Hi all! I had my vertical sleeve gastrectomy on Dec. 5, 2011 by Dr. Mitchell Roslin at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC. I attended all the seminars and appointments required of me before having the surgery. I'm a 5' 4" female weighing 241 pre op. I thought I had asked all questions prior to the surgery but I guess not. I feel like I wasn't fully informed about all the unpleasant things I'd have to endure post op. I was totally reassured that I'd be back to work in a week, two weeks tops, by the surgeon! Needless to say, I am 4 weeks post op and still not back to work. I'm due back at work on Jan. 3 and I don't feel ready to go back. I'm feeling miserable! I've been nauseous, dizzy, weak, and depressed. All I wanna do is stay in bed because if I get up and walk around I'm feeling dizzy. I hate this feeling!

I'm having trouble keeping foods down! I can only eat very small amounts of food and I don't think I'm getting enough Protein. Since I don't seem to be getting enough protein, I'm feeling very nauseous, dizzy, and week.

I called my surgeon and he told me to sip hot tea with honey all day and to eat a scoop of Peanut Butter every 2-3 hrs. That's great if the tea and peanut butter wouldn't make me nauseous! I don't know what to do since this is a holiday weekend and the Dr. nor his office will be available until Jan. 3 when I'm supposed to go back to work! Help!

Thank you Liliana! I will call my Dr. on Tuesday and see if he will call in a prescription for me! Thanks for the great advice!

My Dr did a 40 Fr bougie, so I only had a little discomfort for the first few days. But I noticed warm liquids and room temp liquids went down easier. I made a diet ice cream in my Ninja (frozen strawberries, skim milk, vanilla & strawberry extract, packet of equal- pulsed until it came out like soft serve) and I could only eat (in a about a 1/2 hour period) maybe 1-2oz of it but I could drink like 8 oz of very warm (not steaming hot) chicken broth in about 1/2 hr. With Smaller bougies you eat less (so its more of a challenge now) but it is supposed to be easier to get thinner & keep the weight off. Good luck & hang in (ALso, My Dr told me the most important thing is to avoid dehydration- so try warmer liquids)

Thank you Rosiesweetie! I find room temp stuff is better too! Happy new year!

It sounds like you may be anemic. I felt dizzy when my iron was low. Try to get in as much protein as possible and make sure to take your vitamins. Feel better soon!

Sure will try! Thank u Becca!

It sounds like you've gotten some great advice here, but I wanted to add one thing. I was sleeved on Dec. 16th and found that mornings were especially difficult for me. I was advised to never let my pouch (tummy) get empty. Since being told that I sip (even if its water) all day and even wake up at night to sip. It has helped a LOT! I just moved on to mushy foods today so I'm hoping I will continue to improve! Best of luck to you and happy new year!

hi Lola43,

The best advice I can give you is to consolidate all of the above, and use everyone else' s advice. I hope that doesn't sound like a cop-op. But its true, listen to all, and use pieces here and there.

I think LongLife said it best

"I think the key is to keep calling your surgeon constantly":

Once the Dr. puts down their scalpel there job is only 3/4 done. They should answer all questions, give you more info, and help you deal with any problems, doubts you have etc. Don't let him intimidate you. If you go to see him possibly bring a friend or family member with you for support.

Continue to call him for answers, if a nurse tries to help you, great, but you should talk to the dr. Be persistent . This was a very important major surgery, you've had problems and now you need their assistance - thats his job.

Good luck towards the best year of your life

Kathy

DOS 12/15/11

BTW - after all is said and done, and things settle down, hopefully you'll see the good side of having the sleeve, and you will enjoy it as much as everyone else does.

kathy

Hi,

I think they all have had some wonderful information to share with you. I had to make an effort to sip ALL day long on a Protein drink. The 1st month is so difficult to do. I think you will feel a whole lot better after seeing your doctor. They should run a blood panel because without it, you will have a hard time trying to figure out if your are low on anything. For me it was potassium. And that was a quick fix after they ran the blood panel. Hang in there. It will get better. It really is like a job that 1st month trying to get in the things your body needs. Just keep sipping on something all the time.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Thank you so much Kathy n Suzanne for taking out the time to address my concerns! Have a wonderful new year's!

And I want to chime in, since I'm too much of a mama type, if you feel that you are dehydrated (dark urine), go to an urgent care.

Dehydration will cause dizziness. Sip sip sip...and walk walk walk. I know you feel like staying in bed, but make sure you walk every couple of hours... to the mail box or the end of the block. I would walk around the block and at times feel so light headed. My doc insisted all of his patients take 6 weeks off from work. I would have to say that was a little long for me, but 4 weeks was perfect. You really do have to think of all the changes in the first month as a job in itself! Drink drink and walk walk. You will feel better soon.

Hello,

Dr. Roslyn of Lenox Hill is my surgeon too, I just started my 6 months process. I would love your opinion on having Dr. Roslyn as my surgeon.

Thanks,

My advice is also keep contacting your doctor!!! I took a month off as my dr recommends 2-4 weeks, at 4 weeks I still didn't feel well and it went down hill for me - until they discovered a leak around 9 weeks. I wish I had pressed harder about how I felt, they just poo-poo'd me and told me to get more calories, upped my ppi, etc. If you don't feel right make them understand it!! I listened to everyone on here say it got better at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, etc and it didn't for me. I decided maybe I was just a baby and this was the new normal for me. I am relieved they finally found the problem and am in the healing process now.

YOU ARE DEHYDRATED !!! GET 64OZ OF FLUID A DAY, IF YOU ARE REALLY FEELING BAD, GET TO THE ER AND GET AN IV TO REHYDRATE.