post op question

**nicoley1183** · 03-05-2012 06:55 PM

I am 6 days post op. I am not having any trouble at all getting liquids in. Everyone else on here is talking about how they can barely sip anything. This has me worried. I had a failed lap band and I dont want this to fail. Me being able to drink whatever I want makes me think that my sleeve isnt small enough or that my doctor could have done something wrong. Am I crazy. Anyone on here have an easy time drinking a few days out of surgery? I hope so and I hope your having success loosing. I cant have another failure!

**Mrs.Spotter** · 03-05-2012 07:00 PM

I am day 5 post op and today I could drink plenty...which I couldn't until today. I have had no problems with a tight feeling at all. So I am thinking we are just healing!

**Buffalogal317** · 03-05-2012 07:04 PM

I didn't have trouble getting anything down and still don't. My problem is the air bubbles that come up after. I wasn't hungry until last night and now today it hasn't gone away.

**itsjustjojo** · 03-05-2012 07:06 PM

im 10 days post op and i can drink no problem, i never really had a problem with it & i was thinking the same thing about my stomach being too big (glad u posted, cant wait to hear the answers). I know my surgeon used a 36f, which i thought was a pretty common size? im not losing so great yet..but im still trying to be hopeful =)

**becca72** · 03-05-2012 07:24 PM

I never really had a problem with getting or keeping anything down. I chalk it up to being very lucky as far as that goes

**MontrealMan** · 03-05-2012 07:42 PM

Glad to read that some of you have be able to ingest liquids. It is so important to stay hydrated!!! I have my surgery scheduled for April 5th.
Can someone educate me on these sizes please 36f, 32f etc...?

Thanks.

**itsjustjojo** · 03-05-2012 08:07 PM

from what i know, during the surgery the anesthesiologist places a tube called a bougie down your throat into the esophagus and into the stomach and the surgeon uses it as a guide to tell where to cut the stomach. The "f" stands for french and the number is the size of the tube. My surgeon told me the 36f and 34f are millimeters different in size and he uses the 36f because if you go too small it can lead to problems. Hope that helped! Good luck with your surgery =)

**N2DVN** · 03-05-2012 08:25 PM

Mine was a 32f and I am pretty restricted to how much I can eat or drink at a time. So, a meal is less than 3 oz. It takes me 1 1/2 hours to drink a 11oz shake.

For MontrealMan:
From VSG Guide - FAQs
What size bougie do most surgeons use to size the stomach?
That decision depends on the patient’s age, health, and BMI. Normally, most surgeons prefer to use a 32 or 34 French bougie if the Sleeve Gastrectomy is designed to be the only bariatric surgery. If the Sleeve Gastrectomy is the first stage of a two-part Duodenal Switch or Roux-en-Y, most surgeons use a larger bougie, typically a 40-50 French or larger.

A bougie is simply a thin tube that is sized in a measurement known as French. One French is 1/3 mm. So, a 34 French bougie will have a diameter of 11.3 mm or roughly 0.44 inches. The actual volume of your stomach will depend on the length of your stomach.

**MontrealMan** · 03-05-2012 08:44 PM

Thanks for the information.

**becca72** · 03-05-2012 09:07 PM

I found this illustration months ago regarding bougie sizes...it really put things into perspective for me

**Fluffy** · 03-05-2012 10:13 PM

Day 5 and I am not having any trouble today getting liquids down but today is the first day for that. By the end of the day I think I will get about 60 oz of fluids but I do have to continually sip to get it all in.

This afternoon is really the first time I have been hungry .... and my stomach is screaming at me I'M HUNGRY!

**flowerofshona** · 03-06-2012 04:58 PM

Im glad its not just me !!!!
I have been freaking out as m 14 days post op and sure im eating way to much

heres todays food.....
B. 1/2 weetabix
S. 1/2 protein shake
L. carrot and lentil soup
S. small banana
D. tinned mince with mash and few peas
S. milky drink

2 ltrs water/squash

Does that sound to much

No problems drinking either

**GSBarbee** · 03-06-2012 05:44 PM

I could drink lots of water and vitamin water zero...it was only hard getting the shakes down, mostly because I HATE them...LOL.
When you eat food again, you will know it worked. You are able to eat very little. Don't drink while eating...it hurts. I accidentally did while eating out one night and now I don't even ask for water, so I don't make that mistake again. You will do amazing, good luck with your recovery.