teambrown4

One more suggestion... Switch the Splenda for Stevia. My dr was very very pushy on no artificial sweeteners as they erode our tummy!!! The Stevia isn't bad, so maybe try that too;-)

I wasn't given a specific time frame, but when I asked my dr he said coffee even Decaf contains acids which are hard on our stomach lining. The reason most choose decaf is because it's less dehydrating.

He said to me that I should avoid it for the first few weeks but after that a cup a day is acceptable and if I can't stand sf creamer then I am to try to limit my creamer to a tablespoon.

I'm only a week and half out and can't wait to et back to my coffee. But my peppermint tea with a cough drop (yep drop it right in and it soothes my tummy bubbles) feels really good and gives me the closest enjoyment to my coffee I can have right now.

tuna is in my week 4 stage so being I'm just starting my week one mushy stage it's been yogurt and cottage cheese and soft scrambled eggs for me. The non fat cottage cheese goes down so smooth so I eat that everyday as it feels good.

It's such an odd feeling to start eating again and even taking the Vitamins (started today) have made me sick to my stomach and I haven't felt that yet at all!

Take it slow and easy and be patient.... Congrats on your journey!

That's so cool! I look forward to that day I can do that and lift my breasts that will be all but pancakes after I lose this weight.

Im only ten days po and it's but hell, so to ear me say I'd go under the knife is odd but these are the final stages of getting rid of my weight. I already have a hanging stomach somewhat and after I lose I can only imagine what that will be then.

I'm wishing u the best and even if you don't post pics, take them for yourself!! Then when u feel the pain u can look and say, the pain of seeing that (before) everyday was a daily pain and this is temporary!!!

All I can think of is benefiber?

*chest area not cheat!!

I'm 9 days po and today I started my Vitamins.

In the a.m. You'll have 3...One you swallow and two you chew.

I did the capsule first cause I felt that swallowing the both of the chews after will help it go down easier too..

so it was yea.... uncomfortable. I felt it the whole way down and once it hit.

I sat up straight drank a bit and then a sip more after before my chewables.< /p>

It didn't hurt or make me gag just felt a little tight in the throat and on its way down. And the cheat area. Discomfort but not pain.

Then I burped and did one chew then another sip of Water and waited a minute.

Then burped again and ate the last chew followed by Water again after a minute.

Slow is the key but it's totally doable and I'm sure in time it'll be easy.

I only started soft foods yesterday so it's all new to swallowing now.

I swallow my pill form Vitamins first with a small amount of Water then I chew the chewable ones as I figure that saliva and such will help the first ones go down more.

Congrats on your decision and goo luck on your journey!!

I am 8 days po. & My dr was Rey clear to not excerise Until week8, and even then at his approval. Until then I walk the dog 30 min every day. I get winded and dizzy but each day it gets better!

The side pain is a huge issue for me too. I was told today at my one week check up it'll e 6-8 week before that muscle stops hurting. It's a major muscle that is connected to any activity invoking your arm or waist movement and IT WAS CUT AND SEWN UP!!! I didn't know when I was released on day one and freaked out from the pain but also I was icing it and it was spasming and finally day four I went to THR hospital cause it felt like an alien baby wanting to pop out and that's when it was explained to me what they did!!! Oh dear lord start off with that prior to surgery will ya!????? Now I use a heating pad as much as possible an. The two days I've gone somewhere I use those temporary heating pads strips that stick to me. Ahhhh relief!!!

I started soft food today and it felt so good. I wondered how will I really know when I'm full cause I feel starved... And uhhhh oh I knew!!! Ouch!!!! But I'm learning like everyone else and am exciting for my journey.

I had a major issue for 4 days po getting any liquids down, let alone Protein liquids, so my loss for one week is 8.9lbs. I was sad, but being the dr said i was dehydrated when I saw him on day 4, I understand that the 64oz of liquid & 60g of Protein we are to take in everyday aide in our weight loss. You'll stall, and your body will not cooperate so that an 30min of walking daily will be the key to weight loss and healthy living. Well that and our mountain of Vitamins, I start mine tomorrow;-)

Be gentle and hopeful towards you and you'll be a success!!!

