CCWriter

I'm 58 and I'm a little more than three-months out. Personally, I think the weight was making me look really old and pre-op, I had no energy. The only thing I've noticed was that my skin was looking kind of dull so I've stepped up defoliation. But I'm not so sure it wasn't looking dull anyway. As far as wrinkles, they are about the same at this point. They might show more when I get more weight off. I'm happy to be starting to see my cheekbones again!! Carol

It took me about six months, which in retrospect was probably a good thing to help me wrap my mind around it, plus my husband's head as well. Even with that, he was still talking about kidnapping me out of the parking lot when we got there for surgery. I went to a seminar on WLS in June and started chipping away at the required weight loss, plus the battery of tests to make sure I was healthy enough to do it. I had my insurance approval and was finally scheduled for Nov. 29 and then my 87-year-old mother broke her leg in two places simply getting into the car. I needed to be able to lift her to get her into her wheelchair, so put it off until Dec. 27, 2011. Aetna was great as far as approving my surgery. I have sleep apnea, hypertension, etc., and co-morbidities speed along that approval. Speaking of that, I'm off one BP med and an anti-inflammatory so far. My weight loss has slowed a lot and I'm frustrated with that, but really I have no complaints and would do it over again. My two cents ... Carol

OK, I'm the big party pooper, but I made some yummy fish tacos and used butter lettuce as a wrap vs. a tortilla. Came out killer, if I say so myself. I'm always playing around with recipes and saw a gluten-free recipe for tortillas. Go figure. I'm not sure how it can be good, but I'm going to try it anyway. I'll report back Onward, Carol

Enjoy it ... that pace doesn't keep up forever. It sure is fun to see that scale budge big time.

I'm so glad to see this thread, because I've been stuck, stuck, stuck for the past three weeks and am three months out and counting. Heck, I sure wish I could figure out what I'm doing wrong. Eating Protein and veggies, with little fruit. I'm only getting between about 600 and 800 calories daily, so I'm wondering if I actually need to eat more!! How could I not be losing weight? I know I've lost inches, but this is craziness. Working on adding more cardio and I'm drinking all my liquids also. Maybe I just need to be patient. Sigh. Onward, Carol

I don't know about the hot beverages, because even in the hospital I was drinking hot broths and teas. Just sip slowly and that should help. Hopefully, you'll have some protein shakes soon and those taste wonderful when you get to take the next step. My doc had my eating "mushies" at two weeks (cottage cheese and scrambled eggs, etc.) and that tasted like heaven. The liquid stage seemed like it took FOREVER to get through, but now is just a distant memory. Hang in there -- you'll get past it soon!! Carol

I'm treating my skin like I did when I was pregnant -- lots of cocoa butter on the abdomen area and hoping it will help my skin go back. I'm a lot older than you -- 58 -- but hopefully I still have a little elasticity. I agree with Cludgie that I'd rather have the skin than the fat. I feel so much better already, there's no comparison. I think staying properly hydrated, making sure you get in your oils in some form and exercising helps. I'm doing an hour of yoga twice a week, walking or bike riding a couple of days a week and just started strength training. My goal is to do one of those things every day. Good luck!! Carol

I started feeling a whole lot better physically when I transitioned from the two-week, liquid post-op diet to "mushies," i.e. scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, etc. I also didn't realize that my doc didn't want me to drink caffeinated beverages for several weeks after surgery, so I had a terrible caffeine withdrawal headache for a week or so after surgery. Heck, if I'd realized that, I would have dialed back my caffeine before the surgery so I wouldn't have to go cold-turkey. Yikes!! I second the walking or bicycle riding. DH and I went for a long ride yesterday in the beautiful spring weather and it was just great. Good luck!! Carol

I understand depression is pretty common after bariatric surgery. I had a relatively mild bout with depression about six weeks out from surgery also. Seems odd, because we should be happy we're losing weight. But I think it's partly because we have a new normal and we're missing our "friend" -- food. We also can't eat much at that point because we're still healing. I didn't have any energy for the first couple of months either. Please talk to your physician about it -- you may be depressed or you may have a Vitamin D deficiency or something like that. But your physician should be able to determine that. The symptoms you describe definitely sound serious. Take good care of yourself and let us know how things are going ... Carol

I have been on so many diets over the years and gained and lost literally thousands of pounds. I just finally decided I needed the tool of being sleeved. But it's not for everyone. And it's not easy either. That said, I am happily sleeved three months tomorrow and haven't regretted it. I've been keeping a blog for my family and friends to be able to check up on me and I wrote a blogpost that might help you out: "Dieting is Hard Work" on Takin' a Load Off. Some friends had suggested that getting sleeved was taking the easy way out. You can tell I had a full head of steam when I wrote the post, but they were very real emotions. Good luck on whatever path you take!! Carol

