momto3girls

My doc has always maintained that the sleeve will help me lose 70-80% of my excess weight within one year. So for me personally that is 87- 100 pounds in a year. It is coming off a lot slower than I expected but then too I have not begun exercising yet. Need to get on that soon but between school, work, 3 kids, and always traveling husband it seems like there is always an excuse there.

Holy moly! I think I may have just experienced my first "dumping" episode in my 5 weeks since surgery. I grabbed a pudding snack from the refrigerator drawer and purposely grabbed the butterscotch flavored one over the vanilla or chocolate because my kids don't like the butterscotch. Well, within about 20 minutes of eating it my stomach began grumbling and I felt the need to go sit on the throne. Geez! That was the worst episode of diarrhea to date including all the clear liquid diet episodes I had the first week. My stomach is still crampy but yet feels hungry. But no cold sweats, dizziness or anything like that. So anyway, I went out to the kitchen trash can to look at the pudding snack label and it appears it was the last of the "non sugar free" pudding. All the chocolate and vanilla ones specifically say on the label sugar free but this one did not. Hmmmm.....

@Nick'sMom: Do you feel like that Rum and Diet made you buzzed/drunk very quickly. I have been told that I will get drunk off like two sips (I drink Crown&Diet). My husband says I will now be a cheap date! LOL! But to me that is just plain no fun.

So a couple food questions for my September Sleeve Sisters: 1. I like crackers with soup, chili, etc. What brands/kinds of crackers have y'all tried and liked that aren't out of this world on carbs? And 2. Has anyone tried drinking a soda or beer yet? If so, what happened and positive or negative outcome?

Here is another viewpoint: My PA told me yesterday at my one month appt that I can so totally live in 500 cal/per day. My fat intake should be no more than 20% of my total calories for the day and sugar should be no more than 4-5gm per serving. She wants carbs kept below 40-50 per day but she says this is really hard to do. I was cash pay so I only got one visit with a NUT and that was because I asked for it and paid for it. How many visits do y'all get when this whole experience is paid for by insurance? Just curious.

So I had my one month post-op visit and I am down 24 pounds total since my sleeve on 9/17. It was funny because the PA said I was the 3rd female she saw just today and all three of us were one month out and all three of us were down 24 pounds. How funny is that? Anyway, I am happy. She said that by my 3 month checkup in Dec that I should have lost 20-30 more pounds. And I am cleared for all foods now! Yippeeee!!!!!!! I ate Boston Market for lunch. It's great...can order a kids meal for $4.29. Tried a few bites of meat loaf and mashed potatoes. Stayed away from the corn bread. And drank milk for my kiddie drink. Then tonight we had a busy night so I got a cheese pizza at Costco for the kids. I ate about 5-6 small bites of that....yumm-o!!!! I feel like a human again. And it has been such a busy day that I am just going to absolutely crash tonight on that li'l pillow of mine. G'Night from Texas.

For those of you looking for something "new" or "different" to drink to help get your liquids in I found Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry and Diet Cran-Grape juice at Wal-Mart. It has been a lifesaver for me since I am so sick of water that I could puke. And well, milk is getting to be the same way for me. So here are the facts for the Cranberry Juice: 8oz=5 cal, 0 fat, 20mg sodium, 20mg potassium, 2g carbs, sugars <1g and protein 0g. I thought that met the requirements so I am enjoying the change. I don't drink the full 8oz at a time, usually 3-4 oz. So there is your tip for today from me! Have a good one! I am on my way this morning for my one month post-op visit with the PA for my surgeon. Gonna have a long talk about me and my problem with vitamins. I am so tired of puking them up! I will let y'all know the outcome.

Wow! Maine?? That is something I have never heard of. I have lived in TX for 16 years now but was born and raised in CA so earthquakes are nothing to me. Now tornadoes? Well now, THOSE scare the hell out of me. And now I have lived through Hurricane Ike and still I think tornadoes win out on the fear factor!

