Barbara278

That's great news! Following the rules will work best and give you the best results. You already have a Good Luck!

Phatman, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your date. I think your feelings are natural and most likely everyone of us have thought the same thing. I live in Colorado so I know April is a great time to visit. There are so many helpful and knowledgeable people on here. You will get answers to most any question you have. Look forward to hearing more on your journey!

I'm not concerned about going out of the country. I live very near the border.

I was mostly concerned about getting enough to drink in the beginning. I am used to drinking a lot of Water each day.

I do appreciate all the positive feedback about Dr. Aceves. I will pass it on to my naysayer friends. LOL The few people I have told think I'm nuts for getting WLS and for leaving the country.

Firefly,

Give yourself a couple of days after surgery to get in the swing of things. We put so much pressure on ourselves. It took a few days for me to figure it out but by day 3 or 4, I was getting in all my fluids and Protein. You'll do fine. :crying:

Mini...Just thinking about you and letting you know you are in my prayers.

Thanks for the update on your tummy. Makes me feel good about going. You are moving right along. I am so excited for you. Now get your arm healed!

I know it can get a little stressful before; especially if you are going out of the country. But I'll be totally honest with you, Dr. Aceves and his staff are FANTASTIC!! They see to every detail. They make sure you understand everything that will happen pre and post surgery. The Docs come in your room several times EVERY single day to see how you are doing, and to discuss any questions you have. If you are in any kind of pain, they will take care of it. I just was so amazed at how wonderful the hospital and the staff are. I've emailed their office with questions several times since I've been home, and they ALWAYS respond right away.

I would recommend Dr. Aceves 1000% without any hesitation. Hope that makes you feel more at ease with your decision.

And thanks, I'm working on getting this clot situation done with.

Yahoo!

How is your tummy feeling?

Firefly, My tummy is feeling great. If it wouldn't be for this stupid clot, I'd be feeling fantastic. My stomach was a bit sore for a few days after surgery. Swallowing for the first few days was a little weird, because everything is swollen and you have to take little bitty sips. Now that the swelling inside has gone down, it's much easier to drink. My sips are medium and not little bitty ones. I'm getting all my fluids in with no problem. The first couple of days, I do have to admit I felt a little overwhelmed. Just trying to figure out what to drink and how to get my Proteins in got the best of me, but about 3 days into it, things started to click. I've had absolutely no issues with the sleeve at all.

I am so looking forward to moving on to phase two which will be on Friday.

Asmelvin, Congratulations! You are doing so well. It is such a big adjustment isn't it? The good thing is the more we practice the different eating the more it will become habit and natural to us. It feels so weird right now for me also. I know it's a process and it'll just take some time to get used to it all. Good Luck to you and keep up the great work!

Hey I just had a question for all of you. I have a lump in my arm just past where I had my IV for my surgery. Do you think this is a blood clot? And if so, what should I do? Any advise would be helpful.

Bernadette

Bernadette,

I would definitely get it looked at. Better safe than sorry. That's how I discovered mine. It could be nothing, but why not be safe and have it looked at.

Let us know what happens.

Hi Everyone!! Thanks so much for your thoughts and comments. I can't tell you how much they lift my spirits. I saw my doctor yesterday. She told me it's not unccommon for people to develope clots from the IV used during surgery. It happens now and then. She said sometimes when an IV is being put in the needle can nick the side of the vein and might cause a clot, but sometimes they just form. She did do some blood work just to make sure that I don't have any clotting issues or underlying problems that we didn't know about before surgery, but she really didn't think that is the issue.

I'm still on large dozes of liquid motrin (800mg 3 times a day) for the next 3 days. I'm still putting hot compresses on my arm 4 to 5 times a day. Yesterday after one of the hot compresses, I noticed all these red blotches all over my arm. (It kinda looks like spots on a leopard, lol) I told my doctor about it and she believes it is breaking up and being disolved into my system which is great. Since doing the hot compresses, I've noticed these blotches every time now, and in different areas...so I think it's working. The swelling has gone way down and the pain is much less. (yah) I think I'm on the mend. The doctor mainly wants me to just make sure that nothing feels worse and that I don't feel pain any further up my arm, which would mean it's moving.

