Sparkle3982

On 10/19/2017 at 8:52 PM, MN_Meg770 said:

Hi all,

I am in the Twin Cities and have my first appointment at Abbott Northwestern Hospital with Dr. Bradley Linden. Anyone else have there surgery at ANW? Any recommendations? Thanks! Meg

Hi Meg,

So happy when fellow people from the Twin Cities join. Welcome to the forum and best of luck! Feel free to reach out at anytime!

Katie

Very good. Pretty sure I was more nervous about my psych evaluation than the actual surgery. I still have no idea why I was not nervous...okay I sort of do, but it's ridiculous!

Other than eating less, I would have no idea I had surgery. I've not had any major issues issues after surgery and feel pretty great.

I have had my share of stalls. That would usually be very discouraging to me. However, I am taking it all in stride.

Congratulations and welcome! I trolled the forum after surgery. I had no idea it existed! It's been helpful to learn from others and to know their struggles. Have you decided where you are going?

Absolutely! I can tell you that I could not find much on my surgeon but he was nice and helpful and approved by my insurance. I have heard wonderful things about Dr. July on this forum. I will put the links below so you can take a look.

About a year before surgery I'd occasionally have acid reflux and take chewy tums and that seemed to combat it. I've had acid three times since surgery and have taken a gas-x strip and that seems to make it go away immediately. I am still on the prescribed acid reducer so that could also be helpful.

Posts about Dr. July:

She has three reviews on this website: https://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/1684-laura-july/?tab=feedback

Lastly, here are her patients that are on this website. You might find more information from them as well! https://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/1684-laura-july/?tab=patients

Hope this is helpful and things are going well!

Hi Shellabella30,

Sure are other Minnesotans! Welcome! Congratulations on starting up the journey again. Feel free to send me a message to chat if you'd like. I see that you had questions about choosing a surgeon before. Did you find a surgeon to work with?

Katie

On 8/13/2017 at 10:04 PM, lssajo said:

Hi fellow Twin Cities sleevers , I finally have a surgery date; August 28th. It's really nice to have a network of local people going through similar circumstances.

Congratulations on your surgery date!! So exciting!

15 hours ago, jpaps20 said:

Thank you both!!!

Hope you are feeling better!!

Hi Jpaps20,

I had VSG and took Imodium before and after surgery for IBS-D. I did not take it for the first week after surgery. When I met with my surgeon he okayed starting it again because of the possibility of constant dehydration. I take it daily (Imodium Multi-Symptom Relief). It is SUPER easy to break in half so like daats said, you could always do half and if that does not work, you could take the other half. Good luck!

Katie

Hi QueenTiff,

The hospital I went to did not allow for jewelry or retainers during surgery. I have my belly button and tongue pierced. I took out my piercings about an hour before I went back to surgery and put them back in that night. They were out for about 12 hours and I was fine. However, I have had my piercings for about 15 years so that may make a difference.

Good luck on your surgery!

Katie

Hi ToSleeveOrNotToSleeve,

The short answer is no, I didn't not back out if surgery. However, when I went to my introduction class and they said no Aleve, I panicked. I used Aleve constantly for the pain I have associated with Multiple Sclerosis. I went off it immediately after the class. I decided that I needed to see if I could manage without it. The first month was rough, but now I do just fine taking Tylenol. If I could not have handled the pain, I am not sure what the outcome would have been. Best of luck!

Katie

Hi Ahmedito,

I am also from the Twin Cities and recently completed surgery. Feel free to reach out to me. I see your surgery is in a few days! If I do not hear from you before then, best of luck!

Katie

Hi GudCarma,

I was allowed to start the puréed stage at two weeks. I did not need to meet certain criteria. Although, I am certain that if I had issues on my liquid diet they would have extended my liquid diet longer.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. At one week, we met with a nutritionist to ensure we were all getting enough Protein. Everyone was so they gave us the puréed diet information, WE is a group of people at the hospital who had surgery the same week as you did.

Best of luck!

Katie

Hi Kamjmm25,

I think it depends on where you go and when you have your surgery. However, my hospital called the morning before I went in. I had surgery on a Tuesday and they called Monday morning. They did tell me if I had surgery on a Monday, they would call on Friday. They also advised if for some reason they did not call the day before, I should call them. Best of luck! You'll do great !

Katie

1 hour ago, Kyle Lukas said:

i have improved since yesterday. I did have another emotional bought today which I didn't see as good but I progressed through and channeled my focus towards bettering myself

Hi Kyle,

I can tell me you that for the first three or four days after surgery I was not myself. Emotionally I was in tears for no real reason. I know surgery is hard on your body and I was okay with any pain that would happen, but it was the emotional things that I was not prepared for. A few weeks out and back to work, I feel so much better. I have gotten back to my routine schedule and have started to feel normal. Hang in there! You've got this!

Katie