TwinsMama

I'm so sorry you feel this way. I like the advice heatwhip gave you. On my bad days (haven't lost enough, feel sick, can't really keep anything down) I just tell myself hey I did this to myself and it is what it is. I know that's not too loving or "feel good" but it is my reality check. Maybe you'll need a bit more time before you start to feel better about things. Do you have a Sleeve friend or even better a counselor you can talk to? Maybe someone years out or with experience in WLS issues that can be of help. One thing I did as a pre-op (I'm a bit of a planner) is to look up the menus of all the places I like to go out to eat and find out the calorie/protein/fat content of the foods. I'd then pick a few I could have post-op if I ever went back there. Once post-op (and finally able to keep some foods down) I tried a few (not many) at home and figured out what would work and what wouldn't for me. That way, I know what I can have that won't make me sick. I know it seems a bit tedius but I needed that because eating out (and making right choices) is part of my social life. While I don't go out much, that has helped me feel a bit more normal. Hang in there and I hope you feel better about things soon.

Everyone is different but I lost 11 lbs the first 3 weeks and then...stalled for 4 weeks. I made up my mind to not care what the scale said and to just do what I needed to in order to heal. At the 7 week mark (this week) I've lost another 10 lbs in just this week. Your body may still be holding on to the fluids, you said you were still swolen. Give it another few weeks. Keep in mind, you may stall (I also went up a pound during my stall)...but over time your body will begin to lose.

I wish you all the luck in the world and thank you for serving our country. The year will actually go by much faster than you think. I was supposed to have surgery 7 months ago but due to wait lists, hoops, etc. with the insurance company it took over a year. Sure 7 months ago I could have had the same experience I'm having now (or even better)... But, I am so thankful for the extra time. I've learned alot about myself in this time. I've done work that I know deep down I wouldn't have been able to do post-op. I've also found myself much more prepared to take on the challenges I've had, thanks to the longer pre-op period. Please advocate for yourself, but also realize sometimes the things we need are the exact opposite of the things we want. Hope everything works out for you in the end!

Hey fellow tall one! I know the desire to weigh yourself each day is pulling at you, but yes, I would say don't do it. Try to wean yourself off of that. Like start with every 2 days then every 3 until you can get to maybe once a week. Also, understand that there could be Water weight gain. If you are drinking that much water that could be it. If you are near your period, that could be it. Long story short...there are many reasons for a slight increase from day to day. Unless you find yourself going up by great leaps over a period of time, I wouldn't be too worried.

Not sure if you've been small before, but I'm noticing many of the people who seem to "get out of their heads" faster are also people who have not had weight issues their whole lives. For those of us who were relatively big our whole lives, we need a bit more time to get out of our heads. I'm glad you shared this because it has been a while since I was smaller, not skinny, just smaller. I too (even with minimal losses) feel I sometimes don't recognize myself. I've also noticed that people I know (who've only known me big) look right at me and dont' speak. Then when I say something, they say..oh I didn't even recognize you. As someone who is really tall and the most extroverted they come...that's tough because I'm like if I don't recognize me and you don't recognize me...I'm for the first time in my life invisible. Ok, rant over, I so feel what you're saying! Hugs to you...in time I'm guessing this too shall pass.

Yes, call your Dr. I had blockage so I know exactly the feeling you're talking about.

The first surgeon I was going to go with is one of the most popular ones in my area. Then I met my surgeon and she was awesome. She was also half his age (my age in fact) and I felt I could talk to her like she were a friend. That made the decision for me. What I love about her is that she also does "fixes" for other surgeons that make mistakes. She works the ER and does other types of surgery so I felt while she was not the most experienced at WLS she sure knew her stuff. Plus I liked that even though I had complications, she was up front and honest with me. Communicated openly with my family and even dropped by to check on me on her days off. The other surgeon might have done that, but I felt he was not nearly as personable as she was.

My sleep pattern has been wacky since I had my kids. I was always a light but sound sleeper (if that makes sense). Now, when I sleep I find myself waking up at 3:30 or 4:00 AM with a bed time of 10 PM. Started thanks to their feeding schedule and my old work schedule. I looooveee sleep, so it can be a pain. But what I noticed is that it is also due to the Vitamins. Pre-op I took vitamins once a day and did a lot of physcial activity. So I found myself sleeping until 30 minutes before my alarm went off at 5:30 AM. Post-op, I'm still building my activity and now I have to take vitamins twice a day (AM and PM). So that accounts for some of my issue. By the time my PM Vitamin kicks in, it is early in the AM. I'm hoping that once my activity level is back to pre-op levels I'll sleep longer.

