Taj

Sounds like you have the same hybrid elliptical/recumbent bike that I have-which I love. Not up to 30 minutes yet but I get in 20 whenever it’s too cold to go outside. Wish I could have eggs so badly. My surgeon doesn’t allow them until the soft foods stage. No idea why but should have asked at my post-op. Really appreciate reading all the posts from everyone. So informative and motivating.

So great that you didn’t have to do two or three weeks of the liquid diet post surgery. I find that constantly sipping liquids seems to be reinforcing my habit of constantly putting something in my mouth and I’m ready to get on a eating schedule that will help reinforce new eating habits. Really strange that every doctor has different guidelines but that all say we must follow their diet plan if we want to have success with healing. My surgeon even wrote a book titled Weightloss for Dummies-yep, it’s a legitimate “for dummies” book and I didn’t know about the book until after my surgery. Also didn’t know she was the surgeon who performed Al Roker’s gastric bypass (I’m sure many younger folks have never heard of Al Roker). At any rate, the book has fabulous recipes written by a chef who had wls and I can’t wait to try them. I’m two weeks post op tomorrow and all incisions completely healed, no reflux at all (thanks to sippy cup), and I honestly feel better than I’ve felt in years. I’m sleeping well at night with no need for caffeine to get through the day. VSG has changed my life. Oh, down 15 pounds and already see significant changes in my face and body. Best of luck to all you January surgybabes!!

BadWolfGirl-so sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. Plenty of sleep and tons of fluids should help. Pre-surgery, whenever I drastically cut back on calories I would feel the same way. Caffeine can cause dehydration so that might make it worse. Add some protein shakes, even if you’re not required. And drink tons of Smart Water or Fiji water. Sounds like your potassium might be low. Hope you feel better soon.

In addition to the ab binder and sippy cups, one of those gel ice packs from Walgreens or cvs-the large one that’s made for the back. Put it on your belly a couple times each day and it also helps reduce the swelling and bloating tremendously. Make sure the gasX is chewable or the small blue pill. The rapidmelts don’t really work. This vsg was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m one week post op and almost all swelling and bloating is gone, thanks to the ab binder and ice pack. Without the ab binder scale was dropping one pound per day. With ab binder and ice pack, scale dropping 3 pounds each day, consistently. No need to be nervous. Just be prepared and you’ll have smooth sailing.

Had VSG on Jan 6 at NYU Tisch. Best decision of my life. Things I wish I had known before surgery...abdominal binder will help tremendously with bloating and swelling, as well as making it not so painful to cough or sneeze. Child’s sippy cup is the best way to sip slowly and completely eliminated the reflux I was feeling from every sip of water or protein shake. Apparently those cups are designed to reduced the amount of air taken in, and doesn’t allow too much fluid, but you really do need to sip constantly and stay hydrated. Walk walk walk beginning the day of surgery. You won’t feel like getting up to walk but once you do it, you feel great. GasX will help tremendously so get it in advance. I take 2 or 3 per day and it really does provide relief. If you have trouble sleeping-take your own pillow to the hospital because all hospitals have cheap pillows that flatten and I couldn’t get comfortable. Good luck!! The first week is the toughest but if you’re prepared, it will be so much easier.

Hi Everyone. Had my gastric sleeve on Mon, 1/6/20 and discharged on Tues, 1/7/20. I walked several times the day of surgery and the following day. My belly became severely bloated and swollen as I was getting dressed to leave the hospital and got even worse the next day. Wednesday I spent half the day researching how to reduce the swelling and bloating and found one medical center that said they put abdominal binders on every bariatric patient immediately following surgery. Received my ab binder from Amazon on Thursday and was amazed at how much better I felt immediately. My weight when I got home on Tuesday was 7 pounds more than the day of surgery. Wednesday the scale showed 1 pound less. Thursday, 1 pound less. Friday, after wearing the abdominal binder for one day, 3 pounds less. The light compression helps support your stomach and helps your body release the excess fluid. I wish I had thought about it before surgery and been prepared. I had liposuction and a tummy tuck years ago and compression garments were placed immediately after surgery so makes sense to do the same after bariatric surgery. That swelling and bloating has been the worse part for me and could have been avoided had I been prepared.