ReadytoMaintain

Mexico is so safe and wherever you go, some one will always be with you.

I did go with my husband but aside from that I did not tell anyone back home. And still haven't. Right now everyone thinks that I am home with a sprained ankle. I am doing this to give myself enough healing, stress free time and to get familiar with my new stomach.

I will tell everyone . . . later, once I have fully recovered.

And guess what? I am already 6lbs down from last Thursday!!!

It really is safe and the results are already fantastic!

ReadytoMaintain

RubyTuesday,

I had my surgery just last Thursday. I started on Clear liquids on this past Saturday.

Just from my little experience, I did NOT worry about whether I was hungry or not. I am just constantly trying to be hydrated. I alternate pretty much between Water and chicken broth. If my stomach can handle it, then I drink. If it's not feeling too good - too many gurglings, too swollen-feeling, feeling full, something, then I take a break from drinking.

Today as a matter of fact, when it sounded like hunger pains, I did not "feel" hungry but went ahead and had some broth. And like you, I have no "mental" desire to eat. The gurgling did subside. So, I guess I was hungry but again no connection to my brain. It was weird the first few days. But, since last Thursday I have lost 5 pounds and I think "I can lose weight as long as I don't feel hunger." Incredible!

I don't think "calories" matter right now as long as you are not drinking sugars. I think the point right now is to not dehydrate and letting your tummy heal.

Just my two cents.

ReadytoMaintain

Joon,

I had mine done in TJ across from San Diego at Dr. Liza Pompa surgical center of LIMARP.

It was great. It was clean. It was lovely. The staff were VERY friendly and helpful. The nurses were always helpful and the doctors were always helpful and informative as well.

I too have a low BMI (38), relatively. I would not have been allowed to have the sleeve done in the states. And like you, other than the weight issue, I do not have ANY health issues. They exist in my family but not present in me as of yet. I am healthy - weight lift, rock climb, dance lessons, ski, etc.

The day that I arrived, we did the blood and heart tests and paperwork. My first night was a stay in the hotel in the opposite tower. I was to arrive the following day at 10a.m. where they were going to start antibiotic i.v. and something else. At 2.15p.m. I was in the operation and by 4.30 I was back in my room. I spent 2 nights there. Each morning (6am) they helped me up and I showered and I started walking around and doing my breathing exercises.

My husband stayed in an adjacent room by our choosing. He could have stayed in the same room with me. They were going to accommodate him with a bed in my room if we wanted.

When I needed pain meds, they gave them to me. :-) I didn't have to ask twice. They said that I was a very good patient and was doing VERY well. I did end up asking for pain meds but it was the second night when I REALLY started to feel things. Before leaving they did do another leak test -Barium. During the surgery they do a test as well - they equaled it to like a tire in a bath of Water to see if bubbles come up to see if there is a leak and another one - I forget when/how.

Then I was in the hotel for one more night. The next moring the driver had already been arranged to pick us up and go back to the airport.

It was a good and as stress free as possible of a surgery as it could get.

I paid $7500. I am happy. I did not do the cheapest nor did I go with the most expensive. It can be cheaper if you elect to not use their driver and hotel. I don't really know what the hotel cost, but it was a lovely hotel and they too were sooooooooo customer oriented. It was worth it to me to stay so very near the surgical center and in a nice area.

I did notice that there was a hosptial VERY near the surgical center - so if there were complications - a hospital is around the corner. I would recommend them especially if you are completely healthy and not very overweight.

ReadytoMaintain

I don't count calories so I don't have a clue. I just make sure to get plenty of exercise so I pretty much eat whatever I want. I am really bad. I eat candy, cake Cookies etc, all the time, but I don't seem to gain. My meal portions are small, and I exercise like crazy, so I am maintaining at goal with no trouble at all.

Oh, no. This is good information. It's good for me. I actually do exercise as well, (not now after surgery) so it's good to know that with exercise I will be able to maintain weightloss even if I am a naughty with my food. THAT is what I have NEVER been able to do. I exercise just to maintain my heavy weight. So, this is good news!

Thanks!

