cindyandhersleeve

My doc described as anything that can be mashed with a fork - Beans are good.

I noticed that my "full" feeling also feels like a hunger pain. Anyone else notice that?

WOw you were a knock out before too! Best of Luck!

First let me say I feel fabulous! I've lost over 70 pounds in just over 5 months. I went from a 22 to a very comfy 12. The road has not been easy and for all you newbies...here is my list of amazing highs...and of not so sunshiny lows.

Disclaimer: This is my experience...it may not be yours.

1. It will be uncomfortable for a few days post op
   
2. I was not hungry for weeks after surgery
   
3. I was scared to eat or drink and I didn’t drink enough...thus Constipation and weakness
   
4. I didn't feel normal for about 6 weeks. I needed naps and I took them
   
5. The weight literally falls off...seriously I was looking for pools of fat in bed when I woke up in the morning
   
6. I hit the 4 week stall and it lasted two weeks. Expect it and don't stress
   
7. On day three, I had a massive freak out…seriously threw a four year old fit…pissed off my stomach was gone.
   
8. No one noticed for months and that irritated me.
   
9. EVERYONE notices now and it's all they want to talk about.
   
10. Don’t tell anyone you are going to Mexico to have your stomach cut off unless you trust them completely.
    
11. I threw up alot...just slime mostly...while I was learning my new tummy. It will scare you and if you are like me…it will happen a lot when you transition to solid foods.
    
12. food addiction does not magically go away...if you have a problem before..you will still have it. I think about food all the time, but I finally have a way to resist it. I am a sugar addict. I never crave carbs, but I crave sugar like a mad woman.
    
13. Going out to dinner is awkward. I hate watching people eat
    
14. Put the lotion on the skin! My skin got really dry.
    
15. I’ve lost half my hair at 4.5 months post op. Mine came out in chunks. Freaked me out! Our Golden Retriever and I are in a competition for shedding. It will be ok. Take your Vitamins and buy Nioxin. It doesn’t help my Hair loss, but I feel like I am at least doing something about it.
    
16. Don’t take a powerful laxative when you are constipated…especially before your child’s school performance. It may say “See results in 2-4 hours” but it means 30 mins and then you’re stuck on a mini toilet with both legs numb, crying to everything holy to save you.
    
17. Shopping is amazing! I still feel like people are looking at me like I don’t belong there…but that’s all in my head.
    
18. My shoes no longer fit. they are too wide now!
    
19. Your pre WLS Spanx will look huge in a couple months
    
20. Trust me…put some Granola bars in your glove box and a few packs of mixed nuts. Sometimes your hungry and there is nothing that you can eat.
    
21. Handy meals from the market or gas station when you didn’t plan ahead. Single string cheese, an apple, mixed nuts, readymade hard boiled eggs, The inside of California rolls- no rice, campbells Soup at hand or ready made Soup in a coffee cup.
    
22. Handy items at fast food places that sit ok on my tummy include: Taco Bells refried Beans or the inside of a chicken taco. Wendys chili, McDonalds oatmeal, McDonalds yogurt parfait
    
23. I feel guilty in front of my heavier friends. I always try to wear a sweatshirt so I don’t rub the weight loss in their faces.
    
24. You get drunk really fast...like a half glass of wine. Be careful...it sneaks up on you...and before you know it, you’re waiting for your hubby to pick you up...from less than a glass. Its crazy. I don't really even try anymore to drink.
    
25. I crave raw fish, cooked fish, broiled fish, grilled fish...any fish really and it feels amazing on my tummy.
    
26. I cant eat steak
    
27. I love that I have collar bones
    
28. I update my Facebook pictures and secretly love the compliments
    
29. I own a woman's North Face now
    
30. I can buy bras at Victoria's secret
    
31. I pack all my food for work in snack bags and the little tupperware containers for salad dressing.
    
32. I can still have M&M's...its just like 9...instead of the king size bags
    
33. Take heartburn medicine everyday...don’t wait until you get heartburn.
    
34. Buy stock in Maalox
    
35. You can have a full meal at Costco- samples + WLS = Cheap Date!
    
36. Food Portion jokes get really old
    
37. Fast food burgers makes me want to vomit.
    
38. At 5 months...salad is wonderful. I can eat about a cup of greens...which takes me a while and I feel a tiny bit normal.
    
39. Post-op, If you can swing it, buy a Vita-Mix blender and make your own soup. Canned soup was nasty right after surgery. Freeze them in 4oz canning jars. It will be two servings.
    
