here's the caveat....I also see myself differently. This being the case, it is up to ME to adjust how I navigate the world.
The newly-added attention has kind of made me a bit of a turtle....I'll think I have my 'sea-legs' and be out shopping or whatever...then some sort of new attention comes my way...and "into the shell I go".....Not that the attention scares me, but it is foreign. My philosophy has become: "I'm the same person I've always been. If you didn't have time for me before, I don't have time for YOU now"....and this is what works for me. I'm not going to wade in the shallow pool.
I have tried to find words for it...and there aren't words...it is just how society is. Obesity is like the proverbial "Scarlett Letter"...when we are overweight, we stick out...we do not "blend"....Let's be honest with ourselves....I'm not trying to start a battle of words on this page by any means...but our lifestyle choices made us different from the mainstream - and society is harsh. People who have always been a normal weight cannot relate to extreme weight loss...and why should we expect them to? I have light brown hair...and cannot relate to stigmas associated with blondes or redheads...and don't want to.
This is MY life, my journey...and I have to find my own way. Those closest to me DO understand the struggles---because I've taken the time to explain them. If I can't "own this" and be honest and purge myself of everything associated with the extra weight, I'm not going to ever emerge from that shell.
I kind of liken the process to AA or something...we have to first ADMIT that there is a problem...decide to get help...seek support from others that understand (this website, our 'in-person support groups', family)---and then we have to WORK OUR RECOVERY by exercising, eating healthy, DOING what the Nutritionist TELLS US TO DO...and Living the Change ---every...single....day. * Disclaimer * that doesn't mean we aren't human...and it certainly doesn't imply that the road will be easy --- Stay focused...and keep your eye on the prize!
My decision to have my sleeve was about being healthy...and nothing more. I shouldn't have to hope anyone would have issues understanding that.

Wow! That sounds so wonderful! I can't wait to have that happen. I know it won't be immediate, but damn girl! You are so giving me hope right now.
Congratulations on your success!

I am SO happy for you!!!! What an amazing feeling!!! GO YOU!!!

Ok so today I went shopping because my size 12 jeans were getting fairly loose. I went to my favorite place to buy jeans since having WLS. Lucky Brand Jeans.
I grab a pair of sweet and straight jeans in a size 10 and I am grinning from ear to ear because I am confident they are going to fit and I love that feeling. I have not fit into jeans this small since I was a teenager.
I put them on and I am right! They fit fantastic! I come out of the dressing room and model for hubby who promptly says, those look a little big. Maybe you should think about a smaller size.
I the immediately say "no way!" An 8 is not going to fit me. I am honestly not sure if I have ever worn a size that small. I decide to encourage him and prove there is no way I will get them up.
I grab an 8 and head back into the dressing room. I look at this tiny pair of jeans and go, here goes nothing. They fit perfectly! I could hardly believe my eyes.
Then the sales clerk tells me that they are buy one get one half off but she says the darker dyes seem to be more forgiving so she gives me an 8 and a 6 to try on. I laughed but thought well just see how far off you are.
Well, I put the 6 on, buttoned them up and stood there in shock. Now, I didn't buy the 6 because although I could wear them, I do like my jeans to be comfortable and have a little room.
So when I started this journey I wore 24 jeans and 26/28 tops. I am now in a size 8 and a medium or large top. Sometimes I have to get the large because I have a lot of loose skin.
I cannot believe where I am today! For me, clothes shopping is when I can really see the thinner me.