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I would ask your surgeon--you definitely don't want to pull out your stiches. Maybe a abdominal binder would give you some added support?

popcorn was (is?) my all time favorite snack. I do not have enough toes and fingers to count the different variety of popcorn I used to enjoy. Caramel, white Cheddar, movie, kettle, vinegar, apple/caramel....
That was 8 months ago. I sometimes think back on it today like the passing of a furry friend in the family, good times in college or childhood memories of good times during the summer. It is nostalgic. However, the memories do fade and the desire becomes less. I do not feel driven to it like a magnet to a refrigerator door, perhaps because of the passage of time or it is simply not a part of the new me. I know it is hard right now for you, but slowly the drive will diminish as you replace it with other food or exercise.
That is why I believe that most doctors and NUTs recommend you take advantage of the first 6 months in order to create a distance between your current self and your old self. Old lifestyle patterns are replaced with new lifestyle patterns. It takes time to build the healthy habits.

Well I had my surgery on February 20, 2013. Surgery was a great success, woke up in minimal pain. Used my handy little pump whenever I felt discomfort. Couldn't sleep in the hospital due to being checked on and woken every hour. I was discharged the following day and have tolerated Water and broth quite well. This morning I woke up and made my Protein Shake first thing to get down and started drinking water. Little bit of soreness but hardly worth taking pain medicine for. Took my Multivitamin and B-12, B-1 and antacid the Doctor prescribed. Now I am doing a bit of walking around the house. I love my sleeve and am so thankful I have no complaints! :wub: oh and btw, I have not had any insulin since yesterday morning 2 units and that's all. I was taking 100 units of insulin per day 50 in the am and 50 in the pm previous to my surgery. I am praying that this is an end to my diabetes, any one else out there like this?

I was at 800 calories per day and losing very slowly - 25 lbs 8 weeks post-op. The NP was concerned that 800 was too low and asked me to try upping it. I protested but I told her I would try it for a week and see what happens. I've doing about 1000 calories the last few days and I've lost 2 lbs. Could be just a coincidence but I haven't lost 2 lbs in 3 days since week 1 post-op -- it is usually 1 lb at a time (over days -- sometimes a week)
My main concern was gaining if I upped to 1000 so this is a relief.
~Dana

Hey whats up every1 been mia fo a lil bit. Alot goin on.
Last few months have been crazy as i started a new job, playing in my pool league, looking for a house, loosing this weight.
Im down 82 lbs so far doin great feelin great about to kick it up a few notches with mma training.
Like i tell every1 its a juggernaut status now (u can knock me down but u cant stop me)
I started at 473
This is me in august
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This is a pic from new years eve
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I gotta say im lovin the feelin of pants just fallin off lol
Hope every1 is doin great.

i just started to do volunteer work at our local hospital
i totally have "put" myself "out there", amongst REAL people
would never have been confident/brave enough to do this before i lost all my weight
I am so happy since WLS
waiting for the "new" next event to happen!!!
today, volunteering - tomorrow.........
life is good

I have my binder left over from my Tummy Tuck, would that be as helpful as a pillow? It's elastic and just wraps around so it can be removed whenever quite easily.

I think I'm more worried about the whole liquid thing on the airplane than anything!(Going to MX) How will I carry all my Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, face lotion, toothpaste, body lotion, etc. in ONE quart sized bag? I guess I need to be simple for a week but I feel so much better when I have all those things. I guess being overweight I pay alot of attention to my physical appearance and smells...lol! Any suggestions?
On a side not I have lost 24.5 pounds on the preop diet and haven't smoked since last Sunday!! So proud of myself...hehe!

I've been "lurking" on your site for about a month now and finally joined today. I also joined My Fitness Pal today and with these, I'm beginning my journey back to a healthier life. As I read through the different postings, I jot down new pieces of info into a notebook that's divided into catagories. One of them is:
CONSIDER TAKING THESE TO THE HOSPITAL
choice of gown/pjs/sleep shirt
warm socks
non-slide hallwalking slippers
chap stick
hygiene wipes
beauty products/deodorant/lotion/shampoo
ear plugs
face mask
stretch pants a size too big and shirt for coming home
undies/sports bra
shower flipflops
hygiene wipes
gas-x
biotene mouth spray
phone/ipad/ipod and cords
pen/paper if you don't use your phone for notetaking
small firm pillow for stomach and trip home
list of important numbers in case you don't have access to your phone
copy of advanced directive and power of attorney
Hope this is a beneficial first post!

