WanderingLass

One thing that really helped me not eat too fast, then consequently too much, is waiting at least 1 minute between bites. I have an analog clock in view and I mark the second hand and literally wait 1 minute or more between bites. Then I set a 30 minute timer before I drink. You've got this!

That's a discussion for your team. All my paperwork said 5 minutes every hour, too, but post op they had me walking 15 minutes every hour and sent me home with that. We live in the 55+ section of our mobile home park, so I totally understand busybodies! I still did it but I timed it around the worst of the lot as I knew when she was done walking her dog I had a couple hours. 😏 My team basically said 15 minutes every hour working up to 40 minutes a day. Ultimately I did longer walks less often a day, but still getting at least 30 minutes for 2 walks, then shorter ones as well.

Oh dear. I'm so sorry you're having such a rough go of things! 🧡

My insurance required 6 months of hoop jumping. Once they were all jumped, it was a few days from preauth request to pre-approval.

There have been reports of people using it for weight loss developing gastroparesis. One patient realized she was vomiting food she had eaten 4 days prior. It makes me very glad my insurance denied it and my doctor and I pursued weight loss surgery instead.

I 100% agree with @KathyLev, @SnowyWinter. That is the very definition of chaos and not what you want or need! I would maybe consider meeting with the new surgeon but even that is iffy. Keep us posted! 💜

My nutritionist said pretty much the same thing, that there's not enough research showing we absorb enough through the skin, but that things are always changing so maybe in the future. She expressed her frustration with liquid vitamin manufacturers not making them bariatric appropriate. I tried them for a couple weeks but soon forgot to put them on. I did feel like I had a little bit more energy/alertness, though.

I also had a 6 month period in which I had to meet with a nutritionist 6 times, an exercise person once, a psychologist once, a surgical consult, and my case manager monthly. I didn't have to lose weight but I couldn't weigh more than my initial consult. My insurance used Aetna but then right at the end when it came time for submitting for preauthorization, they switched to Active Health. They required one more consult with my surgeon and she thankfully had a virtual opening the next day (It's a 2 and a half hour drive not including the ferry ride to my surgeon's office). Each insurance is different and the more time I spend in medical billing the more of an opinion I develop about the American health care system. 🙄

Depending on your blood pressure before and after, there could be vision changes. High blood pressure effects our vision. My husband's glasses prescription changed drastically one year, and we never thought about it. A year plus later, he had a heart attack due to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. One quadruple bypass later, on good meds, and he had to get new glasses again, almost back to the old prescription. So, maybe?

Is it ham and turkey or specifically the lunch meats? Because the beauty of making your own is, use chopped turkey breast. Cube ham. Make it yours. 😊 Now I'm really looking forward to being able to eat again! (Still in post op liquid phase.)

My nurse said you will burp and farther and we encourage both! LOL I did neither. And not a lot of pain from gas.

I didn't add exercise before surgery but I did know there was no way I could start with a 30 minute walk, even though I could hike easier hikes. Post surgery my surgery center's book said to start with 5 minutes every hour. That's where I would start in your shoes. Side note: they had me up for 15 minutes every hour post op and continued that post discharge. Now I'm up to about 30 minutes as my first walk/hike in the morning then a few shorter walks later in the day.

I seem to be, thank you! My biggest incision is itchy so that's a good thing! I'm doing a lot of walking, including a small hill. I am looking forward to soft foods, though. The shakes are good but I don't want to burn out on them like I did riced cauliflower a few years ago.

Did you mean Pre op diet? If so, yes. I had diarrhea for nearly a week. First day was the worst and it steadily improved from there.

I had a giant ovarian cyst removed in 2013. Like, gallon of milk giant. It had adhered to my bowels and pretty much everything it could. They nicked my bowel in 3 spots removing the cyst. (Hysterectomy in 2000 but they took both ovaries with the cyst and my gall bladder for its own reasons, I'm always a special case.) Forward to my sleeve a week ago, and my surgeon said that my bowel is adhered to my small intestine and had she been 2 inches to my left, she'd have been in my bowel. Scary thought! I joked I should get a tattoo there in case of emergency... Sounds like your surgeon is well prepared!

