KimB7811

Saying good morning from my hospital bed! Had the surgery yesterday. I was pretty knocked out and exhausted all day yesterday so I did t get a chance to post. Pain is better today. I was pretty nauseous and I a good amount of pain yesterday. I’ve gotten up to walk a few times but have only burped a little. Hopefully when my Dr comes in this morning I will be discharged!
There were A few things I definitely didn’t expect or prepared for. I didn’t expect to only be allowed a shot glass size of Water every hour. I thought I would be able to sip throughout the day. This was/is rough because my mouth is soooooo dry and I was so thirsty all day. Second thing i wasn’t expecting was the “numbing” stuff they put along your nerves in your stomach. This way you don’t feel the pain as much until the next day...I definitely feel the pain more today since it wore off. Sort of feels like I got punched really hard in the gut or did the hardest Pilates class of my life. And third thing I wasn’t expecting was pretty much telling a lot of info about this surgery to all the nurses. Apparently they do t get a ton of Bariatric patients so they weee extremely curious. Lol, I didn’t mind answering them though.
Anyhoo... the first 2 pictures are from yesterday morning right before surgery.
Last pic is post op and the incisions! The bottom ones don’t hurt as much as the top ones. (Sorry about the under boob)

Ty! I’ve been hugging a small pillow against me every night. Sneezing is still an experience lol.

My surgery was the 25th. Had my 2 week follow up today and I’m down 17lbs since surgery! I had a little stall for 5 days the first week post -op which was a little discouraging but things have been moving great this past week. I also have been having the most terrible stabbing pain under my left side rib cage which turns out to be a common side effect after the sleeve. It’s something about my spleen not getting enough blood flow yet because the nerves that supply it were cut when they removed a portion of my stomach. Fortunately this will go away over time when the blood supply returns. I’m having difficulty not drinking 30/30 with eating but today I cracked down on myself and set timers!

Endoscopy is done! One more thing checked off the list to the road of my surgery. It went really well aside from finding out I have GERD and I had no clue. Apparently I have a small ulcer that’s causing some reflux that I seem to never feel so he prescribed me Omeprozol to take every morning and said he took a biopsy of some bacteria. He said I can still have the surgery though and to just follow up with him in 2 weeks.
They took me in a hospital type waiting room with beds and curtains. Told to just take everything off up top and put on a gown with the back open and go to the bathroom to take a pregnancy test. I assured them my baby days are over but did it anyway. Good news! Test was negative 😂. Then after hooking me up with an IV and taking all the vitals and stuff.. I get wheeled into the surgical room where the doc and anesthesiologist is. They told me to lay on my left side and take 5 deep breaths and I should be asleep shortly... well I think I took 1 and 1/2 breaths before I was out cold. Next thing I know I was being woken up in the waiting area saying it was over. I swear it must’ve been about 10 mins total!
Next week is the psych!

