MKinVA

I was just sleeved on Monday and there has been nothing else on my TV in the hospital or at home except the Olympics! What a great distraction to have while recovering! I do see all the athletic bodies, but I have no preconceptions that I will ever look like them!

I am feeling bloatd right know. I have a 20 oz. bottle of water and feel like I am ready to float away. It's been sitting here by me for about six hours now, and I stll have about 4 oz. to go! How are you doing on liquids?

I am just out of the hospital and can definitely feel resistance when I am trying to get all these liquids down. I know it's not the same problem you are having, though. A question: Why did you skip the pureed food stage?

I was sleeved on Monday, July 30 and came home Wednesday afternoon, August 1! Aside from a couple bumps in the road, this was quite doable! First bump: deferred, strong pain right over the upper left chest. After going through some cardiac precautions (blood enzymes and echocardiagram), was determined to be gas pain! Whew on that one! Second bump: I have atrial fibrillation and woke up last ***ht (my first ***ht home, sleeping in my own bed) with definite atrial fibrillation, something I hadn't expereinced for almost a year! The episode lasted only an hour and the cardiolgist from bump #1 said that it was asymptomatic and was not a medical emergency unless is persisted for 24 hours. I am already on Lovenox, so blood clotting was not an issue. Whew on that one as well! I have been moving around well and having very little problem except trying to get all the required water in! How do you do it? I am no longer needing the pain medication but I do have this On-Q ball on a strap with tubes running into my belly. I will be glad to get rid of that soon! I only have an occasional twinge or cramp, but nothing unbearable!

Restricted from CPAP? I asked about it and my doctor said that it was not a problem. I even have to bring it to the hospital with me tomorrow. Let me know how it goes without the CPAP!

Good luck! Me too!

Good luck! Me too!

I am glad to hear about climbing stairs. I live in a split-level and can't avoid them, unless I stay on one floor!

Thanks for the inspiration! Good job!

Wow! What an honest Weight Watchers leader! I was in WW on and off for probably twelve years. I had no trouble losing some weight (up to 50 pounds at one point), but then I would get cocky and say this was so easy I could do it anytime and stopped counting points and going to meetings. I am probably one of the biggest yo-yoers in the crowd! I would always gain back my losses and then some!

Am I correct in the understanding that someone with a sleeve does not "feel" hungry anymore? That that part of the stomach has been removed?

The best way to deal with the hunger is keep yourself busy. Now we have the Olympics to watch... perhaps do some project as well.

I will not miss: - Catching my breath and feeling my heart pound for climbing the stairs or walking a short distance - People looking at my stomach - Sitting on the sidelines watching other people have fun - Squeezing into an airline seat, asking for an extender for the seatbelt, or buying two seats - all those pills for my various co-morbidities (what an awful word!)

Good luck to you and everyone else tomorrow! I will be joining you!

I have been on an Optifast diet since July 2 and my surgery is July 30. It was hard the first week but got better. I have been tempted to eat but have not. I am amazed at myself! I guess different doctors have different requirements.

Mine arrived in the mail yesterday. A little nervous about administering my own shots (or having my wife do it), but whatever it takes to be healthy!

Where is a good place to find sugar-free syrups?

I am heading into surgery on July 30 and I am concerned about how I am going to get out of bed without straining my stomach muscles and causing pain. Any suggestions out there?

Wow! This is a great list! Thanks!

This sounds worse than the surgery, doesn't it?!

I have Type 2 diabetes as well. I remember seeing an interview on 60 Minutes a couple years ago where they were interviewing a group of people who had gastric bypass surgery. They mentioned that one of the effects of bariatric surgery was immediate "curing" of diabetes. It seems that the removal of the lower portion of the stomach causes a hormonal change which has a positive effect on blood sugar and how your body processes it. I think I am remembering correctly.

I have not been very open about my surgery, but I am not hiding it either. I have told my close friends and close co-workers, but the others will probably figure it out as I continue to lose weight. As a teacher, I am sure that I will start to get questions and comments from my students... I will just smile and keep on working!

I don't think the banana seeds will be a problem. I have seen a recipe which calls for mashing the banana with a fork until pasty, and that certainly doesn't puree the seeds.

Your support is here! Hopefully your husband will see you becoming healthy and become supportive. Is he overweight as well? Perhaps the idea of you losing weight and getting healthy threatens him in some way?