My personal issues and concerns (since they are different for everyone)....

I was pretty proud that I consumed about 40 g. of Protein yesterday. It was a combo of Greek yogurt, Cream of Tom Soup with milk added, 1 Tbsp of small curd cottage cheese and 2/3 of a bottle of Isopure. However, I don't think it has made eating today any easier or drinking and eating goals easier. Like a lot of more advanced patients (people further out), I could see how making protein and Water goals AND Vitamins AND meds alll on one day would be difficult.

I woke up today and took my second shower with the intention of going for a 30 minute walk outside. After I showered, I realized that I can't wear my pre-op pants because they would be too tight around my scars. I have 5 incisions. 2 hit around the waistline and 3 are literally under my breast line (exactly where the bra would be fitted). So on day 4, I don't feel like I can wear a bra and I can't wear my pants because my incisions are still tender (and I think my mid section is a little swollen in general)....So, I am wearing black pajama bottoms and a big shirt to coverup the girls. Concluding my shower, dressing and folding some clean clothes that my DH left out for me to fold (I told him to do this), I was exhausted. EXHAUSTED.

My sister is staying with me for the first 2 weeks because I have four kids (2, 4, 8, 10). I can't lift the 2 and 4 years old until the end of January (as per general instructions), but even if I can fudge January, I really can't "fudge" the lifting band right now....So I came downstairs and told me sister that I was going to give myself the anti-coag injection (I have to do this twice a day until Saturday due to a family history of blood clots) and then I would need a nap and we could not go out to walk. I went upstairs and literally passed out for 3 plus hours. Now it is almost 2 and I haven't eaten or had anything to drink for all that time. So, I crammed in some Greek yogurt. It's a little scary because it is hard enough to drink and eat in a timely fashion without passing out like that.

I am trying to switch over to liquid children's tylenol. (They don't make adult liquid tylenol anymore.) I find drinking 6 tsp of children's tylenol nauseating. TOO SWEET. I also am hating having to crush pills in mix them in other things. They taste so nasty.

Finally, I can taste okay, but my sense of smell is whacko. Everything smells bad like halitosis-bad.

I realize that I do not speak for all Dec 17th Sleevers. We are all different, but that has been my experience today.

He was also very adamant about telemetry immediately after surgery and throughout the stay, said the first sign of a leak is elevated heart rate, elevated being around 170-200

He was also very adamant about telemetry immediately after surgery and throughout the stay' date=' said the first sign of a leak is elevated heart rate, elevated being around 170-200[/quote']

That's good info. They kept me monitored quite closely too. I kinda feel they should do the second leak test though. I have read it usually would have to be a quite large leak as the swelling could close a small one for a few days but I'm no dr and don't know the reason for them not doing it. For my mind it would have been comforting though. Are you gurgling a lot?

I actually am not gurgling that much, not like what I've read about. Really, my worst problem is upper back pain, across my entire upper back. May be the gas but I really just think it's from where I slump over trying to protect my abdomen. I have 3 children, two under 5 so I just stay hump back when I'm walking to be ready in case they throw themselves into me, lol. Pain hasn't been to bad. I can certainly tel when I've swallowed one sip too many, feels like a brick in my chest. That's the new 'full' signal for me. I'm really hungry when I first wake up (which can apparently be acid also, not hunger) so the first thing I do is take my prilosec with about 4oz of protein shake. So far, I'm extremely pleased, just fighting the mental issue of not eating.

And I think the second leak test may be kind of pointless because, like you said, it would have to be pretty darn big at that point because of the swelling but it did help mentally.

And I think the second leak test may be kind of pointless because' date=' like you said, it would have to be pretty darn big at that point because of the swelling but it did help mentally.[/quote']

I feel same way in the mornings kind of in between hungry an a touch almost nauseated. I actually have no pain except right at incision sites and its not bad. The full feeling is a pretty sharp pain though. I may have to start back on my reflux meds as I felt just a touch of it today ever so slightly. My diet call for only clear the first week but dr foreman said around day 4-5 I can go to the milks and shakes and such. Hope all continues to go well with you.

You too