FindingCarrie

these! They are my favorite!! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I am on day 8, and I was cleared by my surgeon to move to soft foods. I never thought that I would be so happy to eat cottage cheese!! Some other small victories are that I am able to sleep on both sides, and not just my back now, so that makes for a better nights sleep. I can also drink with basically no restriction, which is great for getting in my liquids. I joked with my surgeon that he must have left my stomach in there because I wasn't having trouble drinking. Then I tried cottage cheese last night, and could only fit 2oz. Yay! This tool is working! I returned to work today, which has been a bit exhausting, but it feels good to get out of the house and back really moving around again! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

So far so good. I am going to leave a little early today though, because I am just so tired, but I have gotten through the day with no issues at all. Just a little sore, but nothing that Tylenol can't manage. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My surgery was 1/17/17, and i could only do clear liquids the entire day before, not Protein drinks. It was a tough day! I had to do the special shower also. When I got to the hospital, they made me wash my stomach with the same stuff again! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I did not run a fever after, and I was actually warm in the hospital. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Go on and Celebrate !!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You look awesome! Great job! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congratulations! What a huge accomplishment! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Mine have been itching since about day 3! I try scratch around them a little bit, but I can't wait until these incisions are healed! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I am 6 days out, and I feel the same way, but I don't even want anything crazy. I would love to just move to the next phase and have some cottage cheese! Not because I am hungry, but just so I can eat a meal instead of drink a meal! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

You look awesome! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have glue, and I am so happy they use glue instead of stitches. The scars should be less noticeable when they heal. I included a picture of my incisions in my '2 Day Post Op' post if you want to take a look at them. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My doctor said the Protein drinks count towards my liquids. It is so strange that there are varying schools of thought on this. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had inflammation when they did my EGD, and they biopsies for H. Pylori, which apparently is. Eye common, but mine was negative. They said if it had been positive they would have just called in a script of antibiotic in for me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@"White Sale", I was thinking the same thing. All we need to do is hit the Vitamin Shoppes and GNC's while everyone else is hitting the grocery stores! Plus, we won't struggle with rations, because we won't need much to fill us up. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I had my surgery on Tuesday, and now that I am 2 days post-op I finally feel like my head is clear enough to share the details of my surgery day. I arrived at the hospital at 9:00am, as I was told to arrive 2 hours before my scheduled surgery time. After I registered, they called me back to be prepped almost immediately. I had to get undresses, and I had to wash my tummy with a Hibicleanse solution for 4 minutes. They started my IV and brought my husband back to see me. I talked with the anesthesiologist , and several other people, including my surgeon. After I talked to everyone I needed to, they gave me a Lovenox shot, antibiotics and Versed, and rolled me back to the OR. The last thing that I remember is them strapping my arms to the operating table. I also remember that I was starving since I was on all Clear liquids to on Monday. I woke up in recovery feeling very groggy, and my mouth was as dry as the desert. My throat was sore from the intubation tube. I don't know how long I was there, but it seemed like they were rolling me into my room fairly quickly. I was not allowed to drink anything that entire night, but they did bring me some ice chips. These were the best ice chips I have ever had in my life!!! That's what it seemed like anyways. I was pretty in and out of it the rest of that night. Now let's get to the point of pain when I woke up. I had a lot of gas pain up near both my right and left shoulder, but it was worse on the right side. My biggest incision, on my right side, is the one that did, and still now hurts the most. Even the muscle underneath it is extremely sore. The other incisions are not too bad. I can feel them, and I know that they are there, but they barely hurt at all. I also had a catheter in, which I didn't want, but I'm glad I had it because I was too sore to be getting up and down all night to go to the bathroom. I was up and walking within 2 hours of getting in to my room. I did one lap at first, then rested for a couple of hours and did 2 more laps. I have a history of blood clots, so I had compression socks on and a compression machine pulsing my legs all night when I was not up and walking. People woke me up all night long to take my vitals. Just as I would fall asleep again, they would wake me up again to do something else. On Wednesday morning, around 5am, I was given another Lovenox injection, along with some pain meds and a dose of Levsin, as it felt like my stomach was spasming quite regularly. I was also allowed to take pills by mouth, as long as they were not to big to choke on. By 6am, they removed my catheter, which I really didn't even feel at all. I then proceeded to walk 5 laps, then came back to my room to rest. 5 laps was all I could really do at that point. A few hours later, i got more pain meds, and was up and walking again. This time I did 7 laps. I still had quite a bit of pain, but it was now being completely controlled by the liquid Hycet, which am able to take at home. I was supposed to drink 40oz of liquids on Wednesday, and I had gotten through 20oz within about 4 hours. I finished the other 20 by 10pm. I knew from my EGD that my surgeon would be fixing a hiatal hernia, and they told me once they got in there, they saw that it was significantly bigger than they originally thought it was, so I actually ended up being in surgery for 3.5 hours due to that. I do feel some discomfort from that, but again, my worst pain is the big incision where they removed the stomach from. Actually, it is not really the incisions that hurt, it is really the muscle underneath that is giving me the most pain. Overall, it was a pretty smooth experience. I expected the pain because of all of the research I have been doing prior to the surgery, so even though it hurts, it was right around what I expected, so at least I can say I was expecting it. I have 5 incisions, and I am attaching a picture so that you can see what they look like. One is up near my breast bone, so you won't see that one in the picture. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. I am sure that I am leaving out a lot of details.

I was given liquid Hycet. It is basically a mix of Vicodin and Tylenol. It tastes terrible, but it did give immediate and longer lasting relief when I needed is. I haven't needed it since 3 post op though. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Before surgery, the only way I could drink a lot of Water is to use Crystal Light. Now that I am post-op, the only thing i want to drink is plain water. It is so strange how the surgery changes your cravings and everything. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

@"Alexis99", you are so right! I bring my bottle everywhere, even to the bathroom! I drink in the middle of the night too. It is like a full time job to keep sipping! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Now that I am 5 days out, I can say that I am not having any problems getting my liquids and Protein in. My doctor uses a larger boogie tube, so I think this may be why I am not having trouble with liquids at all. I have had a very small bowel movement every day since day 3 post op (all thank to the miracle that is Miralax). I am able to sleep on my left side, but the right side is too tender. I am actually doing some laundry today and some other small things around the house. I am not lifting much, and bending is tough to do, but I feel like I am about 70% back to normal. I can't wait to get cleared for soft food (my doctor does not do a puréed stage). I really want to get my calories up to at least 600 or so, just so I can have more energy. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

@"Jazzzyjay", I was just telling my husband last night that I don't think my scarring will be too bad because it looks like they did a good job glueing them together. I am so glad they used the glue instead of stitches. I'm 5 days today, and would love to just move on to soft foods so I could get some more calories in right now. The smallest amount of activity completely wipes me out. The good news is that I haven't had to use any pain meds since day 4, so I am at least thinking clearly. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

As I suspected yesterday, I have not needed any pains meds today. I was able to get out of bed this morning with way less pain than the last few days. Today I feel very week and a bit dizzy. I think it is due to the low caloric intake. I am barely reaching 400 calories per day. I have been getting in over 70oz of liquids, and 60g of Protein, but I still feel pretty crappy today. Any suggestions on how to get your calories up while on Clear Liquids? Less pain is a great thing, but the best thing about today is that I actually had a bowel movement late last night, and another one this morning! Small ones, but I cannot begin to explain the relief that it brought! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My doctor said 6 to 8 weeks depending on how I am recovering. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App