So one week has gone by.... Hell week as it will be now referred as:)

I haven't lost a lot like most, I've lost 8lbs. In part i believe it's cause I was unable to get enough liquids and Protein for 4 days. Dr. Said that'll affect me a lot. Plus I still have a lot of gas from the surgery. I'm not wearing my jeans yet as they are still too tight so I am In sweats for now.

It's amazing how much better I feel everyday! It's been a rough week.

I'm still having a ton of pain on the right side muscle that was cut an stitched, which makes sleep hard, & the dr said it could take several more weeks for that to feel like its healing.

The liquids are are down well now and I've gone to the bathroom (somewhat).

Was on all liquids until today. Nothing milk or cream based.

So today I got to eat....... I scrambled (very softly as u don't want it too hard) egg whites with a little pepper and lawyrs. + a few tablespoons of nonfat cottage cheese..

Later was some activia and then strawberries in my chocolate whey shake (with Water not Mille yet).

Soooooooo good!

I will start my Vitamins tomorrow and my Biotin chews to help keep my hair-lol

I Will continue walking the dog 40-45 min a day and go back at the one month mark to check in again. Then step up maybe to an excerise routine. All in all I'm coming along slowly but surely!

Good luck to all on your journey!

No prob! Hope it helps. just remember to hold your side tight when you cough, sneeze, bend, or anything that'll stretch that muscle!!:-)

Ok I'm guessing only here..... But for me nobody told me they have to cut through that side muscle to get to the stomach! My GUESS is that's what you're dealing with.

I was in so much pain and making THR mistake of icing it,(not knowing what it was), that I need up back in the hospital on day 4, only to have my surgeon tell me it's the muscle healing and the stiches make it swell. So use HEAT!!!!

Ughhhhhh I guess it wasn't an alien baby popping outta my side!!!!!:-)

Honestly for me, it still hurts when I cough, sneeze, bend and sit to upright now even at day 7 po.

So do check it out of you feel it's anything else but I'm gonna guess a high percentage I'm right.

Please take it easy and use a heating pad!!! It'll heal but as with a muscle, it'll take a while.

Good luck with your journey:-)

Thanks for sharing! I am 7 days po today and am at 5lbs too, which is all the crap leaving my body so far:-) I too feel like I'm doing something wrong or not good enough and yet I see I'm recovering still and my body is changing in many ways and maybe my measurements have changed (haven't checked) , so to relax, breath and take it one good strong, educated, disciplined day at a time!!!

Good luck on your journey...

Take it easy! you are truly blessed and time will heal all! Keep posting and sharing here as it is a great source of support, knowledge, comfort and also allows u to give back as u have done already!

Be well

I do not know how to upload a pic or i would send one of the Protein Jello. I bought them at a local health store (look also at like gnc) that I bought all my Isopure and whey powder. They have several fruit favors and I really like them.

They Are made by protica, There's one full serving of fruit. And 25g of Protein. 130 calories. I showed them to my dr and he was was happy I found them and could get them down. Since the Isopure wasn't going so well.

Plus I feel like eating, so have one when my family eats in front of me:-) if someone tells me how to add a pic I will:-)

Hey there! Each day is better.. I'm still superrrrr sore on my muscle they cut. My stomach still has contraction type pains even if I'm not swallowing.

The bubbly and such while drinking pain has stopped but I still have some pain when liquid hits the stomach.

I had two days Water only, and that was brutal. Warm Water only worked!

Then since Thursday I've had Protein shakes with water (no milk based or cream anything for 10 days), and if I blend them with a room temp water bottle they go down easy. I started adding frozen fruit Friday.

I started with home made broth but it was too fatty! At first the liquid from cup o noodle was good, now I strain Soup, and add water to thin. chicken and rice has the best flavor but the. Vegetable Soup works good too. I have a few varaities. I get more juice out of it if I heat it up first then strain it.

