Unbridled

My sleeve surgery was 8/30/16. I didn't have much pain but wow I was weak and tired for a solid 2-1/2 weeks. I slept so much I became dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. I didn't want food either. My PCP and surgeon said I just did not tolerate the general anesthesia well. At 3 weeks I finally felt like me again. It really frustrated me that I kept reading that many felt great at 5 days out. Know that your body has endured something big and trust it to heal itself. You WILL be ok. Give yourself time and don't compare yourself to anyone else. You can do this! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

That does not give you permission to leave so don't get any big ideas. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

@Inner Surfer Girl... Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for the link. Before being seen by my surgeon, I had to send him my "Personal Statement". He wanted to know my state of mind and of course my reasons for wanting WLS. That was 1 year ago. I still continue to write on that personal statement just to clarify why I want to drastically change my life by losing weight. I will answer every one of these questions and add them to my personal statement. You remain an inspiration.

Beautiful girl you got this!

Currently in the middle of my liquid diet. The Isopure coconut is good chilled... if you like coconut. I also do what @#9grammy does... put a scoop of Isopure unflavored powder in my decaff coffee with a little Stevia. Make sure you follow directions and do not mix the powder in a liquid that is over 140 degrees otherwise it destroys the integrity of the Protein. Good luck to you @@Angelica90 !

Duke University is a teaching hospital in Durham, North Carolina. They are one of the top hospitals in the country. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Shoulder pain Gas pain Sheesh... this is scary stuff! @ I pray you are feeling better now.

@eliminnowp... I do not mean to hijack your thread, but what causes shoulder pain? Is it both shoulders? Is it muscle pain? Bone pain? Where is the pain exactly. I haven't heard of this. @innersurfergirl, since you are a rock star at this weight loss stuff... do you know what causes this? @antichick is a nurse... maybe she knows.

I asked my surgeon if he used them routinely or not. He said he was happy to provide one, but most people complained they were too hot and too uncomfortable so he stopped using them. @@ChocolateDropp7 has made a good point... reduces the effect of gravity. My surgeon does not use a drain so perhaps I will request the abdominal binder. I like things that makes sense! Ha.

My bariatric dr, surgeon, and NUT are all about empowering patients considering WLS. These books are a few from the list that they recommended. Here is what I've read over the last year: "The Sleeved Life; A patient to patient guide to VSG weight loss surgery" by Pennie Nicola "Through Thick and Thin; The Emotional Journey of Weight Loss Surgery" by Warren L. Huberman, Ph.D "Because I was Fat" by Andy Butler (didn't like this one as much) "The Ultimate Gastric Sleeve Success" by Dr. Duc C. Vuong "Protein First; The First Rule of Weight Loss Surgery" by Kaye Bailey "Okay, I've Gone Through Weight Loss Surgery, Now What Do I Do?" by Joanne M Moff "Skinny Jeans at Last! Secrets to Long Term Weight Loss Success" by Clifton Thomas, MD "The Beck Diet Solution" by Judith S Beck, Ph.D What have you read that helped you better understand the process and your journey?

The pyloric valve... another reason I chose the sleeve over any other WLS.

@@even11, my surgery is in 2 weeks, August 30. Today I was required to attend a 90 minute "Mental Preparedness" class. There were 5 of us in the class. Three of those who attended had backed out before all of it because of worry. I get that! My surgery was supposed to happen this past April. Lots of things happened that moved the date to the end of this month. I have to tell you that in April I did not have my head in the game for sure! I am way more prepared now. I'm a fact-finder so I just had to take the time to research the daylights out of it. So trust your intuition and take your time. My surgeon requires a Personal Statement before he will consider anyone for the surgery. He wants to know all about why you need to or think you need WLS. When I wrote the statement last September 2015, it was about 3/4 of a page long when I gave it to him. I've continued to write it and it's now 3 pages long. I have 60 reasons why I want to get this weight off, the rest is personal thoughts about the process, telling friends, what will happen if I don't lose weight, etc. So maybe if you sit down and put some thought into it? Write it down? Here are the books I read, twice each this past year to get my head and heart ready for the irreversible change of WLS: "The Sleeved Life; A patient to patient guide to VSG weight loss surgery" by Pennie Nicola "Through Thick and Thin; The Emotional Journey of Weight Loss Surgery" by Warren L. Huberman, Ph.D "Because I was Fat" by Andy Butler (didn't like this one as much) "The Ultimate Gastric Sleeve Success" by Dr. Duc C. Vuong "Protein First; The First Rule of Weight Loss Surgery" by Kaye Bailey "Okay, I've gone through weight loss surgery, now what do I do" by Joanne M Moff "Skinny Jeans at Last! Secrets to Long Term Weight Loss Success" by Clifton Thomas, MD "The Beck Diet Solution" by Judith S Beck, Ph.D (only read this one once) Perhaps one or more of these books will help. Best of luck to you.

