It just hit me that my life as I know it will be changed completly Thursday morning. I work nights here at my job and just realized that I only have to go to sleep 3 more times before my surgery. The only part of the operation that I am worried about is when they examine my liver to make sure it is ok. I started my 2-week pre-op diet last monday afternoon. By the time Thursday gets here I will have been on it for 10 days. I have completely eliminated all sugars and carbs from my eating habits. I only eat Protein. On a daily basis I have no more that 10 carbs. I go tomorrow afternoon for a pre-op consult with my doctor. I'm guessing I will sign documenation for the operation and have all blood work, xrays and EKG's done.

To those who read this and have already had the operation what was your recovery time like? Like I said I am having the surgery on Thursday and returning to work the following Wednesday. Is it better to try to move around as much as possible to avoid becomming stiff and not hurting as much? The only part I am worried about with returning to work is the fact that I am a machinist and I work right next to a 1700 degree furnace. I will have to make sure I have my Water with me at all times to avoid dehydration.

Also to everyone reading this, was there ever a time where you almost changed your mind because either you saw you were losing weight or because people told you that you didnt look to overweight and should just do a strict diet? At my first doctor appointment I weighed in at 216LBS. My BMI was 39.5, I'm 5'3" tall. The nurse actually put my wifes purse on the scale with me to put me over the 40 BMI requirement the insurance was asking for. Since I started the pre-op diet I have lost close to 10 pounds. I know that I could lose the weight without the surgery but I would have a hard time keeping it off.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your responses.

Steve

Hi, Steve! Wow! I just had may surgery Thursday, and it is Monday AM and I am no where near ready to go back to work as a nurse. I will have my JP drain in until at least tomorrow, but he said it could be a week. I am doing a pretty good job of getting my fluids in, but I can only tolerate about 1 1/2 shakes a day- that's only about 200 calories- that doesn't give me much stamina. I did not have any complications, and I am mostly pain free- just a little soreness. I have done alot of walking since my sleeve as it really helps to get the air/ gas out that they insert during the procedure. You want to set yourself up for success- can you get any more time off? Does that help any? Rebecca ( I had to laugh about the purse trick- I lost 40# pre-op and I had no need for them to add any to my scale!)

quote name='firefighter2621' timestamp='1318829016' post='219398']

It just hit me that my life as I know it will be changed completly Thursday morning. I work nights here at my job and just realized that I only have to go to sleep 3 more times before my surgery. The only part of the operation that I am worried about is when they examine my liver to make sure it is ok. I started my 2-week pre-op diet last monday afternoon. By the time Thursday gets here I will have been on it for 10 days. I have completely eliminated all sugars and carbs from my eating habits. I only eat Protein. On a daily basis I have no more that 10 carbs. I go tomorrow afternoon for a pre-op consult with my doctor. I'm guessing I will sign documenation for the operation and have all blood work, xrays and EKG's done.

To those who read this and have already had the operation what was your recovery time like? Like I said I am having the surgery on Thursday and returning to work the following Wednesday. Is it better to try to move around as much as possible to avoid becomming stiff and not hurting as much? The only part I am worried about with returning to work is the fact that I am a machinist and I work right next to a 1700 degree furnace. I will have to make sure I have my Water with me at all times to avoid dehydration.

Also to everyone reading this, was there ever a time where you almost changed your mind because either you saw you were losing weight or because people told you that you didnt look to overweight and should just do a strict diet? At my first doctor appointment I weighed in at 216LBS. My BMI was 39.5, I'm 5'3" tall. The nurse actually put my wifes purse on the scale with me to put me over the 40 BMI requirement the insurance was asking for. Since I started the pre-op diet I have lost close to 10 pounds. I know that I could lose the weight without the surgery but I would have a hard time keeping it off.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your responses.

Steve

Steve, like you...all of us can lose the weight to some degree. KEEPING IT OFF...is the purpose of the "tool" WLS. I think most of us second guess our decision..but in the end we all know if we want the long term effects...we need this tool! I sure know I do! I have lost and gained hundreds of pounds over the past 30 yrs! I am confident that this WLS "tool" will help me keep it off once and for all. Changing our lifestyle with exercise and good eating habits will insure our success!

