Stacie

I really want to buy a cute dress, but I haven't lost much yet (and not sure when I will be able to start losing) Have you bought clothes before they fit? Like a goal outfit? I have done this beofre with other diets and it is always motiviating to keep working to be able to get into something you love. This is the dress, but in real life it is a rich bright red, not coral colored. It is so cute and has sleeves, but I have no idea what size I would buy, etc. It seems like a dumb and silly thing to do, but I really love it. Just wondering if anyone else has done this?

Thanks so much everyone. And thanks to Tiffy for all that info. I am going in this afternoon to have my drain advanced again. I was on tpn at the hospital for the first week. Then they put in a feeding tube (directly into my small intensines) I didn't drink anything in the hospital, but I asked him again yesterday and he thought I should continue with the Water. I will ask again today. I have only drank water, nothing else by mouth, though I do brush my teeth. =) Thanks again for your good thoughts and all your ideas for my to think thru. I wish I had more of an advocate. I just can't wait til this is over!

How exciting! You have already come so far, this will be such a big milestone though!!

My surgeon is supposed to be calling me soon. I want to ask him some specific questions, any you guys can think of? 1. I took vancocin capsules for three weeks. Maybe these kept it open? They are big 2. I am drinking about 15 ounces of Water each day, could this be keeping the leak from healing? 3. He did try to fix it during an EGD with a patch of glue mixed with my blood. It seemed to do the trick for about 5 days. Maybe we could try that again? What would you ask? I agree with you Tif, it is such a mess, I sure wish they could have fixed it right away, that was their plan/goal. But maybe it is different because my leak wasn't found for over 2 weeks. So I was enjoying pudding, broth, Protein shakes,etc. When they went in for emergency surgery they were most concerned aobut the massive infection in my abdomen and making sure I lived. They were unable to locate the leak at that time (2 top surgeons in the room). But it seems crazy that it still isn't healed. I don't have diabetes, smoke, overall very healthy (except this darn weight). Ugh! Thanks for all your prayers everyone.

Hi everyone, I haven't posted much since my leak. I am just getting so frustrated. I had an upper GI two weeks ago and it was still there, the surgeon advanced my drain an inch, hoping that would help the leak heal up. Went back today for another Upper GI and it is still there. I am so completely ready to lose my mind. What can I do? How long will this take? There just isn't a place for me. I definitely can't relate to anyone who had surgery in Dec. ETA: I am hardly believe it has been over 2 months since I have taken a bite of food. 2 months without chewing a single morsel. I" am not sure when I am healed if I will be afraid of food or if I will eat everything in sight!! Other crummy things: I still have loose stools, so I don't know if my c-diff is back or never left and I still have tons of nausea. I take liquid zophran through my J-tube for it, but it gives me a headache every time. I don't even know what to say. I am just falling apart. I don't see why they open my stomach back up and attach a stomach from someone else having this surgery. It would just be two staple lines. Kinda joking - I just want my life back so badly. Thanks for listening. I know many of you have been thinking of me and praying for me and it means so much, sorry taht I am very rarely up for much conversation. =(

I am still burping a ton (after any tiny sip). And still massively nauseous. I wonder if the Gas X helps with the burping? If only I could time travel and not have done this! I wish you the best and sorry I don't have any advice.

Well, I am so sorry to answer your question honestly. But I have NEVER regretted anything more in my life. I am one of the unlucky ones that ended up with a leak despite following doctors orders TO A "T" and researching a surgeon with a very low leak rate. I am exactly one month out and my life is turned upside down beyond belief. I was in the hospital for two weeks, am now eating through a feeding tube and have no idea how long any of this insanity will last. I look in the mirror each and every day crying and asking myself if I really hated myself THIS MUCH. I am 5'3" and 240 pre surgery. I would give my life savings right now to have have my old stomach back without a second thought. I am a young mom though, with three little children under 5 years old so this leak has been horrific for my family. If I was older, and without young children, maybe it would have been less traumatic. Please understand that although the risk of leaks is very small, it is a risk that could happen and be prepared for that. Best of luck in your decision.

That sounds like me too, I lost weight in my early 20s and was jogging. I would so love to do it again. Or rather, I WILL do it again! :hurray: I am still on full liquids. I am SO done with it. The only things on my list right now are: cream of wheat, yogurt, sf pudding, and blenderized Soup (and then Protein shakes and clear liquids). Tomorrow I meet with my nutritionist and am going to ask for cottage cheese and refried Beans, I don't really see the difference with those if I thin the beans out and blend the cc. Today I had a rough patch, same problems with nausea. Nothing (that I am supposed to be taking in) sounds appealing. I went to the fridge during the day and I would dry heave at the thought of yogurt. I think I am pretty dehydrated too. I really want to get past this over the weekend. I called the doctor and she wants me to call back in the morning, or go to the ER if I can't get any fluids in. I really want to weigh only once a week. I don't want to focus too much on the scale. I really don't feel a need to lose too fast, I really want to focus on healthy eating habits and following the program. I am thinking I will weigh in on Thursdays, since that was my surgery day. I hope you are feeling better and getting that gas out. Are you tolerating any more mushies? What meds is the doctor want to try out? I am going to ask for Zofran if the nausea doesn't subside some. take care!

