I am pretty much sucking my lower lip. On 10th day out from surgery and on clear liquids. I can't take it anymore. They don't even allow sf jello. I hate sweets and find sf sweet sickening. I'm not pishing as much as I take in (3 to 4 17 oz bottles) plus a few cups of lowsalt no fat broth. Ice pops freeze my mouth. I'm going nuts and I'm ready to take a bite of cheese or other solid food without talking to the doc or nurse. I hate this.

They seem to think it is a space between staples, maybe a missed staple. It is up high which I guess is the common spot for it to happen. My surgeon does a scope before you come out of anesthesia so no barium swallow before leaving the hospital. It doesn't sound like it would have showed at the point anyway if it opened when the swelling went down. My only pain was the left shoulder which wasn't mentioned as something to go to the ER about but I have since learned it is referred pain from the diaphragm (abscess was pushing on it). If I had been running a temp or sick they would have known leak from the beginning. My surgeon said he couldn't believe I wasn't sick from it but it would make me sick so they had to get in a drain it. My body took that to mean "You should be sick" and I woke up the next day with full blown pneumonia. What I had to do for the 2 leak tests after they discovered the abscess was swallow Gastrografin and have and xray sort of thing - I think that is the barium swallow thing but not sure. Nasty stuff. I've had to take it for 2 of the CT's too. They let me wash it down with Water with the last one - heaven since I hadn't had anything to drink in a month LOL Felt like I was cheating so bad. I was so upset at first, thinking I had somehow done it to myself - they insist I didn't but it's still hard to not blame me - after all I did this to myself, had this surgery so ultimately it is my fault - guilt ugh. Working on that. My big symptom is the shoulder pain - had it with the abscess, then had Fluid around my lungs and this last time a different infection from the abscess drain. I have learned to make them listen when the shoulder pain gets bad. I did have a very low grade fever with the fluid on my lungs - talking 1-2 degrees.

I would say my abdomen was tender for several weeks, at least 3. I often think it's warmer than the rest of me too, usually what prompts me to check my temp. Then of course I remember I am sitting here with a laptop on my lap - of course it is warmer! haha. I'm pretty paranoid but they always remind me if my incisions aren't very red and hot to the touch it is ok. So far so good on no incision infections for me!

Staying positive is the main thing through this journey - keep it up! It's ok to worry though too - it is your body and your health! Again wishing you a great visit Tuesday, may you be bumped up on your diet and assured that your abdomen is all normal!! Keep us posted!!

Ooooh! Scary story, you had no symptoms and no pain and there was a leak? So what do they think caused the leak. Does that mean you had to do the barium swallow again? (Hiding head under arm). I'm so sorry to hear about this setback. What actually causes leaks anyway? It doesn't seem rational to think a big swallow of water will do that. Here u have these titanium staples and there is plain old h20. Nah!

I think my lower abdomen is alwas warmer than the rest of me. The tenderness is scary and I can't tell if I'm swollen or not. Well, I don't have fever or pain or headaches etc. Trying to think positive...

I'm struggling to get in 64 oz a day. If you're up to that - Congrats! I'm impressed.

I'm excited - I get to start puddings and yogurts tomorrow. Last night I had some strained pea Soup and it was amazing. Possibly because I haven't had anything but broth for all these weeks.

Deigh and all

The first 2 weeks of as much liquid and as many ice pops (boy they are cheap to give away ice in th winter. I'm frozen here) are strange because except for the 2oz ensure 3x a day, there is no limits. Does the second 2 weeks come with limits as to how much yoghurt or soup we can have? I wonder if imposing limits or portion sizes is going to be a struggle.

I went to the crafts store this afternoon and there was food there, too. I also salivated when I drove down routes with restaurants id eaten in or places id bought food to cook. When the heck does that stop? I need to keep a mop and bucket in the car!

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I was just remembering that 2 weeks ago my friend arrived to drive us to the hotel across from the hospital for monday's surgery around this time. Wow. 2 weeks. Holy cow.

As for limits the 2nd 2 weeks on my diet - there was a limit - I could have a few of certain things and I thought it would be a challenge to limit. It didn't end up being - you get full so quick that what sounds like a little amount is more than you can eat. One egg? Are you kidding - I was a 2-3 egg person. Now I can't barely eat half of one! Yogurt that seemed like nothing before takes 2-3 sittings. I know the farther you are out you can eat more though.

