Flab-U-Less Forever

Do they offer virtual appointments for those that are not actual tests? I found that all my appointments were virtual unless I was having a test done. A benefit of covid because my doctor was about an hour from met. You should ask if some of the testing can be done locally and the results sent to them.

I ate horrible the month before my pre op diet started. Trying to get in all the bad foods I love. I've heard it called a food funeral LOL.

I just got over a bout of Constipation (second one since surgery on March 3). I find if I take regular Colace (or generic equivalent) once a day and take a dose of Miralax once a day it keeps me regular and soft. Both of my cases of constipation have occurred because I forgot to take the Miralax for about 2 days. I swear I won't forget again. To get over my constipation I took a dose of Miralax every 8-12 hours until the cork popped. I have a bottle of magnesium citrate in case the Miralax doesn't do it . I almost drank it last night but I decided to wait until morning...good thing because at 4 AM my cork popped and I almost cried with relief!

I second contacting the insurance customer service rep. When you do, make sure your write down names, dates, times and pertinent info. I would also suggest having your husband's employer's HR person who deals with benefits/insurance on the line with you. This way everyone is in the know. I had an issue 3 days before surgery. My husband's employer is an international firm who is self pay but uses BCBS in upstate NY to handle the pricing/contract end. I live in the DC/Maryland area. It's convoluted but had HR and insurance on the line together to work things out. A tense few days but everything worked out.

1 hour ago, FutureSylph said:

How's everyone doing now that we're into April? Anyone's plan have them on regular diet yet? (I'm still on soft foods for another week.) What's been the most difficult or the most delightful part of post-op life so far?

My surgery was on 3/3/21 (bypass) I am on regular foods except for tough/stringy meat, raw veggies, breads/rice/pasta, candy and fruits with skins. I am doing ok so far. Protein seems to have a weird/bland-like taste that I am not enjoying so some days I am having a hard time getting my 60+ gms in. Most days I just don't feel like eating...it has become a chore to do so. I have lost a total of 31 lbs (12 with the pre op diet and 19 post op) so I am loving that! Just wish food tasted better! I am happy to report that with the weight loss my feet don't scream at me when I get out of bed in the morning 😁

My external gas (the gas they used to inflate my abdomen) was gone by day 5 but the internal gas (intestinal gas) lasted for a while (maybe up until day 14 but the first 7 days were the worst). I still get it occasionally but not as bad as just after surgery. It sucks and is painful. Reminded me of labor pains LOL.

I didn't find the small 1 oz cups useful but I know others have. I would recommend getting a binder. At first, I thought I had wasted money on it but after a sneezing fit I needed to wear it for about 10 days afterwards I was in so much pain. I got one on Amazon. Make sure you have Miralax on hand. I use it prophylactically once a day. I had a small bout of Constipation and it was not fun. I had been very good about taking my Miralax but forgot 2 days in a row and that's what did me in. I am in the beginning stages so VERY LITTLE veggies being consumed. Maybe as I get further out I can come off it somewhat. I hear others take it daily even after a year or more out from surgery. I have always used small plates so I did not buy anything special and I just drink Water from a marked water bottle so I can easily monitor my water consumption. I did not buy anything special just got a sharpie and marked a bottle.

1 hour ago, Jenleo said:

New to the group, had my gastric bypass surgery on March 2, 2022

I just wanted to know if anybody else developed hives after 3 weeks post op?

Where are your hives (localized or more general)? I didn't have hives per se but around my incisions I was super itchy... oddly enough the incisions themselves did not itch just the skin about an inch away.

I agree with previous posts regarding trying the therapy first without any medications. This comes from knowing several people who jumped straight to meds and had bad experiences with them. I just worry that it may happen to others.

6 hours ago, Mariann812 said:

THIS ⬆️

Exactly my concern. Should I wait and not do the pre-op diet till insurance approves? I am trying to do the surgery April 11 or pretty much any day that week as it is spring break and i do not want to take time off from school. My surgeon and his admin know this.

Not gonna lie...I had a food funeral that lasted a few weeks (ok maybe more like a month) so I actually put on weight right before my pre op diet started. On the day of surgery, I was exactly 40. My doctor said my moderate sleep apnea was a co-morbidity (sleep apnea was discovered during sleep study required in my pre op testing) so I could actually be 35. I worried that since I was not doing anything to prevent the sleep apnea (i.e., CPAP), they could still deny me at 35. The hoops insurance puts us through is ridiculous!

Congratulations @ladylawyer22...my internal/intestinal gas pains were pretty bad and mine came in waves as well. They reminded me of the beginnings of labor LOL. The doctor told me it was a good sign cuz it meant my system was "waking up". I also had external gas pains (due to gas during surgery) but that went away in a few days.

I agree with @Goldengirl321... I also needed to maintain my BMI prior to the 2 week pre op diet as it was exactly 40. Afraid if I lost weight I would be denied insurance coverage. I lost just over 12 lbs in my pre op diet. You WILL lose weight during it!

