mnbsleeve

Right before my surgery I started to notice, what seemed like a rash of complications posts! I suddenly panicked and wasn't sure what to do. I learned from people here that this is normal. Having fear and panic. For me it lasted all the way to the day of. I was freaking out inside as they were putting in my IV. But I was prepared because I had read about everyone's experiences and understood it was normal. If you've made your decision with caution and looked at everything you needed to, then just revisit the reasons you are doing this and remind yourself why you're doing it. I think it's completely normal to have these feelings. Regarding chronic diarrhea: I have not read of anyone having this with the sleeve. I did struggle with some diarrhea in the beginning, NOT chronic however, but it was because I developed a lactose intolerance. Many of Protein shakes have milk. My NUT figured it out right away and once I ony used soy based and those for lactose intolerance I was fine. Also, at 5 + months out, this has gone away! I can also now eat cottage cheese, yogurt etc. Something I could not do in the begining. This is a process and our body has to adjust. Everyone is different. But the nerves and fear seem to be pretty universal here! :-) I think it is only natural! Best of luck on your journey. Sending lost of positive thougths your way!!!!!!

LIke Coop mentioned above, body composition really changes! Especially if you've never excercised before. So you start to shift more in body fat/muscle ratio. I've noticed my body is definitely taking a more sculptured, leaner look yet I am not loosing as much as others and actually weigh more than some people I know, but I am still "smaller." I excercised a lot before my surgery. But since my surgery I seem to get a much better payoff! I "try" not to focus too much on weight... it's hard though :-) Some on this board have metioned they always keep a smaller article of clothing around to use as a "goal." I've taken that suggestion. I try on that garment (usually pants for me) and it seems to give me the reality check I need. For me it's more concrete than measurments, although that can certainly work too. Recenty someone gave me the idea to keep photos side by side. I'm searching for some older ones now. I've taken some current ones. Her post was amazing. You realy can't "see" the changes our bodies make until you "see" them!!!

I developed a lactose intolerance right after my sugery. I also reacted to pretty much most shakes and protein products with diarrhea, probably because of the milk. So I struggled a bit finding the right products. My NUT helped me through that. At the mushies stage I could not have cottage cheese, yogurt, most of the things people generally begin to eat. I resigned my self to this new change in my body HOWEVER, now about 5 + months out, I appear to be able to tolearte lactose well. I began trying some yogurt, then cheese, then milk... Right now, I can eat most anything, but I really stick to surgeons rules (protein first, fluids etc). I'm feeling great, lots of energy and no diffulties with intestines or stomach upsets. I've never thrown up and the only time I had some pain was when I ate something way to fast mindlessly - I was really stressed about something that had happened and my mind was elsewhere. It went away within a few minutes after I relaxed. It's a process and we all go through it a bit differently, I think. Best of luck on this journey!!!

For me it was right about the 30 lbs. loss that I started to really look thinner. Like you, it started showing on my face and neck mostly. I used to get a little nervous because "no one would say anything." Then starting at about 30+ the noticing and compliments started happening!!! more and more with the losses. I actually got my first, non-family "you're so skinny" comment this week! LOL I have collar bones, ribs and, as of last night, hip bones!!!! LOL Who knew! :-) Enjoy your new hair cut. I bet you look smoking hot!!!!!

Go for it!!!!!! BTW, have fun tonight!!!!

