Re: Sleeved on 6/28/11

July 6, 2011

Oh, yes I can relate to the cold. I said my thermostat was broken! On the flight to New Orleans, I was soooooo cold. I should have brought a fleece throw. I had my surgery on May 25th., so it has been over six weeks and I'm still cooler than before surgery, but with this summer heat, I find that a good thing. It is not so severe that I can't control it by putting on a sweater in the house. When I got home, I began drinking Unjury protein (2 scoops plus a bottle of water). I had to work on that "sipping-thing"!!!! I have always been a fast eater and drinker, which is a no-no! The protein gave me my energy, or so it seemed. The protein is so important and don't forget your vitamins.Hope this is of some help.

PatFrom: "debra.garza@..." <debra.garza@...> Sent: Wed, July 6, 2011 7:03:42 AMSubject: Sleeved on 6/28/11

Hi Everyone,

I've been home a few days now and have a couple questions. I did well with the surgery (or so they kept telling me) but have been FREEZING ever since. In the hospital I slept with at least five blankets. When I am sitting here at home I cover up with two. I'm driving my family out because our outdoor temperatures are about 100 degrees and I can't turn on the AC. That's the first thing. Have any of you experienced this?

The next thing is that I have very little energy. Duh! All I'm really drinking is water. I threw up and threw up in the hospital and it scared me. Then, when I got home I did it again. I'm TERRIFIED to try other things but know I need some energy or I won't be able to heal well. I have tried chicken broth and get down about an ounce or maybe two. I don't know how much energy that gets me. I also tried apple juice but I think I'm ruined forever on apple juice after they put that blue contrast dye in it and it was so bitter. I got some vitamin water that has a few calories in it. I can tolerate it but it tastes too sweet. I had ordered some protein shots that are clear and tried that yesterday. It stayed down but I only took about one of the three ounces very diluted. I guess I just need some suggestions or a pep talk. Can anyone help me?

-Debbi

July 6, 2011

I was and still am cold all the time after surgery and I am a year out. I live

in Yuma arizona and I go out and found thermals so my family could use the ac.

Did not even get in the pool last year at all. So bundle up I hope it gets

better for ya.

Kathy

Sent from my iPad

July 6, 2011

I can't wait to be cold...! I tend to get very hot easily in warm weather,

especially. My surgery is on July 18th and I am getting so excited to get this

" project " underway!

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've been home a few days now and have a couple questions. I did well with

the surgery (or so they kept telling me) but have been FREEZING ever since. In

the hospital I slept with at least five blankets. When I am sitting here at

home I cover up with two. I'm driving my family out because our outdoor

temperatures are about 100 degrees and I can't turn on the AC. That's the first

thing. Have any of you experienced this?

>

> The next thing is that I have very little energy. Duh! All I'm really

drinking is water. I threw up and threw up in the hospital and it scared me.

Then, when I got home I did it again. I'm TERRIFIED to try other things but

know I need some energy or I won't be able to heal well. I have tried chicken

broth and get down about an ounce or maybe two. I don't know how much energy

that gets me. I also tried apple juice but I think I'm ruined forever on apple

juice after they put that blue contrast dye in it and it was so bitter. I got

some vitamin water that has a few calories in it. I can tolerate it but it

tastes too sweet. I had ordered some protein shots that are clear and tried

that yesterday. It stayed down but I only took about one of the three ounces

very diluted. I guess I just need some suggestions or a pep talk. Can anyone

help me?

> -Debbi

>

July 7, 2011

Debbi,

First of all - congratulations! You are going to be so happy with your sleeve once you get used to it.

I just celebrated my one year " surgi-versary " so I'd like to share a couple of things with you:

Energy - you may " look " normal on the outside but, girl, you just had MAJOR surgery. Of COURSE you are wiped out and have no energy. If you had just had open heart surgery, you wouldn't be at all surprised to feel this way. Please be patient with yourself. If you have the option - take the opportunity to lay down during the day and rest. I am lucky enough to work 1 mile from home so I went home at lunch and layed down. I also layed down for a bit when I got home from work, went to bed earlier in the evening, and got up later than normal for me. Give your body time to recover. This isn't something that takes weeks - it is something that takes months.

