Vidalia

I am almost to onederland, and while I am very excited about it, there is something very scary about it also. I am not sure what it is. People DO react differently to you when you are a normal weight compared to an obese weight whether they mean to or not. I can identify with your feelings, but not sure what I will do when I get there either.

I discovered them today when I was shaving. That area of my arm is actually starting to CAVE IN instead of BULGE OUT! It is amazing how these tiny little discoveries make me feel. I am looking forward to discovering more and more new and wonderful things about my body!

Awesome! I just squeezed in to a size 14 jeans this morning for the first time (20W before surgery). I can't imagine what a size 8 would feel like! Congratulations!

5 Splenda? Do you mean packs?

Wow! You look like a different person. Awesome! Would you mind telling what your beginning and present weights are?

Believe it or not, nuts are about the only thing I eat that I actually enjoy and have no problem with. I eat almonds, cashews, peanuts and sunflower seeds. My NUT told me it was okay as long as they agreed with me. She said the protein was good and since I am not getting many calories anyway that the calories were fine. I also like to get the mixed nuts (buy by the pound in the grocery bin) that you have to crack. It gives me something to do while watching TV and it takes longer to eat a few.

I think the thing that helped my husband the most is that he went to the educational seminar with me and got to meet the surgeon and hear his credentials and the success of his many surgeries. I think that helped him feel more comfortable about the whole thing. Maybe you could take your husband to your next surgeon visit and at least let him meet him.

For hospital: chap stick phone and charger computer and charger loose clothing to wear home CPAP machine if you have one (they asked for it right away) For home: sugar free Popsicles bottled waters Mio to flavor water Some tiny 2 oz. containers with lids to divide your food up in (for example there is no way you can eat a whole yogurt so you can save the leftovers in these containers for later) A good book to read Mixer bottles for your shakes or a blender Make sure you have your pain meds Rx filled and ready and take it every 4 hours whether you feel the need for it or not the first few days. They told me not to let the pain get ahead of me. But, you won't need it long. Good luck!

I could have written your post at this very minute! I have missed the last two days of work because of the same things and I am also on 10 days of antibiotics and having problems with them. I started with a liquid and could not tolerate it. I ask for another type that I could crush for shorter amount of time. I went to pick it up and he just gave me capsules that I have to take two of them 4 times a day for 10 days! Geez! I think they are upsetting my stomach. I also had the flu shot before surgery. I have been sick before, but this time it is different. I feel weaker and less able to get over it like am usually able to do. I feel your pain. I hope it will not always be this way.

Okay, I am 2 months out and while I am please with my progress, I am getting a little worried (and depressed about this issue). I have absolutely no appetite. It is a chore to eat. I dread having to force down my next meal. Nothing tastes good, even foods I used to love. While I guess this is partly the whole point of the surgery, I wish that I could at least feel hunger again and enjoy the few bites that I do take. I cannot think of any food in the whole wide world that I am craving right now and I have not since surgery. Will I ever get my appetite back at all? Thanks for your support fellow sleevers. Don't know what I would do without this forum.

Thanks! Here are my shoes and where I ordered them from. You won't find a better price. http://www.sierratradingpost.com/birkenstock-bern-clogs-suede-soft-footbed-for-women~p~4734h/?filterString=s~birkenstock%2F&colorFamily=04

I think my schedule is 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year...and once a year the rest of my life.

Pictures are switched. Hope everyone could figure that out.

I know it is not drastic, but I am happy with my progress. Before picture was on 11-8-12, the day before surgery...244 pounds. After picture was 1-9-13, 2 month post-op....209 pounds.

Mine is a business card size card from my surgeon's office explaining that I am on a restricted diet and asks the restaurant to please consider allowing me to order from the child's menu or smaller portion menu. It is still up to the restaurant if they honor it. In my experience so far, no restaurant has told me no.

Congratulations! I am at now at 209 and looking forward to ONEDERLAND! It has been 16 years for me too.

I am having the same problem. I took the Tylenol cold syrup and it didn't do much. I decided to take a tiny dose (less than a teaspoon) of my leftover pain meds at bedtime. That at least helped me sleep and took away my throat pain for the night.

My husband was eating a bag and I noticed that they have 9 grams of protein per 1/2 oz. serving. I had a couple and they were so delicious and did not bother my sleeve at all. I guess it would be too good to be true that pork rinds would be an acceptable snack???

The pain in the shoulders is gas pain. Try taking Gax-X and walk as much as possible. This should go away in a few days. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired. After a few weeks you will feel so much better. Before surgery I had a very hard time catching my breath. After my hiatal hernia healed I can breathe so much better and deeper now. It will all get better in a few weeks and you will be so happy with your breathing. I was sleeved in November.

I am 2 months out and have been eating the little Cutie clementine seedless oranges. After I peel the orange, I carefully peel away the white membrane and just eat the pulp of each section. This is good because it forces me to eat it slowly. I have not had any problems.

I found these in my grocery store freezer section. Pop them in microwave for 6 minutes and they are ready to eat. 31 grams of Protein for 12 mussels! More pros are that the meat in them is very small, they have to be pried out of the shell so it takes longer to eat them and they are very tasty if you like mussels. They come in a steamer bag of either butter and garlic sauce or tomato and garlic sauce.

You know when you are getting ready to throw up and saliva pours out of your mouth involuntarily? I believe that is what is meant by SLIMES. This has happened to me several times after I have eaten too much or the wrong foods. I cannot control the saliva pouring out, but I have never once actually thrown up since my surgery in November.

I decided to go check out a local gym because the weather is horrible here and I can't get my walks in. When I was talking to the trainer I explained that I had recently had gastric sleeve surgery and needed to work my muscles and do cardio. Immediately, she got a bad look on her face and said, "Oh, nooo." ...like I had done something horrible. I gave her a not so happy look back and she said, "Well, it's just that my friend and I were both 100 pounds overweight. I was able to lose all my weight just doing this (pointing to all the equipment), but my friend had gastric bypass and gets sick every time she eats. I have not kept my surgery a secret from anyone. In fact, I am quite proud that I had the guts (no pun intended) to go through with it. I know the reasons why I did it and I am satisfied with my decision. This is the first real negative reaction I have received since my surgery and I guess I was a little unprepared for it. I can see now why some people keep it a secret. Does anyone have a standard answer they give to people who have negative reactions to their surgery? Needless to say, the trainer's reaction makes me not want to attend this gym now that I know what she is thinking about me.

I order from the kid's menu. The restaurant will usually let me do this if I tell them I have had surgery and I am on a restricted diet. I also have a business card that states this from my surgeon if I don't want to announce it. For example, at Cracker Barrel I ordered kid's grilled chicken tenderloins with a vegetable side. At Fatz they have a kid's grilled salmon that is very good. I order that with a baked sweet potato. At Japanese sushi, I eat one or two piece of sushi from my son's roll. I have not tried any steak yet. I am going to wait six months for that. If we go Mexican, I order Al La Carte and get something small like a grilled chicken soft taco. Even ordering from the kid's menu, I am not able to finish it. I take what I can't eat home in a box. Also, when the waitress comes for the drink order I ask for a water with lemon in a TO GO cup. I don't drink it, but take it with me and drink it later in the car.