I don't think you are necessarily doing anything wrong! I have a similar experience than you. You are just a bit ahead of me time wise. I also average about 8 to 10 lbs. per month. As I posted above, for me, when it comes down to it, it's a really good loss rate. I was never able to get this type of loss before, even with lots of hard work! I think some people just loose faster. I tend to tell my self that as long as overall it's all going the right direction, just stay calm and keep doing what I'm doing. I don't think one "fun size" candy should throw off the entire month! If it's a pattern, of course, that may be the culprit. But if you are working out and doing what you're suppose to. It's going to have to come off. Also, I've been reminded here on this board many times that as we get closer to a healthier weight, things slow down naturally. Which makes sense because at some point we do have to slow down the loss, or rather, maintain. Congrats on the 70lbls lost! That's an awesome accomplishment!!! Keep on keeping on! :-)

Okay, I have to chime in! MEEE TOOOOOO!!!! My whole journey has been a big stall. I tend to get stuck for up to 4 weeks. But then there are these consecutive drops of one to three pounds. Overall I've been averaging about 10 lbs per month, like SleeveStalker above. I do notice that when I get my Proteins and liquids in I drop. For me usually that means getting a shake down because I'm one of those that still struggles with them. But without them I have trouble getting all my proteins in. So if I have more than 3 days where I am short on Protein, it's "get a shake down" time. I finally came to accept I am a little slower to loose BUT, inspite of the stalls, it's coming off AND way faster than before when I use to kill myself with excercise and food restriction only to loose 2 to 3 lbls in a month. So I'm just accepting these stinkin' stalls because overall I'm way ahead of the game. Hope we all get a drop in the scale soon!!!!! Even better, hope all our clothes fall right off our bodies :-)

YES! I agree! Loose clothing is sooooo much more exciting!!! I think my body shrinks sometimes and the scale doesn't quite reflect it.... maybe fluids, whatever it is. But my clothes will often fit different overnight! I LOVE that when it happens :-) LOL (even if it is a pain to have to keep finding new clothes!)

Wow! Good job Sarah!!!! Same to you Hadouni! Congrats to both of you! Anything you do now before surgery will only help you even more after the sleeve. It's also very helpfull with healing! You will find that after surgery you will have a momentum that develops from all of this pre-op work. It really does pay off. Best of luck to both you of you! Looking forward to reading about your progress. See you on the loosers bench!!!!!

Liliana, others have already given you good suggestions so I can't really add much. But I do want to echo 2bfit's comments, and others. YOU SO GOT THIS!!!! For me it has been so worth it. Just do a little dance, look at an old picture of yourself, and think about why you are doing this. Whenever my tummy would grumble, I did that and felt in control! I am chosing to do this and for good reason. It seemed to boost my resolve. Hang in there YOU TOTALY GOT IT!!!!!!! We'll save you a good seat on the loosers bench!!!! :-)

Woooo Hoo Linda!!!! You go girl!!!!! Strut your stuff!!!! I know what you mean about not necessarily being interested. But it sure feels good to be noticed!!! Super cool NSV!!!!!!!

Kristy! You look great! I agree with others, you look smaller than a size 16. I'm going to have to do this too, compare two pics. I don't think I really percieve the true difference, the changes my body made. I will see if I can locate some pics. It's hard because I've been very camera shy in the past! I wonder why? :-)

Amanda, I am so sorry you are going throught this! The people above have offered some excellent suggestions and I don't have much to add. Mostly I want to offer my support and words of encouragement. On the "complications" thread on this board, I read of others with complications, and like Tennille above, were able to get to the bottom of it and are doing well. I wish this for you. I could add that an antiacid is critical. If I don't take mine I experience the type of discomfort and symtoms you describe. You're probably on one but I thought I would throw that in. I also took raglan and it helped a lot. Hang in there. We are all rooting for you!!!!!

I have to chime in here! I could not agree more! I have said it many times, there are some awesome folks here and like others are saying, I am getting througth this journey thanks to the information and words of support I have found here. I am always amazed at the willingness of people, as yecats said, that basically have their own life to live, and yet willing to take the time to post, respond, and help out someone who's needing info or support. So, I will also add my most sincere THANK YOU!!!!!!!! (Several of those people are right here, right now, posting above! :-) ... and I'm sure more below! :-) )

Like everyone said, you should do great! At four months out I felt pretty much "normal." I just ate way smaller amounts and of course focus on Protein, fluids as per surgeon etc. I had to take a one week work related trip at about 2 months, just under. I did great! Like several here already said, I took Protein shakes with me to supplement and I "paid attention" to nutrition and fluids. But I did great. I don't see why you shouldn't have a wonderful trip!!!!! BTW, if you take dramagirl28, I request you take me too!

