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

Recommended Posts

I had the sleeve and am still amazed at how non-painful it was. people keep asking me how I feel and my reply is "I feel great!" a 10 all the way.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, BajanSleeve said:

They took my drainage tube out 3 days post op. Every doctor has a different way of doing things. I have read that a lot of US doctors do not even use a drainage tube. So just ask your doctor first. In my opinion a drainage tube is a good idea to help prevent infection and all of that pus and gunk from collecting inside of you. I would insist on one. It hurts when they take it out but not THAT bad. Its about 1 minute of pain as its coming out

This too. Only for me, instead of a pain it was more of an uncomfortable tugging on the inside. It was weird, man, and I was not a fan lmao. But if given the choice, I'd definitely have the surgery again - drain tube and all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Dawn Rae said:

It's a small tube that suctions out what's left over from the surgery. It's usually hanging out of your stomach and is stitched to your side. After about a week they pull it out. Mine stayed in for a week, anyway.

Thanks. I didn’t have one of those after my sleeve so was curious. I’m glad yours is out now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, BajanSleeve said:

They took my drainage tube out 3 days post op. Every doctor has a different way of doing things. I have read that a lot of US doctors do not even use a drainage tube. So just ask your doctor first. In my opinion a drainage tube is a good idea to help prevent infection and all of that pus and gunk from collecting inside of you. I would insist on one. It hurts when they take it out but not THAT bad. Its about 1 minute of pain as its coming out

Using a drain tube is uncommon in the states. Lots of us here had very successful surgeries without any complications without a drain tube. I'm glad I didn't have one, my incisions were glued shut and dry, and healed quickly. There shouldn't be any puss, if there is that is a far bigger problem.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Pearldrop said:

Thanks. I didn’t have one of those after my sleeve so was curious. I’m glad yours is out now.

Urgh, same! When I was given my surgery date last year I was hoping I wouldn't get one - me being in the states and all that. My fiance lifted up my gown when I asked how many incisions I had and I almost burst into tears when I was told I had a drain tube. Though I think that was mostly the pain medicine's doing lmao.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, GansettRam74 said:

I have never had any kind of surgery, hospital visit/stay, major injury of any kind, and a high threshold for pain so for being two weeks post op, I'd have to say I'm overall a 3. I was up and walking within couple of hours of my surgery, drinking Water, and but stomach felt like I did three hours of abs in the gym. Next day in hospital, i drank two shakes with ease and more than enough Water and was sent home. Week 1 I was more exhausted than anything. Pain was medium and just used the Tylenol I was prescribed, 4 times a day(I am down to just once at bedtime now), not the Oxy I was also prescribed, and of course the nausea pills and pill to prevent stones. First week as far as shakes, no problem getting three in a day. Then came the start of week 2! I was so weak bc of how little cals I was taking in plus I added walking 2 miles a day in and was basically useless after walking. Then this past weekend(day 10) I felt a revival! I started eating couple fork fulls a scrambled egg whites, a couple of spoonfuls of well blended chicken salad or seafood salad, and slice of thin deli american cheese throughout the day as I knew myself and needed something of substance but didn't want to put myself at risk with chewing meats, and along with a shake & half to make sure I was getting 65g of Protein, and I feel surprisingly great for two weeks post op. Energy level is way up, more pep in my step, pain is virtually gone, and I feel like a person again. Into my third day of a morning 2mi walk and nighttime 2mi walk despite the heat wave here in RI. I've lost 22lbs in 13 days and hope to lose 3 more before post op appt Thursday! I am hoping my surgeon officially okays soft foods/soup regimen as my paperwork states and start going back to gym. I'm losing about a 1lb a day on average, pain free, and so looking forward to what's ahead.

