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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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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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