50 Yrs Old, Preparing for the Sleeve - Spokane, WA

7 Days after Surgery

I was talking to a few people who wanted to know what has been going on with me since emailing out my 'Surgery experience'.
The first day home, I was taking it pretty easy, lots of sitting, sleeping and walking laps around the house to avoid blood clots. I was also sipping my water and broth constantly. Hydration is a must. The second day was pretty much the same.

On the 3rd day, I was suppose to get in 60 to 90 grams of Protein for the next 7 days. Easy peasy, since I had prepared for this prior to surgery. I sampled protein drinks and purchased 3 different flavors that I liked; Vanilla 30g, Chocolate 30g and a delicious Peanutbutter Cookie 20g.

Well, that didn't go over so well. I chose to drink the vanilla first, whipped myself up a nice smoothie and sat down to sip the little cup of goodness. YUCK, the first taste made me want to vomit. It was soooo sweet, and sent my stomach into flip flop mode. (I was like ohhh [RS bleep], now what???)

I told Dick that I can't drink it. It was way too sweet. He tasted it and said it was not that sweet. To me, it was like drinking syrup! I could not bring myself to drink it!

Back to the chicken and beef broth I went. I got online and ordered some PLAIN protein 26g and resigned myself to the 2 day post op fluid diet,'again' until the protein arrived. The broth only has 1 to 2g of protein per 8oz cup. (A far cry from the 60 to 90 quota I was suppose to meet)

Dick went to town and bought some Greek yogurt that had 12g protein per cup. I was able to eat 1 of those per day, a little sweet, but bearable.

Hey, the protein count is not so bad, I am almost up to 20 grams per day! (I remember reading about a Swedish guy who survived 2 months without food while trapped under a snow drift in his car and ate only snow to survive) Yep, I would be just fine! :-)

Ok, so I decided that it wasn't so bad to not meet the nutritional needs in the first couple of days that I had to wait for the Plain Protein to come in. I have had the Flu and ate less. (well, not less, but pretty close-ha-ha)
Once the Plain came in, I had to figure out what to mix it with so I could 'stomach it'. That was not so easy. I put it with some beef broth and heated it up, MISTAKE! Don't try to heat up Protein Powder in liquid. It turns lumpy and fibrous. GROSS.

I then tried it with cold broth, alittle better, but it still was not doing it for me. I knew this wasn't going to be a ‘Steak and Lobster’ experience, but also, I didn't want it to be a ‘Dumpster Diving’ experience either.
After trial and error, I finally found a few combinations that worked for me. 5oz of flat orange soda w/1 scoop plain protein. I mixed it in as small as a batch as I could stand, (I didn't want it to last too long) and I was able to sip it down. The second combo was 5oz crystal light with the 1 scoop. I am sipping this one, as I type. :-) It's almost gone, Thank God! (Only 2 more servings to go, through out the day)

I am now meeting the nutritional needs and getting it over with as soon as possible. I only have to do this for 7 days, so 4 really, since my first 3 days of protein were half fasting on broth and a yogurt while waiting for the protein to come in.

Sunday I will start on Puree for 7 days. (Oh, how fun does that sound?) HAH
Actually I am looking forward to puree, I can have mashed potatoes with butter! (and hide the protein in the potatoes) Pureed soups and chili, or whatever I want to blend smooth with the protein. I don't know if I am up to blending steak, but the other stuff will be fine.

After the puree stage, I am able to eat solid foods. I have to make healthy choices, but since I will be easily satisfied, and as long as I eat my steak, chicken, pork, fish, veggies, etc.. first, I will be OK. Because I will be too full to want seconds and thirds. (which is what put the weight on me in the first place, PORTION SIZE) NICE!

**I only stayed on the pain pills for about 4 days. The pain is gone, and I feel the same inside, my stomach doesn't feel any different than before surgery, there was never any 'stomach' pain, it was the laparoscopic cuts that pulled and caused a sharp pain if I moved wrong.

I am very happy with the choice I made, I will be healthier and lead a normal life, other than not being able to over eat. I like that part. I was a HUGE overeater!

