barbannn

I have not done this yet, but I seems like it is just almost inevitable. I used to eat like lightning! I am so sorry. No fun. You had energy for walking, that is good. My energy is just in the toilet today, so I am going to try and take some Iron. I feel really foggy which is driving me nuts. Did you throw up familiar foods or did this occur when you tried something new?

Anna,

No fun. Glad it wasn't a sneeze. Might give Bea a call, but I remember that early on, Theresa posted that she was told that there might even be some "popping." So glad you are feeling better. I would be scared to death to hear a "pop."

This is so weird. I was sleeved the same day, and I am EXHAUSTED today. I went to a basketball game yesterday, so I had a bit of a hard time getting my food in. I just woke up from a 2 1/2 hour nap - that is a nap! I feel kinda foggy too, I wonder if I am too low on my carbs? I hate this foggy head feeling. I am trying to eat a bit more than usual today. I hope it goes away after a day or two. Not fun.

I guess one worry I had was I do not think I can begin my Calcium or Iron supplements until I am eating solids? I just do not want to delay those supplements and cause deficiency issues? Are mushies enough to accomodate adding those?

I too live in Austin. I traveled to Dallas and my surgeon was Nick Nicholson. I have been very pleased with all aspects of the process. He has had a lot of successful sleevers, and he does other procedures as well. I think the more versed the doctor is, the better. I mean they just have a greater knowledge of all the possiblities for weight loss and can guide you to the one that is the right fit for you. It was well worth the drive to have his expertise.

glogarza,

I too was not perfect in my pre-op phase. I was sleeved on 12/29, and I ate Christmas dinner with my family. I think it is important to be as compliant as you can be pre-operatively, but I empathize with you. I mean I was NEVER good at a diet. I got scared as my surgery got closer that I had "done" my part, and I will tell you my surgeon told my family that I must have done fine because my liver was small and easy for him to navigate around. I guess what I want to say is be strong, and it is OK. Just do the best you can do.

I am on mushies. (I love the mushies. - sf popsicles are my best friend) I have energy, I'm losing fine for me (not crazy fast, but I am fine with the steady progress). I can try some soft solids now, and I don't like them. I had two bites of scrambled egg out of a Breakfast taco, and I think the cook had laced them with lead. It felt like I swallowed buckshot. tuna is ok, but I still have it pretty soupy and I would prefer Soup. Is it bad to just stay on mushies, if you feel ok? For example, I still prefer applesauce that is thinned with applejuice rather than "straight" applesauce. I am a bit worried too that there is very little Fiber in my diet. Thoughts?

WisconsinGal,

I am so jealous you can eat eggs. I had a bday lunch and we ordered take-out. A bit of a toughy. The two choices I saw on the menu that I felt might work were a cup of corn chowder, or a Breakfast taco (scrambled egg, black Beans and avacado). I was a bit worried about the corn, I am still on mushies and I did not think corn would qualify, so I ordered the taco. I had three bites, and thought I had eaten an anchor. It was like lead. The avacado was yum, but the egg was still to "solid." I am so happy on the mushies, do I ever have to go to soft solids?

Megan,

It is tough, huh? I was so bugged by it, I felt like I was going to toss my Cookies, which is no good cause there goes the protein! So my doc said, if I cut them so they are smaller than a baby aspirin, and I take them over an hour or so. I only take on med which I cut in 1/2 so it is not too bad. Good luck!

I too work in a school, I was sleeved on 12/29, and went in on Monday, 1/4 and knew I was not ready. I took off Tues. & Wed., worked 1/2 a day on Thurs, and then worked all day Friday. I was POOPED at the end of the day Friday, came straight home and napped. So this next week is my first full week back. I am in an elementary setting, so the pace and energy was just not there for me last week. I may take off Wed. this week, if I feel I need a rest mid-week. My principal has been very supportive, so that is a great gift I have had. The "work" itself is not the issue, I just did not have the energy on Clear Liquids. After moving to full liquids on Tues. I feel more more ready. With hindsight, I would have taken 2 full weeks off.

Another thought, those first few weeks, (pre-op...) our calories are so radically restricted, and it would seem our metabolism would really kinda shut-down. Now that you are adding some food back into your diet, it might take a while for your metabolism to catch up.... Hang in there!

Rachel,

How frustrating. I am just not there - yet. I know there will be the "dreaded stall." I don't know any rational reason why you shouldn't be losing - even with the carbs with such a low calorie intake. I guess, one little tip I have is try and not beat yourself up too much. I know when I would "be" good and not have any loss in my WW days, I would often go into a binge. I don't know if we can "binge," but still, it is just all the "head game" part of weight loss. I know I could not do this, BUT, maybe try to reduce your carbs like was discussed, but don't weigh again until Monday. Just let your brain have a little vacay from the stress of the stall. So sorry for this - we go through a lot and then if there is not scale victories - what a frustration!

Thanks! I tried some V8 Garden Broccoli today, and it was ok. You know since my procedure, I have like super-sonic smelling and the Soup today kinda smelled icky to me. Before surgery, Broccoli cheese soup was one of my favs and I look forward to making yours! Right now I am in love with Tomato which I could not stand before surgery - how weird it that?

Shanda,

You look tremendous! Wow, what a lucky fellow - you are just beautiful.

Looks like 2010 are when your dreams begin!

Congrats!

Barb

Deb,

Is this a "mushie" or full liquid?

Tonight I had a much simplier version of potato Soup. (I am at the "full" liquid stage.) It was pretty good, not as good as this I bet, but you could make it by the cup. I also thought I could take this to work. I heated a cup of chicken broth in the microwave and added 2 tsps. of Bear Creek Creamy Potato Soup Mix. It was still real thin, which I prefer, but very flavorful.

