ABawdyMermaid

Yeah, my plan is very different from a lot of people's here as well. The first-second day is liquids here, the third-fourth is purees, and for the next 3 weeks after is soft foods. After that one can transition on to a regular diet - some certain foods like seeds, nuts, the peels of fruits and vegetables, Etc.

It's gas that they pump into the abdominal cavity during surgery, to help lift the diaphragm away from your stomach so that they can see better. Mine manifested especially around my shoulders and my chest area though it went away after a couple of days or so. I do have some gas like pains that have come back, but I am not certain whether or not they are related directly to the gas that was pumped into my stomach during the surgery.

Hey everyone, Tonight I have been dealing with a new set of issues related to my recent sleeve surgery.. since about seven hours ago, I have been getting a considerable amount of gas like pains in the center of my chest that spread all the way to my left arm and shoulder and sometimes even my right. They are quite painful, and seem to come in waves if that makes any sense. I am also getting a great deal of pain between my shoulder blades and again around my left shoulder especially. Sometimes the pain even reaches up the side of my neck , and my left arm can sometimes feel heavy or weak. These pains are all similar to the gas pains that are felt post-surgery, however these at least seem to be unrelated. Much of the pain is felt around my sternum or just beneath, especially, and they are quite scary especially since I have severe anxiety and a deathly fear of blood clots as well as the gastric leaks. I will admit that I possibly overate or over drank earlier in the evening, but I don't know if this is related and if it would cause such considerable pain for this long after? I am also very frustrated right now as I can barely eat anything at all or drink anything. Drinking between meals is especially difficult, and I know that I'm not hitting my liquids or my protein goals. I guess my biggest concern here is, does this sound like a gastric leak? I know that it normally presents with a fever and usually extremely strong pain, however my pain is not that bad and comes and goes (overall). Or, should I consider that this is possibly blood clot related? Or does it just seem normal? My mind is kind of going haywire right now with all the anxiety, and all the what ifs..

I'm just 5 days out from my sleeve surgery, and struggling with much the same thing. I still want to eat the way I used to, but I physically can't (and don't want to, not really) yet the feeling and desire is still kind of there? I wish I had some advice for you, but I don't, other than to just fight it however you can. Hopefully some others will chime in here with more help! Good luck! ❤️

It's really not so bad, I promise! I ended up going back to the evaluation psychologist as my normal psychologist now as well, which is really nice. They typically just ask questions that judge whether or not you're ready for the surgery, if you have eating disorders, and so on.

I have heard that if you must use a straw, the tiny sippy straws that come on boxed drinks are better to use than the normal ones (which can cause you to draw in a lot of air.) It wasn't specified in my program oddly, but I choose not to use them, since I already have other pains and don't want to add more into the mix. XD

Hi there! I'm fairly new here myself, and just 5 days out from my sleeve surgery, but welcome! ?

✨ Cheers! Congrats on your success! ✨

I had my first post-op regret last night actually. I was struggling to eat anything at all yesterday, and every bite was difficult. My new sleeve fills up so quickly, and I had a moment of realization that I can't eat like I used to any longer. I used to eat generally very quickly, but now it's tiny bites, chew chew chew, then swallow. Wait 30 seconds-minute, rinse and repeat. I regretted that I can't 'enjoy' food the way I used to, and thus the surgery. BUT, I think it's very normal for people to sometimes have regrets, especially in the beginning recovery period. Adjusting to our new stomachs/bodies takes a lot of getting used to, and it's normal to be emotional as well. We have just underwent a lifechanging experience, afterall. I think I am like you though, in that once I feel better, I will not regret it at all. But from what I've read on here, some people seem to have those initial regrets in the beginning, only to be very happy later and wished they'd done it sooner!

It's incredibly scary, and I empathize with you because before surgery, I was having severe anxiety from the week before onwards. The day of I cried literally from the moment I woke up all the way to the hospital, almost hysterically. I managed to stop JUST before seeing my nurse, only to be split off from my husband right after. Then I started bawling again. XD It's normal to be afraid, given it is a surgery, and if it is your first time, there's always the 'unknown' factor of not knowing what to expect. ..Is it your first time doing a surgery? Generally your nurses and team will take great care of you as well, and know what to look for if anything should go wrong. If in doubt about anything, you should definitely contact your team and speak with them about your worries/fears. It also helps to research for yourself as well, and if you're willing, there are videos on Youtube of the various bariatric procedures to show you how it typically goes. (I watched several for the sleeve myself so I knew what I was in for.) Otherwise, hang in there, and I think you'll be alright! ❤️ If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me anytime!

I have had oddly coloured poops after eating certain foods (beets are a big one, for example.) Have you eaten any very colourful foods that might have 'bled' into your bowel movements? Either way, probably a good idea that you are seeing a doctor, just to double check!