What is the pill to prevent stones? I get kidney stones and am concerned about them coming back after surgery. Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I’d rate my recovery about a 5. LOTS of pain day 1-3 because of repaired hernia. Severe pain from reflux day 7. Only took pain meds until day 3, powered through after that. Very difficult to drink anything until day 3, EXTREMELY fatigued until this week (6/7 surgery)- but I’m also just able to do Vitamins.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 7/3/2018 at 3:38 PM, BajanSleeve said:

They took my drainage tube out 3 days post op. Every doctor has a different way of doing things. I have read that a lot of US doctors do not even use a drainage tube. So just ask your doctor first. In my opinion a drainage tube is a good idea to help prevent infection and all of that pus and gunk from collecting inside of you. I would insist on one. It hurts when they take it out but not THAT bad. Its about 1 minute of pain as its coming out

My drain didn't hurt coming out but it felt incredibly weird, and I agree with you, I would rather have a drain than not have one and have that Fluid leak inside me. After the first time cleaning/emptying it I didn't care about it, it was just a nuisance.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1/10 and I’m 59 years old. Pain was minimal after leaving the hospital. A great deal of indigestion for the first two weeks, but I later determined that was due to taking the immediate release Wellbutrin vs Wellbutrin XL. Once I started the XL, much of the indigestion disappeared.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It seems like anyone with a drain tube has more pain. My surgeon never used them, and my pain was minimal.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

5/10 for me. I think I had a week's worth of prescription pain medicine and I took every last pill because I'm a wimp and it hurt. I also couldn't drive for 3 weeks or more because of the pain. I took 3 weeks off work though and that made it tolerable knowing I had a good amount of time to get better.

P.s. I also had a drain, but it was removed right before I walked out of the hospital. That incision hurt the worst :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

07/05/2018 06:23 PM, Gundy said:

1/10 and I’m 59 years old. Pain was minimal after leaving the hospital. A great deal of indigestion for the first two weeks, but I later determined that was due to taking the immediate release Wellbutrin vs Wellbutrin XL. Once I started the XL, much of the indigestion disappeared.
Question- did you have the sleeve or the bypass?

I take Wellbutrin XL and there is talk I should switch to the regular kind and take it twice a day, because I’m getting a bypass on 7/14 and there is concern about malabsorption of the xl kind.

Super anxious about my mood stabilizer meds (cymbalta and Wellbutrin xl) not being effectively absorbed during a time that I’m certain I will be super emotional.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, insta_adventurer said:

Question- did you have the sleeve or the bypass?

I take Wellbutrin XL and there is talk I should switch to the regular kind and take it twice a day, because I’m getting a bypass on 7/14 and there is concern about malabsorption of the xl kind.

Super anxious about my mood stabilizer meds (cymbalta and Wellbutrin xl) not being effectively absorbed during a time that I’m certain I will be super emotional.

I too was taken off the wellbutrin xl and switched to immediate release. She told me to take 1.5 100 mg at bfast and dinner. I never thought about the issue of malabsorption ): Not sure I could handle that!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I typically don't like to discuss my personal recovery, because it always comes off as bragging, but since this post is about it specifically.

I had zero issues.
Like, legit zero. As soon as I was in my own recovery room, I was doing everything I could myself. Connecting and disconnecting my monitoring equipment, the leg compression sleeves, etc. I didn't need any nausea meds, no extra pain meds. I didn't really need anything from anyone. Halfway though my first night nurses were calling me their "Dream patient". Honestly. I was maxing out my incentive spirometer by midday on the second day.

I have 5 incision points (1 large, 4 small), had no drains, no external stitches (they used surgical glue), They didn't really even hurt, or itch (ever).

I had no issues sleeping (aside from the noise) at the hospital or at home. Zero issues with mobility. Zero issues with food and Water intake pain.

My recovery has been *super* easy. I did have the lapband installed back in 2011, so I've been through this type of surgery before, so I'm sure that helped.

So on a scale of 1 being easy to 10 being hard. Totally a 1 out of 10.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would say an 8/10! I know it sounds like a broken record, but WALK WALK WALK!! I promise you will hate it when it's happening but thank yourself after! I pushed myself while in the hospital and walked as much as I could (to the point where the nurses wanted me to lay down and take it a bit easier)!! I was back to work in 4 days and back in the gym on the 5th day and felt really great! I would have said a 9 or 10 but my IV burst the vein in my hand (my hands are really tiny and the IV should not have been put there in the first place) and that caused a mild pain but it lasted 4 weeks. Best of luck!

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

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 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

    ×