I knew I had adhesions from the 2013 surgery but not where they were. Scar tissue can also cause adhesions. But no pain. It's like gluing your fingers together. You don't feel the glue. Weird analogy, but it was the only one I can think of. 🤷‍♀️

I had a giant ovarian cyst removed in 2013. Like, gallon of milk giant. It had adhered to my bowels and pretty much everything it could. They nicked my bowel in 3 spots removing the cyst. (Hysterectomy in 2000 but they took both ovaries with the cyst and my gall bladder for its own reasons, I'm always a special case.) In 2016, 2017? I had a bowel obstruction. You will KNOW. Nausea and incredible amounts of pain over a few hours resulted in an ER trip and week long stay. Forward to my sleeve a week ago, and my surgeon said that my bowel is adhered to my small intestine and had she been 2 inches to my left, she'd have been in my bowel. Scary thought! I joked I should get a tattoo there in case of emergency... Listen to your body and advocate for yourself. I've only had 1 doctor poo poo my symptoms- and she was a female doctor, too! Had she listened, my gall bladder would have been removed in 2010.

We were in a motel the night before and night of, on the 2nd floor no elevator. At home we don't have stairs. But when I told my surgical team about the motel they didn't express any concerns. I just took them slow and easy. Like @CarmenG said, I would give it a few days to make sure the anesthesia is out of your system, and listen to your body.

I was that way preop! I got a variety pack of Premier on Amazon and Fairlife 26g protein in chocolate and that made a huge difference! Changing up flavors helped!

I'm assuming I won't be able to eat a lot right away so I'll be drinking shakes into my soft food phase (the 25th) and beyond for awhile. Especially when I go back to work. I don't want to try a soft food only to end up in the bathroom because my body didn't like it. I have a coworker who is a couple years post op and keeps shakes at work just to make sure she's getting her protein. That's my plan, anyway. 🙂

Tuesday for me! I just had my last bit of solid food, a spoon of peanut butter as my last snack. Per my dr, loading up on Tylenol ahead of time. Tomorrow is liquid only and my last day at work for 3 blessed weeks. We have an hour drive after work, a ferry ride (I love ferry rides!) and then about 30 minutes to the hotel. I'm mostly packed, just deodorant, my tablet, and Kindle. Maybe a spindle for spinning yarn.

You can get a "chug lid" for it here!

First, I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. That is heartbreaking. Every person I know that had a Lap Band had it fail and had a VSG done. Even as recently as 2 years ago with the Band, and it caused a lot of complications. She had it removed with her VSG last year and couldn't be happier. A friend had hers done in 2006 and it was an hour away for adjustments. She said the number of times she made that trip in agony was not worth the surgery. Yes, it was a long time ago. The adjustments are still necessary, though, so it's something to keep in mind. My original plan in 2016 was a Band. I liked that it was reversible and I'd already had 2 open abdominal surgeries. Life happened and only last year after 2 moves did I have insurance that covered surgery - but not the band. To me, it speaks volumes that insurance companies are no longer covering it - which means they're losing a ton of money covering complications (I work in medical billing) and the number of surgeons no longer offering it is increasing. In my opinion, the risks of the band far outweigh the benefits, now.

I was miserable. I'm on day 6 and it's better. Mine is less than 1,000 calories a day and no more than 50 grams carbs, 2 meal replacement shakes. They sent home some recipes and frozen dinner recommendations, too. Day 1 morning I was nauseous to the point I almost went home from work. And bathroom breaks for loose stools were numerous. I felt like I'd done a colonoscopy prep! Day 2 no nausea, still numerous bathroom trips. Day 3, numerous bathroom breaks in the morning, but by afternoon these had stopped. Day 4, a few extra bathroom breaks but none in the afternoon. Day 5 we were going to go on an easy hike but the drive is about 2 hours and, of course, no bathrooms on the trail. So we opted to stay home and I'm glad. A few extra bathroom trips. Today, Day 6, still a couple extra trips, but I'm sure tired of it. For food, leafy green salads with ground turkey; hard boiled eggs; chicken on greens; that type of thing. Green beans, not my favorite but they'll do. You've got this! I read someone say the 1st 3 days are the hardest and I'll agree with that. But it does get easier.

We have to spend 2 nights at a hotel due to the 3 hour drive (assuming ferries are running!). I'm bringing meds, clean clothes for day of and after, my phone of course, and probably my Kindle. I'm sure I'll be sleepy so I figure that's plenty. They ask I stay an extra night due to the drive in case of any issues, and then they'll do imaging the next day to ensure the staples are doing their job.