My Surgery is Monday

[Bailie98]

I didnt really think anything of it, like ive been super excited but now that my surgery is just around the corner im starting to freak out. I was diagnosed with anxiety, manic depression, and really bad panic attacks and i dont take medicine for them because it makes me feel like a zombie. So lately, ive kinda just been freaking myself out and panicking. Can somebody please talk to me who is now post op. I just wanna know how youre feeling. And if you were in pain when you woke up. I just need to talk to somebody who has had this done and if anybody would be willing tbatd be great. Thank you.

[Pattimelt]

Hi, my surgery is next Wednesday, and I understand some of your feelings. I'm excited but nervous at the same time. I think these feelings are very normal, and we just have to focus on the end game. Chances are slim that you will have complications. The thing is, everybody wakes up feeling differently after surgery. If you'll read old posts you'll realize the pain can vary. Some folks have little to no pain, and some have considerable pain from the gas they fill your abdomen with. I think most people are somewhere in the middle. I'm sure some of the people who've already been through surgery here will answer you and give you some good info. Just make sure you follow all of your surgeon's instructions and you should be fine.

Here's hoping all goes smoothly for you! See you on the loser's bench! Cheers, Patti

[ghost_ryder]

Bailie, everyone gets nervous going into this surgery. You are making a change that will change your life. In my mind, all for the good. Imagine a life in which all other maintenance medications are no longer needed. I have dropped 12 out of 14 pills I was taking so I would not die so soon. All my blood work is amazing cholesterol has dropped this week to 123 total and blood pressure is normal. I am sleeping better and not waking 4-5 times a night just to pee. It may be worth talking to a therapist if you have access to one just to calm your nerves a little.

[DesertGal]

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago this Friday. I had no pain really. Tender, but I tried to sleep on my sides immediately, but I was dry heaving so bad that I didn't sleep much. I went home the following day and slept on my side. The incisions burned but nothing bad. I never had gas pains or the pain in my shoulder I read about on here. My fears going in to surgery were more along the lines of "please let me wake up from anesthesia when it's over!" My only problems now is eating. I can't consume much. I have 2 tbs of soup and I'm done. Then I feel hungry 2 hours later and eat another 2 tbs of Sf jello, and that's it. I've been drinking 2 Premier Protein shakes (choc) a day for protein. Last night we had a birthday party here.... Pizza, buffalo chicken, Salad cake and cupcakes, and ice cream and it didn't do anything for me looking at it (I ate my one half a scrambled egg). I normally would have mowed through 3 slices and a piece of chicken, cake and ice cream. I wonder/worry, how I'll ever get enough calories into me again. I know it's too soon but HOW do you get 1200 calories into your body without barfing up a tire!
Oh, and I've been walking outdoors 2 miles a day since a bout a week or so after surgery.

[Shirl]

Take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

If you have done your homework you already know the pros/cons and severe complications are about 1%, for me the risks of surgery were much lower than if I had stayed in the same path.

If you haven't already, watch Dr. Matthew Weiner YouTube channel for what to expect before/after surgery. I really learned a lot from listening/watching him.

This surgery has been the best decision I have ever made, I had zero complications and just slightly discomfort in the beginning. I have loved every moment and I am thrilled with my personal results thus far!!! It is by no means an easy way out, it is also NOT a ✨*Magic Wand*✨ that will make your weight magically disappear. It takes mindful every day work to stay present and use our permanent tool to be better and healthier versions of our current selves.

Sending you the best of wishes!

[bigdogluver]

My surgery was about 3 weeks ago and I had some slight complications but it had nothing to do with the procedure, it was just me. Anyway, I woke up thirsty and uncomfortable - sore, feeling rough, but not real, hard-core pain. I was told to walk, walk, walk before I went into the hospital and that is what I did because it helped with the gas pain. They pump you full of gas so that they can do the operation. So, it's this gas that you are trying to get rid of. Also, when I sipped - and I could only do tiny sips - I got gas and felt a slight burning/discomfort feeling in my new stomach and so I walked, walked, walked. They want you to drink fluids and won't let you go until you are drinking a certain amount of fluids, or at least it was that way at my hospital.

After 3 days, the sipping got better but my advice is don't drink from a water bottle because it gave me gas! Drink from a cup/glass. As time has gone on, I can now take bigger sips but gulps are way down the road from now. I guess drinking fluids was my biggest obstacle and my biggest goal. I make the daily fluid goals now, but I work at it, just as I did in the hospital.

After the 1st week you will feel much better but will still be weak (at least I did) but you will see weight coming off quickly, and you'll be very happy that you did the operation. Word of warning, some people gain fluid weight while in the hospital, don't freak if this happens, it's no biggie and it will rapidly come off.

