Webchickadee

The discomfort will most likely be only a week (with acutal pain, which for me was really only a day of minor pain. I took no pain killers after the 1st day). But the adaptation to your new stomach size, figuring out what you can tolerate, when you can move to the next level (your sleeve doesn't always conform to what your doctor's schedule is!), dealing with changes in your bathroom patterns, sleeping patterns, mobility issues in the beginning will be quite a bit longer. I'm about 3 1/2 weeks post-op now (sleeved on May 14, 2012) and I am still adjusting in a BIG BIG way. I'm supposed to be on mushies and desperately want to stop with the liquids and Soups already, but my sleeve just isn't happy with that plan as yet. Fatigue is a battle since my calorie intake is quite low, getting very tired of getting more than 50% of my calories a day from Protein shakes (which started out tasting good and now I have to "choke" them down every morning!). It's a daily struggle right now. That all begin said, I am also exercising (just walking right now, but usually going 3-4 miles each day, which is 3-4 more miles than I did pre-op!) and I've already lost 30 lbs (includes 11 lbs from 2 week pre-op diet). So yeah me! I'm also doing what you're doing.....walking through stores I've never been able to shop in and imaging all the cute outfits I'll be able to buy and wear for the first time EVER in my life. What a great motivator! I just wanted you to be aware that the discomfort will be longer than a week if you factor in the major life change you're about to go through and the length of time it takes to really get into what will probably be fairly close to your new eating pattern, headspace, etc. Keep up the optimism and the excitement though! I'm not raining on your parade.....this is the best decision of my life and it will be for you too! I'm just also excited for the next couple of months to pass so I can get through these early stages and settle into a more normal routine.

Hey, was that the tough mudder? I've been hearing about that race from some colleagues (guys) and I want to blow their minds and enter that race next summer. I want to bet them that I can complete it (bet them now and they don't know about my surgery..........they will bet it in a heartbeat, thinking it's an easy win for them!). I know it's a very difficult race, but I have a year to lose the weight and get super fit........I KNOW i can do it! You look like you had a blast..........I want to do it too!

Wow, there is no way I could have handled soft foods one week out! I'm a bit more than 3 weeks post-op and started mushies a few days ago. Today I'm back to full liquids because I'm just not feeling well with mushies yet. As much as I want to move to the next stage (desperately.....I'm so tired of liquids!), my sleeve isn't too happy and neither is my digestive tract. So one day at a time and I'm sure it will get better for both of us!

How do you know you're dehydrated? Do you have symptoms such as: - Thirst - Dry Skin - Skin Flushing - Dark Colored Urine - Dry Mouth - Fatigue or Weakness - Chills - Head Rushes And if so, how far out are you from surgery? Can you drink a mouthful at a time, or are you still on sipping? Do you have pain when you drink? If you have multiple symptoms from above and can only sip, you may need additional help (such as an IV) to help you rehydrate. If you're able to take a bit more liquid in per mouthful, and can take two mouthfuls every 5 - 10 minutes, you may be able to rehydrate on your own (this would roughly be the equivalent of 20 oz in an hour or more). Also, how did you get dehydrated? Was it from not keeping up with your fluids, or are you having vomiting, diarrhea, etc.? If so, then you may need to get checked out to find out what the causes of those symptoms are and get them treated along with the dehydration so you don't end up on a bad cycle, going back to hospital every few days. Make sure when you are rehydrating that your fluids include electrolytes (such as Gatorade, or Gatorade G2). Dehydration usually comes along with an electrolyte imbalance and that can affect your muscles, the functioning of your brain, eyesight, balance, etc. It can also result in painful cramping and sudden onset of shock if it's really severe! Don't let it get severe! Finally, if you are alone and have no one around, it may be best to go to the hospital. If your dehydration is serious then you may not have the strength or clear-headedness to get help later on, if additional self-help attempts don't work. Good luck and let us know how you make out!

Sending you many many many positive vibes! Our family has been heavily touched by breast cancer. But there's also a good chance that the "mass" is just an area of calcification and it's nothing. So stay positive and wait to see the results and go from there. One day at a time dear. Worry now will only make you feel stress you never needed to go through if it turns out to be nothing. Let us know how things go! And good luck!

Great news! Something positive to look forward to! Make sure you're on top of your pre-op requirements and let us know how things are going pre and post surgery! We're all here rooting for you dear!