I didn't see this until just now. I had/have the same problem. I had the random 2-3 hiccups for about 4 weeks or so. Now, I only have them once I've eaten (or drank a lot). Unfortunately this just may be something our bodies do to cope with the changes that have happened to us with the surgery. My Dr really couldn't explain why some people get those random hiccups. I did eventually notice that it mostly occured when I had lots of gas still. Every time I drank it seemed I was getting gas in (even though I don't use a straw). So maybe it has something to do with that. Not sure if that applies to everyone, but it did for me. As for the hiccups after eating, well I know people years out who still have that. So for us that experience it, that is just our new full.

Your surgery choice is a very personal one. I chose the sleeve because: 1. I was concerned about absorbtion (I'm generally low Iron and didn't want to get even lower) 2. I wanted whatever they cut taken out 3. I love that there is reduced hunger hormone (though I still get hungry) 4. I have cancer in my family big time and wanted to be able to try drugs before surgery if God forbid I ever got cancer I'm a huge researcher so this decision took 2 years for me. I will say this...I had horrible heart burn pre-op. I love spicy foods, breads, and certain fruits/veggies and although I knew they were my trigger, I still ate them. Thus daily heart burn. Post-op I have to take a PPI for 6 months and then my Dr will decide (with my help) if I need to continue. The thing is, I would have had heart burn with or without the sleeve. So, my choice was to keep the heart burn.

Yes indeed. I could smell everything...still can. That's how I now know who at my job drinks at lunch. I've always had a strong sense of smell but now, I know things about people I didn't want to know. This includes who is romping with who (others smelling like each other), who is drinking, who didn't shower after their workout, etc. I guess it is a blessing and a curse!

I was told no swimming (pool or ocean) until I was completely healed. I'm 7 weeks out and still my largest incision is not yet completely healed although it is closed up.

Also, I'd say just make sure you can get maybe an aisle seat so you can walk every hour or so. Other than that, I agree that if people can fly to Mexico for their sleeve, you can weeks post-op.

I was told the loss of inches and lbs happens at different times. For example you may see huge pounds go but not so much with inches and vice versa. After a while it all balances out. I think if you give it a bit more time you'll see the two (inches and pounds) seem to be more in sync.

I would say so. You might be a slow loser also. Give it time, much of the liquids they pump into you at the hospital also make you appear heavier. Keep drinking your Water and getting Protein when you can, and you'll eventually lose. Relax, you'll get there!

Yes 100%. I even have problems with dairy which for my entire LIFE was okay for me. I used to hate eggs, now I love egg whites. I was a sweets person (helped me gain all the weight)...I literally have no desire for it, even with a piece of cake in front of me at an event, I don't even want to taste it. I do miss dairy and wish that hadn't happend to me, but other than that, I simply am not minding the adversion to sweets.

Follow your Dr's plan as far as food. That promotes healing so you don't want to deviate too much from that. If you feel comfortable walking that much, good for you. Just don't push it too much too fast. Keep walking, that's great for your recovery.

My full feeling is a pain in my chest. Not heart attack pain but like a tightness (something stuck in my chest) as if the food didn't go all the way down. I also start to hiccup or belch - not that sexy but hey, it's my new thing. As for feeling full...I 100% agree with what Richard said. If you are content without the full feeling, go with that. Also remember that it takes months for your sleeve to heal and sometimes we don't feel full because there is still a bit of swolen soreness/numbness that is going on. Now's the time to really weigh and measure.

I tell the world (at least the world that asks me). My friend decided not to tell. She just told everyone she was watching what she ate, ate low carb, and works out 6 days a week. It is what she did/does so no one questioned that.

My friend who had VSG and I both had problems knowing when we had to pee after surgery. I asked my Dr about that and she told me that the weight of some of our stomachs is so much that it always pressed on our bladder (think pregnancy). After the sleeve I no longer have that and even though I've lost very few lbs, I have to remind myself to go. So keep that in mind because apparently (at least in my support group) not knowing when to pee is a pretty common surprise post-op.

You look great!

I would say be careful if you are trying solid foods too early. While yes, you may be hungry, if you eat solids too soon, you could damage your staple line. While you may not feel like you're doing damage you don't want a leak so really be careful moving through the phases so quickly.

Glad to know I wasn't the only one. I too have a big chest and I could not get my bra on (hurt too bad). Then I tried to wear a spanx (not the really restrictive one) that had a shelf bra built in. The entire day I had horrible heart burn. When I got home, I took it off and heartburn literally went away immediately. Pre-op that undershirt was a joke (didn't hold a thing in place), it took getting the sleeve for it to finally do something worth the money. Too bad it also gives me heart burn now.

I found a couple online. I looked at Big Oven and a couple of the food network chef sites. The only thing I adjust is the crust. Here's a good one i like: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/country-quiche-recipe/index.html - I use only the egg whites and usually use turkey meat or bacon (nitrate free) in the place of the sasauge. I then grease a mini muffin tin and let me tell you, 3 of those minis keep me full for hours. As an FYI, you might have to chop your veggies even smaller due to the small tins.

Congrats!! Start with the step stool now so that by your surgery, you don't have to worry about trying to train him to use it.