Webchickadee

liquid diet is BRUTAL. Especially the first couple of weeks! I was desperate to chew on something too. Some great people here on the forum (it's PACKED with fantastic people!) suggested that I get some sugar-free popsicles. You can "chew" them and get some nice flavour, and they are cool and make you more comfortable in the hot summer. What feels like starvation may in fact be acid production. I thought I was hungry in the beginning too, but I started taking a double dose (2 pills/day) of a PPI (proton pump inhibitor), such as Omeprazole (Prilosec) and it cleared that right up. Now I don't really get hungry, just "empty". I have to remind myself that it is time to eat (got to get that Protein in!). I am on regular food and and expanding my repertoire of tolerated foods. It gets better every day. And my normal taste buds are coming back! In the first 4-6 weeks everything tasted weird, I had a bad taste in my mouth all the time and I was pretty miserable. Even the weight loss wasn't enough to bring me out of my pissy mood very often! Now I'm feeling MUCH better! I joined a gym and I'm swimming, walking and quite active (especially compared to pre-op!). You can get through this! Buy some Water flavour enhancers (such as Crystal Light and/or Mio), keep trying different types of Protein shakes (a big challenge, but you'll eventually find one you can stomach, and maybe even enjoy).

Okay.......LOL.......I can't resist asking........... Beaver nuggets? Please tell me this is NOT what it sounds like.

We were sleeved on the same day! May 14 for me too, and I've down 41 lbs (including 11 lbs pre-op from the 2 week liquid diet).

sugar-free doesn't mean it's calorie-free! And probably filled with sugar gylcols which are not good for you in large quantities. One or two bites/licks is probably okay, but I wouldn't buy a carton of it and keep it in my freezer..........too tempting! Much more importantly, ice cream (even sugar-free) has strong potential to be a "slider" food which can become a self-sabotaging device for you now and later on. You can eat larger quantities of it without feeling the restriction your sleeve is designed to provide. Finally, this is the best time for you to develop your good eating habits that you must have to succeed long term. If you can, try to avoid temptations from your "pre-sleeve" life until you are much further into your food stages and weight loss. By then you will have the great habits that will sustain you long term and you can, on rare occasions, partake in a small indulgence such as ice cream, etc. Not gospel, just my 2 cents worth. Good luck in your early steps. It does get better once you're on mushies.......hang in there!

I'm only down 40 lbs (another 140 to go!), but my husband actually pointed out to me yesterday that he thought I had lost weight in my feet! I looked down and he was right! I could actually see the boney part in the top and my toes were much more slender. So weird! My loss so far is most noticeable in my face and my waist. Still waiting on my hips, stomach, and mega thunder thighs to get the memo......

I'm just starting to do more real exercise. I'm 8 weeks post-op and I've been doing quite a bit of walking, but it's time to turn it up a notch. I've been swimming a few times in the last 2 weeks which definitely works the cardio. And I want to start doing resistance training very soon. So yesterday I decided that I would work my legs and glutes by climbing the stairs at work. All I can say is thank goodness the stairwell is enclosed and deserted! I was a panting, heaving mess after 2 floors (4 flights of 10 stairs). This 278 lb body is still a lot more than my legs want to carry up stairs! I rested every 2 floors and made it to the top floor (8th) (I work in a short building). I could barely walk down the stairs to the bottom.....jelly legs! And today, I'm feeling it in my quads and surprisingly, a bit in my calves as well. But it's a good twinge. Makes me feel like I'm doing something!

Honey, it is time for you to lose that "baby fat"! You can do this! Stick to your guns. Just think how proud your kids will be of you for your resolve, determination and for finally doing something for YOU (and them too!). And they can finally meet the "skinny you" that has been living inside their "big mama" all these years!

Thanks for the tip JLewis! I took a look at BJ Bariatrics and I would have loved to order their sample pack! They don't ship outside the U.S.

I love sashimi (sushi without rice!). Really it's just pieces of raw fish, but very very high grade fish. It's my favourite! I've been eating sashimi for weeks now (and I'm only 8 weeks post-op). With a bit of sashimi soy sauce and some wasabi. Yum! A great way to get your Protein in. If you like sushi, you could give sashimi a try.......

