bkz3

I just had my one year surgery anniversary yesterday, and had my one year post op check up today. I didn't quite hit the 100 lb lost mark that I wanted to, but I can NOT complain one bit! I've lost 97 pounds, and 12 inches off my waist, 11 inches off my hips, can't even believe it!! Now unto my real question, I'm not really sure how much is a normal amount for most people to be eating at each meal at this point? I know everyone is going to be a little different. Has anyone had experienced old habits coming back? I've been stalled for the last few months I feel like, going up & down the same 3-4 lbs. and just can not break that 100 lbs mark! I know I need to give myself a swift kick in the rear to get back into working out more regularly again, and really need to get back to tracking what I'm eating. What motivates you to get back on track when/if you've gotten off track? Just really curious where others are at that are at 1 year (or more) post op!

I just called my bariatric nurse line and verified with them what I can take. There's nothing I can't really take, but have to be careful with anti-inflammatory medicine and I might be extra sensitive to the sugar and alcohol in some of the cough medicines, but was told to dilute it. Thanks for the suggestions =)

That does help, it's just hard to know what is safe to take with such a small stomach, because I know ibprofen is out. There's a lot of crud going around my son's school right now, so I'm just praying it doesn't turn into the flu. That's my biggest fear, having to throw up and damaging my stomach. (knock on wood, I haven't had any sleeve related issues with that). Thanks for the tip with the Mucinex, might be having to make a run to Walgreens or CVS!

Hello, I recently came down with a bad cold (congested and very sore throat/bad cough). I am a little over 2 months out from having been sleeved. Just wondering if anyone knows what is safe to take as far as cold medicines go? I'm assuming maybe a children's cough syrup, but not sure.

I feel the same way. I'm now down 46 lbs and my clothes are getting loose on me, but some people lose 20 or 30 lbs and are down a couple sizes. It's weird how we can all be so different. I would imagine you might be closer then you think to being down a size. I have a friend that was sleeved a year ago, and I remember her telling me at one of her appts, a few months post op, one of the bariatric nurses asked her "why are you wearing clothes that are 2 sizes to big?" She didn't think she was down any sizes yet either, but she was. I think we have a harder time seeing/feeling the changes in ourselves, we're just so used to being overweight. Congrats on your 43 lbs, that's awesome! The smaller clothing sizes will come soon =)

I was told by my bariatric nurse that the number of grams of protein you need in a day depends on how tall you are (i.e. 64 inches tall = 64 grams of protein a day). I know all doctors are different though. If I remember right, the reason you need protein is to help keep your muscles when you're losing weight, so you lose more of the fat instead of the muscles. I to am struggling with getting in all my protein in each day. I have to find a protein shake I like again, I can't stand any of the ones I drank on the pre-op diet, because there's no way I can get in the proper amount of protein with food, since I can only eat so much right now (I'm 6 weeks out now).

I'm 6 weeks out too, and down 41 pounds now, but have not gone down a size in clothes yet, they're getting loser, so it's getting close. But how amazing for you to be down so many sizes, that's awesome!! I feel your pain with the boobs though. I'm a 46DDD and I'm praying to get to a full C or even a D when I'm done losing weight. It is a pain to have such large breasts, not all it's cracked up to be sometimes. I say give yourself some more time, they're starting to "shrink" a little I'm sure, if your band size went down. Just give it some time. Congratulations on the weight loss so far though and the sizes you've gone down!

OK, jennrus - sounds like a deal! My goal will be to get in my 64oz. of liquid in, and to get more protein in! (I have been doing terrible at getting in even 50g a day and I need to be at 64 g, minimum). So, back on the wagon, lets check in tomorrow!!

I've been doing the same thing this weekend. I'm only about 6 weeks post op, had my 1 month follow up last week with nurse & NUT. The nutritionist didn't really tell me there was anything I couldn't eat at this point, other then no hard, crunchy taco shells, chips, etc. So, I've been doing things I know I should NOT be doing. Snacking on things here & there in between meals, like crackers, made some banana bread today, tried a little of that, etc. I'm wondering if I'm one of those people I've read about on the boards here that have the "sleeve of steel", where nothing you eat seems to bother your sleeve. While it is nice that I haven't had anything yet that's made me sick, or feel like I'm gonna be sick, I almost wish I would be more bothered so I'd stop doing things I know are bad habits, and just stupid, after everything I've gone through to get to the point I"m at now, and it's only the beginning of my post-op life. So, I totally understand about old habits coming back, guess it's time to just get back on track!

I haven't experienced the sleeve being sensitive, but the first period I got after surgery, it was heavier and longer then usual, but it was my first period post birth control pills, since I had to stop taking them before surgery. Now I'm waiting to get my next period so I can get back on my pills and hopefully have a more regulated cycle again. I know for me that every since I gained a lot of weight (back when I was about 15 years old), my cycle was not regular anymore and was always super heavy and lasted 7 days. So I think as we lose weight, our bodies are trying to get back to a more "normal" cycle, so it might be all over the place for a while.

