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Ask your doctor. I had to wait 6 weeks; up until then I just walked/did a little jogging.

Hello All, I am 59 yrs. old and have fought weight problems for all of my adult life. I have done all of the fad diets and am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. I have always lost weight--60-70 lbs. each time, but always end up gaining it back. I'm tired of this, plus I have quite a few health issues (high blood pressure, osteoarthritis in my knees). I'm waiting now for knee replacement surgery, but it cannot be done until I lose weight. I am a little over 100 lbs. overweight. I have now been on this journey for the past year and still don't have my LAP-BAND. I've been pretty patient, but now I can't wait. I don't have a surgery date as yet because my insurance requires that I spend a year with a life coach which has been a big help. She enourages me, listens to me during my highs and lows, and is there for me every step of the way. She is a registered nurse and we talk every other week. I have also been required to be a part of two telephone conference groups discussing ways to make this work, why we want to do this, and many good tips for pre- and post-surgery. My year will be up on August 16th, and I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 17th. Hoping that the wait won't be too long for the insurance to go ahead and approve it at that time because I'm so ready for this surgery and to begin my journey! I know it won't be easy, but it will be a very helpful tool and a reminder if I ever think about overeating again. I welcome any good tips from those of you who already have had the surgery and wish everyone the very best.

I’m so scared... my hair had been really growing nicely, and now all of a sudden every time I run my fingers through my hair I have several strands between my fingers, and my brush is full of hair every time I brush my hair. [emoji20]. My hair was looking so pretty and long, and I just don’t want it falling out. I have been using Nioxin shampoo since before surgery (gastric sleeve and hiatal hernia repair), which was on 9/11/17, and I’ve also been taking biotin, zinc, B12, and also I take my multi vitamin twice daily and calcium, as well as my iron, omprazole, and also started taking a collagen to help with hair, skin, joints, etc. The collagen is supposed to help hair, but it’s been since I started taking it that I’ve noticed my hair coming loose. Also, I’ve been at a standstill for about two weeks with no weight loss. Please help!

I weigh myself everydayyyyuu ughhh. I freaked out yesterday I was up .9 & today down .8 but total 10 & im 1 week out today.

Had a fill just over a week ago. Been having severe heartburns during the night and early morning. This is the first time this is happening.

This will be good information to know I have a cousin stationed down there and I wouldn't mind checking out local support groups when I come see her for two weeks in April

