Cac93

Hi ladies, my surgery is this week 12/15 and i just know im going to start my period either night before or day of ive had a few procedures and diff. Surgeries in the past 2 years and for every one of them my period came up to a week or 2 early on the day of procedure. I guess its some kind of stress response triggers hormone change 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️ also last month it was early and i got it exactly on nov. 15 so ive been dreading dealing with this huge life change, pain and healing in hospital with horrible period on the side. So my main question after probably too much info is will i be able to use tampons within hrs of postop or should i just resign myself to pads?? Im concerned about the bending over to insert and all that. Thanks

I was sleeved 12/15 and i got hungry all the time by day 3 or 4. What really helped my was doing thick Soups like creamy chicken Soup. Also cream of wheat really helped too. Once you get to real food again you will notice that type of always hunger go away. I thought the surgery like didnt work but i think its just the liquid diet and i had to do it for a month

my advice is to CALM DOWM.
you didn’t stretch anything. nothing is wrong. just keep moving forward. this is a marathon, not a sprint. mistakes (not that this is even one) happen and will continue to happen. learn, forgive, and move on.

That is so good to know! At the moment im only taking my Multivitamin until i move on to more solid food since im sensitive to vitamins and vomiting but ill definitely be looking out for that.

Idk what’s worse... being stopped up, or being like me - floodgates are open! 🙊 Hope everyone finds some comfort.

Thank you yeah thats what im taking. Polyethylene glycol is the generic form of miralax. Ill keep taking it!

Hi, really wondering what people take or what they do daily to prevent Constipation. 3 days ago i was severely constipated after not going for 8 days and i was in EXTREME pain and discomfort for 2 days. I think it was the most horrible experience of my life. It got to the point that i couldnt pee from all the pressure and couldnt sit. Went to hospital and they told me to go home and take magnesium citrate (which is carbonated so cant drink) and to do a fleet enema. I took Miralax for a couple days before i finally had to do the enema (sorry tmi) and i finally had relief. I really never want to go through that ever again and im scared its already happening because its been 3 days since the enema and i havent gone or needed to go. Ive been taking miralax daily still and drinking a bunch of Water everyday. Going to walk after work and hope that helps with regularity. So any advice super appreciated!

Thank you yeah thats what im taking. Polyethylene glycol is the generic form of miralax. Ill keep taking it!

That just stinks. Talk about adding insult to injury. Sorry you guys. No suggestions, just wanting to express my condolences.

I had the same thing happen to me! So annoying. I just told the nurse prepping me about it and they give you those giant mesh panties with a maternity pad. They wouldn't let me wear my own underwear and of course no tampons. The most annoying part was dealing with it after surgery. I really didn't feel like bending over to put in a tampon so I just used giant pads do I didn't have to deal with it as often.

No worries with the bending and inserting! I got my period 2 days after surgery - I knew it was coming so before surg I bought pads because I had the same concerns. I started with pads but hated the feeling so I switched to tampons with no issues. No pain at all with the bending.

Do what works for you! Good luck [emoji106] [emoji106]

I too was on my cycle the day of surgery.
Take the tampon out right before you go in to surgery. The nurses will have dealt with this numerous times as you can see by the posts!
I had a hard time bending after surgery but take your own pads and stuff to the hospital. You can’t wear your stuff during surgery, but you’ll have it when finished.
Look on the bright side, you’ll have good meds and after surgery you’ll have about four weeks to heal before dealing with it again!

It happened to me... weirdly .. my period during the hospital was very minimal .. until I got home ... it was like it was waiting to be in a safe place. Luckily no pain thanks to the meds. Was one of my lucky no pain periods in a while.

My period started the day of the surgery. I was allowed to use tampons. It was a miserable experience though as I get really bad cramps. So that on top of the pain from the surgery was bad. Those first few days I wasn't sure I had made the correct decision. Now at 6 months out I know it was the best thing I ever did.

Thank you thank you! So happy to hear you are having such a great experience recovering. Praying mine is something like that!

