Arts137

I've sure never heard of that! Hmmmm, if it goes up... or if it stays... or if you get ANY pain, call them again. Fever could be a sign of a leak... not likely, but possible!

Smart move! And thanks for the nice words!

Dumping a lot is not normal. Please work with your surgical team. Avoid hash browns because of the fat, for now...

You write well. Fun to read. Stay away from statues (I mean that's what showers are for).

Don't worry about stretching your sleeve. That's not likely... what's more likely is slider foods and liquids with meals makes it APPEAR that the sleeve has 'stretched'. Have a diet/eating and activity plan abd stick to it. Work with the NUT to modify as needed... and it will go slower as you get closer to goal, at least that's what the 'long-termers' say!

Lovely lady!

http://www.amazon.com/Ultrabreathe-ASI7492-Compact-Breathing-Exerciser/dp/B0000E2PBX But the test you do to assess your smoking is pretty sophisticated. If you have recently been smoking, this equipment won't mask the fact. Best of luck. Smoking is HARD to quit and prepping for the sleeve is HARD too!!!

This is hard. We do know it and agree. And it does go on forever. With 80% (or more) of your stomach gone forever... forever is the right word. We all still have to pay attention for the rest of our lives. The sleeve ain't magical. You can eat a whole bag of cookies IF YOU WANT after the sleeve, (1) if you are creative (2) but that would be stupid!

IT's HARD! Build a plan. If you get through 3/4 days WITHOUT ADDING CARBS OR SUGAR it WILL get better! (If you do eat sugar and carbs, you start the process all over again IMHO) When "hungry" (and you will be hungry -- likely for the first time in YEARS) remember that nobody died from being hungry AND that this is in your head more than it is in your stomach AND: -- drink Water, it works, -- go for a walk -- at night, go to bed.

I get my vitamins from UNJURY.

Yep, rush ship and you'll be in business!

Yes... life is unfair. Women lose slower than men too. If you lose a whole bunch in pre sugical fast, may lose more slowly in the weeks after surgery, too... The only guarantee is that you will lose as fast as you can lose... just stick with it.

Do not think they band over sleeve. They DO bypass over sleeve, however.

I gained, and did not lose for the first two weeks. My MD said to expect it. "This too shall pass", and it did.

Worry Not! This will pass. Just follow the program (really focus on that, especially activiy, fluids and proteins) and DO NOT weigh every day -- it'll just make you crazy. The odds are VERY good that your stomach won't grow back, so you will lose, stall or no stall!!!

I am not even sure it's a stall. Post surgery all is cattiwumpus. I GAINED weight in my first post-surgical week and in the second week lost nothing. AND your cycle will also play havoc with your weight... Relax. Just follow your program (and I bet it focuses on liquids and proteins). If I gave one piece of advice, don't weigh every day... It'll just drive you crazy!

Watch food commercials. If it's in a commercial, it's likely crap...

Have BC?BS Federal. Went to orientation, saw surgeon. Got hooked into group that did all the classes, NUT, Psyc, etc. From soup to nuts took 5 and a half months...

Cravings? Cravings??? We ALL get cravings, the issue is what do we do about them... Whatcha gonna do??? My approach is no food after dinner, nothing, nada, IF I get unbearably hungry, I go to bed. And I do!

The sleeve is forever... BUT the sleeve does NOTHING about your head. We ALL crave and miss our dear evil friend (bad foods). We ALL struggle. All I can say is IF you control yourself for 4 days, each day thereafter will be better. Good luck, sweetie! And yes, I did a Protein rich diet before my diet...

Get some of the great Protein suppliment powders, and do the two week protein fast for yourself. You'll lose. This does seem strange though... the "liver shrinking" is for right before surgery, usually...

I found the "invisability" that came with Obesity great. I was left alone! But your points are well made, and Because they are "damned" either way, this 'feels' like a counseling issue... Too hard for my little pea-brain.

No pass/fail here. WORK at it... Your intestines in knots ain't no biggie, they are just readjusting. Do you have any PAIN??? Do you choke or vomit. If not, keep on a' drinking!

Use the support here and at TOPS. Restart with a Protein 'fast' Be strict for a week and you can be strict forever. Here's the point, you have not broken your sleeve. Your sleeve is still there, still small. It's your Head you (and we) need to conrinually work on. As you eat, it's protein first; veggies and fruits, and LIMIT carbs... Laura said dat... You have disappointed yourself, your Doc and NUT and all are there to help when you get ready...

Well you are free to eat anything you want, BUT make it protein first, then fruits and veggies, and then, if you have any room, carbs (even complex ones). "Anything" includes a buncha stuff that you want to still avoid to lose weight, IMHO.