This is my story of having my Lap-Band surgery with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. He can be found at Celebrate and enjoy myself with a wonderful BBQ dinner with the family. Oh, how I love those fried pickles! At least they won't be completely gone from my life in the future, though they may be the meal, and not just the appetizer. Since I was a So.Cal local, I decided to meet the clinic shuttle at the San Diego International Airport. Considering the long term parking fee was $9 per day, I was pleased to find the lot was literally next door to Terminal Two baggage claim. After a five minute walk, I was waiting for the shuttle driver. At the San Diego Airport, there are escalators with descending arrivees. I waited at the bottom, looking in the same direction that the arriving passengers would be looking. With that vantage point, I easily saw a Hispanic gentlemen holding a passenger's name up, and wearing an OCC i.d. tag. I approached him to let him know I was here. The driver, Francisco, informed me we had a third person to wait for, but her flight wouldn't be here for another 40 minutes or so. Oh well... back to sitting I go. Fast forward, and all three patients were accounted for. We walked out into the short term parking lot, boarded a large late model van, and made our way out of the lot and towards the border. Because today was Sunday, there was no clinic to go to, so we headed straight for the Lucerna Hotel. Crossing into Mexico was easy. However, glancing across the border at the traffic headed back to the U.S., we knew we had a fun wait ahead of us when we returned. The driver estimated we'd have a 2-3 hour wait coming back-- unless you decided to return in the middle of the night. It was ALWAYS this long. *sigh* Before we arrived, I asked what time we'd be picked up from the hotel. The driver said 8:00am. If you brought a companion with you, you wouldn't need to check out. Less than 10 minutes inside Tijuana, I knew we were getting close to the hotel. I knew we were close, because Francisco began to point out the Domino's and pizza Hut nearby (did he KNOW why we were even here?). And at last, the Hotel Lucerna appeared. On the outside, it looked like any standard older hotel. Six storeys tall, and each room seemed to have a balcony. Our luggage was taken out of the van and brought alongside the front desk for us to check in. When it was my turn, I identified myself, and was presented the documents to sign-- payment for the room was taken care of. Since I saw the sign as I entered, I asked for the internet code so I could access the free wireless internet. They wrote it down on my key envelope. The bellman offered to take my luggage up, but it was no big deal, so I took it up with me to the fifth floor. I found my room, and used the electronic keycard. Inside, I found a king-size bed, marble bathroom countertop, two 600ml bottles of complimentary Water, and complimentary soaps, shampoo, and hair dryer. Ironing board and Iron in the closet. No ice bucket. Hair dryer didn't work. Placard advertising order pizza on the room table. I hid that. I've stayed in worse rooms, but have definitely stayed in better. Personally I wouldn't give it any better than three starts The television has free channels, and some premium movie channels. No Pay Per View, but ports on the front indicate you could bring a portable DVD player or game system to hook up. I brought my laptop, so I could always use that to watch movies. Ahh, the laptop! Time to log in and let the wife know I made it ok (the kids prevented her from joining me). The wireless router name is unsecured and easy to connect to. However, as soon as you try to go to a website, the Lucerna security page pops up and asks you for your code. And after numerous attempts, it STILL wouldn't work. I headed downstairs, and realized that my front desk clerk had bad writing. The Access code is "lucernaXXX", with XXX being the room number you're in. The password is a five digit code they'll give you. Once I set down my free bag of ice (still no bucket) and entered it in all correctly, it worked. Slow and spotty, but it worked, and better to use Skype at $.02 per minute than my cellphone at $1.10 per minute. I set a trashcan as an ice bucket and iced down my final diet shake. Final shake, but not yet... time to go across the street to the local convenience store for a couple small bags of chips and a diet soda. THE last carbonated soda. Ahhhh... delicious. I looked out the window at the traffic circle of not so late cars and taxis circling endlessly, and the obligatory siren in the distance. This seems to ALWAYS be a siren somewhere within earshot. If you like sirens, Tijuana is for you. I never left the room again that day. Enjoyed my final shake and water, and nodded off at 10:30pm. THE SURGERY DAY (9/4/06) The surgery day came roughly, with me being awoken numerous times during the night by sirens, my dreams, and a bed that was decidedly not like home. But 7:00am was here, and time for me to kick it into gear for an 8:00am pick-up. I had just enough water left in my complimentary water bottle to brush my teeth with. Packed it all up, and headed downstairs. I emerged from the elevator to find the two people I met at the airport, plus some new arrivals. Right on time, Mrs. Ortiz (The Doc's mom), a small, spry, short-white haired lady with more energy than the room, and took us in two separate trips. I was in trip #1. With my luggage, I got into her late model Volvo S80 along with others, and we headed to the clinic. About a 5 minute trip. We parked in the underneath parking at the nice looking clinic building and took the elevator up. The elevator doors opened into the clinic reception area. We identified ourselves, and Mrs. Ortiz left to pick up the rest of the patients. We went to the receptionist's desk and signed the legal paperwork that basically releases them for just about anything. I signed. I was also asked whether I had brought my original paperwork that I faxed back. No, I said, I didn't. No problem-- they had a copy. (and I thought "then why ask me for one"?) I sat down and picked out a magazine to read. If you're a guy and REALLY into yachts, you'll be very happy with your reading choices. Other than that, good luck. Luckily, the movie Batman was playing on a TV in the corner of the waiting room. I didn't have to wait long. Shortly thereafter, I was called back for them to draw blood. They stuck a port in the side of my left wrist, and drew what blood they needed. They then taped the port in place-- this would be the port they would use for the