Lee

Good Morning or evening for you! I bet the dizzy spell was just from getting in and out of the tub. I think we're all a little weak during the first weeks post-op. I don't know why my surgeon says to not submerge in Water but I figured I'd better listen to him. I always shower anyhow, so I haven't been impacted by this. How about a hot water bottle or a heating pad to warm you up?

Congratulations CoCo! I'm so excited and happy for you! :smile2:

I did it for years at a time. It was not detrimental to my health. If anything it was very good for my blood sugars etc. My blood sugar has always been within normal to low range and I attribute part of that to years of low carb. I don't think there's anything wrong with eating lean protein and vegetables, limiting fruits and excluding white carbs.

I too was sent home with liquid Lortab post-op. In the hospital they give you other pain meds through an IV. My surgeon threw out my cholesterol and high blood pressure meds when I left the hospital. I take a PPI (acid inhibitor) in pill form but was told to wait 30 days until I take Vitamin pills. For now everything is chewable. I think the most important thing is to trust your surgeon and to know that they will work out the best plan for you post op. They'll send you home knowing exactly what to do. Good luck!

Welcome Fluff! I got my Sleeve on February 17th. I didn't know I had a hernia, but the surgeon repaired it at the same time. I think the pain/recovery all gets rolled up into one. I was in the hospital one night and released the next day. Three days later I was up and on the treadmill, drinking 64 oz of fluids. The first couple days suck, then it gets much better very quickly. You'll do fine. What a great choice you're making to improve your health!

Mamab3, when is the last time you shed 15 pounds in a week? Hmmmm... that should be evidence enough, not to mention lack of appetite, that you've been Sleeved! :crying: I wasn't hungry until day 10 and by day 5 I was consuming 64 oz of fluids and walking on the treadmill. Consider yourself lucky!!

Nicola, I'm so glad you figured out how to start your own thread! Again, welcome to VST. I know that all plans are different. My plan specifically says that I can't take a bath until after my next visit to my surgeon. I'm wondering if you got clearance or if they just didn't say anything. I'm allowed to shower. I go back to my surgeon on March 12th. I'm sure lots of people will stop by to welcome you here. There are lots of great people with much shared wisdom on this website.

Kaiser makes us take the test pre-op so that they we can take meds prior to surgery if we have it. I came back negative. I think it just means taking the meds and hopefully not having to wait on surgery.

I get this whenever I eat Low Carb. I was fine when on fluids, but Thursday went to pureed foods and immediately started getting. I used to take a potassium pill and a calcium/magnesium pill when doing Atkins, but that's obviously out for now. The rubbing alcohol sounds like a good idea. I too am not getting charley horses but feel things starting to cramp up when I'm sleeping.

Hi Ali, I think it's Liz that sets your surgery date when you get your case manager appointment. Dr. Park did my pre-op history because Dr. Baggs was on vacation. I asked her if she would step in and do my Sleeve if Dr. Baggs wasn't back. She said that the wasn't able to at this time. I think that other surgeon's have more experience with the Sleeve right now. Don't let that deter you. If you're interested in the Sleeve, she can refer you to someone else. I think the Sleeve is the best option in 2010. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to ask questions. I know John will also answer questions. Well John, you may be feeling better, but you've sent your wall of fatigue to me! Maybe it was just that I worked 4 days in my office last week. Dunno. I slept 9 hours last night, read in bed for 2 hours when I woke up. Still in my Jammies. Just watched "The Informant" and I'm about to watch "UP". I may need to nap this afternoon. Other than tired, doing great! CoCo... look at your losing weight! You go girl!! Laurel, it looks like you're next up for surgery!! I think Dr. Baggs is terrific. You're in great hands. I did some protein shakes in the full liquid stage, just to get some protein in. I think it kept me feeling really good, with energy to work and go for walks. Ash, I'm sorry you ended up back at the doc with your son. :smile2:

Lan, I was in OA for 18 years, if you ever want to talk program. I think it's a great organization. Gave me a wonderful roadmap for life. Most of my closest friends all were/are in program so we talk gratitude a lot.

Hi Nicola, My facility didn't start doing the Sleeve until last November so my support group is mostly RNY with a few bands. There's only one other Sleeve that goes to the meeting. So to start your own thread, go to the particular forum that you are interested in. At the top of the page on the left side you will see a button that says "New Post". Click that and you can start another thread. I'll look for you! PS.... I think we're in the lucky bunch if we have to wonder if we've had the surgery. Many people suffer in the beginning stages or have complications. Each time I wonder... I remember to appreciate the feeling.

Hi Nicolab.. Welcome to VST! It all sounds normal to me! I'm a few days ahead of you. My surgery was on the 17th. I didn't move to the yogurt stage until Day 5. I use myfitnesspal.com to track my food. That gives me an idea about calories, carbs and Protein consumption. I moved to pureed foods on day 15. It felt great to get a little more protein in. As far feeling different, me neither! Some days I wonder if I really had the surgery. That said, it takes very little food now to make me feel satisfied. On pureed foods I'm getting in 2-3 oz of ground turkey or ground salmon with a little sour cream or Fluid to puree it. My plan is strict with three meals a day, 4-6 hours apart, no snacking. I've been getting in 64 oz of fluids a day in addition to my three meals. I can eat and drink easily. When I'm getting full when eating, I tend to get these dainty little hiccups. That tells me I'm done! Keep asking questions and please post often how you're doing!

