2notbwinded

@2notbwinded....I am 6 days out and I hear you about the gas. Not to be gross but....I had first BM this morning and so much of that pressure went away and I feel so much better. I also drink hot tea a couple of times a day and that helped tons. I think this morning is the first day I have felt semi back to normal where my body isn't doing the wierd things like hands tingling, gas, burps, etc. I know we aren't supposed to use a straw but I'm a gulper if I drink straight from a cup and get too much air that way. Since I started using a straw and drinking small sips, the pressure between my shoulder blades has gone away and I have gotten in 64ounces of Water the last two days. I hope you start feeling better....btw we are same surgery date, and weight and goal weights...small world. Take care of yourself!

I called my surgeon's office they weren't much help... Someone in another thread suggested warm liquids which seemed counterintuitive in the summertime, but REALLY works! I can 'fit' more warm liquids at a time than cold (which hurt!) Thanks to EVERYONE. I know it's an adjustment. I just didn't know how tricky an adjustment it would be. The gas is sorting itself little by little probably cause I'm taking like 4 gasx tablets a day for it.
Caaattt: I'm in Park Slope, Brooklyn... Are you close? I'm looking for a workout buddy for when I'm cleared for exercise!

I feel I can't get in enough Water... In fact I think I may be dehydrating fast! It's really hot here in NY and I can only get about 2 or 3 oz in before my stomach hurts. today I have diarrhea, my limbs are tingling and slight muscle spasms all signs of dehydration.... Not sure what to do... it's saturday so surgeons office is closed...
And the gas won't go but that's now lower in my priority list...

well, my surgeon doesn't allow any form of beef until six months out. So I can't help you there.
We are allowed to either strain everything from Soup and drink the broth as a liquid, not a meal, or strain a high-protein soup such as lentil soup or black bean soup and puree the Beans and eat that as a meal. We aren't allowed veggies or high-carb foods like rice or noodles at all on the puree phase, so straining a chicken soup and pureeing the solids wouldn't work as most chicken Soups have veggies and something like rice or noodles.
So, under my plan, what you want to do would never, ever be permitted in the puree phase, and not even in the mushy food phase (because we aren't allowed high-carb foods or beef then). But every surgeon has their own rules. Does your surgeon's office have something set up where you can email questions in to the nutritionist? That way you could email the question now and not worry about forgetting to ask later.

Is it grosser that I read the headline and thought - oh she is getting Protein

What a trooper! Oh...gum.

I won't even say the 1st thing that popped into my mind

Yeah! Too good, you're putting me to shame!!! Day 4 and I managed to clean up for company (BF is just another kid around here, actually had more help from my 4 yr old). I was really proud of my couple trips to the deli (like a block away) & now battling with a stuck pill that I stubbornly only cut in 2 rather than four pieces. I'm hoping like hell that losing the battle doesn't mean facetime with my toilet! (didn't get around to scrub that today!)

Working my sleeve at 6 months

I was sleeved Monday, June 24th. I am having a tough time drinking fluids also. Very frustrating. Constant fullness. Taking my crushed pills is the worst.I just made myself a Protein Shake , took one sip and I am so full & uncomfortable!!! Hard to take my hydrocodone also. Hopefully this will pass soon!!

Yeah! Too good, you're putting me to shame!!! Day 4 and I managed to clean up for company (BF is just another kid around here, actually had more help from my 4 yr old). I was really proud of my couple trips to the deli (like a block away) & now battling with a stuck pill that I stubbornly only cut in 2 rather than four pieces. I'm hoping like hell that losing the battle doesn't mean facetime with my toilet! (didn't get around to scrub that today!)