Reading everyone’s story on here is so inspiring and insightful on this journey of weight loss surgery that I figured I would share and track mine as well. It will be nice to hopefully look back and read this a year from now anyway after being successful with my gastric sleeve surgery...fingers crossed! All up to that dang insurance approval!
Backing up a bit... let me explain a little about me and my battle with the “fluff”. I’ve pretty much have always battled weight. I was always chubby as a kid and grew up in a big Italian family where portion sizes weren’t a thing and life revolves around food. For most of high school I was overweight... except junior year when I decided I would go on a major diet and exercise. I lost a lot of weight and looked good but still only got to 175. By senior year I was pretty much fat again. This would continue every 2 years until my first pregnancy. I would drop 40-50lbs and then gain it right back. By my first kid I really gained a lot though and was a little over 300. Only now due to the pregnancy, I got hypertension that never went away. Then I lost 80lbs. but you guessed it! Gained it all back and then some again! This pattern continued more and more. I remarried and got pregnant again and was back up to 275 again. I have always thought about the idea of weight loss surgery in the back of my head but I was going to try 1 more time to lose it myself and try to keep it off. I found a medically supervised weight loss program with “pills” and lost about 90lbs on it. That was almost 2 years ago. But now I have sadly gained at least 40 of it back and It seems to keep pouring back on me. Plus now I am suffering from severe osteoarthritis as well in both knees and I need a total knee replacement in my right. I’m still going to the gym and I’m still on the medicine, but my body isn’t reacting to it really anymore. So enough was enough and on March 1st I went and saw a weight loss surgeon! When he started explaining to me about how my body just starts to resist the weight loss and thinks it’s starving or wants to go back to my reset mode (which is my 300lb weight) it all made sense! I just always called it my inner fat girl wanting to come back out. He explained how cutting out this part of the stomach removed those hormones and will help me fight those genetics. Now I understand I need to keep up my end of the bargain and still exercise and count calories, but it def explained why it’s like all of a sudden my body would just hit a wall and start gaining back the weight even when I was still dieting. So sleeve it is and I couldn’t be more sure of this!
So here goes my journey. They set me up that day with referrals for the psychiatrist, the gastroenterologist and the nutritionist. Luckily, since I’ve been in this medically supervised weight loss program for 2 years, I pretty much already have in my nutritionist meetings but he wanted me to meet with a Bariatric one at least once pre-op. I met with her on March 9th for the first visit already and learned a lot about what to expect the first few weeks out of how to eat and the different phases of food. My next apt with the Bariatric nutritionist is April12th. My endoscopy is scheduled this Friday so hopefully that goes well and my psych is scheduled for the following Friday. I have already filled out the package they sent to me for that which was about 500 questions. I do think it’s a little weird they want me to release all my hospital medical records though.
I just hope and pray I get approved by insurance. Depending on who measures me, I range between 5-5 or 5-6 it seems. I also weighed in at 228 which left me with a BMI of 36. My insurance requires a BMI of 35 with comorbitities which I obviously have of hypertension and osteoarthritis. So the low end of BMI has me concerned with approval.
Now the other thing is this, and please don’t judge,....My daughter was born in Jan of 2016 and in May of 2016. my husband and I decided to have a “date” night home with a few margaritas for cinco de mayo. This was my first time drinking anything since she was born so they hit me pretty hard and he and I got into the biggest fight of our lives where he confessed some stuff that I was not expecting...throw in terrible post partum depression that I was suffering from that I wasn’t really aware of at the time and I ended up taking a handful of Tylenol PM’s that night. Well..of course I came to my senses right away and immediately called for help so this landed me stupidly in the ER that night vomiting up the pills and being monitored. I went home the next day after they made sure I wasn’t “suicidal” and of course followed up for a few months with therapy because I was just suffering from out of whack hormones thanks to post partum. my husband and I also worked things out as well. But long story short is....I’m really afraid that might be a clear strike against me for the psych eval. Especially if I release my medical records......
i guess we’ll wait and see. I’ll keep you guys posted on Friday on my Endoscopy.
And thanks for reading this whole thing if you made it up to this point! 😄

I was told not to shave, and if they needed to, they would do it during the surgery. Since this was general information and people dont follow instructions to the T, they kept it general and simple. I think the idea behind is it that so people dont cut the hairs short and they have a hard time getting rid of the stubble during surgery.