I had surgery 12/5 and found this thread to be so helpful. For me personally, I found the most valuable thing to bring was the 6 foot extension cord. My hospital provided a hard pillow for your tummy so I didnt need to bring one but I sure used it a lot. I didnt need the heating pad but couldve gotten one from the hospital if I needed it. I did bring my own firm pillow from home with a dark brown pillow case so it wasnt mistaken for a hospital one. I didnt read any of the magazines or books I brought, I was either sleeping, watching tv, visiting or taking walks.

hand sanitizer
sugar free hard cand to suck on

You are 200% right! I went into all of this eyes wide open prepared for the worst and hoping! When I had surgery, I informed my family of all of the possible complications and we planned for them but hoped I'd be fortunate. Post-op, I counted my 45 days until I was in the safety zone but we planned for that time as well because we knew anything could happen!
Only thing I didn't expect was my daughter knocking on my door in the morning to borrow my clothes .

Just calculated my out of pocket expenses so far (original MD, RD, stress echo, endo/colo, sleep study & CPAP, psych eval, pre surgery fees to surgeon & hosp). I'm 8 days post-op and have shelled out $4489 so far. Thank God for my insurance! I can't imagine what it would be to have this done locally (NC, urban) without it! I am claiming it all on my taxes plus the mileage!
Oh well, my weight has been an issue for 50 years, so I have probably spent that much or more on Weight Watchers (multiple times), Medifast, Phen-fen, Curves, Gold's gym, etc. (you get the idea)! I still have a gym membership, but now I have added the LAST tool that I'm going to use to conquer this problem, finally at age 60!

I had kidney stones 1 week out after surgery. My urologist said I definitely had the stones in my kidneys, but the stress from surgery could have helped release one. I to had the black specs, followed by me passing a 6 mm stone! It could be some very tiny stones that are breaking up as they come down to the bladder. If they are be thankful your not in pain.

I've never read about increasing risk of kidney stones...gallbladder stones for sure are often said to be caused by rapid weight loss. I had to have that nasty nasty gallbladder out about 3.5 months after my wls surgery. The pepper flakes sound like a question for your doc, I would definately call him in the morning. Hope you have a night without any pain or discomfort. Luck!

I'm officially one month today and I'm now down 36 pounds post op and 10 pre op 46 pounds in total I'm very happy w my weightloss I think 36 is great for one month I'm feeling better everyday I don't have a special routine beside trying to eat Protein every two hrs cause I can't stand the shakes since last week my taste bugs have changed

This pic was taking about a week ago I was down about 30 pounds or so

I was allowed those but I stuck mostly to the liquids but did have a sugar free pudding to eat with my crushed up my tylenol. I must sound like a broken record on here, but the unjury chicken Soup got me through and gave me a great Protein source.
I have two cats, one of which did not like that she could not sleep on me or have me pick her up. She is just over 10lbs too.
Glad you are recovering well!

i was really anxious after surgery for maybe a week and a half...now i am almost 5weeks out and been a good rrecovery although and feel heavy when i wash my hair.....

Was really 4-6 weeks that I felt I had a lot of energy and was 'myself'. It gets better and better. I didn't have any post op pain and have had no food intolerances or anything so it was really just an issue of having energy and stamina. That really does take a while to come back.

I'm 2 weeks post op and can sleep on my right side (where the bigger incision is/was). I have been able to sleep on my left side since about 1 week post op. I hear you on back sleeping being uncomfortable! Sometimes if I sleep too long on the right side, I have a little incisional pain in the morning. It usually goes away after about half an hour--if not, I talk half a dose of liquid Tylenol.

That's true, JerseyGirl! I told my cat he needs to lose a few pounds so I can lift him! (he's about 13 lbs and just a little chunky). Lifting the 40-lb dog isn't an option right now, which is sad when my husband is already in bed and she wants to come up too (the animals rule the roost in our house it seems!).

I'm with you, with the exception of a little tenderness getting up out of bed that lasted through the first 1 1/2 - 2 weeks, I felt normal after about 5 days. I consider myself very lucky that fatigue was never an issue.
I do have to take into consideration that I could not lift anything over 10lbs. for the 6 weeks after, so I wasn't really doing all I usually do. I felt fine, but stuck to what my doc told me.