Jeslyn0683
Member
Hi everyone, my name is Jessica and I'm new on here. I am scheduled to have the bariatric sleeve surgery next week and I'm a little nervous. Can anyone give me any advice? Did you have any complications or side effects?
Bariatric sleeve surgery
- Thread starter Jeslyn0683
- Start date
missyinacage
Member
Hello Jessica and welcome to the group. I had the bypass and my husband had the sleeve. The lead up can be nerve wracking but it is well worth it. I almost left the hospital waiting for surgery, I was so nervous lol Stay strong!! It is so worth it.
I had no complications. My husband had a litt!e more pain than I did, but nothing that drugs can't control. We are both doing great and loving life. You can do this.
I had no complications. My husband had a litt!e more pain than I did, but nothing that drugs can't control. We are both doing great and loving life. You can do this.
eladams2015
Member
I have had both, lol. I had GERD issues that could not be solved 'normally' due to the anatomy change from the sleeve, and so the only option was to convert to bypass. I wish I had done bypass from the start, but I know SO many people that have had sleeve with no issues and are doing awesome!
Jeslyn0683
Member
Thank you everyone for your responses. Much appreciated!
KeriK
Member
I had the sleeve surgery almost 3 months ago. Being scared/nervous is natural and I was no exception, but the staff at the hospital were great.
I checked in, was taken to a private room where I undressed and had to wipe my body down with antiseptic wipes (yes, I also did the antibacterial shower at home beforehand), then put the hospital gown & socks on (my ridiculously sensitive skin reacted to the wipes under my arms with burning and a red rash, but they gave me an antihistamine and that helped a lot). They asked questions, the surgeon came in to check on me, then they got the IV going and wheeled me to the surgery room where they had me scootch on to the operating table. They put the 'sleepy' mask on me and the next thing I knew the surgery was done.
After the surgery I was pretty out of it, as expected. They had put a binder around my belly and that helped with the pain (I didn't realize how much until I took it off a few days later...then put it back on, lol). The general pain wasn't too bad, but I would say something if it hurt and they gave me meds. The only thing I really wanted was ice chips, as my mouth was Super dry. They had me walk the hallways that day and the next, a few specialists and the surgeon visited, then they let me go home.
I was sent home with a variety of meds for pain, constipation, nausea, etc and a stack of 1 ounce cups to very slowly, but consistently, sip water from.
Hydrations is Super important and apparently one of the most common things that bring a person back to the hospital...dehydration can be dangerous. I was kind of paranoid about this, so both 3 days before and 3 days after the surgery I went to one of those hydration IV spas (B12 Love) and got the pre and post op hydration IV's. Pumped me full of fluids. I also had a timer that I ordered off of Amazon to remind me to sip water every 5-7 minutes. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
There is a lot of contradictory information on-line and I found it confusing. Listen to your body and if you have questions call your surgeon, nutritionist or ask here. The unknown can be scary and I questioned everything at first, lol. As time passed I got more comfortable in listening to my body and trusting what it said.
You're gonna do Great...I'm very excited for you!!
I checked in, was taken to a private room where I undressed and had to wipe my body down with antiseptic wipes (yes, I also did the antibacterial shower at home beforehand), then put the hospital gown & socks on (my ridiculously sensitive skin reacted to the wipes under my arms with burning and a red rash, but they gave me an antihistamine and that helped a lot). They asked questions, the surgeon came in to check on me, then they got the IV going and wheeled me to the surgery room where they had me scootch on to the operating table. They put the 'sleepy' mask on me and the next thing I knew the surgery was done.
After the surgery I was pretty out of it, as expected. They had put a binder around my belly and that helped with the pain (I didn't realize how much until I took it off a few days later...then put it back on, lol). The general pain wasn't too bad, but I would say something if it hurt and they gave me meds. The only thing I really wanted was ice chips, as my mouth was Super dry. They had me walk the hallways that day and the next, a few specialists and the surgeon visited, then they let me go home.
I was sent home with a variety of meds for pain, constipation, nausea, etc and a stack of 1 ounce cups to very slowly, but consistently, sip water from.
Hydrations is Super important and apparently one of the most common things that bring a person back to the hospital...dehydration can be dangerous. I was kind of paranoid about this, so both 3 days before and 3 days after the surgery I went to one of those hydration IV spas (B12 Love) and got the pre and post op hydration IV's. Pumped me full of fluids. I also had a timer that I ordered off of Amazon to remind me to sip water every 5-7 minutes. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
There is a lot of contradictory information on-line and I found it confusing. Listen to your body and if you have questions call your surgeon, nutritionist or ask here.
The unknown can be scary and I questioned everything at first, lol. As time passed I got more comfortable in listening to my body and trusting what it said.You're gonna do Great...I'm very excited for you!!
missyinacage
Member
Keri, that was super informative! I think sometimes those of us way post op forget that ALL the info is needed, so thanks for sharing! I am glad to hear you are doing well.
