juliarh

I had edema problems constantly -- if I sat for a long time, if I was on a plane (ugh), if it was the time of the month, my ankles were SWOLLEN! But since the surgery, I have had NONE! Isn't that great??? I can actually see the veins in my feet! I haven't seen them in years! So, don't worry, drink lots of water, and soon, very soon, the edema will disappear for you too

Hooray -- glad you have a date and so glad you came out of lurking -- this is a great place with so many helpful people -- and we love to have more! So welcome, and hooray that you get to start on your journey with us

Whooo Hoo!! Even stuff like moving down a decade in BMI is worthy of a hip and hooray! I know how you feel -- I noticed I was in the 30s today as well Happy days!! It's a great feeling, isn't it?

I agree with DJackson -- we have had enough pressures on us from society and others that we don't need to have people who are closest to us trying to sabotage us -- I'm so sorry your husband is rigid in his outlook -- but if you are not getting support from him, you can get it from us. a.walker is right also -- getting sleeved is only the first step in a LOOONG process -- it is a tool and used correctly we will all lose weight -- however, make sure you are doing it for yourself, to make sure you are healthy above all else. If you are doing it for your marriage, it's not going to help. Either way, please come back and talk to us often - take care!

I agree -- not painful, just a little weird -- I did feel tugging and the tube snaking it's way inside of my but it wasn't painful, just weird.

OMG (as my daughter would say) you seriously look 20 years younger -- no kidding, no trying to make you feel good -- you look seriously great!! Keep up the great work and thanks so much for being such a good inspiration to us

Hey One! I too have heartburn on a regular basis -- I asked my dr. if I could double my dosage of nexium and he said fine. The double dosage seems to work for me. He explained that the body doesn't realize that your tummy is 1/8 of its original size so it keeps producing acid for a much bigger tummy. About the food, I'm almost 5 weeks out and have no real desire for food except when I haven't eaten for hours -- and some food is really gross to me (like bread) -- so I just don't eat it. I'm eating what I can tolerate right now. I'm loving fish, chicken - hate beef right now. I can eat broccoli and green Beans fine. Rice, Pasta, potatoes are gross. I LOVE Water. And I love chamomile tea. That's about it. My nutritionist said that my appetite should reappear sometime, but I'm not in a hurry. I think I've accepted the fact that this is my new life and I'm not really upset about it. I guess if I were in your shoes, I would eat those things that didn't make me gag -- maybe somethings from the liquid phase? And then slowly introduce the solid food?? I'm all for not doing things the hard way, and if certain foods make you gag, don't eat them! I hope this helps!

Hooray for 20 pounds gone for good and a double hooray for weighing less than the hubby! I can only hope in the near future I will get to weigh less than the hubby

So sorry this is happening to you . . . . and it does suck that you have to go to two events and are not able to participate fully :/ I hope you feel better soon! Hugs!

Hooray!! You give me hope because I am in the 260s and my body doesn't want to let go -- go go damn you stupid pounds!! Anyway, hooray for you and can't wait to see the pics!

Same with me -- my health is my private business -- I don't want them to know . . . please let us know if the connection with FB is different than we anticipate!

Hey everyone -- checking in too! I'm half-way done with week 5 and my ticker reflects last Wed's weigh in -- I'm doing great -- I've been struggling with my Water lately (forget to drink it!), so I have to be more on top of that. Also, I get to eat real food now!! Hooray!! But not very much of it. Tonight I made stir fry with chicken and broccoli and green Beans and rice -- had 3 spoonfuls of the stir fry, and 1 spoon of rice. And I am still full (it's 10:20 pm here). I don't have to do Protein shakes anymore, but every once in awhile I do them because I forget to eat. Forgetting to eat is my biggest problem. I usually don't feel hungry until I'm starving (which is usually too late). Last couple of weeks have been REALLY slow in the weight loss area, but I figure that so many who had surgery before me talk about stalls that if I keep chugging along and doing the right things, the weight will come off. Hooray!! No need to ever give up again I really hope you all are doing well on your journeys -- can't wait to hear from the rest of the Sept. sleevers (there are so many of us!). Hooray for us!!

thanks for sharing -- it's a good site but what was surprising to me is how few recent studies there are on the VSG. guess we're history in the making

Hey Chilo -- went to my nutritionist this week (on Sgto. Marecos) and she thinks we should be eating carbs. I don't know, I'm very very torn. I'm not a real fan of bread right now, but I can see in a couple of month I could be. So, the question is, are you overdoing or are you providing your body with enough energy? Remember that everyone has different diet recommendations -- if your nutritionist thinks you're doing a good job and that you're effectively using your sleeve, then I wouldn't worry -- the only time I think I might worry is if I see that my eating is affecting my weight. You said before that you're journaling your food, so that's good -- I'm betting that you're doing ok . . . .