Who has actually reached goal?
I have i have - 100%!!!!
jumping up and down doing raising my hand
while doing the happy dance, rubbing my little tummy, and chewing SF gum at the same time
the sky is the limit to what % you want to lose
sure losing 60 + % is a success
sometimes i think docs use that low % so they can show their (docs) % rate of patients being successful
i "mark" my goal date at one year PO
i was fluctuating a couple of lbs - but i was at goal
now 6 months since goal - i am maintaining
i might slip here or there - (most/all of do sometimes) but i am doing well - enjoying GOAL
weight fluctuates about 2 lbs on occassion
maintenance can be harder than losing the weight
but i think we all know that
we had that prob with our yo yoing before gaining the weight back
i continue to say and believe - that for me - with the aide of the sleeve - i will keep my weight at goal, fluctuating here and there at times
i/we have gone through "too much" - major surgery to help us lose weight - i can not go backwards now
in the past i, as all others, have gone through too many "personal" issues being overweight - self-esteem, confidence et al
and more importantly all the health problems associated with our weight
now i'm so happy i feel like i could burst sometimes, really
and.........this 59 year old grammy - is cute as a button
go to my profile, check out my before and after pictures :wub:
i'm enjoying the healthier, happier, longer life that we all want
i am proudly showing off my stats
DOS
12/15/11
235 lbs
5'3
present
130 lbs
GOAL
still 5'3
you can do anything you set your mind to
follow all the rules
i know you and everyone else will be a great success story
good luck
kathy

You are so right! Thank you for saying all of this. Sometimes we forget that we are worth the love and care that we deserve just like the rest of the family. Sometimes I feel so drained from taking care of everyone elses' needs and wants! Sometimes I feel cheated because not only do my needs not get met but I'm too tired to try to take care of myself...or maybe I stopped caring about myself along the way. So thank you for saying everything you said. We are just as important and as special as our family members are.

I guess I'm in the minority here.
While we'll always have to be around food situations and make choices accordingly, I think it is inconsiderate for her husband to be eating fast food regularly in front of her. Of course the family doesn't have to change, but I just cannot fathom how people that love one another wouldn't try to be helpful and considerate of their loved one's feelings. Does the man really need fast food several nights per week?
I am here shaking my head wondering why many of you feel less worthy of certain respect. Here, let me put it into perspective from my point of view: If your child was recently diagnosed with diabetes, would you be eating ice cream in front of him/her several times a week while your child couldnt have any? Would you not change the family eating habits a little? Of course you would. Would you eat a hot fudge cake in front of your child for dessert while offering him a piece of fruit? Of course you wouldn't. What if your elderly parent came to visit for a long period of time, wouldn't you try to accommodate him/her with a comfortable place to sit, maybe a wheelchair ramp, foods they like? Of course you would. Would you be sloshing back the wine in front of your husband who just started attending AA meetings? I wouldn't dream of it. Sure, at some point he's going to have to be in social situations where alcohol is and be ok with it, and sure I'd still have my coveted glass of wine on occasion as appropriate, but I sure as heck wouldn't be bringing it into my home his first weeks in recovery. Why are we less worthy of the same mutual respect and care? ::shaking my head::
The difference is that the family still has to eat, I get it. But the family doesn't have to be gorging on decadent Desserts and bringing home trigger foods the first few weeks you are in recovery. Can they? Sure. I wouldn't do that to them if the situation were reversed because I LOVE them and want to support their recovery. Why don't I deserve the same love and respect? I do. And so do you all.
I've explained to my family that I may not be able to eat with them while I'm on the liquid diet for the 4th week in a row and that I may have to leave the room while they eat. I also explained that I will still be cooking their meals, but I also asked that if some night I just can't do it, would they mind fending for themselves. They are all supportive of it and just asked that I buy foods to keep in the fridge/freezer that are easy for them to prepare on their own.
Now having said all that, I don't believe I have a food addiction. I've been fine with the family eating fast food while I passed. I don't anticipate it being too difficult to deal with them eating when I can't unless the smell just makes me nauseous, which I anticipate immediately after surgery. I don't have a love of fast food or sweets and Desserts. My trigger foods are savory foods and, yes, my feelings would be hurt and I would feel less loved if 2 weeks after surgery, while I'm on my 3rd week of liquids, my husband brought home scallops and made pan seared scallops served on spinach greens with a bacon vinaigrette dressing or made filet mignon with bernaise.

