briae13

2/22 here! My liquid diet is underway and with a couple of bumps I FINALLY have a handle on it! So hard to believe next week is surgery!!!

2/22 here! My liquid diet is underway and with a couple of bumps I FINALLY have a handle on it! So hard to believe next week is surgery!!!

2/22 here! My liquid diet is underway and with a couple of bumps I FINALLY have a handle on it! So hard to believe next week is surgery!!!

Hi Everyone! I know I came to these forums to help prepare me for the surgery, so this post is about helping you be as prepared as possible and know the nitty gritty.
I was sleeved Wednesday 1/24 in Chicago. Your mileage may vary.
The night before, I was NPO after 9PM and was the first surgery of the day, so I had to be at the hospital at 5:15 am. Have a backup ride ready because you might not know this until the day before, and my husband had to stay home with our kids. Pro Tip: You can reserve a cab or Lyft ride in advance, so I had a lyft scheduled at 4:30 AM.
They do weigh you at the hospital when you arrive. Pre-Op was a breeze. I have a high BMI so I had a shot of a drug to prevent blood clots, if you don't like shots, ask for it in the thigh. I had mine in my right shoulder both days and it was fine, nothing more than a flu shot feeling.
Post op your mouth will be DRY. DRY DRY DRY DRY DRY. Bring lip balm to keep your lips moist and you will, will, WILL get through it. If it's really bad, make sure you are not getting dehydrated. Late on the night of my surgery, my heart rate and blood pressure went way up, so they gave me a "BOLUS" for dehydration, which is a lot of IV fluids really fast, it did the trick and by morning I was fine.
WALK! Get up as soon as you feel able to. I walked and walked, and peed and peed. They will measure your urine so don't flush it, there will be a measuring thing in the toilet, don't put paper in it because you want credit for every ML of urine you produce! And did I mention walk? It's so easy. I was shocked that I was the only person walking around the floor. It really helps with that gas pain.
The morning after surgery I did a "water trial" where a member of the doc's team brought in two thimbles of Water. I had two hours to finish them and it took really about an hour. Go slowly. After that, I was not brought a tray of anything, just a FULL styrofoam cup of probably 20 oz of water and was told "this is what is between here and home." It took me about 3 hours to drink it, and then I was finally discharged around 3PM. Walking around in CVS on the way home is when the farting began. It hasn't stopped but I'll tell you I have zero gas pains!
Get the liquid Tylenol. You will want it when you are home, even if just one incision hurts (I have five "stab wounds" and only one is really bothersome at all - and the liquid tylenol is enough.) Now I am home and am slowly sipping Premier Protien Clear (yum) and water (yum) all day. TIP: Don't buy the orange Protein water sold at Target, order the Premier Protein clear online. They are vastly different.
TL:DR? You will fart a lot. That's good. You will burp a lot. That's fine. WALK A LOT. Stand up a lot. You'll do great.
Ask me anything!

Definitely get used to drinking lots of water! Post op is really hard to get your Water in, so being used to drinking a full 64oz daily before hand can only help try and set the habit. If you're into instagram I also definitely suggest starting up an account for your weight loss journey! It's been so helpful to me mentally (and even physically) to follow other people's journeys and get advice/recipes/support from an awesome community. I've done a ton of research on everything and I've picked every brain I could find (especially surgeon, nut, etc.) and, for me, that's helped a TON to lessen some of my anxieties.

Other than that just remember to give yourself a break. Sounds silly but this process definitely has a way of stressing you out/messing with you mentally and physically. Give yourself a chance to catch your breath or even treat yourself (especially with the wedding on top of it all!).

Hope your journey goes smooth and well! [emoji4]

Hey! Just wondering how you all are holding up [emoji4] just got my date (2/22) and curious how everyone's doing post op

Approved & waiting for surgery date (should be getting next week) aiming for the week of 2/18!

If anyone wants to share journeys/support I'm on instagram @briaeme [emoji4][emoji8]

So I know it's not advised to eat & drink at the same time (20 mins before/after rule) because it flushes the food/nutrients through the new pouch. I was wondering if the same effects happens with a small sip or two to help with dry/spicy food? I know once I have surgery I may not have a desire or capability to drink while eating but right now this seems to be one of my toughest habits to break...

Briae13 I was Sleeved on12/15 17th days today, and I am eating normal but small amount. I do take a little sip to help the dry food.

That's awesome! Christine in Dr. Stafford's office has been good to me (did my approval right over the phone when she found out it still hadn't been entered & personally faxed/made sure she got the fax back about my pre op testing appointments). Lady is a life saver lol but I think I'll be right on track, so long as I can get in for my consult with surgeon the same week as testing then I know I'll be good, after all I have to wait a month before surgery anyway [emoji23] also aside from weight I'm a pretty healthy person, no outstanding medical issues aside from some back pains. So I don't think tests will show anything so at this point I'm planning for early February and enjoying my holiday time in between [emoji4] if it doesn't pan out then I can cross that bridge when it comes (but crossing fingers none the less lol)

Congrats you two!!! Crossing my fingers I can get in around the first week of feb. can't wait to hear how your journeys & surgeries go!

Congrats!!! And I'm sure everything is fine, if you're check patient portal it could just not be updating correctly. My appointment for ekg took forever to update on there.

Anyone know a guesstimate for how long before surgery you should stop drinking alcohol? Guesstimating surgery in February but tis the season and I enjoy some booze during the holidays, just don't want to ruin my plans for surgery in the process lol

I was hoping to have a date before the new year, surgery in January (going to be February at earliest now because work needs a months notice) but at least I had an appointment lol

I was hoping to have a date before the new year, surgery in January (going to be February at earliest now because work needs a months notice) but at least I had an appointment lol

January 2nd is pre op, hopefully I can get in the same week for my surgery date [emoji4]

So just a heads up all, if you're going through Miriam and waiting for referrals/appointments/results/etc. you definitely have to stay on them about it.

At the beginning they didn't send out referrals when they were supposed to, not a big deal I made the appointments and got it sorted out. However, waiting for my GI/EKG/Blood work scheduling, called today, they didn't know I was waiting and didn't have me on the list for scheduling. Waiting on a call back to schedule now.

Moral of that story, don't sit back and wait! If it's been 2-3 weeks, call (squeaky wheel gets the oil for sure)! Whether once a week or twice or every other week, just stay on them, check in, because it seems like they will most definitely push you aside if they can. [emoji175]

I got approved!!!!! Two weeks from today I’ll be a sleeved mama [emoji24][emoji1487]

Congrats!

So talked to surgeon's office today, a little disheartened. They told me it will be roughly 2-3 weeks before I receive my appointment info via mail. This pushed back my guesstimated timeline and now I'm thinking I probably won't be in for surgery till February, possibly march if there's any problems in testing. [emoji20] so tired of everything being up in there and not being able to plan for anything. So frustrating [emoji53]

I'm hoping for January but I have to give my work a month advance notice so all depends on when I can get my date. As far as I know I'll be having the same tests. I am excited but crazy nervous!

I'm approved! Just waiting to hear back about scheduling testing appointments

Just an update: completed my nutrition class & no I just wait for approval! [emoji4] hope everyone enjoys a happy holiday season!

You'll get there@Subaru ! Just think of this time as some extra time to focus on the holidays and prepping for surgery focus on the prep and the things to get done during this busy season and before you know it the month will fly by! [emoji4]

Congrats Subaru! & good luck itsmytime1985! Have my class for nut clearance next week and then waiting begins