PdxMan

They should have shown you the "tuck and roll" method for getting in and out of bed, which makes things easier. If you have a woman around who had a c-section, they can show you. Basically, roll yourself up like a rollie-pollie with your butt close to the edge (tuck), then roll off while still tucked extending your feet to the floor. Reverse for getting into bed. It gets better soon, don't worry. ** edit ** Forgot to add ... Holding a pillow tightly whilst doing this helps.

Well ... that is quite the question as everybody has different experiences. I was outpatient, in at 7 and out by noon. As you can imagine, there is no possible way I could have driven myself. I was still quite drugged. Other folks are in for anywhere from one night to a week. So, I think it all depends on how long you stay at the hospital, if you have any complications and how well you have responded to surgery in the past. Just because one person was able to drive home after one night in the hospital doesn't mean you will be able to ...

I had 5 scars, 4 for the laproscopic instruments and one to remove the excised stomach. Just over 2 years post, you would have to look really hard and close to see the scars. They are very small.

Quite normal. If you think about it ... you can only gain fat by consuming more calories than you burn. At the low end, you resting metabolic rate would be, again, at a minimum, 1,200 calories. So, have you eaten more than 1,200 calories each day since surgery? If you are anything like me and the other folk I have read about over the years here, you intake has been closer to the 400 to 600 a day range. So, what that means is while you may weigh more, that weight is not contributed to fat, so ... For me, that was the bottom line. I didn't care so much about my weight as I did my ability to lose fat. Happy Birthday!

I was down 40 pounds before I was able to change sizes. Then I was changing every couple weeks. Crazy.

Do a search on this site for the 3 week stall. It isn't a stall that lasts 3 weeks, but one that occurs approximately 3 weeks post op. Extremely common. Just keep following your guidelines and weigh yourself only once a week. Once a month is what I did, but I'm a little crazy.

What were your directions from your medical team? Most pre-op diets want you to avoid carbs as the point is to shrink your liver. Goldfish are going to be very high in carbs, so, I would guess that they would be way off the menu. I was also told that if I was ever hungry during pre-op diet, to have another shake. I would consume 5 or 6 a day the first few days. Just know that after about 4 days, my body found it's groove and it got easier. Just try to stick tight to your pre-op guidelines. They are there for a reason. It is also good training for post-op life. Good luck. When is your surgery date?

Over 2 years out and maintaining 120 pounds down. My digestion tract and absorption works pretty much exactly as God intended. Good luck finding GBP folks who can say the same.

When were you sleeved? You gotta know your diet has changed since being sleeved ... right? Change what goes in, things change going out. If you are in ketosis, acetone is being secreted and that is just nasty stuff. It is going to be a couple months before you stomach's swelling goes down and you are able to find your dietary groove. Until then ...

I had read about this on this forum before getting sleeved and I asked my surgeon about it. To summarize what he told me: With the fundus pretty much being removed along with the major part of the gherlin production, the "normal" hunger feelings are going to change. Your body will learn it's signals when nutritionally, you are running short. Take time to learn your body's signals and try to learn what it is you need. Focus on nutritionally balanced meals once your capacity goes up, and the hunger cravings will balance and you will know when to eat. For the first couple months, I had to set a reminder on my phone as I was always forgetting to eat lunch. But once I found my groove, breakfast, lunch and dinner no longer became chores.

You are most likely drinking too much, too quick or a combination. The first few weeks, you basically have to change how you eat. You cannot drink like you used to. If you swell big time, like I do, then your stomach is going to be swollen even more and you will need to take even smaller sips. Ice chips and popsicles are a good option now.

Oh, I don't think I was a (fill in the blank), I just don't want them to think I was a (fill in the blank). The few times I have been honest with folks who aren't on this board, the reactions have been like, "Wow! No wonder you had surgery." Or, "Wow, if I was that big, I probably would have had surgery, too!" Or, "Really, you didn't look like that big of a fat ass!" It's funny because now that I have lost the weight, I think people who thought negatively of me or my weight now feel they have license to say something like this and it won't hurt my feelings. Perhaps I'm oversensitive, or maybe not. I don't know. At times, when I have talked to people about the sleeve, they catch me still referring to myself as an overweight person. This whole journey is quite vast and revealing of some very deep personal things. At least, it has been for me. Quite unexpected the depths to which it has reached.