Hi Everyone, I had the Vertical Sleeve procedure on April 02, 2015. The night before surgery I had to apply a nausea patch behind my ear at bedtime. The morning of surgery, I had to take a nausea pill 3 hours before surgery (9:15am). My surgery was scheduled for 12:15pm. The morning of, I arrived at the clinic 1 hour prior to surgery, as I had to fill out a bunch of consent forms. I was then taken to a room, to wait for surgery. It had a tall sturdy recliner for me to sit in. No bed, just the recliner. The nurse then gave me a hospital gown to put on and asked if I'd like to try and use the bathroom. After getting into the gown, she (the nurse) put an IV in my arm and informed me of the procedure again, to make sure I knew exactly what was going to happen in surgery. I then met the anesthesiologist. He came in to get my weight and some measurements, so he would know how much of the General Anesthesia to give me. I was then walked down to the surgery room and asked to get up on the table. I got to keep my gown on. (It was very cold in there) I got up on the surgery table and they immediately covered me up with warm white blankets. I was asked a few questions, like, what I did for work, how did I like my job, etc...to make me feel at ease, I suppose. Then the Anesthesiologist asked me to count down from 10, I said Ok, and that's all I remember. I don't even think I was able to say 10, before I was out. I woke up in recovery, it didn't even seem like they had started yet, because as soon as I was out, it seemed I was awake again. When the nurse saw that I was waking up, she came over and said I had to get up and walk with her back to my room. I didn't think I could do it, out of fear of white blinding pain, but I did walk, and there was no white blinding pain, but I was extremely sore and could feel it with each step back to my room.
Once I made it into the room, I was placed in the recliner with more warm blankets, (there was no bed, just that tall recliner) The recliner had a good range, from sitting up to laying flat out, my choice. I chose slightly reclined, flat out was not very comfortable, it felt like my insides were being pulled.
I was then given a pain pill and immediately fell asleep. I remember my husband coming to see me, but I couldn't keep my eyes open to even say HI. I do remember saying, sorry, I can't keep my eyes open!
I woke up again around 7pm. There was a 12oz bottle of water and a 12oz bottle of Raspberry Ice, Crystal light on the stand beside the recliner. All my liquids were room temperature. I was to sip at my leisure. Whatever I could get in, without having discomfort. After a few sips, the nurse had me get up and walk 2 laps up and down the hall. It was a very short hall. I did this every couple of hours, and added more laps, my choice, as it felt good to walk around instead of just laying in the recliner. (Which was comfortable too, but walking was better) When I was in the recliner, I was given liquids via I.V. So that I wouldn't dehydrate right off the bat. When I came home I was 10 lbs heavier than going in because of all the fluids from the IV. I am still plump with the liquids. I think they gave me a total of 5 bags through out the night.
I was told I could check out between 5:30 and 6:00am. I called my husband who was staying a few blocks away at a motel, and said I was ready to go. It was a 4 hour drive home and we were home by 9:30am. So nice.
I have been religiously taking my pain medication every 4 hours, instead waiting until I am hurting. I want to stay in-front of the pain, not behind it. I have never taken pain pills before, have never had any sort of surgery, but the pills are fine, they don't make me act weird, or feel weird, as I was afraid they might. They just keep me comfortable so that I can move around in the day. They also dry my mouth out and make me extremely tired for about an hour. I haven't had real food since my last meal Wednesday night before surgery, and as of right now, I am not even hungry. I am doing water, broth, sugar free popsicles and jello. Tomorrow I will start my protein shakes and yogurt, puddings, etc... Each time I drink something, my stomach gurgles and sometimes does this slight spasm thing, I am assuming that it's kind of in shock and waking up to do it's job of digesting the liquids.
***Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, when my stomach does that little spasm thing, it almost feels like deep hunger pains, but after sipping down some water, they go away. If I could eat right now, I don't think there is anything I am hunger for.
I do have pains now that I am more mobile, they are fast and sharp, and over as soon as I feel them. It happens when trying to stand by myself, or sit even. The sharp pains are always on the right side of my belly button. I am sure that is where they pulled the stomach out. I took a photo of my stomach when I got home. Its still really swollen, but I am happy with how tiny the entry wounds are. maybe 1/2 inch at the most.

Ok, I finally have a tentative surgery date. If all goes well, meaning, my 2 week pre-op diet and then liquid, it's a date!
I am feeling, I assume, the same way everyone else that has made this choice, was/is feeling Pre-Op; Nervous, Scared, Excited (Excited knowing that the tool to help get the weight off is finally here), All these emotions coursing through at once. . . Is it an Ekkkk or an Ahhhh. 8-/

I started this journey 6 wks ago.
Here are the requirments I had to meet, before getting a surgery date:

1. Consult with Surgeon - DONE
2. Psych Assessment - DONE
3. Nutrition assessment - DONE
4. Fitness assessment - DONE
5. Lab work- (requisition attached- 12hrs fasting/ 24hrs no alcohol) - DONE
6. EKG - DONE
7. Pulmonary clearance for CPAP - In the process

I went through a sleep study last week, and yes, apparently I do have sleep Apnea. I received my CPAP machine on Monday, and have been using it faithfully every night, (2 nights so far) all night, not just 3 to 4 hours. It's mandatory that I use it for 2 weeks prior to surgery, during surgery and for 2 weeks after surgery, so I am right on track.
I started counting my carbs yesterday, making sure I am under the 40 per day, and will start the low Calorie count as well. I officially start counting next Tuesday.
Is there anyone else out there who has a tentative date close to mine? We can compare low calorie menu's and help each other stay the course, as we move closer to our surgery dates.