At first I thought I might have done something wrong or not walked enough after surgery, but she assured me that's not the case.

Thank you all for you comments/thoughts and prayers. OH..and I'm down 2 1/2 pounds since yesterday!!!

I'll post more later.

Thank you all very much for your prayers. They are much needed and appreciated. Yesterday I had a cat scan and another ultra sound. Good thing is that no blood clots are in my lungs. Bad thing is I have a blood clot that goes from my wrist all the way up to my elbow. I have another doctors apt today to see how to proceed. It's pretty painful. I haven't been able to exercise at all so my weight loss since surgery has only been 2.5 lbs. I'm hoping that I can start exercising soon with Docs permission. I'll keep you all posted.

Again thanks so much!

I need prayers please. I noticed a knot in my arm about 5 inches above the spot where my IV for surgery was. It got red and started hurting so hubby took me to ER at 7pm last night. We spent 5 hours there last night. They did an ultra sound and found I have a blood clot. I have to go into see my Regular doc tomorrow. It's scary. All prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Barbara

I have the unjury strawberry Sorbet, it mixes clear, little sweet, I mixed it with some SOBE lifewater. Glad to hear you are feeling better. I'm doing good, after getting over been frozen all day yesterday, mom said it was from lack of Protein. I warmed up after I got 46 grams in last night. It was so good to sleep in my own bed last night.

Do you remember how long we need to keep the tape on the insisions?

Hey Brenda,

So glad to hear from you. It did feel so good to get back home and be in my own bed. I've also been really cold. More so than normal and you're right, it's probably from lack of Protein.

The tape needs to stay on the incisions until they come off on their own. They said just wash normally and pat them dry and eventually they will fall off.

Keep me posted on how you are doing and tell your sweet mom hello.

:thumbup:

Barbara my Wal-Mart didn't have them either. Other people in my area have found them at other Wal-Marts. Try drug stores too. CVS carries Profect. I bet Walgreen's carries another brand but I haven't looked. Fry's grocery has them so another grocery might as well.

Thanks I'll look for the Isopure at CVS. I haven't tried that yet.

Firefly, We drove across town to another Walmart and they had it. Yah!!! Thanks so much.

I have a question about the "spinal". I thought they only did that when you were having kids. Can you ask not to get, it I really don't like the idea of someone messing with my spine.

Did you have stitches that had to be removed or do they disolve?

Did they have you do a flourscope(spelling) and what did you drink while they were doing it was it barium? and how many times did they do that?

Did you have to be catherized?

Thank you so much I am seriously considering this doctor if my insurance company does not come through for me. I will not settle for anything lass than a VSG.

The anesthesiologist explained why they do this. You are basically put under and don't even notice them doing it. The reason they do it is because the spinal takes effect (morphine) about two hours after the surgery. The IV Morphine works just while going through the surgery. I was very fearful of it but once he explained it, it made sense. They don't get anywhere near your spinal cord. They inject it in your tail bone where there is no spinal cord between those membranes. I'm sure if you requested not to have it they would not give it to you. But honestly, it wasn't bad at all, I don't even remember it.

There are stitches on all but one incision. They disolve in about 7 to 10 days. There is one larger incision that is left open and it heals from the inside out. That one takes about 15 days to heal. You may have some ozzing from that one and that is the only one you change the dressing on after showering.

Dr. Aceves did two leak tests. The first is the day after surgery. You swallow 4 small medicine cups of apple juice that is died blue. Then you are xrayed to see if there is any leaking, and then the next day you do another test with some type of nasty tasting liquid and they follow it going down by xray as well. It wasn't bad at all.

I never needed to be catherized. I went with no problem at all.

Hope this information helped.

Oh and the stitches they put in do disolve on their own. You will not need to remove them.

Garyb, congratulations. You will be so impressed with Dr. Aceves. My whole experience there last week was good. Of course, surgery is surgery as you said, and it takes some time to heal. I'm feeling better and better as each day goes by. Good Luck and keep us posted on your journey.

