karakent

Much happiness and good thoughts to everyone who is having surgery this week!
I'm officially 1 week post-op RNY (with hernia repair)! Here is what I've learned this week from my surgeon, my partner (who is a nurse) and myself:
1) If you are in pain, take your meds. There is no shame in taking pain meds for a major surgery. Everyone's pain tolerance is different and I have been in a fair to high amount of pain since surgery. I'm not sure if it's the RNY plus the hernia repair that is causing this level of pain, but I took whatever pain meds the nurses gave during my hospital stay (there was a combination) and then every 6 hours after I was discharged for the first 3 days and now I'm only taking them when I feel pain, but I still feel pain, so I'm still taking them.
2) Rest. I'm a person who is always on the go and it's been difficult for me to just REST. It's driving my partner (the nurse) crazy. He keeps reminding me "It's only been ____ days! You just had two major surgeries! Rest please!! Sit down! Take a nap!" Don't feel guilty about resting your first week (or weeks) home.
2) PLAN PLAN PLAN. Once I was on full liquids I was shocked at how low the Protein value is per BARIATRIC SERVING and quickly realized if I didn't plan what I was going to eat and when I was going to eat it, this will get out of control really fast. Yes, a container of protein greek yogurt has 20 grams of protein in it (a 5.3 oz container), but if you are only eating 2 oz servings at a time, you have cut your protein down to 7.5 g per serving. I've added Isopure to almost everything I eat and I do 5g Isopure per 2 oz food which adds another 4g protein.
3) It's extremely difficult to get your 64 oz of Water in. Pre-surgery I was like "that will be easy." Nope. Not at all. First, your new pouch will only hold a sip or two at a time. Too much and it will hurt. And once you are eating full liquids or purees, you have to stop drinking 30 min before, 30 minutes after (and another 10/15/20 to actually eat your food) and if you are eating 3-5x a day...this becomes a full time job. I know it will get easier, but it has been overwhelming right now.

I’m not going to lie, I’m slightly jealous of those of you already returning to work/feeling great postop!

I’m officially 1 week post op and I feel like I’m never going to be the same 😩 I have a constant feeling of something being “stuck” in my chest/throat and it’s driving me crazy! I’m also struggling to get in the recommended amount of Protein each day, shakes are disgusting to me now, and I feel awful after finishing one.. I also am having a reallly difficult time getting in all of my meds, taking Horse pills with a SIP of Water is making the “stuck” feeling even worse.

I honestly thought that I was so ready for this and it was all going to be a breeze, but I wasn’t even close to prepared… I don’t regret it, yet, but boy am I close.

Me too! I also switched surgeons/hospitals and I am so much happier with my decision.

Me too! I also switched surgeons/hospitals and I am so much happier with my decision.

What are you revising from? You may be right about the revision. I know my doctor told me that he would not do my lap-band removal and revision to sleeve in one operation because its more traumatic to the body. And had a greater percentage of some kind of complication or another. Including when healing. He said it can be done and many successfully do it, including himself when medically necessary, its just that he doesn’t like doing it. So I had to wait almost ten weeks in between.

I feel like revisions are the least spoken about of all these surgeries. We speak of each as if they are individual and never of what it means to put them together in one body.

Thanks guys! Your answers make me feel better. I think I’ll be able to do it. Driving was my biggest worry. Because of the amount of traffic going home can sometimes take over an hour.

This exactly my worry. Luckily the kids won’t be back yet for that first week. That’s when it really gets exhausting. Lol.

Thanks guys! Your answers make me feel better. I think I’ll be able to do it. Driving was my biggest worry. Because of the amount of traffic going home can sometimes take over an hour.

Oh my goodness! November?! Ugh. I hope its not so far ahead for me. I have a wedding at the end of October. I want to at least be eating a little normally.

This exactly my worry. Luckily the kids won’t be back yet for that first week. That’s when it really gets exhausting. Lol.

Thanks guys! Your answers make me feel better. I think I’ll be able to do it. Driving was my biggest worry. Because of the amount of traffic going home can sometimes take over an hour.

August buddies!!! So I had a ZOOM - group education appointment about our post-op diet and I am crying inside that I won't be able to eat regular food until November!

Gambapentin will mess you up! I was prescribed it for help treating a nerve injury, and it completely ruined me to be able to drive. I was so glad to get off that stuff! So great to hear you are feeling so much better and doing all that walking! Congratulations!!!

I told my boss, there may be some days when I need to have an extra little nap in the afternoons. They've been super about the time flexibility, so I can work in the mornings when I do have extra energy too.

I go back to work next Monday and I'm scared!!! My surgeon wanted me off work until Sept 12th and OMG would that have been amazing! Mostly I'm worried about the fatigue. I am almost 1-week post op and I'm pretty much exhausted all the time. I had my post-op checkup today and by the time I got home I was dragging and needed a nap.

I've got my bag packed, I've paid the hospital bill. All I've gotta do is drive to Spokane (6 hours away) and get checked in on the 18th. I finally found peace with the pre-op liquid diet, but I am seriously looking forward to full liquids once the surgery is over! We're starting at a gorgeous little Air BnB during the surgery stay and a couple days after before making the long drive home. Anyone else have to travel far for their surgery and appointments?

Most likely you will feel better and get stronger every day. I was winded after just getting dressed last week, and I'm still a bit winded going up the stairs today, but I'm still heaps better than I was two days ago. So, you may well be perfectly up to going to work in a week's time. If not, is there no way you can get more time off?

I had my surgery on the 9th, and I went back to work today.

My doctor recommended that I take at least two weeks off, and I have a doctor's note for four weeks, but I'm a teacher and this week is the only time we have to prepare before school starts next week. So I went today (at 9, thankfully not at eight) and I ended up staying until 3:45 or the same as everyone else.

I was a bit nauseous after lunch (very thin oatmeal) and I had to stand up sometimes during our meetings because I was uncomfortable, plus I was pretty tired when I came home, but in all I'm doing much better than I anticipated. Sure, it would have been nice to have another week to heal, but it would be more stressful for me in the long run to turn up next week unprepared.

I bought one of those Protein laden broths from a Bariatric company. They aren’t bad and since they would something warm you might not mind having that. It has 20gms of protein. I hope you start feeling better soon!

Yaassss!!! Lol. These popsicles are seriously saving lives out here! 🤣😂

I've been able to drive just fine personally. I also never took any of the pain medication though so that has played a huge factor.

I started back to work late last week. I was getting really stir crazy. I actually feel great and am just ready to settle into my new routine. My energy has been up by the end of the day which I was really worried about. I even got some extra steps in last night on the tredmill. Everyone is different in their recovery!

Half way through the month! Good luck to everyone coming up this week and I hope those who have gone before are having a good recovery!

Anyone who already had it already back at work? This has been my biggest worry.

1. Who moved my car seat back? Oh, nobody. My butt is smaller and I'm sitting further back.
2. What? Do gold necklaces stretch? Oh, no. My neck just got smaller and now the chain looks longer.
3. Painting my own toenails.
4. Fitting in most any chair.
5. Not worrying about getting stuck in chairs with arms.
6. Not worrying about a chair breaking (mostly outdoor chairs). Been there, done that.

Crossing my legs!