Good morning Jessica, congratulations! I’m having my surgery today! I’m Excited and nervous at the same time, I can text you on other day and let you know how my experience is going! Have a good day.
Hi everyone! Today is my 5 day after surgery and I’m doing ok, the first day after I had surgery I had a hard time drinking water! All I keep thinking was I have stay dehydrated all I can take was zips of water I didn’t really have any pain the only thing that I hated was the way I was feeling after surgery because I was in drugs. And still I have no pain at times I feel a little discomfort on my right side but I spect that because the The surgeon said that they were gonna make that incision a little bit bigger on that side to take the rest of that stomach out but other than that I’m okay.
Suthy
Member
I really like the idea of the small 1 oz cups for sipping water. Being a nurse, I’m such a guzzler of fluids because I’m not sure when I will get another chance to drink during my shift, so it’s a bad habit of mine I’ve been working on. Thankfully I will be able to take 6 weeks off of work after surgery to assure I heal properly and stay hydrated.I had the sleeve surgery almost 3 months ago. Being scared/nervous is natural and I was no exception, but the staff at the hospital were great.
I checked in, was taken to a private room where I undressed and had to wipe my body down with antiseptic wipes (yes, I also did the antibacterial shower at home beforehand), then put the hospital gown & socks on (my ridiculously sensitive skin reacted to the wipes under my arms with burning and a red rash, but they gave me an antihistamine and that helped a lot). They asked questions, the surgeon came in to check on me, then they got the IV going and wheeled me to the surgery room where they had me scootch on to the operating table. They put the 'sleepy' mask on me and the next thing I knew the surgery was done.
After the surgery I was pretty out of it, as expected. They had put a binder around my belly and that helped with the pain (I didn't realize how much until I took it off a few days later...then put it back on, lol). The general pain wasn't too bad, but I would say something if it hurt and they gave me meds. The only thing I really wanted was ice chips, as my mouth was Super dry. They had me walk the hallways that day and the next, a few specialists and the surgeon visited, then they let me go home.
I was sent home with a variety of meds for pain, constipation, nausea, etc and a stack of 1 ounce cups to very slowly, but consistently, sip water from.
Hydrations is Super important and apparently one of the most common things that bring a person back to the hospital...dehydration can be dangerous. I was kind of paranoid about this, so both 3 days before and 3 days after the surgery I went to one of those hydration IV spas (B12 Love) and got the pre and post op hydration IV's. Pumped me full of fluids. I also had a timer that I ordered off of Amazon to remind me to sip water every 5-7 minutes. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
There is a lot of contradictory information on-line and I found it confusing. Listen to your body and if you have questions call your surgeon, nutritionist or ask here.
You're gonna do Great...I'm very excited for you!!
dianeseattle
Member
One goal I had was to be able to hike, which I have always loathed but wanted to love. So a lot of my post-op purchases were camping stuff. I live in Seattle, home of REI. In fact, I was one of the early adopters of this when I was still a tiny coop. I remember gathering with a small group of people who committed to buying in bulk from the baby company so it would succeed. Little did we know it would become a monster.
In fact, REI is one of our best friends, for people who want to be healthy. You wouldn't believe the products it carries if you've never been there.
My best purchase was a plastic bladder with a feeding tube ending in a bite valve. You can buy a mesh bag it fits into, sling it over your shoulder, put that bite valve into your mouth and just bite every few minutes to keep hydrated all day long. and if it gets kind of nasty after a while, a simple bleach/water solution bleaches all the nasties away and goes right back to fresh. So many water supplies are chlorinated anyway that you don't notice the difference.
Congratulations on your decision to get healthier. You can do it for life. I'm in my 70s and have not one day of regret after 40-odd years.
Eileen Freund
Member
I am new also and I will be getting the gastric sle be in Dec. what I started doing is taking protein drinks, drinking more water and I will be giving up coffee soon. I hopefully this will help when it time to start my liquid diet. Has anyone else done that?
Hello congratulations, I had Sleeve surgery on August 25. Right know I’m doing only liquids, well the nutrition told me not to drink shakes before my surgery she wanted me to eat alot of protein and drink alot of water at list 32oz a day and that’s why I did.
dianeseattle
Member
I had the big surgery many years ago--7 inch vertical scar from navel to sternum. I would never give up coffee, even if the doctor said I'd die if I didn't.
I get the impression the sleeve is much less pain and trouble healing. Best of luck to you.
Eileen Freund
Member
Thank you.
GardenB
Member
I gave up caffeinated coffee a couple of years ago and don’t miss it at all. Once you get through the first few weeks it’s smooth sailing. I recommend incrementally substituting caf with decaf when you make it.