Yes! I am getting this quite a bit, has yours calmed down any at all? This is quite scary feeling and I'm not sure what's happening. I can't call the surgeon's office until Monday morning. :/

Do your hiccups hurt at all? Mine do a little bit, just for a couple of seconds, and there is also some pressure in my chest. Very annoying!

Today is still pureed for me, but tomorrow begins soft, and I am struggling also. I get pain and pressure in the middle of my chest where the sternum is with eating and drinking most things. This is only my third day out from surgery though. Every bite or drink is a challenge for me also right now.

I got discharged earlier today, doing well but struggling to get everything in. Still this weird pain in the sternum area when swallowing and lots of gurgles. But I'm making it otherwise!

Glad everything went well!

This is pretty much what mine was as well. I just spoke to a psychiatrist who discussed the different surgeries, and she asked a lot of questions about me, if I had any eating disorders (or thought I did), etc. We also talked about my hubby and what my home life was like as well. We talked at length about my struggles with food as well as all my worries with the surgery also. Like @anonbaribabe just be honest about everything, since it's important that they know whether or not you could handle such a life-changing surgery. (I'll preface this next part by saying that I'm not accusing you of being one, but) sometimes people look at the surgeries as a way to fix all their problems, but the thing is that it's a tool to be used, and if you don't use it properly (by following your diet recommendations, exercising, etc) then it may fail you. Some people still retain the mindset of their old eating habits even after the surgery, and then they don't lose weight and such. I think I'm rambling now, lol, but hopefully you understand my meaning. The psych evaluation is just to make sure that you're ready for all these changes!

I know there were several others here set for the 15th--how did you all do?

Thank you everyone for your kind words! I am still having the weird pressure/pain around the sternum area when swallowing, mostly when sipping water for some odd reason. It seems to happen a lot less with actual pureed food or other drinks (like milk.) I was released today though, and overall I feel much better. I think most of the gas pains are gone, though I still have some upper back pain and definitely have belly pain still. I also have my usual, 'normal' pains in addition, so we'll see how I feel a little later on. I'm just glad to be back home with the hubby and the furkids!

I am home now! My surgery went well, no immediate complications, and I was only in for about 40 minutes or so. My first two days were misery, and I just slept a lot, but today is my third day, so I was able to head home now that I can eat small amounts and such. My belly hurts still, b ut not too bad, and when I sip, my stomach and throat 'gurgles' quite a bit which is annoying, but I'm told it is a common thing and will subside with some time. I also get some pressure and pain when burping and especially with hiccuping. Otherwise, everything seems alright overall!

Is this normal? Everytime I swallow anything at all, I feel considerable pain and pressure straight down through the sternum and into the stomach. It doesn't matter how small the sips are as well. Also I'm having a lot of upper back and shoulder pain as well, which I assume are normal also? x.x I feel absolutely miserable today.

I just had surgery yesterday as well, and I am struggling to drink anything at all. Every time I take a tiny sip, I get a weird gurgle and also pain stretching down from my chest into my stomach area. If I drink too quickly, then I get nauseous as well. So I'm taking it super super slow and drinking teeny tiny sips where I can.

Thank you all for the encouraging words! ❤️ I am getting ready now, and am just.. yeah. I'm a nervous wreck, lol. But I think I'll be okay, and I'm working through it. It didn't help that they gave me this awful, AWFUL drink that I have to use before the surgery (which apparently provides nutrition or something throughout the day?) Imagine a combination of burnt soy sauce, orange juice, and pineapple juice.. Yeah. AWFUL. ?

I have never had any kind of surgery before, nor have I gone under anaesthesia, and I am freaking out! I have severe anxiety and panic attacks, and I'm trying not to use any medication to stave them off, but it's increasingly getting harder as the time comes. Does anyone here know if the doctors will provide a calming agent of any kind? I'm afraid of taking a benzo (which I use for my panic attacks, diazepam) because it might cause issues with the surgery or medications that they give in the IV? I just generally have fear of the surgery as well, of not waking up, of blood clots and complications, etc. Gah! I keep fretting as well that I have some kind of blood disorder (or clotting disorder) since I bruise really easily, and there's bruises on my belly already and legs that just show up out of nowhere. This post is rambly, so my apologies, but that's how my mind gets when I'm panicked! I'm just super nervous and scared, but also excited and hopeful that everything will work out okay! This past month on the pre-op diet has been really difficult as well, and I'm afraid my liver won't have shrunk enough or some other complication might arise. (Also my throat has been scratchy and sore off and on for days.) Anyone else here having surgery on the 15th also?

I am right there with you! Absolutely terrified, and my surgery is just in 4 days! (Well, less than now, technically!) I keep thinking of literally every worst case scenario (thanks, anxiety!) But in general, these surgeries are pretty safe overall. Just have to watch out for complications and be vigilant about taking care of ourselves afterwards. If you ever want to talk about your fears, feel free to message me (cause I completely understand and feel much the same worries!) Take care!