cici123
20 days after VSG procedure
Jul 11, 2016
Good morning everyone! I had my VSG 20 days ago. I feel good! I feel proud of myself for having made the decision to do this and for having done the first part. My recovery has gone pretty well. The day of surgery was not great and a few days following felt, well the way a person would feel after surgery. I was anticipating more pain, more difficulty than I have had. I have been tired. I recently started having really unpleasant heart burn and have to remember to take something each day as a preventative measure. I am not really hungry. I have lost 26 pounds since my pre op weight. I am not sure exactly because I had not looked at my weight after hitting 246. I just knew I had to do something at that point. I may have gone higher, but I will just call 246 my high weight. As of this morning, I weighed myself at 219. I wasn't wearing glasses, so I am calling it 220 to be on the safe side. I have lost 26 pounds!!! That is major. I feel lighter. My feet don't feel sore, my hips and back don't hurt! My clothes that did not fit, now fit. I have to admit that I worry at times because I read the numbers that other people post and it seems like everyone else is losing at a more rapid rate than I have since surgery. I know, I know...don't compare. I know, I know...26 pounds in just about 6 weeks is awesome. I should be feeling good as long as the scale is moving in the right direction..I keep telling myself.
I have been doing more things. I avoided physical tasks for a couple of weeks because every time I tried to do things, housework, yardwork, etc, I ended up having a throbbing, stabbing, burning pain in my abdomen. This was hard, because I really felt so good when I was resting and taking it easy, so I would decide, I am fine, I can do xyz task...then I would learn my limits. I can now do more and I am glad! No pain, but I feel kind of worn out after doing one thing. I still feel really good about my recovery. I have to remind myself that I just had this surgery 20 days ago, whenever I get down on myself for feeling physically worn out. I have to be realistic with my planning.
I have had some recent challenges. I think they are pretty run of the mill. For the first time in my life, I have been constipated. This has never been an issue. I apologize if this is too much information. I went 5 days without going. I did feel uncomfortable after day 3. Pooping is not something I have ever really thought much about, until I was not doing it. I finally had some relief. I am still having issues, but feel reassured that I will eventually go again. When the urge happens I better just drop everyting and run to the bathroom, even if it's inconvenient. My first time I had constipation was when I shopping at a large store with a nasty bathroom. I felt like I could just wait until I got home. Then the urge was just gone and did not return for a long time. I wonder why that is. I know my system was digesting . What are good things to eat and, or take to help to resolve this issue? In the big picture, constipation is not such a big deal though.
I have recently started having very uncomfortable heart burn. Yuck. I have to remember to take something as a preventative measure. Yes, heartburn is not pleasant, but still, not such as big deal.
I am having terrible horrible insomnia. This feels like a bigger deal. I am able to fall asleep, but don't stay asleep. I am getting on average, 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours of sleep per night. This is making me exhausted, impacting my short term memory, concentration and most significantly my mood and generaly sense of sanity.
I am following all the conventional wisdom for good sleep. I had totally quit caffine since before surgery. I have now been having a small cup in the morning because the lack of sleep is impacting my ability to be alert. I am limiting myself to about half of a cup, in the morning only. I have no pain or surgical discomfort, so that is not the root of this problem. I wonder if this is coming about as the result of all of the changes that are likely going on with me due to the change in diet.
I am going to lose my mind if I don't resolve sleep issues.
My doctor has not responded to any of my messages, the office has not responded to any of the messages left by my pharmacy. I don't like adding any over the counter medications without at least running it by the doctor, but I had to. Some generic over the counter sleep aid, did not help at all. Melatonin alone did not help. Tylonel night time formula helped a little. Melatonin plus the tylonel night time formula has helped, though not entirely. I don't want to have to take this for the long term. Does anyone have any suggestions or insights regarding insomnia soon after VSG?
I have been getting exercise through walking. I may start going to a gym soon.
This is my update 20 days out.