I think recovery varies for each person, but I was very weak and not feeling good for at least 10 days after the surgery. I know that's not what you want to hear, but I know there are others who have bounced right back -- :/

Hey Chilo! I was thinking about you today when I was walking around the Parque de Salud (right close to my house -- so you know where I live now ) -- I'm so sorry you're feeling down. Here's what occurred to me about the carbs -- you know chipa and sopa paraguaya, right?? Carb nightmare, right?? Well, I told myself that if I NEVER eat them, I will never want them. And that's the thing about food. We all have memories of what we like and what we don't like to eat. For example, when I was on the mushy diet, I cried because nothing I *used* to like tasted good anymore -- it didn't mesh with my memory of it. And that actually, is kind of a good thing. I think that along with the sleeve, we have to consciously choose what food we want to have around us -- like me not choosing to eat chipa and sopa paraguaya. I KNOW that as soon as I taste even a crumb I'd want it all the time. So, since I don't know what they taste like, I don't want them. And same thing with my "new" tastebuds. I don't know what I'm gonna like -- right now I can eat surubi and tuna and chicken -- that's what I like. I like surubi the best. So I eat a lot of it. I am consciously choosing not to introduce myself to bread, rice, and mashed potatoes. In my memory, I LOVE them. But I'm not so sure right now and what better time to eradicate them from my life?? And last night, my husband was watching a futbal game and eating cashews. I love cashews (or I think I do). And he's munching and munching. I can't tell you how I wanted to reach over and grab a handful for myself. I finally had to tell him he couldn't eat them in front of me or I would eat them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all are in this huge adventure together -- we KNOW what we have to do, but we have to consciously choose to do it right every day, every minute. It's almost as if we are in our own form of AA -- we are food addicts (some of us -- I know I am) and we need to choose consciously not to be. That's ok -- we have a great tool, our sleeve! Don't give up on yourself, because we're not going to give up on you -- chin up, you can do this!! Hugss!! brazos!!!

Congratulations Coop! It's so exciting to see our efforts being rewarded, isn't it? And the cherry on the top is having people compliment you and you actually accepting it!! Hooray for you!

Hi all - I also had a rough 1st week and kinda going into the 2nd week -- I attributed a lot of what I went through as a reaction to my anesthesia (even though I'd had general anesthesia before) but I looked it up and it seemed to match -- who knows. Anyway -- here's my nitty gritty from the first 10 days: In the hospital: Extreme dehydration such that I couldn't pee and had no saliva Pains in my back so that I would wake up crying dry heaves (I can't count how many) and nausea After 3 days and back at home: Could hardly drink or eat anything Had nausea No dry heaves Slight fever After 10 days: Could drink normally Can eat very small bites (but my taste is not what it was) And can exercise (although I was SOOOOO weak at first -- I attribute this to being 46 and not recovering as fast as younger sleevers) Now (4 weeks after) Can drink normally Eat very small bites (taste is still not what it was) No sense of being hungry Acid reflux occasionally Exercise every day (and loving that I'm getting better at it!) Conclusion: I LOVE MY SLEEVE -- I've lost 40 pounds now and as I've said before, the first week or so is kinda like giving birth -- you are not at all happy during the process, but later on you think, "Hey, I'd do that again!" Hope this helps!

I agree with what everyone has said, but wanted to add my 2 cents I try to eat every 2 -3 hours -- and in between I am drinking water like there's no tomorrow. I know what you mean about the growling and stuff -- I get that too, but usually it's acid build up which my doctor told me would go away when my body discovers my stomach isn't as big as it was . . . hope this all helps!

Jordien, you and I got sleeved around the same time and I've been eating a lot of tuna and fish -- seems to have higher protein per bite -- since we can't eat very much, I've been trying really hard to focus on higher protein foods, and like Tiffykins, I've been eating it at least 4 times a day so I can get it all in.

Awesome -- that's really incredible -- to think just 7 months ago you were sleeved!! Way to go!

I'm trying to keep my carbs low -- I seem to be hitting around 50 carbs a day, but definitely getting at least 60 - 80 grams of protein in -- my calories are really low too -- around 600 - 700 a day -- but I don't really want much more. I'm sure when my appetite increases, I'll be able to eat more protein. For now, I cram in as much protein as my little sleeve will tolerate

my entire post just vanished! -- try to recreate: I don't think it's normal, but I'm only 4 weeks out -- I'm not a long-term sleever. The first thing that comes to my mind is perhaps it's acid reflux?? I get acid reflux especially in the evenings and right after I eat -- my dr. said it was okay to take an additional Nexium until my stomach's acids calm down. What did your dr. say?? I'm so sorry this is happening -- I would make another appointment and let your dr. know what is going on (and I know you did, but I think you need some answers!) Hugs!

The advertising is a little bit much -- I realize it's needed to pay for the site, but does it have to consume 1/2 of the page?? I too would also like to see where people are from. I'm not a real fan of the pinks and purples, but I can get over that.

You're right -- this is a life long journey -- couldn't have said it better -- and I'm really glad you're on the journey with us