Questions

[meadow_65]

Hello, I have my consultation appt in 3 weeks. My brother had the surgery about 9 months ago and is my inspiration and guidance. I have thought about having WLS for years, but never had the nerve to follow through, even when he had his I thought, ooh, I dont think I could do that, but I have seen how he eats now and yes, I can do this. I know the road will be rough at times but I feel that I have reached a point of acceptance because now my questions are about what I can and cannot do, and what recovery is like after surgery rather than "am I doing the right thing" I have made significant life changes this year already and feel like I have become a different person, with all this extra weight and I feel like getting this fat suit off will help me feel like the real me. Which is question #1. I know there is an emotional component to the recovery and I want to be as prepared as possible for that so I can deal with it head on. Will my attitude of wanting to get the fat suit off help with the emotional recovery? Or ill I probably go through all that anyway? Maybe the severity will be less? and Question #2 for today is how do you take medications right after surgery if you are only allowed small sips? I hope that I can get off most of my medications but I realize it may take a little while before I can do that. Thank you all for your replies and for being here.

[Sammih]

I don't have answers to your questions but I'm early in my process too so welcome aboard! I'm excited and nervous about some aspects. I considered this 2 years ago and changed my mind. I'm going forward this time and this group is definitely helpful. It's great that you have your brother there as well, having been through the process. I can't wait to hear know about your journey! Welcome!!!

[RehabNurse]

how do you take medications right after surgery if you are only allowed small sips?

I simply opened my larger capsules, dumped the contents into a spoonful of yogurt, and swallowed. I swallowed the smaller pills whole. Although I invested in a pill crusher, I never had to use it.

For me, the sipping phase only lasted two to three weeks at the most. I am now able to swallow 5 or 6 larger pills at once and can drink larger amounts of fluids without taking sips.

[Gvn71]

Medicine wise, everything was liquid for the 1 - 2 weeks after surgery, and then you can take small pills with no problem. Vitamins are all chewable or dissolvable so they are easy as well. Don't sweat it!

The emotional side is definitely different for everyone. I personally have been having so much fun losing all this weight that I can say the only emotion I have experienced is PURE HAPPINESS! I know I might hit some low points here and there, but for now I am having a ball!

Good luck!

[meadow_65]

Hi Sam, thank you, where are you in the process? Its nice to have a place to come where people relate.

[meadow_65]

Thank you Glen! Congratulations on your progress!

[Sammih]

Hi Sam, thank you, where are you in the process? Its nice to have a place to come where people relate.

I had my intake interview over the phone a few weeks ago. My first appt with the nutritionist and the surgeon are on the 17th and then psychiatrist on the 25th. I had all but one of my tests done, bloodwork, xray, ultrasound. I get EKG on the 11th. All good so far except my good cholesterol is low, but up 1 pt from a year ago. lol. I'm hopeful that my ins will approve it. I'll 292lbs but only high bloo pressure and asthma, aside from pain, and actually some edema recently, maybe from HBP. TMI? lol

[meadow_65]

Sounds like you are moving along nicely through the process. I am close to the max BMI but have several comorbidities. Ill be watching your progress...

[BanillaVean]

Question #2 for today is how do you take medications right after surgery if you are only allowed small sips? I hope that I can get off most of my medications but I realize it may take a little while before I can do that. Thank you all for your replies and for being here.

My surgeon's guidelines does not allow any pills to be swallowed in the first few weeks after surgery. Everything must be crushed with a pill crusher given to me at the hospital. The worse was the Tylenol. I still take Omeprazole so I put that in a little SF pudding.Tomorrow will be 25 days post-surgery and I have a follow-up with my surgeon. Hoping to get clearance to swallow pills.

Best of luck!

[Christie13]

I never felt emotional post op just euphoria over being able to get rid of all my fatness and look fabulous. As for pills, I only had to take my BP med post op and it was small enough to swallow with sipping. As Glenn said all my vitamins were chewable but I did start taking pills about 6 weeks post op with no issues.

[Bufflehead]

With respect to your medications, make sure your discuss with both your bariatric team and a pharmacist. You can't just crush or dissolve any medication on hand -- some of them are meant to be time-released, and crushing/dissolving could either destroy their efficacy or seriously hurt you or worse. A pharmacist will be able to help you sort out which can be crushed, which can be found in a liquid form, substituted for a different med, etc. And you may not even have to worry about it -- my surgeon allows his patients to swallow any medication whole as long as they will pass through a normal sized wedding ring. I was swallowing pills without problems within a couple of hours of waking up after surgery. But overall this is something you should get definitive guidance from your medical professionals on, not internet strangers! Have faith that many before you have had bariatric surgery and we have all worked out a way to get any needed meds, you will too

[Ann2]

BUFFLEHEAD!

Where have you been girl? It's great to see / hear from you. How's it going?

Ann