Texas Gal

I am 6 weeks out as of Friday and yesterday and today have been quite difficult in just plain eating. I have been eating fine for a couple of weeks and haven't changed what I am eating. I still chew, chew, chew but everything seems to just sit in my chest. It never comes up. As a matter of fact, I haven't thrown up at all with my sleeve. I get in everything I need and the tight feeling in my upper chest eventually goes away but for some reason this is happening every time I eat. What is going on? Any ideas? Has anyone else experienced this?

I am 3 1/2 weeks out and I am rolling on the floor laughing at this thread. I had all of the above issues. Leave your inhibitions at the hospital because you will do things you never thought you would before the surgery. I will tell a little story now.....after surgery later that night I had gotten up to go to the bathroom. The sharts had already started. I went to the bathroom, did my business, got up and had to prop one foot up on the toilet to wipe because those nasty catchers were in the toilet and I couldn't reach. Well, I had to take one leg out of my undergarments. After I went for a small walk down the hall I came back into my room and realized I had just walked down the hall with my undies around the ankle of one of my legs. I looked down and noticed that I had a small little bit of shart on my undies also. I took those things off and buried them in the trash. I was mortified......so I stayed in my room for several hours after that.....too ashamed to go back in the hall. The only reason I went back out there is because I was forced to by Nurse Cratchet!! Just thought I would share my horror story!

That is SO AWESOME! I am 3 weeks out from surgery and have been stalled at 19 lbs. So hearing your victory is encouraging. I, too, know stalls happen but going through the first one is somewhat disheartening. Keep up the good work......I am very excited for you.

These posts explain a lot to me. Friday this week I will be 3 weeks out and I am SO tired. I am struggling to get in my protein though so that might be part of it. I can't stand the taste of anything. I try to force it but it is so hard when you don't like anything. Suggestions please!!

I remember that time too. The way I talked myself through it was to remind myself that I was doing that because I wanted my liver to be just right so that I didn't have any complications. I just kept thinking that I was avoiding complications and that helped. I promise the pre-op time will fly by. I am a little over 2 weeks out from surgery and I promise you.....it really DOES get better.

I work in Dallas but live in Arlington. We'll have to have lunch soon.

I was told I could start my mushy phase today. For breakfast I had an egg over-medium and I cut it up really good. No problems. I could only eat about half of it though. I kept the rest and ate it about an hour and a half later. Success! For lunch I had a 1/4 cup of Chicken Salad that was VERY well blended but I could only eat about a 1/4 of that. 1) I am scared to death of moving on to this stage. and 2) I got full really fast. I felt that one burp that I now know is my limit so I stopped. I have the rest to snack on for the rest of the day. I just want to say how excited I am that this went as well as it did. I am SO excited.

I was sleeved on July 29th by Dr. Dirk Rodriguez in Dallas, TX. I am 8 days post op and just trying to get it all together.

Ladies and Gents.......Please, Please, Please tell me I am not alone here. I am drinking constantly (or so it seems) and when I add up all of my liquids, I am hitting maybe 40-45 oz. WHAT? That can't be. I am SOOOO SCARED right now. I promise I am really trying but it's not working. And to top it off, I am trying to work in the protein. Like that's going to happen if I can't get in my liquids. I broke down and cried my eyes out last night and this morning. I have a call in to the Dr. office to see what they say but I really don't know what to do. I sip, sip, sip...like it has been drilled in me. I try just a little bit larger drinks and that hurts so back to just sipping. I have to have everything room temperature because cold stuff just hurts. All I can say is HELLLPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing about all of this (in the Full liquid stage) is that everything is sweet. I am not a sweets person AT ALL. Everything sweet before surgery was only tolerated occasionally and now I just can't stand it. I can only eat/drink so much broth and creamed soups too. HELP!

You look GREAT!

You look AMAZING! I don't even know you but what comes to mind is....I'm so proud of you. I know........that was a little weird but I say what's on my mind. Great Job!