Well ... of course, everyone is going to be different, but I am well over 2 years post and my stomach still makes the gurgling, dishwasher sound at times. Far louder than pre-op. Makes my wife laugh at times ... but it isn't as drastic or regular as it was the first 3 months post-op.

How far out are you? Your stomach is going to be swollen for many weeks post-op. As the swelling goes down, it is going to be moving, shifting and doing all sorts of crazy things whenever you eat/drink.

And as per the many threads on this topic, post-op poking is sooooo much better. And my wife is more than happy to come along for the ride. Pun intended!

Oy, 1,200 ... Of course, they are going to give you the pie-in-the-sky numbers. The reality is closer to what you are doing which is about half that number. As far as your carbs, what are the wrong carbs you are eating? This could be contributing to your sugar cravings. Also, Protein is not going to satiate sugar cravings. Since most sugars are quickly (compared to proteins) converted to glycogen, I would estimate it is your issue with carbs causing you the greatest issues, but know that I am not a Dr nor a nutritionist, but I have been researching nutrition pretty extensively over the last 3 years since my VSG research began. It doesn't hurt to experiment, but do monitor everything you are putting in your mouth. I used MyFitnessPal. Great resource. Again, now is not the time to be doing a low carb diet. You need to get yourself balanced first. Remember to try to eat what I call nutritionally relevant foods. After you reach your daily goals, then eat the fluff, but until you meet your body's basic needs to function on a daily basis, you may get to feeling funky from time to time.

I usually tell them on the low side ... I don't want them to know how big of a (fill in the blank) I was.

Now there's something healthy ... never did like spotted d**k, but I know there are those who do. Too close to fruit cake, for my likes.

I've never been able to hold myself to one of anything, and I'm sure not going to start now! (Congrats on the jeans, BTW!)

{hug}

Are you getting your liquids in like Big suggests? Are you trying to do low carb? If so, now is not the time to be on a low-carb diet as your intake is so small compared to where you were a few weeks ago. My NUT suggested pureeing vegetables in broth soups. It worked for me.

OMG, isn't that the truth! I have given servers the same "look" I give my kids when they are doing something wrong and just like my kids, the server stops dead in their tracks. "Oh, would you like me to leave the bread?"

Dr Umbach in Vegas was $10,400. Has financing options. I would highly recommend him. ** Edit ** Just wanted to add that I took a second out on the house to pay for it. With the money I was saving from eating less, medical costs, etc. ... I was able to pay off the loan in just over a year and today I now pocket the savings. So, long story short, for me, this surgery is saving me hundreds of dollars a month, so don't forget to remember these aspects of the surgery when deciding what to do.

McButterpants, thank you for telling my story about bread. I love bread, too. Give me some of that garlic olive loaf from costco and it's on, baby! It would talk to me as it sat under its cute little napkin on the restaurant table. "dinner won't be here for at least 2 more minutes ... sure, I'm the last piece in the basket, but the server can bring another FRESH batch of my friends." And God forbid if the waitress tries to take the basket when they remove the plates. "Hey, there's still bread in the basket! Leave that there, please." Let's not even talk about Pasta ... ohhh ... good pasta with good bread ... I am happy to report, though, I now have a MUCH better relationship with my carb laden former BFF's (bread friends forever). I can have a bite or two and am satisfied. I no longer am obsessed the way you describe. It is so nice to have that burden lifted. Just one of the many miracles the sleeve has worked for me.

I have a packet of hot chocolate in a large cup of coffee just about every morning. I think it just depends on how far out you are and how aggressive you want to be in reaching your personal goals. I think for some people, even doing the sugar free alternatives are possible slipping points back to sugar enriched foods. But it all depends upon the person and their history. Myself, I was never able to do sugar free. It just made me want the real stuff even more, so I just avoided it as much as possible until I reached goal. But others have been doing sugar free for years, so I don't think it would be as much of an issue for them. As always, moderation is the key, but know that the first 6 to 12 months is going to be your optimal weight loss window. These items will be there for you next winter, too!