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

October 2022 surgery support



Recommended Posts

16 hours ago, MyDogsLoveMe said:

It is. I had mine on 10.11 too. I'm still on liquids the booklet I received says stage 2 is for 2 weeks and then this other paperwork I got at the hospital says 10 days. I can only have Protein Shakes, Soups, Water, Jello, and Popsicles. I did blend up some Soup and then put it through a strainer and pretty much nothing went through =(. I can't wait for applesauce, or yogurt even!

Scared but excited.

I tried some creamy blended Soup, but I got bad gas pain and bloating from it. It was Panera broccoli and cheese (blended to make sure no solids and watered down a little). Only had about 2 oz. Going to try a different one and see if that helps. sugar free Jello makes me break out. So I am surviving on Protein Shakes and Water. Which isn't awful because I'm one of the ones that have 0 hunger post op. I feel like I could never eat again and be ok. Which is great in some ways but also means I feel full whenever I try to drink anything.

I'm looking forward to pureed/soft because I am craving normalcy. Sitting at a table with the family and taking a bite of something.

I am dreading the 3 week stall, but I am happy to be on the road to a more normal diet pattern.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgery is tomorrow and i'm so nervous. I'm not necessarily anxious about doing it as I'm ready, but I'm more concerned about how brutal the recovery will be. I'm also nervous for the spine injection I have to get done while awake, but I know it's supposed to help exponentially with the pain.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgery is tomorrow and i'm so nervous. I'm not necessarily anxious about doing it as I'm ready, but I'm more concerned about how brutal the recovery will be. I'm also nervous for the spine injection I have to get done while awake, but I know it's supposed to help exponentially with the pain.

What spine injection?????

Scared but excited.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, rhaenyra said:

My surgery is tomorrow and i'm so nervous. I'm not necessarily anxious about doing it as I'm ready, but I'm more concerned about how brutal the recovery will be. I'm also nervous for the spine injection I have to get done while awake, but I know it's supposed to help exponentially with the pain.

I had a nerve block, but I was already asleep and the block was put in my belly with ultrasound. Worked great through day 1.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Week 2 finally over and saw my dietician today. Woo hoo puried. We went to olive garden after for lunch and I asked them if they could puree my Soup and the kitchen said yes. It was delicious.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I’ve been told that I’m likely to be sent home with heparin syringes that I’ll need to self inject. I am TERRIFIED of needles and weirdly this is the thing that is freaking me out the most right now. Has anyone else had to do this? How long do you have to do this for? I asked the nurses during the pre op blood test session and they said they didn’t know.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Snetsky said:

I’ve been told that I’m likely to be sent home with heparin syringes that I’ll need to self inject. I am TERRIFIED of needles and weirdly this is the thing that is freaking me out the most right now. Has anyone else had to do this? How long do you have to do this for? I asked the nurses during the pre op blood test session and they said they didn’t know.

Yeah, I got 28 days of blood thinner doses to inject post-op. Came at a surprise to me. The actual medicine burns more than the needle because the needle just penetrates fat, which we all have enough of here lol. A lot of people have some bruising from this though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, Vicky Sue said:

I had a nerve block, but I was already asleep and the block was put in my belly with ultrasound. Worked great through day 1.

I think the hardest part about recovery for me was the first night. I had a lot of very intense gas pains in my chest and shoulder but after that night I only took pain medicine for a couple more days and then it was completely bearable. After that. I've had a C-section and that was definitely a worse and harder experience than this was. Just get your fluids in and your Protein in and you'll be fine

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgery went well, yesterday. :)

I'm home, but in a lot more pain than I was when I was in the hospital. I think the car ride home was too much. I got behind the 8 ball on pain control.

I've taken an oxy and zofran. I have a heating pad on my tummy.

Let the healing begin!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Jeanniebug said:

My surgery went well, yesterday. :)

I'm home, but in a lot more pain than I was when I was in the hospital. I think the car ride home was too much. I got behind the 8 ball on pain control.

I've taken an oxy and zofran. I have a heating pad on my tummy.

Let the healing begin!

Happy to hear everything went well! 🫂 Oxy and Zofran were my best friends for the first 3 days. I'm only 8 days post-op but the difference in how I feel now (mentally and physically) vs. 3 days ago - like a new person. It will 100% get better! Wishing you a smooth recovery with lots of rest 🤍

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, MyDogsLoveMe said:

What spine injection?????

Scared but excited.

I'm not sure if everyone does it, but they have an optional spinal injection to help with pain management post-op. It has been highly recommended and I intend to do it, but nervous about doing a shot in my spine / how much that'll hurt

2 hours ago, Vicky Sue said:

I had a nerve block, but I was already asleep and the block was put in my belly with ultrasound. Worked great through day 1.

Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky. Mine is a nerve block shot in the spine while I'm awake. I have to be awake for it because I have to be hunched over a bit I guess while sitting up. Hence my dread lol. I'm glad to hear it helped with the pain though!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, raspberrylime said:

Happy to hear everything went well! 🫂 Oxy and Zofran were my best friends for the first 3 days. I'm only 8 days post-op but the difference in how I feel now (mentally and physically) vs. 3 days ago - like a new person. It will 100% get better! Wishing you a smooth recovery with lots of rest 🤍

Thank you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky. Mine is a nerve block shot in the spine while I'm awake. I have to be awake for it because I have to be hunched over a bit I guess while sitting up. Hence my dread lol. I'm glad to hear it helped with the pain though!
I'm glad I didn't get that option. I would have been scared that the pain would be unbearable.

The pain hasn't really been that bad for me. I opted for no pain killers both in the hospital and at home.

I hope that everything goes well for you. Positive thoughts for you!

Scared but excited.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had mine on the 11th. Things went pretty darn well and I was sent home the next day. I think I had 3 of my pain pills (including in the hospital). I only took 1/2 pills... I do not need to plug myself up and I don't want an oxy addiction.

I, too, have moments where I kind of forget that I had surgery, it's weird.

I'm on full liquids right now and am able to meet my goal of 64oz a few days, but never my Protein goal.

I'm allowed to try some very thin puree, but haven't yet. I want to and I don't want to.

broth and Water have been my friend. I made a HUGE batch of Bone Broth and have that at least twice a day. Sometimes I put protein in that, but my tummy can tell when I do. I put some spices in it today and then had kind of a freak out moment because - what if a spice gets stuck in a healing staple wound?! I get panicked sometimes about little things like that.

I'm able to take a mouthful of water and break it down into about 4-5 swallows, which helps with my intake (sip, sip, sipping is hard).

I've been moving and walking, but every day is a little different. Some days my energy levels are good, and others I'm a bit more tired.

I had one poo like 3 or so days out, but it was very little, and nothing since even though I've taken stool softeners, magnesium, and magnesium powder. Today I tried some milk of magnesia in hopes that I will go tomorrow.

That's my 1-week wrap up! LOL. Hope you are all doing well. And for those of you still on the docket for surgery - best wishes!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, rhaenyra said:

My surgery is tomorrow and i'm so nervous. I'm not necessarily anxious about doing it as I'm ready, but I'm more concerned about how brutal the recovery will be. I'm also nervous for the spine injection I have to get done while awake, but I know it's supposed to help exponentially with the pain.

You're having an epidural?! I thought they stopped doing those for gastric surgeries because a parient cant feel if there is something wrong like internal bleeding. I only had general anesthesia and thought the pain relief injected into the iv was sufficient.

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

    • 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.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 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

    ×