Hi Everyone, I’m finally on here again to tell my Post-Op story. My surgery was on Tuesday April 2^nd and I came home on Thursday. I waited until now to write because I needed to be in the right frame of mind before I write this or I was worried that I would scare everyone away. I would love to sugar coat everything and tell you that my journey so far has been wonderful, but I’ve decided to just be honest because after all it IS my journey. First of all I woke up from surgery! So yay that was wonderful, but then I am told that they are taking me to ICU because my oxygen level was very low and they were worried about that with my sleep apnea, ok, no biggie. Now when I finally get to my room, wham the pain hits me. Honestly I am not a big cry baby when it comes to pain but I have to tell you, I was not expecting the amount of pain I had. When I read other peoples stories on here that say they had NO pain, I just find that so hard to believe how you could have 5 incisions and your stomach pulled out through your skin and not have ANY pain, KUDOS to all of you that didn’t, but I certainly did. Ok so I dealt with the pain, I’ve had trouble breathing since my surgery ( I will address this tomorrow with my surgeon), and now I finally get to come home, pain and all…I, like most of you have been wanting this surgery for over a year, I fought with my insurance for over a year to get approved, I have been on these forums 24/7 reading as much information as I possibly can to be prepared, well let me remind you, that like anything else in life, until you experience it for yourself, you can not possibly know how something is going to be until you go through it yourself. Now please know that I am not saying this to scare anyone, I am not unhappy with my decision to have the surgery and today I finally have a better out look on everything, but you can not imagine how you are going to feel until after you have had the surgery yourself no matter how much you read or think you know. What I mean by this is that everyone’s relationships with food are alittle different and everyone is going to react differently when they actually can NOT have food. For months now I have been telling myself that I am over food and I can’t wait to get this done and start my journey, it took me by such surprise that when I got home, I was feeling so down, I couldn’t understand why until my husband starting eating a pizza and the smell of it just made me want to cry, and everyday since, watching my family eat, is pure torture for me. You kinda forget that their life goes on and they are going to eat and they are going to eat in front of you, you can’t avoid that forever. I know that this too shall pass and I know that I will get through this, but I’m just letting you know to be prepared that it’s not easy, afterall, didn’t we always fail before on diets because our willpower wasn’t great enough to keep us going? Well now no matter how much you may want to “cheat” you CANT or you will hurt yourself, yes I guess that is a good thing, but is not easy. Plus I had to give up smoking in January to have this surgery which would be my other “go to “ crutch that I now don’t have either.---

So back to when I get home, as I said, I was so prepared, had everything I needed and I swear when I got home I felt like I had no idea what to do, I thought they must have taken my brains out with my stomach cause I could not remember anything! I got so confused on –what’s a meal, whats a liquid- how much of each, when, etc..Well my brains finally came back and I’m figuring it out, but it’s not easy. It has become my full time job all week just trying to get it all straight and get it all in. I realize it’s not forever and that’s the only thing that gets me through the day. Trying to keep track of every 3 hours a meal, but half hour before don’t drink, then a half hour after don’t drink but then after that you better take in liquids every 2 minutes and then figure out your protein intake, has become my job now. I thought I would try to go back to work next week, LOL yeah right..I need to have all this figured out first. I have never used my timer so much in my life! I really don’t mean to be a downer here, as I said, this is why I waited all week to write because if I had of written right away it would not have been good. This is only MY journey and how I have felt so far, I do not regret having the surgery because what is getting me through these tough days is the outcome and knowing (hoping) that it will be worth it, but I guess when your feeling this way and your still Fat, doesn’t help, LOL…For everyone who is upcoming in their surgery, I wish you the best and I’m sure you will be fine and not have my experience, and to everyone who’s had their surgery and had NO pain and everything has gone smooth sailing and so easy for you, KUDOS to you, but I did want to be honest so that if anyone experiences what I am experiencing I want them to feel they can come to me at any time to talk, because I will probably know how you feel and hopefully already be past that and able to get you past it as well. So please message me if you need any support at all. Sorry this was so long, I tried to make it as short as possible and I just want to end with this, if anyone has a dark day, my best advice to you is, to remember why you did this in the first place and that everyday it WILL get better, I promise..That is the only thing that got me through so far, Oh and by the way, I have lost 9 pounds since the day before surgery, so yay me!..Thanks for reading…Kari

So your only 5 days out and that is normal..The first week was the hardest for me and then every day after that was better and better..Hang in there because it does get better, I promise..Today I am a month out and I feel great, some days I even forget I had surgery..It's still a challenge with the liquids and protein but it gets easier..Just try to get in as much liquids and protein as you can..The first week the liquids are most important so you don't get dehydrated, try to sip sip sip...Good luck to you..

That pain is no joke I was cryin like a baby it was the Worst pain I every had smh I know how u feel

Thanks a lot

Hi Kari!

Thanks for sharing. I was sleeved the day after you, and also thought I was prepared for what I was about to endure. I have friends and relatives who have been through being sleeved or had the bypass and they warned me that when I first woke up I would be like "what the heck have I done". They were right. I've typically handled pain well, but considering they're cutting out your stomach and moving all kinds of organs around, how can it not be painful.