Day 3 and 5 were really rough for me, MidWestGirl. Really. I was deep into buyers remose at those days. I only had the dry heaves twice, but that was more than enough. I hope and pray your visit with the doc goes smooth today. Hang in there. I am 8 days out and still feel super "sore" in the whole ab zone, but I absolutely feel so much better each day. I have not had the nausea meds in 3 or so days, and no pain meds in the last 4 days. I still take pepcid and GasX though.

Linda,

Thanks for sharing. It is so helpful to hear from you. Like I said, I am not sure I know what full is, since it is so different that my pre-surgery full feeling. It is nice to know that the "rumbling" will subside. Do you ever feel just "tight" behind your boobs?

Barb

I was sort of reluctant to really tell anyone at work. Of course all my close friends and family knew about my decision to get the sleeve. I was mainly reluctant because I was afraid I too might fail at this - just like I failed at WW, Jenny Craig, The Zone, Ediets - I could go on and on! I am only ONE week out, and I know I will have issues, stalls, etc..., but at this initial stage what I can say is my reality now is NOT that I think I won't lose, but that will lose too much. Really. Today was the first day I moved to full liquids, and I could not eat more than 1/2 cup of Soup. That's it. I know the sleeve is just a tool, and if I pigged out on icecream.... I could sabbotage it. But this is the first time in a LONG time, I think I might actually be successful. I might not be on a diet in 2011. It will change the way you eat, without question.

Breekahouse - YOU WILL get there. Heck, I did not buy a thing at the mall today, but I actually thought, "one day I could come back here and shop." The last jeans I tried to buy were at the Gap, their largest size 16 was too tight, so I went home and ordered some off Ebay, because I did not want to have to go into another store. I am really busty so tops are a nightmare too.

Thanks everyone for sharing with me! Anna, I am not sure I really know "what full feels like?" Like I said, it is not a pleasant feeling like pre-op, more like a gurgly feeling that feels kinda like a warning. ThinOneDay eats a bit beyond that - plugs on, I was too scared - thought urping in the mall might make it a "less than splendid day, you know?" Kermit, I too hope we can all meet at some point, I'll be the burpy one. This is the best list to have support as we figure this out. It means the world to know you are not alone.

Today, I got my "drain" out and had my one week post-op weigh-in. I have lost 12 lbs! Twelve pounds! My daughter and I went to a very foo-foo mall in Dallas - it had a Barney's! Who knew they were outside of NY? But that is not the best part. Here's the BEST part - we went to lunch. My first "meal." We went to a little cafe, and I had a cup of tomato-basil Soup. It was the best soup I have ever eaten, seriously! I could only eat 1/2 of it, but had no troubles what-so-ever and was completely satified. I did not know if I would ever feel normal again, and today was just splendid! I did order tea with my soup out of habit, and then remembered I was not suppose to eat & drink at the same time. It is weird, I knew it was time to stop because my tummy sort of started "rolling," like I might need to burp, so I stopped. I did not actually feel "fullness," like pre-surgery when I ate a grand Mexican meal, more like, just it is time to stop. IS THAT WHAT FULL FEELS LIKE NOW? Kinda rolly? Also, what is that hot, someone is setting on my chest feeling I get from time-to-time. Like if I take a too big sip? It was a good day, friends!

I hired a trainer for 6 months prior to the procedure, so I could get as much muscle toned as I could. I plan on going back to him once I am able. However, I know he "ain't got the magic to fix my tummy." Keep in mind I am much older and in will Celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary this summer. So I am at a different place in my life, but I am just fixing one thing at a time. If I have saggy skin for a while, I know I worked hard to earn it. I know I will look to this list for support when and if I decide to remove it at some later time. I know I want to wait a long time and really settle into a constant weight and be healthy before any more surgery.

I guess what I think has already been voiced. It has got to totally be your decision, I think if a friend wanted you to do it and you were reluctant, then you shouldn't. I think it is a very scary sounding procedure. My hubbie was worried I might not comply with all the post-op rules and be sick or damage the sleeve. I guess I would try and believe that she is less-informed than you and believes you can do it with diet and exercise - which fails for 97% of folks in the long run. I told my hubbie, "it was time to get busy living or get busy dying." I wanted to live a long, active life with him and our one-day grandchildren. I feel this surgery will make that a much greater possibility. Again, Stephanie, it is your body and it is permanent. Decide what feels right to you, she will come around.

Well, today was the big day for me, and that is 6 days post op. I took 2tbsp of Milk of Magnesia on Sat., then 4 tbsp on Sunday. Maybe it might be somewhat dependant on the amt. of pain meds you require? I milked that morphine drip for E-V-E-R-Y drop, so that might have been part of my issue. I also think I had some fear about contracting my abdominals and it being too much strain on my sleeve. It was all just fine-and-dandy. I did not, and have not had any issues with diarrhea, and that is a frequent issue for many. So I guess it really does just kinda depend on the person. I am very glad I was allowed to just have this occur at its pace which was slower than most.

Theresa,

I don't know about other Hair loss, but another weight loss site had this quote:

"A hair folicle has three phases: growth, degradation, and resting. It is during the resting phase, which can last anywhere from two to four months, that the hair strand falls out of the folicle--but it does grow back! Normally, we lose 50-100 strands of hair everyday. The stress of surgery causes our folicles to go into rest mode in greater, coordinated numbers, but eventually they will all come back on-line and begin to regrow your hair."

That seems to be reassuring that the hair loss from the surgery should come back. It is stressful to think about. (I still thinking about a BM. : ) I am with you, a wig seems so uncomfortable to me.

Barb