Vicki0618

I think this is as good a place as any to start writing down the NSV as I notice them. I am only 3 weeks out and I have already noticed a few. 1. I flew to my sisters wedding in CO and I was perfectly comfortable in the plane seat. I have never really needed a seat belt extender but I have definitely been very uncomfortable in the seat with the seatbelt tight around me. This time I had some play in the seat belt and could comfortably sit for the whole trip not feeling like I was packed into the seat. 2. At my sisters wedding I danced! My uncle told me it was the first time he had seen me letting go and having fun in the 20 years he's known me. Now whether that's from the weight loss or my new hubby of 2 years, who knows? Doesn't really matter...what matters is I danced!! 3. Apparently I have totally stopped snoring! I meantioned to my husband that I will probably stop snoring and he said, "Oh you haven't snored the past few nights." I guess he didn't realize he was supposed to alert me to this stuff...LOL 4. On Thursday I went to my doctor appt and while we were sitting there waiting I looked down and realized I had sat down and crossed my legs....Like REALLY crossed my legs like a lady!! And I didn't even realize it! That's all I've noticed so far, but I'm really trying to pay attention since I think some of the NSV just slip past unnoticed. But I know when I hit those stall weeks that I will need to be able to look back and see all the things that have nothing to do with the scale.

I never found the sweet spot either. I lost most of the 50 I did lose with the band in the first few months. After that it was just trial and error. One day I could eat something, the next day I couldn't. I would eat a bite or two and feel stuck but still be hungry. But worse was that I was throwing up almost every day, because it didn't matter how much I chewed the good stuff (salad, chicken etc) would not go down. I could eat all the junk I wanted (ice cream, cake, frozen yogurt etc) but nothing that was good for me. Until 2 years out and the band slipped and basically I couldn't even swallow water....and that bad boy came out!!! Yay, I could eat...Boo...I regained all the weight! So very very glad that I have my sleeve now and that is all behind me!

Isn't it amazing??? It's such a relief, I was a little afraid after the band but so far the sleeve is definitely what I thought the band was supposed to be! LOL

For anyone who is trying to decide between the lap band and the sleeve, or anyone considering converting from the lap band to the sleeve. I cannot say strongly enough...Go For The Sleeve!!! The difference is night and day. With the band I could eat very little, but I was always hungry (still had my whole stomach) with the sleeve, I can eat very little and I can honestly say I am full. For example at lunch today I had 4 oz of cottage cheese and 2 oz of imitation crab, and I couldn't finish it. Not only oould I physically not finish it, but I was honestly full! Whoot Whoot!!! Before the sleeve, I told my husband I never felt full until I was stuffed (which might explain my obesity Today was my 3 week post op appointment from getting my sleeve. I am doing very very well, no side effects, no problems. I'm getting in all my liquids and all my Protein. Doc cleared me to carefully and slowly start adding in more foods. And best of all I have lost 19 lbs since surgery and 43 lbs since I started the pre-op diet. That's 43 POUNDS!!! That is only 7 lbs less than I lost in the entire 2 years I had the band!!! SLEEVE OR BAND????? 100% SLEEVE!!!!!!

Today was my 3 week post op appointment. I am doing incredibily well, all incisions are healing nicely, no side effects, no problems. I can drink all the liquid I need to, and am getting all my protein. I have been cleared to slowly and carefully start adding in other foods. And best of all I have lost 19 lbs since surgery and 43 total since I started the pre-op diet. 43!!! That is only 7 lbs less than I lost the entire 2 years I had the lap band. For anyone who is trying to decide between the lap band and the sleeve, or anyone considering converting from the lap band to the sleeve. I cannot say strongly enough...Go For The Sleeve!!! The difference is night and day. With the band I could eat very little, but I was always hungry (still had my whole stomach) with the sleeve, I can eat very little and I can honestly say I am full. For example at lunch today I had 4 oz of cottage cheese and 2 oz of imitation crab, and I couldn't finish it. Not only oould I physically not finish it, but I was honestly full! Whoot Whoot!!! Before the sleeve, I told my husband I never felt full until I was stuffed (which might explain my obesity I am so glad I did this!!! My husband says I'm melting before his eyes! Heaviest Weight: 281 3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24) 3/13/13: 251 (-6) 3/20/13: 245 (-6) 3/28/13: 238 (-7)

