thebionicbroad

Three weeks post-op, and I'm changing my name to "Gurgles."

I guess that I've been on a diet all of my life. Low-carbing on and off since the mid-70s, 6 years with an over-filled Lap-band that kept me from eating most healthy things, and now three weeks post-op with the sleeve. I'm having to re-think what I've been saying all these years, "I want to be thin. I hate being fat." Do I really? If I resent not being able to eat certain foods, I obviously love the food more than I love being thinner. So I have been lying to myself? Right now, my healing stomach is a good preventative against eating what I shouldn't. When I'm healed, I hope that I can figure out which one I love more: Myself (eating healthily) or the food.

My doc's orders are no coffee at all, regardless of stage. Since I was used to drinking half-caf pre-op, I skipped over the caffeine withdrawal headache. I make coffee for the rest of the family, since I'm up first, but it's not one of my big craves. I found out, during the liquid pre-op diet, that I don't really like coffee, because, if I did, I would have been able to drink it black. What I liked was the coffee candy flavor (coffee, creamer, and sweetener). I have tea or a milk steamer when I want something hot.

I am 2 1/2 weeks post-op. My surgeon told me to eat mushies, get in 60 - 70 grams of Protein a day, and follow my vitamin/mineral regimen. I normally eat a poached egg with a few cheese shreds in the morning, a 1/4 c. of cottage cheese or refried Beans with a bit of cheese at lunch, and dinner is 50 grams of protein, Isopure Dutch chocolate made with Water. Weight loss is 28 pounds in 30 days, counting pre-op. I just put my food intake into Fitday.com, and that's less than 350 calories a day. Excuse me? The only time that I feel anything remotely resembling hunger is when I'm behind in taking my PPI. I still can't gauge fullness, which is why I'm measuring my food. Is there a guideline as to how many calories a day I should be eating? I have never in my life been in a situation where I didn't know how much to eat. God bless the sleeve.

I didn't get any of those kind of instructions. I was told to clean out my bellybutton the morning of the surgery, because that was going to be the port of entry. Ummm...no. I have incisions all around, but my bellybutton is still in pristine condition.

I had 5, counting the drain. The biggest one is 2" above right of my bellybutton.

5DogMa, I'm almost 55. I posted somewhere where someone had asked about sagging chins, and I was honest about my droopage in my reply. Humbling.

5DogMa, my energy level stair-steps. I'll be fine, and then I "run out of gas." I'm trying something different today. Isopure with 2% milk for Breakfast, then 1/2 c. of Fage, 1/2 c. of Ricotta Bake, then Isopure with Water for dinner. That's about 600 cals, 15 gms. of fat, 33 gms. of carb, and 75 gms. of Protein. Let's see how it goes. Indymom and grannyk, you are 100% right. I don't want to be a skinny, anemic, and osteoporotic person. I have to remember that this is for life. Thank you for the reminder.

CC, you were on some pretty strong meds, and your body has to adjust. I gained weight in the hospital, and almost cried when I got home. Once your body adjusts fluid and electrolyte levels, you're going to see a change. Your meds may make stalls more common. You will still be losing fat. Maybe a tape measure would be better at this stage than a scale?

Mary, I'm a Band-to-sleeve revision. The restricted eating with the Band helped me get used to the requirements of the sleeve. I'm still struggling to get in enough water. But, for me, the main difference is the vitamin/mineral/protein requirement that wasn't as much of an issue with the Band. The parts of the stomach that made it possible to absorb B-12 and calcium are mostly gone. Almost three weeks out, and I'm just about to a workable routine. It can be a bit tricky. But I'm losing weight at a much faster clip than with the Band. I, too, wish that I had done the revision years ago.

I burped a lot with the Band, too, and I'm doing it with the sleeve. Have you ever done one of those weird burp-hiccup things? If you tell me "no," I'm going to go run and hide. Really embarrassing.

My wattle wags. My bat-wings pop against my rib cage when I change clothes. My inner thighs are as crepey as my eye-lids. My panda-bear tattoo is now a giraffe. But I've lost almost 30 pounds, and by golly, I'd rather sag than bulge.

Day 8 was the "turn-around" day for me. Walking really helps get the energy level moving up. Take it easy at work, and no lifting.

I agree with the good points made here. He was comfortable with life as it was. Now, with your continuing weight loss, his equilibrium has been upset, and there's bound to be some natural resentment. Strange as it might sound, it's not personal. He's scared.

And I want to chime in, since I'm too much of a mama type, if you feel that you are dehydrated (dark urine), go to an urgent care.

Aussiegirl, you are obviously a very strong person. I will follow your example (ahem...walk, not run...) when the head tries to take over. You are obviously going to be a smashing success. Happy New Year!

Newgrandmother, I was sleeved at Kaiser Harbor City. If that's where you are going, excellent hospital. I couldn't be happier with the care I received. I'm 54, a high-school guidance Coordinator and former teacher, married to a teacher, with two wonderful sons. Spent quite a bit of time in the military and traveled extensively. I have a low-carb blog and an on-line jewelry business. Happy New Year!

When I had to give up soda after my Lap-band, I found out that, when I tasted it again, all I could taste were chemical salts. I could care less now.

In the course of my 54 years, I had to quit smoking and quit drinking. Now, I've had to give up much of the food that I used to self-medicate. I wonder about another replacement, too. Maybe it will be exercise. That would be wonderful.

My thanks to all of you who took the time to respond. ​I'm taking your advice to heart, because I think that I'm in starvation mode, too. I'm walking half an hour a day, so add that to the mix. I'll split my Isopure into morning and evening, add the Greek yogurt (Fage 0% fat), mix the Isopure with lowfat milk (can't handle non-fat), and just try harder, I guess. Soforreal, I'm glad that I'm not the only one struggling with this. Cowgirl, I have at least one egg (poached) a day. Love 'em. Thanks again, everyone, and have a Happy New Year!

I had staples until 7 days post-op, then those were removed and Steri-strips were put on. I was told to remove them after a week if they didn't come off themselves. Two of my incisions were slightly infected under the strips, including the largest one. I used hydrogen peroxide on them once a day, and everything is hunky dory.

Laura, Well done!!!! I love reading posts like yours, because they give hope to the hopeless, mainly me. Congratulations!!!

Thank you, Rosie. I'll try that.

Well said, Bugwitch.

I would have felt the same way, but I'm evil. I would have told her that the chemo makes it really hard to eat.