CAsleeve

Well, I don't do well with pain meds. But, if you can handle the med itself and you need something for pain. Take it! Don't put any undo stress on yourself as pain causes stress. Take it when you need it, but taper off as you don't want to rely on it. Other than in the hospital (2days), I think I only took 2-3 doses of pain med when I got home. Everyone is definitely different. If you continue to have persistent pain, contact your doc. It could be something else.

Hi! I'm a 99.9% vegetarian, but desire to be vegan. Check out my blog as I give info on what I've been eating. Hummus is my biggest go to food item. However, until I could eat mushies, which was 4 wks post-op, I did the protein shakes with added soy milk and Beneprotein. I also did lots of smooth soups and added Beneprotein. I do a lot of tofu also and love the fresh tofu (puddling like) that I get a the asian market. It usually comes with a little side of sweet ginger syrup. Heat up the fresh soft tofu and put a little ginger syrup on it. I personally love that sort of thing. I now eat mostly beans, legumes, leafy greens (mostly juiced), soy products for my protein. Protein first! I've been doing lots of juicing. My favorite juice is: kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, cucumber, parsley, lots of fresh ginger, lemon, and pears or apples. Super nutrient rich juice. So yummy! You are doing great. Congrats.

Good for you! It is really amazing how fast you 'grow' out of your clothes. I've given away 10 garbage bags full of my morbidly obese clothes and have a very limited wardrobe right now. But.., that is a-ok with me! I'm no longer morbidly obese and soon to be not be obese at all!! I no longer shop in the Plus Size clothing department. It is such a great great thing! I put everything in the dryer now where I would have cringed before if my cloths were put in the dryer. Congratulations on your successes!

Well, I advise everyone to do this...stay away from artificial sweetners. I honestly think they create a sense of hunger and I think it is just poison. I also recommend eating 5-6-7 small meals throughout the day rather than 3 meals. Who ever said we need to eat three meals a day...and we all followed it...had us all bamboozled. If you really need to jump across the counter and have at it with some chicken...go ahead and do it. However, I bet once you do or once you eat more than you can handle, you won't do it again or you will learn soon not to do it - as you will likely get the nasty slimming and need to throw it up. I often think I can eat more than I am, but when I go 'past that point' I definitely pay for it - either lots of burping or I have to throw it up. So, learning to eat real small portions several times throughout the day is key for me. I've also had some evening cravings and I find that it I do a little protein, it usually goes away. I've been doing a couple spoonfuls of hummus at night to squelch that sort of craving. I swear I have to relearn how and how much to eat every day. That is my two cents.

Water, water, water and more water. Don't use artificial anything! It's just not good for you or your health. If you need a sweetener use agave syrup or a natural source of sweetener. A couple more calories is better than putting anything artificial or 'poison' in your body. Also, you just might need a little oil in your diet. Try some hummus with olive oil in it. Or, even better eat an avocado a day! That's my two cents.

Oh, also, I would get a teaspoon of hummus periodically throughout the day...a little protein boost and it satisfied the want for something savory (rather than a sweet shake).

It will get better. To get enough protein in, I would add a scoop or two of Beneprotein (purchased on-line or some Walgreens have it) and a little soy mild to my Premier chocolate protein shakes (purchased at Costco). I also added Beneprotein to soups (smooth soups), but Beneprotein will curdle if it gets too hot so you have to let your soup cool a bit then add it. I also went to the asian market and got the super super soft tofu (I think it is a fresh pudding-like tofu that comes with a little sweet ginger syrup). Heat that up and enjoy. I love this, but, I also really like tofu. I'm also lucky to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there are lots of asian markets and it is possible to get fresh soft tofu. I couldn't handle yogurt much. Whatever you do, just eat/drink as much protein as you can. You can always do 2-4 ozs as often as possible throughout the day. Anyway, that is my two cents. Congrats! You are doing GREAT!

You are doing great! Congrats.

I took one week off of work, but started to work from home after 3-4 days. I felt fine going back to work, although I was careful about movement and not doing too much....well, for the first day back and then it all went back to normal. Just remember to bring your protein shakes with you to work so you have something to 'eat'.

Well, I haven't noticed any hair loss....yet. I would have thought it would happen by now. My surgery date was 1/17/12. I've gotten in my protein daily and take one biotin tab along with my other vitamins and I'm happy to say, no hair loss. I think it just depends on you. Do what you are suppose to do and deal with what may be. Also, I think it helps NOT to worry about hair loss (I didn't worry about it) and it just might not happen. :-)

I hear you sister! I am also in a bit of a stall. Going to up my exercise this week and do a couple days of juicing. If you want a kick start, but have it be delicious and full of nutrients, I highly recommend juicing a day or two a week, or even for one meal replacement a couple times a week. There is an awesome movie that promotes juicing - Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead. It is a great motivator and a fun and interesting moving to watch. I'm juicing today for all but one meal (I generally do 4-5 small meals/snacks a day. Today I have two different juices - 1. green juice = kale, romaine lettuce, parsley, apples, pears, lemon and fresh ginger 2. red juice = carrots, oranges and blood oranges. They are both super delicious, but you do need a juicer to make them.

Funny! Yep, we all get/have the gas and changes is elimination, but we all don't get or appreciate the humor in it all. Thanks for the humor!

