Post Op Day 5 - Feeling GREAT!!

[MsLisa71]

I am beyond excited! I have had an incredible week since VSG on Monday, May 7. I was out of it most of Monday due to anesthesia/meds but by Tuesday noon I had taken in the required 50 oz of water to be eligible for discharge. I did have one episode on Monday where I "drank" my pain meds too fast and they came right back up, that was my learning lesson to truly sip SLOW!
I've met my fluid goals everyday and exceeded most days. My go to's have been: Vitamin Water Zero, Propel Zero, broth, & herbal tea. I had a popsicle once, but actually prefer room temp or hot drinks. The tea that SAVED me this week was Smooth Move. That constipation was for real - the most painful part of all of this! A couple cups of it and adding a teaspoon of fiber to my broth moved things along (pun intended.)
I have been walking outside and the weather here in the Great PNW is finally agreeing with some gorgeous sunshine to bask in! I stopped all my pain meds yesterday and feel really good.
I know next week adding protein drinks may be challenging as it will double my liquid intake, but I'm ready for it and feeling great about this process so far.
I feel it's important to post this as I have read some true horror stories in the 18-months I have been preparing and it quite honestly almost scared me out of surgery. But there is such a thing as doing well. I have even gotten a little creative by adding a drop of soy and a shake of garlic powder to spice up the broth. I love to cook, so this is the closest I can get with clear liquids!

I know the road ahead is long, but I have my feet planted firmly beneath me and am ready to tackle any obstacle that shows up. I have great support from family and friends and that truly helps.

Thank you to those of you who have shown support and thank you too to those who have been real about how they have struggled. We each have our journey and can learn from one another. I hope that someone who needs a little encouragement reads this and realizes it will all be okay.

[erc70]

Thank you so much for writing this. I have been getting nervous as my surgery will be in a few weeks. This really helps. Congratulations on your success.

[MsLisa71]

Thank you so much for writing this. I have been getting nervous as my surgery will be in a few weeks. This really helps. Congratulations on your success.

Thanks and all the best to you. I know nerves are normal, but be a little excited too about what is to come - a whole new you!
Blessings,
Lisa

[elllie]

well done, you are doing fantastically...I am almost 5 weeks post op and i don't think I meet my targets for proteins or fluids. keep going!

[Stacey03]

Many congrats Lisa, super happy for you :-)

[Sealover]

Hey there! You are doing really well! I have had an extremely positive and successful journey so far myself and I think it is so important to talk about the good things as well as the bad. I have had and still have bowel issues too. Love the Smooth Move Tea! I realized, how can I expect my bowels to be working the same as before when the process leading up to has changed so very much. I am hoping it will be better when I add more fibrous foods to my diet in the regular food stage. Thank you for posting such a positive post!

[Bothsidesnow2017]

Hi MsLisa71!

I'm coming up on my 1st surgiversary and read your post and brought back some memories!!! (Constipation was the worst!!!). But added benefiber to my propel water and problem solved. I too like hot things the first week or so (cheezy eggs are still my staple!). I really liked the Premier Protein Shakes too and soon (1month post surgery) sugar free fiber gummies took the place of the benefiber powder. The gummies satisfied the need to chew.

You have made THE BEST decision... and I recommend finding Ann1's surgiversary post... I followed her recommendations (I made a word doc of it and kept it on my desktop 😝

Congrats to you on your new beginning!

[Christie13]

Congrats on your sleeve Lisa. It sounds like you are doing well. That is really awesome. Hope you continue to have a smooth recovery. It will keep getting a bit easier each day. And I hear you on the constipation. I had issues with it for 10 months post op. I still occasionally deal with it.

[KiwiGal]

You are doing great! So glad to hear that all is going so well for you.

[TheSassWay]

Yay!! Glad to hear that you’re doing great. Keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing part of your journey with us. That constipation isn’t a joke. I had never experience constipation until after the surgery, didn’t have a BM for a month. But I’m have to try Smooth Move!! Keep up the great work!! We all are rooting for you!

[Devin]

Glad to hear you’re doing so well! I had my surgery a week before yours and let me tell you it just gets better from here on out. Congratulations and best of luck to you! You can do it.