SeattleSue

Hi, my name is Susan and I'm 43 years old, have been married 19 years to a wonderful man and we have 2 amazing sons; 16 and 14. I often say "in spite of us" and "but for God" they have managed to turn out to be remarkable young men. I'm a Joyce AND a Beth Moore fan too!! And I'm just so happy to be sleeved and able to break free of all the things that I've allowed to sort of push me into and hold me down, in this fat but safe prison I've made for myself. I wish I would have known about the VSG earlier, but I also know that I was not in the right place...but that NOW is the time. I'm so excited...a little nervous, but ready to face everything because I know that I am in good hands. As of today, I'm 3 weeks & 2 days post-op. I'm in a stall...and while I'm trying to hush the 'freak-out' voice in my head...I'm taking this time to focus on "other" things and praying that I don't change one obsession with food into a different flavor obsession with food (or "weight-loss"). A slippery slope for me... I've read every post in this thread and I see I am in very good company! Happy to be here! Susan

Sweet!

Hey Rainydayz, I've had intermittent left shoulder pain too. Same exact pain as post-op. I have it primarily when I am sitting in my car and once at the theater. I am 3 weeks post-op. I have wondered the same thing or if it is a pinched nerve... It seems to build for about 30 minutes and then goes away as soon as I'm moving around. hmmm makes me wonder if I don't have little "pockets" of gas...

I can totally relate. I also have the summers off, have 2 kids, and started my pre-op diet around Fourth of July! Can you say, picnic?? lol If I can do it, so can you!! Good luck, Susan

I don't know where to buy...but I know that there are gobs of recipes on Eggfaces' website. Google, world according to eggface...you should find it. Same lady, Shelly, who's famous for the Ricotta Bake. I just bought a little 1/2 pint ice cream machine to try some soon.

Nicely done!

Hi Lil, and welcome to the forum. You are on the path to a new life. I'm so glad you are seeking help for the other issues...I think things will only improve for you!! Glad to meet you, Susan

I started the day before!! I was totally freaked-out and included it in part of my story (it's the first entry in my blog). I was in Mexico with an IV in my right hand...this couldn't have been a worse scenario for me... Anyway, the pre-op diet and the surgery TOTALLY shocked the bod and it stopped...little spotting. 3 weeks later, I'm spotting again...but I think the low-cal diet is messing with me. Doesn't mean I haven't had a case of PMS hahahaha

ick mustard? vinegar? Tomato?

So glad that you can put your mind at ease that it's not your sleeve! Get well soon, Susan

I'm not quite there yet...but I can eat about 3/4 of a poached egg as a meal. I made the Ricotta Bakes (small ramikan) and can eat about 1/2. I can eat about 2 oz. yogurt. Last night I had a Large Scallop.

Here' s my 2 cents worth... At first I bought 3 different flavors of Protein powder: chocolate, Vanilla, Peanut Butter. Now, all I use is the Muscle Milk Vanilla (buy it in an 80 scoop bag from Costco). I use it because it is SO Versatile. I can make it chocolate by adding unsweetened cocoa, I can make it PB by adding a Tbspn of peanut butter! I can make it coffee flavored by using cold coffee or instant coffee, I can use essences (i.e., orange for a creamsicle, rum for a nog...). Unlimited possibilities. Perfect in a smoothie. Here are the basics: 1 Scoop 130 Cals, 2 grams Fat, 2 grams Carbs, 27 grams protein This mixes with 5 oz Water so there is less to drink AND it mixes so well in 30 seconds in my Magic Bullet. I don't have to chug 12 oz to get 27 gr of protein!

That's wonderful. Don't you just love it when it all 'clicks'. Good for you!

Welcome Jim! Congrats on your surgery and what sounds like a wonderful family! Here's to the new you!

Good luck with your surgery! I havne't looked in a mirror in a long time and thought, "you look fine." haha

Hahahaha I'm laughing with you. Keep on breathing!!

Oh, I'm so glad you were able to celebrate with your husband and enjoy your meal too! Congrats. Congrats on your first meat protein too.

Wow, let me be the first to welcome you to the other side!!!! I can't believe you're home already...stay on top of your meds for the better part of the next day or so...walk as much as you can to help with the gas!

Yellow Rose, I'm praying that you are well and this is just simply the flu or something. Hope to hear all is well. Susan

Welcome to the club Nikki! Congrats on your surgery...