Best of luck...

Steve I had my sleeve 10/7/11 and am returning to work this Morning. I am a Nurse Manager so I have the availability to sit alot. My daughter was sleeved 10/12/11 and is still in the Hosp as she cannot keep any fluids down and sill needs the IV.

1. I am tired but with daughter in hospital most of my I was 4 days post op and spending the nites with her in the hospital washing out "the bucket" The hospital is an hr away. But when your kid says 'Mom can you stay/"

2 Not alot of pain only took it 2 days post op. Daughter only needed pain meds day of surgery.

3 Need to "eat" every 2-3 hours to get in the Protein and this takes 20 min for me to get in 1/4-1/3 cup of food

4 hydrating is hard because no drinking 30 min before or after eating.

Right now I wish I could take off 3 more days but work will not OK it, We all do what we need to do I know that 3 months from now I will look back at this time and say IT was worth it.

Also to everyone reading this, was there ever a time where you almost changed your mind because either you saw you were losing weight or because people told you that you didnt look to overweight and should just do a strict diet?

Once I researched about this surgery, I never doubted myself until my primary doctor made a comment. She has been incredibly supportive but for some reason after weighing me the first month, she said "maybe you don't need to do the surgery". AAAAAh That made me think hard for two whole days. (My BMI is 39.) Luckily I remembered all the weight I have lost & gained through the years. So I got over her comment and moved forward. I have been obese forever. I am ready to stop!

In regards to recovery, search for it on this website. There are tons of threads about it. I haven't had surgery yet, so I can't help you there. Best wishes!!!!!!

PS. Talk to your surgeon about the temperatures at your job and hydration. It is super important.

It just hit me that my life as I know it will be changed completly Thursday morning. I work nights here at my job and just realized that I only have to go to sleep 3 more times before my surgery. The only part of the operation that I am worried about is when they examine my liver to make sure it is ok. I started my 2-week pre-op diet last monday afternoon. By the time Thursday gets here I will have been on it for 10 days. I have completely eliminated all sugars and carbs from my eating habits. I only eat Protein. On a daily basis I have no more that 10 carbs. I go tomorrow afternoon for a pre-op consult with my doctor. I'm guessing I will sign documenation for the operation and have all blood work, xrays and EKG's done.

To those who read this and have already had the operation what was your recovery time like? Like I said I am having the surgery on Thursday and returning to work the following Wednesday. Is it better to try to move around as much as possible to avoid becomming stiff and not hurting as much? The only part I am worried about with returning to work is the fact that I am a machinist and I work right next to a 1700 degree furnace. I will have to make sure I have my Water with me at all times to avoid dehydration.

Also to everyone reading this, was there ever a time where you almost changed your mind because either you saw you were losing weight or because people told you that you didnt look to overweight and should just do a strict diet? At my first doctor appointment I weighed in at 216LBS. My BMI was 39.5, I'm 5'3" tall. The nurse actually put my wifes purse on the scale with me to put me over the 40 BMI requirement the insurance was asking for. Since I started the pre-op diet I have lost close to 10 pounds. I know that I could lose the weight without the surgery but I would have a hard time keeping it off.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your responses.

Steve

One of the seminars I attended said you should start walking around your house the very next day. Nothing too strenuous, but you definitely want to get moving. Also, I am only taking a week off as well. My doctor was not happy about that, he thought I should take two. However, I am pretty confident I will recover quickly as I am young (27) and am reasonbly healthy. I would give yourself AT LEAST a week. Maybe you can talk to your work and see if you can have off a few more days? Good luck! Let us know how you do!

I went back after a week. The doc was okay with it, and the nurse gave me a lecture about taking care of myself. My job is a sit down job with lots of breaks. I was able to do it, but I was exhausted. you need lots of chances for breaks and to sit down. Remember its not just the surgery, you will be subsisting on around 200 to 500 calories at that time, and you won't have any extra energy. If you have a sympathetic supervisor, I say go for it. If not, then take the extra time off.