Your energy level will recover in a few weeks but your new tummy will still be healing for 4 to 6 months so keep that in mind as you hit bumps along your path.

Cold - that happened to me also but not to the extreme you describe. A lot of that could be your body's reaction to the surgery and anesthesia. Keep in mind that it takes MONTHS for your cells to rid themselves of all the anesthesia. You'll see a recurring theme here: be patient with your body. And not getting so hot anymore is NOT a bad thing when you live where the summer temps are in the 90's! I no longer have to avoid the outdoors in the summer months! :-)

Food - getting down an ounce or two is all you can expect at this stage. You will be lucky to get down 4 ounces by the end of the month. It will take a LOOOOONG time for you to retrain your brain about appropriate quantities for your new tummy. The most important thing you can do at this stage is to stay hydrated. You must force yourself to sip - sip - sip ALL DAY LONG. If you are awake, you should have a drink by your elbow and you should be sipping on it. If you don't like water, try putting a squeeze of lemon, lime, or orange in it - it often helps the water go down easier. I personally am a water addict so its not a problem for me, but when I first got home from surgery, water didn't like my new tummy so I had to add the citrus. The things that saved me the first couple of weeks were jello and frozen ice pops. I used the sugar free jello but not the sugar free pops - they have so few calories in them anyway and I was GETTING so few calories that I figured I needed anything I could get down. And the cold really seemed to help my tummy. For week 2, I finally got smart and made my own chicken broth from scratch so I could have something with some FLAVOR. (I saved the chicken meat for week 4 and made a wonderful salad with it.)

Remember that when your tummy is totally healed, it will be about as big around as your thumb. Right now its swollen from the surgery so you can imagine how hard it is to get anything down! Again - be patient with yourself, go slowly, and don't worry about getting in your calories and protein this first month - it will all get easier as you go along.

Go ahead and start exploring the different protein drinks so you can find one you like - you'll want to get started on those as soon as you feel able. And don't be concerned when you find you can only get down a few ounces! Take a sip or two, put it down, and go back later and get in a little bit more. Eating is going to become a day-long process for you. Gone are the days of gobbling down 16-32 ounces of food per meal in 15 minutes and running off to do something else. Now it will be SLOWLY get down a couple of ounces - in a few hours, get down another few ounces. Of course, gone also will be the days of avoiding the shopping mall, hiding your body in " tents " instead of clothes, shopping in the " women's " section, fear of small chairs, the inability to cross your legs or paint your toenails, aching feet and knees, and getting out of breath after walking 100 feet!

Congratulations again and welcome to the losers bench! Hit us with your questions and concerns, as well as your victories. We're here for you!!!

PS - don't forget to get your vitamins in! I personally HATE to take pills so I use a liquid vitamin; many others opt for the " gummies " chewable kind. If you want the info on the liquid I take, email me privately and I'll send you the info.

Cheryl

My Best Friend's Bowl

Premium Nutrition for Your Pet's Optimum Health

www.mybestfriendsbowl.comQuality AKC Chihuahuas from Champion Bloodlineswww.campchihuahua.com

The dog-watchers need a watchdog.Let's keep the Humane Society of the United States HONEST.Join the discussion:www.humanewatch.org

July 7, 2011

Well, it sounds like I'm not a freak after all. We live in the desert too so

it's hot here. I've been going outside to sit to get warm. My family is just

sweating and can barely stand it. It's a bit disconcerting to know you are a

year out and still cold but I can always add clothing.

Thanks for the posts.

-Debbi

>

> I was and still am cold all the time after surgery and I am a year out. I live

in Yuma arizona and I go out and found thermals so my family could use the ac.

Did not even get in the pool last year at all. So bundle up I hope it gets

better for ya.

