makemyownluck

congrats!! you look great (love those shoes!)

Those are all the right things to do to prep for post-op life. Many people want to rush the process along (I was one of those people!) but it really does help to focus on your habits NOW, to get into the habit of having smaller portions and cutting out the things you won't be indulging in for a while post-op. It requires effort - the adjustment after surgery is still a challenge for me, and I did all the same things you're describing! I don't feel hungry, but it is weird to be sitting here for 20m with the same Jello cup and only be about 1/4 of the way through it! I NEVER CHEWED JELLO BEFORE! lol Time will fly - take the time now to get your finances in order, get your diet in order, start exercising and don't forget to give yourself a meal or two where you can enjoy your favorites before they are out of your life for a while. My fav thing pre-op were gyros and it will probably be months before I can tolerate meat again, and even then it will be one or two bites and that's it! I'm looking forward to it - but I made sure to have a couple pre-op, but only once every other month or so. Everything in moderation is my mantra! Good luck to you!!

I expect this to be a challenge for me as well. When I was much younger and could shop at Lane Bryant, I also live w my parents back then and had more expendable income to afford whatever I wanted! My plan is to shop sales as much as possible. NEVER trust what you see in the mirror, take pictures, take a friend, at first I don't want to shop alone! Forever 21 has plus sized clothes that are pretty and inexpensive, so do Old Navy, JC Penney and Kohl's. I'm very high BMI so I actually look forward to buying plus size clothes (sad, huh?). Shop sales and sign up for their email offers. Buying a look off a mannequin isn't a bad idea, either. I know for myself that my wardrobe has been very limited because of my size and lack of options, so I'm sure once I can build it up, it will be easier to coordinate a "look" for myself. Good luck!

chewing something and spitting it out is an eating disorder as well... it's something anorexics and bulimics do. I don't think that should be the solution, you're just finding a way to give into your eating addiction... just my 2 cents

thanks for the encouragement. I'm gonna focus on recovering for now. I didn't anticipate the pain to last this long - it's making it very hard for me to get up and walk like I'm supposed to... and I'm constantly tired... just wanna feel good again.

4 days post op today. I'm doing better overall, but I'm having pain in my belly button that's more like a burning pain and very uncomfortable. Yesterday, I came home from my parents house, and I cried the entire way home. Why? I have no idea. I was nervous to be alone, yes, but there was something else behind the tears - a lump in my throat that wouldn't stop... I think I'm just reaching my limit to keep a smile on my face through all the pain and discomfort that post-op brings. And to top it off, I've GAINED 2lbs since surgery. WTF?! And I'm not talking about surgical gasses or fluids - I weigh 2 lbs more than the day I left the hospital, and it's devastating. I was an emotional wreck this morning when I stepped on the scale because I can't help think WHY did I do this to myself? WHY am I going through all of this just to GAIN WEIGHT!??!?! I can handle being a "slow loser" if that's what I have to be, but I'll be damned if I have the strength to go through all this and know I'm not losing a F--king ounce. I'm angry, and sad, and frustrated... I feel like a fool thinking this surgery was gonna help me at all. I'm just hoping this is a low point and I'll be back on track soon enough... I can't believe this is happening. I didn't cheat on my pre-op diet. I lost 18lbs in one week, then was taken off my bp meds and Water weight crept back on prior to surgery, so I already felt horrible. And then I put on another 7lbs from surgery and now another 2 since I've been discharged... I can't handle this. I am not emotionally prepared for failure. And it hurts my tender belly to cry. :*(

Much better today!

It was scary learning that someone died... my parents were in the waiting room and my surgery had already gone over the "one and a half hours" quote my surgeon gave them. I was about 3 hours in surgery (not sure why, surgeon said everything went well), and while my parents were waiting for news, they had to witness this family hearing the worst and dealing with the shock and surprise of it. Very overwhelming. I felt guilty because all I could think was "Thank god it wasn't me" ... I think lots of pre-op'ers focus on the weight loss aspect ONLY, and while that is the desired goal of having this surgery, you simply MUST consider all the alternatives. As someone who had gall bladder surgery at a weight this high with no complications and who has never had heart problems, I did NOT anticipate that I would have bradycardia and hypotension after surgery, even with pre-op clearance, you just can't predict how your body will handle surgery. It's a life changer, and not always for the better! I am fortunate, my bp and heart rate went back to normal 2nd day post op. I'm so grateful for that!! I hope it all stays normal!

