asmaclare

I'm 7 weeks out and I've tolerated everything.

When I first started thinking about WLS, I was only considering the band. I felt that it was the least invasive surgery in itself and I was very scared of the non-reversability of the sleeve and bypass. The only surgeon at my hospital where I would have the surgery left, and the sleeve and bypass were the only things that were offered. After 1 year I felt the urgency to undergo a WLS because I want to start a family soon and want to be as healthy as possible for my first pregnancy. My weight management doctor told me from the beginning she thought the sleeve was the best choice for me given my BMI at that time (41) because of the amount I had to lose as well as the least amount of complications. I also realized that no matter what WLS I had, I needed to make a committment to a lifestyle change FOREVER and the band would not provide that for me. The "not going back" aspect of the sleeve sort of makes me feel more accountable for this decision. I also have a very busy work schedule that is only going to worsen starting this summer and I did not think it would be feasible for me to do all the post-op fills / appointments required of the band anyhow. My weight management doctor also said that the sleeve and bypass have shown to be better tolerated in patients who go on to get pregnant. Also again with grehlin - a hormone that promotes hunger is likely to be markedly reduced in sleeve patients, and many report not having the same cravings / hunger urges prior to surgery.
Good luck with your choice!

I was sleeved 4/18. I have a pretty intense job- a resident in medicine so I have long hours and often a 24 hour call. My weight management doctor suggest 4 weeks in case there were any issues. I could have gone back by 2 weeks. I still had low energy but it was managable. I think you should be fine- but what kind of work do you do? I was more nervous and anxious about a month before but once everything started lining in to place I became less nervous the week before. I told myself listen you're doing it and just keep the negative thoughts out. I also stopped coming to the forum the week before. I would see great posts about people's progress which was uplifting and encouraging but every time I saw a post about someone having a hard time- that weighed on me a lot more heavily. The first 5 days was rough for me because I had pain every time I ate or drank something. It wasnt horrible but I was getting concerned like gosh is it always going to be like this? And then literally on day 6 all of that pain was gone. I still had incision and abdominal wall soreness but that was completely gone by 2.5 weeks. Just over 4 weeks out now without any pain. I was on puréed since day 3 and regular since week 3. I've been advancing somewhat slowly but so far so good. I have not vomited at all and have tolerated everything I've had including steak, chicken, veggie burger, salad, soft fruits, eggs. I've lost 24 lbs as of week 4 and more since I think but haven't weighed again. I started at 259 Everyone's experience is different so take what I say with a grain of salt! I have been following many who were sleeved the same month as I have and overall everyone is doing quite well. Only one person that I know of with a major complication - bleeding spleen that had to be removed during procedure but as I understand they are doing well now. Some people have had problems with "things getting stuck", not tolerating certain foods (ie: eggs) or not being able to eat more than a couple oz at a time- which I don't think is abnormal. If I eat 2-3 oz I am usually very comfortable but there have been times I pushed it to 4 oz and while I was very full I haven't gotten that omg I am going to die feeling. I've been lucky I think but there are so many others that are happy with their progress. Don't get me wrong it's not a walk in the park.. It's the learning curve that has been the most difficult for me- weighing food, knowing what hungry, satisfied, and over full feel like. I'm still getting used to not eating and drinking at the same time. I have not had the feeling of omg what did I do? Not have I regretted it yet...
So here's hoping that stays the same and I wish you the best of luck. Honestly I would take the week before your surgery and stay off the boards. Unless for some reason you feel a lot better about it when you do read... If youve done your research and not making a hasty decision, then you should know whether is the right choice for you! Just take deep breaths every time you get nervous and remind yourself why you think this is the best thing for you. I also wrote a list of all the things I looked forward to after surgery and the closer I got to goal.. And would look at that when I felt nervous thought it really helped. Okay I am ending my novel now. The very best luck to you!

Warm drinks just seem to really help me. I love my 20 oz. Decaf coffee with 1 scoop of chocolate Protein Powder each morning... it is usually my afternoon snack, too. Tonight I was feeling hungry for something sweet so I made a cup of decaf tea with a little milk and splenda...filled me up and gave me that taste of sweetness that I was craving. It is so strange that I have trouble with cold drinks (which I loved before surgery)..but warm drinks are filling and satisfying.

Omg I am in love with Peanut Butter now and it does curb my cravings! I need to be careful with it though because I've found myself going back for more and need to stop myself! It's weird how it also provides just enough sweetness because before it didnt taste like that for me.

