lizonaplane

Welcome! It's a very supportive group of people here.

I had my parents come for a week, although they stayed in a nearby hotel because I have a small apartment. They live about 5 hours away. It was great for them to come for emotional support, but honestly, that was about all that was really needed. The surgery center made clear that I was supposed to be doing all of the fixing of food etc. My mom kept saying "let me do that," but I kept reminding her I needed to do it myself. It was good to have them for the laundry (mostly getting smaller clothes out of storage and sheets and towels, but that could have waited another week) and dishes (again, mostly what they were using as I was only eating liquids like protein shakes and yogurt). I was in a lot of pain so it was nice to have them here, but it did make it harder to sleep during the day as my mom can't sit still and kept asking me what else she could do ?Now that they have left, I have asked a fried to buy me a case of protein drinks (I had one brand I liked) and bring them into my apartment because they are too heavy to lift. If you have a complication, that would be a different issue. Oh, I didn't try stairs until about day 4, but they turned out to be a non-issue. However, sleeping in a bed was hard because it was very hard to get up from lying down due to incision pain (felt like I had done about a million sit ups). I suspect that will be harder than the stairs to your bedroom. If you have a wedge pillow and can sleep on your back, that may be helpful. Other people have suggested recliners, but I don't have one. best of luck!

If you feel like this is an issue for you, it's best to talk with a therapist who specializes in bariatric issues. See if your surgery center can recommend someone. Good luck!

I'm two weeks out from sleeve and I have lots of "noise" when I eat, although I'm only eating fluids and yogurt at this point. I have gas/burping too. If I drink too big a gulp or drink too fast or eat too much yogurt/soup at once it's worse. Try smaller sips at a time or eating more slowly. Not sure if you're still on liquids. I start solids tomorrow. Can't wait!

Are you following your plan? High protein, low carb, lots of water, making sure you're getting all your protein and vitamins, tracking your calories, not "grazing", getting exercise? Did you talk to your surgery center? Good luck!

Congrats on your surgery. I'm 12 days out and yes, the first week was miserable! I'm now feeling so much better. Drinking is easier, moving is almost back to normal, and I'm still really tired, but I'm generally feeling human again.

Sounds like something to talk to your surgery center about. Maybe see a dermatologist. Have you changed soap or detergent or anything?

I would ask your surgery center. That's not something the internet can diagnose.

I'm not sure what country you're in. In the US, we have Fairlife Nutrition Plan that tastes like chocolate milk. Or, you can mix whatever brand of protein shake (I don't like the powders, only the premixed shakes) with coffee. I use about 5.5 oz of protein shake with 11 oz of cold decaf coffee (I can't have real coffee for a month yet). Only helps if you like coffee! I'm drinking that right now, as a breakfast.

I'm having this problem too. I have been eating every hour or so. I have been told it will get better on solid foods. I'm 12 days post-op. It's really frustrating!

You can try "lifestyle remedies" like elevating the head of your bed on bricks or whatever, not eating for the 4 hours before bed, avoiding foods that may be a trigger (tomatoes, greasy food, spicy food, alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, etc). If none of this works (there are other lifestyle remedies that I may have forgotten - try googling) you may need a revision to bypass unfortunately. It's a very common problem. Good luck!

I agree with @NovaLuna.You have to work with a nutritionist and therapist and get support from whomever is bringing you food. I think you mentioned in another post that you were limited to your bed, so someone must be bringing you food. Try to track your food by weighing/measuring everything you eat and limit carbs and increase protein to keep you full on fewer calories. Don't drink regular soda and if possible, stop diet soda because after surgery you won't be able to drink carbonation. Try to only have drinks with no calories (except maybe drink a protein shake for breakfast or something). But really, even if you work with a nutritionist and therapist, it's a life long commitment and it's not easy! Best of luck and keep us posted!

Try using a glycerin suppository laxative. I hadn't gone in a week and I used one and I had a BM in a half hour. So much better!

