Hey everyone!! I recently got my insurance approval on Friday and will have my surgery scheduled for january sometime....I'm so incredibly scared. I've had the lap band before and had to have it removed last November so to go thru surgery again is nerve racking but I know soooooo worth it. Just looking for a friend to help me get thru this process and maybe answer the zillion questions I'll ask over and over.

Thanks!!!

Vicki <3

Congrats, Vicki! I'm only 7 weeks out...and never had a lap band before, but I'd be happy to try and answer any questions you have.

Shari

Hi Vicki! I considered the lap band but in the end decided on the gastric sleeve. I am post op day 6 and since (pre-surgery diet) 12/1/12 I have lost a little over11 pounds.

Everything has gone very well for me, no significant problems. I even had my gallbladder removed and a hiatial hernia repair at the same time!

Happy to keep in touch and answer any questions I can.

Stay Strong!!!!

Yael

hey girl !! i would love to help out , all i can !!! i had my gastric sleeve on dec 8 ...and lovin it , but trying to get used to it too!! Great luck !

Hi- I was sleeved on 11/19/12. Here to help also!

Hey Vicki,

You have a forum full of friends here, and one heck of a support group. If you have any questions that you don't want public my PM is always open. Also I don't mind giving out my phone # via PM also.

Welcome to VST, glad you're here!!

We have really great people here ready and willing to answer all your questions!

Do u all think a week out of work is enough time off? My biggest problem is that I'm n ER nurse & lately I've seen so many complications coming in. I will say though that I wrk at a military hospital now & maybe that is the reason because when I worked at a civilian hospital I RARELY saw any ppl with complications. Maybe military docs haven't been performing this procedure as long...? Idk just guessing. When I had my band I was only out 2 days...then just took it easy ( no lifting etc). I'm hoping this will be similar. The gas pain was the worse :-(

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I'm also an er nurse and my doc recommends 2 weeks, he said 3 at the most. My surgery is in the morning so guess ill see how it goes.

Oooooo let me know how it goes!! Good luck tommorow your whole life is about to change for the better!! :-)

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jenny ......good luck !!!You will do just fine !!! i am 18 days post op and went for my follow up last week.. i am a hospice aide and that was one of my biggest worries .....how much time off ?! well , i have 530 hrs of sick time and really want to take advantage of it !!! my dr approved for me to be off for 6 weeks !!!!i had my surgery on dec. 8 and seriously , i could easily go back to work if i wanted to !

every single day the pain is easier and easier !!! the tricky part i am having is drinking .....its hard for me to take sips when ive guzzled all my life ..lol!!!...........stock up on gas x strips !!!They work wonders!!!! it took about 2 weeks for the gas pains to go away ...esp in l shoulder ....also my suggested mirilax. that first bm is a doozie ...fyi ...lol! .......also ...it helps to tie a scarf or belt to your headboard to help yourself pull up... its not easy getting to a sitting position at first !! i wish you both the best on your journies and if you need someone to talk to ...i'm here !

I also work in a hospital, and I was off work completely for 4 weeks, also on restrictions (lifting) for 6. Before I was cleared to go back to work I had to go to Employee Health Services, where they gave me work restrictions.

When I went back to work they started me at 4 hour shifts for 2 weeks and now I'm finishing up 6 hour shifts. After the new year, I'm back on normal 8 hour shifts.

Did I need all that time? Honestly, I think I did. I was so tired all the time from not taking in enough nutrition and liquids, and had to really figure out how I would manage to eat/drink while working.

I'm crossing my fingers ill be ok with less cuz I can't afford it :-(

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The thing is...you won't know until post surgery. Some people have it easy, others don't. And there's no way to tell ahead of time. Also, you could be fine one day and the next day pull on a suture attached to a muscle and wam! You're in horrible pain for a few days or weeks. And the fatigue is hard to deal with.

I hope that you are one of the lucky ones who fly through this easily! Good luck!

Thanks me too!!

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Hoping for the best for you too!!

Just really concentrate on yourself and take more time if needed.