2 months post op/ feeling malnutrition

[Account deleted 22]

I'm seeing my PCP tomorrow so maybe she can give me some answers. I never left the hospital with a tube, did you have the sleeve?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

My drain was pulled when I was discharged.

[Kindle 8,667]

Does anyone know about how long before I can get the tube removed from my stomach? I had surgery on Nov. 4th and have my post op appt. On Nov. 13th. I am so hoping I can have it removed on my Nov. 13th appt.

They didn't give you any instructions? A week is a long time for a drain. Not to mention you should be cleaning the drain site, changing the bandage and emptying the bulb at least daily. I had surgery on Friday, discharged Saturday, drain site cleaned and bandage changed on Sunday and drain pulled Monday. I was shown how to empty the drain which I had to do 2-3 times/day. Call your surgeon.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I think my drain was in for a week. I had drains as a precaution as a band to sleeve revision

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I think my drain was in for a week. I had drains as a precaution as a band to sleeve revision

Mine was a precaution as well. I had a very bad abscess from my hysterectomy years before. I must have been doing well enough in the hospital to have it removed before discharge. Especially since they arranged for a visiting nurse to check on me.

[kathybudzicki 8]

I did have have the sleeve. I don't think I recovered as well as most that first day but I insisted on going home on day 2. My instruction were to empty and measure it everyday; in which I've been doing. I also have cleaned/sterolized and changed the entry site several times, I go to the Doctor tomorrow so I will find out for sure then. I guess I've been a little concerned cuz I'm still draining 30cc's a day. Thanks everyone. I sure wish I knew about his site months ago. If anyone would like to be friends, I would love that. Not sure how to "friend" someone yet. Thanks again

[Bobby46 327]

I was tired and weak for the first 4 weeks after surgery. It's from the surgery and not consuming the loads of calories I was used to consuming, according to the doctor. Your body is conserving energy to heal itself, so when you move around its telling you to cut it out, take a nap, relax. It will heal. About week 5 I could eat more and move without needing a nap afterward. It just takes time.

[Account deleted 22]

Well I saw my dr.today and she did a uribe test and I am not dehydrated! Also did blood work to check my vitimins but no word yet on the results. She thinks I may be getting a bug that is going around but I do not feel like I am getting sick. So that's that on how I feel.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Keep us posted! In the meantime I don't think it would hurt to take your multi 2 x's a day. Maybe it will give you a bit more energy.

[Janice1968 92]

I was given a handbook at my first doctor's appt. It has everything very clearly spelled out. From pre- to post op. On the page that discusses Vitamins it states:

"After gastric bypass or sleeve surgery, you must take Vitamins and mineral supplements for the rest of your life to prevent nutritional deficiencies."

Multi & mineral supplement

• Take 2 multiviatims every day
• You may need to use a chewable for at least the first month after surgery
• Do no use gummy vitamins as they are not complete
• Purchas a high potency Vitamin containing 100%of daily value for at least 2/3 of nutrients listed

Calcium Citrate w/ Vit D

• Take 100-1500 mg of Calcium daily.
• Do not take more than 600mg of calcium at a time
• Pay attention to serving size. Often , the serving size is 2 pills
• If you take Iron, do not take Iron & calcium at the same time. Separate them by at least 2 hours.

Additional Vit. D

• You will need an additional 1000 international units of D3.
• Your total daily requirement from all your supplements should be 3000 IU

Vit. B-12

• Daily sublingual(under the tongue) *If the tablet contains 1000mcg, then you only need to take every other day
• OR
• Monthly B-12 shot
• Iron Supplement (Optional)
• Some patients will need extra iron. Your dietitian will tell you if you need to take iron.
• Taking iron with 250mg Vit C will improve iron absorption

All of these can be purchased OTC. Sometimes insurance will cover some of them if your doctor writes a prescription. If you are feeling tired you might want to purchase them now. At the very least increase your Multi-Vitamin.< /p>

My doctor will check bloodwork at 3mths

[Janice1968 92]

Thank you for this info!

[Kindle 8,667]

So how are you feeling these days? I just thought of another thing....how are you doing on carbs? I know everyone promotes the sugar free-low carb thing, but I never totally jumped on that bandwagon. If you are active, you need carbs for energy or you will feel run down. Of course I don't sit around eating donuts and Cookies and ice cream everyday, but I never got too crazy with the no carb thing. In fact, artificial sweeteners hurt my sleeve, as did plain Water, for the first 3-4 months. So I was drinking 100% fruit juice and regular sports and energy drinks with real sugar. I did have to dilute them 1/2 and 1/2 because everything tasted too sweet to me. And I always felt better on the days I added fruit (peaches, mangos, bananas, berries) to my Protein smoothie.

Glad you aren't dehydrated (although that would have been an easy fix). Hope you figure out what's going on and feel better soon.

[Account deleted 22]

Thank you so much for your concern @kindle. I feel I am getting enough carbs in my diet. I am worried about the Protein though! I still have not heard anything back on my lab work. I made meatloaf last night with corn, greenbeans and au graten potatoes and I was able to finish everything! I was so happy and full, granted it did take me about 15 mins to eat all my food it was a great feeling. I was also asleep at 7pm lol.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

So how are you feeling these days? I just thought of another thing....how are you doing on carbs? I know everyone promotes the sugar free-low carb thing, but I never totally jumped on that bandwagon. If you are active, you need carbs for energy or you will feel run down. Of course I don't sit around eating donuts and Cookies and ice cream everyday, but I never got too crazy with the no carb thing. In fact, artificial sweeteners hurt my sleeve, as did plain Water, for the first 3-4 months. So I was drinking 100% fruit juice and regular sports and energy drinks with real sugar. I did have to dilute them 1/2 and 1/2 because everything tasted too sweet to me. And I always felt better on the days I added fruit (peaches, mangos, bananas, berries) to my Protein smoothie.< /p>

Glad you aren't dehydrated (although that would have been an easy fix). Hope you figure out what's going on and feel better soon.

I'm not sugar free or carb free. I do low carbs, but I also try to limit myself to complex carbs. What I don't do are simple carbs like those found in Pasta, breads or white rice. I do sweet potatoes, brown rice and whole grains. Same thing with sugars. I am allergic to a lot of artificial sweeteners and stevia. I just make sure the majority of my sugar comes from fruit where I can also get a bit of Fiber along with the sugar. I do occasionally use a little organic sugar but not often. I also eat healthy fats like avocado and try to avoid processed foods as much as possible.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Blerdgirl

[Cathyjo 18]

I am 10 months out.

I get 60 to 80 Protein and 64 oz liquid.< /p>

I keep my carbs low but not super low.

I get my carbs from fruit and dairy, not white carbs. White carbs have little nutritional value and take up too much room in my sleeve.

I take 2 Multivitamin daily, a sublingual B12 and 2 calcium citrate with D.

The sublingual or chewable b12 is critical for sleevers because so much of the stomach has been removed. Cells in the stomach make something called intrinsic factor which is required to absorb B 12 in the stomach. Because sleevers don't make enough intrinsic factor, the B12 has to be under the tongue or chewable. GNC makes a strawberry chewable B12 which is very tasty. My NUT says at one year I will go down to one multi a day.