minniekitty

This is a good post. My experience was a little different than yours, but we all have our own little varieties. I'll share mine, so people have an idea of what can/cannot happen. I didn't have a catheter, so I kept on going to the bathroom with the IV. I had a bruise on my left wrist for a couple weeks from the IV, and the back of my right hand is still sore from it (one month post-op). The nausea was the worst. I threw up foamy diluted blood on the first and second days (which is normal). The barium swallow for the x-ray made me vomit. I was so afraid of ripping my staple line from all that vomiting, but I was OK in the end. My pain was actually quite manageable, so I'm lucky in that regard. The first 2 nights I woke up from pain, but the nurses promptly treated it. The first day I was in very little pain (in fact I felt pretty good) because I was high on anesthesia; I started to feel uncomfortable on the second day (mainly from the nausea and drainage site). I asked the nurse and doctor to take out the drainage tube by then, but they had to keep it in for the leak test on day 3. TAKING OUT the drain and the stitch holding it was probably the most painful/uncomfortable part of the ordeal, but it only lasted a minute. After the nurse took it out, I was freaked out mentally by the idea that there was an open hole on my tummy that would heal from the inside-out. In the hospital I was actually lying on my stomach by the second evening (trying to relieve the gas pain). My doctor (Dr. Aceves) came in and saw me lying on my stomach on the 3rd day and said I was the second person he ever saw lying on his/her stomach after surgery! He said it was a good sign that I was healing well and had little pain . I only used 2 of the pills the doctor sent me home with, and they were for things completely unrelated to the surgery. I used them for menstrual cramps, lol. I really didn't have any pain by the third day. I still have the pills and I'm just keeping them "in case". I'm not sure how to properly dispose of them (i.e. I don't want to throw them in the trash). Gas can feel impossible to get rid of. I walked around the hospital on an hourly basis, and I still had lots of gas. It completely went away by day 4 or 5. It particularly annoyed me because I had to fly across the country (San Diego to Cleveland, OH) after the hospital discharged me. Gas-X strips helped relieve the pressure, but I still had to toot. The head hunger IS real, especially while I was on the liquids-only phase. TV food commercials seemed evil to me, how they zoomed in on the food in slow motion. pizza was always my "drug of choice", so those commercials were the hardest to watch. I often found myself changing the channel or walking away from the TV. While on liquids I would put food in my mouth, chew it, and then spit it out. It was gross, but it gave me that little taste I desired. I did cheat once and eat a couple potato chips (that went down well). My mom always has 2-3 bags of potato chips out, and it drives me nuts. WLS also changes your perspective on things. I'm a lot more attuned to food and the way it affects me. Another "side effect" (that I don't really like) is that I pay attention to other people and what they eat. My mom is very large, and eats a lot of crap. I want her to have WLS too, because I don't want her to die from her obesity (she already has hypertension). My dad has cancer, and I don't want my mom to be sick too! At 53 she's still young enough to make a change. But, then I remember how I would get p*ssed at people who told ME to lose weight. It's a decision she has to make for herself, but I am concerned for her. Maybe once I'm successful, she'll see that and go get WLS too.

I agree, although I have largely remained silent about it. Since I had the surgery so recently, I guess part of me is afraid "jinxing" myself. I mean, imagine how embarrassing it would be to tell the world I had WLS and then barely lose any weight. What if I gained the weight back? As fat or formerly fat people, we all know how mean people can be. We all have heard the snickering of people gossiping about "that person" who had the RNY (or other WLS) and gained back all the weight. I think a lot of the fear of sharing our WLS story is a fear of failure. I had no idea when my aunt had the sleeve 2 years ago. She lost weight so fast, I actually thought she was starving herself because all she would do is drink Isopure. She only told me about her surgery earlier this year. I didn't even know what the sleeve was until then. Would her being more honest than "I had a hiatial hernia removed" have helped me sooner? Possibly.