I still salivate over the food commercials and smells of foods - if I could eat right now I would be allowing myself small amounts of things I love or want. Sometimes they are as good as they smell but mostly they weren't the way I remembered or expected them to be. I lost my hunger so that is good but it doesn't stop the cravings

Checking in on you! How did your follow up go? Hoping to hear you were advanced on your diet and all is well!!

Hugs mimi,

I'm totally pooped. Lost 19 lbs. 'Infection' is a bruise lowered by gravity from incision site off antibiotics. Strange new diet. Ate a hardboiled egg before. Are u feeling any better? My friend is out shopping for me now. I didn't have anything palatable in fridge...most had to be tossed. We went from doc office to a veg restaurant and then since they couldn't make a potato for me, we walked a block to 10,000 villages and shopped. We just came in and I lit the chanuka candles and said a prayer for you ...walked more than I ever dreamed I could.

I hope you will have some miracles this season

Xoxo

Oh so glad to hear! Sounds like you had a great but busy day! Congratulations on a great loss so far! And way to go on all the walking!!

The first few stages you go through after the sleeve certainly seem a strange diet!! Can you have mayo or greek yogurt? If so you can make you hard boiled egg in to egg salad! If you can have broth, you could make homemade egg drop Soup...haha I found so many things to do with eggs! I guess when I start eating again I will get to go through all my stages again

I am actually feeling really well but I don't go back to the Dr until after the first of the year. I am on my antibiotics until the 27th and then praying no more infections! So far I have had about a week in between antibiotics where I feel better then start to feel bad again.

Thank you so much for the prayers!

Hugs mimi,

I'm totally pooped. Lost 19 lbs. 'Infection' is a bruise lowered by gravity from incision site off antibiotics. Strange new diet. Ate a hardboiled egg before. Are u feeling any better? My friend is out shopping for me now. I didn't have anything palatable in fridge...most had to be tossed. We went from doc office to a veg restaurant and then since they couldn't make a potato for me, we walked a block to 10,000 villages and shopped. We just came in and I lit the chanuka candles and said a prayer for you ...walked more than I ever dreamed I could.

I hope you will have some miracles this season

Xoxo

I am 9 days out and I'm starving so I can relate! The weight loss so far (5 lbs post surgery) is keeping me motivated but I don't know how I'm going to handle this. I am off protein shakes. I took myself off today! (it's supposed to be 10 days). But today I did have protein shake for breakfast, cottage cheese for lunch (3 oz) and cream of wheat for dinner. This hard. but I knew it would be. I beleive it'll be worth it.

Sgraff

Only 5 lbs? I've lost 19 in 2 weeks. I started with an egg this afternoon and some yoghurt this evening. Think I'll bake a potato for breakfast <grin>. I'm glad I didn't experiment.

Does anyone know who makes no sugar non fat yoghurt? I couldn't find any...

Deigh,

Wow. I was truly fortunate not to have to be on a liquid diet prior to surgery but because of that, I decided that I would severly restrict myself....it was easy when I didn't have to.

But after all this talk and support, right now I'm content. I am determined to make it thru to the first check up and I am determined to get thru these diets, as well.

Its been so interesting discussing this with everyone. I don't want to take it to a private chat mode because I think our experience will help others out there, too.

I've had 3 btls of Water, my 6 oz of ensure and a couple of ice pops. I'm quite satisfied. Look forward to tomorrow when I pick up my doggie after nearly 2 weeks and that will be another challenge for me...she bites!

Hugs to all

Oh pdxman, for some reason the signatures don't show up on my android phone. I'll check it out later when I turn on the computer.

The new VST App for Android is available over here

Please leave us some good reviews on Android market!

The new VST App for Android is available over here

Please leave us some good reviews on Android market!

You got it...as soon as it stops crashing.

You got it...as soon as it stops crashing.

lol

You got it...as soon as it stops crashing.

Ouch! LOL

What exactly happens when it crashes please ? Any and as many details you can provide, would be most helpful in resolving this issue.

Ouch! LOL

What exactly happens when it crashes please ? Any and as many details you can provide, would be most helpful in resolving this issue.

So far just once. Am not certain of benefit because I get notice of response in email...go to message and then answer it there. There's no connection from the email to the responses in the application....so only reason I d use the ap is to search for forum or post new topic. (So far and all other things being equal).

So far just once. Am not certain of benefit because I get notice of response in email...go to message and then answer it there. There's no connection from the email to the responses in the application....so only reason I d use the ap is to search for forum or post new topic. (So far and all other things being equal).

If I'm not mistaken, you can set up "push settings" within the app for push notifications.