Brielle

Before my surgery, I had gone about 5 months with no period. The month of my surgery, I got it (in January), and then in February I got it, and it's STILL here. I've been on my period for almost 3 weeks now!!! And it's not a light one either, it's heavy and i'm having a lot of pain with it. It's slightly ridiculous. Just wondering if anyone else has been here. I was so used to not having a period, and then BAM!, a three week long period?! Do I need to tell my doctor, or what? I'm 19, by the way... if that helps at all.

I just took 2 tylenol for a headache, not even thinking about it. Its not capsules, it's tablets. Is this okay? I realized the second I swallowed it that I didn't know if I could have it, but it was too late. I feel fine, but I was just wondering if anyone had been told differently. thanks dudes

I was also told 2 weeks clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks mushies, and then slowly add regular foods. I think all doctors differ, though...

Just curious... how many calories do you guys get a day? I know that everyone's doctors tell them differently.

4 people in my family had gastric bypass, and they had to do the bowel prep laxatives. i had VSG, and the only form of bowel prep i had to do was a clear liquid diet the day before surgery. that's it!

this is so weird... i have been craving chinese food since my surgery, too! and pizza! right after i got home from surgery, my family had pizza for dinner. it's so hard to tell yourself no when you're used to eating whatever you wanted to. i read someone's post that had chewed and spit a whole piece of pizza, just for the taste. you just have to find ways around it, because you literally CAN'T have it! i'm almost a month out, and i crave everything too, but it has gotten WAYYY better than it was right after surgery. as you can add stuff to your eating list, it gets easier. i still want that chinese food, but i know i just have to wait it out. and it'll be SOOO worth it!

you guys are just great!!! truly!

It is! I have definitely found comfort in it. Beginning to get behind on my online classes, as I have found myself slightly addicted to VST! Ha! Watched your vlog today on youtube, by the way. Kudos! It's awesome!

So I’m sitting here feeling all great about my sleeve, reading and replying to posts, planning my awesomely-protein-packed dinner, and a freakin’ cupcake shows up on the top of my VST screen. I’m sure you guys have seen it- the one about “daily deals” or some BS. A freakin’ chocolate cupcake loaded with blue icing and chocolate sprinkles. REALLY? Not cool! Lucky for me, this website is loaded with people that are willing to offer support, recommendations, opinions, and just flat out LOVE. How awesome is that? I’m 19 years old, and trust has been a definite struggle for me my whole life, as my dad has hurt me emotionally over and over again throughout my life- starting at age 2. I think this issue is one that made my food addiction worse over the years. HOWEVER, this website and the wonderful people that fill the pages have provided inspiration and emotional support for me like I have never known. Don’t get me wrong- my family is amazingly supportive. I just mean I’ve never known strangers to be so supportive. Makes me think the world isn’t so cruel J Just wanted to post this as a thanks and a “keep keeping on” to everyone out there. Temptation, frustration, days we just feel we have to give up… it’s all gonna come and hit us like a freight train. But we have each other (and blogs/forums to rant and let off steam!). What I’m saying is- Thank God for VST.com!

i've gained 3!! everyone says its just our bodies adjusting. plus, you probably have a lot of retention from the fluids in your IV. once i had my surgery, it dropped all of a sudden. gotta love the stand stills. i guess we just have to keep the faith!

I am getting so frustrated with everything these past few days. I've gained 3 pounds... how is this possible? I feel like i've been banned from everything, yet i'm still gaining weight. It makes me wanna just eat whatever I want. I'm only 3 weeks out... isn't this when i'm supposed to be losing the most weight? I'm 19 years old, and really mature for my age, but it's times like this when it makes me afraid that I was too young to have such a lifechanging surgery. I think i'm just super down tonight. Does this surgery play with our emotions?

Sorry, I know its not the most pleasant of topics, but I don't know what to do. I am going on 3 weeks post op. I drank too soon after eating, and I just threw up. I haven't thrown up since I had surgery, and there was blood in it tonight. I don't know if something is wrong, or if this is normal? It's the middle of the night, and I don't want to wake my mom if nothing is wrong. I'm not in pain, i'm just still a little nauseated. Anyone else experience this?

I feel like I am constantly hungry. Within an hour after I eat, I feel hungry again. And it's physical signs of hunger, not even mental or emotional. My stomach turns and growls like i'm hungry. I am terrified that i'll stretch my sleeve if I continue to eat when i'm hungry, but I can't just let myself starve! What should I do? Is it okay that i'm eating so much? I know its small portions, but still... is anyone else feeling this way?

