JustMe1313

Congratulations! Absolutely inspiring!

But who was taking pictures of you from your backside? I hope it was for the right reasons, and that you are proud of your weight loss success, for you!!!

Hi, I'm 12 days post-op. I haven't been sick or nauseous at all, but sometimes it feels like the liquids are stuck after I sip them - even with just little sips. The good news is the feeling has passed now that I'm close to the end of the 2nd week. My diet consists of Gatorade Zero, Bone Broth, Premier Protein pre-mixed shakes, Bari Jello, and sugar free popsicles.

13 days out from my surgery, have had ups and downs with the biggest challenge be 1) energy and 2) hunger at the end of the day. I've fixed the hunger by making sure I'm sticking to high Protein liquids. Here are some tips and tricks I've learned to help me keep moving forward:

Food tips:

Perfect treat: Pre-mixed Premier Protein, vanilla. Warm in microwave then sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Such a treat, and fulfilling!

Making sure to get my Protein Drinks in late in the day so I don't have that late night hunger.

I've been using Gatorade Zero to fill in between meals, since plain Water is hard on my stomach.

I tried a recipe from a cookbook, but it really grossed me out - using plain greek yogurt, mixing it up with my chocolate whey protein. Gagged! That memory has kept me going on liquids alone.

Use Bone Broth as a meal, adding my own salt and spices, nice an warm, and comforting.

Exercise Tips:

Set little goals, and then if you can keep going, keep going. If you need to take a break in between, take a small break.

Listen to your body, and if you need to rest, or take a break in between, do it!

For me, I started with walking laps around my pool / patio at night, and use my FitBit to keep me motivated. One day I had 10 laps, then I challenged myself to do 5 more, then 5 more, etc. Started at 5,000 steps then challenged myself each day until I got up to 12,000. However, if I didn't have the energy, I listened to my body and didn't push it.

After I was comfortable walking, I started on my Bowflex Max 5 - not at the interval training level, but just at my own pace. First days were hard. I skipped two days, but then hopped up on it again and found I was able to go several additional minutes without needing a break. Just like any exercise, keep your water or Gatorade Zero or other non-calorie hydration close by, small sips are all you need.

Setbacks:

Some days the hunger was really strong - I found myself tasting Kosher salt & spices in between meals, which kicked any feelings of being deprived to the curb. (I don't know if this is allowed, or healthy - but just a taste did the trick). I've gotten over those cravings from the first week.

After losing 12 pounds the first week, I stalled for about 2 days. I was discouraged, but kept moving and the weight loss kicked in quickly. I am now down 16 pounds since 12 days since my surgery.

Keeping my energy levels high enough to put in the walking and/or Bowflex. I have to push myself at times, but I do it and feel better after knowing that I am increasing my metabolism and strength with each cycle. I also let myself rest when I need.

Hope sharing this helps as you approach your post-surgery healing and journey.

Hi December buddies! I had my gastric sleeve on this past Tuesday, December 15. Everything went really well with the surgery, but I wanted to give you a heads up about recovery. If you have Fibro, or any autoimmune disease, please make sure anesthesiologist takes this into account - so that they can offset any potential flares. I have had several surgeries under general in the past, and never had a reaction like this one. Don't want to scare you - but if I can save someone the agony I went through I'd like to.

The side effects were an extremely painful recovery in the neck & shoulders waking up from surgery, a longer than normal time in post-op to try to calm my spasms, spasms throughout my calves. The day in the hospital was fine, as long as I was on Tramadol, but once I got home, and the meds wore off, the pain became excruciating - all the large muscle groups, extremities, joints both hurt and were on fire. The surgeon's office said since it was extremities it wasn't related to the surgery, and go to the ER, or my doctor who treats my other conditions. I went to my doctor, since he knows my other conditions. He gave me Gabapentin and a cream form of Voltaren; I am also on Flexeril normally. And I started a course of Methylprednisone for the inflammation. Today I woke up feeling better, and have gotten progressively better throughout the day.

The pain was in the back of the thighs, the front of the thighs, the shoulders, forearms and biceps and triceps and shoulder joints and ribs. I couldn't cough the surgery Fluid up, and it was actually terrifying to be in so much pain, I have never experienced like this before. Funny enough, my surgery site, and tummy - they were all great!

Sitting in the shower under the warm Water helped, but only as long as I was there. I needed a stepstool to get into my bed, and had walk excruciatingly slow. When I woke up, the burning would be there and I would have to pull really hard, as I cried, to try to lift a leg, turn over, or push myself up.

Again, I don't want to scare anyone, but if you have any underlying condition where you are prone to inflammation (autoimmune) or fibro (mixed signals and flares), talk to your anethesiologist in advance, and make sure you have the proper meds going home.

That said, I am great 3 days out, have lost 8 pounds, and am so excited to be on this journey to a healthier me, for me. My surgeon was great, and I am so blessed. Good luck to each of you!

#fibromyalgia, #lupus, #autoimmune, #recovery

This too shall pass

6 minutes ago, mawmaw65 said:

Yes! My Dr requested to start one 10 days before the Procedure, But I just got done with all my clearance’s from heart Dr, etc. And they scheduled my procedure really quick because of the Covid and I’m self pay. So it only gave me 6 days to prep.

Well, good luck to you! Definitely exciting. I'm sure 6 days is fine, or they wouldn't have scheduled you. Plus, like I mentioned, I've read that some do, some don't. For me, I can't imagine doing a pre-op for 2 weeks - that's why I need the surgery, to help me get over this really rough threshold.

On 12/3/2020 at 1:27 PM, BlessedReject said:

Hi! I just had mine on the 30th - two days in the hospital, now on my first day home.

How did it go?

3 minutes ago, mawmaw65 said:

Are you just starting your Pre op diet?

I wasn't given a pre-op diet. I've read that some doctors have them, and some don't. I have restricted what I eat the past few days, but giving up that morning coffee & sweet cream is so hard.

Did you have pre-op?

Hi, I'm having my surgery 12/15, counting down...3 more days. Gastric sleeve. Trying to prep - not sure what to have on hand for the first few days. Super excited, but scared of nausea & not having that motivation to get out of bed in the morning, my morning coffee with sweet cream.