Lissa

Yep, going back to work will help. It will make you feel like you're "normal" again. This is a tough journey emotionally, especially when you've already got other things going on... and we have to take this journey while still dealing with "real life". There are lots of times now when I forget that I'm sleeved, until I get ready to eat. It will get better! ((Hugs))

Sounds like my recovery process. Do you have pain meds? Are you using them? There are NO awards for not using the pain meds. Take them if you need them. To help with the gas, you need to be walking, even if all you can manage to go up and down the hallway slowly, it helps push out some of the gas used during surgery. The diarrhea is pretty normal since all you're taking in is liquids. Liquids in, liquids out. Lightheadedness could be caused by the pain meds, by the gas, or just because you're not getting in much in the way of food. It could also be cause by Rx meds. Are you on meds for BP or diabetes? If so, a call to your doctor is in order. They may want you to slow down or discontinue those meds. Soreness on the left side is probably normal surgical pain. That's where the incision is that was used to remove the stomach for most doctors. If you develop fever, nausea, or other signs of infection, go to the doctor immediately, but right now you sound about normal for being only a few days post op. Take your pain meds, walk as much as you can, try to get in your Water (sip, sip, sip) and relax. Good luck!!

Your doctor should have told you what s/he wanted you to use. I believe the gold standard is magnesium citrate (comes in a green bottle, looks like sprite, tastes like crap) and it definitely cleans you out thoroughly. You'll need the day off tomorrow if you drink it tonight. I'd check with my doctor before I took the laxative and make sure you're taking the right one.

I've read several, but most were written by folks who had other surgeries besides the sleeve. One that I found interesting was "Passing for Thin". The author's journey convinced me that talking to a therapist was a GREAT idea after my sleeve surgery.

I'm with the petition to remove "what if" from the language, but we must lose "only" as well!

Great Sharon!! I'll be checking it out!!

I just got a good healthy dose of that hostility directed at me. I suppose the poster can block me if I bother them that much. I'm staying.

30 seconds at a time is better than not trying at all. Good luck!! Oh, and don't be scared of looking like an idiot. I think I have that one covered!

I'm not sure the early post-ops wouldn't take "drink and run" literally and end up hurting themselves!

It's tough, but doable if your child is able to walk and possibly climb up on the couch to sit beside you. Someone here said they told their small children that mommy had "skinny shots" that made mommy unable to pick them up for a few weeks and their children accepted that and cooperated to help mom heal. I thought that was a great way of explaining it to little ones.

Yes, they are irritating, but they are what we need to be doing early post op. They become routine because they ARE our routine to start with. Truthfully, I think many of us are tired of typing them, but they are the tried and true way to get past the early post-op discomfort, so we keep typing them.

Welcome to VST! I think we all feel/felt like stalkers at first because there is SO much information here for us all!! Good luck on your journeys!

Welcome to the loser's bench!! Congrats on having the surgery behind you! Now, the rest of your life officially starts!

It's not that big a deal, but yuo don't have to tell them about things you did 30 years ago. Just be honest and it will be fine.

It's too late for buyer's remorse, so now it's time to concentrate on healing and feeling better. Sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk. You need to stay hydrated, which will help improve your mood. If you think you're already dehydrated, it's time for a trip to the ER or doctor to get some IV fluids in you. Once you're rehydrated, you'll feel better. Get up, move around, concentrate on why you had this surgery. In a few days you will feel so much better that you'll wonder what you were ever worried about today. But, for right now, drink some Water and take a walk. It will improve your mood. Good luck!!

Everyone has some moments of doubt just before surgery. Keep remembering why you decided that this is the best option for you and you'll get through it fine. You trust your doctor and you know what to expect. Just take deep breaths and concentrate on how much healthier you're going to be in just a few months!!

Great job!!

Maggie, I've lost 94 pounds in 8 months. I'm past the high losses in a hurry stage and now I'm adding exercise to help push it down. But, in the last two months, I've lost 3 sizes...and I'm about to lose a 4th.

Great job, both of you!!

Good luck!! I can't wait to see you on the loser's bench!!

LOL at you!! Dumping syndrome is highly unpleasant! Do you really want to be in the bathroom with diarrhea every time you eat something your pouch doesn't like? It could be sugar, but it could just as easily be fat or spicy foods. My understanding of RNY is that they leave a large portion of your stomach separated off from the main portion of the stomach, so you have restriction, but that area of the stomach is still susceptible to ulcers and stomach cancer. No thanks! Also, the RNY reroutes your food from your pyloric valve directly to your intestines, which means you don't have that pretty little valve down there to hold food in your stomach. This means that what you eat slides into your intestines before it's digested...which is another cause of dumping and discomfort. This also causes malabsorption of the Vitamins and minerals that are present in food. Yes, you lose weight, but not in a pleasant manner. By contrast, sleevers typically don't have dumping syndrome and can eat small portions of most foods without worrying about dumping. We also absorb at least some of the vitamins and minerals from our food and we feel satiety longer when we eat. We still have to take vitamins to supplement the food, but the balancing doesn't have to be as precise for sleevers as for RNY patients. I haven't done tons of research on RNY because I knew someone who had RNY years ago. While she lost her weight, I'd have rather remained fat (and I did) than to have an RNY done after watching her struggles!

Fish and meatballs sound good to me. I am guessing you are eating with the family? How about doing something to make it special for yourself? Maybe make sure you're eating off a small plate with a smaller fork. I bought some pretty little china plates on which to eat my meals. I also got myself some small pretty glasses for juices, etc. I bought them from Goodwill, so very inexpensive, and I feel like I'm "dining" rather than just "eating". Treat yourself well and you will feel better. This is especially important during the recovery process. I even drink my Protein shakes out of real glass rather than from the cups provided with the magic bullet. I deserve it! You do too!!! Making meals an event will, hopefully, help you cope with the reduced capacity, but will also make you feel better about yourself.

Welcome to VST! You've come to the right place for VSG questions. There are a ton of threads on here about what to eat at the various stages, including some threads for vegetarian sleevers if that is applicable for you. Use the search function in the upper right side of the page to look up what you specifically need to know. Hopefully, your doctor has given you at least basic guidelines to use for eating. With those, you should be able to put together a diet you can safely use. This surgery, like any other WLS, is only a tool. The weight will fly off to begin with, but it's up to you how well you use this tool you've been given! Good luck!

Ricotta bake is still, essentially, liquids, so you may be able to eat more of it than you expect. You will feel restriction once you start denser Proteins. Just keep doing what you're doing, measure out your portions and eat just the portion. If you do feel "full", it will probably be pain somewhere besides your stomach. Mine was in my left shoulder when I ate or drank too much. Now it's back in my stomach/sleeve. Good luck!!

I took antibiotics very early post-op, within the first month I think. I just broke the horse pills in half and swallowed them with a little water. May I suggest adding more water to your daily routine? If you're already susceptible to UTIs, it might help prevent future infections.