EmzBee

I had laparoscopic cancer surgery in my abdomen in 2017, so I think I know what to expect. I stayed on pain pills (oxycodone) for three days, and then stopped on my own because they made me incredibly constipated. I don't remember the gas pains everyone is talking about here, so perhaps that will be a big difference with this surgery.
My hospital has a pain management approach that I haven't heard anyone discuss. They put a slim tube into every incision that connect to a small ball that dispenses lidocaine on an ongoing basis (sort of like a drip irrigation system). We have this for up to a week and carry the ball in a small sling around the shoulder, then we take them out ourselves (AGH!). It sounds really odd, but they said it alleviates most of the severe pain without using narcotics. I let you all know how it goes!

I am scheduled for surgery on Monday too. My emotions range from excited to petrified. I just keep reminding myself that I am doing this for my health ( okay and the really cute clothes I have in storage that I want to fit). It helps me to read the posts of people who have just completed the surgery @Marine79 posted the same day if surgery. We have to believe in us. I will be looking for your post surgery posts.

I can assure you there is nothing to be afraid of. Once you are in the hospital in pre-op, if they don't already, ask them to give you something in your IV to calm you down. It helps. Are you a Type 1 diabetic? I am, and want to drastically reduce the amount of insulin I have to take. Post surgery I am down to only 12 units of long-acting in the morning and at night (down from 40 units each time!). That. Is. Amazing. You can do this...many of us in this group were in the same fright stage as you (including me!) and we all made it through. You can too!

I'm fretting over 2 weeks of no food. I've felt terrible on this diet. How have you handled the food aspect? Were you scared? Do you feel full?I'm also worried about taking pain medicine after surgery and getting sick. I'm on some pain medicine already due to several conditions and wondering how that will work? Worried my pain will be hard to manage. Dr said that could be a problem. Sorry to rant!

Gaby. You will do just fine. When you get there things happen quickly so it will be over before you know it

Monday is coming and I'm terrified. I'm so honestly scared. I almost canceled last week. The pre-op diet was brutal as a diabetic. So, they switched me to a low cal diabetic diet. Good luck everyone. I will let you know how I do.

Maria My Turn---I never had major surgery, but I was surprised how well I felt a few days out from gastric bypass. I think this will be fairly easy for you compared to what you've been through! I, too, want to ditch my CPAP and feel more energetic. Good luck with the pre-op diet. I hated it and had headaches all the way through for 10 days. Hope it goes better for you!

I had no issues with the cheese stick. I chewed it up really well before swallowing. I did heat the beans w some shredded cheese. I love Wegman’s! They don’t have them in Texas so I don’t get to go there anymore, but down here H-E-B is pretty awesome.

I’m not craving sweets either, which is odd for me. I do miss soda, but Decaf iced tea makes me very happy.

I was advanced to soft foods earlier this week. Refried Beans are amazing. eggs are an absolute no. That was the very first time I have vomited. tuna didn’t sit too well with my stomach, made me queasy. Will wait a couple weeks before trying that again. Cottage cheese was good for Breakfast. Cheese stick and applesauce for Snacks. Doing great on liquid intake.

I’m going to do full measurements this weekend but so far I’ve lost an inch and a half from around my stomach at belly button level and 3 inches from where my natural waist is.

I have a scale that connects to my phone but I always transfer my weight to my happy scale app. Happy scale takes your starting weight and goal weight and splits the difference into small goals. I met goal 2 today!!! I’m down 28 since starting the pre op diet

Let you know when I find it

High wt 339 on February 4th. Surgery weight February 18th 321, 2-22 weight is 314

I'm not sure what a "diabetic" diet is (I'm a Type 1 diabetic), but if you are pre-op and radically cut out sugars and caffeine, you will have a whopper of a headache. I felt the same way for most of the ten days on my all-liquids--like my brain was too big for my skull--just a relentless exploding headache. I also felt a bit nauseated and very light-headed. The day before my surgery I got my period....and I am going through perimenopause so I hadn't had it since November. Of all the times for it to come back! So, given my PMS symptoms are similar to what I was going through on the pre-op diet, I was miserable. Thankfully, once through surgery, the headaches were gone.

Gas gas gas!

It’s gonna be so worth it! I need to stock up on avocados. I want one of my first meals to be a soft boiled egg with a perfectly ripened avocado!

Me too and you know what's going to happen, we'll have a little bit and be full lol. But I bet it'll taste so very good.

I start on purées next week, too! All day long, I fantasize about all the things I’m going to have on day one!!

I find I am not full of energy and anything that I have to do for any amount of time wears me out, including showers. I wonder if it is bp related, I will have to take mine next time. I think once we can get a little bit more into our systems we should have more energy. I get to start purees on Thursday next week, can't wait!

I know it will be hard after surgery, but there will be restriction then. I'm hoping to get it all over with and get on the road to health. I have lots of medical issues. I saw my primary care Dr yesterday and she said, now we can get you off most of your meds.

EmzBee, I can totally understand your feeling a bit disappointed. We have all waited so long for this surgery and done so much to prepare--and I think we all want spectacular weight loss right away. However, in any other context 6 pounds in a week is extraordinary! We will all get there sooner or later, and no two people will have the same experience.

That's incredible progress, Barl. Congratulations on a very successful first week.

Emzbee of course you can admit your “disappointment in your first weeks weight loss. There’s so much in play with just having the surgery that our success is not measured by this first week. I too wish I would have lost more in the last 9 days, but I try to remind myself this is just the beginning. I think it’s just fueled by the fear of not being successful.

Like so many others on this site, I have been reading your updates. So nice to read that you are making progress and feeling better.

That sounds so, so, so normal, 2B smaller! Whenever those feelings came up for me, I'd remind myself not only of the very good reasons I have to want surgery, but of the concept of homeostasis.
Homeostasis is basically the overwhelming need for things to stay the same. It's why it's so hard to make new habits/life changes... because self-preservation tends to tell us that if it ain't truly, absolutely, completely broke, we shouldn't be fixing it!
I don't know about you but I'd really like to go on a horse trek with my husband one day. I'd really like to feel comfortable enough to go on holiday with him to the Auzzie gold coast theme parks. I'd like to tramp the Tongariro crossing and the other Great NZ Walks. I'd love to bring a child into this world.
So that stinky old homeostasis can get stuffed [emoji6]

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Now, now, Recidivist! Don't give up on your dreams that easy! 😄

Week one update!
Hard to believe that it's been a week since surgery. Wow... feels like a whole new world!
NSVs for the week is I can now wear my wedding ring without pain. I'm also now the lightest I've been in 3.5years, and I'm going to my first writers meetup with a new group. I've got a little of my spark back 🙂
Down six pounds, 2.7kgs this week! And, I know it's ridiculous, but can I admit I was a little disappointed? 😲 I guess a big part of this process is the mental game... and learning to be patient. *sigh*
*twiddles fingers*
Guess I can't expect to be at GW after a week! 😂😅😅