I didn't have my first BM until about 1 week or so post op, once I started drinking "full liquids" and not just clear. But I do have to say, I read somewhere on a different thread here, someone joke about "sharts", or to never trust a fart, it made me chuckle at the time or sounds gross, but it's no joke! Be careful, and never assume it's just gas! lol Sorry if that's too gross for anyone. Also, I had my first post op appt one week after surgery, it was scheduled before I left the hospital. My next appt is tomorrow for my 1 month post op appt.

TakeCareGirl - that's so nice to "meet" someone else who had that same surgeon and only a week ahead of me! How has everything been going for you? What are you doing for exercise? I know I was eating things I shouldn't, and I do need to stay strong, it was a moment of weakness (not making excuses). I know better then to eat stuff like that because I certainly don't want to do any damage. Like I said, I was/am just feeling a little lost in the process, but trying to push things along isn't going to help me any either. I tried eating tuna salad and egg salad, but neither of them went down really well. I did have salmon the other night for dinner, and that was super delicious! I guess I just struggle with getting the routine down at work, etc. Anyway, thank you for the advice, I will get my act together!

So I was was sleeved on Oct 2, and I'm now on the "soft foods" stage, have been for a week or more now. I'm having a hard time getting into a daily routine of what to eat, when to eat, etc. and getting in all my liquids still each day. I'm not sure how many grams of Protein I should get in each day at this stage, but I do have my 1 month post op appt with nurse & NUT on Tuesday. I would just like to know exactly what I can eat that's considered "soft" vs. the "Easy to chew" stage, which isn't for another month according to my binder of information I was given. They have a basic list of foods in there, but I need more variety. This weekend I've tried eating 2 tortilla chips with plain (non chunky) salsa on it, I chewed them really well and seemed to go down fine, I also ate a few cashews (I just couldn't resist, dang it!), they tasted SO good, and I again chewed them really well, and didn't seem to bother me. Did I do something terribly wrong?? Like I said, I just have been feeling so lost and want to be "normal" again (or whatever my new normal will eventually be). I know it's a process, but it's such a challenge, more then I think I imagined. I haven't lost my desire for things like others have talked about, and I just keep waiting(and hoping) for that day to come, but no such luck yet. I haven't been able to even attempt to have a Protein shake since surgery, because I was so sick of them on the pre-op. Any help/ideas/suggestions would be appreciated!

Glad I'm not alone in my feelings, I was sleeved 10/2 and feel the same way. One question, what does ppi mean? I do pretty well with my liquids, but somedays I only get in about half of what I need to. I know for hunger and cravings it doesn't make any difference if I get in all my liquids or not though. I have a friend that had the surgery done a year ago, and she used to LOVE sweets, especially cake. Now she says she could care less, and things she used to love are actually too sweet for her. I haven't gotten to a point yet where I could even try to eat that kind of stuff, but I sure do crave it, and a lot of other things I used to love to eat. I knew this wasn't going to be a "magic" fix, but from what I read on here, I sure hoped I'd have less of the cravings and hunger then I do.

I was sleeved on Oct 2, so I'm just over 3 weeks out now, almost 4. I have now been able to be on the puree stage for a week now, and able to move to the soft foods stage tomorrow. The good: Surgery went great, no complications. I've physically healed really well. Another good, I'm now almost down 40 lbs! (15 lbs of that was on the 2 week pre-op liquid diet, the rest is post op). I am starting to see a difference in the way my clothes fit, they're finally starting to get a little loose on me. The bad: I work hard at getting in my liquids everyday, but I still struggle with that. I do have a little more energy (which is good), but it's not as much as others seem to have experienced early on. I do know everyone is different though. The other "bad" part for me, I struggle with what to eat, I just want to be at the "normal" stage. I'm starting to notice the difference of the full feeling when I do eat, but I don't have the "not hungry" feeling like others talk about. In my mind, I'm still "normal" like I was pre-op, but I know that physically I am not. I struggle with having patience with myself on this journey and remembering this is only the very beginning. The ugly: I would say the emotional/mental side of this journey is ugly. I don't think I could've ever prepared myself for how I would feel post op. I struggle when the people around me can be "normal" and eat normal meals, etc. I would kill (not literally...lol) for some crunchy or soft shell tacos, or for a piece of pizza, or a burger. I know that eventually I should be able to have those things, it will just be smaller amounts. Last night we went out with some friends for dinner (first dinner our since surgery). Our friends all know about my surgery, and they picked a restaurant where I could at least have Soup. (I had french onion by the way, just ate the broth, and man was it good!). However, it was difficult sitting at the table, watching everyone being able to order a drink (alcohol), and eat appetizers like spinach dip and chips, and then having their meals of Pasta or burgers and even one really good looking salad. I know if I could've handled all that kind of stuff in a "normal" fashion before, I wouldn't have been in a position where I needed the surgery. I know this gets better (or so I'm told from those that are much further out then I am), and I will adjust and it takes time. But, that is my "ugly" frustrating part that I'm at right now. Just had to vent, thanks for "listening".