I’m two days out from my sleeve on Oct 21 and I was very nervous beforehand. And I’m still feeling unsure now! But I try to keep reminding myself that about my long term goals.
The gas is the Devil - You have to keep moving and flushing out your body with Water - I choose to not eat much and lived on purified Soup
You will test the boundaries like everyone here most likely did - DO NOT touch any food that expands like bread, Pasta or in general a carb. I had issues with heartburn if you do get the medicine from your doctor ASAP. Also i learned this the hard way, do not drink anything prior to bedtime, about a hour. Once you lay down if the water is flushing around with the surgery blood in your stomach you are in for a ugly scene and major Heartburn.
During that first few weeks keep it simple and go light on food and focus on the Soups or brothes. It took me about 8 days to get to pudding. I lived on pudding jellos and pureed soups for 15 days. Trust me on this you test it with to solid of a food and its game on.
The number one issue is the Head games! Getting you head on straight is a b***h, Feel free to ask here and read the hell out of this place every post has a hidden secret, from Sex, food, Pain, Emotions, etc.
Until your ready for a balanced daily routine you have to master the Protein Shakes and Vitamins and minerals. Sounds easy but it is not. Balancing out your Calories, Vitamins and minerals is hard to do. If you can afford it i would suggest you get a nutritionist like i did, best money i spent.
Good luck and reach out if you need anything = This place is loaded with great people and great help and suggestions
Time is really flying! I am doing well overall. Side effects/complications from surgery were minimal. In the hospital I had 2 dry heave events that felt like I needed to happen to release some pressure/gas or something, and only a couple nausea episodes after discharge. Abdominal pain subsided pretty quickly, except for that main incision site which would have occasional stabbing pain if I moved in a way it didn't like. I haven't had that for about 2 weeks now. Incisions healed very nicely. Energy level is improving, however when I overdo it I am definitely still wiped out. I am much more awake during the day. I can stay up much later than I did before, and still rise early. I sleep better. Still on my CPAP, but I no longer take my medication to help me fall asleep and stay asleep. Haven't taken it for at least a week, maybe two weeks. I also didn't take my restless leg syndrome medication last night and was fine. Wondering if I will be able to stop taking it altogether. Not sure on that one. That leaves me with my metoprolol (for tachycardia/fast heart rate) in the AM, along with Protronix which was prescribed for me to take for 60 days. I haven't had ANY acid reflux since surgery, so once the script is up I will probably go off of it unless I start having symptoms. I think I will be fine, and doc prefers to not continue it unless necessary. Yay! And at night I have to take my Lipitor for high cholesterol, but I am going to ask my doc if I can attempt to wean off of it when I lose a little more weight. Cholesterol has been controlled for a couple of years already and losing weight and eating healthier gives me hope that maybe I won't need it anymore. Seriously, the thought of only taking my metoprolol and no other medications daily has me really excited. Diet: I am doing well, but struggling with measuring and tracking. Need to improve on that for sure! I am finding that things that are higher carbs/higher fat do not sit well with my stomach, but that is fine with me since those are things I shouldn't be eating anyway! I usually take a bite or two and then just don't want them. What can I eat? I do well with ground beef, chicken, and Beans as real food sources of Protein. I love them when they are in some kind of a broth. I still really enjoy my homemade chili. I made a huge batch a couple weeks post op and froze most of it... and over the last month I finally finished ALL of it off. It seems to be my most complete meal that I actually enjoy. Debating whether or not to make another batch lol... on the fence since I don't want to get sick of it, you would think I would be already! I am fine with cooked veggies but don't feel quite ready to attempt many raw veggies. I am not doing any breads, rice, pastas etc. I have had a few whole wheat crackers with tuna/chicken salad twice... but not sure how much I want to eat of that even at this point. While I have definitely felt the effects of over eating... I have NOT thrown up even once. (Thank goodness lol) Weight loss? I am doing great, although I am on my 2nd stall right now. The first stall was at 4.5 weeks and lasted probably 5-6 days. Maybe it wouldn't have lasted so long, but I was at Disney with my daughter lol. This time I think it was triggered by me ordering take out from my favorite Mexican restaurant. I ordered healthy options and took several meals to eat it... but I am sure it was loaded with salt and such. I also find that when I order something, I am having a harder time keeping my portions small like they should be. Happened at Disney (though less so) and is happening again this week. Guess I need to not order any food for a while! Anyhow... since last May, I have lost 47 pounds, with 26 of those being post op. I wish it was more, but I think I am still on par considering I started at a lower BMI. I have officially lost more than 50% of my weight to get to MY goal (and only 19 pounds away from the docs goal). And as for the BMI... only a few pounds away from being "overweight" instead of obese! I am walking at least 2 miles every day. I hope to increase to doing this twice a day. I am also debating when to start pilates.
Anyhow... for any lower BMI people on the fence about surgery... I don't regret doing this for one minute! It is a lot of work. It requires a lot of lifestyle change, with regards to diet and exercise... but it is SO worth it!
Personal goals going forward:
Do better with measuring and recording
Walk more, twice a day preferred
Consistently make a green smoothie with protein for Breakfast (started this week).
Attempt to eat small salads for lunch soon
I’m two days post gastric sleeve surgery.
I’m struggling to get my Protein Shakes in as I am not hungry and my body is signaling me that I am full when I sip on any liquids.
Suggestions?
All I can tell you is at a month out those first few days were incredibly hard but every day gets better. I also anticipated having emotional issues and asked to go back onto anti depressants that I had used in the past to assist me in adapting to such the huge changes in my body. Hope you’re able to get the help you feel you need but I’m confident as time goes on you will feel better about things.
I am still in shock I had this major surgery! Why didn’t I realize what major surgery it was before?!??
I am working hard on moving forward.
Trying to get Protein in becoming a real struggle.
CONGRATS TO YOU GUYS AS AJ SAID GET UP AND WALK AS FAST AS YOU CAN THE EMOTIONS WILL PASS AS WILL THE GAS IT MAY HURT FOR AWHILE BUT YOU WONT HURT THE REST OF YOU LIFE WITH THE WEIGHT GONE THE PAIN DOES SUBSIDE AT LEAST IT DID FOR ME CHEERS AND CONGRATS TO YOU BOTH
BEST DECISION OF YOUR LIFE - YOU WILL HAVE A LITTLE ROUGH TIME BUT ONCE YOU GET THRU IT - YOU WILL WONDER WHY YOU WENT THRU LIFE THE OTHER WAY
BTW: get up as fast as you can and walk them hospital hallways, the more you move the faster the air moves out - trust me on this
Good luck and congratulations
Kaswhy got a reaction from Cherylmilla in October Surgery Roll Call