Came home yesterday! Feeling soooo much better this morning. Ended up staying 2 nights in hospital because of my low heart rate, but things improved. Took my first shower since surgery and feel more like a human now!

I completely agree that calling this a tool is oversimplifying the surgery. But if you don't call it that, people tend to think this is a miracle surgery that requires no effort on their part. It is a major surgery, one that could kill you. I had my surgery on Thursday and one of the other patients died on the table. My heart rate slowed to 40 with my bp being 80/40. I'm thankful I made it through, but it could have just as easily been that my heart stopped. I didn't consider these possibilities too much when I was pre-op! Now I'm just thankful to be alive and that every day is getting better. But yes, there are many risk factors involved with this, few of which were discussed. Patients want to lose weight, surgeons want to make money, and while they try to minimize complications, the fact is that fat people are very, very risky surgical patients. I'm glad to be one of the lucky ones.

How you feelin today? I'm super sore. Just took my first shower n I'm exhausted!

Had surgery on Thursday morning and was discharged today. All is well, just tender and sore in the belly. Apparently I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia and morphine combo which made my heart rate and blood pressure drop very low. Heart rate was in the 40s and my bp was in the 80s/50s. I didn't feel anything because of it, just really tired. But after getting off the morphine, it all came back around to normal, so I guess it's all good. They did tell me I have an arrhythmia, it's mild, but I need to follow up with my doctor on that. Other than that, I'm doing okay. Pain is okay, meds definitely help. I'm finally on "the other side" of this journey. I'm excited to see where it takes me...

Thank you everyone!! Still sleepy and sore but I'm okay. Passed my leak test so they finally brought me some fluids. I'm off the morphine, it was making my bp and heart rate really low. I'm on Norco now, but using less and less. It can only get better...

Surgery was 12 hrs ago. Just got out of bed for 1st time - ow!!! Morphine is my friend tonight!

Happy Sleeve Eve to you!! I'm up to bat at 1030a tomorrow. Best of luck, wishing you a speedy recovery!

That is nothing short of amazing!! You must feel like a new person!

You aren't nuts. There's literally hundreds of posts on this forum of other people who cheat on their pre-op diet! I've had hard enough of a time on mine WITHOUT having to cook for other people. I can only imagine that it's that much harder if you have to cook for a family while maintaining a diet. It is definitely hard to do this, you are NOT alone in slipping up. As long as you keep trying, that's what's important. Yes, you need to do the diet, but I think any rational surgeon is going to understand that people cheat. After all, being unable to control our eating is what makes us overweight and need surgery! If you're able to maintain it for 2 our of your 3 meals, you're still accomplishing the goal of shrinking your liver so surgery is easier. As hard as it is, I do know from experience that if you hang in there, it does get easier. Your hunger does eventually fade away if you aren't cheating. It really is the fat/carbs/sugar that makes you crave more! People say there are carb addictions and it's so true! They keep you in the cycle of being hungry. You DO deserve the sleeve, you deserve the chance to have a tool that helps you with these impulses!! Tomorrow is a new day - just keep trying your best, and don't beat yourself up. This is all part of what will be YOUR OLD LIFE. Everything will change - and for the better!!

I haven't heard of it! I wonder how that works....

sorry sleeve bro!!!

I'm glad you saw it too!! thank you!

Thank you so much everyone! Good luck to all my fellow May 2nd sleevers!! I'm going under the knife at 10:30am. I swear, I could NOT concentrate at work today!! Soooo much on my mind. I'm so excited for tomorrow to come. I can't wait to get on the other side and start my post-op life and recovery. Thanks so much for the love, I'll definitely be on here as soon as I can to update yall on how it goes.

Sleeve Sisters!! Happy Sleeve Eve to you! My surgery is at 10:30am. When you're getting your IV in, ask them to give you a scope patch. It's an anti-nausea patch they give to people with nausea/dizziness/vertigo and they can put it on you before surgery so you're not sick when you wake up. Good luck!!