Post Op Q's from a newbie

[charlie24 4]

Hi! I have a few questions, I'm only 4 days in and want this to very successful so I'd like to what more experience sleevers can tell me!

1) when does your stomach area begin feel less swollen?

2) what was the best stool softener that really made you go to the bathroom?

3) how did you feel about wearing a compression binder? Positives? Negatives?

4) did anyone feel like they may of a had a bit of a tooth ache?

5) when you showered to you let your bandages get wet? Also when did you start showering without bandages?

6) Did anyone have very itchy incisions?

7) how did you plan your purée diet and real food diet? How do you keep up the weight loss? (I'm really into meal prep, or I was in college until the very end when school became so much), I loved to know any Pinterest boards, or maybe you can post a picture of your sample menus of puréed diet, introduction to foods & maybe a sample menu of what you eat now after a couple of months since your sleeve

8) Has anyone experienced Hair loss? I've heard it's not so intense but it can make your hair look really thin. Any tips on shampoos or Vitamins or trick to keep your pre op hair??

Thank you in advances!!!

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[charlie24 4]

Also when do back pains begin to settle??

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[Bufflehead 6,358]

1) when does your stomach area begin feel less swollen?

About a week out for me.

2) what was the best stool softener that really made you go to the bathroom?

I never had this issue post-op but I know my surgeon recommends Dulcolax + smallest adult dose of Milk of Magnesia.

3) how did you feel about wearing a compression binder? Positives? Negatives?

Highly recommended, it really helped with the pain from moving around.

4) did anyone feel like they may of a had a bit of a tooth ache?

No but I know it isn't unusual after general anesthesia -- sometimes the tube they use for your breathing knocks against your teeth. If it doesn't feel better after several days, you may want to get seen by your dentist to make sure something hasn't been knocked loose.

5) when you showered to you let your bandages get wet? Also when did you start showering without bandages?

I didn't have bandages, my surgeon used surgical glue to close the incisions. I was allowed to shower (but not bathe) starting 24 hours after surgery, just advised to pat the incisions dry rather than rubbing at them with a towel. This all should have been included in your discharge instructions. If it wasn't, you may want to ask your surgeon or team for their specific instructions.

6) Did anyone have very itchy incisions?

Yes, this means your incisions are healing quickly, it's all good.

7) how did you plan your purée diet and real food diet? How do you keep up the weight loss? (I'm really into meal prep, or I was in college until the very end when school became so much), I loved to know any Pinterest boards, or maybe you can post a picture of your sample menus of puréed diet, introduction to foods & maybe a sample menu of what you eat now after a couple of months since your sleeve

Well, I'm three years out, not a couple of months. When I was on pureed I ate a lot of cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, scrambled & poached eggs, Ricotta bake, and refried Beans. I would also make little "micro-casseroles" -- a bit of meat and flavorful sauce, pureed, then heated up in the microwave with a little shredded cheese on top to melt. Things like chicken breast + marinara sauce + mozzarella cheese and ranch flavored tuna + fat free ranch dressing + Gruyere cheese or turkey breast + peanut satay sauce + jack cheese. The important thing in my team's plan is that ALL pureed food must be high Protein.

8) Has anyone experienced hair Loss? I've heard it's not so intense but it can make your hair look really thin. Any tips on shampoos or Vitamins or trick to keep your pre op hair??

Almost everyone experiences Hair loss. Don't waste your money on shampoos or Vitamins or magic potions to try to prevent it -- it either will happen or it won't. Save your money for things like Toppik, Nanogen, or a new hairstyle to camouflage the loss if it happens.

PS I never had any back pain. I did have shoulder/collar bone pain from the surgical gas, but that was all gone within a day or so after surgery. I just walked a lot, sat upright (instead of lying down), rocked in a rocking chair, and used a heating pad.

Good luck!

[charlie24 4]

Thanks so much Bufflehead!!!

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[triplethreat 257]

Hi Charlie24! I'm only a few weeks out but...

1- Swelling went down to a normal size during the second week.

2- I didn't use anything but my doctor said Ducolax.

3- I advised against it so I didn't.

4- No toothache.

5- Absolutely. I was allowed to shower the day after surgery and the surgeon said to let the warm soapy Water wash over the incision sites, BUT I have surgical glue, not bandages. At two weeks the surgeon said I could go swimming.

6- Yes, that means you are healing nicely.

7 and 8 don't really apply yet but so far my recovery has been fast and I feel great! Best of luck to you are you recover.

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As you recover, that is.

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