I didn't know about the skin on the back of the hand! I remember it now that you mention it, thank you so much for refreshing my memory! We should toast! ** hands you and ice cold cup of water** **clank** or however toasting virtually is supposed to sound!

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

1. What are things you wish you had known before surgery?
how easy it would be. I freaked myself out expecting misery and it was a cake walk. Not a universal experience...but I am really thankful the fates went easy on me.
2. What is gas pain? And how do you deal with it?
They pump your belly up with gas for the surgery...the gas gets absorbed by tissues and moves around and causes pain. Feels like a deep miserable ache, kinda like a pinched nerve or pulled muscle. For me, the gas pain was awful in my shoulders. Walk, walk, walk and move your body....this will help it reabsorb. Ginger tea was also helpful for me. My group frowns on gas remedy medications.
3. What is the normal expectation of lbs lost per week? And what has helped you deal with stalls? Differs for everyone.
4. How are your energy levels as you increase in time since surgery and increasing Protein? I feel terrific. Been driving myself places and shopping the last couple days, doing housework, going to appointments, wrapping gifts. I'm a week out today.
5. For those of you that have been to the hospital for dehydration what were the warning signs? headache, dry mouth, nausea....if you lift the skin on the back of your hand and it stands up in a tent, you are probably dehydrated....it should snap right down.
6. When did you start feeling like you could do a normal day without feeling dead exhausted after a few activities or outings? Day 4 after surgery. Again...this might not be a typical experience.
*answer any and all. Appreciate any input. Also anybody else like me have questions put them out there!

Like this

Thank you so much! This is extremely helpful

I can answer your dehydration question..not really signs of before, but during and after. I usually get a bad headache, almost Migraine esc... it gets better with small sips of Water, but if you get to the point where the pain is unbearable and you can't stop throwing up, then to the ER you go. Get fluids, anti-nausea meds, pain meds for the major headach you have just incured. A bit more advise, if the ER isn't familiar with WLS they might try and give you nsaids, and you need to make them aware of the surgery, and which medication you can and can't take. When you go back to your surgeron, ask for a rather large rx of anti-nausea meds because vomiting can harm your new stomach.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

Thank you i also love driving. I wouldnt be driving on this trip but im hoping ill be able to make it. Thanks for input very helpful.

Thank you good to know! It can be leisurely and i wont be driving so ill have to see how i feel closer to day of. You answered everything i was worried about.

Take chapstick, you'll need it.
Post op, you'll likely be wearing a hospital gown on top for a while because of the IV. (they capped mine when I wanted to take a shower the second day, and I was able to get my top dressed then)
For right after your operation bring something for your butt...lounge pants, pajama bottoms...whatever you like. They'll likely make you wear color coded hospital socks. (the color of the "safety socks" determines your fall risk...everyone walks with someone else first, until they trust you to walk alone)
Wear loose comfortable clothes. You'll have a lot of incisions in your belly....right next to and above your belly button and your belly will feel bloaty and sore...so the waist has to be super loose. I wore lounge pants that were a little too big with a loose draw string waist and they were perfect.
Bring a cardigan or hoodie....I got cold sitting around in my street clothes and roaming the halls. I swear the surgery reduces your cold tolerance. Having my cuddly cardigan helped.
I brought my own pillow cause I'm picky and it smells like home.

Chapstick phone and charger pajama pants or lounging pants hair ties if u have long hair. That's about it.. I brought those items and my zip up hoodie oh and tooth paste and tooth brush. I literally was only there a day or less and the less crap I had to haul home the better

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Thanks for asking! My surgery is 12/13 and I have been trying to figure this out as well. Would have never thought about chapstick.

Is the trip a straight 9 hour drive or leisurely? You will need to stretch, nap, and stay hydrated - sip almost constantly. Can you lie down for part of it or are you traveling alone? Not moving around will make your digestion slow down, and any Constipation worse. I don't think I could have done 9 hours at once and I had an easy recovery.
Pack a cooler with ready-made shakes and drinks, take Vitamins, and stool softeners with, maybe anti-nausea meds, your surgeon's phone number, etc. Good luck.