Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Super Nurses With Sleeves (Support Group)



Recommended Posts

Are you a nurse? I am starting a support group for nurses that are contemplating, undergoing or are now 'old pro's' with their sleeves!

By way of introduction, my name is Jana & I live in the DFW area and am currently undergoing the approval process. I have been a RN for 38 years--18 years in Surgery & 18 years in Case Management & as a Manager for a major health plan carrier.

So feel free to jump on board!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Jana, I live in the South Chicago 'burbs, I've been an RN for 18 years, 3 in Med/Surg, 15 in Labor/Delivery. I'm currently finishing my BSN while I'm also preparing for my sleeve! I don't have a surgery date yet, and I'm still working on getting my pre-op tests/consults done. I saw the cardiologist today-and despite no previous history and a clean EKG he wants a nuclear stress echo. The next available appointment for that is August 13! Oh well, one step at a time!

Good luck on your journey!

Brigitte

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi

I am a Nurse Aide in Michigan I had my sleeve done in March I am down 55 have been in a stall the last few weeks. It seems like when I went back to work things slowed down with the weight loss. I think it because I know I dont get alot of food in when I work. Or Water for that matter you know sometimes you can pack a lunch but you have no time for lunch. I eat on the run. So make time to eat and drink at work I have been making myself take that 15 min to get something in.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Deanna! I know you work incredibly hard--I started as a CNA & it was brutal. I haven't had surgery yet but try to remind myself to get in all my Water. Otherwise how else am I going to get rid of all this? :-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a nursing student in Michigan, just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi everyone, I am a RN, for 7 years now..... I did ICU, Long Term, Cardio/Pulmonary, Dialysis and for the past 5 years have been in Home Care where I am the clinical supervisor....I also started out as a CNA years ago and I have never worked so hard in my life!!..CNAs are worth GOLD!!!...I am getting sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on August the 21st and I can not begin to describe my excitement!!.....My highest weight ever was 247, I have done every diet in the book. I just lost quite a bit with HCG but gained most back, I weighed this am and I am now at 224...goal is 140....I start preop this Saturday...I am ready to start living again. Everyone says "You arent that big"....They are NOT living in my skin!,,I have not dated in years because I am so uncomfortable in my skin, I run from cameras and everyday is just pure hell to me.....I have not had any second thoughts about this, no jitters, nothing but EXCITEMENT!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a nursing student in Michigan, just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)

Yes....That counts!!.....being a nursing student and going thru this....YES!!! you need a good support group!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a nursing student in Michigan, just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)

Please share everything with us...and I pray you are doing wonderfully!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a nursing student in Michigan' date=' just sleeved on the 26th. Does that count? =)[/quote']

You bet! You are soon to join the ranks! How are you doing so far?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm glad that I can be a part of this group =) So far I'm doing really well. I am still taking the liquid lortab that they gave me, but not nearly as often. I am up and around the house a lot. Been walking outside quite a bit.

The hardest part has been fighting dehydration, especially when your stomach is still swollen. I think mine has started to go down, because I can finally take in some decent Water, but the last few days it's been sip sip sip all day long and still a little dehydrated!

It was my first surgery and I was really nervous going in, but I was pleasantly surprised because it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Let me know how the pre-op approval and diet and everything go. I didn't have to do a pre-op diet, though I did a full liquids one for a few days on my own. Figured it can't hurt to lose a few pounds and hopefully shrink my liver a little.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have not dated in years because I am so uncomfortable in my skin, I run from cameras and everyday is just pure hell to me.....I have not had any second thoughts about this, no jitters, nothing but EXCITEMENT!!!!

I feel this too! I have dated on and off, but it's frustrating being 25 and having a hard time getting dates because of my weight. It's not one of the top 10 reasons I had the sleeve, but I will not at all mind the extra male attention once I'm down at a healthier weight =p

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ohh so glad to have found you all:) I am a L&D RN for 11 years now, I was also a CNA for 2 years prior:) I was sleeved on July 24th so day 9 post surgery, my surgery was at Madigan Army Hospital in Washington State we are retired military. I was one of the lucky ones to have horible nausea for about 24 hours finally I refused all narcotics and felt much better about 24 hours later. My doc would only give me one dose of Toradol though preop he had said different. He said he had concerns about my bleeding though he was giving me lovenox. Hmmm..... Well it took me til day 6 to be able to drink enough to get in all my Protein and Water. I still am taking zofran occasionally. I would say the pain was minimal sore but tolerable, actually the removal of the JP was the worst pain I had, but that was because it was stripped right before it was pulled the resident was not willing to wait for it to release. Ughhh..... Ohh well. I am actually very worried about going back to work. I am actually research menus and going to right out a plan to eat. Where I work getting a 30 min lunch is rare let alone a 15 min break. My plan is to eat at 5pm then goto work at 7pm have a snack during report 10pm another snack 1 am lunch and 5am dinner and a snack on ride home. Snacks will be protein of course. I am actually considering having a cooking day and freezing my meals for the week for me and my family. Right now I am having to let my kids know the ways they have ate the most of there lives is wrong. I do not want them being overweight and it is starting to happen to them. LOL Here I am on medical leave and awake at 0200. I am off to take an ambien and get some sleep. I need to try to convince myself you can sleep at ***ht for awhile.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ohh so glad to have found you all:) I am a L&D RN for 11 years now, I was also a CNA for 2 years prior:) I was sleeved on July 24th so day 9 post surgery

Welcome! =) It sounds like you are doing well. I'm sorry to hear about the JP drain...that sounds painful! I think your plan to get in some Protein at work sounds good. Just have to make it a priority. Your health is non-negotiable!

I think cooking ahead of time sounds like a great idea. That is on my list of things to start doing as well. It will be annoying on the day I have to cook everything, but I know I will be ever so thankful on the days that I just have to warm things up.

Keep up the good work!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi ladies!!! I'm a nursing student also!! I'm 2 hrs from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Only 2 more semesters of nursing school left then I'm up in there!! I had my surg ery May 11th in Mx, down 35 lbs and loving it!! Glad to be a part of this group!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi everybody!

My name is Kim and I am 36 yrs old. I am an ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) and will be starting a RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) program the day after I get sleeved. Yikes! I was a CST (Certified Surgical Tech) for 4 years before becoming a CNOR (Certified Nurse of the Operating Room) for the last 8 years. I'm a single parent of a special needs daughter, who will be tuning 16 on August 4th. I've been busy planning her surprise Sweet 16 party, so between shopping for pre-op Protein shakes and what not, I've been shopping for the party. I'm excited at the possibility of not being in so much pain everyday, plus no more HTN or DM.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×