Sleeved April 18.
This morning I woke up feeling very weak and emotionally labile. I've had consistent pains which are improving. The pain that bothers me the post is a sharp squeezing cramping rolling sort of pain. The first 2-3 days it was higher up i my stomach and now I feel it sort of further down. It was happening intermittently as well as when I sipped something. It has lessened today but I haven't had anything except tea and Water so far today. I started off the same way yesterday feeling pretty good (although was less weak yesterday) and the pains became more frequent thought it the day. Yesterday I was only able to get in about 40 oz of fluids which included tea, fruit2o and Protein Shake. I also felt I was hungry (although I am still not exactly sure I am interpreting that correctly yet) My program allows puréed foods from day 3, so I had 1/4 cup of strained broccoli cheese Soup, 2 oz of puréed tuna and a sf chocolate pudding through the day. I felt very full by the end of the day. I have not had a bowel movement yet but am passing gas. I'm taking gas ex and colace twice daily. I've been walking around the house but think I'm going to take a long walk outside today to try to get things moving better.
So for today:
1. Increase liquids (in case the weakness if from dehydration)
2. Milk of mag
3. Walking
4. Maybe more Protein shakes
Did anyone else have these similar pains?
Do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks!

I am on pureed and am having refried Beans. I chew / move it around in my mouth with each bite so that it's a pureed consistency. I melt a bit of cheese and put a dollop of sour cream on top with chalula hot sauce. Has been my favorite meals so far.

I had horrible spasms any time I ate or drank something, and even intermittently in between for several days post op. The turning point for me was POD 5-6. Hang in there! It does get better! I was afraid that my stomach was going to feel like that any time I ate or drank. The pain medications really did help. The spasms didn't go away but it did ease the pain when I did eat or drink anything. It took a while for me to figure that out and I got a little dehydrated in between because the pains were pretty bad even when drinking fluids. Also I think getting out and walking helped a bit. In addition, I found that if I drank out of a GLASS rather than a water bottle or whatever kind of bottle, that I did better at getting fluids in. I think I was drinking more air with the bottles. Good luck and hang in there!

Wow wow wow. My surgery is Thursday and I'm starting to get nervous and scared again. This is exactly what I needed to see. Congrats to you!!!

My surgeon discouraged it. Well he said none in the first 4 weeks and to be strict about it. But he encouraged me to stop all together if I was going a month without it anyway. He said if I must he wouldn't do more than 1 per day and to make sure that it's watered down or has a lot of skim milk in it. I don't know what I'll do. I love my coffee. I want to be healthy but I don't want to deprave myself of everything I enjoy I've never had problems with stomach ulcers or reflux, so I am thinking if the sleeve doesn't change that, I will go ahead and have my coffee

Wow wow wow. My surgery is Thursday and I'm starting to get nervous and scared again. This is exactly what I needed to see. Congrats to you!!!

Thank you I'm a week from surgery and hearing successful and encouraging stories is exactly what I need right now... I have small moments of freak outs where I think maybe I am doing the wrong thing... So this really helps!

Thank you I'm a week from surgery and hearing successful and encouraging stories is exactly what I need right now... I have small moments of freak outs where I think maybe I am doing the wrong thing... So this really helps!

Yea I would try again and hopefully you'll get someone who knows what they are talking about. I have Medical Mutual and I called them and they told me exactly what I needed. However there is a weight management program that I went through (separate from the surgery clinic) that knew the ins and outs as well.
Anyway my BMI was 39 w/ OSA.. But I also have HTN.

Wow Burtie! That's craziness. I'm glad to see you're doing well

Glad to see this post. I'm about 1.5 weeks from surgery. I keep having pre-surgery jitters and fleeting negative thoughts and worries about the surgery. It really helps to see these posts from people especially those that are still within a couple of months of surgery! Thanks

Glad to see this post. I'm about 1.5 weeks from surgery. I keep having pre-surgery jitters and fleeting negative thoughts and worries about the surgery. It really helps to see these posts from people especially those that are still within a couple of months of surgery! Thanks

Glad to see this post. I'm about 1.5 weeks from surgery. I keep having pre-surgery jitters and fleeting negative thoughts and worries about the surgery. It really helps to see these posts from people especially those that are still within a couple of months of surgery! Thanks

I am seeing such amazing results in a lot sleevers who post here. I've actually been in awe while looking at some before and after photos! We love to see these so keep posting them!
The most dramatic and inspiring stories are those with > 100 pounds to lose. It's really quite amazing. However I was wondering about those who have a little less?
I'm estimating that I have about 80 pounds to lose. When I first started a year ago it was more like 130! I've been fortunate to be able to get around 50 pounds off before in the last year while I was considering surgery.
Tell me what your experiences have been with a BMI < 40! (My current BMI is about 39 now)

Nevermind I got it !

