smallgirlsxthree

Crystal Light lemonade is pretty potent also!! I have weird cravings for milk, I take a couple of drinks and I'm over it. Maybe because I need protein?

I am one month out now, and I have a follow-up appointment with my surgeon next week, but I'm wondering which type of exercise is good when you're at my stage in the game?? I liked Zumba before surgery, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet??? I've been walking since the surgery, but I don't feel like that's enough. What have you guys done that seemed to work?? My doctor is pretty evasive, and I don't know if he will give me some ideas on which type of exercises to do....Thanks!!! :purplebananna:

October 14, 2011 and 36 lbs gone!

I'm still waiting to "find" my neck, but it's one of the things that I'm looking forward to the most. I hate looking at the pictures of me or catching my reflection and seeing my massive double chin. Congrats on finding your neck!! Great job!!

I'm 3 1/2 weeks out, and I've been finding myself having the same problems. Not really knowing that I'm full and wanting to or eating all the time. I hope this goes away!! I'm like you though, keep waiting to feel "full". All I feel is the lower esophagus stuff, and I've been getting reflux pretty bad too. I'm craving answers too Chris!!

Makes sense now!! Thanks guys!!

They were giving me Cream of Wheat in the hospital and telling me to eat scrambled eggs a week and a half out. I guess every surgeon is different.

I'm 3 weeks out, and I still have REALLY bad gurgling in my stomach. Nothing painful or anything, just loud and embarrassing lol!

Syntrax also makes a protein powder called Twisted Cherry that tastes like kool-aid to me, and it's mixed with water. There are several other flavors in there too, and you can order sample sizes online to see if you like it.

Hershey's does make Sugar Free Chocolate bars-the little guys-and they also have ones with Caramel in them!! Just saying....(and they're really stinking good too!)

I don't knwo if you have a family or not, but having some meals made ahead for them a freezing them helped alot. That way you don't have to worry if Dad feeds the kids frozen pizza or take out for 3 days while your in the hospital. I had my sister come over the week before surgery and help me clean the living daylights out of my house-nothing worse than laying on your couch not being able to do anything and staring at the cobwebs in the far left corner of your living room!! While I was in the hospital I would have killed for a heating pad, they just kept reheating a wet towel in a bag in the microwave. It didn't seem the same at all. I had really bad pains in my neck and shoulder from the gas trapped in my belly. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital, so make sure that you pack enough socks and undies for a couple extra days just in case! I am 12 days out right now, and I can pretty much do whatever I want around the house. My husband still doesn't let me lift the laundry baskets or bend over and pick up the kids toys, which is kinda nice! Let yourself be a "baby" for a couple weeks, it's not like we don't all deserve it! I'm going to start making some blankets and a couple of scarves for Christmas, so if you have a hobby like that you can stock up on some stuff that you can do to pass the time. Good luck with your surgery!!

I stopped in at work today (I work at a hospital) when I went to the dr's office, and one of the girls I work with asked me if I had lost some weight! I've been off of work for almost a month now, with having 2 carpal tunnel surgeries also, so they haven't seen me in a while. I was so taken off guard lol I haven't told them that I had weight loss surgery, I just told them that I had a hiatal hernia repaired-which I did with my sleeve. I have only been at this for 12 days, and I've lost 30 lbs, but I can't really tell that I've lost anything yet. But to have someone notice was GREAT!! I could get used to this!!!

How are you going you be able to work 11 days post-op?? I'm an xray tech and it's absolutely mandatory that I take 6 weeks off, because I can't be released to lift any type of weight before then.I know that if someone started to fall in front of me, I'd try to stop it whether I was supposed to or not. The risk of messing up all that's went on in my belly is soooo not worth it. I'm 11 days post-op today, and I still have pain in an incision site whenever I bend over and I'm still pretty uncomfortable when I stand up for too long. I can't imagine working right now, I'd be useless at moving patients or anything for that matter lol I'd try to get some more time off...just saying!!

OMG this is TMI, but I have had the WORST problem...I am 9 days post-op, and I have been having the most obnoxious, smelly, LOUD gas! It is soooo embarrassing. I have had problems with bloody bowel movements a few days post-op, but now I have pure water diarrhea and this horrible gas-not a good combo!! Has anyone else had this problem? I'm pretty sure it's not gas from the surgery now, just of my own making. Please tell me that this goes away...my daughter called me poopy pants earlier today, and I deserved it! HELP!

I started my journey in April 2010 with my initial consultation with the surgeon, I had already had my 6 months supervised diet with my family practice doctor. I could have had all of this done LAST year, if I could have made up my mind to quit smoking then. I had a sleep study in December 2010, diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I then quit smoking in March 2011. I then had my psych eval in February 2011, and had to have 6 follow up sessions after that. Those follow up sessions took me into June when I finally got into a therapist! Every time I talked to the surgeon's office, there was something else that they were waiting on it seemed like. I finally got released from the psychologist in July 2011, then it was all sent to the insurance company in August. I got the insurance approval at the end of September. FINALLY!! Then when they asked me when I wanted to do it, I froze up lol!! I had to do all the pre-op labs, EKG, CXR and 2 week pre-op diet also. I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand on September 28, left hand on October 12, and my sleeve done on October 14. 3 surgeries in 2 weeks. But I wanted to get all of it done while I was off of work. I've lost about 27 lbs or so since 2 weeks before my 1st carpal tunnel surgery. I haven't told alot of people what exactly my stomach surgery was for, didn't figure it was anyone's business. I'm loving that I finally did something for me and my husband supports me all the way!! He works with several people who have either had the sleeve, their wives did, or the had the RNY, and he comes home with all sorts of stories for me and tips and stuff-I love it! Good luck with your journey!!

