Sleeved!

May 22, 2015

My VSG was performed on 5/19 at about 8 a.m. Doctor told my husband "no surprises" and everything went well. I didn't have any extra pieces of me removed (my consent forms included permission to remove gallbladder or spleen if necessary, to biopsy the liver if necessary, etc), which was a huge relief. I'm guessing I didn't even have an hernias to repair (he didn't say so), which is surprising.

Recovery was pretty smooth, a little nausea the first few hours out of the actual recovery area, but that's all. I was up and walking that evening, and on purees and out of the hospital by 5pm the next day (most of the wait was for the surgeon to visit! The residents saw me in the afternoon and said I'd almost certainly be fine to go home). 

Evening at home was TOUGH, without any more hospital-strength pain meds. But Day 1 home wasn't too bad. Day 2 has been even better, and I think I'm going to meet my protein goal today! Amazing. 

 

Things I've noticed so far: 

Every time I swallow food or drink, I have to pause to let air back up. It's like there's air trapped in my sleeve at all times and when I eat/drink, that takes the place of the air and pushes it back up. Whatever, it slows me down and it's not too painful. 

Crushed pills are the worst. I'm putting them in my liquid Norco right now, and that actually helps a lot. Going to be a rough couple of days between the end of pain meds and the end of crushed pills, though.

I get hungry. But it's quelled by just a tiny bite or two, no problem. I actually think this is good for me, as I am likely to be a person who forgets to eat if I'm not hungry.

Yogurt is my go-to right now. I tried scrambled eggs (they count as puree on my doc's plan), but they were just too dense and I couldn't get in more than a bite. I can eat 2-3 oz of yogurt in one long sitting, and if I add protein powder to it, that makes for a really good meal. 

Liquids are a lot easier today. I got in maybe 24 oz yesterday, only 8 of them from water, the rest from a protein drink and diet snapple and sugar free popsicle. I was trying everything! But today I'm getting my entire protein drink down without much trouble (11 oz plus melted ice, so probably 15-18 oz?) and sipping my water, too. 

Thirst is a problem. I was a BIG water drinker, and I would get thirsty and really enjoy chugging down a glass of water. I am still getting thirsty, and I miss that. I also have trouble with no eating/drinking together. I decided to let that slide while I'm on purees because a: they're slidey anyway and b: water needs are so important and hard to meet right now. I can only do so much at one time, you know? So I'm focusing on protein & liquid intake and will deal with the rest of the rules as I can. 

I haven't started weighing my food yet - I need to do that so I can keep better track! I estimate I got less than 200 calories Tuesday and Wednesday, but will be closer to 350-400 today. 

Everyone says not to weigh immediately after surgery because of all of the fluid they pump into you. I won't record an official change until Tuesday (1 week from surgery) but so far, I'm down 4 pounds from SW, and 19 from the start of my pre-op diet. I'm happy!

 

Other reflections: 

Prior to surgery, I had pretty good food habits. I ate too much, yes, and sometimes out of boredom, though I tried to be mindful of that. But I mostly ate healthy, and mostly didn't use food as a coping mechanism. It's just that being overweight your entire life is hard to come back from, no matter how healthy your habits become, without obsessing and restricting (I've done much of both) and even then, you bounce down and back up again. What I am really hoping for this surgery is that it is a tool to give me the right place to start from. If I can get my body down to a healthy weight, I really believe I already have many of the habits that will keep me there. My sleeve will help me keep my portions under control without feeling deprived, and once I lose some of this weight, I can develop exercise routines I enjoy instead of suffer through, which will make me more likely to maintain them.

I can do this. 

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