duration of my stay. Back to the waiting room I go. I was then called to the receptionist desk to get my photo digitally snapped-- for what, I had no idea. Sat back down. Got called up again to see the cardiologist. He asked me a few questions about my health, then had me blow in a device for as hard and as long as I could. I expected some sort of resistance as I blew, but I was wrong. I ran out of air mighty quick, but the cardiologist keep encouraging me to keep on blowing... keep on blowing... I did until the machine beeped. Phew! Then I got up and into a back room where he started to place his sticker collection all over my body. Well, that's what it seemed like. Actually, he was placing sensors on key parts for an EKG. Once hooked up, it took about 30 seconds for a full reading. Between the lung thingy, and the EKG, I passed. No one came back to me in a panic over my blood test, so I could only assume that went well, too. ...and then I was called again to meet with the nutritionist, Dr. Miranda. She struck me as much younger than I had expected, and spoke better English than I expected. Don't ask me.why I thought she'd be older and less fluent. She had me weigh-in and measure my height. Then she handed me a nutrition guide, and I followed along with a Powerpoint. I was encouraged to write notes. She said I had done well on my diet, and based on that and no other medical problems, my surgery should take nine minutes. NINE? Are you kidding? No.. once I was under anesthesia, it should only take nine minutes, unless they ran into a hiatal hernia, in which case they'd repair it and it would take longer. Wow. I asked a few other questions, and we were done.... ...and BACK to the waiting room. I found the page in "GENERIC YACHING JOURNAL #836" that I had left off from... and then I was called in. This time, I was told to bring my luggage with me. Everyone else in the waiting room wished we luck, and I passed through the doors to the back. I was led to my room where I'd be for the next day. I was told to strip to my birthday suit, and to put on the gown open at the back, and a most flattering set of paper undies that do nothing for support. I did this, left the room to use the bathroom, and returned to my room. I was invited to use the phone in the room of I'd like to make any calls, including anywhere in the U.S. for free, AND they could call me using the clinic's toll-free line. That was a VERY nice, and I proceeded to do so. Earlier, I was also shown two computer terminals for internet access while I was there. My nurse, Josefa, came in and asked me to lie down on the bed. She set up an i.v. and I was also handed a cup with two pills... one to relax, and the other an anti nausea. I was told to place them under my tongue so they'd dissolve then I could swallow them if and when I chose. No water, though. I laid back down and the anesthesiologist came in. I made the obligatory joke about putting me to sleep for the right time, and he joked back that that was easy-- WAKING me would be the tricky part! No problems with anesthetics in the past, so he left. Dr. Ortiz came in and we chatted comfortably about the surgery, how men do well with weight loss under the band, etc etc. He left. Some time later they called me in, and I walked into the surgery room. Climbed onto the bed, and they strapped both my arms on extending planks reminiscent of a crucifixion. I asked why I needed to be strapped, but I don't recall getting a reply. After asking which one of them was going to scratch my itchy nose, a strap was loosened and I scratched. Back the arm went, and back on went the straps. That's the last I remember... ....I then woke up, back in my hospital bed in my room, with a mask blowing oxygen in my face, and I was told to wake up and breathe. I did... slowly. I was told it was done, and the lumps and soreness on my abdomen confirmed it. I wasn't in any great deal of pain, but I would have the occasional pain in my chest for about 5 seconds before it dies down. I was told that was residual air. Ok. My hospital room had DirectTV (they all did), but my remote wouldn't control the volume or power, so the staff became my volume control. Later I found out that my surgery took eleven minutes, since there was a small hiatal hernia that a couple stitches remedies. After I was in my room about 1-2 hours, I decided to try walking. I ended up walking three laps around the floor, but near the end of the third lap, I started to feel light headed. Off to bed again, and I felt better. I noticed on my way back into my room, they had an ID card letting the world know I had a lap band-- the back had a VG sticker on it. So, I got a Vanguard belt. A couple hours later, I decided to take some laps, but I ended up sitting at one of the community terminals to pound out a quick status report to the forum. My wife called and they transferred it there. But after 10 minutes of sitting, I started to feel light headed. Or was it nausea? I wasn't sure, and knew I didn't want to find out. I made a beeline to my room to lie down, and felt better. Phew! During that evening, I had some ice chips, a Capri Sun juice, an Otter Pop, and some chicken broth. I tolerated it all well. On an earlier venture to the bathroom, I lifted my gown and found my incisions looking much neater that I thought they would, all nicely glued in place. It almost looked like I had gotten into a nasty tangle with an alley cat. THE DAY AFTER The next morning, I had some more juice and chicken broth, and they told me to go ahead and change into my street clothes. Guess that was my subtle hint that I was being deported to the hotel. They offered me the chance to shower, but I decided I could do that just as easily at the hotel, so I packed up. While I was in the waiting room, another patient asked me if I was having my procedure today. They were surprised to hear I had already had it done yesterday! Another was surprised I was wearing jeans comfortably. Both comments made me feel good; that I had tolerated the whole affair well. So, I'm now in my room, pounding this little recap for all of you and waiting for tomorrow's 7:00am shuttle back to San Diego. I'm going to have a nice shower, go downstairs for some chicken broth and juice, and maybe walk. And there's a basket of fruit in my room, unlike the first room, I had. Who said Mexicans don't have a sense of humor? I hope this isn't just the end of the story. I hope this is the beginning of a brand new life where I can enjoy 99% of all life has to offer. And for that other 1%? When you have that delicious Diet Pepsi, think of me, would ya?