SF Popsicles are good. I also bought Protein Jello. I eat it slow as it still hurts a bit when it hits my tummy but I feel like I'm eating with that.

Today I had activia yogurt and it was sooooo good!!!!

Peppermint tea with a cough drop at The bottom (it melts fast), is so soothing and satisfying.

I chew tums before and after each meal and make sure I burp every time I sip. I'm able to drink maybe a tablespoon at a time now without pain.

I will start soft mushy foods tomorrow but am staying away from anything milk based until I feel better.

I walked the dog today and went a little longer than my normal 25 minutes and around minute 40 I was so dizzy I couldn't see! Luckily my son was with us and sorta guided me home. Otherwise I think I'd still be on the curb at the end of my street.

It's a slow process! I havent lost but a few piinds which surprises me but im not dwelling... and my stomach is still swollen to where I can't fit into y pants yet, and I'm feeling moody and crying spells now but I'm really optimistic that each phase will have to run its coarse.

I am so grateful To read post from those ahead of me and leave my personal thoughts for those behind me!!! Helps in not feeling alone or that nobody around u understands.

Good luck in your journey and keep sharing!!!

Had my sleeve 2/14, have had some issues and lot of pain and trials but have been in a pretty positive mood all things considered.

Everyday I feel better and I know eventually it'll be back to normal. I am a little bummed that I've only lost 4 pounds after being on Clear liquids for 7 days, I mean what the heck??? I'm not cheating and I'm walking and I'm drinking as much as possible which is almost my 64oz a day and I'm still weighing the same as the day I came home which I'm told is the bloating and swelling but you'd think by now that would be gone and I'd also loose weight on top of that swelling weight? The others in my class that had surgery same day as me have lost twice my weight? ;(

But even with that im trying not to worry there as this is a long term thing i'll see over time and thats ok but My issue now is I'm super moody! I woke up yesterday feeling angry and was like that all day. Didn't want to hang out with the kids or husband much cause they were simply getting on my nerves.

To top that off everything smells off to me, the dog, others breath, the flowers, Water, sheets, curtains, u name it I have a problem with it and am throwing things out and washing everything.

I don't like being moody, it's rarely ever me and my husband has been nothing but helpful, as he even took off the week to be with me and even slept in hospital with me... But I was so happy her went back to work today and that the kids went fishing with their friends!

Ughhhhh what's wrong with me?

I use the app called "my fitness pal"! I love it! It calculates things so easily! Set your setting to the calories u want daily and it'll help u keep track of them while listing the individual intakes on the "daily" tab. Such a great tool!

Thanks all! I'm very hopeful and every day feel one new improvement so I do know it will get better. I feel like I'm hungry all day, not just when i hve pains or growls from my stomach but all the time and I hope that subsides soon. The biggest pain today is the muscle that's trying to heal. Otherwise I'm hanging in there;)

Please take in some of the advice given here. You may need professional therapy help vs help from well meaning people who in the end, can't help you if you are not ready to help yourself.

You are hurting yourself and I'm sure you know this? Talk to someone that can get it through this with training in this area. Please.

Good luck and I do pray you can recover well:)

I live in Los Angeles and had my consultation jan 18 and my sleeve done feb 13.

I saw all the doctors in between and total cost $20k.

I know I could've done it for half in Mexico but I could not bare THR thought of being in another country doing something like this.

Many have success stories going there but I feel that's a personal choice and for me wasn't even an option.

My cost does include 5 years of all tests, blood work, and office visits including nurses and nutritionist and so on. Plus past that it includes unlimited access to the nurse and nutritionist. So I am happy with my decision.

It was worth it to me to be close to home to ease my kids and husband and have their support. My husband stayed in the hospital both days with me and I've had to go back to see my dr once and having him so close and available was good for me.

No matter what you chose, or where, be comfortable with your consultations and have more than one if possible, I saw two dr's previous to the one I chose and having the right feel for a dr is big. Pay attention to you insticnct.