WOW...WOW...WOW!!! You look AWESOME!

You are definitely an inspiration to me. You look GREAT!

M2G......only one word needed - BEAUTIFUL!!! Keep up the great job.

Thanks everyone! Now on to my next questions...........when does the diarrhea go away? and when do I stop feeling the gurgling in my chest? I can't tell if it's still the gas or if it's hunger. I know my mind is playing with me - telling me that it wants to eat. Hey, I'll be honest....I would love a mushy bowl of refried beans right now. Probably wouldn't help the gas problem but it sure sounds tasty. I would like anything with substance.

I really like the Isopure from GNC. I have found that after my surgery I am only able to tolerate it half water and half Isopure. Before surgery I could drink it by itself. Tastes like Gatorade to me.

How AWESOME for you!!!! I can't wait for that feeling. There is an end in sight. Have any of you had trouble burping also? I guess I took this for granted before (being able to when I needed to) but now it is such a feat to just have a tiny burp.

Thanks Seattle Sue!! I didn't get a drain. I'm wondering if it would have helped. One one hand, I am very glad that I didn't get one but on the other hand, if it would have helped, I wouldn't be feeling this way. I haven't been able to sleep for more than 2 hours at any given time. The night in the hospital is a given to not sleep but coming home yesterday and not sleeping last night is awful too. I pray for more sleep tonight but my shoulder is already hurting so it's not looking too promising.

I didn't think about a heating pad. THANK YOU! I'll definitely try it. This is really the pits......I'm just ready to feel 'normal' again, ya know?

I had my surgery on Friday, July 29th. the nurses bragged about me to the next shift and so on.....I was up walking, I had already defecated, etc. My only issue then and now is the pain in my chest, in my left shoulder and on my left side. It was that way at the hospital and now at home. I am a sipping fool but sometimes I feel that I am going too fast even though I'm sipping. My gas pain is so HORRIFIC that I just want to cry. Is anyone else experiencing this? Had experienced it? How long does it last? I am out walking, trying to stay mobile but also rest at the same time but I am NOT getting any relief. Please help my fellow sleevers! I'm begging for relief.

Good Luck Ladies....I too am being sleeved tomorrow as well!

Well, we made it and tomorrow is our big day. I am so ready to be on the other side and healed. I feel like a little kid going to Disney World. Hey...at least I would fit in the seats of the rides before too long. There's a positive. I went for Pre-Op yesterday and my nurse has the sleeve. She is 4 months out and is down 50 lbs. She told me EVERYTHING to expect but it is the exact same as everything I've read on here. I am SO THANKFUL for this forum.....SO, SO, SO THANKFUL!!! I don't know about the rest of you July 29th Sleevers but this Pre-Op diet has me pretty much exhausted. I started the liquid diet on Sunday....I will NOT lie on here....I did GREAT until that night and I had a heaping tablespoon of Peanut Butter. I became very tired but for some reason and I couldn't sleep. On Monday, I found out that I didn't have to be on Clear liquids only for the entire pre-op diet so I had some Cream of chicken Soup and later I had some Tomato Basil Soup....again, no lying....I had a little bread with the Tomato soup (maybe 1 slice if that). Still feeling tired and weak. Tuesday, I stuck to it beautifully but was tired. Wednesday, beautifully as well...still tired. So here I am the day before with CLEAR liquids only and I am absolutely EXHAUSTED! I just want to take a nap and it's only 9:00am. How have the rest of you felt during the pre-op diet? I go to the hospital tomorrow at 7:00am and surgery is 'scheduled' for 9:00am...we'll see how that goes - you know how Dr's are about being on time. I wish each and everyone of the July 29th Sleevers good luck! And all of the others as well. What a journey we are about to embark upon. See you on the other side.......................................................

You look AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait....one week to go.

Absolutely.....hopefully we like the same foods so we can share. LOL!!!