I only took a week off too. I work in a lab but I can sit most of the time. I did fine, I was just a little more tired than usual. I got to park close to work for a week or two and that helped. Usually I have to park a LONG way from my office and walk uphill. I was not up to that a week out of surgery. The first 5 days after I was questioning my decison to go back so soon because i was so tired at home but i perked up on day 6 and I was ready come Monday. I just took it easy. I wish you luck and the time has flown by since I was sleeved August 8th! I am down 37.5 pounds already!

Hi Steve, I wish you the best for your surgery! I'm nervous too, my date is in a month. But I know you have, as well as I, have thought about this and know it is the right choice! I wonder about your time off from work. One week really seems too soon. My doc says he allows up to 8 weeks (though I don't I'll need that much). But I am not allowed to drive for 2 weeks and can't lift anything over 15 pounds for 4 more weeks. You don't want to disturb/pull the staples and cause a leak. Really bad if that happens.

elise

It just hit me that my life as I know it will be changed completly Thursday morning. I work nights here at my job and just realized that I only have to go to sleep 3 more times before my surgery. The only part of the operation that I am worried about is when they examine my liver to make sure it is ok. I started my 2-week pre-op diet last monday afternoon. By the time Thursday gets here I will have been on it for 10 days. I have completely eliminated all sugars and carbs from my eating habits. I only eat Protein. On a daily basis I have no more that 10 carbs. I go tomorrow afternoon for a pre-op consult with my doctor. I'm guessing I will sign documenation for the operation and have all blood work, xrays and EKG's done.

To those who read this and have already had the operation what was your recovery time like? Like I said I am having the surgery on Thursday and returning to work the following Wednesday. Is it better to try to move around as much as possible to avoid becomming stiff and not hurting as much? The only part I am worried about with returning to work is the fact that I am a machinist and I work right next to a 1700 degree furnace. I will have to make sure I have my Water with me at all times to avoid dehydration.

Also to everyone reading this, was there ever a time where you almost changed your mind because either you saw you were losing weight or because people told you that you didnt look to overweight and should just do a strict diet? At my first doctor appointment I weighed in at 216LBS. My BMI was 39.5, I'm 5'3" tall. The nurse actually put my wifes purse on the scale with me to put me over the 40 BMI requirement the insurance was asking for. Since I started the pre-op diet I have lost close to 10 pounds. I know that I could lose the weight without the surgery but I would have a hard time keeping it off.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your responses.

Steve

Steve-

I get the whole...I am not really that overwieght thing. I am 5"10 and 3/4 tall. On my charts it says 5"10. I weighed in at 265 in dr office so I was only 39 BMI with the 5"10. Less if they used 5'11. Yet I am 100 pounds overweight if I am in the middle of the large frame weight goal. My insurance mandates you to be 100 pounds overwieght and have one co-morbidity. I dont take meds for anything. I dont have sleep apnea. Nothing. I do have acid- reflux. My doc told me that my insuracne will not likely accept that. Oh well. I have done the 6 months of dieting, tried every diet, and I lose it and gain it back. My family has a history of all the problems, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure...... Believe it or not my insurance approved me. I feel like this surgery is a gift from God. Not really a religious person, but feel like I have won the lottery. If you have been apporved...GO FOR IT!!!!! I had a friend do this surgery in Mexico and suffer complications ( a nonsolubale stich left in her stomach caused a leak. She had no follow up care in the US and missed the signs.) After a year in and out of hospitals, she ended up having her entire stomach removed. She does not regret the choice. She said she would do it all over again and pay 5 times what she did.

You might be able to hold your breath for 30 seconds but you cant do it for life. This is the tool you need to get you to a healthy wieght.

Good luck. I am having my surgery in two days Thursday and have only taken off until the Halloween. ( I am a high school teacher.)

-Sarah

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I am over everything that I was worried about. I have made the decision that this is what I want to do. For me, this surgery is not about becoming "Skinny", it is about my health. I want to be able to enjoy the many years of playing outside with my son. Some medical issues run in my family, and I want to try and prevent those from happening to me. It is Tuesday night and since I work nights I only have to go to sleep once more and then when I get off work Thursday morning it will be time to go to the hopsital. Time is flying by. So far I have lost 10 pounds on the pre-op diet. I am weighing in at 204. Once again thanks for reading and responing.

Steve