To contradict what Tiffykins (don't hate me and a couple others have said:
It's not "punishing" your spouse if you ask him to eat fast food somewhere else. Nope. Not at all.
Imagine if you were a recovering alcoholic just a month in. Would it be "punishing" your spouse to ask him not to drink a whole bottle of your favorite wine in front of you? No. That would be reasonable. It would be unreasonable to ask him to not drink at all (or not eat fast food at all), because YOU can't at all. THAT would be bratty. But that's not what you're talking about. You are fighting an addiction and you want your husband to help you steer clear of it until you get yourself under better control.
That is totally fine, not bratty.
Is it possible that part of the reason this hurts you so much is because you otherwise don't feel very cherished and supported by your husband on your journey?

Hmm.. I feel like I'm the only one who would absolutely love my family to leave me alone. I mean.. Really alone. Not just when I lock myself in the bathroom and pretend I'm actually using the toilet, or when I say I'm going to the grocery store and never leave the drive way because it's so peaceful all by myself. .. etc

Whoa.... I'm a newbie brought here buy pretty title and kept here through sheer nosiness.... I kinda feel like I've walked into a room filled with nothing but tension and the sound of crickets!
*Tiptoeing backwards* *Shutting door*
(Whispers) Hope that broke the tension! :ph34r:

Thanks ladys... I am due for a straightener, but I'm just going to have rough it out natural for a year cuz I don't want to have to worry about my hair. I want to focus my first year losing this weight and getting fitter! I'll probably rock healthy loose braids or something.
P.S. Thanks for the biotin tip, though I have no idea what it is, i'll do some research. I used to take Omega 3's I'll start again post surgery!

So I went to my initial consult and everything went great! He does not care that I am bipolar and said that I would only have to take the alternative versions for my drugs for 4 weeks! I'm so excited!

I have been using Jamaican Black Castor oil on my hair, in addition to my Vitamins. I have heard good things about it from my hairdresser and friends. I also started taking Nature's Bounty Biotin gel cap. They are very small and go down easy. CVS has them on sale buy one get one free.

I have been taking the Biotin before my surgery as well. I am completely natural but I do wear weaves and micros to take the pressure off of staying my natural hair. I also take omegas and now using coconut oil. I have had regular shedding but a lot of growth over the past year. I hope it continues;-)

I have alittle shedding but nothing like most talk about .. I'm a meat eater always been ,so Protein for me is kno problem ..

I was doing pretty good with a natural chop before surgery. Then in the third month post surgery I decided to get a relaxer. I did not take into account I'd be exercising more to speed up metabolism and keep weight loss at a regular pace. I just kept sweating my wraps right out. 50 dollars down the drain for a style that last 4 days tops. The following month my hair just kept breaking and was very brittle. It is definetly thinner.Dying it did not help the situation either. Just when you start wanting to slack on the Protein about your 3rd or fourth month is when you should be making sure you are getting it in the most.I decided cut it off and start over with my natural curls. That way its thicker looking. And easier to maintain after the gym.

I am a 56 year young retired Air Force TSgt working towards a healthy and active retirement hopefully in Hawaii around 2017. I had my sleeve surgery on Friday Jun 7th at Madigan Army Medical Center, and was back home on Monday afternoon the 10th. Having difficultly learning how to sip (I guess I've always gulped my drinks). Wife had to explain to me how to sip, still not natural for me. Starting this challenge at 450 with a goal of as close to 200 (if not just below) if I can get there. I literally want to be less than half the man I am today.

I'm a 30 yr old mom of 2 amazing angels (heh, while they're asleep, anyway ) they're 4 & 5 with enviable energy. I live in NYC aka the land of never ending Subway stairs and I'm DONE with having that "I'm about to die" feeling every time I have to climb any one of those flights.
My oldest had been convinced I was having another baby (she made the connection from meeting prego parents of friends) and I think she's convinced her Kindergarten class that I am prego cuz every time I'm around her teacher goes out of her way to make sure I'm comfortable! (Hysterical, I know, but embarrassing just the same & I'm too ashamed to clear up the misunderstanding so I'm acting like I'm clueless! :ph34r: )
Still, the decision to have surgery happened years ago but due to a series of seemingly stupid, but surprisingly educational events it didn't happen sooner. My surgery date is June 24 and to say that I can hardly wait is the understatement of my LIFE!