Yippee! I made it to my 4 week surgiversary! Hard to believe that 4 weeks ago right now I was lying in that pre-op bed waiting for my i.v. to be started. It has been one hell of a rough month to say the least. I finally feel like I am on the road to getting back to my normal self although still having episodes of shakiness (like right now), puking, and acid reflux. Saturday was probably my best day thus far. Hosted my twin daughters' bday party, my other daughter had a sleepover, and TMI warning: had sex again for the first time! The hubby says that skinny sex is better! Ha! Ha! I go for my one month post-op on Wednesday and then I think I am cleared for solids. I am ready but not so much. I am so bored with my mushies but scared of the unknown. Supposed to go camping with family and friends this weekend but still on the fence about that one because I am not sure I am ready to be around all the yummy camp food, s'mores, and beer. Any tips for me on camp friendly food for sleevers? OK, need to get going with my day now. I get to go pick up my new set of SMALLER scrubs for work as I am returning to my first shift at work (ER nurse) on the 27th. My 3X scrub top is too big now. Yay!

It was my twin daughters' birthday party this past weekend and the first year ever to not have a piece of birthday cake and ice cream. Kinda sad, really. I waited until I got home to take TWO bites of cake (without frosting) but then ended up eating a small ball of fondant as well. I am so totally worried about "dumping" so didn't want to risk it at the party. But nothing happened. And it just tasted OK to me. Not great like usual. So that was Saturday. Last night I took two more bites and had a bit of frosting and no harm done. It is a weird life though.

Oh no! How far out are you? How many ounces WERE you getting in? I am 4 weeks out this coming Monday and am still only getting 40 oz on a good day. Called my doc but they didn't seem concerned about drawing labs. So, I will see them on Wednesday and they will make a decision then I guess if they feel like I am dehydrated or not (even though I know I am!). Anyway, good luck and keep us posted.

How far out are you MrsNellieC? I am SO jealous! What kind of meat did you have in the fajita? Heck, I am at 4 weeks on Monday and still have trouble/pain swallowing applesauce sometimes. Yesterday had a major puking episode after only 3 bites of scrambled egg and yogurt. I WANT FAJITAS!!!!

Haha! I just tried Vegetarian Chili for the first time. But I am not supposed to have tomatoes yet or peppers so I tried to just pick the beans out. 1 cup is 11gm protein but I couldn't even do 1/2 cup. I also could not finish 1/4 cup of yogurt. Too full from my water. I am really pushing my liquids more and more each day since I have been feeling dehydrated. Think I am doing pretty good. 36oz down by 1:30pm. Gee, only 28oz to go....puke.... Yesterday I had a string cheese stick and it tasted good. Also, lots and lots of cottage cheese (A little Breakstone's 4oz container has 10gm protein in it. Haven't been brave enough yet to give greek yogurt another whirl yet.

Good for you. Were you recommended to him in the first place? Just curious. And don't forget to find every WLS site out there and give him a negative review plus also on Yelp.com for you area. He should not be allowed to practice medicine like that.

So happy to hear you are home! I have been wondering about you. Did you switch doctors now? Any further explanation from your doc on why the negligent patient care?

I agree that it depends on the person. I personally have had an incredibly hard time getting my liquid in. I feel dehydrated and am shaky and I am in my 4th week post-op. Immediately post-op I could only take one swallow at a time or maybe two but they hurt and felt "stuck". During week 2 post-op that stuck feeling got better but still having trouble getting liquid in because I am always so full. Now during my week 3 the stuck feeling has returned a bit so back to taking smaller sips. I think everyone will give you a different answer. Good luck with your surgery! Keep us posted.

So today is my 3 week surgiversary and I have finally felt pretty darn good today. I hope it continues in this right direction. Anyway, I think I get to start my solids next week after my one month post-op visit. I am thinking ahead to what I can cook that will be easy on my sleeve but that my family will eat too. What I am wondering in general is this...If I eat like I am a diabetic (which I am not) will this pretty much work for a sleeved patient? I am flipping through a Diabetic Living magazine that has some good lookin' food in it. Just pondering this new phase. Any input?

Oh my, I was laughing out loud on this post! Yep, if there was one thing that I have learned from this whole adventure is NEVER NEVER trust a fart! I swear you never know if it will be a true fart or worse THE S-H-A-R-T. And THAT my friend would NOT be a good thing in front of 5th graders! Good luck with that. Will Beano help with that I wonder???

