lisafrommassachusetts

On 2/14/2020 at 8:59 PM, GotItDoneInHarlem said:

I weight about 10 pounds more today than the day of my RNY (which was Tuesday). How is this possible? Is it all retained Fluid from having an IV and fluids after surgery?

Yes. I had my surgery the Monday before you; I also weighed more and looked huge; I am now down about 6 pounds from my weight the day of surgery. I had some trouble getting the bowels going, and had to take Miralax, but once that started and I kept drinking the clear fluids the weight has started to drop off.

I actually had to have my surgery postponed from Feb. 3 to Feb. 10 because I had a pretty bad cold which was probably the flu. I was sooooo disappointed, but in retrospect between the fever, chills, body aches and constant runny nose/sneezing, recovery would have been miserable. The week went by pretty quickly; because I was pretty sick I had an easier time with the pre-op diet (which extended for that week, although they had me eat on 2/3 to get some calories in), and I was down a full 10 pounds by surgery day. I hope you don't have to postpone, but if you really aren't feeling well it might be the best thing.

@MorganF way to go!!

1 hour ago, MorganF said:

Good luck! I am one week out and going in for my final preop clearance appointment today!

The week will go by fast! How is your pre-op diet going?

3 hours ago, DB in AZ said:

It's very early on the 19th, my surgery date.My hospital is about 30 plus miles away on the other side of phoenix so we need to leave within about 1⁄2 hour to get there by 7.Didn't sleep well as I'm sure you can imagine But I am feeling positive We're on our way Best of luck to everybody having surgery today and the rest of February.Hope everything goes well for you. Will be checking in over the next couple of days and weeks. So thankful for this forum.

Good luck! You've got this. And you are indeed on your way!

6 minutes ago, doublepau said:

My anxiety is SO ON. I have had the most stressful 2 weeks and I feel so unprepared. I am an over-planner and over-prepare for everything and things aren't currently going as planned so im totally freaking out. I had to take five minutes to meditate earlier today cause I felt like I was going to lose it. Crazy thing is I'm not really too nervous about the procedure itself- just everything being in order. Sigh. I wish I wasn't such a neat freak/perfectionist.

I hear you! My (adult) children and husband will suggest I have some, ahem, control issues....and there is no feeling in the world where you are less in control than being wheeled into an OR to be rendered unconscious! Everything will be fine! And if you forgot anything, that's when friends, family, neighbors or good old Amazon come in handy.

9 minutes ago, Puffy-no-more said:

Hey @DB in AZ I’m ready. I’m extremely nervous just starting today to get really bad. I keep looking at my kids and wondering if I’ll see them again(I know......I’m being ridiculous). But anyways, I think I have everything ready. My pre-op is going good. I can eat 3 ounces of lean meat for lunch and dinner but I haven’t even really wanted to. I’m amazed that I don’t feel hungry.
anyways, tomorrow.....here we come!!!

Good luck! I don't know if there are people who go into surgery without being nervous, but I've never met any. I am 8 days out, and I feel really good! I think you are going to be surprised at how quickly you start to feel better. And between what I lost during the pre-op diet (lengthened by the flu) and since the surgery (about 15 pounds, nearly 10 of which were pre-op) I already have less knee pain, and an easier time going up and to a lesser extent down the stairs. You will be able to enjoy your kids so much more. I can't wait to hear how you are doing!!!

3 hours ago, november11 said:

In Honor of Black History Month  

You look great.

Wow! Great job!

Good luck! Sounds like you have a great plan.

7 hours ago, smund said:

I am six days into the pre-op diet, I'm off of coffee, I'm following all of the rules. Why do I feel like garbage? I can't pay attention to anything and I feel dizzy 90% of the time.

My nutritionist and surgeon's nurse are both out of the office this week. I called to ask about Immodium and came up empty. (Yeah, I see what I did there)

Blah. I just want to get to the other side.

Going off coffee could be part of it...or just the pre-op diet. Good luck!

3 hours ago, Too many dogs said:

So far so good, sometimes (like now) I will have pain on my front right side, I have gotten tired out of the blue a few times, and getting up too fast I have become dizzy.

all and all I’m excited about the future now. I’ve been walking a few times a day seem to help but my wife keeps saying to take it a bit easy still

Good to hear all is going well. How are you adjusting top the post OP diet?