Yes! You will! We all started out not knowing how to cook. Some of us were lucky and had family that could teach us....others taught themselves. And you can too! First word of advice....when cooking on the stove, TURN THE HEAT DOWN! This is the first trick to not burning things! Especially on an electric stove, the temperatures are much harder to control. By the time you realize something's burning and you turn the heat down, it's too late. The heating element stays really hot for quite some time and food continues to burn. Either remove the pan/pot from the stove for a minute or two to let the pan and the element cool, or better yet, cook at a lower temperature all the way through. Buy a few beginner recipe books and make some very simple dishes. Don't even try to make a whole meal all at once at the beginning. There's too many ingredients, timing and things to pay attention to. Once you've got some simple things worked out, graduate to doing 2 dishes at the same time and before you know it, you'll be a pro! Another tip is to plan out your meals for a few days in advance when you're first starting to learn to cook. Then make sure you have all the ingredients at home before you start to cook. Nothing more frustrating that getting half-way through a recipe then realizing you don't have a key ingredient! This will also help you to grocery shop more efficiently and probably save you some money and help you stay away from too many spontaneous (and often unhealthy) purchases. Finally, when you do buy those beginner cookbooks, flip through them and look for explanations of common cooking terminology (for example, separating an egg does not mean making two piles! it means separating the yolk from the white!). You need to understand the terminology before you can follow the recipes! And if the cookbook has pictures of the steps along the way through the recipe, even better! Seeing beautiful pictures of finished dishes is great, but knowing how to get there is much more important! Good luck and if you have more questions, just ask!

It's early days yet tbstacks! I know, every day feels like it drags on forever and it doesn't seem to be getting better. But you VERY slowing are improving and healing. And in another week or two, you will probably feel more positive. I am 3 weeks out today and the first 2 weeks were really tough. liquids are boring.....the weird taste in your mouth can drive you insane.....energy is low....changes are happening but not enough that people's jaws are dropping (they will in time though!).....you hubby might be trying not to focus on your weight so much to help you "normalize" (a positive way to look at it, no?).....and OF COURSE you're grieving the loss of food! But in a few months, when you're stable and back on solid foods and have figured out what works and doesn't work for you....how much you can eat in a regular meal...now much Protein and liquid works for you.....how to vary your diet to keep things interesting rather than a chore....it will seem so much better! There's a good chance you don't need meds for anti-depression right now (though if you feel strongly about it, you should see your primary care physician). Your energy is low due to the low calorie intake. Perhaps a B12 (sublingual) supplement daily will help with that, and maybe you need some Iron supplements as well? As soon as you can start doing a bit of exercise (even just walking now is very good!), it should help elevate your mood. The natural endorphins released by your body during exercise can do wonders to help combat depression and really make you feel alive again! Later on, you can try low-impact aerobics such as swimming or water-aerobics. Exercise bike is also good if you're not comfortable getting outside and jogging/running or even fast-walking. And of course, as you start to add "mushies" and find out what your new stomach's actual boundaries are, it will be a daily experiment to find out how your new eating life will be! That should keep you busy for a while. Remember, you've just gone through a MAJOR surgery! It takes time for the body to shake off the after-effects of the anaesthetic, the shock from the surgery, the stomach needs to heal, your metabolism is trying to survive (right now it thinks you're starving with the sudden drop in calories), and the fat you're losing is also releasing alot of hormones into your body in a flood and causing mood changes as well. There's alot going on inside of you! Hang in there. Things will "normalize" in the next couple of months, a little bit at a time. Until one day you'll wake up and it will feel "normal" again. Only a new better, slimmer, healthier "normal"!

I have been having problems tolerating dairy since my surgery (only 3 weeks out so hopefully that will change!). I didn't even TRY my Protein Shake with Water because I KNEW it would be BLECH! I switched from 1% (lactose-free!) to Unsweetened Almond Milk. It's only got 30 calories per cup (vs. about 70 per cup with milk) and no tolerance issues! It does have a slightly nutty flavour to it, but you get used to it. Downside is there is only 1 g of Protein per cup, but upside is there is only 1 g of carb per cup! Could be worth looking at if you're trying to cut calories, as long as you keep the lower protein amount in mind too.

Prayers to you both! Hopefully this part of your journey will be over soon and in a few months, just a distant memory. Replaced by happy new memories of great weight loss, a healthier, happier you and a bright future ahead!

Fantastic! Keep up the amazing work!

A slightly aggressive estimate would be 35 - 45 lbs, assuming no stalls and you doing some walking, with progression to more exercise as you heal further. And of course maintaining a high - Protein, low carb diet with lots of fluids! An estimate only! Based on about 8 weeks between surgery and start of school.

