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

Newbie surgery in 8 days


Guest Sleeved&NotLovinIt

Recommended Posts

Guest Sleeved&NotLovinIt

My pcp suggested that I have the gastric sleeve and directed me to Dr. Stephen Malley in Kansas City. I watched his seminar online and then made my appointment and met with him on October 23rd. Time has been speeding by at a very fast pace since then. My surgery is scheduled for November 11th which is 8 days away. I had a heart attack (1 stent) in 2011 so Dr. Malley requires that I get a clearance from my cardiologist. I met with him on Friday and it did not go well. He wants me to take a stress test before surgery. I don't think it's covered by my insurance so that is why I am dragging my feet. I also feel "what will be, will be". I am a cash patient and all the prelim stuff I have had to do to get qualified is not included in the fee. I am less scared than I was yesterday, thanks to a late night chat on this site. My first question is about the chat rooms. Why are there 9 showing up in the chat rooms but nobody is available to chat? Next, is there a lot of pain associated with this? I do not like to take pain medication and if the pain isn't higher than a 7 (from 1-10) then I think I can deal with it. Then, I am extra emotional right now. I thought I read that that happened AFTER the surgery. I stop myself when I realize I'm feeling sorry for myself but feel weepy (sp?) and sometimes very much overwhelmed. I do not cook. I can cook but don't enjoy it. Just reading over the information, there doesn't seem like there is going to be anything that I can eat, once I get to that post surgery stage. I see that I can have yogurt and cottage cheese and I HATE both of those. Okay, I'm taking some deep breaths & changing the subject before I get myself worked up again. I DO plan to join a support group so I know that will be the extra help that I need to see me through. I am so appreciative of this group as well!!! Two of my sisters are not supportive and I don't know how the other 2 sisters feel. My DH is supportive and is paying for the sleeve but continues to eat in front of me. So hard. At the end, I am excited, I am happy to be this close to surgery and looking forward to getting healthier. I have also scheduled a date with my treadmill for today! (We're virtual strangers - lol). I hope I haven't written too much but my brain is overflowing. Thanks in advance for all your help!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery on Sept. 11 and I'm not a pro at this but I can help with a few of your concerns! I cook less now than before surgery! As for not liking yogurt or cottage cheese, I didn't have a problem with yogurt but I hated cottage cheese before my surgery. However, after surgery I tried it and was soooo glad to have something to 'almost' chew that I started to really enjoy it! Canned chicken & tuna are great when you advance to that stage. Seafood has lots of Protein, I like pre-cooked shrimp or crab with mashed potatoes...all microwavable! I still drink Protein Shakes too, there are lots of brands but l like Unjury (chocolate & chicken flavored). Eating really is easier that ya think! The pain after surgery I would say varies from person to person, I drank pain medicine for about a week after my surgery, a little less everyday but I still wanted/needed it, I hate pain!! My husband and this website are my support system, I didn't tell my sister or any other family members because I made my mind up to have this surgery and did not feel like discussing it with anyone. When he eats in front of me, it really doesn't both me much...I really want to loose this weight so I have my meals & he has his!!! Hope some of this helps! Good luck! :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am new to this support. I just had my sleeve on October 28th. I was to have the gasteric bypass but due to previous hernia surgeries they could not do the gasteric so they did the sleeve. Not very familar with the sleeve so any diet and info is greatly appreciated

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Sleeved&NotLovinIt

First, thank you for your reply. I started a food diary today and will add all your tips to it so when the time comes, I'll be able to utilize your great suggestions. I am the same way you were - my mind is made up and I don't want my sisters' input. Jim was stuffing candy bars down his gullet so that's probably why it was hard to take. I LOVE chocolate.< /p>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Sleeved&NotLovinIt

SDH, where do you buy the Unjury (chocolate & chicken flavored)? I saw a link at the top of this page but thought I'd ask around first before I jumped in and bought it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My docs office sold it but I went straight to their website to buy mine. http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good Luck on your surgery....if yours goes as well as mine you will be just fine....I had NO PAIN at all after.....( but I think they dosed me up through the IV. The first day. The day of the surgery I was not scared or nervous at all. I can say I don't remember much of anything at all. I remembering seeing my doctor in the hall before I got gowned up....and I remember talking to him in the pre op room......but I don't remember getting the IV's started (I had two) or talking to nurses, anesthesia drs, ...and after surgery I don't remember anything till the next day.....and I was awake, talking to my family, and walking the hallway .....lol ...the information my kids could have gotten out of me could have been dangerous...lol....but I had a wonderful experience and would do the surgery again in a heartbeat. I am down 30 pounds and am not going to stop until I hit 150 ... You can do it to!

I am sure we will hit little stall or derailments off the right track ...but as soon as you realize what is wrong , fix it and go faster and harder you can blow through the stall ...just ALWAYS get your Protein have a "stall"of sorts ...I was taking on Water because my Aunt Flo was coming for a a few days ....but as soon as she left the weight soon dropped !!

I am on the happy happy train to my exit at 145 (or150)

After my stall I lost 5 pounds must have been thar monthly excess fluids us women get....

But after her added weight I was thrilled but Dr Gluck in Muskegon...said I was doing everything exactly right and I may see this same episode every month so don't worry about it like I did....lol

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

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 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

    ×