ReadytoMaintain

AJW,

thanks for your info. Indeed, we are all individuals. I am gathering information to prepare myself with all the POSSIBILITIES of what COULD happen. BM/day, BM/every 3 days, etc. and how much someone is eating in relation to THEIR BM.

That's all.

Thanks.

ReadytoMaintain

Luck,

based on what you are saying - you eat pretty much anything and everything you want.

How many calories do you think you are eating on average and how are your bowel movements now?

Thanks for the information.

ReadytoMaintain

Thanks OregonDaisy and DowninSocial for your help.

I do wonder - how many calories are you eating a day?

Thanks!

ReadytoMaintain

Hello.

Well, today is a very good and new day. I knew it as soon as I woke up. Last night, before going to bed, I cleaned my incisions again. This time I used a little hydrogen peroxide. Let the sites dry out a bit and then reapplied my neosporin and bandaged as normal.

This morning - redness is gone, pus is gone, sites closing up and are doing VERY WELL!!! I am so happy! I have since re-cleaned them again as I did last night. I will do it again tonight before bed.

Thanks for your help!

ReadytoMaintain

Ok. I will contact my surgeon.

I am on a round of antibiotics so maybe my doctor will up it. Also, is this infection mostly on the outside having to do with the skin? And thank goodness, I don't have pain from them really. Whatever pain I have from them are equal to the other 3 incisions that are doing well.

Hydrotherapy is a good idea! I can do that!

THANKS!

ReadytoMaintain

Hello.

So, I have taken a shower. Took my bandages off the incisions. 3 of them are doing very well - the smallest ones. The largest two don't seem to be coming along as well.

FYI: Operated on on Oct. 29.

The drain tube incision is still "openish". Looked slighty wet and pussy when I removed the bandage. The skin around it definitely reddish. The other incision near it is doing the same. Only this one did have an itty bitty bit more puss. After I took a shower, I wiped the puss off with tissue. It's only on half of the incision. And a line of puss was wiped off this half. I can understand this wound being more troublesome because it is right at my waist/fat fold. I have awaken at night a couple of times since the operation a bit hot and sweaty and I just know that this has not helped this. No outside environment explaination for the other "slighty pussy" wound.

Any suggestions? Any signs that will tell me if this is due to something being wrong inside? Am taking my meds and have no fever and washed and changed bandages daily.

Any info is helpful.

Thanks.

ReadytoMaintain

The original and a few more posts had quite an - (SORRY. NO PUN INTENDED) - impact on me. I am drinking, drinking, drinking.

I am really worried about this part. I have ALWAYS been so VERY regular with regards to BMs (2-3 times a day). I WANT a BM everyday - I worry if I don't get one even after the surgery. I have had them and watery because I am still on fluids. But, I am having them.

Thanks for posting that it is getting resolved. Makes me behave even more.

Glad you are doing better.

ReadytoMaintain

Great post and so helpful.

What about the "hunger"? Are you normal hungry or do you get HUNGRY?

Thanks for your help!

ReadytoMaintain

I am really scared for you, too regarding a leak. I had a heated arguement the first day I was back home. I started to get spasms and quivers and was so scared that I might get a leak from that happening. The thing I am most afraid of is a leak and it costing me the rest of my stomach and my life.

I like Tiffykins answer as well. And you NEED to get professional help - spend money on that and NOT on a hospital stay for a leak.

Very concerned and scared for you.

ReadytoMaintain

you know I just expected pain, vomiting and more time in bed in the recovery period which is not the case.

Indeed that was not the case, actually staying bed from 2.30 (operation time) until the next morning at 6a.m. was the hardest part for me. I actually sat up and stood up some time around midnight because I just could not handle laying down anymore! Once I did that, tired myself doing it, I was able to lay back down and "sleep".

you know my concern is what will stop me from eating in the future if there is no pain experienced?? The way I answer this question to myself is - if there is "overeating" in the future, it will not be and CANNOT be near to the extent that overeating happens as it does now. And I am sure that at some point there will be a point where it will hurt to overeat.

the worest part by my side was in the recovery room. I could not take in my breath easily and I wanted to vomit so much ...sequelae of anesthesia I guess but this disappeared by the end of the first day post operative.