I wish I practiced sipping Water beforehand. I "knew" I had to sip and wouldn't be able to chug a bottle of water anymore, but I guess I didn't really realize it until it happened. I'm having a hard time reaching my liquids level, especially since I'm eating (soft foods) now. I'm probably at risk for dehydration :/ I also wish I didn't order a 3lb tub of vanilla Protein powder off the internet, thinking "How can you mess up vanilla?". It tastes like thick milk and makes me gag. It's important to be prepared before surgery, but get small samples to try after you have your sleeve. Then make the big purchases. Your taste buds really do change.

I'm a little late to jump on the bandwagon here, but I want to join!!! I hope that 20 lbs is doable in 7 weeks. Even to get into the 180s would make me happy! SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Kala.................225..................200.2............180.............20.2

I say go through with it. My mom and dad were supportive of me getting the lap-band, but not the sleeve. I had the sleeve anyway, and I didn't tell them otherwise because I wanted to avoid the confrontation. They were afraid of me having a "real surgery" in Mexico. I was afraid of having the complications that came after the band, and having a re-operation to remove it (which is almost guaranteed after so many years). You know your body best, so do what you need to do. Your mom will come around, she has to. It's not like they can reattach your stomach!

You look like a completely different person! You look great! Posts like these really inspire me- I'm only one month out!

I love this topic I had it done because my weight got out of control. Without a serious intervention, I'd continue gaining 10 lbs a year (and likely more over time) indefinitely. I of course tried to monitor and control my food intake, but my stomach was an insatiable beast. I'd eat an entire (huge portion) entree at a restaurant, and STILL be hungry for more. I was a hardcore grazer, but still could fit in huge "meals" with 2nds or 3rds. I outgrew my 16's (that I hated), and went to the 18's. That was hard for me, moving up a size. I gained 40 lbs in the past 4 years. I thought I was ridiculously fat at 185 lbs, and I looked back at 225 and wished I was that size again. I used date a guy who was with me while I gained my weight and ballooned from my original 185lbs. He would tell me how I looked disgusting and made him want to vomit. How it was embarrassing to be in public with me, how I looked like a fat loser. I had a prominent 2nd chin and a pendulous belly, he'd say. Granted, he was an a**hole and I am so much better off after I stopped talking to him, but those kinds of comments are hard to let go. The irony is that he had the RNY about 5 years ago, so you'd think he'd have more compassion for my weight problem. I have heard that people who used to be fat can be harder on other fat people, though (probably as a defense mechanism because they don't want to get fat again)... My weight was an easy "go-to" when someone wanted to hurt me. I was afraid to confront others, because they'd target me for my weight. I have dieted in the past, but I'd gain the weight back. I admit I probably could have tried "harder" on my diets, but after awhile I'd feel so hungry and deprived that I'd quit after a few months. I still wish that I could have been able to lose weight the "hard" or "real way", but I know that I'd fail. With diet and exercise alone, I'd have a 95-98% chance of gaining the weight back. I wanted a permanent solution. I look to my mom and aunt- both lifetime yo-yo dieters. I didn't want that for myself. My aunt had the sleeve 2 years ago, and for the first time in decades, she's thin and staying thin (although she has gained 15 lbs). I can't give up on this diet, because my new stomach won't let me. My sleeve will carry me on this weight loss journey, even if I kick and scream all the way there. I let my weight stop me. I didn't want to go out, because I was afraid of being the "fat girl". I didn't have my picture taken, because I hated looking at them. I had people get mad at me for avoiding getting my picture taken. I wish there were more pictures of me now, but there aren't. I want to change that. I know at 23 it may sound odd to say, but I do wish I had the surgery sooner (when I turned 18). Sooner so I could be thin now. Sooner so I could make up for my early young adulthood that I wasted being fat. Half of my family is obese, and they suffer from hypertension, diabetes, and joint problems. That is not a future I want for myself. I know that reaching my goal weight of 145 won't be a magical cure-all and solve all my problems, but at least I'll not have 80 lbs of extra weight to carry. At least I'll look good and not be fat. At least I'll have my health. At least I won't lose my breath from climbing up 2 flights of stairs. At least I won't sweat at the drop of a hat. I do worry about regaining the weight if I have kids, though. Oh well, I'll deal with that problem if it happens!