Congratulations on a great first month!!

Candra, first.... huge kudo's on staying away from the popcorn! That is so big. I went to the movies last weekend and I know what you're talking about. Once I got over those initial popcorn smells, I was content to drink my water. Popcorn made me fat fat fat! The psychiatrist is the one that I went to my psych eval with. I think her name is Dr. Schnur. She's the only one left so there isn't an option. I hope you get your coverage back soon! I hit that tired place this afternoon. Maybe because I worked in my office four days this week and I'm just tired out. Dunno, but I'm just curled up watching Tivo and thinking about an early bedtime. Pat, I don't think I can make it on the 20th. I have a conflict with the Contra Costa Obesityhelp luncheon that I committed to a long time ago. I wish there was someone else in the Oakland area to ride/drive with. I will be sad to miss it so I'll have to give it more consideration. It's still several weeks away.

Are you selling the shakes? Are they RTD or powder. What are the stats and price please.

Great laugh! :scared0:

My plan called for 1/2 cup three times a day on full liquids. I graduated yesterday to pureed foods. Up to 1/2 cup three times a day. It doesn't sound like much but it's ok.

Welcome to the other side. I'm so happy that things went so well for you!

Aww John, So sorry to read that you're feeling so weak. I think I've been getting in more protein so still feel ok. This morning I mixed 1 scoop of unflavored protein powder into a cup of chicken broth when I woke up. I needed that hit of 20 grams of protein. I just got back from a trip to Trader Joe's. I found some fresh salmon patties that are 4 oz each and 25 grams of protein each. Also found Buffalo Burgers in the frozen section that I remembered from Low Carb days. Each burger is 5 oz raw. 43 grams of protein each. Looks like two good meals per burger. I just search for the best hit of protein for each meal. I know you're adding more today so I hope you feel better John. Coco, Robin told me that it's not unusual to slow down in weight loss when you go to eating food so you're right on schedule and doing terrific. Whatever you're doing is working so hang in there. Look at your great ticker at 207. You're so close to Onederland! I'm so excited to go fix a salmon patty for lunch! Mo, I'm really sad to read that you're struggling. I know how hard you try. What can we do to help you get and stay on track?

I haven't tried cacao yet as I'm too close post-op. That said, I may try some as well as raw maca once I'm healed.

Good Morning everyone, Candra, sorry about your loss. I hope you're doing ok today. Pat and Tamra, you too really rocked the weightloss since your surgery. Big kudos to you both!! For anyone struggling who is close to the Kaiser Richmond, Bev reminded us at the meeting on Wednesday night that the therapist is there for anyone that is facing difficulty and needs to explore it one on one. I got to go to the post-op meeting for the first time. It was amazing how many people, both Band and RNY are struggling with sugar/carb cravings. I found the conversation very helpful because I don't think that I'll be unique or exempt from cravings when I'm futher out. So what do I hope to do to minimize the situation for myself? The first time I went vegan in 1989, (I was in OA) I also said "no sugar" in anything I eat. I read every label and if it was ingredient 7 or below, I could eat it. Higher than that was out. I did that for 9 years. After 9 years I started eating dairy and meat again but kept away from the sugar for several years more. For me personally, if I keep that sugar door locked, it's much easier than having one bite, then trying to quit obsessing about when the next bite will happen. I'm hoping to keep that door shut now as I go through this Sleeve recovery. Eating extremely low carb helps me because I don't get triggered. I've tasted almost every sweet thing in the last 50 years. I don't need to revisit them again. I had a great first day on pureed food yesterday. Robin cautioned me that my weightloss might slow down with pureed. I was delighted to wake up almost a pound down this morning. I kept it to 12 carbs and got in 49 protein. I'm hoping to up the protein today. This morning I discovered that 1/2 cup of cottage cheese still has my fingers feeling like little sausages this morning. Working from home today. Getting a haircut at noon. Looking forward to a walk today!

Welcome Jen! Please keep us posted on how you're doing. You're going to love your new Sleeve!

I will be cleared for pills at 1 month out. Right now I'm taking a very small Protonix pill by mouth. My other Vitamins are chew with the exception of B12 which is sublingual. Isn't it amazing how different every program is?

I've done Atkins many times and remember those foot cramps. At bedtime, I took 1 Potassium pill as well as 1 calcium/magnesium and that seemed to do the trick for me. Yesterday was my first day on pureed food and I ate low-carb. Guess what showed up last night? Yup, the beginning of that cramping feeling. I feel for ya! My program calls for using Benefiber at two weeks post-op as needed. I tried it out pre-op. 2 teaspoons in a bottle of crystal light, tea, Water etc and golly it does a good internal cleaning job. As Stacy pointed out, you may be abdominal cramping from constipation. Please let us know how you're doing.