Thank you to everyone for their support.

I took a 6 hour flight to CA on 3/31 and arrived in San Diego at 11:30 "their time". The driver, Ernesto, was waiting for me at the baggage area and put my luggage in the van and drove me, and another passenger, to Mexacali. This drive was about 2 hours long.

I was taken directly to the hospital where they were waiting for me and had blood work, urinalysis, EKG, chest x-ray, and then an esophagram to evaluate and completely unfil my band. The last stop was meeting with the coordinator to get pre and post-op instructions and to pay the balance for the surgery.

I was told I could have anything I wanted to eat (was on a 30 gram/day carb diet for the week prior to surgery) and driven to the Lucerna Resort which is beautiful. As I worked the night before, I elected to have the sandwich and protein bar I brought with me, showered, and fell asleep. I took the antibiotic they gave me before I went to sleep but did not take the ativan.

At 7 AM on 4/1, I was picked up and taken to my room in the hospital. I was seen by a medical internist who reviewed my tests (all good), an assistant surgeon (who was sleeved the day after me), an anesthesiologist, and finally, by the surgeon, Dr. Aceves. All questions were answered and I was the second sleeve of the day.

I got dramamine and versed to take 30 minutes prior to the OR and that knocked me out. LOL. My IV was inserted in the OR and I had spinal and general anesthesia. The spinal dramatically decreases the amount of general needed. Since I don't do well with general (severe nausea), I elected for the spinal too and had NO problems in the recovery room.

All I remember about the recovery room was being asked if I had pain... nope, and being told I was going back to my room. I got some IV pain medication at @ 4 AM and then had sublingual (under the tongue) toradol @ 1 PM. For me, this surgery was a lot less painful than the band.

At noon, I had to drink small sips of water. An hour after that I drank apple juice with a blue dye in it. This is the second test (first done in OR) for leaks. I have a drain near where the port was and the hope is that no blue color comes through to the bag. I passed. After that, I was brought hot tea, tang OJ, and apple juice. My IV was taken out this evening.

Tomorrow morning, I go for the last leak test and will have to drink a radiograffin substance. If I pass that test (and I have no doubt I will), the drain gets removed at noon. I will leave the hospital at 5:45 AM on Saturday to make my flight in San Diego for home. I have nothing but positive things to say about this experience. As a registered nurse I was very watchful and am impressed with the care, cleanliness, and professionalism I observed.

I honestly don't see how people are getting in all their Protein without supplementation.

I'm 6 months out and have a Protein shake every morning and protein hot chocolate every night.

When you are on the full liquids, you can make every drink have protein of some sort in it so that can help. Then with mushies, I just considered that practice for real eating and not a big source of protein or calories.

Even now it's easy to eat lunch and realize you only got in 10 g of protein. Sometimes I eat my meals in stages so I can get more in. I know that if I ate slower I'd be able to do it in one stage, but sometimes I rush before I think about it and then I feel full on just a few bites. I know I need more sustenance so I wait 15 min and then eat the rest.

Elizabeth: Thanks for the daily updates. I find it very comforting to see the normalcy of it all. I hope that makes sense. It's making feel that I can do it and I appreciate that so much!

You're very welcome. I see no value for ME in not trying to get back to "normal" as soon as possible. It's important to get proper rest, follow the diet, and refrain from heavy lifting so I am definitely following post-op orders. I am sure some people recover faster than I do while others need more time. I am purposely staying off the scale until Sat AM when I move to full fluids.

I'm 6 months out and have a Protein shake every morning and protein hot chocolate every night.

When you are on the full liquids, you can make every drink have protein of some sort in it so that can help. Then with mushies, I just considered that practice for real eating and not a big source of protein or calories.

Even now it's easy to eat lunch and realize you only got in 10 g of protein. Sometimes I eat my meals in stages so I can get more in. I know that if I ate slower I'd be able to do it in one stage, but sometimes I rush before I think about it and then I feel full on just a few bites. I know I need more sustenance so I wait 15 min and then eat the rest.

Mac,

Where are you getting the protein hot chocolate?

Mac,

Where are you getting the Protein hot chocolate?

I want to know too. I thought adding heat to protein made it coagulate. Yuck!

I get mine from my dr.'s office. The brand is Proti. It's delicious. I am not sure if you can get it online.

I asked Mac about it one time and I believe she said it is not available online. If it was, I would be all over it!!

I could buy some from my doctor's office and mail it to you!

It was $10 a box, but I think all their stuff has gone up to $12. There are 7 packages in the box. They have 15 grams of Protein.

Let me know if you would like me to do that. I would be happy to send you some.

Edited April 8, 200917 yr by Oregondaisy

I could buy some from my doctor's office and mail it to you!

It was $10 a box, but I think all their stuff has gone up to $12. There are 7 packages in the box. They have 15 grams of Protein.

Let me know if you would like me to do that. I would be happy to send you some.

Proti Brand Hot chocolate Drink Mix - HealthLife.com - Where Health, Life and People Meet!

Here is a link to where they can be purchased online.

That is more expensive than what my dr.'s office charges. I didn't check to see what they charge for shipping either.

They do make a tomato Soup with 15 grams of Protein and a cream of chicken soup with the same amount of protein too. They are all good.

Thanks for the offer Daisy. I will just use the site Elisabeth posted, and thank you for posting it Elisabeth.

Edited April 9, 200917 yr by Oregondaisy

Mac,

Where are you getting the Protein hot chocolate?

I found it at Nashua Nutrition. My doctor sells it too as Healthwise (which you have to get through a doctor) but it's clearly the exact same stuff. Everything is exactly the same except the company name at the top of the box!

I tried other brands and I didn't like them as much as this brand. It's probably because it hasn't got Aspartame in it but uses Sucralose. Though this time I bought some that use Aspartame too just to try them.

It's post-op day 8 and I had no problems doing an 8 hour shift so, tonight, it's back to my regular 12.5 hour shift. I'm tired of the liquid diet but it's only prescribed for another 2 days so I'll survive. I never looked so forward to full fluids. LOL. Chewing gum helps ease the urge to chew.

Elisabeth, glad the shift worked out well for you.

I agree about the liquid diet, I am sick of it too. I was reading our paperwork last night and saw that it said if you are tolerating the full liquid diet well after seven days you can move to mushies. However, it said we are absolutely not to move to full solids until thirty days after surgery.

Elisabeth, glad the shift worked out well for you.

I agree about the liquid diet, I am sick of it too. I was reading our paperwork last night and saw that it said if you are tolerating the full liquid diet well after seven days you can move to mushies. However, it said we are absolutely not to move to full solids until thirty days after surgery.

Susan,

Reading this post from you was like getting a million dollars. LOL. I am DEFINITELY moving to full fluids for dinner and have my tomato soup packed for work. LOL. I think it's important to get the Protein in and for me, I've been lucky if I get 25 g /day in.

THANK YOU!!!!

Stacy

P.S. I read over the post-op diet in the hospital but must have been under the influence of drugs. LOL.

No, no, it said we must stay on the clear liquid diet for ten days before moving to full liquids! Then, if we tolerate full liquids well after seven days, we could move to mushies.