Congrats that is awesome!!! I feel like mine is going slow too...then I think to myself there is no way I could have lost 54 pounds in 9 weeks on my own. You are doing great!

I'm writing because some of you have been so great to answer my questions and told me to keep you updated as my first consultation was yesterday 7/11! I went in and my doctor was so kind and helpful. He answered a lot of my questions before I even asked them. We agreed that the sleeve is the best surgery for me, and he said my BMI is 49 which is SO weird because last week another doctor said mine was 39, and when I checked it said 42. Maybe they use different BMI charts? Lol. Regardless I qualify. They sent me to a bariatric coordinator. I have Affinity and we went over what they would approve before surgery. I have to do a ton of appointments but the only thing holding me back is the fact that Affinity requires me to see a nutritionist once a month for 4 months. So all of my other appointments are in July and August but seeing that nutritionist for 4 months has me going into October. After my approval, she said that she will book the surgery out 2 weeks. I have to say it's a little frustrating that's the only thing holding me back.... Now I wanted to get people's opinion about scheduling, I'm a graduate student that travels a while to and from both my internship and school. I was wondering if I could do the surgery during my Thanksgiving break (about a week) or if I should just wait until my winter break. My doctor said I would spend one night in the hospital and then start the special diet. He makes it sound doable for my Thanksgiving break, but if I need extra time I want to make sure. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It may well be doable over Thanksgiving break, but I'd wait until winter break just in case. The delay is only several weeks. If it were a six-month delay, then I'd go in circles over deciding. Keep it simple and safe as possible.

I had a baryum swallow done 2 weeks ago, I have the cd(picture) with me to bring to my surgeon who is in another hospital but my appointment is only in 6 weeks, and things have been difficult for me lately, relux, liquid coming up at night... when I look at my picture I don't really get what I see so I would like to compare or show my picture how knows what its suppose to look like... Do you have links of website where it showes this kind of picture... Thanks Julie

I'm considering myself a big loser since I lost the size of a small person. I make conscious choices to eat 'better'. And it may just be an illusion, but it's working. But vegetable oil.. haven't touched it since banding, I use EVOO for any oil needs now. I have grown a taste more to better seeming foods than before. If I make a salad, I like a little oil and a lot of vinegar.. instead of ranch. I only put mayo on sandwhiches/burgers.. I haven't been able to eat either of those for months, so no mayo for me. Before I had good restriction, I ate burgers off of the bun, with mayo on it. Only because if I tried to eat the bun, I could only have 1 bite.. I'd rather eat a few bites of meat with mayo (and cheese and mushrooms normally), than one bite with bun and potential PB episode. I did do Atkins for about a week last month because I was plateuing and wanted a boost.. and it worked, but I hate doing restrictive diets.. so I'm back to whatever I can get down in a small portion.