40. Quit Smoking before surgery. I waited and it slowed my healing. It also gave me terrible heartburn. I am 5 weeks smoke free
    
41. You don't have to "confess" you had WLS. It's ok to say thank you for the compliment and not feel guilty. I'm just now starting to accept that I had a little something to do with this insane loss. I tell people when they ask now how I lost the weight, that i exercise and use Portion Control.< br />
42. People will treat you different. Salesladies ask if I need assistance, men hold open doors and the skinny girls at work talk to me now. It's shallow and pisses me off, but it's nice to not be invisible anymore.
    
43. WLS is very difficult. For me, it’s not physical, but the mental. Sometimes I just want a cheesecake like before. It goes away very quickly, but it still comes and goes. Sometimes I get angry at my sleeve because I can’t eat something I see others eating. Most of the time I have to hide my expression when I see people shovel food in the way I used to. It’s shocking to see when you’re on the other side of WLS. I used to inhale my food like a tiny food thief was going to come in and take it away from me.
    
44. You will have to say no to your family when they all want to go to a Chinese buffet. I’m still not ready to walk in and be near a buffet.
    
45. It feels awesome to give your clothes away, however, do not offer them to your heavier friends. It’s insensitive and they won’t return your calls for a week.
    
46. Last one...I played laser tag this past weekend with a bunch of 9 year old boys. It was soooo Much fun!!!
    

Please feel free to add any other thoughts or tips...

Youre funny, I enjoyed that

Thought once I had the surgery that I wouldn't be hungry but seems that I am still hungry. But not able to eat like I use too end up purchasing too much food and not able to eat half of it and I usually start hurting because too full. Is there something that I can do so that I don't over eat because unable to eat everything that I am buying and end up throwing a lot of food away.

I put my food in a dixie cup but im on pureeds, thats probably harder with real food.....

I know its wrong. Im only 5 days out but Im just bored. I want to have some wine with my husband. Just wanted to vent.

Good luck! Me too tomorrow but at 2:15 in Houston. I too am ready to get the show on the road!

Cindy

Having mine also the 11th at 2:15! cant wait! Good luck to everyone. Ill be praying for all of you and me!

Cindy

I had same issue with peanut butter--it was horrible. I did see a mention about PB2 on Eggface and looked it up on Amazon and was wondering if anyone who had issue with actual Peanut Butter had used this and had input? I hate to order a container and have the same issue with it.

where did you find your avatars? theyre so cute!

Is hot and sour Soup strained clear enough for the pre op diet? the clear liquid. Ive seen many say it is but wanted to see what some others think.

Same here in Houston!!

Who's your doctor???

Dr. Garth Davis - What hospital will you be at? I will be at Memorial Hermann Memorial City

June 11th in Houston!

I just wanted to let you know that Im on my 4th day and it has not been bad at all. I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong but Im not! I have been bracing myself for the last 3 days waiting for the horrible headaches and maybe a news truck outside for threatening my family. But NO! Check out this video below- this is how I invisioned myself. HaHa Her name is even Cindy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YfvBbxE1vU

Two things I can attribute that to. 1) I prepared for this by the month before pre-op I had a schedule of things that I would wien myself of and how slowly. Things like my beloved wine at night, some of my favorite foods like cheese. Also drinking before eating and after- started not drinking during and then as the weeks went by I would at time before and after that I would not drink with my meal.

Also, i had some great friends praying for me that I would be nice to my family.

Since I started the liquid diet - when my family would eat I would leave the house or go in my room a read a good book. when food would enter my mind I would totally shut it out and say no! Im not going to think about that! and it seems to work.

Hope this helps I know I appreciate when others give tips.

Cindy

I'm on day five of pre op. any suggestions.

This is my journey . My surgeon said if u can chew it u can't have it..

8 am Protein shake

In between 64 ounces of Water

12 pm Protein Shake

In between 64 ounces of Water

5 pm Protein Shake

64 ounces of water

.....maybe if hungry dr said I could have Jello or sugar free pudding.

Pls any one give me some advice........

I started on may 29. Started pre op and also quit smoking cold turkey. I don't miss that at all silly habit. And expensive. Pls give me some feed back

I believe thats the daily requirement of water.

Good luck and maybe double check on that amount of water

Wow you look amazing! Are you planning on having plastic surgery? Doesnt look like you need it....

I went back and forth about whether to tell also, finally I decided that I know some will judge me for this but they're probably already judging me for being overweight so - let the judging begin! but its a very personal decision.