Birdy18

I was really afraid of this too and felt the exact same thing you're describing. I focused primarily on continuing to stay hydrated that first week to allow any swelling to diminish until my second week when I could drink normally. Then, when you are able to add in Protein - I love Shakeology - it made me feel like a new person again. Just give it time, and dont' worry too much. Once you get in more nutrients and after your stomach isn't as swelled, you will feel much better. I was so worried I'd be SO light headed and tired like I felt the first week, but now I'm only 16 days post op and feel almost normal again!

Also, I loved your original post. It has encouraged me more than most posts I've read on here! I too travel a lot for business, though not as much as you, and it's a passion of mine. Being able to experience local cuisine (in moderation of course) is one of my favorite things in life. I wouldn't consider it life if I had to sneak Protein bars to survive while exploring a new city or country and I love your outlook on not making it the center of your universe, something I think is so easy to slip into. I'm going to Greece for my first time in early October and knowing you've travelled a ton, let me know if you have any great suggestions! I'll be about 6-7 weeks out. Thanks so much for the hope!

Actually, there's a ton of protein options in authentic Chinese cuisine. Totally get where you're coming from though, yes you have a base of white rice, but contrary to the Americanized (overly greased, commonly fried) Chinese dishes in the states, my family's cuisine both here and in Beijing and Hong Kong consist largely of steamed fish in soy sauce (As you mentioned, yum!), lots of silken tofu (soft and great protein), chicken and shrimp stir fries, lots of great bbq plates (pull the skin off the roasted duck, great steamed salted or soy chicken), lobster, steamed dim sum (har gow, remove the skin) etc. I find it so interesting though - my family orders most of the steamed, healthier dishes that we commonly cook at home but when we've gone out you notice most people order the fried stuff. And I love, love LOVE Korean food but unfortunately for me my favorites are kalbi - the chewier the better. The spice and the chewiness of that cut of meat probably won't fare well with my new tummy. Let me know what you eat when you go there!!

I went to my one week post op check up and turns out I am allergic to the glue from the steri strips used to tape up my incisions! I shake my fist at you!! My entire stomach is itchy and I have red bumps around my incision sites. Currently chugging children's Benadryl. Cheers!

I was sleeved Aug 20 too! I also had my first very soft scrambled egg today. I shaved a bit of sharp white cheddar on top with a tiny bit of sea salt. I ate it really slowly and finished about 3/4 of it which took me about 15 minutes to eat. I didn't necessarily feel "Full" the way I knew full before but I could definitely feel it in my tummy and started to burp so I thought it best to stop. It is absolutely insane that I'm talking about almost finishing one egg when a 4 egg-stuffed omelet with 3 sides would have been normal for me before. Cheers!

Thanks so much for all the positive comments and encouragement! You all are right - just knowing that eventuallllyyy I'll be able to enjoy them again is helpful.

Thanks, Emy! It definitely helps knowing it will get better. What were some of your favorites that you tried first and didn't taste as good as you remembered? I'm just struggling through the intense cravings from my old eating habits! Also, I'm still on liquids and have another two weeks of full liquids before I can hit purees, so I'm hoping that will help the empty feeling in my stomach!