Doc suggested I try it due to slow weight loss. I tried it for about a week but didn't like the messy side effects. I made sure that during that week I was consuming less than 1200 calories and less than 25 grams of fat each day, but the side effects were still too messy for me...

I agree with the others. A good week to do things at a slower pace, get adjusted to a new "eating" schedule, and being able to rest when you feel tired. My surgery was on a Tuesday morning and I went back to work the following Tuesday morning. I have a desk job.

who did the surgery for you? Good luck to you. Mine is next week.

I was just wondering what this surgery could be compared to. Is it pretty routine, like getting your tonsils removed? Is it more or less serious than say, a Cesarian Section when delivering a baby? I am very serious about getting the sleeve done and this is just one of the (many) questions that has entered my mind. I always keep my father in mind, who has had 7 stents put in his heart, a hip replacement, rotator cup surgery, and even had three fingers put back on his hand back in 2010. If he could do all that, while being high risk, and get through them all with next to no problems, my surgery shouldn't seem so scary.

My mom (an RN) keeps reminding me how major of a surgery this was. I've been getting frustrated with my lack of energy at 8 days post-op. She's had a hysterectomy and said the sleeve was definitely more serious and required longer recovery (not just with diet). I had my tonsils out at the age of 24 (the older you are, the rougher it can be) and ended up in the hospital for 3 days with bleeds. I was pretty much back to normal in a week. Yesterday I had my first post-op appointment, as I was sharing my frustrations with the CNP, she assured me everything I was experiencing was normal. She said because it's laproscopic and the incisions are minimal most people don't realize this is a MAJOR MAJOR (she emphasized this) surgery. She said tonsils, appendix, c-section don't even compare. I told her I wished I could see a video of the surgery or an MRI of my stomach because I'm such a visual person and it would help me realize what exactly I've been through. Would probably help with my frustration (and maybe even my few "cheats") too!

I stopped week 4-7 *today I'm 7... I'm hoping it will kick start again... Thank you! Can't wait to be down 28 more pounds & out of the 300's I'm so close.... Surgery 7/25/12

I can't say that I drink 10 drinks a day but I would consider myself a heavy drinker. Often times, I can drink a few beers and take quite a few tequila shots. I don't get any more buzzed with my weight loss. The downside is slower weight loss. I lose 1 lb a week. I probably would be at goal if I didn't drink so much. I've lost 65 lbs in 16 months. Just be aware of the downsize. Drinking is fine in moderation. Maybe you could cut your drinking in 1/2. That would be good. Good luck with your decision.

I have one or two glasses of wine before bed to relax. I cannot imagine having more especially with the band. Although I did have three once and felt like a water balloon. Not a good feeling at all! Maybe if you try red wine instead of a cocktail. If you are really serious you will cut down. I know everything in life is about choices. I quit smoking three months ago. Not easy but I wanted to. I want to reach 135 pounds and look and feel the best that I can! If it means no more merlot so be it! My nut says I'm fine. She has a glass a night herself. Everything in moderation. You can do this baby!

Ann, we spent most of Wednesday in the car and in various doctor's offices. It definitely wasn't easy. Learn from my mistake: bring your meds with you! And bring something that you can eat. I only thought we'd be gone a few hours. We left at 8am and ended up getting home at 4:30pm. It was a SUPER long day! Lotsabirds, Dr. John (Ted) Johnson from Carteret Surgical did my surgery. He did my gallbladder in Feb, too. I really don't feel that the complications were his fault. I think I'm just not recovering well for whatever reason. Best of luck to you next week!

