Malkia mzuri

some of us get binders, others don't - I never got one - so it's optional. If it's not comfortable, then you don't have to wear it (unless, of course, your clinic directed you to). Gas pains should go away soon...

I did not get a binder but did hold my belly with a pillow when getting in and out of bed, coughing and sitting. Held with my hand when walking and laughing. Gas pains for me were gone in 2 days, any discomfort at week 1. Now at week 2, I sleep on my sides, can bend kind of easily and only have discomfort if I twist too much

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I'm on Day 8 today what I used early on was GasX, works great!

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It often takes a good week for the gas to escape. But burping & farting won’t help because the gas is actually in your abdominal cavity not in your digestive system. The pain occurs because it rises & settles under your lungs causing nerve pressure (the shoulder pain). It escapes by attaching itself to Water molecules in your lungs & you breathe it out.
So gentle activity like short walks (around your home, garden, street) as you’re able, marching on the spot, carefully lifting your arms up & down ( don’t pull your tummy) & slow, deep breathing. A heat pad can also help ease the discomfort too.
Yeah binders are a some do some don’t. If you find a binder supportive & more comfortable, use it.

Love that!

Hi everyone! I just had my surgery this past Tuesday and came home yesterday.
Since the surgery I've had gas pains that hasn't loosen up at all. I've been walking a lot since I woke up from the surgery and got home too. I've been burping but only passed gas once. I have this waist trainer/binder thing on and I don't know how long I'm supposed to have it on for.
Does anyone know what to do? I haven't been able to lay down since I got home and it feels like the gas got worse.

Thank you so much 💓

The gas will pass in a few days, basically you just have to suffer through it. Sorry, I know it sucks!
I wasn't told I had to wear a binder, but was given one int he hospital. I wore it once and it made me more uncomfortable than comfortable so I took it off and kind of kept my hand/forearm against my belly to stop the giggle (haha) when I walked.
You could just ask your team if you could take it off, or just take it off and see how you feel.
I slept in a recliner for the first few days because laying flat wasn't comfortable. After that, sleeping on my side was a bit uncomfortable after about a week (i think) I was back to normal and could sleep however I wanted.

I was told by my doctor/ team that I couldn't drive for about a week and while in the car to have a soft pillow to help ease the pain while wearing the seat belt. I would suggest to still talk to your doctor/ team and see what they have to say after your surgery to make sure everything is okay with your healing process.

I was told by my doctor/ team that I couldn't drive for about a week and while in the car to have a soft pillow to help ease the pain while wearing the seat belt. I would suggest to still talk to your doctor/ team and see what they have to say after your surgery to make sure everything is okay with your healing process.

Met with the surgeon for the final time prior to surgery on Dec 5th. I start liquid diet 10 days prior. SO I will be enjoying a small slice of pecan pie in Thursday. The liquid side consists of a combination of Soups (tomato & cream of types) thinned. broth , Protein Shakes, assorted sugar free jellos (like the green), popsicles, pudding and yogurts and such. The only admonishment is Clear Liquids the day before surgery. It will be the same diet after surgery until advised to proceed to the next step. Obviously this is my teams directions, Your team will probably have their own requirements. Best bet is to follow them. After all, that's why we're paying them the big bucks.
Well wishes and prayers to all.

Thank you for all the many tips! They're very helpful! Since I have a month left before surgery I believe I can figure out a good schedule now so I don't have to worry about that later. Thank you again for all of your helpful information and advice!

Ooh yea the most important thing is that you take that multi if it has Iron with food or shake. And I mean like with the last sip of the shake so your tummy is coated. And separate the Calcium doses from each other and from the iron. It seems daunting at first but once you figure it out it will just become second nature. I use my alarms on my phone (you can set them to be recurring everyday). I usually remember beforehand and I’m sitting there holding the Vitamin or whatever when the alarm goes off at this point but sometimes I do forget even at a year and a half out so I still have my alarms to annoy everyone. Lol

Generally, I don't think doctors give med schedules, but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask! You could also speak with your pharmacist, who may be able to help.
There are a few good points to remember when timing your meds/vitamins:
You can only absorb about 500mg of Calcium at one time. Most bariatric patients are encouraged to take ~1,000mg so you'll probably want to split that into 2 doses at least a few hours apart. Some research indicates calcium can inhibit the absorption of Iron so if you take an iron supplement or a Multi-Vitamin with iron, you'll want to take it spaced out from calcium by a few hours. Early out your supplements may very well upset your stomach. Spacing them out even further, taking with food, etc. can all help. So don't get too hung up on a rigid schedule. Getting them in is most important; you can adjust as you go. Personally, I take my multi, a Biotin, and a calcium along with my regular meds (no interactions) after I've had a Protein Shake each morning. I take another biotin and another calcium in the evening after dinner. My multi does NOT have iron, but when it did, I would take my first calcium with lunch instead. Hope that helps!