Reading everyone’s story on here is so inspiring and insightful on this journey of weight loss surgery that I figured I would share and track mine as well. It will be nice to hopefully look back and read this a year from now anyway after being successful with my gastric sleeve surgery...fingers crossed! All up to that dang insurance approval!
Backing up a bit... let me explain a little about me and my battle with the “fluff”. I’ve pretty much have always battled weight. I was always chubby as a kid and grew up in a big Italian family where portion sizes weren’t a thing and life revolves around food. For most of high school I was overweight... except junior year when I decided I would go on a major diet and exercise. I lost a lot of weight and looked good but still only got to 175. By senior year I was pretty much fat again. This would continue every 2 years until my first pregnancy. I would drop 40-50lbs and then gain it right back. By my first kid I really gained a lot though and was a little over 300. Only now due to the pregnancy, I got hypertension that never went away. Then I lost 80lbs. but you guessed it! Gained it all back and then some again! This pattern continued more and more. I remarried and got pregnant again and was back up to 275 again. I have always thought about the idea of weight loss surgery in the back of my head but I was going to try 1 more time to lose it myself and try to keep it off. I found a medically supervised weight loss program with “pills” and lost about 90lbs on it. That was almost 2 years ago. But now I have sadly gained at least 40 of it back and It seems to keep pouring back on me. Plus now I am suffering from severe osteoarthritis as well in both knees and I need a total knee replacement in my right. I’m still going to the gym and I’m still on the medicine, but my body isn’t reacting to it really anymore. So enough was enough and on March 1st I went and saw a weight loss surgeon! When he started explaining to me about how my body just starts to resist the weight loss and thinks it’s starving or wants to go back to my reset mode (which is my 300lb weight) it all made sense! I just always called it my inner fat girl wanting to come back out. He explained how cutting out this part of the stomach removed those hormones and will help me fight those genetics. Now I understand I need to keep up my end of the bargain and still exercise and count calories, but it def explained why it’s like all of a sudden my body would just hit a wall and start gaining back the weight even when I was still dieting. So sleeve it is and I couldn’t be more sure of this!
So here goes my journey. They set me up that day with referrals for the psychiatrist, the gastroenterologist and the nutritionist. Luckily, since I’ve been in this medically supervised weight loss program for 2 years, I pretty much already have in my nutritionist meetings but he wanted me to meet with a Bariatric one at least once pre-op. I met with her on March 9th for the first visit already and learned a lot about what to expect the first few weeks out of how to eat and the different phases of food. My next apt with the Bariatric nutritionist is April12th. My endoscopy is scheduled this Friday so hopefully that goes well and my psych is scheduled for the following Friday. I have already filled out the package they sent to me for that which was about 500 questions. I do think it’s a little weird they want me to release all my hospital medical records though.
I just hope and pray I get approved by insurance. Depending on who measures me, I range between 5-5 or 5-6 it seems. I also weighed in at 228 which left me with a BMI of 36. My insurance requires a BMI of 35 with comorbitities which I obviously have of hypertension and osteoarthritis. So the low end of BMI has me concerned with approval.
Now the other thing is this, and please don’t judge,....My daughter was born in Jan of 2016 and in May of 2016. my husband and I decided to have a “date” night home with a few margaritas for cinco de mayo. This was my first time drinking anything since she was born so they hit me pretty hard and he and I got into the biggest fight of our lives where he confessed some stuff that I was not expecting...throw in terrible post partum depression that I was suffering from that I wasn’t really aware of at the time and I ended up taking a handful of Tylenol PM’s that night. Well..of course I came to my senses right away and immediately called for help so this landed me stupidly in the ER that night vomiting up the pills and being monitored. I went home the next day after they made sure I wasn’t “suicidal” and of course followed up for a few months with therapy because I was just suffering from out of whack hormones thanks to post partum. my husband and I also worked things out as well. But long story short is....I’m really afraid that might be a clear strike against me for the psych eval. Especially if I release my medical records......
i guess we’ll wait and see. I’ll keep you guys posted on Friday on my Endoscopy.
And thanks for reading this whole thing if you made it up to this point! 😄

Are you on the blood thinner shot? I was on blood thinners and they took me off of them 6 days before surgery and I had to give myself blood thinner shots 5 days in a row. The no shaving rule was one of the things they told me. They gave me the shots the morning of surgery and daily until I was discharged.

Late response but I got my legs waxed a day or two before surgery. I was in utter hell. I seem to have an allergy to the surgical scrub and/or chemicals used to wash hospital sheets. I will be waxing sooner before my next surgery (shoulder) and warn them about my allergy. It was seriously hell on earth and Benadryl didn’t do squat

I was told not to remove anything from the surgery area. They didn’t say anything about legs.

No shaving anywhere two days before since you could cut yourself and have an 'open wound' for them to worry about

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am SO glad this post was made!!!

I shaved under my armpits (not even thinking) the night before or morning of and I really wished I hadn't. It burned like fire when I used the wipes. They had me use the wipes from my shoulders down to my toes before I put my gown on.

Yes, they give you these surgical wipes at preop to wipe down your body the night before & morning of surgery. If you shave they burn like crazy. I made that mistake before.

I am definitely going to try some of these. I’m able to do 1 Protein Shake a day now but that’s about it. I need more. Still not getting enough Water in though but it’s increased. I didn’t want to call the dr that night with the throwing up because I did not want to end up back in the hospital. I think it was just from trying to get all my medication down. Thankfully the vomiting has stopped.

Welcome and good luck to you and your husband on this journey!! That’s great you guys are doing this together too!

