Mrs.RRn

You look great!!

I'm an apple! But even though I lost just a few lbs, I'm looking less, uh, applely. I'm excited to see what my body shape will be. I've never been a normal weight, so this is pretty exciting.

I wasn't expecting to write any type of entry for week two, but this week has a big impact on my thought process. Losing 22lbs in week 1 was amazing. I felt great! On top of the world! Ready to jump-start my new life! ...And then, it stopped. On day #7 the scale stopped moving. Now, I've researched this surgery soooo much and knew this was very likely. It seems many people have a stall around week 2-3. I thought I was prepared for this strange phenomena... But I was wrong. I had so many doubts this week. Would I ever lose the weight? Am I doing everything I'm supposed to do? Did I just have surgery to lose 22lbs? It was a terrible week. And then I realized... This is completely normal. Not only not losing weight is normal, but also all these feeling are normal as well. It's easy to get discouraged when things don't go your way. It's easy to get angry or sad... But that's what this journey is about- it's about a fight to a better you. A physically better you AND an emotionally better you. It's about strength, determination, and learning. To all you who are discouraged and down this week, pick up the pieces and keep on keeping on. This is all part of your story- the ups AND the downs. There are many times we will feel this way, down and depressed, but we just have to pick ourselves up, dust off, sip some water, and walk it off.

Today is officially the 1st day of week 3 postop. I am now allowed to switch from full liquids to a soft diet. But... I don't wanna!! (Whiny voice). I haven't lost any weight in week 2, so it makes me want to go back to Clear Liquids. Yeah, yeah, I won't actually do it. But did anyone else feel this way? Not wanting to advance their diet?... I can honestly say I haven't felt hunger yet. Even when my husband cooks something that smells good, as soon as I see solid food, I lose interest. Can anyone relate? Or am I just the crazy one not wanting food??

I was thinking the same thing! Lol

I'm right there with you! Tomorrow will start week 3 and I've been the same weight all of week 2. Yet, I feel like I've lost inches. I understand this is expected during this time, so I'll just keep on doing what I'm supposed to. You're not alone!

My first week I was down 22lbs and really excited about that. This week (week 2) the scale doesn't seem to be budging. It's easy to be disappointed when we don't see the numbers move as we'd like. But don't get discouraged!!! Just keep on doing it right! And even though the number on the scale isn't moving, I'm finding my clothes fitting looser and my body changing-- just celebrate those little things and keep a positive attitude. The weight will come off.

I made it with no pain meds and I'm a wimp! You got this!

Thank you all for your great comments! Good luck (especially to you preops)!!!

Congrats!

My doc gave me a goal of 1-3 oz an hour (while awake) for the first few days. I was on Clear liquids the first week. My first day drinking I only tolerated about 5 oz. but each day I was able to get in more and more.