Hang in there Megan! Lots of us even GAIN in the begining. A lot of that is fluid retention, from the IV from the surgery, your body trying to heal. It is totally normal. I didn't really start loosing till almost 2 weeks out. But I know that I was losing, just the body adjusting. Just focus on your nutrition and fluid intake as per your surgeon's instructions. Also, keep moving. Walk and sip your water. I would suggest to not even look at the scale for now. Believe me, you WILL drop weight!!!! I'm 5 months out and sometimes I still go into disbelief that I will be the only person it does not work for LOL But it does! You will see that others will tell you they "appear" not to loose right away or even gain after surgery. It's part of the healing process. Hang tight, focus on the instructions, and welcome to the loosers bench!!!!! :-)

Congratulations Auntie Candace!!!! And congrats on reaching your goal!!!! Enjoy your beautiful nephew! AND the new you!

LOL! Definitely an NSV. I had a similar experience with my pants coming down in spin class! It freaks me out how this happens but you are so right! When we assume a stall or small loss means it's not working we are so wrong!!! I think it's the opposite: this is working so well, we are changing so quickly, we cannot absorb the changes and we are shocked when our clothes fall off of us LOL!!! Congratulations!!!! Happy shriking! :-)

There are chewable calcium tablets. Also, over the counter antacids like TUMS have calcium and my surgeon said they are okay to take. I use a chewable from Coutnry LIfe called Cal-Snack. They are a bit chalky but they just crumble up in your mouth. Not too unpleasant tasting.The ones I take have a vanilla/orange flavor. BTW, Country Life also makes a chewable vitamine. The only thing is they don't chew up as easily as the calcium. You have to "suck" them for a while rather than chew because they are a bit hard. But still better than a pill. Hope you can get these in the Europe. Hope this helps!

I would also add to check with your surgeon regarding quantities and types of soft foods. For example, I was not allowed any mushies till after week 4! and then it was only foods like yogurt, cottage cheese or a srambled egg. In terms of quantities, only about a tablespoon. I eventually worked my way up to 1 oz of food. It took me a few weeks from there to get to 3 oz or so. Now 5 months out I can eat about 4 to 6 oz, 8 max depending on the food I am eating. So be sure you are not overfilling your pouch on this first phase of mushie foods. Hope you feel better soon and you're able to figure this out!

Wowsa! You look great!!! Congratulations!!!! I'm sure you'll get those last few pounds off. Hang in there. You look amazing!

Wow! You look great!!!!! BTW, love your blog. I'm from the same area and I laughed at the intolerance for "cold" 50 degree weather LOL You also got my attention with the shopping finds at under $5 with an additional 30% off!!! LOL please post more about that :-) Congrats again. You look beautiful!

Congratulations Lissa!!!!!! I know what you mean about "secong day!" I always wait a day or two before changing my ticker LOL It's like I don't know if I should trust I went down LOL This sleeve is so awesome!!!! Congrats again on this great milestone!!!!

Leslieh, you look beautiful! As others have already said,you looked beautiful before and you still look gorgeous and more confident and radiant and super hot. I LOVED your story and would have loved to have seen hubby's face falling out of the truck when he saw you, lol. I'm sure you had a very happy aniversary Congratultions and thank you for posting.

Julie, I'm sorry I did not see this post sooner to wish you a Happy Holloween and tell you that I am sure you were looking HOT in your POCOHOTTI outfit!!!! :-) (love that). Congratulations on this great milestone. I can hardly wait to be "overweight" !!!! It so awesome to reach those goals. For me, it helps to remind me that I am doing it, that it's real and it's going to happen! Otherwise sometimes I fall into disbelief. Enjoy the new you!!!!!