April 18!
I have known and researched the sleeve for a while but made a very quick decision over the last 1.5 months to do it now. I'm 34 and want to have kids in the next few years and want to be as healthy as possible before we start. I feel very pressed for time. I hope to be at my goal weight or at least a healthy bmi for pregnancy. So while I've really been thinking about this and exploring the options I only just really decided on the sleeve. I had already been followed in a weight management program for that whole year! So when I finally said yes now is when I need to do it, it was a rather quick process to get all my requirements in. I wish I had found this site earlier because I think it would have been better to read everyone's experiences and see all the different outcomes over a longer period of time. I feel like I am guzzling all this information from a fire hose! It's been quite overwhelming, especially over the last few weeks. I feel the more I read and the more I talk with people here through the forum and on chat, the more nervous i am. That is not to say that people aren't supportive. Everyone is very open, honest, positive and encouraging. Does anyone else feel like this?? I want to focus on the excitement that is being overshadowed by my worry and anxiety!!!
I think most the worry comes from the large lifestyle change that I have no idea about. I've been successful with weight watchers (for the last year) and Zumba (since oct) and down 50 lbs... But I still indulge and have bad days. And to be honest I like those days! And I've checked myself along the way so as not to gain but if I find I've leveled off, I step it up. I wonder why I can't keep going like this... It seems to be working albeit slowly. But then I remember that I have been doing this same thing and gaining it all back and sometimes more for the last 13 years. I realize that as long as I keep losing that I will need to eat less and less in order to keep losing and keep it off! Not to mention cravings and hormones that will always be there! And so I remind myself of this reality and think yes of course this is the right thing to do. In my head it all makes sense but my emotions always lead me astray....
I'm not 100% confident in my decision and some might be concerned by that. But I don't know that I could ever be 100% sure without knowing the future. What I am 100% sure about though is that I want to give myself the best chance to conceive at my age and the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and be healthy for my child(ren).
Wow so after all that, which was an unexpected rant (sorry!!), i just wanted to again announce my date and confirm it loudly! April 18!!!!! And also ask to be added to the fb group! Asmaclare@gmail.com
Thanks! And good luck to each and everyone one of you! <3

I'm a doctor and my date is April 18!
I have faith in the surgery because I see it works. We all have to come to terms with the possibility of a complication but its a relatively small risk over the benefit of losing the weight. I think if I had seen more people with complication I may give it a third or fourth thought. I'm scared out of my mind to do this surgery.. But it's not because I'm scared of the procedure, aftercare or post op diet. I'm scared of ME. I'm worried about my own psychology after this surgery and that I won't be happy with the lifestyle changes to make the sleeve work for me. I think if you can get over that, which it sounds like you have and YOU an your brain are ready, then you should go for it.. And proudly! Keep your chin up and stand tall knowing you are doing the right thing for yourself!

I'm a doctor and my date is April 18!
I have faith in the surgery because I see it works. We all have to come to terms with the possibility of a complication but its a relatively small risk over the benefit of losing the weight. I think if I had seen more people with complication I may give it a third or fourth thought. I'm scared out of my mind to do this surgery.. But it's not because I'm scared of the procedure, aftercare or post op diet. I'm scared of ME. I'm worried about my own psychology after this surgery and that I won't be happy with the lifestyle changes to make the sleeve work for me. I think if you can get over that, which it sounds like you have and YOU an your brain are ready, then you should go for it.. And proudly! Keep your chin up and stand tall knowing you are doing the right thing for yourself!

Yeah I am worried about that. I take ibuprofen almost every day for back pain / headaches. I keep saying every day that I need to cut it out now so that I don't have rebound pain when I have to stop. I should start trying tylenol and seeing if it helps. I hope though that the weight loss will help my back and the tension in my shoulders/neck which also causes the headaches. Ugggggh.

I'm a doctor and my date is April 18!
I have faith in the surgery because I see it works. We all have to come to terms with the possibility of a complication but its a relatively small risk over the benefit of losing the weight. I think if I had seen more people with complication I may give it a third or fourth thought. I'm scared out of my mind to do this surgery.. But it's not because I'm scared of the procedure, aftercare or post op diet. I'm scared of ME. I'm worried about my own psychology after this surgery and that I won't be happy with the lifestyle changes to make the sleeve work for me. I think if you can get over that, which it sounds like you have and YOU an your brain are ready, then you should go for it.. And proudly! Keep your chin up and stand tall knowing you are doing the right thing for yourself!