My worst was in recovery as well. I wanted to breath but could not and when I did it hurt. I did not want to vomit but I wanted to burp soooooo badly and couldn't do it laying down. They told me it was good to burp the gas out. I did breathing exercises to also bring my lungs back to normal.

There was a lot more pain involved than what I was expecting. Discomfort pain . . . not just "discomfort".

I am having some trouble with my sleeping still. I LOVE to sleep on my side. I did so in my hospital room the last night I was there. But, since then it has not been good - uncomfortable and some pain. I couldn't figure it out. Until, I realized that in the hospital the bed was slightly elevated to hold my propped up weight while I was on my side. And I used a pillow on each side of my body as some one had suggested here on the site.

I slept like a baby for 3 hours. I am ready for tonight's sleep. It's getting better for me, too. Good to hear that your recover is going well, too.

Congrats!

ReadytoMaintain

Hi there Sweetie333!

I also had my surgery on the 29th. I am home now recovering. Just had some broth right now. ALMOST a cup - probably closer to 3/4 cup and felt full. 20 minutes passed and I started sipping my diluted juice with Water. I really don't know if that is normal so that is a good question! But, considering that I am full and I do not FEEL hungry, I am thinking that is good as well.

I did mourn french fries at the airport on my return home on Sunday. They smelled so goooood, but then I realized that I didn't get a hunger pain or a tummy growl for french fries and just tried to ignore her. On the other hand, I had to ask my husband to go eat his CPK pizza elsewhere because I LOVE CPK and I was sad that I could not have not even ONE bite. But, I am consoling myself with the thought that I will be able to all my foods again but in much smaller quantities soon enough.

BTW, the drain removal for me was perhaps the WORST part of the whole experience. Ugh! And it hurt me and it was weird.

Good luck and I am so glad that we are going through this at EXACTLY the same time.

Thanks!

ReadytoMaintain

Thanks everyone again for your congrats and your helpful information. Indeed, just as VegasAngel has told me - the gurglies are still happening especially once I drink my chicken broth but then they just go away after a while. The spasms and quivers were indeed due to me getting upset which I have promised myself not to do again!

Everyone is so helpful and great!

Thanks!

ReadytoMaintain

I thank all of you for your greetings and your comments.

I really appreciate them!

I am having a well recovery so far. I just have to maintain following the rules so that it can go even better. As for the gurgles and spasms, well, they are gone!

I am SURE that I will have more questions as I go along this process.

Thanks!

Ana

Hello!

First, I would like to say that this site has been VERY helpful to me in deciding a new life for myself.

I was looking into the lapband surgery when I first started my research. I've known about it for several years and had finally decided that I was going to JUST DO IT . . . And then I read about the sleeve.

I was convinced that the sleeve was for me. This site and it's members have provided me with so much information that I really felt so well prepared for the operation and still do in the early post op stages.

That's right, I am now sleeved. Today is my first day back home. My surgery was on Thursday. Stayed in the clinic Thurs and Fri night. In hotel Saturday night and came home on a 3 hour flight on Sunday.

I did get operated by a doctor that I found sort of through your site: Dr. Liza Pompa with LIMARP. There really is not much information regarding her here. If you are doing research regarding a surgeon and have questions regarding her, please feel free to send me question via email or here on the board.

I feel really good but at some point during the day I get a wave of fatigue. It's more than my usual 5-6pm sleepy-could-use-a-20-minute-nap so I just listen to my body and go to sleep until . . .

I took pain meds yesterday before the plane and since I have been home, I have not had any more except until . . . this:

I did get into a heated arguement and my stomach started to spasm and quiver. Can this cause a leak?

And I know, do not get upset. I am not going to do that again. I would like know if these "quivers" are normal 4-day out post ops issues?

Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

REALLY ReadytoMaintain

Hello.

I was just sleeved last week. I too want to lose between 50-65 pounds. The nutritionist thinks 65; I think 50.

In the early days still of recovery so no weight loss as of yet, but I am terribly HOPEFUL.

Thanks!

ReadytoMaintain