So, I had a vitamin issue. I could not for the life of me keep down the chewable vitamins or the chewable calcium tabs. So, I switched to gummy vitamins (just the women's gummy vitatmins from Target) and I swallow the big calcium pills. My doc told me not to do gummy vitamins and not to swallow the big calcium pills, but my nutritionist said if that is the way i can keep them down, then go ahead. Better to get them in me than bring them back up each time. Gummy vitamins are just like eating a gummy bear - vitamin time is now treat time. :-)

Terrific! Congratulations on all your successes!

I've talked about this in my blog. It's your choice. I didn't tell anyone other than my husband (of course), sister and two friends that live in other states. No one at work knows. It's my business and I don't want my surgery to be the topic of conversation or any bias or preconceived notions. Simple. But, in stating that I also understand why sleevers make it public. I just chose not to tell anyone and all is cool and positive. You'll know the right way for you. Whatever is your comfort level.

Please keep in mind...you have just had major surgery!!! The pain will go away. It just might not be time to walk or just walk a bit at a time at this point. At just two weeks post-op, you are not yet healed. If it continues, you will definitely want to contact your doc.

Nice post and congratulations on your successes. It is a life long path and being mindful on a daily basis of how we feed ourselves and the wide open opportunity to proactively practice good nutrition with this very helpful tool, our sleeved stomachs, is key.

A sexy bathing suit...hopefully a two-piece and one I don't have to hide under a cover-up! Or, shorts - like regular shorts, not the big loose baggy shorts that come past the knees, but normal shorts that show my knees and part of the upper legs. Haven't worn shorts above my knees is several years. Oh, and an exercise outfit that I don't need to have a t-shirt come down past my butt to hide things!

You likely won't need it any more, or soon. I snored before my sleeve and my husband tells me I don't anymore. I also wish I would have gotten the sleeve years ago. But, this was the right time for me and I am thrilled. Congratulations on your accomplishments and, trust me, they - the accomplishments - do keep coming!

Good for you! Congratulations! You are doing great. Isn't just wonderful. I love the transformation that is happening to myself and it is definitely happening to you!

Make sure you are getting your fluids in and if you drink caffeine, maybe a little caffeine. Could help with the headaches. Oh, and get your protein in first. I started feeling normal...well better than normal at about 6 weeks. I still get nauseous as I think I can eat more than I can, but...in turn, i makes me nauseaous. I have to continuously remind myself that I can't eat more than 4 to 6 to 8 ozs at a time. It is just such a change - a wonderful change. I've got a long way to go, but I'm transforming!! Keep in mind, you have undergone a major surgery and in your case two of them. Let your doc or nurse know your concerns.

Your body just needs time to heal and adjust. The pains will go away when healed. Be patient. I was sore until about my 6th week out.

Congrats! You are doing great! The whole absolute change in the amount of food you can consime with the sleeve, which is not much or you feel real bad, is still so surprising to me. So glad I have been sleeved. Best!

Hello. Well, I never thought I'd get to the 8wk post-op point, but tomorrow will be 9wks post-op! I am now finally able to eat pretty much anything I want, although I've been taking it easy with every thing especially raw foods, i.e., salads, raw veggies. I will incorporate more salads this week. I've also tried to stay as vegetarian/vegan as possible, although I have had a couple bits of salmon and chicken. I'm not vegetarian for animal rights purposes, although I totally support it, I want to be vegan for health purposes. I am finding it difficult to be vegan but I just need to dedicate time to it and make dishes ahead of time so I have some good food to eat when I need to eat. What is it they say about preparation....?. Time has not been plentiful recently, but I need to stir some up! When my head hunger is stronger than my new sleeved tummy hunger is when I overdo it a bit and, yes, I've been nauseous many times. Haven't thrown up in a while, but came close. You just can't put much food in a little tummy and be comfortable. It just doesn't work. It is so strange to go to a restaurant and order a meal and take 3/4 of the meal home with me, or order an appetizer and even share it and be satisfied. Prior to my sleeve, I would have ordered a couple appetizers a meal and would have been thinking about the next meal right after. I figure the $ I save on food, will get me an outfit here and there along the weight loss journey. I haven't weighed myself in several days but will do that tomorrow morning and update my ticker. Hopefully it is down a few more lbs. So, I know I'm not suppose to drink alcohol for one year after vsg. Well, I blew that this weekend - and I paid for it all weekend! I was at a Reggae event this past Friday evening that we hosted and the bar had a drink special called a "Catch a Cab". It was a largish shooter of what tasted like a Watermelon Jolly Rancher. They asked me if I wanted to try it and I gave my standard answer..., thanks much but I'm not drinking tonight. Well, i caved under peer pressure and had a sip. I then ordered one (it might have been a total of 1.5oz and I sipped on it for a while. I then got a refill, and then another and another!!! I had 4 of them - a total of 6 oz. I must say, I did not catch much of a buzz, but....I was down and out on the couch not wanting to do anything but drink water both Saturday and Sunday. Needless to say, I won't be drinking any time soon as I just can't recoup. I don't know if it is because of the sleeve or just that I haven't had anything to drink for several months. I am loving this weight loss and looking forward to more of it! One Love.

Congrats! You are doing great! The whole absolute change in the amount of food you can consime with the sleeve, which is not much or you feel real bad, is still so surprising to me. So glad I have been sleeved. Best!