Good luck and I hope you have an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery.

[DesertGal]

My surgery was about 3 weeks ago and I had some slight complications but it had nothing to do with the procedure, it was just me. Anyway, I woke up thirsty and uncomfortable - sore, feeling rough, but not real, hard-core pain. I was told to walk, walk, walk before I went into the hospital and that is what I did because it helped with the gas pain. They pump you full of gas so that they can do the operation. So, it's this gas that you are trying to get rid of. Also, when I sipped - and I could only do tiny sips - I got gas and felt a slight burning/discomfort feeling in my new stomach and so I walked, walked, walked. They want you to drink fluids and won't let you go until you are drinking a certain amount of fluids, or at least it was that way at my hospital.

After 3 days, the sipping got better but my advice is don't drink from a water bottle because it gave me gas! Drink from a cup/glass. As time has gone on, I can now take bigger sips but gulps are way down the road from now. I guess drinking fluids was my biggest obstacle and my biggest goal. I make the daily fluid goals now, but I work at it, just as I did in the hospital.

After the 1st week you will feel much better but will still be weak (at least I did) but you will see weight coming off quickly, and you'll be very happy that you did the operation. Word of warning, some people gain fluid weight while in the hospital, don't freak if this happens, it's no biggie and it will rapidly come off.

Good luck and I hope you have an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery.

Laura, I wish I could get my water in me! I loved it before, now, not so much. I can't get it in me (16 oz is a stretch.) Maybe it's the sipping.... I'm not sure. I wake up at 2am and reach for my cup and it tastes like I'm drinking out of the garden hose. (Nothing tastes the same to me). I have got to drink more WATER! I'm happy you can.

[bigdogluver]

Laura, I wish I could get my water in me! I loved it before, now, not so much. I can't get it in me (16 oz is a stretch.) Maybe it's the sipping.... I'm not sure. I wake up at 2am and reach for my cup and it tastes like I'm drinking out of the garden hose. (Nothing tastes the same to me). I have got to drink more WATER! I'm happy you can.

Lori, I really have to work at it. I use Crystal Lite raspberry ice flavor (it's hard to find) or the pomegranate and cherry blend (the pomegranate may not be blended with cherry, but with another fruit, I can't remember) and the flavors really help. I pour out about 2 oz into a cup at a time, from a 16 oz water bottle where I mixed in the flavor, and sip, sip, sip until it's gone. I try to drink 16 oz every 2 - 3 hours. It is a constant thing and again, it's work. I found that if I'm not dehydrated, I feel better, have more energy, and emotionally feel like I've accomplished something. I guess that last part sounds silly. LOL. My dehydration fear is real, I could end up in the hospital and I don't want that to happen. It happened to me once, never again.

I've been trying to concentrate on accomplishing 3 goals a day: drink 64 oz. of (all fluids are counted), consume 70 - 80 grams of protein a day, walk at least 1 mile a day. If I drink/consume more, then it's better, but not over do it. Between sips water or bites of protein, I wait for the full feeling to subside. I don't stop until I've consume whatever it is I'm trying to get down. Sometimes it takes longer than other times. I keep going but I don't push it to where I'm uncomfortable.

My doctor said that in the months 1 - 3, I should be building from 600 to 800 calories a day. So, in mid-June I should be consuming 800 calories a day. Eating this much a day and spreading it out so that I eat every 4 hours will keep my metabolism up and then I won't have issues down the road. Plus, I'm a diabetic and I have to be concerned with my sugar levels. I'm consuming about 625 -715 calories a day right now and I work at it. I've started to lose weight again (knock wood it keeps going). I'm also walking about 2 miles a day. I started losing the weight again when I started to consume real (soft, pureed) food. Someone mentioned that in one of these posts, that after their stall, they went into one of the food stages and the weight started to come off again.

I don't have any answers, but I do know that I don't want to be dehydrated, and I don't want a slow metabolism in which I can only eat 1000 calories or I'll start gaining weight. I'm pushing myself but within reason. Others may say I'm doing things wrong, but my doctor approves and I'm following his orders, so...

Dear friend, it is hard, I know and understand your suffering. You have to do what is right for you. Follow your instincts. At times I've drank too much at one time or didn't chew enough or ate too big a bite and all have caused me discomfort. But, it's a learning experience and I'm trying my best, it's all I can do.

I'm not telling you what to do, not at all! I'm just sharing with you where I am and what's working and what's not working. Ever day is a struggle and I'm scared, but it's still a hell of a lot better than where I was 3 months or 3 years ago. Thank goodness for this new tool and I just hope I don't f--- it up and revert back to bad behavior/habits.

All my very best to you and everyone that is anticipating surgery, recovering from surgery or living as a sleever.