>

> Kathy

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

July 7, 2011

Thank you, Cheryl, for your very helpful information!

Judy

>

> Debbi,

> First of all - congratulations! You are going to be so happy with your

> sleeve once you get used to it.

> I just celebrated my one year " surgi-versary " so I'd like to share a couple

> of things with you:

> Energy - you may " look " normal on the outside but, girl, you just had MAJOR

> surgery. Of COURSE you are wiped out and have no energy. If you had just

> had open heart surgery, you wouldn't be at all surprised to feel this way.

> Please be patient with yourself. If you have the option - take the

> opportunity to lay down during the day and rest. I am lucky enough to work

> 1 mile from home so I went home at lunch and layed down. I also layed down

> for a bit when I got home from work, went to bed earlier in the evening, and

> got up later than normal for me. Give your body time to recover. This

> isn't something that takes weeks - it is something that takes months.

> Your energy level will recover in a few weeks but your new tummy will still

> be healing for 4 to 6 months so keep that in mind as you hit bumps along

> your path.

> Cold - that happened to me also but not to the extreme you describe. A lot

> of that could be your body's reaction to the surgery and anesthesia. Keep

> in mind that it takes MONTHS for your cells to rid themselves of all the

> anesthesia. You'll see a recurring theme here: be patient with your body.

> And not getting so hot anymore is NOT a bad thing when you live where the

> summer temps are in the 90's! I no longer have to avoid the outdoors in the

> summer months! :-)

> Food - getting down an ounce or two is all you can expect at this stage.

> You will be lucky to get down 4 ounces by the end of the month. It will

> take a LOOOOONG time for you to retrain your brain about appropriate

> quantities for your new tummy. The most important thing you can do at this

> stage is to stay hydrated. You must force yourself to sip - sip - sip ALL

> DAY LONG. If you are awake, you should have a drink by your elbow and you

> should be sipping on it. If you don't like water, try putting a squeeze of

> lemon, lime, or orange in it - it often helps the water go down easier. I

> personally am a water addict so its not a problem for me, but when I first

> got home from surgery, water didn't like my new tummy so I had to add the

> citrus. The things that saved me the first couple of weeks were jello and

> frozen ice pops. I used the sugar free jello but not the sugar free pops -

> they have so few calories in them anyway and I was GETTING so few calories

> that I figured I needed anything I could get down. And the cold really

> seemed to help my tummy. For week 2, I finally got smart and made my own

> chicken broth from scratch so I could have something with some FLAVOR. (I

> saved the chicken meat for week 4 and made a wonderful salad with it.)

> Remember that when your tummy is totally healed, it will be about as big

> around as your thumb. Right now its swollen from the surgery so you can

> imagine how hard it is to get anything down! Again - be patient with

> yourself, go slowly, and don't worry about getting in your calories and

> protein this first month - it will all get easier as you go along.

> Go ahead and start exploring the different protein drinks so you can find

> one you like - you'll want to get started on those as soon as you feel

> able. And don't be concerned when you find you can only get down a few

> ounces! Take a sip or two, put it down, and go back later and get in a

> little bit more. Eating is going to become a day-long process for you.

> Gone are the days of gobbling down 16-32 ounces of food per meal in 15

> minutes and running off to do something else. Now it will be SLOWLY get

> down a couple of ounces - in a few hours, get down another few ounces. Of

> course, gone also will be the days of avoiding the shopping mall, hiding

> your body in " tents " instead of clothes, shopping in the " women's " section,

> fear of small chairs, the inability to cross your legs or paint your

> toenails, aching feet and knees, and getting out of breath after walking 100

> feet!

> Congratulations again and welcome to the losers bench! Hit us with your

> questions and concerns, as well as your victories. We're here for you!!!

> PS - don't forget to get your vitamins in! I personally HATE to take pills

> so I use a liquid vitamin; many others opt for the " gummies " chewable kind.

> If you want the info on the liquid I take, email me privately and I'll send

> you the info.

