smallvegan

Good luck!! You will do great!

I burped A LOT in the beginning. Still happens if I eat or drink too fast, but it is a lot better. I'm almost 2 months out.

I didn't actually. If it's ok with your nutritionist, I say go for it! Anything we can do to promote healing it a good idea!

I've been vegan for a few years, vegetarian for years before that. I was sleeved on 8/14. My NUT has been wonderful working with me to make sure I can be successful with the sleeve. She said it is not common for vegans to get the sleeve, but it can be done.

I was! Down 27 since surgery, 43 total (including pre-op loss). Feeling great! As of Tuesday, I was allowed to start eating whatever I could tolerate (focusing on protein), but I can still eat very little. I don't have trouble eating, but get really full, really fast, no matter how slow I eat.

My NUT said the Water pushes the food thru much quicker and then you are hungry again before your next meal.

Lauren

Great attitude. I'm just enjoying every day of this journey whether I'm losing or not. I know in the end, I will lose this weight. Live in the moment!

Tuesday will be one month post op for me and I have not had one single regret. NOT ONE. Woke up from surgery with some nausea, but the nurses were great and got it under control. Had no pain (RNs gave me pain meds) and I was up walking a few hours after surgery. I was discharged less than 24 hours later and honestly felt great. The only complaint I had was some gas pains and my belly was swollen from the gas. That took a few days to stop. I was able to sleep on my side immediately. I prefer my belly and found that with pillows, I could even do that after a day or two. I equate the belly pain with the soreness I would feel if I had done a lot of sit ups. Totally bearable. I only took the pain meds at night.

I did have an issue the first few days with drinking. I wanted to take big gulps, but could only take tiny sips. I also hiccuped and burped a lot during this time. My MD and NUT had warned me about all of this. Every week, drinking is easier and easier. I was encourage to start working out immediately, but not at high intensity. Treadmill was good for me. Plus you need to walk, walk, walk after surgery. Prevents clots and pneumonia and helps get rid of the gas.

You could go to the gym and count calories and lose weight that way. For me, losing weight was never an issue. Keeping it OFF was my issue. No one I ever spoke to told me this was a magic bullet. My doctor and his staff were very honest and explained it is only a tool that needs to be used with healthy eating and exercise. The weight has fallen off of me so far. I lost 16 before surgery and have lost 41 total at less than 4 weeks out. I feel better than I have in YEARS. I am down a few sizes.

It is a personal decision whether to have surgery, but please know there are many who have no regrets. I think sometimes unhappy folks (unhappy with the surgery I mean) post more than others. It's a good place to come for support.

Good luck with what you decide.

Lauren

Just did a quick google search and it looks like cortisone (steroid) injections are used by a lot of folks. It really is the only thing that has stopped a sore in it's tracks for me.

Hmm, I really don't remember. Haven't had one in a long time. I know you have to get it at the first sign of a boil. I believe it may have been some sort of steroid (an anti-inflammatory). I will look for an old office receipt to see if it says what it was. Sorry to hear about your daughter. It can be very hard to live with, especially for young ones. Best of luck!

Do you mean with my incisions? I did not. Oh, wait, I did have some slight pinkness around one incision after about a week. I got an antibiotics right away and it was better in a day or two. Otherwise, I'm doing great.

So I just posted a big ol' reply and somehow lost it. Sounds like it might be what you are dealing with. Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a disease that affects the apocrine sweat glands. It typically affects underarms and upper thighs, but can be in other places too. It is aggravated by obesity and stress affects it too. Unfortunately, it is not curable, but it can go into remission. It is a relatively unknown disease. A lot of people don't even know they have it. If you google it, you will learn lots. I see a dermatologist who gave me some creams (help minimally) and offered antibiotics if it gets severe (which it hasn't). When I feel a boil coming on, I can go see her and she will inject it with something that makes it go away pretty quickly (the shot doesn't hurt, but I scared the first time!). Best of luck to you.

Are they in your underarms and/or upper thighs? If so, you may have Hidradenitis Suppurativa. One of the aggravating factors with this condition is obesity, so you may see some improvement with your weight loss. If that isn't what you have, disregard this!

Lauren

Split fees are pretty common in restaurants near me. Seems they look at every way they can to squeeze more $$ out of you.

Happened to me for sure. Sweet flavors (like sugar free PowerAde) taste TERRIBLE to me now. And my sense of smell is super-heightened. It's strange!

Hoping my dislike of sweets lasts forever! My nutritionist said it is common, but not usually permanent.

I took 2 weeks, which was at least a week more than I needed. I felt great after a week. Everybody heals differently, so you will get a wide variety of answers. Good luck!

You'd be surprised how little people pay attention to what others are eating. I had a friend who was on a medically supervised liquid diet. She could eat NO solid food. She didn't want people to know. She went to a BBQ with family members and she just put stuff on her plate and moved it around. Not one single person noticed. She did finally tell her in-laws later and they said they had honestly not noticed that she never actually ate anything. I say just eat what you know you should and in the amounts you are able and enjoy the party!

Girl, I hear ya. I love an ice cold beer, especially on a holiday like this. But I am three weeks out and now way am I trying alcohol, much less anything carbonated. Figure this craving will pass like any other.

I stayed overnight, but was there less than 24 hours. My doc said his patients all stay overnight.

Protein powder taste seems to vary wildly. What one person likes, another can't tolerate. Many Vitamin stores (GNC, Vitamin Shoppe) will give you sample packets so you can try many brands. They also have websites. I personally like Unjury. I've also heard great things about Max Protein. I had to try a few before I found one I liked. Having one you actually like, not just tolerate, will help a lot during your journey. Best of luck.

Check out some of the amazing before and after pics. Amazing how much younger folks look.

I don't. I have been on Protonix since the day after surgery, per MD orders. It's a very small pill. My MD said it was fine and it has been.

Thanks for the warning!

Wow, thanks for posting the inspiration. You look great!!

I've been having the same problem. I am STARVING and hour or two after I eat. Every time. I wasn't this hungry before! I never, ever felt hungry on Clear Liquids for two weeks. After much research, I believe it is acid reflux. I am already on Protonix, but either need to add to it or switch meds or my dose. Waiting until my MD office opens on Tuesday to discuss with him. My nutritionist says I am eating what I should (amount of food, enough Protein for this stage, etc). I would talk to your doc to see what he thinks. We shouldn't be starving at this point! One of the reasons I got the sleeve was that everyone says "I never feel hungry". Can't wait to be there! Or at least not starving.