NJsharon

Got you Michelle, thanks! Artsy, you will not find the group as it is secret. You need to friend me (Sharon Ivanauskas) & then I will add you to the group!

Okay I need you all to either send me a message on facebook or post on here that you have friended me with your name. I have several friend requests, but don't know if they are all may sleevies! I have Kat, Aris, Erin, Tracy, Crystal & Joby. Any of those people here? Please post, so I know to approve you! I don't want to add strangers to our May 2012 Sleevers group!

Is Crystal or Joby here? Or Tracy? I have friend requests from them, but not sure if they are May sleevies?!

You have to friend me... Sharon Ivanauskas. Then either post here, or send me a facebook message that you are wanting to join the May 2012 sleevers, so I know who you are!

That's great. Beef & brocolli was one of my faves pre-sleeve, so looking forward to eating it again!

Just search for me on facebook... Sharon Ivanauskas. Then also send me a message saying you want to join the May 2012 sleevers group, that way I will know to add you! As the group is secret you can't search for it, or you could, but it won't come up!

I saw someone next to me using a laptop to watch movies, once they announce it was safe to turn on electronic items.

I started a 'secret' May 2012 Sleevers group on facebook, if anyone wants to join me on there. Figure we can all keep in touch & chat with each other! It is secret group, which means that nobody can see the group, nobody can see the members & nobody can see the posts. I know some of us haven't told all our facebook friends & may want to keep it that way for now. So made it secret. Now to add you, you have to be my friend, so if you want to friend me then look up Sharon Ivanauskas, also send me a message saying you want to joint he May 2012 sleevers group, so I know who you are!

Okay, I think to add you to the facebook group, I would need to be your friends. Unless anyone else knows how to do it another way?! So maybe people can friend me on facebook & also send me a message saying that you want to join the May 2012 sleevers group. That way I will remember who is my sleeve friends! I will go set it up now!

I just flew from Philly to San Diego with US Airways last week & there was no TV screens on the plane. I thought there would be as it was a long flight! Also on the way home, my Dr gave me compression stockings, so I wore them & made sure to get up & walk about the plane about 3 times, to prevent blood clots. I did also want to upgrade to business class, but it was full. Economy was fine though.

It may be different for you as I had my surgery in Mexico. But for my pre-surgery I had a blood test, urine test, chest x-ray and EKG.

Would anyone like to make or join a May 2012 Sleevers group on facebook? Then we could all chat with each other on there, live chat if we wanted etc.? I saw there is the option to make it a secret group too, so others could not see the group or who is in it. As I know not all of us have told all our facebook friends yet & may want to keep that under wraps. Let me know & if there is enough interest I can set one up, or someone else can do that if they want. You can find me on facebook too, if you want to add me as a friend... Sharon Ivanauskas.

I was going to say about the gas too. The main reason we have to sip is so we don't inhale gas too. It will hurt your tummy! Also that is why no straws, because you will be swallowing air as well as liquid, which creates gas in your tummy & pain. I am at the same point as you though, just had surgery last thursday & not really knowing when I am full. But I am grazing & just taking sips pretty much constantly, rather than having 'meals' of liquids right now. I am trying to get closer to 64oz of liquids in, but it is hard!

I am doing great so far. Just having trouble getting in all my liquids. Had a dizzy spell this morning, almost fainted, so Dr is thinking it is that I am a bit dehydrated & need to up my fluids. My poor little tummy is full though!

Thanks guys. I guess I am not getting enough liquids in then. I was nowhere near 64oz & probably not close to 48oz either yesterday. So will up my fluids & try to drink more. Boy, feels like I am stretching out my little tummy drinking so much liquids though! Here in the States I will be seeing my PCP for follow up bloodwork & go to a support group locally that has a nutritionist, so can ask questions there. But that is only once a month. LadyIvy, that is funny. I have gatorade on my list of acceptable fluids & my post-op instructions say to get at least 1 1/2 cups of gatorade a day in.

Today I felt dizzy after I took a shower, so sat down so I didn't faint. Dr's coordinator said to make sure I am getting my liquids in & especially drinking gatorade. I have had almost 2 cups of gatorade today. Wondered how many cups or ounces I should be getting in each day right now? I really don't want to get dehydrated as the thought of having another IV in me is freaking me out. So want to make sure I am getting all my fluids in at home!

I have 7 year old twin girls & was pretty honest with them. I told them I was going to go to Mexico to get surgery to help mommy become skinny. I realize now I should have said to lose some weight or to be healthier. Do not say you are going to get skinny. They started crying, both of them, as they thought I was going to come home looking completely different! Once I reassured them I would look the same when I came home, they felt much better. I told them I would have boo boos on my tummy, that they would have to be gentle with. That mommy would have to eat very tiny bits of food and chew it up a lot. They are now fine with it. First thing they wanted to do, when I got off the plane, was to see my incisions! LOL But I suggest being honest, but say it is a surgery to help you lose some weight slowly. Do not say you are having surgery to get skinny... otherwise you might get the reaction I had with my girls!!!

But realistically, how long would it take to lose weight by yourself & would you keep it off? That is what worried me anyway. I know I am a yoyo dieter, I lose weight, then I gain weight, then I lose weight, then I gain weight. I never get anywhere. With this tool if you use it correctly, you will lose weight! I have absolutely no regrets now! I see more complications with lap band than sleeve. Seems it either erodes or it slips. I was considering lapband & so glad I decided on the sleeve. Good luck, you will do great!

I was 244 when I got weighed right after surgery. 3 days later I am down 6lbs. So averaging about 2lbs a day so far.

I have a pills question too. Does it get easier to swallow them?! My gosh, I have to take 3 regular meds in the morning (all smaller than an m&m), so swallow them with Water, but it makes me gag as I can only sip & not gulp them down. Will I just get used to it eventually. I swear, it is the only bad thing so far with my post-op recovery! I hate taking my pills!

Oh I hate taking my meds. I have 3 pills to take each morning, all pretty small. But still hard to take them with a sip of water. I get them down though, but sometimes gag. I do one at a time & just try to take a sip, if it is still there another sip, & so on, until it goes down! But that is the only thing post op (I am 5 days out) that I am disliking so far!

Mmmm, sounds delicious, I'm going to make this when I am allowed to eat mushies!

Hi carol, if you wanted to send me a PM you should be able to hover your mouse over my name & then one of the options should be to send a message. If that doesn't work you can always e-mail me at NJsharon@hotmail.com.

Flight was pretty uneventful & went quick, which was good. I did want to upgrade to business class, but it was full already when I checked in. Just over 5hr flight, so not too bad. I wore my compression stockings & got up to walk around a few times too.

Thanks for the advice guys, appreciate it!