Yay Don! I haven't been hungry but I have tried to eat a little b/c the antibiotics they gave me were making me feel sick..so I have a little chicken broth (2 small spoon fulls - at slightly warmer then room temp) and a little Jello (about 1/4 of a jello cup). I have been drinking lots of Water too...my Mom is taking care of me and she has been making me drink a lot b/c the DR said that would help w/recovery. Anyway - my DR said Clear liquids for 1 week (broth, water, jello, Popsicle - although I am not quite sure how jello and Popsicle are clear liquids : )

Thanks for asking Meem. It's still really sore and red, and it's really hard underneath. But the redness is starting to go down some, so thankfully it's not getting any worse. I've only had 3 doses of the antibiotics (which smells like hair perming solution btw) so I think that's pretty good for just a day in. My surgery story: Because I wasn't able to do it before, here it is. I got to the hospital just before 11:30 am on Friday. I was scheduled for surgery at 1pm. I went straight back, did the pregnancy test, the nurse put me into a little cubicle room and did all the history stuff. I got into the fancy gown, didn't even get to keep my socks, and hopped into bed. The nurse came back in and started taking blood pressure, etc and then another nurse came over and said "The OR's calling for her." So we fought with getting an IV in, my family came in for a few minutes. Then after about 15 minutes or so, the anesthesiologist came in and talked to me and my surgeon showed up at the same time. So they went over everything. I did ask where my port was going to go, because I wanted to make sure it was high. He said about 2 inches below my rib cage which was exactly what I wanted to hear! They left and my family headed out to get lunch. About 10 minutes after that, the anesthesiologist nurse came in and gave me a shot of something in the IV. The next thing I remember is being in a regular room, and seeing my husband and kids in the peripheral of my fog. The nurses were telling me to move over to the bed. Someone said something about bleeding, my husband said "she's having her period" and everything went black again. I believe it was about 4pm then according to my husband. I woke up later in agonizing pain, my surgeon was standing over me, the nurses were doing something with the IV, and I was crying from the pain. Everything was really fuzzy and surreal for a while, I do remember them asking me if I was hurting. I guess they gave me something more for pain because I drifted back out. A few hours later, I woke up long enough for my husband to tell me he was going to take the kids home and get them dinner and put them to bed. It was around 7pm. They left and I went back to sleep. I don't really remember much until the next morning at 4am. I woke up and felt semi-human. The CNA came in and helped me to the bathroom. Then I took a walk down the hall and back, and went back to my room. I had a little bit to drink, vitamin water I think, and went straight back to sleep. After the shift-change, they woke me up again and brought breakfast, of chicken broth, grape juice and lemon-lime Gatorade. I got more pain meds by mouth, was able to get some liquids down and then went for a walk around the floor. I came back to my room and dozed some. My husband and children came over a few hours later. The on-call doc came in a while after that and looked me over. He said I looked good enough to go home. The nurse with him said "Well one out of three's not bad." I asked if the other 2 lap-band patients weren't going home, and he said no, they weren't doing as well and they'd be staying another night. So I was discharged, and got dressed, got everything together and headed home. We stopped to drop off the liquid oxycodone prescription at the pharmacy, and they didn't have any. The pharmacist called every pharmacy within an hour's drive and no one had it. The could order it, but because of the type of meds, they wouldn't have it till the end of the next week! We went back to the hospital to see if they had any suggestions and they were able to find a pharmacy who had it about an hour and a half away. So my husband took me home, I went to bed, and he went to go get the Rx filled. I don't know how long I slept, maybe an hour. I woke up and was instantly nauseous. I ran to the bathroom and threw up. It was the worst feeling! I was scared of ripping something, I was scared because I was alone, and I was scared to throw up! I threw up anyway, dry heaved a while and went to go call the dr's office answering service. The doc on call called back really quickly, and I told him what was going on. I then had to tell him to hold on because I started throwing up some more. I told him my husband had gone to fill the Rx and wasn't home. He said to call him and have him get me back to the hospital. He'd leave orders at admitting so they could send me straight up when I got there. I tried my husband's cell phone for half an hour, with no answer. I even tried mine too, because it was still in the car. No luck. Finally I went over to my neighbor's house, no answer there either. So I called 911. THEN! My husband called