Grateful_Love

I am about 6 weeks post op. I've already called my bariatric office and left a message. About 10 days ago my husband had a stomach bug that we thought was food poisoning from him getting Chinese take out. It lasted three days. This morning, I woke up and felt "not right." Then I started to get nauseous. I took a zofran and drank half a protien shake with some decaf. Four hours later, I popped another Zofran because the nausea came back. I went to the bathroom and had diahreah, but once the zofran kicked in again I felt better. Now, I'm having this strange gurgle pains going through my intestines. (I think it's my intestines at least.) I ate a sf Popsicle and I felt it travel all the way through. I haven't thrown up at all but I thank the zofran for that because I truly think I would be otherwise. I've had no complications at all, I think everything is healing okay inside. I haven't had any pain anywhere. Yesterday I was packing some boxes and now I feel a little like I did some ab work from bending and moving around. Usually, I would take pepto or Imodium and go from there--but I've had issues being "backed up" two times in the recent past and I don't wanna constipate myself. Is the gurgling all the way down thing normal? Should I take some pepto and tough it out later? Should I try saltines? I've been the anti carb since I started.

I just zofran-ed myself every 4 hours. I didn't actually vomit, but I felt like I was going to all day. Luckily, the zofran knocked me out. I was up 3x to walk the dog. Zofran also made me a little dizzy, so that stunk. I had diarrhea most of the day, I tried to push fluids but didn't really do too well. This morning I woke up and felt better. A little nauseous but only took one zofran all day. When I woke up I had a killer headache so I drank Powerade zero (three of them!! I was so dehydrated. I could tell). I'm feeling much better now.

Okay guys..I started back at work and my whirlwind job makes it way difficult to consume liquids and eat because I'm always on the go. I'm sure so many of you can relate. I've taken to doing shakes through out the day just because they are easier to transport, I'm able to be less mindful of the size of bites and the number of chews. Probably not the best bc I don't wanna be on shakes indefinitely, but I'm only 4 weeks out so I think shakes are still super normal to use. Here's my question: I can drink 14 ounces of a shake super fast. I can drink a 16oz Water bottle over a series of three slightly spaced "chugs." Am I doing anything super harmful to my sleeve? When I eat food, I feel restriction at about a quarter cup (if it's super dense. Maybe a half cup of something like yogurt) I don't want my quick drinking to stretch my pouchie poo out. On the plus side---I'm meeting my protien and liquid goals daily lol. Any thoughts?

Thanks pals. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong but I freaked myself out a little bit because my husband said, "babe be careful!" When I drank my decaf tea pretty quick. He thinks I'm so fragile. It was cute at first. Now i wish he'd relax a little bit lol.

Girl. Same here. I didn't tell anyone at work about surgery, just took personal time for a hernia repair and an ulcer--that I didn't have, but didn't want to be criticized or questioned. A few years before surgery the manager of my mental health group home job was super into me. (Even at 295 pounds.) he was my husbands friend and was going to be in our wedding!! Anyway, he started texting me about work at first---and then it went into a "leave him for me" conversation. Not kidding you. It was a long and tumultuous conversation because I LOVED the attention of being wanted by two men, and my husband has always been super stable, calm, confident and this other guy is a trainwreck, impulsive, wreckless. I felt like I was in a movie. Long story short, I got away from my cold feet about being married, and I am happily married now to my husband and I didn't cheat and wasn't a ho-bag. I just cut ties, got a new job, processed why I liked that attention with my therapist, and all was well. NOW as I've been losing, there's a dude at my new job--who is absolutely wonderful--in his own stable relationship long term..but we have always given each other the "side eye" since I started and are always aware what the other one is doing. Kind of like my work husband. But it is was entirely innocent--he doesn't even have my number, I have never been out for drinks with him even when other coworkers go out..I realized I needed to keep boundaries when I worked with my therapist way back when the first incident ended. So I've kept boundaries with this guy, even though he is super innocently interested me as a human being/we are very similar in how we handle our cases, etc. He would be a great friend--but I blurred those lines once before in the last, so I'm armed with that awareness now. But the SIDE EYES are getting more frequent. It's almost like I feel the sexual tension. And another person at work brought it up so now I'm terrified that I'm in some way doing something to lead him on---even though we are both in happy relationships. HE hasn't attempted to make any moves (he's really not that guy) but people are paying so much more attention to me even though I haven't done anything different. I HATE the attention. I was walking to my car last week from Walmart in a not so good neighborhood around 11p because I had to run and get something late, and some random dude cat called me and said "hey yo ma!" I have never in my entire life been so scared. 60 pounds ago, I wouldn't have thought twice to cuss him out and go into how it's not okay to come at a girl in the parking lot like that. Now--he could have picked me up and thrown me in his trunk. Being smaller, losing my armor. In some ways, it makes me paranoid. Good luck. Call the cops. Carry mace and always wear shoes you can run in. That's my plan.