Woo Hoo!!! congratulations!

I did...who wants roots at the hospital 😂

If on PC, click on the down arrow next to your name/handle. Go to My Surgery.

I just started my soft food/puree stage yesterday. I had scrambled egg, tuna w/mayo, scrambled egg with finely chopped deli smoked turkey and american cheese. I'm still deciding on dinner tonight. I am supposed to have 2 shakes and 2 meals per day to ease into the food. So far so good. I think I ate a touch too much of my egg/turkey/cheese combo today but it tasted really good. Probably had one or two bites too much. I did not throw up but my stomach felt very full.

Just completed a 45 min walk for the second day in a row. I am 2 weeks post op. It's a beautiful spring day and I am amazed at my progress just in one week. Last week at this time there was no way I would have been able to walk for more than 8 minutes or so.

I had GERD and a hiatal hernia pre op which is precisely why I choose the bypass over the sleeve (I did not want it to remain the same or get worse). My hiatal hernia was fixed during surgery and although I am only 2 weeks post op, I have had no GERD.

It sounds like you family is afraid of you succeeding. If you succeed with the same problems that they have, then they will have to look at their problems and most likely do not want to do that. Its easier to keep you head stuck in the sand.

Is there a reason you do not want to do bypass in lieu of sleeve? I started down the sleeve route and switched to bypass due to the whole GERD/hiatal hernia issue (I already suffered and did not want it to continue or get worse).

21 hours ago, FutureSylph said:

So glad to hear good news from my surgical twin. Yeah, sleeping in my own bed in my natural position is the highlight of surgical recovery for me so far.

I had my one-week clinic checkup today, and the news was almost all good. Unfortunately, I can't get my drain removed yet -- still draining too much Fluid to take it out. Maybe Monday on that; we'll see.

Another highlight: pureed diet starts on Sunday, and I'll finally have some food (albeit mushy). Really looking forward to it, especially ricotta bake. I'm very much a cheese lover.

pureed food sounds like heaven but I am not able to do that until the 17th...funny how all the programs are different. I too am a cheese lover and am planning on the ricotta bake as well. Let me know how it turns out!

On 3/10/2022 at 1:07 PM, kcuster83 said:

Congrats! I am glad you are doing well overall. Take it day to day, my team told us there is no way we would hit fluid goals right out of surgery but we should be there within a week. Just keep pushing, that's all you can do.

Good luck!

PS: I am from MD too (Baltimore) Where are you located. (If you care to share)

Hi fellow Marylander...I am in Chesapeake Beach which is about 20 miles south of Annapolis.

18 hours ago, LilaNicole20 said:

I am having pretty significant pain at my collar bone that is preventing me from taking normal deep breaths. Has anyone else experienced this? I also have pain when walking in my left lower quadrant but there is no incision there so I'm confused by what could be causing that pain.

I'm pretty sure the shoulder pain is the referred pain from the gas they inflate you with (it actually irritates a nerve near your diaphragm but is felt in your shoulder) and I also had lower left quadrant pain which turned out to be gas pains from having to go BM. The intestinal gas can be very painful as it moves through your system.

I got my RNY on Thursday, March 3^rd. Surgery went without a hitch and they even fixed my hiatal hernia which was supposed to be very small but turned out it was quite large (no wonder I had stomach acid in my mouth during the night). I stayed in the hospital for two nights (the second by choice because it seemed easier than getting home around 9 pm)

So…I thought the recovery was going to be much easier. Figured I would be back to my desk job by Monday no problem (I work from home part time). Its Thursday and I have not been back. I have six incisions…four I can’t even feel and two are tender. My concentration is minimal and am tired a lot. I had my post op appointment yesterday. The doctor said my incisions looked great but my heartrate was elevated. She asked about my Fluid intake. While in the hospital, I could drink without getting sick and drank when I wanted but since I was on IV fluids I wasn’t concerned. At home, I got in 25 oz the first day, 40 the second and 54 the third. I am supposed to get in 64 oz of 50/50 100% juice/water per day or Gatorade/water. The watered down mixture was nauseating so I have been sticking to just Water.< span> Never thought getting in the liquids would be so hard. I literally have to force myself to drink. My doctor wanted to hook me up to an IV yesterday for a few hours but I swore I would get in my 64 oz (I got in 68). I have been successful with eating popsicles and some warmed chicken soup/broth. Currently, I am supposed to be on full liquids with 4 Protein Shakes per day in addition to 64 oz of water. Since I am having a hard time, she wants me to start slow today and tomorrow before going for the 4 full shakes.< span> Every day is better and I am finally able to sleep on my side in my normal position. I am only taking pain meds to go to sleep and Tylenol the remainder of the day. NO regrets on my part just surprised at the length of recovery time after reading many stories on here. I feel the hard part is behind me. Hope everyone else is doing well!!!

57 minutes ago, FutureSylph said:

Mine, too. Best of luck, surgery twin!

Good luck to you too!!!