Shelly-NO-Belly

Can you get a loan? I didn't have insurance either- but I got a loan. The place I went through (Grand Health Partners, Grand Rapids, MI- Dr. Foote) charged $17,000. I got a loan. I know that's not always an option with everyone. I didn't really WANT to get a loan, but I didn't want to wait any longer for the surgery. I needed it and I'm happy I did it. Worth every penny.

I'm only about 1 month out. I was really worried at week three because I seemed to be holding on to weight...it wasn't MOVING! But luckily, the lovely people on here helped me through it- so you have come to the right place for sure. Get your fluids! Day 5 post op my legs and feet were so swollen because I wasn't getting enough liquid and walking. Definitely walk too! Pace yourself. I swear I had "buyer's remorse" for about a week after (which I thought I didn't have at all the day right after surgery!) because I was just depressed and felt like crap. But it's surgery and you aren't going to feel like hiking a mile right away! Pay really close attention to how your stomach feels. I had to work hard at first to tell the difference between my head hunger and real tummy hunger. And I had cravings for the first two weeks when all I could have was liquids, but once you get to add mushy foods, that will pretty much go away. Another nice thing about the cravings, for me anyway, even though I still get them, they aren't as strong and they go away as soon as I eat anything. Even if it's not even close to what I wanted. I LOVE THAT! Don't be scared...be EXCITED! Beware the 3 week curse. I'm so happy I just got over that! This is an exciting time...do everything they tell you and you will just watch the weight melt!

Did you get the unflavored unjury? I have the unflavored and I add it to EVERYTHING. Mashed potatoes, pudding, oatmeal...Maybe you got a bad batch? I don't notice an odor or any added taste. Sorry

I think the only reason that I've lost more in a smaller amount of time is because my starting weight was considerably higher than yours. At my consultation I was 296. At my pre-op weigh in I was 275.

Thank you SO MUCH everyone! Sorry it took me so long to actually get back on here to reply- but I did read each comment via email and it relaxed me! I woke up yesterday morning and 6 lbs was off! And it was still gone today! Take THAT 3 week curse! And now that I think of it- those of you who mentioned I need to do my measurements...I have noticed the loss- even in my WRISTS! The waist, thighs and tummy all feel slimmer. I wasn't let myself feel that though. Shame on me! I've been doing a lot of walking on my lunch breaks. Where I work there is a mall right down the road and they have mile marker signs for the mall walkers. It's not a BIG mall, but one lap around is 1/2 a mile. I recently caught a nasty cold, so I've been sticking to the one lap. Once I can breath through my nose again I'll up it to two. Next week I plan on starting my resistance bands and once I meet with my exercise counselor (I don't remember his actual title) on March 15th, I will be starting zumba. Feels better and I love, love LOVE the support I get from everyone on here! I'm going to make sure when I go to my 6 week follow up that they are aware of this website. SO HELPFUL! AGAIN- Thank you ALL so much for the encouragement (and my apologies for posting something that someone else had posted about previously. I was so upset, I didn't take the time to look it up LOL)

I'm just over 3 weeks post-op. I was doing really great. I was down 31 lbs...then I got to 36 down...now I go back and forth between 31 and 36 lbs. I have not lost anymore weight. It's really frustrating. I mentioned the hault in loss at my 2 week follow up. They told me it could be a number of things- but that they won't really know until they see me at my 6 week follow up where they can compare. It's really depressing...I'm at a weight that I had got myself down to using the Optifast meal suppliment program. I feel like I spent thousands of dollars (I have no insurance) on something that would've cost me $200. I realize that there are hiccups and that I wasn't going to lose it all over night....I just feel like I've worked my ass off to get to this point and I've stopped feeling different. I've stopped feeling as happy as I was a little over a week ago. I don't know if I should stop worrying or start worrying. I do my best to get my Water in and I do pretty well getting my Protein in. I've found it's quite the struggle to get in both. I really don't want to skimp on protein. I have EXTREMELY thin hair as it is- and with all my money wrapped up in paying my loan off, I don't have the funds to find hair as well. At least not right now. As far as I've been told, I DO need to work on my water intake, which I have been and I'm not supposed to exercise beyond walking and small weights until I meet my exercise fella at my 6 week appointment. Any words of advice? Encouragement? I feel like a complete loser. Doesn't help that my days the past week haven't been good. I'm in a rut Thanks in advance...

It's completely normal to be nervous- heck they were taking me to the OR and I wanted to back out and that was even after two rounds of some drug they gave me to calm down because my pulse was 104. It sucked the night after surgery and didn't feel better (not pain, depression) until about 3 days later. A lot of that is the anesthesia, too. Right now I'm at my 2 week follow up. I feel great and I'm happy I went through with it! Just breath- the big step you're going to take is sooo worth it. I bought a wedding dress just last week. I ordered it two sizes smaller than I currently need and hopefully in 5 months they'll have to take it down even more! Good luck and make sure you keep us all updated! I will say this forum has really helped me! Make sure you really talk to your dietician. They'll tell you things like- don't eat in front of or in ear shot of a tv while you eat!

