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What To Expect The First Few Days After Surgery?



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I have tried like heck to prepare for the days after my surgery, but I was wondering if there was anything you had on hand that made your life easier?

I am staying the first 2 days at my friends house because I live far away from the hospital and would like to be near by just in case anything happens. I bought a mini fridge to store h20's, yogurts, poweraid zero, broth, and Jello. I brought some books, my computer, and cell phone and I have lots of comfy pj's.

Can you think of anything else? I don't want to be bored, I hate being bored so I added like 30 instant shows and movies to my netflix account.

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I would just say to be prepared to get up and move extensively every couple of hours to get rid of the gas. I would make sure to bring a pill cutter in case you have to cut pills (antibiotics and pain meds) instead of crushing them - they taste just plain AWFUL.

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I loved my recliner..it made my life alot easier.lol It was just difficult for me to lay flat in my bed so to recline but elevate my upper body helped me to get rest.

Here is a post with a ton of info for things you will need when you have surgery.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10081-the-official-what-you-will-need-for-your-gastric-sleeve-surgery-thread/

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I would suggest a chapstick. I don't know what I would have done without mine!

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I had my VSG on Wed. January 25, 2012. I keep having week spell and have trouble taking all the portein drinks and Water but I'm trying. I feel depressed not because of the lack of food because I'm not really hungry. I just wonder did I do the right thing?????? plus there isn't any rest. I can only sit for 15 minutes and have to walk one minute every on the hour... I'm exhausted!!! can someone tell me what their daily diet consisted of the first 3 weeks.

Thank you.

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If you are going to be at a friends house you may want them to be very aware of how yo umight potentially be feeling, and make sure they have whatever they would need for any worse case scenarios - such as extensive or acute complications.

Make sure they have numbers to your hospital, your surgeon, who to call after hours. Your family, etc.

An Ipod or something that yo have music or such to walk around with.

Make sure you will be in a position to bathe easily. In a crunch babywipes and hibiclens are very good.

Have an understanding that you can't help around the house much, but promise to reciprocate later.

My granny would say "don't forget your thank you note!", lol.

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I had my VSG on Wed. January 25, 2012. I keep having week spell and have trouble taking all the portein drinks and Water but I'm trying. I feel depressed not because of the lack of food because I'm not really hungry. I just wonder did I do the right thing?????? plus there isn't any rest. I can only sit for 15 minutes and have to walk one minute every on the hour... I'm exhausted!!! can someone tell me what their daily diet consisted of the first 3 weeks.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm not sure you realize it,,but you have your question posted on someone elses post. You may want to do your own post with your question so everyone can have a chance to help you :) To gain some strength,,even though you aren't hungry, you will need to make yourself eat. Get the Protein in and try to get your liquids in,,it's so important. The diet that I was given was 1 week Clear Liquids, 1 week full liquids, 1 week purees/mushies then soft foods,,slowly incorporating solids.

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The one suggestion that someone here at VST made to me, was to bring ear plugs and they were a God send for the hospital and may be for your friends house. Sip,sip,sip and walk,walk,walk is all you'll want to do to get rid of gas. The best of lick to you!

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I am five days out and I have no regrets so don't worry!

The best advice: as soon as you're in your room and fully out of anesthesia, take a shot of pain meds and GET UP! I was lying there in alot of pain and my nurse said getting up would help. I was skeptical, but on trust I did it... three hours post-op I was on my feet. It was totally worth it to break loose that gas that they inflate you with. After that I got up every time I woke up and it really helped.

Also second the recliner. I don't have one, but I've always been a pillow hog and luckily had enough to prop myself up as much as I wanted. There was no way I could have laid flat the first few days.

Lastly, that Powerade zero (or Gatorade g2) will be your best friend. I had problems drinking as much as I needed to, so I set up a bottle of half Water half Gatorade and forced myself to take two small sips every five minutes. I felt super full and didn't want to, but it was doable. It staved off dehydration and helped me work up so that I can tolerate full liquids pretty well now.

If I come up with anything else I'll let you know!

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Just had my surgery 11 days ago on the 25th. First 2 days were in hospitol where the nurses took care of me. Came home on fri and my meal plan was 2oz SF Jello with Protein in it 3x and Water. Walking slowly as much as I could and resting. It was difficult trying to get up on my own, my family was a great support. My mom would make sure I would sip an ounce every 10 mins, my brother would help me up and check on me constantly and my dad got me anything I needed. My first shower was hard, thankfully mom was there and after the first week- life was getting better. Now I'm moving, getting up on my own, drinking my Protein Shakes, eating 3 sqare meals of 2 oz pureed food and sipping my water :) My sleeve is tender and swollen but I don't regret a thing.

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On 9/13/2017 at 1:55 AM, celticNgel said:

I have no idea of how long this takes because I'm waiting myself, but I know prayers and mine are going up for you right now!!!

I had surgery 10/17 My process went super fast!

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
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    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
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