@@janedoe92, my psych eval was 654 questions. It took me 3 hours to finish. I spoke to the shrink before I started. He asked about 30 minutes worth of questions which I tried to answer to the best of my ability. I felt like an idiot answering all these personal questions to a guy I didn't know. I was sick to my stomach with worry that I would not "pass" this test. He told me to answer with the first thing that came to my head. So I did and it was a cinch. You can do it!

@@kmorri, hey thanks for the video! Makes total sense. When my surgeon was drawing pictures and showing me diagrams of the new vertical sleeve, he mentioned that he uses a size 40 bougee. I wonder, after reading all these replies about how different surgeons recommend different drinking rules, if the size of the bougee and his particular surgical technique is the reason he and the NUT are so insistent on the 30/30/30 rule. Depending on where he got his training and the particular technique he uses... just makes me think he has this rule to match his surgical technique. He has done over 4000 VSG surgeries. He ended with a comment that has stuck with me: "My patients who keep their weight off follow this rule for life." I practiced the rule until today. I know I can do it. Today I started my pre-op liquid diet.

@@Babbs, thank you for continuing to log on to support us rookies! I'm certain you've heard it before, but you are an inspiration... one we all need.

@InnerSurferGirl having the sleeve Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

My pre-op appt was 2 days ago, Friday. My NUT and my surgeon reiterated the importance of the 30/30/30 rule for life. My surgeon even went so far as to show diagrams and explain the mechanics of why I should never drink 30 minutes before eating, not drink for 30 minutes while I'm eating, then nothing to drink 30 minutes after eating. (1-1/2 hours of not drinking around each meal... seriously dude?) I guess I was hoping they would change their minds on this rule because its a really tough one for me to follow. When I left the office, I went straight to Kohls, with my 30% off coupon, and purchased a watch with a timer. I've been practicing this rule. Hahahahahaha! Ok. I can't do it. YET. But I will by golly! I know you vets can be trouble makers, (@LipstickLady) but I need some insight on this. Gimme your thoughts/experiences. Surely it gets easier?

I flew to FL for work last week; annual trip. I dreaded it for weeks ahead of time. I could not lift my luggage into the overhead bin. Someone had to help me. I could barely fasten the seat belt. I could NOT put the tray table down at all. The 12 yr old girl next to me saw my struggle and offered her tray table to set my Water on. I was so flippin embarrassed. All I could think is, "This time next year, this will not be such a struggle". I actually changed jobs because I used to travel a lot and I just couldn't stand it anymore! I would be so tired and felt beat up by the time I got to the hotel. I would get into the hotel room, turn the AC up full blast, jerk off my clothes, then lie down to rest before meeting my co-workers for dinner. I would cry having to contend with putting my clothes and bra back on to go down for dinner. This trip was no different. I'm so glad to be home to prepare for my surgery on August 30. @luvelye1101... yep I totally get it girl. Better days are ahead!

My surgery is kinda in the middle of this challenge but I want to give it a whorl. Count me in.

Me too @@mammaknox ! We can do this. Do you start your pre-op diet on the 16th? Let's walk this path together.

Standing up and clapping for @Thucydides !!! Look at that weight loss! Raising my Protein bar to you dude!

In an effort to further prepare for surgery, I've become caffeine free. I make my coffee the night before, (decaff) and refrigerate it in a sealed container. In the morning I just pour it over a scoop of unflavored Isopure and add a little of my sugar free vanilla creamer. That way I don't change the integrity of the Protein powder with the heat from the coffee. It tastes pretty good and doesn't instantly make me too hot. This process will not likely be something I like after surgery because I hear that I will want something warm to drink, but it's working well now.

@@jaycass my date is the 30th too! I'm nervous/excited too. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Raising my hand, trying to be seen next to all these beautiful boys. A sister here. August 30th!

Tried to edit my original post but ended up quoting myself. Clearly I have no clue how to post from my phone. Good grief. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App