I went to my surgeon today for a follow up, and he thinks that I have an infection in my colon from too many antibiotics from having 3 surgeries in 2 weeks. I have to take some medicine for a week and hopefully it will get better. He doesn't think that I'm lactose intolerant, but I bought some Lactaid today as a back-up if this doesn't work!! I'm scared to eat or drink anything but water, because I have to go to the bathroom all the time!! I'm glad I don't have to be at work right now, I'd be dying of embarrassment lol

Yep, drinking 6 oz of milk with protein every day. I have alot of burping, but I figured that it came with the territory for a while. I am on a pureed/mushy diet right now, and I've been drinking my water and even getting a small glass of milk in on top of my protein shake. I feel like I'm doing ok with that part, it's the "end" result thats so bad! Could it be from the protein shakes?? I see my surgeon tomorrow for my follow-up, guess I'll have to ask him about it, UGH!!

I had my sleeve done on the 14th, and my Upper GI showed alot of swelling also...the contrast was dribbling thru the end of my stomach and refluxing pretty bad. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital because I couldn't drink, so they gave me steroids to try and shrink the swelling and I'm taking Protonix for the reflux. I'm still having trouble with the reflux, and I've noticed the gurgling is still happening alot. I know what you mean though, it feels like you've swallowed a bubble with every drink-pretty uncomfy!! I burp all the time lol Hopefully it will get better as we go along!!

Has anyone had any experience with bloody diarrhea? I'm 5 days post-op, and have only done it once, but it's scaring me a little bit!! My lower abdomen is still pretty sore from the surgery, but it hurts pretty bad now...any advice appreciated!!

I struggled with the pre-op diet also...cooking supper was the worst part of my day!! Have you tried any sugar-free candies? I still love sugar free Werther's, Jolly Ranchers and Life Savers. They let me have them after my surgery too, they've been great for me!! Good luck dear!

I feel your pain soooo bad!! I quit about 8 months ago after smoking for 16 yrs, and just had my surgery last week, but I think everyone is just waiting for me to start smoking again. My husband has even told me that he thinks I'll start again!! I still think about having a cigarrette, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. Someone gave me a good piece of advice when I quit-how can you let a little white stick run your life? How is it possible that that stupid stick is stronger than you? That has stuck with me, that and the fact when someone thinks I'm going to fail I get ticked off and prove them wrong lol I gained 48 lbs when I quit smoking, and getting back down to that weight is my first goal weight. I really think not smoking is going to be a struggle for me for the rest of my life, it was too big of a part of my life not to be. I had a little realization the other day though, I noticed that I can taste food better now! And I haven't had sinus cold yet. I really hope and pray that you can quit again,and prove to yourself that you are stronger than that little stupid white stinky stick!!

They called me back, and the surgeon said that the diarrhea is still from my gastrograffin UGI on Sat, and the blood is from the surgery...not so sure I'm comfortable with those answers?? I hadn't had a bowel movement since Monday, and the blood was bright red not dark red. So confused...

I'm waiting on them to call me back now. Funny thing is, I have only had really soft bowel movements since my surgery. Dr told me to start Miralax within the next week because I'd need it...ummmm nope!! Hopefully I'll get them to answer me soon.

I'm finally home from my surgery!! I went in on Friday and had my surgery at about 7:30 a.m. For the first several hours after surgery I was in soooo much pain it was pretty much a blur from all of the pain meds and anesthesia. By Friday night I was doing alot better, still had alot of gas pain and pain in my shoulder from my drain pushing on my diaphragm. I still had alot of fluids going in and a catheter too, but I got up Friday evening about 12 hrs post-op and walked around the halls. Saturday morning I got my Upper GI done, and that didn't go so well. The bottom part of my sleeve was pretty much swollen shut, and the gastrograffin was barely trickling thru. The dr. told me that the swelling would go down with time. So the rest of the day Saturday I couldn't hardly drink without urping and I had severe reflux. Guess who had to stay an extra day??? I didn't get barely any fluids in until after lunch on Sunday. They gave me a huge shot of steroids to help the swelling go down and Prilosec to help with the reflux. After the steroids kicked in, I felt 10,000% better. No more urping!! I'm still on thinned down pureed foods for another week til I can go to full on pureed foods. I'm able to get more liquids in, and my Protein shake is going down good. I slept like crap in the hospital, so I'm praying my own bed helps to make a difference tonight!! I was weighed the day after surgery and was +7 lbs, then +5 lbs 2 days after surgery, then today I'm down 3 lbs from my pre-op weight. Good luck and no complications to everyone else!!!

I was dx'd with Barrett's in my EGD also, it made it where I could not have the Lap-band, but the dr said that the I could still have the sleeve. I still have to have an EGD every year for the next five years to monitor it, but losing the weight and having the hernia repaired will help the GERD and then help the Barrett's. Good luck!!