I have tried the Cinnamon Swirl. It was "okay", but nothing to really write home about. I'm having a very hard time finding a Protein mix I like and can actually use more than once. I was using Precision All Natural 100% Protein whey Isolate (Double chocolate Chunk) for several weeks preo-op and a couple of weeks post-op, but I just got so tired of it, it was getting harder and harder to choke it down every morning. It is sweetened with Stevia and not too sweet. The vanilla version of that same brand I found REALLY sweet. At present I've been drinking the Oh Yeah shakes (ready to drink). They are also too sweet for me, but it's about the best I've found so far. I desperately want to try the

I just wanted to caution you against planning for a fast return to work without a "back-out" plan. I had my surgery on May 14, 2012 and was out sight-seeing and shopping 3 days later. I had pre-booked the following week off, just in case I had any complications or was still needing healing time. I actually felt much more tired the 2nd week! I didn't take naps (though I should have) as I was convinced that I needed to "condition" myself for my return to work the next week. And I work in an office, mostly at my desk all day! There were several difficult aspects the first few weeks back to work: 1. Getting ready in the morning It took me MUCH longer than I was used to to get ready. Showering wiped my energy out, and I invariably had to lay down for a good 10-15 min afterwards to regain my strength to get dressed and out the door. 2. Learning how to "fit in" my liquids and planning for lunch I'm usually a fast drinker/eater. That doesn't work when you're newly sleeved! I normally grabbed my Breakfast "on the go" when getting ready for work, and wolfed it down in the car. Not after I was sleeved! I had to take tiny sips (too much in a sip or too many sips in a row and it was serious pain!), and just figuring out how to properly mix my Protein shakes in the morning was taking up valuable time! Also, I must now pack my lunch! In order to keep everything fresh (and best suit my tastes/mood for the day), I now pack my lunch in the morning. This is also new for me! I was eating from our little cafeteria or going out to eat every day. Expensive and fattening, but so very convenient! Now I had to make sure I had the right ingredients at home; the right (clean!) containers; a cooler bag; ice packs, etc. Phew! So much change! 3. Optimizing my "choices" I usually just grab a drink (pop!) when thirsty. Well our little cafeteria has a limited choices for sugar-free drinks that are not carbonated. You can only drink so much "diet iced tea" or "G2 Gatorade" before you start to go mental (especially when you're on full liquids for a couple of weeks post-op). So I had to make sure I had other options with me. Either Crystal Light powder sticks, Mio, etc. And of course if you're not lucky enough to have a Water cooler around your work, you need cold water too! Again, more planning! I'm not trying to scare you.....I just want you to have a realistic idea of what you'll be dealing with post-op as it relates to going back to work. And these are only a FEW of the issues. Don't get me started on bathroom visits (I had "intestinal issues" for a few weeks post-op!); explaining your lack of eating to your colleagues while maintaining your privacy; acid reflux, burping, nausea, fatigue, etc. And finally, of course, a very high percentage of us fly through the surgery and recovery without any complications (I'm one of them...except for the "intestinal issues" and some sleep disturbances). But there is a small percentage of patients who do have complications that can vary in degree. Please do have a contingency plan for your return-to-work if your recovery is less than optimal. Good luck and happy surgery! Making room for you on the loser's bench..............

Hmmm, we probably need alot more information before we can help answer your question about when you'll lose weight! When was your surgery? What is your current food stage (liquids, mushies, soft foods, solids?). Are you tracking what you're eating (carbs, Protein, calories, etc.)? Are you exercising (depends on how far post-op you are...)? Are you drinking enough water/fluids (at least 64 oz per day)? If you're close to your surgery date (less than 2 weeks post-op) it's likely you've gained Water weight during your surgery. It can take up to 2 weeks to lose that "gained" weight and start losing from your pre-op weight. If you can answer some of the questions noted above, I'm sure we'll be able to give you more insight into what might be going on with you (though of course, your best source of accurate information is your surgeon and nutritionist!).

Have you ever been diagnosed with an Ovarian cyst? I have right-sided pain like that a few days before my "time of the month". My cyst grows during TOM and then shrinks back down to nothing afterwards. I've been told it's not a medical problem that requires treatment, but I sure do hate the pain I get for those couple of days!