PS: I'm tracking everything I eat and drink and when I walk so that I know I'm reaching my goals. It really helps me to reach my daily goals.

[DesertGal]

Lori, I really have to work at it. I use Crystal Lite raspberry ice flavor (it's hard to find) or the pomegranate and cherry blend (the pomegranate may not be blended with cherry, but with another fruit, I can't remember) and the flavors really help. I pour out about 2 oz into a cup at a time, from a 16 oz water bottle where I mixed in the flavor, and sip, sip, sip until it's gone. I try to drink 16 oz every 2 - 3 hours. It is a constant thing and again, it's work. I found that if I'm not dehydrated, I feel better, have more energy, and emotionally feel like I've accomplished something. I guess that last part sounds silly. LOL. My dehydration fear is real, I could end up in the hospital and I don't want that to happen. It happened to me once, never again.

I've been trying to concentrate on accomplishing 3 goals a day: drink 64 oz. of (all fluids are counted), consume 70 - 80 grams of protein a day, walk at least 1 mile a day. If I drink/consume more, then it's better, but not over do it. Between sips water or bites of protein, I wait for the full feeling to subside. I don't stop until I've consume whatever it is I'm trying to get down. Sometimes it takes longer than other times. I keep going but I don't push it to where I'm uncomfortable.

My doctor said that in the months 1 - 3, I should be building from 600 to 800 calories a day. So, in mid-June I should be consuming 800 calories a day. Eating this much a day and spreading it out so that I eat every 4 hours will keep my metabolism up and then I won't have issues down the road. Plus, I'm a diabetic and I have to be concerned with my sugar levels. I'm consuming about 625 -715 calories a day right now and I work at it. I've started to lose weight again (knock wood it keeps going). I'm also walking about 2 miles a day. I started losing the weight again when I started to consume real (soft, pureed) food. Someone mentioned that in one of these posts, that after their stall, they went into one of the food stages and the weight started to come off again.

I don't have any answers, but I do know that I don't want to be dehydrated, and I don't want a slow metabolism in which I can only eat 1000 calories or I'll start gaining weight. I'm pushing myself but within reason. Others may say I'm doing things wrong, but my doctor approves and I'm following his orders, so...

Dear friend, it is hard, I know and understand your suffering. You have to do what is right for you. Follow your instincts. At times I've drank too much at one time or didn't chew enough or ate too big a bite and all have caused me discomfort. But, it's a learning experience and I'm trying my best, it's all I can do.

I'm not telling you what to do, not at all! I'm just sharing with you where I am and what's working and what's not working. Ever day is a struggle and I'm scared, but it's still a hell of a lot better than where I was 3 months or 3 years ago. Thank goodness for this new tool and I just hope I don't f--- it up and revert back to bad behavior/habits.

All my very best to you and everyone that is anticipating surgery, recovering from surgery or living as a sleever.

PS: I'm tracking everything I eat and drink and when I walk so that I know I'm reaching my goals. It really helps me to reach my daily goals.

Good tips and happy you're doing so well. I track everything - water, food and exercise- on myfitnesspal.com If it weren't for the protein shakes, I'd be up a creek calorie wise.

I drank 16 oz of water (and 22 oz. of protein shakes) which is only 38 oz of liquid, I need to increase the water .

[Christie13]

We all get scared before surgery. It is completely normal. I can tell you that when I first came out of anesthesia I was feeling sick (dry heaving) but I expected that as I always have issues coming out of anesthesia. As for pain, I was fine in the hospital and sent home with liquid anti nausea and pain meds. I can tell you I took each about 3 or 4 times post op. I was well enough to go back to work exactly 1 week post op. Granted I have a desk job. I have not really had any complications. Nothing major, just minor ones. I am doing great with weight loss. I look great. I feel healthy. I am loving life. Best decision ever. Just reach out whenever you have any questions.

[azladyrider]

I'm nearly 5 years out. Like others said it's all different - I was up walking as soon as I woke up with very little pain. I went to my private hotel the next morning and even in the condo recovery hotel I was sitting up working on my laptop on my business. I went shopping for a few hours when I got settled into the hotel. I was exhausted for probably 6 months - combination of the surgery and losing the weight

I didnt really think anything of it, like ive been super excited but now that my surgery is just around the corner im starting to freak out. I was diagnosed with anxiety, manic depression, and really bad panic attacks and i dont take medicine for them because it makes me feel like a zombie. So lately, ive kinda just been freaking myself out and panicking. Can somebody please talk to me who is now post op. I just wanna know how youre feeling. And if you were in pain when you woke up. I just need to talk to somebody who has had this done and if anybody would be willing tbatd be great. Thank you.