I have bipolar disorder and PTSD. I saw an amazing therapist for over a decade, technically, he's still my therapist at nearly 15 years now, but he's mostly retired. Whenever I wanted to work on weight issues (before I looked at bariatric surgery, just when I wanted to lose weight) he always referred me to someone else because he just didn't feel like he knew enough about weight issues. That's what a good therapist does... refer out when it's not within their area of expertise. When I finally did decide I wanted bariatric surgery, I asked my PCP for a referral. She had previously suggested it (and she told me recently that the first time she suggested it I bit her head off!) and was happy to make a referral. It's hard to stop seeing a therapist who has helped you in one area, so consider whether you've gotten all you can out of the relationship or whether you want to keep seeing her for the areas you've found her helpful in. In either case, I suggest reaching out to your surgery center to find a bariatric qualified therapist. That's what I plan to do!

I'm just over a week out and I had all these fears a few weeks ago. (Except about the piercings!) I must have had the TAP block too, because I was in very little pain at the hospital, but I was in a lot of pain once I got home (mostly when I tried to get up from lying down or when I was walking). I did take 3 total opioid pills but I would probably have survived with just the Tylenol (although I'd have been quite uncomfortable). I don't take the tylenol around the clock anymore, but I still need it sometimes. I had a lot of trouble getting in my liquid and protein the first three days, but now I'm getting at least 80 oz a day of liquid and about 80g of protein. My plan doesn't allow pudding. I'm eating strained soup (hot and sour or tom yum or onion or tomato), light greek yogurt, protein drinks, and a tiny bit of sugar free jello, although that doesn't appeal to me much. I'm drinking iced decaf coffee mixed with protein drink, low sugar drink packets mixed with 24 oz of water (like crystal light but I don't like their flavors), and cold water. I need to eat every few hours and I'll sit on the couch with a water bottle on my lap until I've drunk at least 8 oz before doing anything else. I'm not a big TV watcher, so I'm doing this while listening to podcasts or talking on the phone. Best of luck to you all!

It's really easy. Takes about 5 seconds to put it in. Then you just sit or lie down and wait for it to work. It's much better than having to go to the Emergency Room and be around people with covid just so the nurse can deal with you being constipated and they have to go in and dig you out... that's way worse.

You should contact your surgery center (or your doctor) to speak to a physical therapist to get exercises that are appropriate to your situation. It would be inappropriate for people on the internet to give you advise without knowing what you are healthy enough for. Good luck on your journey!!!

You need to take smaller sips. I am just over one week out. I can take bigger sips than right after surgery, but I still can't gulp water. Your surgery center should have told you about this. It gets better but you likely will not be able to "guzzle" water anymore.

Try a glycerin suppository laxative. That's what the surgery center recommended to me and it worked in like half an hour. So much relief! Just don't use it all the time or you can become dependent on it. And they told me to prevent future problems to drink more.

Glad you're past all that. Hope it's smooth sailing from here on out!

Can you try gentle stretches? Soon you will be be on ALL the drugs at the hospital LOL! Congrats on your upcoming surgery.

It does depend on your hair and how you want it styled. I don't like to put products in it so I just spend about ten seconds (maybe less) brushing it and let it air dry. I make it clear to my hair dresser that I'm NOT willing to spend time on it. The short hair bed head thing is real, but I can take a 3 minute shower in the morning and it's fine. My whole morning routine takes less than 15 minutes (at least it did prior to VSG.... now it will take longer to eat and drink breakfast).

But you will have some hunger because you do need calories to function. You are a human still! You still need to eat. I'm eating about 350 calories a day, and if I don't eat every 3 or so hours, I feel hungry!

I forgot that I also used my headphones for about an hour.

I've had short hair at my highest weights. I am not a big fan of when women have long hair and put it up in a messy bun or sloppy pony tail and I don't like when my hair is in my face, and I think having short hair looks a lot better on a fatter face, so I've had short hair my whole adult life. Takes way less time to deal with.