Shellbell, you will have that.......I really hope! Regardless of your weight! I am 42 years old. I spent most of my life single. No boyfriend in high school, sporadic dating in university. I met my future husband when I was 35 and we were only together for 6 months. It wasn't the right time for us. I was about 270 lbs at the time, and he was probably around the same (but he's 6'3" and I'm 5'4"!). Our break-up had nothing to do with our weight(s). Then, suddenly out of the blue, he emailed me 4 years later. It was one of those "movie moments". I saw his email on my Blackberry. I get a lot of spam all day long so I am always deleting emails. On the Blackberry screen you can't see the whole person's name or subject line.....I actually hit "delete" for his email, but you have to confirm the deletion. I second-guessed myself, and kept it (I didn't know it was from him....I thought it was spam!). Turns out he was apologizing for his behaviour when we had been together 4 years earlier. He had changed his life 180 degrees and wanted to say thank you for giving him a kick start. Long story, short (too late, I know!), we started dating in January 2009. In December 2009 while on vacation in Jamaica, he proposed during a candle lit dinner on the beach. And we were married in September 2010 (I was 40 years old and this was my first marriage!). You can see pictures from our wedding in my photo gallery (in my profile). I was over 300 lbs when we were on that beach in Jamaica. He didn't care. He loves me for who I am, not what I look like. Now we're both losing weight (me with the sleeve, him with the Atkins) so we can be healthier and live a long happy life together. It took me all these years to find (and re-find!) my soulmate. I'll be damned if I'm going to let my health tear us apart! It's possible that your path hasn't crossed "his" yet. And you may not have a smooth road (we didn't). But when you find your partner, you'll know it. Perhaps losing the weight will give you the self-confidence you need to feel like you deserve that great guy? Who knows. Either way, I hope and pray you do find your life partner, when the time is right. And right now, it's the time for you to concentrate on getting yourself healthy and making yourself happy with who you are (all over!).

I fully agree with everyone who has posted so far. If you can lose the weight and keep it off, that is fantastic. And yes, it's true that this time you've educated yourself regarding nutrition, which in theory will help you maintain your weight loss. I have done the lose/gain, lose/gain cycle myself countless times. And the last time I lost weight (in 2006), I lost over 100 lbs by myself. I became VERY educated regarding nutrition. I read every label I could before I put anything in my mouth. I tracked my intake, did TONS of exercise. It was AWESOME! Then life happened (my Mom died unexpectedly, followed by my brother 5 months later). The stress totally put me off track, I "self-medicated" with food to help overcome the pain and stress and loss I was feeling. I regained most of my 100+ lbs. ( I was 330 lbs when I started, 225 lbs when Mom died, then back up to 318 prior to my VSG surgery). During this regaining period, I still had my knowledge of nutrition, but it didn't help! I was ignoring everything I knew and volume/binge eating and satisfying all cravings. Now, with my sleeve, even if I do go "off track" and eat things I shouldn't I won't be able to volume/binge eat. It is far less likely that I will regain a significant amount of weight. The "slippery slope" is more easily avoided with the sleeve. For me, I knew I needed the additional help of having "built-in" portion control. No amount of health and nutrition knowledge was going to help me in moments of intense weakness, stress and reckless abandon.

I've fallen hopelessly behind on my blog! I spend so much time here reading and answering posts! A few people have asked though, and I feel guilty that they want to hear more! I'll try to get caught up...

I was sleeved by Dr. Kelly on May 14, 2012 and my cost was $6,000 due to my high BMI (>50). He was fantastic, very professional and also very caring! I felt like I was a part of his family (he gets everyone involved in his practice, his wife, his kids.....it's amazing!). Omar, his assistant is terrific about getting back to you quickly regarding questions, and he's there for you every day you're in Mexico. I could not have been happier with my choice, and I'm now 8 weeks post-op and down 40 lbs (including 11 lbs pre-op, on 2 week liquid diet).

It's so crazy that they book the cost at $65K, when I was able to have my surgery done by an excellent surgeon in Mexico for $6000. And that included a 10% premium for my high BMI (>50), all meds, tests, private hospital room, 2 nights in hospital and 2 nights in a 4 star hotel!