Good luck on your journey!

Good for you! U look great!!! What was your starting weight?

Sorry about the typos its hard on an iPhone to type in the dark:)

I didn't have a drain so I can't sympathize with anyone there. Sorry. I'm sure that's a lot to deal with.

I'm getting better slowly..... Very slowly! The first two days I wa in tears of a sea of pain! But daily I see imporvemmt.

I've found a few things that help ease my pain...

The "pop rocks" bubbles in my throat get soothed by using baby colic drops, gripe Water as some call it but look in the pharmacy section where baby colic drops are. Any are good!

My throats sore from the tube and everything going down hurts,, so I melt a cough drop in warm Water and drink that often. Been wonderful!

Having my husband rubbing my back in circles helps me burp... A LOT:) he will even walk with me and do it and it's so relieving.

I had amazing pain under my larger right side incision and was icing it and finally went back to the dr on day 4 cause I was in tears as every time I coughed or sneezed it pulled that muscle up and felt like an alien baby was popping outta me. Low and behold I'm told that incision held a larger instrument and cut into my muscle hich has stiches and the Ice was spasming the muscle, so I bought icy hot heat strips and also am using my hearing pad for overall stomach and that's stopped that horrible pain.

I use my breathing apparatus every hour and cough as much as possible after, while holding a pillow or something against my tummy and that's helpful to breath better and get the particles from the gas outta my lungs.

I wear my compression hose socks they gave me every night to avoid blood clots but also walk a lot when I'm awake.

Walk walk walk... Oh I pace all I can stand! and burp my little heart out. Never felt so in lady like ever! My teen boys and husband LOVE IT!

My sips are still maybe a teaspoon at most at a time. It hurt like hell going down and once it hit my tummy the first 3 days, now not so much going down but yea still bad when it hits my tummy. So I sip sip and walk and burp then repeat.

Warm liquids are my best friend! I strained chicken and rice Soup and added a bottle of water and that's two different "meals", and I strained lentil Soup a d added water as well, a little more water tho.

Warm Peppermint tea with a melted cough drop is how I get most of my water as it soothes my throat which is sore from the tube and it doesn't kill going down.

It took me all 4 of my days to get through one Isopure liquid drink. I don't mind the taste, it just really hurts when it hits the tummy. I can tell that's getting better tho.

I chew a few tums before I drink anything and I'm not going near any milk based drinks yet.

Today I had a scoop of vanilla whey Protein with a bottle of water and 5 strawberries! Oh it was heaven.

I'm not near my daily 64oz of fluids yet cause of the pain I'm in, but I'm getting closer everyday and working harder to burp between sips and not lay down too soon after liquids.< /p>

I still take my pain meds every 4-6 hours and it looks like I'll be out by tomorrow so I'll switch to liquid Tylenol if need be, as the torn muscle is the worst.

The pains in my gut feel like contractions. Coming on even when I'm not drinking. So I remember my Lamaze breathing from childbirth and make myself walk and burp when they hit me.

Everyone is diff and I applaud those who aren't in too much pain, I hear there is a lot of you and I'm envious and happy for you too tho. For me it's been very hard and painful but I'm doing my best.

My stomach is still bloated beyond anything. I couldn't even fit into my "period pants" on day four when I went back to the dr, so that's depressing but dr said I was one of the few that don't tolerate anesthesia well and it'll just take longer to disaapte out of me.

I have been putting scar cream my dr gave me

On my "raccoon wounds" twice a day and other than the bad bruising around each wound they look pretty good.

It's such a rough road but I'm so confident it's all worth it!

Good luck and do share!!!

I was sleeves on 2-13, and I felt that since day one. Today I found out that the muscle under that incision was torn and they stiched it so that's why I'm having so many pains there.

However your surgery was way before me and you should have noticed it before so I doubt that's what it is, tho it's one possibility.

Good luck and I hope you discover the cause very soon.