Ok guys... maybe you can help me with some insight if what I am feeling and experiencing is normal. I had my surgery 8 days ago and I’m now on the purées/soft food stage as my surgeon requested. I’ve been keeping track of everything I put in my mouth on the Baritastic app and every night I end up with a total of 800/900 calories consumed. I was told that I shouldn’t even be able to get close to this amount for several months...let alone 8 days out. Everything I’m eating is sugar free or fat free. I’m drinking 2 Protein Shakes a day...a Greek yogurt or ff cottage cheese, about 1/2 cup of cream of chicken Soup and I have been able to eat a very small amount of the ricotta bake or some puréed Beans. Just tried scrambled eggs for the first time today and only could eat about 5 bites. Problem is, I am feeling hunger a lot... but then when I eat I get full fast. I am getting between 60-80 ounces of Water with crystal light in easily. I have gained 1.3lbs as of today too!!! Is this normal or should I be feeling not hungry and more restricted?? I’m starting to feel discouraged.

Ok guys... maybe you can help me with some insight if what I am feeling and experiencing is normal. I had my surgery 8 days ago and I’m now on the purées/soft food stage as my surgeon requested. I’ve been keeping track of everything I put in my mouth on the Baritastic app and every night I end up with a total of 800/900 calories consumed. I was told that I shouldn’t even be able to get close to this amount for several months...let alone 8 days out. Everything I’m eating is sugar free or fat free. I’m drinking 2 Protein Shakes a day...a Greek yogurt or ff cottage cheese, about 1/2 cup of cream of chicken Soup and I have been able to eat a very small amount of the ricotta bake or some puréed Beans. Just tried scrambled eggs for the first time today and only could eat about 5 bites. Problem is, I am feeling hunger a lot... but then when I eat I get full fast. I am getting between 60-80 ounces of Water with crystal light in easily. I have gained 1.3lbs as of today too!!! Is this normal or should I be feeling not hungry and more restricted?? I’m starting to feel discouraged.

Wow, that’s interesting. I didn’t ever scratch in my sleep. Was just worried I might when they weren’t fully closed yet. Also I had oxy each night and slept quite well.

I hope you’re doing well @Tallymom hope your pain eases up. Mine is nearly all gone. I haven’t taken anything for pain in almost two weeks.

Starting to get slightly more food in (in terms of being able to get a whole yoghurt down that’s high in protein!)

I’m also concentrating on getting in my H2O. I feel the odd low on energy feeling which has to be not enough Water not enough calories. I think. But otherwise all feeing well and I’m so happy with the difference in how I feel with the weight that has gone. I feel so lucky, but also too like everyone else, it’s been a plan and doing bits each day to gain success in getting healthier.

Much love.

I second this. I’m loving hearing everyone’s updates. I’m wishing the best for all of us. I’m so glad this forum is here. So lucky to be able to share stories and not feel alone.

I started using aloe vera on my tummy. It seems to work great!

Oh, and also the elastoplast/bandaids made me itchy I think too, the sticky glue stuff. I ended up with a rash. Which I put Sudocream on, it’s a high zinc nappy rash cream that is really soothing. Wherever you are I’m sure they have something like it. Three weeks out and I still have faint marks from the rash.

Hi, yes I got some itching too. But it’s a good sign everything is healing. I was even worried I’d scratch in my sleep and do damage to the incisions. So try to cover them up. 🙂

Omg the itching!!!! Is anyone itching like mad on their belly? My surgi-strips are just starting to fall off but the itching is becoming unbearable!

Tomorrow will be a week since my surgery and the pain is getting better everyday. It’s really just 2 incisions on my left side that seem to hurt the most. I still can’t bend down or over and I’m sore to the touch. The day after my surgery was pretty rough. The pain was awful and I actually ended up throwing up twice just from sucking on a sugar free popsicle and sipping Water. I ran a slight temp that night and the next as well. I haven’t had to take my blood pressure medicine since the second day home from the hospital which is awesome! The first 2 days were so hard to try to take my pills and Vitamins but now it’s not so bad. I’m squeezing in 30-40 ounces of water a day and about 2 Protein Shakes. I tried a ricotta bake recipe I found off the Bariatastic app today and I was only able to take about 5 bites. It was delicious though! I’ve tried a few nibbles of some baked Beans and I can eat cottage cheese ok. Weird thing is I feel hungry a lot! I went expecting that but I get full so fast. I went for a 1.6 mile walk today which felt great and drove for the first time today too. That actually made me really nauseous though which I haven’t been feeling since the first day home. And I know this is TMI but had my first bowel movement today since the surgery . That was so painful though. I think I need to ask about some kind of stool softener!
The part that makes everything all worth it is I feel thinner already! Clothes and underwear are looser and my hubby already noticed a difference! As of this morning I’m 13lbs down!