back. His ringer volume had been turned down. He was the opposite side of the hospital from where we live, so I just told him to meet me there. The ambulance came, took me in, and then literally dumped me in a wheelchair in the ER waiting room. The ER waiting room staff found my husband who was trying to get me admitted. They couldn't find the doc's orders. The admitting lady was slower than molasses in January. I still had my bracelets on from leaving earlier! After about half an hour - 45 minutes, they took me upstairs and put me in a room. They tried to get an IV in me, and couldn't. So that nurse went home. My husband and kids had been in the car pretty much all day, it was about 7pm by this point, and I told him just to get them dinner and take them home. So they left. A nurse came in about an hour later to try again for an IV. No luck. Nurse #3 came in and got it finally. The nurses didn't have the doctor's orders, so I was without any pain meds, without any nausea meds, nothing to drink, and just getting worse. About half an hour later, they gave me something for the nausea which knocked me out. I woke up at 9:30pm and asked if I could have something for pain yet. They gave me something in the IV, and I slept until early morning. They brought me breakfast, chicken broth, orange Gatorade and cranberry juice. I sipped some Gatorade and still was feeling nauseous. They gave me more meds and I slept off an on until early afternoon. My husband and children came in with roses for Mother's Day, and hung out while I slept. Just before lunch, the doc made me nothing-by-mouth and they came in and took everything away. Around 3:30 they took me down for the x-ray thing. Which was awful. The radiologist wanted me to lay on my stomach for one of them, and I flat out told him, no way! They improvised. I threw up more afterward, and they took me back upstairs. I got more meds for the nausea and was mostly asleep for the rest of the day. My husband went home around dinner time, which I really don't remember. I woke up between 8:30 and 9pm and realized I hadn't seen the doctor to find out the results of the test. I called a nurse, who came in and told me it was normal and that I could have liquids again. They brought me some ice chips and some Gatorade. I sat up until about 11pm and sipped on them and watched tv. I got another dose of pain meds and went to sleep. Monday morning, I was told my surgeon was there and making rounds, so I should see him shortly. My family came back in about 9, and still no doc. So I called to see if he was still in the hospital. Yep, but in surgery. He'd totally not come to see me! My husband went out and got a little testy with them, told them we hadn't even gotten the results of the test, my NPO orders hadn't been lifted when they were given, and we'd like to know what was going on. They said they'd get ahold of Dr Johnson between surgeries and would find out. They came over a little while later and said he'd reviewed everything and it looked good, and he'd be up around noon to discharge me. He came in at noon, just as my husband was showing back up with lunch for him and the kids. The doc said I looked okay, and the blood work and test and been okay and I could go home, just to take it easy. The nausea had seemed to pass, so I was ready to go home. They got the IV out, and discharged me and we went home. I got nauseous on the drive home, and did some dry-heaving but it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been Saturday. The pain is still pretty bad. I'm not sure if it's because of the surgery, or the infection, or both. But it's definitely not good yet. I'm still taking the pain meds every 4 hours pretty much around the clock. I'm really kicking myself that I did this electively, and I hope that this is worth it. Because right now, it sure doesn't seem like it. I can't get through the day without falling asleep in the middle of something. I get to the point I just can't stay awake and have to go take a nap. Walking is extremely painful, and I can't go from lying down to sitting up by myself, I have to have my husband pull me up. I can't sleep on either side yet, it feels like my stomach is going to rip open. I'm so, so glad that everyone has had a much easier surgery and recovery than this. It really has been pretty much awful.

Hi Gonna, I am so sorry to hear that you had such a rough go of it. That really stinks! I have had pain off and on, and I too am not a wimp with pain, and I have also wondered why I decided to do this and then I remembered that first of all I was doubting myself because of the pain and second, if I could have done this on my own then I would have been able to. But I have a history a mile long and I know that in a few days, weeks, bathing suit time that this will be well worth it. Hang in there and we are all here to help and support each other through this. Good luck.

Thank you amwr6582 for posting this and everyone for their answers. I was just sleeved on 12/18 and got mine a week early and just different. I was about to post a question but decided to do a search first. This made me not worry so much! Does it get back to a more regular pattern after the first month?