That is awesome on dropping 2 pant sizes! WTG! As I am putting away my laundry today I had to laugh at some of my underwear. Wow! Can you say "granny panties"! LOL! I cannot WAIT to throw those suckers in the trash! My kids are out of school today and so my oldest is cleaning out my closet for me. She loves organizing stuff. Can't wait to get rid of lots of old 22/24 and 2x/3x clothes.

Thanks! I am feeling better today. I am really keeping track of my protein and fluid intake. Slept a long time last night and maybe that is what I needed. Still shaky but until I get rehydrated I think this is to be somewhat expected. I have officially given up on the Pepcid AC and am now trying Prilosec. Still having some burning today but nothing as bad as it has been.

No, no gallbladder left and I have a CPAP but haven't worn it in months. I never got along/played nicely with my CPAP so it has been a total waste of money. My stomach has calmed down tonight. I managed to get down an 8oz protein shake without too much difficulty. Took 2 gummy vites which aren't as potent as the Celebrate chewables but better than nothing and then managed to get down a 2nd Calcium chewable as well. Also took my Iron and B12 early this morning. I will see how I feel in the morning. If the shakiness and heavy arms continue then I will be calling them. I did all of a sudden get super sleepy while working on an assignment for school so I am heading to bed with an Ativan on board as well. Hopefully that will help to calm me down a bit. And my nightly prayer will be said for "a better day tomorrow". Thanks for all the support.

I am an ER nurse and was sleeved on 9/17 so 3 weeks out. I have not returned to work and frankly I am scared to. No one at work knows that I had the surgery. I am still so weak and shaky and the thought of a 12 hour shift practically puts me into an anxiety attack. Luckily I am PRN but I think they are still wondering when the heck I am going to return. I just want to feel back to my normal, happy self and it is not happening fast enough for ol' instant gratification me. Sigh.

This is all so good to read. Tomorrow is 3 weeks for me and this third week of recovery has been hell on Earth I tell you. I was starting to feel better last week and then the burning, bad taste in my mouth, and spiky, stabbing pain from my breastbone through to my back started. Being awakened every night, several times a night with it. Called MD and they put me on Pepcid AC 4 times/day which is doing absolutely nothing for me. Tomorrow (it has been a week since I started that mess) I will call them again (I feel like the most annoying patient) and see which to try next Prilosec or Prevacid. Both are extended release which I thought was a "no-no" after surgery. And today wow, it is 6:15pm and I have only had maybe 20 oz of water all day and one 4oz container of cottage cheese and a few bites of refried beans. My stomach hurts, I have had nasty diarrhea, and I just cannot put anything more down me. I have been gagging and nauseous as well. It seems like I am going in reverse. I am wondering if others have experienced this. I felt so much better last week. Is this like a second stage of healing or something? Still 100% regretful after 3 weeks.....and so sad (and tired of crying).

So what have your docs instructed y'all with regards to taking delayed release medications or extended release medicines? I have been having some gnarly problems this past week with the burning and spiky, stabbing pain in my chest as well as the horrible taste in my mouth. I am assuming it is reflux although in my 18 years of having a hiatal hernia and GERD, I have never suffered like this. And usually stuff is coming up in the back of my throat but now it is not. So weird. Anyway, the doc put me on Pepcid AC 4 times a day which is doing absolutely nothing for my issues. I am so tired of crying and being woken up every night several times a night with pain and burning. I have some Prevacid here that I was going to try but it says it is the 24 hour version and extended release so I am scared to take it. Do y'all prefer Prilosec over Prevacid? SOMETHING has got to change quickly before I put a fist through the wall. I am back to having 100% regret that I ever had this done and I am 3 weeks out. I never expected this much trouble recovering from a surgery as all my other surgeries have been problem free. I am starting to wonder if my esophagus is closing or something, The stuck feeling is getting worse rather than better which is making my already difficult time of getting fluids down even worse. Feel like I am getting dehydrated but don't want to call the doc on the weekend. I am just so sad....

Wow! That is TOTAL AWESOMENESS! I think I am green with jealousy right now. Just can't seem to get past my 1 week weight loss of 16# and I am currently navigating week 3. So annoying. Things just are NOT settling on my stomach these days. Kinda worried that it's never gonna change. Sigh.