Are you on a PPI (proton pump inhibitor, such as Prilosec (also known as Omeprazole)? The pain could be from reflux. Also, the swelling maybe very severe from the surgery and needs alot more time to calm down. With you not being able to stay hydrated by drinking, you may require IV hydration, possibly over the course of several days until you are finally able to keep some liquids down. Stay in close contact with your MD and if you have any symptoms of dehydration: -Thirst - Dry Skin - Skin Flushing - Dark Colored Urine - Dry Mouth - Fatigue or Weakness - Chills - Head Rushes go the the ER right away and get an IV. We can go a VERY VERY long time without food of any kind, but liquids are critical. If you can't drink, you have to get them the only other way possible, intravenously. Good luck and keep us up to date!

I was also on Levequin in February for pneumonia. It's a powerful antibiotic! I had been on a full 2 week course of Biaxin which did NOTHING for my pneumonia. The Levequin started helping within 2 days and cleared it right up. I didn't really experience any significant side-effects, and was grateful for the improvement! If your fever persists, please let your doctor know right away. You may require a different antibiotic or further investigation!

2BonederfulAgain, do not dispair! Many people experience a "stall" at week three and for some it's a bit earlier (week 2) or later (week 4-5). We're all different! You may have extra waste built up in your colon (when was the last time you had a decent poop?). It could be that your hormone levels are higher than normal at the moment (we have extra estrogen in our systems during rapid weight loss as it is released from our fat cells and floods our bodies), so you could be retaining Water as a result of that, which will up your weight. Are you weighing yourself at the same time of day, same clothing or lack of clothing (I weight myself naked, to reduce any variables!). I always weight myself first thing in the morning, right after I pee and before I eat or drink anything. The time of day is fairly consistent and all other variables are fairly consistent too. That way, I can't blame gains on "too much clothes, I just ate, I haven't pee'd , etc. The main culprit is a lack of a bowel movement and that's not as easily controlled! LOL If you're doing all those things and the weight is still the same, look to some other indicators that things are still progressing.....measurements can change, even when the scale doesn't. You might notice clothes are fitting more comfortably than before, or are getting too big (yeah!). Take a look at what you're eating. At 3 weeks out you're probably still in full liquids, possibly on mushies (each surgeon is different). So, are you getting enough Protein? Enough calories? Try to be as patient as possible (I know, I know.....that SUX). Our bodies have been throw a MAJOR curve ball. First we go on a pre-op diet (not every surgeon requires it, but most do and it varies from a few days to a few weeks!), then we have a major surgery, and then we suddenly STARVE ourselves (as our bodies see it). Your body's fighting back! It thinks your under life-threatening attack and trying to save your life! Give it time to figure out that "it's all good" and it will come 'round and get you back on the losing track. We're here if you have more questions, concerns, frustrations, anger....need to vent. That's what this place is for!

Wow! That is awesome. Already a whole new world opening up to you and this is just the beginning! Keep up the great work.....don't forget, stalls happen to everyone and you've ROCKED your sleeve so far, so don't get discouraged if you should happen to hit one. Continue to be amazing!

Yeah, the mouth taste is tough. I chewed sugar-free gum, and brushed my teeth several times a day. The fluids are tough, but prior to surgery, we drank alot more liquid that we probably realize. Just think how often you would down a whole bottle of Water in a few gulps, or a whole can of pop? Now it takes quite a bit of time to consume that same amount of liquid, which is why the sip, sip, sip thing happens. And despite that, you were still dehydrated yesterday! It does get better! You're 8 days post-op now...I'm 17 days post-op and feeling WAY better than I did on day 8. I know everyone says "be patient" (how irritating), but it's really true! LOL

About 7 days post-op for me. Until then, I found that if I took a drink too big (bigger than a small sip), my stomach "cramped" up terribly and it hurt like a son-of-a-gun! At about the 7 day mark though, I guess a lot of the swelling had gone down and I could start to take more normal mouthfuls (still not as much as I used to, and no chugging of course!). Now I'm 17 days post-op and I can take a couple of mouthfuls (moderate amount) one after the other.....though I've developed a habit of holding a bit of the liquid in my mouth so I don't overwhelm my stomach with too much too fast.

It's probably going to be a tiny tiny needle, just like an insulin needle. Seriously, you won't even feel it. You just take the tiny little needle, removed the cap, pinch your stomach fat and push the tiny needle in. Done! Try it.....it really will be simple. I guarantee it. It's all about mind over matter.