Well I made it through both weeks of liquids and got to move on to soft foods. But the added wrinkle to my week is that I am traveling from CA to CO for my sisters wedding. So I am not in my home environment. My sister was very helpful and had my protein drinks, yogurt and cottage cheese at her house when I got here so that has helped. So far I am doing fine with soft foods. However, I have discovered that I am sensitive to sugars. I have had two bouts of diahrrea, both of which came after I had a bit too much sugar. (One I had blended some peanut butter into a shake, and the second one was just eating a normal yogurt) So neither time was I over doing it, but I have decided that I am really watching the sugar content in anything I eat. It has been a challenge to be with my whole family, and not be eating. I haven't really had an issue with it, I'm not hungry and I just eat what I can. But I think other people get nervous if I don't eat. But so far, I've been doing good. My other challenge is to drink my water. We spent the past 2 days running around, setting up for the wedding, the wedding itself, and then running around cleaning up. I have been really really tired and I noticed that the creases in my skin are staying much longer than they should (like creases on my shin from tucking my jeans into my boots stayed there for over 8 hours)...so I'm a little dehydrated. But I'm going better today and just hauling my water bottle around with me. My weigh day was Wednesday and I did weigh just before I got on the plane. I did win the bet with my husband ...he thought I would lose close to 20# between surgery and our trip (2 weeks) I didn't think I'd lose that quick. I was right, but I still feel good about what I have lost. Heaviest Weight: 281 3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24) 3/13/13: 251 (-6) 3/20/13: 245 (-6) I will be flying home on Wednesday so I'll have to weigh on Thursday after I'm back at home with my own scale!!

Check out www.junonia.com They have lots of options for bigger girls that don't have the dredded skirt!!

Don't worry...it will work it's way out. I think by 5-7 days out I was farting like a champ...LOL

Hi Rhonda, glad to hear you are doing well 14 months out! I'm 11 days out and I'm just looking forward to getting to eat soft foods in a few days!! But so far so good....I can get all my protein in and all my liquids. I think Dr. Jossart uses pixie dust or something as I have had very little pain!!!

WOW! Looks like you've lost more than 45#...obviously the exercise is paying off in inches!

Yep!! I'm 8 days post op and on liquids. The other night I dreamed I just popped a piece of pasta in my mouth and realized I can't eat yet and had to spit it out. Then last night I dreamed that a co-worker covered my office in apple peels...how weird is that??? Maybe I need some apple juice or something...LOL

It's funny you posted this. I was just telling my husband I wish I knew if my stomach was a "normal" size or bigger. And I sorta want to see a picture of it....is that weird??

I'm still on liquids and I've actually been craving refried beans!!!!!

I would have been fine alone. My hubby took 2 days off so he was with me the first 2 days but I didn't really "need" him. It depends on how old your kids are. If they are self sufficient you should be fine, if they are still toddlers you might want to line up some help for the first few days. But not 6 weeks

I would like to donate mine to those poor souls that have a hard time gaining weight.... :lol:

I also didn't have a leak test after surgery. I have had 3 c-sections and this is WAY WAY less pain. It's uncomfortable and if I twist or bed wrong I do feel a pull but I was off all pain meds by day 2 In terms of nausea, I echo what someone above told you. Tell the anesthesiologist before surgery and he'll give you something to help. I had one bad bout of nausea the first night that resulted in dry heaves. But even then the nurses were right there putting something in my IV and it passed fairly quickly. Don't let that scare you!!! Good Luck!

Dang!!! I was feeling good about 6# in my first week! You Go Girl!!! By the way I was sleeved on the 6th too!!