This is not an original recipe, but when you get to have meat or even puree, this might work for you... It'll easily feed 6 people. 60 if they are all sleeved HAHAHA cut up a 3 lb cut of pork (I use pork loin because its leaner) rub with 1 Tbspn of Hawaiian Red Sea Salt (you can find this at places like Trader Joes...and if not, Kosher Salt makes a decent substitute) Rub with abt 1 Tbspn of liquid Smoke (I like the smokey flavor, so usually double that amount for us) 1/2 Cup Water Put it all in a crock-pot and cook on high for about 8-10 hours. Then using 2 big forks, shred the pork and let it rest in the juices. I usually serve this over Trader Joes Brown Jasmine Rice with some sauteed cabbage (and if I'm lazy, I buy a bag of coleslaw shreds to saute and use that!). I made this for my family this week and ended up really grooving on the pulled pork. I shredded it very finely for myself and then chewed well. YUM!

Today was an anticipated treat for me as I headed off to the seedy part of town to meet my dad for lunch. Hilltop Tacoma…it’s pretty notorious. Probably not like going to Harlem for a tourist, but it’s not a place I want to hang after dark. It does however boast some of the BEST Pho restaurants around! For the uninitiated, Pho is Vietnamese Noodle Soup. A Bahn Mi (Bun-mee) is a Vietnamese sandwich with French roots. It’s like taste bud utopia! It’s not my first outing since being sleeved, but it (wait for it…break into the chorus with me…,) “It feels like the first time, (feels like the very first time).” Hahaha I have no idea where that came from, but I seem to have a song in my heart quite a bit these days. God is good, and I am in love with my sleeve! I ordered a small rare beef…and there is nothing small about Pho soup. Traditionally, a “Large” is something you could bathe a baby in and a “Small” is probably 3 cups of broth, 4-6 oz of thin sliced beef and about 1½ cups of rice noodles…along with all the garnishes; onions, cilantro, fresh basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, and a slice of lime. A squirt of hoisen and a touch of sirachi and I am down for the count. I like it just spicy enough that my lips are on the verge of buzzing. Oh yeah, NOW we’re talkin’!! Anyway, as my mouth was watering and I was heady with the smell of anise and spice, it occurred to me that I was going to have to have a plan of attack. I needed a strategy. I’m not supposed to drink while eating…but, but…but it’s soup! You have to eat and drink at the same time. Dilemma!!! So here’s what I did: I gave my noodles to my dad (because who needs all those bland carbs anyway, they don’t add any flavor, just bulk…and I let the rare beef “cook” in the simmering broth. I added my condiments; got it just right, and then I slurped away! Oh My Word—I will never have faux Pho again. Diggidy-Dog, this is the stuff! Now, I’m not admitting to having faux Pho (i.e., instant Pho), because I just ain’t admitting it...But if I did, there would be no comparison. After getting through quite a bit of the broth, I decided to masticate (oh, I hope that doesn’t ruin your appetite lol) a piece of now cooked beef. Mmmm, MMMMM, MM! Then another. And all the taste buds screamed, “Ditto to what she said!” I thoroughly enjoyed myself and in no way did I feel like I did any injustice to that sublime bowl of goodness. There is no point to this blog, unless of course it’s just that what the rest of the world may call restriction, I’m calling freedom. This little sleeve of mine reminds me of what a good church is; it’s not about what I can’t or shouldn’t do, it’s about what I get to do! That’s my salty slice of the day. I hope y’all are living life like you only get one chance…with the blessing of having a second one! Thanks for listening! God bless, Susan

I had them...The occurance seemed to lessen the more I walked and the further away from surgery I got. I think I was swallowing air in my sips. But I found I also got them sometimes when I would stand after sitting for a while. Mine didn't hurt...I felt them coming and would apply gentle pressure across my incisions. Maybe Gas-X strips might help you?

So glad to hear from you! Welcome back (Papa) Jack! Keep it up...you're doing great. Enjoy this time when you'll have no hunger/desire...I say, embrace it. Enjoy your ice-chips (they were soooooooo soothing)...and even make gatorade ice cubes to drop in your water! yum. Now, give me 3 laps!

Good for you! I'm glad I found this site too...with people just like yourself--making informed decisions and moving on. I know you are gonna rock your sleeve!! Go on, bring sexy back!! WOOT WOOT Susan