Sunny, I hate the Protein drinks too. I've tried a wide variety of them with no luck. I did find one that I could tolerate, but it has 11g of carbs and 9g of sugar in it. I think that it's worth it, though, because I couldn't drink my protein otherwise without gagging and/or vomiting. It's from Trader Joe's. It's called Trader Darwin's chocolate whey Protein powder. At 17g of protein per serving, it isn't the best Protein Drink on the market nutritionally. It is, however, a lot easier to stomach. It doesn't clump as much as the other protein drinks out there, either. I'm on the soft food phase, too, so I focus on high protein mushy food with low carbs (or high in fiber) to compensate for my lack of the other "superior" protein drinks with higher protein and lower carbs.

I'll have to try that. It would be nice to eat a "normal meal" again. It still amazes me at how little I can eat to feel satisfied, compared to what I used to eat. I am eating some stir-fried tofu right now. It's pretty tasty with all of the seasonings. Normally I wouldn't touch tofu, but it makes a nice meal. I've basically been a vegetarian since surgery!

I was sleeved August 12. I don't have much variety in my meals, either. I eat refried Beans at least twice a day. I mix it with melted cheese and a spoonful of Greek yogurt. I also like to eat Shelly's Baked Ricotta (scroll down for the recipe: http://theworldaccor...reed-foods.html). I haven't cooked this yet, but I want to try Shelly's Quickie Meatball Bake today (http://theworldaccor...-leftovers.html). I am a terrible cook, but hopefully it will turn out nonpoisonous. I have some Greek yogurt here, some cottage cheese there. I try to make sure that my mushies are high in Protein, because I am not a huge Protein shake fan. Now I only have to drink one protein shake a day (that I mix with skim milk for added protein).

I saw Apollo 18 a couple days ago at the theater. A lot of people didn't like it, but I thought it was pretty decent for a horror/sci-fi film. The Help is the next movie want to see!

I'm about 30 lbs away from the "overweight" range, but that's my second mini-goal. My first mini-goal is to be in Onederland, and I'm almost there . When I get closer to the wonderful land of being "just overweight" (hehe), I'll definitely join your group! I'm so tired of being obese!!!!

My weight loss was ridiculously fast at first- I was losing 2 lbs a day for the first 10 days. And then it came to a halt and slowed wayyyy down. It drops a little bit here and there, but anywhere close to my original high rate. It's normal for your weight to fluctuate. It can be anything from hormones to Water retention to your body just being frustrating (I know I've felt that way). You didn't really gain the weight, so don't worry! So early in the game, it's practically impossible for us to gain weight. Over 100 lbs to lose can seem like a daunting task. I have 80 lbs to lose and it feels unreachable at times. We have the sleeve to help us, and it will help us. I'm only 3 weeks post-op, so I might not be the best source of information. If you want a companion in the same boat as you, feel free to PM me or add me as a friend.

Thanks for posting. I will try to avoid these mistakes! The one about alcohol is pretty scary. I know a lady who had the gastric bypass around 7 or 8 years ago and later became an alcoholic. She lost custody of her kids (her parents are now in custody of them), and her life is in shambles. It can be so easy to transfer addictions. A lot of us are addicted to food- we need to be careful.

That is quite the accomplishment! Congrats on your weight loss!