How did this turn into a "BLERDgirl bash" ? I personally think that blerdgirl is very helpful in clarifying information and providing appropriate feedback. If you don't want to hear "follow your manual" or other peoples direct experience, maybe a forum isn't the place to ask questions. There are great great resources on this site. Some of the posters have been the reason I haven't had major freak outs. I'm only 4 weeks out. By no means am I an expert, and luckily I have had no major complications at all. (I will admit that pooping was hard at first). Half the reason I think this experience hasn't been the roller coaster of emotional melt downs is because I look here first, be rational, and accept the advise given from the experts. I know that everyone has different personalities and that they can clash, but if you take a step back,you will realize that no one here is trying to sabotage you and are truly just trying to give honest to goodness feedback and advice. My advice (again, I'm a newbie) is to stick to your plan, ensure you are getting your Protein and Water in, add in some exercise when you feel comfortable and consult with your nut. Use your team as much as you can. That's what they are paid for. And if you don't feel like they are accessible in the moment, come here and take heart knowing that everyone here wants you to be successful as you can be and they are here to support you through it.

So, I had three glorious weeks off from my mobile/desk job. (I'm a crisis counselor and sometimes we make house calls, a lot of times it's taking phone calls.) Today is my first day back. I'm getting ready for work now. I've got two lean shakes from GNC, a scrambled egg in a baby tupperware container, a sugar free Jello and 4 bottles of Water. I know I've over packed. But I'll just leave whatever I don't get through at work for the week and bring more Protein shakes as needed. I didn't tell anyone I was having weight loss surgery--just a hernia repair and ulcer correction. I'm down about 20 pounds but I don't see it anywhere. If anyone notices I'm just gonna chalk it up to being on a liquid diet and not say much. It's a 10 hour shift. (First of 5 for this stretch). I have been struggling with the afternoon sleepies, but I'm hopeful to get through it okay. I hope no one is suicidal or homicidal and that it doesn't rain. Wish me luck!

Day one was okay! I was tired but I managed. Day two was today---I'm halfway snoring as a type this. Let's all just cross our fingers that third day is the charm!!

Also---girl. I wish I had your bum! Hubs hopes mine doesn't shrink. I wouldn't mind missing some of it, but my bum and my hair are my favorite areas to accentuate...I'm terrified of losing both lol

Yay!!!! Congrats!! You look like a million bucks! And you have no signs of a tummy tuck other than a gorgeous FLAT stomach!!

I'm a march third sleever, too. I've moved on to purée foods. I feel good. I def notice when I don't get my Water in because I can't poop. I also fill my bowl with tiny portions and they are still too big (I weigh them out for 2oz). I want to eat them to 1. Clean my plate. And 2. Get a little closer to getting off the shakes. I fear both of those thoughts are going to sabotage my sleeve. I shouldn't push it. How's everyone else doing?

Thanks for sharing this. I'm newly sleeved, less than a month out. I took your story to heart. I feel like I have been "pushing" myself to be "normal." I need to learn my new normal and then accept it. Because I've had the thought, "it's just one regular pudding cup (husbands)..it's just like yogurt." I stopped myself. But that thought process has got to go. again, thank you guys for the wisdom and the proof that getting off track and then getting back ON track is possible. Keep us posted

After about day 4, it got a little easier for me. On day 3 I ate a single piece of American cheese and felt SO guilty that day four was like a redemption day for me, and then I refused to let myself feel that guilt again. But day 4 was much easier in terms of what I knew to expect and cravings seemed to be much more dull, too. I DID take a protien drink and put it in the freezer in an ice cube tray--and then i crunched the pieces. I feel like that helped with my longing to chew. I lost about 10 lbs on my 14 day diet. I'm 19 days post op and I've lost 17.4lbs. I wish it would have been an immediate change in the mirror but it definitely wasn't. I had pain in the hospital, but it was a dull soreness after day 3 when I was at home. I struggled with fluids day 4 and sat with medicine cups and forced myself to sip 8oz each hour I was awake. Day 5 I did the same, but didn't feel the "pressure" as day 4. Day 6, i moved on to drinking small sips out of bottles and cups because I wanted it to feel "normal" as soon as possible. I didn't feel "restriction" or fullness til I started thicker full liquids--like un-thinned yogurt, or bean Soup.

