Peronella

Don't get discouraged! 54 pounds in 4 months is a heck of a lot of weight!! Don't listen to the negative talk... I would say listen if you were gaining. But, golly! 54 pounds is HUGE!! Celebrate that loss and keep doing what you are doing!!

I am a high school teacher and I had my surgery before Christmas break, spent 2 weeks at home and went back the first of the year. The first couple of days, I was a little tired and felt drained by 2:10. but by the end of the week, I was back in the swing of things. The hardest part was finding time to get in my protein, since my schedule is very tight with very little down time. But, it all worked out.

Am I the only one who is having incredibly vivid food dreams lately? Right before surgery, I had several which were so realistic that I woke up almost tasting what I had dreamt. But then, they went away. No food dreams for months! Now, I am waking up feeling guilty, because it FEELS like I have eaten the wrong things and in huge quantities. Last night, for instance, it was a whole, large, highly decorated ice-cream cake. The night before; bags and bags of M&Ms. The dreams themselves are harmless, I suppose. It is the residual feeling of guilt that bothers me. Anyone else??

I went to the mall today and, for the first time in a decade, bought clothes from the regular side of the store off the rack. Granted, it is a size 18, but it isn't an 18W and I didn't have to order off the Internet. I spent more than I should have, but the feeling from shopping like a regular person was priceless!

Dr. Brian Long at Sibley is fantastic. The office is incredibly supportive and they are truly a one-stop shop! They have someone who will figure out all your insurance issues for you. They hold monthly seminars at the hospital.

I had surgery 20 December and it has been only in the past couple of weeks that I can drink like I used to. This was the hardest part of life after surgery since I am a gulper not a sipper. I have always been a thirsty girl (not diabetic even remotely), and instinctively drain whatever glass put before me (used to be Coke Zero). This was a huge hinderance to staying hydrated because I would get anxious at the mere thought of drinking something, because of the inevitable pain that came with it. After a LOT of retraining, and healing, I can drink normally again... Albeit no Zeros anymore. I get in about 70 ounces a day now, and am down 50 pounds.

I ate a very small green salad last night with no problems. I chewed well and it went down easily. I really felt like I needed some roughage and just that little cup of greens with some fat free thousand island dressing was so satisfying! I am 2 months out and was given the go ahead for regular food at one month.

Please do not worry! Go in there with a positive attitude and you will be fine! I, too, was very nervous ramping up for surgery. But, my cousin, who is an OR nurse, made me promise to have a good attitude and go in laughing. She said that we can control how we recover based on how we view ourselves and the surgery. She was right. It was not bad at all. So, laugh! We will all be here waiting for you!!

Message me your address and I will send you some Crystal Light!!

So glad it all went well! I have been thinking of you!

Many diet root beers do not have caffeine. For example, diet Barq's is regulary caffeine free.

Dr. Brian Long at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D. C. Absolutely the highest recommendation!

2 months out and i am supposed to be at 1200 calories, but I find it very hard. I hover around 950-1000. I have lost almost 40 lbs.

Catheter and IV, no drains.

Anna-- Do me a favor and do not weigh yourself every day. If you have to weigh yourself, do it once a week, at the same time. I hit a stall at the beginning of week 3 and stayed the same for 3 weeks. At the end of the first week, I was absolutely beside myself. I cried and cursed myself for having done this to myself. I put the scale away and my whole outlook changed. I stopped obsessing and started focusing on what I was doing, not the effects of what I was doing. When the stall broke, I decided to stick with the 'once a week' rule and now I weigh myself every Saturday at 8AM. I am down 9 pounds since the end of the stall and that makes me happy. It isn't a lot day by day, but over a period of time, that is pretty good. Don't forget, this isn't a sprint, it is a marathon. You will make it to the finish line!!

I was sleeved on 20 December and it has been only in the past 2 weeks that I am not feeling restriction drinking. I used to be able to empty a can of coke zero in 3 big gulps, but after surgery, it was taking an hour to sip through 8 ounces. I was feeling like I was spending all my time trying to stay hydrated. But, now, I am able to start gulping, Water now, and satisfying my thirst. This has been such a great feeling. As I was not really missing the food, I was missing the drink... As for food restriction, I am still feeling a lot of restriction. I can eat no more than 4 ounces at any given time. Tonight, I went out to dinner with a friend (only the second time I have ventured out since surgery-- the first time made me very sick). I was so pleased to be able to order my favorite Indian meal, eat a very small portion, ask for a box and take the rest with me. All without getting ill! I did bring my own (very, very small) spoon, however

This happened to me a week ago after eating some (very rich) lobster bisque in a restaurant. It was very scary, and I didn't realize what was happening until I had been in the fetal position for a couple of hours and the nausea had passed. Now, I am mortified to eat out.

Get well soon!! I will have you in my thoughts as you recover!!

I, too, am a teacher, and I had surgery the week before Christmas. I took only 3 days before the break, and then went back when school started up.

Sleeved 20 December and down 27 pounds. I had been stalled for 2 weeks, but lost 2 lbs. today, so, hopefully I am back on the losing train! I am walking about 2.75 miles a day and taking in about 600 calories and 64 ounces of water. I have been told that I have to get it up to 1200 calories, so that is my goal. I just hope that my slow loss isn't indicative of failure... I have been feeling pretty defeated lately.

Today, after work, I went to a local restaurant and decided to order a bowl of the lobster bisque. It was always my favorite before surgery. I got about 1/8 th of the way into the bowl and started to get super hot. The more I ate, the hotter I got. By the time I was done (I ate about 3/4 of the bowl) and got up, I had sweat through my sweater and jeans! I felt like I was going to vomit the whole way home! I went directly to bed and took a long nap. I guess I was not ready for a "restaurant experience!"

I make chili with extra lean ground beef and white kidney beans and top it off with plain Greek yogurt, which tastes like sour cream. It is almost all protein! And the beans give extra fiber, to boot!

I have suffered from this for 20 years... Needless to say, since surgery, it has been worse. I spoke with my doctor on Tuesday and he said that once you are backed up, it is useless to take anything by mouth. He said that your best best was an enema. As much as the idea of an enema grosses me out, if it is the best thing to unblock me, I guess that is where I'll go.

39... Hoping that my 40's are happier than my 30's.

Ahhhhh.... Pickle juice..... I have to say that pickles are the number one thing I miss eating. I have my next doctor appointment next week and I plan to ask when I can eat a pickle again. I could give up pizza forever (it would be very hard) but I can't live without my pickles!