I received injections in my stomach for 2 days after surgery. The needle was TINY and I hardly felt a thing. If i had to, I could have easily given it to myself (but the nurse did it for me). I would confirm the size of the needle (thickness and length), but I'm sure it will not be anything as painful as what you're imagining! These injections are usually just subcutaneous (SQ), which means just under the skin. Not in the muscle like it would be if it was a rabies shot, for example! Try not to freak out!

Could be that you need a PPI (proton pump ihibitor) such as Prilosec (Omeprozole). That feeling in your throat could be from some reflux.

Toning your abs will help with belly skin as well. Try crunches or sit-ups. You're still pretty early post-op so you should start VERY slowly with crunches and sit-up as your stomach muscles are still healing. And you may not be able to do much right away. But whatever you can do without pushing too hard is a start. Then aim to push it just a tiny bit further every few days. Before you know it you'll be done lots of crunches and feeling the "core" benefits!

Complain away! It's important to get those feelings OUT in the open and not let them eat away at your motivation! You mentioned BC pills and TOM. Another 2 factors that will affect you weight dramatically from day to day and week to week is your hormonal levels! So you've got lots going on "in the mix" right now! And of course the healing and recovery overlays everything else. Feel free to feel down for a moment when you're comparing yourself to others (hard not to, I know). Then let that pass and turn to the positives (and grab that drink container and drink to it!) Try Protein shakes.....they will help you deal with 2 challenges simultaneously....protein and fluids! The more protein you do now, the better for weight loss, muscle preservation, long-term preservation of your hair (hair loss sometimes doesn't make itself known for 3-4 months, and early protein helps prevent or at least reduce it!). And of course, I forgot to mention that you should be taking body measurements! If you didn't do this just before your surgery, start now! Often times the body is changing dramatically and the scale doesn't reflect these changes. And many of us can't see the changes when we look in the mirror! Measurements done on a regular basis (I plan on doing mine monthly....so another 2 weeks for me to compare to my starting numbers) will help you see your progress even when the scale is being stubborn. Good luck, and don't worry about venting. That's why we're here! Who better to understand how you feel, and to help you feel better?

Try to not panic! First thing to remember is that your starting BMI is quite low in relation to many people this forum. So for those of us who have higher BMIs, we've been eating many more calories a day to maintain that weight (prior to surgery). Suddenly, following surgery, we are eating 400-600 calories (and sometimes less) per day, whereas before, we might have been eating 3000+. Of course we're losing weight like crazy in the beginning! As your weight (and therefore your Basal Metabolic Rate) is lower, you may have been only eating 2000 calories (or even less) to maintain your preo-op weight. Now, following surgery, you're probably in the 400-600 calorie range (and possibly higher if you're doing well with the protein). So you're calorie difference pre and post surgery is only about 1400 calories a day (maybe a bit less). That means it will take you approx. 2-3 days to lose a pound (without exercise)! Whereas for me, my calories difference is probably at least twice that, and I'm losing a pound every 1-2 days (or better, since I'm also exercising!). This is also the reason people weight loss slows down as they get closer to their goal. Their intake/output difference shrinks down to very little and it makes it much much harder to lose the weight without ramping up your exercise (since there's not much room to reduce calories any more at that point!). I know, your response to that will be....."yes, but that means in 3 weeks, I should have already lost at least 8+ pounds". Maybe, maybe not! Have you been drinking all your fluids? You may be retaining Water. Have you had good bowel movements? That's very difficult to do in the beginning and you may be carrying a few pounds in your intestines! Also, as we eat less suddenly, a survival mechanism in our metabolism kicks in, trying to hold on to calories by slowing the metabolism down (because it thinks we are starving). Sometimes you have to actually increase your calorie intake a bit to fool back into the proper metabolism rate! Try to take the long view and be patient (DAMN DAMN hard, I know!). You will get there. Try to keep the things I've mentioned in your mind and work on getting your Protein, fluids and exercise (even if it's just walking!) in. I know this will work for you. Don't give up!

Best of luck to you! My advice? Start trying to develop some good post-op habits now. - quit drinking carbonated drinks - try not to drink during meals - take smaller bites and chew, chew, chew - drink lots of fluids....in smaller sips - weak yourself off caffeine now, or post-op will be brutal - follow your pre-op diet to the letter, it will make your surgery and recovery a lot easier! And if you're located in Toronto, or the GTA, I'd be happy to talk to you in person! Private message me and I'll give you my email and phone. Good luck!