Today marks 10 days post op. Other than the acid reflux and slight weakness, I've had a relatively easy recovery which I'm truly thankful for. For the first week or so post op, there was no way I could even think of food. It's been a struggle to just get in the fluids I need, much less the protein. I haven't hit those goals yet but it does get better and better every day. While I'm really thankful for the by-the-book recovery so far, the past few days I've experienced a combination of actual and head hunger. While I know very little actual food would make me full quickly, I am really struggling with missing my friend, food. It's a mix of an unhealthy emotional reliance, an actual love for food and cooking (I will always be a foodie), and feeling a bit sorry for myself on what I'm missing out on - I'm Chinese and from a big family. As part of my recovery, I've been home with my parents and grandparents and food is so central to my culture. It's hard not taking part in my big family dinners where my aunts and uncles and cousins come, and it tests my every ounce of strength to help cook and not partake. I know this won't always be that way, and I've forced myself to confront these thoughts during my pre op emotional readiness, but the truth is - my all time favorite foods are shared with my family and sweet or carb based: claypot chicken rice, chewy korean spare ribs, chow fun, I could go on. I'm at a point now where I'm really sad and missing these foods. I want to be at a place where I can healthily balance a majority of protein but also be able to enjoy in a moderate balance the things I love - much of which include rice and noodles. I also feel cheated because I didn't indulge in a "last meal". My surgeon's team advised against it and other than a few healthy cheat bites during my 14-day pre op, have been very by the book as far as my doctor's instructions have been. And while I love, love, LOVE the 25 lbs I've lost since my pre op began, a part of me (ok a larger part because I'm craving my favorites right now) regrets not indulging in my favorite foods that I won't be able to have for a while now.. until my stomach has healed in full and when I'm further along in my weight loss progress. I've since TORTURED myself. I say it's a testament of my strength, but I am going through my favorite food blogs because all I'm craving are my favorite Asian comfort foods. I work in social media and Pinterest is like my hell right now because of the amazing food photography. I may or may not have actually DROOLED thinking about curry fried rice with roast pork or crispy peking duck on pillowy baos. I'm almost ashamed at how difficult of a time I'm having with actual comfort food withdrawal. I suppose it goes with the territory. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't a full on food addict. I guess this all boils down to me really questioning whether I did the right thing. I know, deep down, that I did. And I know that as more weight comes off and the harder I work and the further out I get that I will fully feel that this is the right decision. But frankly, right now, I feel weak. I miss my favorite foods. I am tired, weak, full of head hunger and have found myself wondering if this was the wrong decision - even cried about it. I read posts from vets on this forum who are 1, 2, 3 years out and am filled with such jealousy that they've found the happy medium of being able to have the foods they love but in moderation. I feel like that's so far away for me and I'm in a dark place right now that I know I'll be able to pull myself out of eventually but right now.. I just don't know how to think about it and every day is a struggle!

Thank god. I've been pretty down this past week (granted I've only been sleeved a week), but was terrified the reflux and pain every hour would be permanent.

Thanks! Did yours go away with time just getting used to being sleeved and your stomach adjusting to food and drinks, or was it medication?

Good to know you can take things to make this go away. What's breakthrough reflux??

Good to know - I'd have to be careful with that because that has always been a favorite! I read somewhere that you had to be careful eating popcorn because of all the hard pieces (I was sleeved a week ago). How soon were you able to eat popcorn?

I forgot to ask - did your doctor prescribe a PPI for you? That has helped some (not all), but better than nothing.

I was sleeved August 20, 2012 and have experienced the same thing too. I've never had reflux or heartburn before the surgery and now I have everything from small little burps to really painful acid reflux several times a day. It's horrible! I'm on a PPI - a dissolvable pepcid tablet that I'm supposed to take every morning. I'm only supposed to take one a day but it rarely lasts long enough! I'm hoping this is something that only happens in the beginning and that it won't be with me for the rest of my life. Burping 5 times to drink a few sips isn't my favorite!! Or, when I can swallow pills and I'm out of the liquid phase, I'm hoping that would help too!!

You look incredible!! Huge congrats and can I say, I applaud your reward purchase!! I'm obsessed with handbags. Thanks for being my inspiration.. coming from someone 1 week post op today. Can I ask - any issues with loose skin? It doesn't look like it!!

I'm only 3 days post op but can agree the acid reflux is the most painful thing. I can deal with the constant struggle to get my liquids in and the general soreness, but my biggest fear is that this terrible acid will occur with every bite and sip! Its paralyzing! I am trying to be patient, but was in near tears today. :'( Since I can't swallow pills yet, I'm on a dissolving PPI which has helped a bit but not solved it completely. Please tell me this ges better and the PPI thing isn't another permanent pill I'll have to take for the rest of my life!