Don't even get me started on the food network. It is on at our house all the time. Yesterday after the 3rd episode of Chopped, I told my step daughter that I was changing it. She says "Why" I'm like, "Seriously??? I CAN'T EAT!!! Like Anything!!" Oh and I should point out that while they were watching chopped they were making Breakfast for dinner...with Bacon.

Anybody ever notice how many food commercials/channels there are on TV???? ARGH....another week of liquids. Who knew I'd be so excited about yogurt and retried beans.!

Great Post Joe!! You will probably feel so much better not having to censor what you say. This is a life change and you're right you need to take care of yourself at this point. I didn't tell very many people before mainly for the same reasons you have (negativity) however my hubby outted me on FB by posting updates on how I was doing after surgery. (Love him!!) So then I got the "OMG what happened" responses. LOL...well at least the shock was over that way! Good Luck!!! Before long you won't even need that CPAP machine!!

So today is officially my 1 week. Have to say at least for me the first week went relatively smoothly. I don't have any pain at all most of the time. If I twist wrong or bend wrong I do have a spot right under my biggest incision that pulls, but it's just a quick pain that subsides almost immediately. The PA warned me that is might happened because there are some deep internal stitches under there. I do have a pretty knarly rash on my tummy due to an allergic reaction to the dermabond. Yesterday, I lost it and just peeled off all the dermabond. The incisions themselves look good, but all the way around each incision is a red blistered ring, and I have little dots between the incisions. Just taking the dermabond off made a difference, yesterday morning they were all bright red and itched so bad I wanted to pull my stomach apart. Today, the red is still there but not nearly as angry and it itching has subsided some. Still itches, but I'm hoping thats from healing. I have been alternating between Hydrocortisone cream for the rash and neosporin. I'm sorta a gooey mess right now, but that's ok. (My hubby says I'm a hot mess, but I'm his hot mess) :wub: I am still on liquids and will be for another week I'm not really hungry, well at least not like I used to be. I definitely get an empty feeling every couple of hours but it's a much different feeling that before. Drinking alot of hot tea, and water. Soups, Sugar free jello and sugar fee popcicles! Oh and protein drinks. I am using Premier Protein that I got at Costco with 30 grams of protein so I try to get 2 a day, so at least I know I've got my protein covered. I have decided to "officially" weigh on every Wednesday, and I will take updated pictures once a month. So here are my current stats Heaviest Weight: 281 3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24) 3/13/13: 251 (-6) So 6 lbs in the first week! I'm ok with that. Now, if I can just get through another week of liquids....

OMG...I needed to read some of these. Made me Laugh outloud! Im 6 days out from surgery and I'm dreaming about grabbing food and popping it in my mouth only to remember I can't eat it and spit it out. May have to try the dorito thing...lol

Well in the hospital they ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10 10 being the worst pain ever. I can honestly say that I never had pain above a 5. I was uncomfortable but with the pain meds it was nothing. I was sent home from the hospital with liquid vicoden and I haven't used it at all since day 2. Now, my husband says I'm a bad-*** and I guess I'm pretty tough, I have had 3 c-sections and had a lap band placed and removed but I really think this was the LEAST painful of all of them.

Here I am buzzing along like everything is good. Went back to work yesterday and made it all day, and today...BANG!!! I hit the wall, I feel like I could sleep for about a week!! I don't know if it's from lack of calories, electolytes or just over doing it but DANG!!!! Think I'll go home early and take a nap.

Today is my first day back at work. I think I am doing phenomenal!! I did however think it was a good idea to wear my jeans to work...ummmm....NOT! The jeans don't rub any of the incision sites but when I sit they push up under the lowest one, not very comfy. It's a good thing I have on a big sweatshirt so I could have my pants unzipped under my desk Hubby to the rescue he brought me my yoga pants! So I'm looking pretty slumpy but I'm here and I feel good!! My first official weigh in will be on Wednesday (on the once a week plan) but I'd be lying if I said I haven't jumped on the scale every morning. So far it's about a pound a day. I'm sure it will slow down soon but it sure is fun to see the scale moving that fast!