This is the exact reason I chose to have the sleeve. I am 42 years old and in very good health (with the exception of asthma). My father (age 84) however, has high blood pressure, diabetes high cholesterol and prostate cancer. My mother (she passed 4.5 years ago at age 73) had breast cancer, lung cancer and high cholesterol. My brother (also passed, 4 years ago, at age 53) died of a brain tumor. My other sister (passed this past November, aged 46) died of breast cancer. I am a walking time bomb, waiting to happen! I have one sister left (who's in good health too, thank goodness, and also at a fairly healthy weight). I know that having the sleeve doesn't guarantee that I won't develop health issues, especially cancer which is rampant in our family. But I DO know that being in my ideal weight range and being active, as well as eating healthy foods in healthy portions is going to help increase my odds of a long, healthy and happier life. If I should develop one or more of the health issues my family has, I will at least know that I've done everything I could do to help prevent it, by being in my ideal weight range, choosing well when it comes to food intake and exercising my body to help preserve it in top form!

20 lbs in 3 weeks is FANTASTIC! I wonder if these people were on a diet themselves, if they could lose 6-7 lbs a week (that's a pound a day!). I HIGHLY doubt it! Just as you say, people seem to think that WLS is some magic bullet. It is a tool. It helps us control our portion sizes. Period. The rest of the hard work is up to us! We have to make good food choices, consciously decide to be more healthy, more active, drink more fluids and eliminate "junk" from our eating. That is difficult mentally, emotionally and physically. And none of it is assisted by the scalpel our surgeon used to remove 85% of our stomachs. Anyone could have the VSG and continue to eat poorly (I'm sure some people do...). They will not succeed (certainly not long term), even though they are eating far smaller quantities than before. So the next time someone asks you how much you've lost, rather than telling them the total weight, you could say something like....."I've dropped 2 pant sizes", or "the equivalent of a 1 year old child", or "I'm averaging 5-6 lbs a week"! I'm sure that will impress them and let you keep your privacy a bit more to yourself! Just remember, you are the only one who has to be happy with your progress, your determination and your health. As long as you are happy with where you are at, nothing else matters! Congratulations my dear. Just keep on "keeping on". You're doing great!

I am fortunate to have never had a loculated (or non-loculated!) seroma, so I can't answer your question directly. But I did find some information that may help you understand things a bit more: http://www.primehealthchannel.com/seroma-definition-causes-symptoms-and-treatment.html

If you are taking a post-op antibiotic, you may need a pro- biotic to re-establish healthy levels of intestinal flora that get killed of by the meds. I suffered a lot with diarrhea during the first couple of weeks. Then I bought some Bio-K pro- biotic ( the soy version, as I thought I had become lactose intolerant.... which I had not, thank goodness). I was MUCH better, even after one dose

I'm very glad to hear you're feeling better! I did however want to point out that you should be careful with eating chips and sweets, as they could be your "slider" foods and they will sabotage your weight loss and success. At this point in your recovery and lifestyle change, you must focus on eating Protein first, veggies second and carbs last (only if you have room left!). If you're not eating protein, then your body will break down your muscles (easier to "process" than fat!). And your weight loss will be mostly muscle mass! Who wants to become a big flabby bag of skin? You NEED those muscles, so work hard on keeping them! I found early on that my stomach hurt after eating too, and I quickly realized it was because I was eating too much! So funny to say that, when you look at the plate and there are only a few bites on there. How can that be too much? For me, after quite a bit of experimentation, I realized that I can eat 2 1/2 - 3 oz (in total) in one meal. So in order to make sure I didn't eat more than that (and have stomach pain and nausea), I measure EVERYTHING. As my stomach has been healing, my capacity is growing too. So I'll have to keep checking "in" to see if my 2 1/2 - 3 oz is growing, and adjust accordingly. Also, I'm getting to be a pretty good judge of the volume of most foods now, so I don't always have to measure (which can be difficult when you're not home and have no scale!). Please please please, focus on eating protein first! Measure your food and learn what volume/weight works for you. Cut out the chips and sweets, you'll be happy you did, believe me! YOU CAN DO THIS!

Fantastic! What I notice the most is the BIG SMILE if all of your 3 month shots, compared to the before shots. Isn't the sleeve great? You look so confident and happy!

I tried a bath for the first time in YEARS last week. I'm still displacing a lot of water, but I did manage to get in the tub with more than just a few teaspoons of water sharing the tub with me. LOL GREAT NSV! I can't wait to join you on this one. I love baths and have been relegated to the shower for all of my adult life (unless in a hot tub.....bliss!).