Hello all-

It is post-op day #5 at 0600 EST and I am still feeling pretty lousy. Yesterday was rough with a lot of abdominal pressure and pain and absolutely no desire to take anything in at all, either Fluid or food of any kind. I managed to get in about 16 ounces of fluid but each time I took a small sip, I had to stop and let the gurgling pass for about 30 - 60 minutes before having anything else. I spent most of the day in bed.

Today the pressure has subsided (at least for now), but I have this mild queasiness and empty feeling in the part of my abdomen where my sleeve should be. I am hesitating to take anything in but I know I have to so I will take it slow. At this point I am just trying to get fluids in and not worry about nutrition, since the thought of any Protein shakes or related food just turns my stomach.

I have read many blogs and it seems I am not terribly far off what others have experienced, but I have to tell you that I am very discouraged and am second-guessing my decision to go through with this. Even though I needed to lost the weight, I am not sure right now that the degree of discomfort that I am experiencing is worth it.

I need some encouraging words from others to let me know that what I am experiencing is not terribly unusual and that i will start to feel better soon. I hear about others who feel great in a few days and I am envious. My doctor and team led me to believe I would be up and running within a day or two of getting home and that isn't likely to happen at this point.

I am feeling hopeless and just want to hear from others to make sure I will be OK.

Also, today is my birthday and while originally I thought it was a good idea to get the surgery as a 'birthday gift', now I am not so sure of that.

Thanks-

Frustrated in NJ

Hi all..I'm 12 days out and my incisions are driving me crazy. My top one is infected and I'm on antibiotics for four days now. my incisions r super sensitive.... I hope they feel better soon. Has anyone else had any infection?

It will all heal very soon. I think everyone feels this. So long as you don't run a fever.

I hope all that have sent encouraging words to me are reading this, but yesterday I turned the corner. My pain is decreased, my nausea is almost gone, and I feel a lot better. What's interesting is that I knew that at some point my recovery would be all about learning how much one can take in to fill the pouch at a given time. I had two 'meals' with broth yesterday and learned that at this point, 4 ounces of Fluid at any one given time is too much. But I am happy it is now happening, because whenever i took anything in over the past few days, I got such discomfort that I wasn't able to clearly determine what the issue was, either filled pouch or post-op pain. Yesterday helped me to turn the corner and realize it.

I have heard from others that women seem to do better post-op, and that being a man I should not be surprised it took so long for me to get through the first hurdle. Is that other's experience?

Thank you all for the support...if not for this forum it would have been even more difficult the first week!

Good to hear that you're doing better!

Happy birthday!

I had my sleeve on 8/18.

It will get better I promise you. Stay

Positive and try to walk even if just around the house it will help you feel better and definitely ask your doctor to prescribe Prilosec.

Dear frustrated,
I am 13 days post op. Like you I felt the same way, "what in the hell did I get myself into."
Just hang in there. The gurgling/burping is still there for me after a bite or two, but not as intense. I can only assume it will eventually go away.

I have now graduated to pureed foods and had mashed potatoes for the first time. Oh so good!!!

My niece had the sleeve done a year ago and she was feeling depressed and doubted herself like us. Now she thinks it's the best thing she

ever did for herself and would not change a thing.

Keep sipping on your Water remember: 1. HYDRATION, 2. Protein, 3. VITAMINS!

In that order.

Take Care,

Patty

Glad you are finally feeling better. I'm 12 days post op and I cannot stomach the taste/smell of Protein powder shakes/powder. I only sip 2oz every 15 minutes. I have a Drs appointment tomorrow so hopefully we can figure something out. I have no pain and am walking, going to fairs, shopping- some naps here and there.

Does anyone else have issues with the taste smell of protein? I have been using a variety of whey isolate ready shakes and Protein Powder but they all have this certain smell I just can't take.

I tried some vanilla Boost today (one of my medical team's recommended Protein shakes) and it turned my stomach. So I am thinking that this is my body telling me that I just am not ready for this yet. If this were over the weekend, I would have been in tears thinking that it would never get better, but now I know it will just take more time. In the mean time, I am following all your lead....hydration first and other stuff next.

Haven't started Vitamins yet, but will get there. I have experimented with different flavorings for bland chicken broth which has helped. And just now I slowly sipped 4 ounces and while I am full and a little bit uncomfortable, I am much better than I even was last night after I tried the same thing.

Thanks for everyone's support!

@@Basia - Someone on another thread suggested getting a lidded cup and trying to sip that way so that it blocks the smell.

Hi everyone...I'm at post op day 10 and have gotten better but am still not taking much in. I have learned so far that I can only tolerate a max of 4 ounces of liquid at any one time and then I am done for a few hours. I've inadvertently drank liquids during that time and got so bloated that I could barely stand it.

We are told not to drink and eat together and I understand why that would be a problem later on, but I think it is a problem now. Today I had this very sweet Protein drink called "New Whey" - awful but has 42 grams of protein in only 4 ounces. Problem is that it is so sweet I found myself 'rinsing' my mouth with other liquid while I was taking this and within 4 hours I had consumed 22 ounces total liquid. I was in bed for the next 3 hours!

Has anyone had this type of trouble i am experiencing now?

Walking helps a lot and most people will get more fluids in if they walk more also helps get rid of gas. But yeah it's no walk in the park. I am pod 4 and I get some weird pains in my sleep between 4-6am and I think they are hunger pains! So we all have stuff that we need to work out it will get better....

I also seem to get my fullness message after 4 ounces of broth in one sitting....if I am sipping on a drink I can drink 8 oz but over an hour.