My surgeon has three different phases. First week clears, second week full, weeks 3/4/5 puréed, week six is intro to new foods. I met with the nurse practitioner on Tuesday. She said I was doing well, checked out my incisions, asked about my Vitamins, said I *could* take miralax if I wanted to keep things moving. Then we scheduled a 3 month follow up. I asked about my calories, because while I'm getting my 60-75g of Protein and drinking enough Water to drown myself, I'm still only getting like 600 calories MAX and it says to get 800. Like 85 percent of my protien is coming from shakes right now...which I guess I should be trying to wean out slowly. The first two weeks I was super fatigued but I adjusted. I just don't know how to up my calories and keep my carbs below 20g (personal goal). Maybe it's because of the puréed stage and limited snacking abilities. But...I'm afraid to snack, because grazing and binging combined got me here. And now I feel "okay." I don't WANT to up my calories because I'm okay. I get the rationale behind it, starvation mode, "what about maintenance?", "strive for normalcy" blah blah blah. But it's too soon! my baby belly doesn't want to be pushed a ton, and my brain is still adjusting. I had the FIRST "regret" thought today because my husband, out of sincere concern, not backhandedness, said, "are you sure you're eating enough?"...he's also getting sleeved in June, so I think he will get it later on, but I truly feel like I AM eating enough. Right now, I can't even imagine adding in another shake or tuna or puréed something or other. I have a system and it feels like it's working. I looked at the guidelines for later stages and it says 12-1500 calories per day after 6 months. WHAT. Funny thing? I've had this packet of info since day one. I read it a thousand times pre-op, obsessed about reading on here, reaalllly researched. On the flip side, on the losers bench, all of it seems so brand new and foreign. I truly truly feel for you on this. I just hope that 5 months from now I feel and look as beautiful and content as you. I know everyone says listen to your nut and doc..but I'm with you on this. They aren't in my body, my head. They haven't had the surgery and they won't feel my "new normal." I'm trying super hard to trust my team, but I kinda wanna trust my diva sleeve until diva sleeve proves herself unreliable lol

So, I don't know if any of you read one of, what felt like was a HUNDRED, times I kept saying I didn't feel any restriction, was afraid that my surgery "didn't work," or that I was afraid i had popped open all my guts. If you did, I apologize and I solemnly swear to not freak out and obsess over things again (for at least the next ten minutes ????) BECAUSE IT WORKED!! I'm 17 days post-op. My parents (who I didn't tell before surgery at all, but know all about it now since visiting) came up to visit while I'm still off from work. Easter is coming up, and I won't see them on the holiday, and we had an extra turkey lying around bc my employer is very generous around Christmas time) so we decided to do an early Easter dinner. I just moved on to the puréed stage, and turkey is Protein protein protein, so we slow roasted it all day so it was super moist. I was a good little post-sleever, and I puréed my 4 oz of turkey into tiny little itty bitty peices with some of the natural broth. And then I proceeded to eat with my baby spoon for 30 minutes. (I'm posting here while I wait for my timer to go off so I can take a swig of Water, lol). I couldn't finish it. I slaved away at my plate, chatted with my fam, gave a little bite to my beautiful little dog. And the mountain of turkey hardly seemed to shrink. I weighed it out TWICE before I puréed it because I thought--"there's no way that can be 4 oz, it's like a whole plate of food!" And I had my husband come check the scale, and he confirmed I didn't "do something wrong." (I always always second guess). It just looked like such a huge portion to my fresh sleever eyes. I ate as much as I could, but stopped when I felt the pressure because I "slimed" on cottage cheese and it was disgusting. ...I ate so diligently. I COULDNT FINISH IT. It was the only thing on my plate. And I couldn't finish it. I felt so happy. I weighed it when I was done and there was 2.7 ounces LEFT on my plate. IT WORKED! I DIDNT BREAK IT ALREADY! IT WORKED IT WORKED IT WORKED! Hooray!! HW 276 SW 251 TODAY 235 (plus about 2oz of turkey and my other puréed stuffs today) ???? Hooray!! Thanks for reading, pals.

@"ce24" --I think that's great and my surgeon and nut recommend that much too. There's just no way I could do it yet. C'est la vie. I'll keep trying

Totally agree with @lipsticklady. Day 4 it felt second nature and it was my "final count down" from 10 days to surgery. I made little glittery signs from day 10 to 0 and hung it on my fridge. It was a little project to do when I had a craving. I did a few at a time. (This just goes to show everyone that I am truly a 7 year old in a 29 year olds body.)