You can get the Isopure at CVS, and to make it taste better, try refrigerating it. This somehow has cut down on the weird taste for me (been trying these out). In fact, the only thing about the Grape Isopure that bugs me at this point is the aftertaste, but it's very tolerable. If you have a Walmart near by, you might want to try this stuff... it's a bit sweet, so what I'm trying with this is that I dump out about 2-3 oz of my Water bottle, add this... it cuts the taste, and you're getting in the protein:

Walmart.com: Body Fortress 26 G Protein fruit Punch Flavored Drink Super Whey Protein Shot Ultimate Recovery Fuel 2.9 fl oz, 2pk: Diet & Nutrition

Hope this helps. I'm so excited to hear your made it through 100% and are back home in your own bed! :thumbup: :smile:

Youknowit,

Thanks so much. Brenda mentioned these to me and I sent hubby to WalMart yesterday and they don't have it. I'm guessing some stores carry it and others don't. I'm going to try to go to another WalMart today to see if I can find them.:thumbup1:

I did buy some Gold Standard 100% whey that Tiffy sugguested from a body building site, but Dr. Aceves said I can't have it yet. I have to wait till a later phase.

I did check out that link, but my paperwork that was given to me the day before surgery is a little different.

Here is what my paperwork says for phase one (which is the first 10 days)

1. For the first 10 days following surgery, nothing other than Clear liquids and a Protein supplement should be consumed. ABSOLUTELY no solid food!!!! Clear Liquids consist of Jell-O, surgar-free Crystal light, Water, and broth. A high quality Protein supplement such as Isopure or whey protein should be used in order to obtain approximately 70 grams of protein per day.

2. No sugar, caffeine, or carbonated beverages should be consumed during phase 1 of the diet. These will cause unpleasant side effects and may also cause complications.

3. A total of 1 1/2 - 2 quarts of liquid should be consumed to prevent dehydration. NEVER have more than 60cc or 2oz. in a 15 minute period. Always sip - never gulp or drink quickly.

4. Keep track of your daily intake to make sure be certain you get enough liquids and protein. If it is hot or humid outside and you are perspiring, you will need to increase the amount by 10 - 20%.

5 If your urine is dark or you mouth is dry, you are not drinking enough liquid. Use these as guides to determine if you are drinking enough.

They gave us paper work for each phase. Hope that helps some.

Yes..they did tell me Unjury is ok. The unflavored and the chicken broth. I have both of those. I've been adding a bit of the unflavored to my broths and drinks. Let me know if the Profect is ok. I'll try to get some of that if it is.

So Dr. Aceves does not allow even the clear Proteins like Profect?

I'm not familiar with that one, but I do know they allow the Isopure for the first 10 days. You could always email to ask just to make sure.

Congratulations!!!!

Thanks Cajun. I did get a response back from the doc's office and the whey cannot be added as it's to dense for our stomach at this point. I'll just do the best I can until I get to the next stage which will be much easier.

Thanks again.

Many of us could not get in the Protein the first few weeks, but just be sure you get in all the water/clear liquids...dehydration is the first problem that you need to prevent, as a priority, at this stage.

Once your sleeve is calmed down from the surgery, you will be able to get in more fluids and when you start the full liquids, then you can work on getting all the Protein in.

Great to sleep in your own bed, I hear you. I felt the same way. Congratulations of your new sleeve!

Thanks Cajun,

That's my main focus right now is to try to make sure I get the fluids in. It is indeed hard. I'm just sipping stuff constantly. Do you know if whey protein mix can be added to Clear Liquids during the first 10 days of Clear Liquids?

I emailed my doctors office but haven't heard back. If I can, that will make it alot easier to get my Proteins and liquids in at the same time.

Hi everyone! Well, I'm a little more coherant today. We made the trip home last night. It felt so good to sleep in my own bed. I feel a little better as each day goes by. I'm drinking fluids just fine but having difficulty trying to figure out how to get the Protein in with it. My stomach is still very swollen but is getting better.

I imagine it will take me awhile to get it all figured out.

Just wanted to say thanks for all your posts (they cheered me up) and for all your prayers and thoughts.

More later!

Thanks everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting much but it's been a rough few days. It's day three and still not feeling so well. I am getting better than I was before, but still very out of it and some pain. Everyone here has been wonderful. They did remove the drain today and that definetly helped. I'll be heading home tomorrow and will update more from there.