I tried this and liked it a lot. I linked to it on my blog: Takin' A Load Off. Based on your note to one of your visitors, I figured you'd like me linking to it on my blog and I ALWAYS give attribution. You might like my Low-Carb Shepherd's Pie. It came out really great and I even fooled some people into thinking I made it with potatoes. Hooray! I love trying out good, new recipes. Thanks for sharing!! Carol

Love the looks of your recipe ... will have to try it. Carol

If things don't feel right, I totally agree with FYE. Do not pass go, call your physician pronto. And if you're really feeling badly, go to the ER. If you're having complications, this is nothing to mess with. Better safe ... and let us hear from you!! Best, Carol

I think day 9 was about when I started obsessing about making it to the two-week mushie stage of scrambled eggs and cottage cheese and stuff like that. Those scrambled eggs couldn't come soon enough. Boy, did they taste good. I was super hungry and cranky and my poor hubby kept finding excuses to get out of the house, where he'd order something like Double Whopper and come back with a smile on his face. Poor guy. I second (or third) all the advice already on here. I think that's when I started quietly freaking out a little bit, thinking, 'oh my God, what have I done to myself and it didn't work.' You came to the right place. This is such a supportive group and there isn't any question they haven't heard before. Hang in there, you'll get there ... Carol

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I think the first week, when you're trying to wrap your mind around having had surgery, is probably the toughest part. Your tummy isn't happy at all; you're drinking liquids for two weeks; you're thinking when do I get to chew again? The answer is -- soon. It's all going to be all right. You'll graduate to mushies (scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, etc.) and they're going to be pretty darn wonderful when you get there. I thought scrambled eggs tasted like heaven. Hang in there. It'll get better. I promise and so do a whole lot of other folks on this site. Best, Carol

You are rockin' it Amanda!! Wow, 105 pounds. I'm so impressed. Keep on keeping on. Carol

Oh My Goodness ... it's a wonderful, but strange place we're in. I'm probably close to about the same amount to goal but I don't feel "skinny" and yet I'm betting feedback that I'm looking better. Nevermind all that stuff ... I'm feeling SO MUCH BETTER. It probably makes more of a difference because you're younger than me, but with any kind of luck, you'll get so much more comfortable with yourself in any shape in future years. I went to a Karoeke (sp?) night recently and I wasn't ashamed of my singing or weight, but I was paranoid about my age and fitting in. Go figure. It's always SOMETHING!!! Nevermind that there were plenty of people older and younger than me. I just wanted to be singing the female lead on "Paradise By The Dashboard Lights," and my much younger male friend suddenly started acting extremely paranoid, like someone would have thought he was into older women. Like I would have wanted to jump on his out-of-shape young self. Puh-leez. Not the same thing my dear youngun.

Gas lasts about a month or so is what I've heard and what I've experienced. Anytime you put a bunch of air in your abdomen for surgeries like C-sections, etc., you have that problem for awhile. It does get better. And my husband and also my yoga trainer found it quite humorous. Hope that helps ... Carol

I understand it's pretty normal for it to take a week or so. Remember, there is not a whole lot going on down there when you're healing on your liquid diet. Happy going!!! Carol

Ivy: Happily, I did get my sleeve Dec. 27, which technically was the second date. My third date choice was Jan. 10 and hubby also didn't want to do that because it was a couple of days before he would go overseas (he works in West Africa.) So we went back to the second date which was better because the third date would have cost us more in deductibles. I put it in my signature on my posts and lots of people put miscellaneous stuff in their signatures. I forget that if you haven't been around this forum for long, you might not look there. Makes it easier than repeatedly putting it in your posts. I like that they'll be practicing on other people before you get your sleeve!! Sixteenth time is a charm!!! I'll be looking forward to hearing how things go!! Carol

Congrats Gabby ... you are rockin' it. Sounds like you're doing the right things. Good luck Tlaff. You've found the right bunch of folks for some really great support. Carol

Congrats Miss Castro ... it's such a good feeling the first time you get back into a smaller size you haven't seen in years. I was a 22 and now I'm a 16/18. I have pictures on my frig of me the last time I wore a size 6. Woo hoo!! Go for it!! Carol

Hang in there Ivy. It's going to be worth it. I know it's hard to be marginalized by other people -- I had to put off my surgery because my elderly mother broke her leg and there was no one else to run interference on her. And then my husband wanted me to put it off because it was inconvenient for me to do it on my second date. And all the while, I was thinking -- when is it my turn to take care of myself with surgery instead of everybody else? I know its not exactly the same thing, but having other people rearrange your life for you sure throws you off balance. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great! Best, Carol