Also the few days/couple weeks after really kicked my butt!!!! One day I actually cried, wondering how much longer I was going to feel bad. With that being said, I have reached a turning point and I feel much better now. I am learning quickly what it means to feel full and when I am TRULY hungry (there is a difference in head hunger and true hunger). I've read a lot people say they're no longer hungry. I am!!! Just not for the same things.

I've also had a HUGE problem getting in enough Protein. I HATE the shakes now, and I've tried many!! I get most of my protein thru yogurt, eggs, and milk. I LOVE milk right now. I drink the Smart Balance milk. Tastes like real milk with 0 fat and more protein.

I'm looking forward to the day when I can start reintroducing food into my diet. I've noticed I ask everyone all the time- so what did you have for dinner, lunch whenever. Lol. Like I'm living my food life thru them.

I am so happy I've done this for myself!! I'm down 31 lbs today and a couple pants sizes!!! But I agree with you Kari, and think its important for people to see all the sides, positive and negative! I'd do it again, but would just be better prepared. Because the first couple weeks were NOT fun!!!

Krys

Yes Krys I agree, but I don't think you can be fully prepared..I'm so glad you are doing better now as well. Good luck to you on your new journey!

Oh and yes' date=' I am doing better everyday. Today has been my best day so far. Went outside for a walk and the fresh air did me some good. I just wonder why I really feel hunger, do you?[/quote']

I did my op almost same period like yours...it was 30/3/2013

And yes there is a feeling of hunger...n missing food,,

How would you better prepare? What would you have done differently?

My surgery date is in 3 weeks and I'm trying to be as prepared as possible. I've had a couple of hernia surgeries and they were pretty painful, but it seems like internal organs might be more so. I do know I should have walked more and sooner, so I'm planning to try and do that. Otherwise, I'm not sure what else to do to prepare.

Hi MIrrim....I can't really think of anything I could or would have done differently that would have prepared me anymore..I had been preparing for over a year..Besides the normal pain from surgery and recovering from that, I think the biggest thing for me that is hard to prepare for was the mental part of it that I wasn't expecting..But now, looking back, I really think that also has a lot to do with just no feeling well from surgery, cause you feel terrible the first week and then also have to deal with not eating food and keeping track of everything was hard on me too when I wasn't feeling well..example, crushing up all my meds all day and making sure to get them down, figuring out how much protein, liquid, etc to get in, it was just all so overwhelming when your not feeling well...NOW, I am 4 weeks out and I feel great, and forget that I even had surgery...Honestly, its kind of like having a baby, it sucks when your going through it, but then you forget about it, I can barely even remember how I felt that first week, if I didn't have my story to read, I wouldn't even remember that, honestly..You will do great, the first week may be tough, but just keep telling yourself that everyday will get better and better and it will only be a memory...good luck to you..

Hi MIrrim....I can't really think of anything I could or would have done differently that would have prepared me anymore..I had been preparing for over a year..Besides the normal pain from surgery and recovering from that' date=' I think the biggest thing for me that is hard to prepare for was the mental part of it that I wasn't expecting..But now, looking back, I really think that also has a lot to do with just no feeling well from surgery, cause you feel terrible the first week and then also have to deal with not eating food and keeping track of everything was hard on me too when I wasn't feeling well..example, crushing up all my meds all day and making sure to get them down, figuring out how much Protein, liquid, etc to get in, it was just all so overwhelming when your not feeling well...NOW, I am 4 weeks out and I feel great, and forget that I even had surgery...Honestly, its kind of like having a baby, it sucks when your going through it, but then you forget about it, I can barely even remember how I felt that first week, if I didn't have my story to read, I wouldn't even remember that, honestly..You will do great, the first week may be tough, but just keep telling yourself that everyday will get better and better and it will only be a memory...good luck to you..[/quote']

Your post spoke to me too. I had lost 65 lbs years ago and got a tummy tuck because of the excess skin. So I sort of felt that this surgery would not be as bad...because that TT was a B****. That pain was awful. So how bad can 5 little holes be? This should be a breeze....right. Well Pain was almost equal...I think my recovery time for pain will be the same. I went thru a few recovery melt downs then and I can feel one coming with this surgery. So your sharing is helpful.

Trying to manage a feeding schedule and the pain has been all consuming....I can not image going back to work for at least another week and a half.

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When did you have your surgery? I promise, it gets better..

I had my surgery on April 24. Today was my first day getting frustrated with the diet. I want to chew something so bad....I chew my jello like its prime rub....I can't believe I am anticipating puréed food! This full liquid diet is testing my endurance!

I feel so much better I lose 23 pound Since my surgery I thought I will never feel better now I need Exercise buddy I'm from NJ

How can I lose more weight I'm losing a pound a day but I need to lose more smh it feel like I will never get to my Goal weight

How can I lose more weight I'm losing a pound a day but I need to lose more smh it feel like I will never get to my Goal weight

I feel like that too. When did you get sleeved? I got mine 4/10 I'm down 23 lbs but I haven't lost anything tho past week :-(

April 22 I notice I don't have no energy Might be because I'm on Clear liquids still I justs feel Real tired