*hugs* I had my sleeve done in Mexicali on 8/12. I'm 23 and never had to deal with any comorbities either. At 3 weeks post-op, I still feel like I made a mistake by permanently altering my body. I try to remind myself why I opted to have this surgery. We're healthy now, but for how long? Half my family is obese and they suffer with hypertension, diabetes, and joint problems from carrying so much weight. I'd like to dodge that bullet. No matter how much I tried to monitor what I ate, I still gained roughly 10 lbs a year from slipping and indulging a little bit here and there. I wanted to nip this problem in the bud; at the rate I was going, I was destined to weigh hundreds of pounds more and almost certainly have hypertension and/or diabetes. At my highest weight of 225 lbs, I tired easily from walking too much or standing too long. I used to sweat at the drop of a hat. In college I barely fit into those tiny lecture hall seats, and couldn't get those little flip-over tables to fit over my lap. I had to cross my legs with my notebook on my knee to "comfortably" take notes. Most of the time I was the fattest person (or at least the fattest female) in the room/class. People here often say the first month/few weeks are the hardest, and that things will get better once we can comfortably eat normal foods. We had major surgery and need time to heal. We're just experiencing some buyer's remorse at the moment

I'm well acquainted with scar care treatment. Mederma works, but it only works by helping your scar heal better. It won't ever be completely invisible- but it can look better. It takes time (months or years) for a scar to fade and heal, but it will never disappear. Keep on using the scar treatment (Mederma works best for me), and it will look better over time. There are also silicone scar sheets and gels- they've worked wonders for many people. Plastic surgery (laser, dermabrasion, or steroid injection) is also an option to help scars heal better, but it's not the cheapest or least painful route. If other products fail you, though, you can always consider it if the scars really bother you.

After 10 days post-op, I could have full liquids.

Congrats!

Like the previous poster said, try taking smaller sips. After awhile, it won't hurt as much. I take larger sips without any pain (I'm 20 days post-op), but I still have to be careful not to drink too much at once.

I'm only 20 days post-op, but I've been taking biotin to help with any hair loss I will likely experience in the future. I have very fine hair, so this part kind of scares me. Oh well, at least it grows back :/

This is what my surgeon told me: I was told I could only walk for the first 6 weeks of surgery. But, I could start swimming once my incisions healed (15 days post-op). So, my main (and favorite!) form of exercise is swimming laps. I take my dogs out for a walk daily, too. I was suggested (by an outside source) that to speed my weight loss while I'm in this "honeymoon phase", I should use the treadmill on an incline and fast-pace to increase my heart rate. It's still low-impact, but is an actual work out. I've been too lazy to actually do that as of yet, but I plan on starting soon (I'm 20 days post-op). 6 weeks: I can lift weights that are 10-20lbs. 8 weeks, I can increase it to 20-30 lbs. 12 weeks, 30-50 lbs (like I'll ever be able to lift that much!). 8 weeks: I can use the elliptical trainer. That's my favorite piece of workout equipment! I can also start doing yoga at this point. 10 weeks: abdominal crunches, push-ups, sit ups, squats 12 weeks: pilates, aerobics, running, jazzercize 24 weeks: bowling I hope this helps. Just like the pre-op and post-op diets, the exercise recommendations vary from surgeon to surgeon. I wish I could do more to work out at the moment, but I also don't want to rupture my pouch or tear open my incisions.

You truly are an inspiration! I'm just starting out, and would love to be as successful as you have been. I am going to look into getting a personal trainer- I exercise, but not as much as I probably should. I'm still in the "recovery" phase, but have this nagging feeling that I'm being too lazy regardless. For the time being, I'm stuck to low-impact workouts! Thank you for sharing your success story

I can relate. I was sleeved on August 12, and my weight loss came to a standstill a little over a week ago. I also can't get my Protein down. Today I vomited the strawberry flavored unjury mixed with skim milk. Other protein drinks make me sick, too (ESPECIALLY Isopure). I wish there were an easier way to get protein that doesn't involve me getting nauseous and close to vomiting.

I had the same feeling too right after my surgery. I was worried that I seriously shortened my lifespan and I screwed my body up. I also had some of the silliest fears; like, what if I found myself in an apocalyptic situation and I couldn't survive because of my altered stomach? Now I'm almost 3 weeks out and a lot of my fears have settled. I've lost a lot of weight and I'm really happy with my decision (even though I've been stuck at a plateau for the past week!!! :mad2:)