>

> Cheryl

> *My Best Friend's Bowl*

> *Premium Nutrition for Your Pet's Optimum Health*

> *www.mybestfriendsbowl.com* <http://www.mybestfriendsbowl.com/>

> Quality AKC Chihuahuas from Champion Bloodlines

> www.campchihuahua.com

> The dog-watchers need a watchdog.

> Let's keep the Humane Society of the United States HONEST.

> Join the discussion:

> www.humanewatch.org

>

July 7, 2011

That's a hoot. We are complaining about being cold, and you're looking forward to the cold! Love it! You are going to do so well with your surgery! I had mine May 25th. and it is the smartest thing that I ever did ( medically speaking that is...)!!!! Think that you will be very impressed with the hospital and service. Keep us posted on your thoughts about your "project"! PatFrom: labornurse

<judyalbertson@...> Sent: Wed, July 6, 2011 6:41:52 PMSubject: Re: Sleeved on 6/28/11

I can't wait to be cold...! I tend to get very hot easily in warm weather, especially. My surgery is on July 18th and I am getting so excited to get this "project" underway!

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've been home a few days now and have a couple questions. I did well with the surgery (or so they kept telling me) but have been FREEZING ever since. In the hospital I slept with at least five blankets. When I am sitting here at home I cover up with two. I'm driving my family out because our outdoor temperatures are about 100 degrees and I can't turn on the AC. That's the first thing. Have any of you experienced this?

>

> The next thing is that I have very little energy. Duh! All I'm really drinking is water. I threw up and threw up in the hospital and it scared me. Then, when I got home I did it again. I'm TERRIFIED to try other things but know I need some energy or I won't be able to heal well. I have tried chicken broth and get down about an ounce or maybe two. I don't know how much energy that gets me. I also tried apple juice but I think I'm ruined forever on apple juice after they put that blue contrast dye in it and it was so bitter. I got some vitamin water that has a few calories in it. I can tolerate it but it tastes too sweet. I had ordered some protein shots that are clear and tried that yesterday. It stayed down but I only took about one of the three ounces very diluted. I guess I just need some suggestions or a pep talk. Can anyone help me?

> -Debbi

>

July 8, 2011

Oh Cheryl! Thank you so much. This is really what I needed to hear. I have

been giving myself this kind of talk but I have just been so, so weak and

starting to think, " What the heck was I thinking?! " I have lost 27 pounds since

my pre-op diet now. I'm already down a whole size. It's amazing. I find

myself thinking, I just have to get in a couple calories to feel better. I have

had major surgery before and couldn't really do anything for six weeks. I

thought it should be so much faster for me this time because everyone was saying

they 'felt so great' right after surgery and I did not have that experience.

I'm going to print out your advice and keep it by my liquid all day. I am

fortunate that I am a school secretary so I finished work for " the summer " on

Friday and flew out to San Diego on Monday. I don't have to return to work

until August 1st. Right now I find myself wondering whether I'll have enough

energy by then to go back then. My first week back at work even though, I have

a 'sedentary' job is not at all sedentary. I have to prepare over 1000

registration packets by myself to mail out for fall registration. I'll try not

to dread that and take it one day at a time.

I am not having trouble getting enough liquids down. I prefer to chomp on ice

chips than sip anything and have been doing well with that. I'm ruined on apple

juice because of that blue dye but tried blending some grape juice with ice in

the blender and that is working great as two 8 oz servings per day along with

the plain ice all the rest of the day. Maybe the ice contributes to the cold?

Duh. Oh well. I let it melt in my mouth. I also got some three ounce clear

cups and have been filling those with water about two-thirds to take my Nexium

in the morning and half a Tylenol a couple times a day. Before surgery I was on

Morphine daily as well as Hydrocodone for breakthrough pain and an

anti-inflammatory. I am so terrified to throw up that I won't take any of that

medication any more and have been doing okay with the piece of Tylenol. (I have

arthritis all over.)

I'm rambling, but so thankful for your concern and kind words.

Thanks a million!