PamelaAM

What did your doctor say about only taking one week off of work? I'm not sure that is really realistic. I think there have been people who have done it and I would assume that their jobs did not require a ton of activity. The recovery is so different for everyone and I know that I was on the worst side of it so please don't judge by my experience but I also would hate for you to be stressing out about getting back to work when you are trying to recover. Please talk to your surgeon about it. And by the way, I am SO glad that I went through it all! SOOOO worth it! Best of luck to you :-)

I am so sorry for the loss of your aunt. So many times, the lessons that we receive from the things that we experience are the basis for our future growth and truly do make us all the better. After experiencing so many close losses myself now, I no longer hold back what I want and need to tell people . . . mostly those three little words that none of us use enough *I love you*. My hardest lesson was learned when a good friend who was dying asked me to come down on a Wednesday and I didn't think I could take off work so told her I would come on Saturday. She died on Friday and I never was able to tell her all the things I wanted to say or be there to comfort her as she lay dying. I've held on to that lesson ever since and it helps to guide me through my life. You journey is nothing short of amazing and you continue to be such an inspiration to all of the rest of us! Keep up the amazing work! Oh, and please share how you got such incredible arms!

Wishing you good luck and a speedy recovery!

I just want to say to all of you that this is the most inspiring thread of posts that I have ever seen on this board! The fact that everyone feels comfortable to be to open and honest really touched my heart. We all have our demons that we face every day. I was just sleeved 3 weeks ago and while I am eating around 750-800 calories a day, I still find myself calculating when I can eat again - even right after I have eaten and am so so full. It's weird. I am hoping that when I go back to work next week I will have more to keep my attention and I won't be focusing my day on food.

So today starts Week #4 and I have to say that I feel pretty darn good. Yesterday I got this huge burst of energy and was cleaning everything in the house - couldn't sit still. Of course, by late afternoon I crashed but I was amazed at how much energy I had! It really DOES get better! So excited!

Amazing post! I think it is so important for the pre-op folks to know that the first couple of weeks is rough but that there IS a big wonderful rainbow once you get through those first weeks. I am starting week 4 today and am really starting to feel good. I, too, have struggled with weight all my life and I finally feel like I hve done something that is really going to work!

Ok, so as long as I know I am not alone LOL! I know that there is no way to really *gain* weight on only 750 calories a day and if I wasn't such a scale addict I'm sure I would have never noticed. I'll take up 3 and then down 5 anyday! It's the net results that matter!

Just figured it out - http://video.about.com/lowcarbdiets/Low-Carb-Cauliflower-Rice.htm

Sounds yummy!

I was sleeved on September 27th also and just this week I am finally being able to cut back a little on the acid reducers. I had been on a prescription acid reducer for years before the surgery so thought I would never be able to cut back, but I am only taking it once a day now instead of twice. I would definitely contact your doctor and ask for something prescription. And if what they give you doesn't give you any relief ask for something different. Not every medication works for everyone - you sometimes have to try a few to find what works best for you. Good luck. It will get better. My first two weeks were AWFUL! And then my third week things started turning around. . .

Can I ask a silly question? What is "riced" cauliflower?

Today was GREAT! So sorry I was late but appreciate you all waiting for me :-) There is nothing like being able to chat face to face with people that actually understand what we are going through. We talked and talked and I could have kept going - so nice to be able to actually relate to others in this journey! Looking forward to getting together next month to compare notes! Thanks Sophia for putting this all together. I hope more people will join us next time! PS. You are all very welcome! You all are cheap dates. . .LOL! The bill was so cheap that I ended up tipping the poor waiter almost as much as the bill was and wrote a note that said "Thank you for accomodating us!" Figured that way he won't run when he sees us again!

Geek! I can't believe you went to work 1 week out!! OMG, I couldn't even move out of bed until day 14! I guess I'm a wuss :-) But when I woke up on day 14 I actually felt human again. Still didn't have much energy but as I approach the 3 week mark (on Monday) I am feeling pretty darn good compared to the first two weeks when I thought I was at death's door :-) Congrats!

I have severe (to the point of burning like pain) itching at my incision sites. It woke me up last night and I couldn't get back to sleep for hours. I've tried putting antibiotic cream on and it helps a little bit. Does anyone have a suggestion? It's driving me crazy and keeping me awake at night!

So I went in to get my staples out and to have my first post op. Told my doc about my weakness and overall fatigue. They couldn't even get a reading on my blood pressure because it was so low, which scared me. Doc said that I had lost 21 lbs in less than two week and that was normally what someone my size should lose in the first month. Said I had become hypoglycemic and that I needed to add back sugar and carbs into my diet. Suggested that I eat ice cream - I was shocked! So tomorrow I will send my hubby to the store for ice cream and more things with carbs and sugar. Doc said I need to eat more than I have been. Not sure how to do that but I will give it a try! Kind of concerned about the blood pressure thing. She tried at least 6 times with no reading. One of the times when she asked me to talk while she was taking it, it came up as 73/46. But then when she tried again it wouldn't register. Doc said I should feel better once I can get some carbs in me. .

Thanks Mary! Getting some carbs and sugar in me for a few days really helped. Plus now that I am on *mushies*, seems to make a huge difference in how I feel! This week vs last week is like night and day!

So excited for you! I am looking forward to being in your shoes in another 4.5 months! :-)

Thanks Mary! Never even thought about ice :-)

Sending thought and prayers her way. How awful!

I, too, am taking 4 weeks before I go back to work. I am in my 3rd week and just now starting to see a little bit of energy return. I am hoping that by the end of week 4 I really am ready to go back because I am going back to the busiest weekend of our year as well as lots of travel in the couple of weeks after that!