You can ask your clinic for advice, but it's probably going to be up to you to figure out, mainly because you have to work it around your schedule. It can seem complicated at first, but you get used to it. I take a Multivitamin with Iron plus an additional iron supplement, Calcium 3x/day, B12, Biotin, and D3. Calcium and iron are supposed to be at least 2 hours apart, and I also take a prescription thyroid medication that's supposed to be 4 hours apart from calcium and iron.
I use a free app called Medisafe to track my medications and remind me. It's really useful because you can track what time you took everything, and it also tracks how many of each you have left and reminds you to refill. You can set reminders at whatever time you want. I set reminders as follows, but I usually stay ahead of schedule.
6:00 am - Thyroid prescription 10:30 am - Multivitamin with iron, B12, Biotin, D3 1:00 pm - 1st calcium 3:30 pm - iron 6:00 pm - 2nd calcium 8:30 pm - 3rd calcium I also recommend getting a pill organizer with 3 or 4 compartments for each day, where each day has its own removable box (the one I have looks like this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Organizer-Compartments-Moisture-Proof-Medication-Supplements/dp/B07Q9JSHMP). I distribute my pills in that once per week, and then I can just grab the box for the day.

I only take a multi with Iron and two calcium citrate and my rx meds. I am able to take the rx meds with the multivitamin in the morning and I take the Calcium at noon and three. I just set alarms. Some people like to use Breakfast, lunch and dinner and/or bedtime. It really is dependent on how many doses you have to separate and what works best for you to remember.

Just watch out for the dreaded “change in taste” a lot of people experience. I learned the hard way and had to give so much away because I no longer liked or could tolerate the taste. It was an unfortunate waste of $$$ but I guess you don’t know until you have surgery and find out if your tastes change.

Those leftover two ounce disposable cups are good later on to measure hummus and sauces/ dressings and stuff. One tablespoon is 0.5 fl oz. Most sauces use two tbsp as a serving so half that cup is one serving. I carry a cooler with me when I am out and about and I always have my Salad Dressing so if I stop for lunch I have my own which is the yogurt dressing so it’s quite a few less calories. Now I actually carry it in a different container and I eyeball it but that is after measuring it in those containers many times first.

I got a bunch of the 1oz cups from the hospital, but stopped using them after the first few days. What I did use a little longer was Dixie cups like you use in the bathroom. These are cheap for a huge amount and supposedly hold 3 oz filled to the top. I just learned where the 2oz line was and filled things to there.

I think it's not a bad thing to be prepared for this or anything in the future if you can control it. Making a list of things you need and crossing it off once you got everything is a good way to still stay in control and not going over board and you'll know exactly what you need and don't. I've been preparing myself lately 😌. My surgery isn't until Dec 9th but because I'm on a budget I've been getting stuff together slowly but surly. I got everything that's "pantry" food now and will get what needs to go in the fridge about a week before my surgery so everything will still be fresh.
I never knew about the 2oz meal prep containers though so thank you for that. I bought a small saucer and bowl from a Chinese store since it was small. Oh and I do have all my meds that I need already too. I really wanted to get that out the way before the holiday season made it hard to get things delivered on time.
Great work everyone!! Keep up the great work and take it one day at a time do you don't get burnt out.

It probably won’t help you before your surgery but the way I quit smoking cigarettes was to vape and then I weaned myself down to zero on the nicotine by mixing the nicotine pane with more and more zero nicotine until I was just vaping to vape but no longer addicted to nicotine. Then it was easier to quit just the habit without the addiction.

I was a long term smoker, I continuously stopped and started smoking so many times. I only managed it in the end by being in a hospital bed for 11 weeks. I never had chance to smoke. I figured that the nicotine was now out of my system. That was 12 years ago and I have never wanted to smoke again. I would never have stopped otherwise.
My point is you will not get any judging from me. BUT - You need to stop now if you want this surgery. I believe some hospitals will not do the surgery if they detect it. You need to be as fit as you can for any surgery, Life is very unfair, just when you need it most your go to helpers are taken away from you. It will be a battle of wills for you. I hope you win. Good luck

I dont smoke or vape but the hospitals paperwork for the surgery said obviously to stop that if stopping was too difficult to get the patch or gum or go see the surgeon for some prescription stuff. idk what that is tho.

I used the generic patch to stop smoking 17 years ago. I had been losing weight (diet and exercise) at the time - I lost 180lbs. while simultaneously quitting smoking. I couldn’t breathe to work out like I was at the time.
You can do it!! Good luck!

I have 9 days left till surgery, i have to quit smoking atleast 2 weeks. But it so hard. 🥺 i vape like once a day since I start pre op. And now im scared. Pls dont judge me. Can anyone advice how did you stop on vaping, and if I will still be ok with my gastric sleeve if i stop vaping now. Pls be kind :(