1 hour ago, AZhiker said:

I enjoy food more now. I really like finding new recipes, cooking, them, and trying them out on the family. Before surgery, I just gulped down whatever there was. Now I have to be much more mindful when I eat, and very intentional in my food choices. When you have to plan out your meals, knowing that your volume is restricted, it only makes sense to fix the most delicious and nutritionally dense foods to enjoy,

What a great way to frame this! I read somewhere once that it is only the first few bites we really enjoy, anyway. I'm going to incorporate this into my "head work."

I did use my robe to walk around the hospital. I bought a new one as a little lift me up before surgery, it is bright and fluffy and has a tie, so I figure I can wear it for a long time. Otherwise, I was in a hospital gown and the non-skid socks they give you.

I brought an extra large shirt and yoga pants to wear home.

I'm one day ahead of you! I have a hard time with the Protein Shakes, too. I can't stand that fake sugar taste, which also makes the Protein Water unbearable to me. I have gotten Iconic Protein shakes, they use stevia and Monk Fruit so are less chemically tasting to me. downside, you have to drink a lot more to get the 20G. You can get them on Amazon, but order a 4 pack so you aren't stuck with them if you can't stand them. I have also gotten some of the Premier shakes; they are really, really sweet, but there are 30g in like 10oz. I have been heating the Iconic chocolate truffle as a hot chocolate and then adding 2 oz of the Premier Caramel. I can tolerate that so today I am going to add 3 oz. Also, I have frozen to a mushy stage both the caramel and the banana and cream, and eaten it as an "ice cream". I am also totally dependent upon Swanson Organic chicken Bone Broth. There are 9 g of protein in the sip and go cups; I treat that as my "lunch", or "dinner" and then have the Protein Shake as a "dessert". The broth is also a hydrating liquid, so you count if for both protein and clear liquid. Once I stopped trying to drink the whole shake and broke it up across the day that helped, too. I have to have the shakes either very, very cold or warm. I also have protein water which I bought (it is Ready protein water). I can't really stand it. I have been putting 2 oz. of the lemon in plain water, and that is not too bad, and gives you a few g's of protein, plus you're hydrating. I have ordered some plastic ice pop molds; they should be here today. They are slightly less than 4 0z. I intend to mix 1/2 of the protein water with regular water and freeze; perhaps that will be more tolerable. I have been eating the sugar free popsicles like crazy, and they have that chemical taste, so maybe if I freeze the protein water it will help.

Sorry for the long ramble! I spend all day thinking about this, and it is starting to show!

Good luck!

So encouraging to hear. I am only a week out, so I'm so curious about what is coming. Do you find you just naturally are stopping at about a cup of food? Also, did your doctor's office tell you to weigh every day?

Congratulations and good luck!

One week after surgery! This has been one LOOONG week. It seems much longer ago I was checking into the hospital. But I am pain-free, and so much stronger than I expected to be! One day at a time.

4 minutes ago, Chas74 said:

I had mine on the 11th

How is it going so far? I assume your in the midst of fluids only. So far so good?

Hello. I had the surgery last Monday. I was discharged Tues. I have not taken any narcotics since the recovery room. I had Tylenol IV and some Motrin IV; went home on just Tylenol. The 3rd day pre-op was the worst for me (Thurs.) I was having trouble getting the liquids in, and finally was told by the nutritionist to stop trying for Protein and just hydrate, it made ALL the difference. Gas pain was relieved by walking, walking, walking. I am not taking anything for pain now, because I really have no pain. So I also have not had that post op dopiness from having to take pain medication.

I have been working a bit. As long as you can take frequent breaks to walk around, and keep sipping, sipping sipping it is doable, and I actually found it helpfully distracting. TV shows and/or movies are ok, but they are only amusing for so long.

I also found my stomach really rumbling, and it felt like hunger. It has dramatically abated, I am not hungry like that anymore. I am sure it was part head hunger, part gas, and part that you still have hunger hormones and a very empty stomach. Anyway, for me day 3 it was hard, and watching people on tv eat made it worse. Also, until I got rehydrated, I was nauseous.