I'm 2 weeks post-op on Tuesday. Luckily my fiance is really understanding and has been doing a majority of his "bad eating" at his parents house or at least asks if it would bother me if he made something to eat. However, just yesterday my mother and brother just about set me off. They are 2 of my biggest cheerleaders- yet, while we were out getting my niece fitted for her bridesmaid dress, they decide to tell me they planned on having lunch. At TGIF's none the less (I REALLY love that place). I had to put my foot down and explain to them how unfair that was to put me through that right now. I mean, I realize other people eat, but I asked that they drop me off at home first. Just be honest and don't be scared to speak up. People want to assume that it is easy because we "shouldn't be hungry", but a liquid diet doesn't really fill the smallest of stomachs up for very long. Just talk to him. I'm sure he doesn't realize what he is doing.

Same here- I have heard it both ways. I guess my goal is to keep it at it's small size. Just like when we had 100% of our stomachs- eating less made it shrink back down...My surgeon told me essentially, that's the same deal. I just try to keep in my head- even after I will have healed- that any over-eating I do will cause the staples to come out and I'll have a leak...I'm hoping to keep that mentality even 9 years post-op LOL I'm going on 2 weeks post-op now, so I'm still learning.

Where abouts are you?

You will do great! I am 1 week 1 day post op and LOVING IT. Beware of the buyers remorse- IT GOES AWAY! You should be on liquids for the next 2 weeks, but it won't bother you...your tummy is going to be too tiny!

Here I am at 1 week and 1 day post-op. Down 31 pounds (14 lbs from pre-op diet)!!! I am feeling amazing. I tried wedding dresses on today! Even though I'm not where I want to be, it felt amazing to have the dresses CLIPPED in the back because they were TOO BIG! I was struggling for a couple of days as far as getting protien down- everything tasted awful. Thanks to the dieticians I am now eating Campbell's cream Soups made with FF Lactaid milk and blended in my Ninja. I've been adding unflavored

Alright folks...this is day 4 post op. I'm struggling. More so on day 3 (felt like I had something caught in my esophogus and the anti esophogial spasm pills/pain pills/anti nausea pills did NOT work, trapped gas)... Today I feel so hungry. Which is pretty depressing. I realize that once I move from liquids to more solid foods I will probably experience that "forgetting to eat" sensation; as for now and the next 10 days, what can I do? Getting the Water down is proving to be difficult, as well as the Protein drinks/soup. And since I can't get much water down, my hands and feet are slightly swollen. So I walk as much as I can. Is there anything I can do to STOP the hunger without actually eating? I definitely do NOT want to risk a leak by attempting to eat something solid. Any advice or words of encouragement are GREATLY appreciated....tell me this passes!

The wonderful staff here at St. Mary's in Grand Rapids, MI have been taking great care of me! Started 1 oz of Unjury every hour. Seems to be causing trapped gas, which isn't fun, but worth it...plus they're getting some meds..

Well...I did it! Yesterday morning at 9:30am I layed on the surgery table. I was told day 2 is the 'buyer's remorse" day. So far so good. I haven't experenced too much pain, but I can feel the emptiness of my stomach. I don't feel hungry, just empty...and drugged LOLlooking forward to a shower! Now I'm falling asleep as I write and my eyes are very blurry!

Thanks everyone:) Actually feeling a little more at ease now. Happy there are people out there who have gone through all of it and can offer advice! I'm lucky to have an awesome fiance, mother (who is an NP, so that helps!!!), brother, and a few friends on my side.

When did you have your surgery? From what I've been told (currently in pre-op), the risks for a leak usually lower after the first 6 weeks. My surgeon told me it'd feel like a lot of pain and discomfort in the left shoulder/side. And of course as andersonlj stated- vomiting and fever.

Thanks so much! Good luck to you as well! I'm sure everything will be fine, but I'm such a nervous nut I can't help but think of that small percentage of people that encounter complications.

Hello Everyone! Well, I've done the this's and that's of everything required as far as pre-op goes. I officially started the 2 week pre-op diet today (which I'm used to...I tried Optifast at one point) and I am feeling all sorts of nervous. How horrible is the head hunger? I feel like I've made peace with the break up between me and food. I kicked it out...it moved out...but I've done that before. I'm just so worried I'm going to be tormented with head hunger. I had my gallbladder out in May 2011, so I think I'm pretty prepared for the abdominal pain that is coming...assuming that it'll be a little worse since there is an organ that needs to heal instead of just muscle and incisions. Also...how do you guys deal with people that you tell that want to scoff or assume you took the "easy" way out? I unfortunately know way too many people who are going to be negative, and again unfortunately, I can't really avoid them very easily. I'm assuming it's not polite to flip them off or punch them :boxing_smiley: Anyway...any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!