TamaraS

So happy to hear things are so well for you <3

Thank you SO much for sharing your experiences with this pain. I was getting worried!!

Thanks for the info! I have been making sure not to lift anything. I am so glad to hear this is normal, thanks again!

I am three weeks out and have been doing great except the last few days I have a pain to the right side (about 4 inches) from my belly button. Has anyone else had this issue? Or something similiar? the pain appears when I move, twist, stretch. if I stay really still it will go away or it will be very dull.

NaturallyCurious, I know exactly what you mean. My husband was behind me last week and I got this scent of vanilla and my mouth started watering instantly. I whipped around and inquired what the smell was and he laughed hystericly... He had a garbage bag in his hand, he accidently picked up vanilla scented bags! I was so embarressed :/ Lots of things trigger it but thankfully since the new stomach is SO small you can eat a little protein and the cravings go away lately. I really hope you do call the dr. I know about failure, I have dieted on and off for 20 years with no long term success. Everyone on this site has had the same problem in the past and its amazing how much people are losing! This surgery will help you learn new habits and would recommend it for anyone with a history of weight problems! Please keep me updated on your decisions. I really hope you get to a place where you feel this is a good option for you

Such a feel good post! I am incredibly happy for you !

How exciting to be in a size 16, I can't wait to get there!! Good for you!

Thanks Saved

Let me start with this; no matter how much knowledge you accumulate before this surgery, you can’t be fully prepared as to what will happen after surgery. I went through and read so many posting of people struggling with food, cheating, wondering why they hadn’t lost weight. I couldn't understand how someone could go through this surgery and do that to themselves. I knew I would NEVER jeopardize my health or my new little sleeve after surgery by cheating or going off the Dr.’s plan... Surgery went great, I lived through it and recovered quickly with the most pain being the first few hours after getting out. Within days I was able to take normal drinks of liquids and stayed on a liquid diet with no hunger until Monday morning (4 days out). Tuesday I ended up eating five saltines and boy did I beat myself up for it. I called my Dr. and begged for them to change my one week appointment to Wednesday instead of Friday because I physically felt like I could NOT wait all week to start full fluids and protein shakes. Appointment got changed. Wednesday morning I went and saw the PA and she said I was OK-ed for full liquids and soft foods. I was 16.8 lbs down at the first week visit. So that day I had two eggs and several bites of my husband’s country fried steak for breakfast. Two hours later I felt famished and had some more of his country fried steak. I continued eating eggs with cheese, slivers of crockpot roast, pan fried chicken w skin, lunch meat, cheese, turkey jerky bites, salami w cream cheese rolled with a pepperchini topped with green olives ( I ate around 25 of these over a five hour period, felt like I couldn’t stop eating them). My sleeve tolerated it with no problems. I realized the insane cravings for copious amounts of food came from me being on my period. Btw, weighed Monday morning and I GAINED 5lbs, not surprised in the least. Sunday Day 10 comes and it was a HUGE turning point. Went to my Grandpa's to celebrate a family birthday and He made tri tip, a whole ham, all the sides. So I put a slice of ham and tri tip w green beans on my plate. I start with the ham and green beans, I get an ounce of ham down and get a terrible fullness and gas in my stomach. Strange, I never had that before. I literally could not eat anymore and I felt sick. So I go home and my husband’s friends are over and they make chicken and mushrooms for a late dinner. I eat a small piece of slightly greasy chicken and 10 mins after I am in the bathroom puking. FINALLY!!!! I feel like my sleeve is working. I get totally full off 1-2oz instead of the 4-6oz I was consuming. I am shocked. The hunger is minimal and comes up around the 3 to 4 hrs after last meal. Insane! The last few days it’s been hard to get to 400 calories, are you kidding me?? I didn’t think it was possible judging from the four day binge I went on. I also switched back to softer food. I know I was justifying food as soft that was not in the soft category. Now I'm eating tuna salmon, baby shrimp and eggs. I lost 2 1/2 of the lbs I gained. I honestly do not know why there was such a delay in me feeling the effects of the sleeve. It took a long time for me to be able to pass gas, almost 6 days because my bowls were having problems "waking up" after surgery. Maybe my stomach did too? This is my husband's theory and it is the only one that makes sense as to how I was fitting so much food in and never feeling satisfied until Day 10. I did NOT plan on sharing this with anyone. It is embarrassing and shameful. I jeopardized my health because I didn’t get control over my hunger. But I decided to share because maybe someone else out there is new out of surgery with a ravenous appetite and might possibly be able to relate or learn from my mistakes. More importantly I would hate for anyone to feel as hopeless as I did, thinking that this surgery was a total mistake. During those few days I would not have trusted anyone had they told me things would get better and eventually my hunger would subside -- but it DID! Every person's body is so unique and will be different through this process. For some of us it takes longer to reap the benefits of this surgery. And trying to distinguish between real hunger and head hunger is no joke, I think this will take years for me to deal with. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So keep jugging along... I think can! I think I can!

Hang in there! I have complete faith it WILL get better!!! I got some great advice while struggling with my hunger so I will share it with you, If your going to cheat, try and cheat on the healthy side! How did the pizza toppings and cheese burger set in your tummy? Was it heavy? Did the grease bother you?

Thank you so much Suusje for the encouragement! How has your hunger been (or lack there of)?

Its good you realized it was just PMS and it will pass. Four days after surgery I started getting the same thing. I actually havent been able to gauge how this sleeve will work for me because Im so rediculously hungry all the time. It really sucks. If you have had your sleeve for a bit I assume things will go back to how it was before! Hang in there!

I am a week out of surgery today and 3 days ago I got the worst hunger, I seriously wanted to eat EVERYTHING. I have been so upset thinking that this surgery might have been a mistake and totally beating myself up. While reading your post I had a breakthrough, I too am pms-ing. I felt like a ton of bricks were taken off my chest when you mentioned this in your post, I realized that IS whats wrong with me. I always get insanely hungry during this time. I was so worried I was always going to feel like this since my surgery is so new but now I know it will pass. You have no idea how much this post meant to me, Thanks for sharing your experience and making me realize what was going on with me !! Best of Luck to you!

I was sleeved sept 27 exactly a week ago this morning and Im down 16.8 lbs since surgery! Thanks for the protein suggestions, I really appreciate it! Thats very interesting about the acid. I will make sure I take my pills. Its really hard to distinguish so early out what is going on in this new mini tummy of mine! I woke up this morning and I am back on track. got in a 20 min walk and my first water bottle! I dont what came over me yesterday but I am back in a good frame of mind and ready to get this weight off The support of all of you has been truly helpful and encouraging, beyond words... Thank you <3

Thank you so much for sharing! I went out to buy protein and I was suprised by how high the calories were. 170 for 30grams and they all had some sugar at rite aid. I decided to order online instead. Are there any low calorie sugar free brands that you all might suggest?