Good luck! For me, so far, it has been much less painful than I imagined.

11 hours ago, doublepau said:

I went to the bathroom pretty bad today... and I'm having a really hard time with the mind games. I want something sweet SO BAD. But I've started a low carb pre-op diet.

I've been freezing about a cup of Protein Shake and having that as "ice cream". The Premier caramel is really, really sweet so I can only tolerate about a cup; I have also frozen Iconic chocolate Truffle, and Premier Bananas and Cream. Also, I've been heating the Chocolate Truffle as hot chocolate, and to get a bit more Protein added 2 oz of the Premier Caramel. It's no Snickers bar, but it is definitely sweet!

12 minutes ago, mchldck said:

Great recipes!

Thank you!

Still on all liquids, but I am thinking I'd like to get a really good bariatric cookbook for when I get on solid foods. Suggestions for ones that are good, or warnings for ones that are "don't waste your time". I am a pretty good cook.

Best of luck! What a lot of work you have already done! Congratulations.

4 minutes ago, CarmaCarmen said:

Today I was discharged from hospital after getting sleeved yesterday. I felt really good post-op and this morning but after being home on my own, definitely feeling more pain and discomfort. After every sip of Water, my body makes the loudest noises🤭 ! Gurgling and whining and popping is the best I can describe. One side of my face is flushed and warm...not sure what that’s about, lol.

Trying to walk around and get some of the gas up and its helping. I feel so thirsty though and maybe only got two sips of my clear Protein down.

Question: Doctor gave me 10 pain pills but said to try to just take Tylenol unless it’s really bad. I think I’d be ok with Tylenol...should i crush the pills up?

I was told to chop the Tylenol pills into pieces, but not crush because it would taste really bad. They gave me a little pill guillotine to do that with.

I had those gurgly feelings, too. And some discomfort, but it was controllable with Tylenol. The nurse told me walking around while sipping on the Water, or even just standing up would help. It did pass for me in a couple of days.

3 hours ago, Ana1990 said:

Hi!! I’m 29 and I’ve been dealing with my weight for the past 2-3 years (depression included). My BMI is 29.9 and my weight is 181 pounds, but my normal weight all my life had been 125 pounds. I’ve tried SO hard to get back in shape and it has not been posible. It really sucks for me to look in the mirror and see such a different person (it doesn’t help that people with unsolicited opinions tell me that me knees hurt because I’m fat, or the neighbor asking me “have you always been this big? or my mom “you don’t Try hard enough””....Anyways. My weight got to affect my mental health in the past year and I’m tired of hiding at home, crying, hating the mirror, hating the closet and the breakdowns in the morning because nothing fits, not seeing my family, friends and nobody in general. My husband suffers from seeing me suffer. He doesn’t even care if I lose weight or not. He only wants me to be happy again and smile like I used to when we met. This is so hard for me and can’t even begin to describe it. It’s been a never ending battle and I want to live again. Anyways (sorry for the long story, I think it’s the first time I write down how I feel about this), After long investigation I decided the gastric sleeve was the solution for me (the doctor is great and has performed 8.000 of these surgeries) and the surgery is goi to be on February 24th. but I am extremely scared of the surgery and scared of any type of complication during or after the surgery. I know the risks are less than 1% but I still panic thinking about it and everyday I wonder if I should cancel the surgery or go ahead. Also I’m scared the surgery won’t work because of my “low” BMI. I want to lose 55 pounds so I can reach my final goal of 125 pounds, but I’ve heard that people with higher BMIs lose a lot more. Haven’t really found or heard much testimonials of people with low BMI and their weight loss journey.
If anybody went through this or can help me in some way it’s very much appreciated.

thanks!!!

So I am 6 days post op and doing really good; most people have a good reaction to this surgery. But what is the fire drill here? It seems like if you are this unsure you should talk to your surgeon about postponing for a month or so, and see if you can talk to the nutritionist, the psychologist, etc. Also, search on here for "low bmi" and I bet you'll find other people who had similar BMIs. I assume you have seen someone about your depression, and if you have not you should make that a priority. Your surgeon should also be able to talk to you about how your lower BMI will affect the likelihood of successful weight loss. Whatever you decide, good luck!