Fluffy, I felt the same way! I'm 17 days post op now, and I had puréed turkey for an early Easter dinner with my fam today. I had it pretty watered down with the broth. I measured out 4oz, thinking that id have no problems because I can take down 5oz of yogurt. Not the case. I ate about 1.4oz over the course of 25-30 minutes. Everyone else had easily cleaned their plate, but I couldn't get through the 4oz to save my life. I took it really slow and easy because I didn't wanna get sick or be in pain, but I definitely felt pressure telling me I was full. Kind of like food will come up my esophagus if I would have kept going. You'll feel it, you guys. I thought for sure my surgeon didn't make it small enough or I broke my guts open. I even questioned if he did anything at all once or twice. But sure enough--it's working. Good luck! Hang in there and stay the course per your dr and nutrionist. Trust them and yourself!

Elode, it truly is wonderful. I'm so reliant upon shakes tho. I know I'm still a baby sleeve, but I wanna get off the shakes so badly. I'm finding the artificial sugars in them are causing cravings. I did Atkins a while back and once I hit ketosis it was always smooth sailing and I could turn down all the bread and pretzels and chips in the world. But I've been craving weird things like saltine crackers and corn bread and buttered toast. Things I didn't even really "go-to" pre-surgery. If I had sugar free candy or Jello when I did Atkins in the past, I would knock myself out of ketosis and crave like a mad woman. I KNOW it's the artificial sweeteners so the shakes gotta get outta here as soon as possible lol. I also hate the unflavored Protein right now--I feel like it smells like cheese and I just immediately notice it when I mix it in stuff. And a person can only do so much chicken broth. But!! My little sleeve is gonna work her little heart out and we will see how things go from here.

It worked And you look so beautiful!

Also, my husband just turned to me and asked me if I was hungry. We ate like 4 hours ago. I'm not especially hungry, but I could maybe eat a little yogurt or something but I'm trying to train my brain away from late night eating. Being a complete nice husband, He offered to re-heat my beautiful turkey purée, but he called it my dish of broth with turkey sand in it. And then I got a little nausea just thinking about "turkey sand." *Please oh please let me be able to eat more purée turkey sand in the future without being grossed out*

Thank you everyone!! Puréed turkey was..better than any Protein shake!haha. It tasted just like turkey---that was already chewed for me,lol. Jamie, I was definitely shooting for the moon thinking id get through 4oz. My nut book says 4oz of meat, and the label said 21grams of protein so I was sooo excited. I can eat 5oz Greek yogurts so I guess I thought that 4oz would be a breeze. NOPE, said the grouchy pouch. Funniest thing? My mom, who weighs 125 pounds soaking wet and has never been big her entire life polished off three pieces of bread and butter, a cup of cheesy rice, green Beans and twice the turkey I had on my plate BEFORE I got through my measley 1.3oz of turkey. Lol.

I hate most of them, but caramel is okay. ..and I stress the word "okay." But a lot of people do love them.

I was sleeved on 3/3. The first two days were the worst. The dilaudid medicine they gave me made me so foggy brained that I couldn't make sense of the pain to tell if it was gas or incisional or muscle, etc. When I switched to liquid pain meds it was a little easier and I was more clear headed. Day 3-returned to my home. No need for nausea meds--didn't really experience any. Did take some of the narcotic liquid med. started sipping from medicine cups. Got my protien and Water in, just had to remember to sip. Somewhere in day 4/5/6-I got over the need for medicine cups and just sip slow. Maintained my Protein and water each day. Just sippin and sippin. A little tired through out, but not overly fatigued. Walking a lot around the house--doing too much--folding laundry, bending to put the leash on the dog. Walking the dog and balancing not being pulled over or falling on the ice. Feeling absolutely NO restriction with liquids and getting pretty scared that it "didn't work." Day 8--so constipated. I had been doing okay with regular BMs with the help of the prescribed stool softeners--but I must not have drank enough water on day 7. So constipated I saw a little blood in my stool! So scary! Day 10 (today) I was able to eat 2oz of very puréed chicken and ricotta cheese--felt SO FULL. I had been waiting to feel full! ...then I didn't really like it lol. I was so scared I wouldn't feel full/that id broken it before it could work/that something was going to go wrong. Welp, looks like I've got nothing to worry about as far as restriction goes. Now just to figure out how to get 75 grams of protein in without entirely relying on shakes. Good luck everyone! I'm so glad you are all here!!

I was sleeved on 3/3/15. I have been taking my bariatric Multivitamin, 10,000mcg of Biotin, a sublingual b12, and folic acid. (Not sure of the mg on the b12 and folic acid at the moment and I'm not at home to check.) I also meet 75grams of Protein daily and have since third day post op. I know that protein is a huge issue for some people, but I haven't had any issues getting my protien or Water in--I'm kind of forceful about it because I don't wanna lose my hair lol. I plan to go get nioxin shampoo and conditioner sometime soon--within the week, I hope. I haven't noticed anything yet--I'm still very early out, but if someone says something on here that it might help, I'm planning to jump on it because my hair is thin to begin with. I guess we will see in another 2.5 months!