I posted on this section of forums yesterday, but I didn't realize it was for introductions. I guess I should've figured the site out a little better first! Anywho... Hi! My name is Brielle. I was sleeved 1/26 by my uncle! Yes, my uncle was my surgeon. Dr. Tyner is AWESOME! 5th person in my family to have WLS, though everyone else had Gastric Bypass. I am so pleased with the results... on the day of my post up, I was 12 days out from my surgery, and had lost 15 pounds- woohoo! I am a full time student, almost finished with my Associates in the Arts. Upon completion, I will enter the nursing program. I work part time at Monarch and the ARC of Moore County. This is working on goals and doing respite care with children that have developmental disabilities. I LOVE it! I also babysit allllllll the time. I struggle sometimes, but I somehow find time for my friends in the mix of all of this! Everything went SO well in the hospital. My nurses at Rex Hospital were simply amazing. My recovery was great. I stopped pain meds on the 3rd day after my surgery. Before leaving the hospital, I was taken off of my high blood pressure medication AND my acid reflux medication! This surgery has been miraculous for me, and i'm only on week 3 of post-op. I can't wait to get back in the gym and add to the pounds dropped! I have quit smoking after surgery... I haven't smoked a cigarette since the morning of my surgery (dumb, but I had to for my own sanity!) and though i've wanted to, I have fought the urge. I feel great about myself for quitting. The rest of my journey is soon to follow.... So... HELLO, MY FELLOW SLEEVERS! Add me, talk to me, and be involved

You can see your staples? My incisions are almost all the way healed and i'm only 14 days out of surgery. I guess my sutures are all inside?

I have been sick these past few days with flu-like symptoms. My doctor told me to drink, drink, drink! She said Gatorade or something else that replaces electrolytes. I don't like Gatorade and I don't like Powerade Zero. I just like plain ole Powerade! I have looked at the nutrition facts and 50 calories doesn't seem so bad. Has anyone asked their surgeon about Powerade? I love it, and I need something to stay hydrated... I don't wanna be back in the hospital for dehydration!

"The thing i'm most nervous about is the pain. And the nausea. That aspect of the surgery scares me..." The pain isn't as bad as the pain medication tastes. haha. I can't stand liquid medication, but maybe that's just me. I was up walking within 3 hours after my surgery. The worst pain I had was when I coughed. The anesthesia (sp?) and being intubated made me have congestion, and when I would cough it hurt. Still, the pain is not bad at all compared to the wonderful results from surgery. I've had kidney stones since I was 16, and its toughened me up for surgery, but I still don't think it's too bad. I quit taking my pain meds after the first 3 days. The nausea-- I haven't really been nauseous. My pain medication made me a little nauseated, and I get nauseous when I drink too soon after eating, but that's it!

I was in the same boat as you. I am 19 years old and was sleeved on 1/26/11. I'm only 2 weeks out, but I can tell you right now that i'm so glad I had the sleeve. I am the 5th person in my family to have WLS. First to have the sleeve- the rest had GB. The VSG is much safer for young people, as it doesn't take so many Vitamins and nutrients from your body. It's also safer because it doesn't reroute your intestines. I am 14 days out and have lost 15 pounds! Getting approved and getting through the process was SO simple, and my surgeon was absolutely wonderful (he IS my uncle, but still ) After surgery, head hunger is the hardest thing. You think you want soda and fast food, but you're really not even hungry. TOTALLY worth it. My high blood pressure and acid reflux are already on the mend- i'm off both medications!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!! Good luck- if you want to talk more, add me as a friend and we'll chat!! -Brielle

I'm 19 years old, and was sleeved on 1/26. It was my first major surgery, and the catheter was nothing. I didn't know I would have it until the day of my surgery, but it didn't really scare me. I was completely out when they put it in. When I woke up from surgery, it took me a few hours to even realize I HAD a catheter. As I came to a little more, it started feeling a little uncomfortable, but not necessarily hurting. It's nothing to worry about, really. It's actually VERY convenient, as you don't feel like getting up to go pee right after surgery. It's just to empty your bladder during surgery and when you're in recovery/recovering in your room. With all of the fluids they pump into you, it would be extremely difficult to NOT have a catheter. I'm certainly glad I had mine!

Ann, Thanks so much for your support and your interest! I use Crystal Light... i am extremely picky about my drinks, so it has been hard to find a variety of drinks after surgery! I use the individual packets of Crystal Light... lemonade and pink lemonade are okay, and I also like Fruit Punch and Grape. My mom uses the Peach Iced Tea and swears it the best thing ever, but I didnt think it sounded too appetizing! BEST OF LUCK!!!

I was sleeved on 1/26. I went for a follow up yesterday, and I've lost 15 pounds!! I am extremely happy with the results so far. I was taken off my high blood pressure medicine AND my acid reflux medicine! Very, very awesome things have happened... I was the fifth person in my family to have WLS. All of them had Gastric Bypass, but I had VSG because of my tendency to make kidney stones. My uncle was my surgeon, so I went into surgery not afraid at all. Everything went great- no sickness in the hospital, incisions are looking amazing, support from my family and friends is plentiful... So excited. I am going back to the gym tomorrow. I guess i'll just start with some walking on the treadmill. I will go back to work on Friday... so excited to see my clients I have managed to keep up with my classes, as I am a full time student. Everything is just going so great for me. I am having problems with my Protein intake. The only Protein shake i've found that I can tolerate is the Atkins shakes- more specifically, the Espresso kind! By the way, I don't see how the flavorless Protein powder is flavorless!! I am doing Oikos yogurt, scrambled eggs, the occasional shake, though it's hard to get down, and whatever else protein I can scrounge up. My surgeon also told me I need to drink more liquids, but I feel like I drink constantly! I guess it'll get easier day by day? I'm only 19 years old, by the way. I am hoping to find more people my age around these forums because I feel kind of alone in that sense. I do love everyone, though And just outta curiousity... does anyone else feel like they eat ALL the time? I feel like i'm doing wrong by eating so often, but I guess the portion size is the cause of that?