E-girl

OH... and make sure you have all your food that you will need for the first 2 weeks so you don't have to send someone out to get you the wrong thing. Clear Liquids only (Chicken, Veg, and Beef Broth, Decaf Tea and Coffee-no creamer, Spenda, Crystal light, sugar free apple cider, sugar free popsicles) and protein shakes with at least 20 grams of protein per serving. Don't even think you can have bread, rice, or pasta. All three will expand in your stomach and could possibly cause a leak. Also I did liquid vitamins for the first 2 weeks but you can do chrewable tablets (no gummies).

Hair loss occurs for two reasons...lack of protein and the body reaction to major surgery. Your body is trying to repair itself and you are not able to take in the same amount of protein and calories as you did prior to surgery. When this occurrs, your body has to prioritize what it need to do with the calories you are taking in...A. repair the body and maintain organ health or B. grow hair. It's going to choice "A" always! Hair loss is usually temporary occuring between month 3 and 6. If it continues beyond 6 months, then you need to increase your protein intake.

Congrats!. Take a small pillow with you so that you can hold it on your belly if you need to cough. Make sure you get all your pain meds filled before you leave. I recommend liquid pain meds so that you don't have to crush the pills (yuck). As far as class, I think Monday will be too soon. The first 4 days are the hardest and most uncomfortable. By day 8, you should be well enough to go to class but ideally 14 days is preferred. My doctor stated that 8 weeks is when I was able to go back to normal exercise.

Why didn't they do a scan first before they opened you up? That is what my doctor did. It showed that I have a fatty liver and he instructed me to lose X amount of weight before the sugery, which I did. My husband same thing but he was still big but not so big that they couldn't continue. Ask if they can do a scan the week before so that you don't have to go through that again.

I am very glad I took a before pic of myself. It's actually very motivating. Let’s you see the changes that you can’t see in a mirror. I took a picture every month on the about the same day and did a Powerpoint slide with weights and sizes. My only regret is that I didn’t have my measurements.

I was sleeved on Feb 7, 2012 and I have lost 79 lbs

The unflavored Unjury protein power works. If it a hot soup, you will have it let it cool to 130 degrees or it will clump. Congrats by the way on your surgery. Welcome to "soon to be skinny."

I think for safety reasons, I don't think its a good idea to not tell someone you love about your surgery. What if something happens or your need help or your have complication. They may be really hurt if they do find out and you didn't tell them.

As for moving, do you have some friends that can help you?

You need take in at least 20 grams of protein twice daily (Thats 40 grams through suppliments). My doctor said that I could only have skim milk to mix with my protein shakes. Don't buy too much!!! Your taste buds might change post-surgery. Mine did. I bought a lot of Unjuy and liked it at first but now I can't stand it. I bought Isopure and try it before surgery...no problems...after surgery no good. I will recommend Nectar. You can buy it online. They have great sample box with like 25 different drinks. They mix really well and have not after taste. Also Premier Protein is one of the best protein drinks you can buy. The vanilla tastes like a melted milkshake to me. Plus its already mixed.

I told everyone, family, friends, and everyone at work because I didn't want to have everyone asked me why I was out for two weeks or you look like you losing weight what's your secret. I personally wanted people to asked me questions or express their concerns before the surgery and not after. My family and friends was very supportive (mostly)...work was also supportive except for 1 person but she was a big B to begin with so I expected it. One of my work friends had a lot of questions about my experience...later to find out he is having by pass surgery at the end of the month.

I am a very strong person and out spoken at work so I know most people wouldn't say anything negitive to my face which is fine by me. But people will talk and not always nicely...people still think this is a easy way out, which it's not...and some people will just think your sickly/pitiful/weak which is not the case because you are doing something that will hopefully extend your life and give you a better quality of life. To those people, I say "Yes, I cheated...cheated heart failure, high blood pressure, back and knee pain, depression, and an earily grave...so yes, I cheated".

But to be honest, if I had to do it all over again, I would only tell my family and closest friends but not lie if asked by coworkers.

I want to wish you the best of luck. I won't lie to you. You will have good days and bad days but it is all worth it. Welcome to healthy!

I hear ya! I feel the same way. I can't even say "there are days when..." because it is everyday. In the very begining I really regretted doing it all the time, all day long....but now... it like once a day I reget the surgery because I want to eat the same things that family is having at dinner time. After that, I back to normal remembering why I did it in the first place.

I am much happier now not being classified as morbidly obese, being able to tie my shoes without holding my breathe, and buying clothes in the normal sections instead of the womens department. I take one day at a time. Sometimes I think I could do fat too but then I remember how unhappy I was. I would much rather be angry/depressed for an hour a day about not being able to have all my comfort foods and pigging out than being angry/depressed for being morbidly obese and afraid of an earily grave.

It does get easier. Its a learning process...thats the point of the surgery...to help you make better food choices.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. I am seven days out and feeling a lot better.

Thanks. That's good to know. I was thinking that I was going to have to live with that for the rest of my life. That would be horrible.