Yay!! 20 lbs down! Congrats! Enjoy your refried beans!! :hurray: Sorry I hijacked your thread so much Wisconsin Gal

Anyone go through some sudden nausea? I had some in the hospital and very mild the first couple days out, now it is back and I can't even go into the kitchen. Smelling anything at all just about gives me the dry heaves. At night I wake up with an awful taste in my mouth. I brush my teeth before bed, once during the middle of the night, and again in the morning, but I can't get rid of this weird taste. Almost like some Soup I had about 4 days ago, I keep burping it up. I also have a burning feeling from my mouth to my sternum, just uncomfortable. I called the nurse and she said to keep taking as much Fluid as I can, if I can't get enough in to come to the hospital. But we are having a snowstorm and my surgeon is in surgery... So far I have had a popsicle today. It was all right, I choked it down. I am going to try something else now. Just no desire for any food or drink... Should I call back and ask for something for the nausea? She said I could take tums... Any suggestions? Thanks!

Congratulations! You look Gorgeous! And wow, are you busy! Great job and thanks for the update, I am two weeks out and you are an inspiration to me!

Wisconsin Gal (we need to meet up sometime!! Do you make it into Milwaukee much? We could do some shopping in Johnson Creek sometime =) Your intake looks good and you are getting in so much protein without a shake?! That is awesome!!!

I see, so less than two weeks out you will get a few more items of variety, :001_tt2: What is the reason you have to wait two months for the fish, etc? I would think that is easier than string cheese? I am just curious, is all. I am not supposed to try those items until 3 weeks out, but I might ask my nutritionist if I can have a little refried beans and cottage cheese at 2.5 weeks, it doesn't seem than different than pudding to me! Why are you taking your blood sugars, were they low after surgery? 68 and 70 are a bit low, but not too bad, right? I think under 55 is the worry/danger range. I am usually in my low 70s and they are very happy with that. I wonder if I am mildly hypoglycemic now and that is causing me to feel really crummy the last two days, no energy, kinda out of it, etc. food for thought... Good luck at your appts tomorrow!!! :001_smile:

Hugs! I had a rough start too. It does get better. I thought, hey, I have a super high pain tolerance, etc, I will breeze through this. I was quite wrong. It really does get better and easier everyday. Hang in there =) and safe travels home!!

I am actually much hungrier now than I was pre op. On the pre op diet (for me: only Protein shakes and clear liquids for 1 week) I seemed to be satisfied for the most part (after the first two days). Now I am not getting my protein in (I would gulp down the shakes preop) I just can't handle them. So I have a starving feeling, but the thought of food has little appeal. It is so very strange. I am so anxious to start eating something even slightly appetizing. Yesterday I cheated and licked a slice of cucumber I wanted it SO bad. I am really struggling (2 weeks post op tomorrow), but I keep looking to other ladies on the board who have gotten through this part and are making great choices and having great success. I know I can make good choices, I just need a little more variety. I am busy keeping tabs on how I will eat the rest of my life. Everytime I look at a recipe or a grocery flyer, I think about how I need to eat more seafood, I need to focus on protein, limit carbs, etc. One reason I was okay on the pre op diet is because I was super busy, as it was the week before Christmas and also, I was so excited to get started. To be honest, that has worn off now and I am just crabby alot and really tired the rest of the time. =( Hang in there!!

Wow! Congratulations on your achievement!

I wonder how big an average 'thin woman's' stomach is?

I hope the meds help you out. =) I had some dry heaves the first couple days too. Day 3 was my worst day. I did not get in much of any liquids the first 5 days. Take care!

5-6 months!! What will you be eating until then?? I am only 2 weeks out and think I may loose my mind on SF pudding, soup, and Greek yogurt. I would love to hear your post op diet. I meet with my dietitian on Friday, and I like to have lots of information.

I was sleeved 12/24. I was supposed to get my period this upcoming Friday. This past Friday (1 week early) I started having very very dark brown discharge. And a fair amount of it. It is still here, but now I notice more red (sorry again for the TMI!) Is this normal? Has anyone had anything like this happen?

Mmm, bananas.... I am in a hungry mood tonight I am mixing it with milk to get more Protein in, but I will try Water another day. It is great frozen too!

That is awesome that you are doing a half marathon in March!! Wow! Have done one before? That is so great. I have a neighborhood full of triathletes (sprint) and they are really trying to get me to do one in July. I am dragging my feet though... Scared of the swimming part. What is the blue rasp crap? lol Yeah, I work in health care and I don't think you are being suspicious at all, especially if they just hired a plastic surgeon specifically for WLS! lol I mean the chance for plastic surgery is high, but I figure why not give it a try! Weight lifting is good for me anyway! The main area I want to tone is my arms, because I don't like think I would ever have surgery there. And I am not hungry anymore like I was! Thank goodness. Though I am completely sick of the three choices I have. I meet with my dietitian on Friday and am so incredibly ready to start trying anything new! How are things going for you this week? :001_wub:

Remember that HBP can be genetic. My father has never been more than 20 lbs overweight, but he has HBP. And I see many patients that are thin, even active, with HBP. I am surprised that they told you it would go back to normal. Though I would think it would go down some at least. Obesity is just one risk factor of HBP.

Yay, my husband says when we go out, I will just get to pick and eat mine and he will eat the rest. Or I will get an appetizer. Not really a fan of kids meals in the first place!!

I am curious to know this as well, my mom keeps asking me and I have no idea! To be honest, I think I would want my tummy to stretch a wee bit so I could learn to live on small, but not minuscule portions someday (I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that!)