Wow - well said.

Just heard back from my coordinator and they said I was fine and good to go for my Monday surgery! What a huge relief. Thanks Ready4Success for checking in!! Monday morning and I'm in. Apparently, no need for other tests.

No, I didn't. When my PCP office called and asked me if I had any abdominal pain and I said no, then they said I wouldn't have to have the ultrasound but they were thinking about it. I guess I'm just concerned because I'm dealing with all these different people and groups and no one has a definitive answer or knows anything for sure so I feel like I'm in no man's land. Why else could they be high?

I'm trying to stay calm. Four days away from surgery and have completed all of my appointments and received insurance approval... also well into my liquid diet. My PCP requires my preop tests to be done not more than 10 days before surgery so I had my EKG, Xray, uninalysis and blood tests done a few days ago. I was told that my liver enzyme levels are a bit high and my PCP asked if I had pain in my abdomen wondering if I had gall bladder issues. I asked my coordinator if things were ok and she said she'd check with my surgeon to see if I needed to squeeze in another blood test in the next 3 days. I checked in with her again and she said the nurse "didn't think it'd affect my surgery Monday but that the doctor was thinking about having me test again but wasn't sure." So I have to wait until tomorrow to hear back about what this all means and I'm just a nervous wreck. I've gone through all the hoops and have mentally and physically prepared myself for a Monday surgery in addition to necessary time off at work. My biggest fear is that this will prevent or delay my surgery... has anyone else had issues with high liver enzyme levels and know what this means?? My coordinator was confused because my pre op diet should help that, if anything. Thanks for letting me vent. I'm sure there are people who understand how prepared you are for a specific date and the fear of something impacting that has terrified me!!!

Tracey - Ha! Great minds think alike. Of course it was stories like yours that made me feel more sane, so it makes sense that you're responding to this thread too! I love how supportive this community is. I'm all full of warm fuzzies. Annie - No problem! I have been (recently) where you've been and the perspective really helped for me too. Good luck!

You're not alone in feeling that way. I have gone through questioning every little thing, being almost TOO addicted to these boards. However, I recently posted a question that received three pages worth of responses. I simply asked, did anyone have a normal recovery? The responses were overwhelming. Several people smartly pointed out that not many post saying, "having a normal boring day feeling like myself!" when of course the bad stories stay in your brain. No one can answer for you whether it's right or not, but if you want additional perspective to balance out what really are the less common complication stories, I'd check out this thread: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/47767-anyone-have-a-relatively-easy-recovery-story/

I'm on the liquid pre op too and the first 4-5 days I had horrible headaches and felt completely outside of my body. I had to leave work early to go home and lie down. Now that I'm on day 9, I feel a ton better. I do sleep REALLY well at night but it's not anywhere near the lethargy I felt in the beginning. I won't say I've been perfect though. I've cheated a few times with grilled chicken and cottage cheese! You can do it! I have 5 more days to go.

Also, I've seen a list of "equivalents to lbs lost" shared often on the good ole world wide web. Here's what the equivalent is for 40 lbs lost: 40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of Water or an average human leg Granted, it sounds nutty but can we stop for a second and think.. a human leg!!!! Or how much a 5-gallon jug of water would weigh!? That's permanently off from your body - nothing to sneeze at!

I am so so so sorry you feel discouraged, but please don't! I haven't been where you've been, I am on the pre op liquid only diet now and my surgery is next week. However, can I just say that so many people on these forums have inspired me and motivated me, and you are one of them! I would kill to have 40lbs lost under my belt. I think it's totally normal and expected to have ups and downs with this - and I think your'e entitled to your frustration. But stick with it - know that even at a slower pace, that's still FORTY POUNDS gone from your body - not added. It will continue to go down. You can do it!