Wanted to share a rundown of my surgery day and 1st week Postop. I was sleeved on June 11, 2013. Here goes: Surgery day!: the surgery itself went smoothly. No complaints or complications. When I woke up, I did experience some nausea. I also felt a little too sedated. My mind was like, "ok, Misty, you need to get up and walk." But my body was like, "F*** that." My mom and husband brought me to my very comfy hotel room and I was instructed to start sipping on water at 10pm. So, I did. And I vomited. I did have some mild pain, but I couldn't tolerate the pain medication (I couldn't tolerate the water). Recap of the day: pain- very mild. Nausea- holy hell. Day 1: I continued with nausea until I hit the 24 hour mark. Then I was able to drink. Magic! The day's intake totaled 5oz, and I was super proud of that. On this day I met my new best friend = Gas X. I attribute the Gas X with me feeling so much better. Oh! And I was allowed to take a shower!! (A shower cures everything). That evening Dr. Borland came visit me, and gave me terrible news = no bowel sounds! Ahhh! Some people might be like, "so what?" But in my mind (my nurse mind) I pictured myself with an NG tube, large midline abdominal incision, and a colostomy. Ah! I took Phenergan that night, not for nausea, but for sleep. Day 2: I was able to leave the hotel. Home sweet home! After the car ride, I did have some mild soreness and a little trickle of blood at the bellybutton site. No biggie. And on this day I learned the value of burping myself, yes, like a baby. Day 3: ok, we talked about no bowel sounds- Since the doc told me that, my ridiculously obsessed self kept listening for my bowel sounds. And I had been hearing increased grumbling. Yay. And today??? A BM!! Yes, thank you, I was happy for myself too. Today I felt no pain or soreness. I walked to the mailbox a few times- I was afraid to leave my driveway. I had a total intake of 17.5 oz! Day 4: Feeling good! Walked outside a little. No pain. Total intake of 19 oz (I felt like I pushed it too much). I was feeling much stronger until I had to wash my hair-- OMG! Day 5: Felt great!!! I discovered today that my engagement ring no longer fits. but and I got 21oz in with no problem. And today, I ventured past the mailbox into the street!!! Day 6: I woke up feeling weak. After thinking about it, I believe I was a little dehydrated. I actually slept late this day. So my observation= sleeping too much= not drinking= dehydration= weakness. I did some light housework, walked outside, had an all around good day once I caught up on my fluids. And I went on my first outing: Walmart to shop for thickened liquids: dear god that was exhausting. Lol Day 7: I started my protein shakes! And vitamins!! After all that clear liquid, I was kinda excited for protein. Feeling strong! Feeling good! I went to my first Postop appointment. Lost 22lbs! Yay! I will see my doc again in 2 weeks. Oh, and I learned I love V8. So that was the first seven days. Honestly, I thought I'd be worse. And with no pain medications, I felt like I did well.

1-I can't tell you about insurance bc my ins pays for NO wlsI paid cash. 2- I can say the pain was pretty minimal for me. I was given medication in the operating room and went home (it was an outpatient procedure) with liquid Lortab. I never took a dose of Lortab. For me, the pain was very minimal. But I can say I did have some nausea the first 24 hrs.

I didn't have a drain and I don't have anymore swelling. I really think it just depends on your body. As far as generalized swelling, I didn't have much of that bc my procedure was done outpatient and I didn't get pumped full of Fluid during a hospital stay (make sense). My bellybutton site is the only one that was sore- that's where they actually removed my stomach from-- so it's the site with the most activity and most stretching - that may be why your belly button site hurts worse too.

Walking. And my doc allows Gas X dissolvable strips-- they've helped me so much!

I ordered one: My name Sleeve gastrectomy No blind NG/NSAIDS My husbands phone# I thought it was a great idea.

This is Latte'. She's a yorkie/Maltese mix. About her? Oh she's just ridiculous. Very needy and a true "lap dog." She'll stare at whatever I have in my hand until I move it so she can climb in my lap. Regardless, we love her.

Hi! I was sleeved on the same day! How much liquid are you taking in? I feel like I'm on the low side of my Doc's reccs, but its a struggle to get just that much in. But the amount is slowly increasing everyday... I'm pretty satisfied with that (hopefully he won't fuss too much at my appointment tomorrow). And I'm def trying some V8 tomorrow!... I can't believe I'm excited for V8! Good luck!

I don't think I'm swollen anymore. Not that I can tell anyway. I had some mild pain during the 1st 24hrs but I'm feeling great now!!

I'm 5days out and I don't feel swollen anymore. Maybe a little by the belly button incision, but for the most part the noticeable swelling has gone down.

I was sleeved 6/11/13 (5 days ago) and I lost 21 lbs so far. Ok, I'm extremely happy, but I want to know if this is ok. It seems like a lot to me-- but I feel really good. Even though I'm on Clear liquids for the first week, I still have energy. I've been walking in my street for the past few days and doing light stretches. So I want to know.. How much did y'all lose the 1st week post-op??

Congratulations!!!! I'm scheduled for tomorrow! We'll be just a couple weeks apart!

Hmmm... This sounds interesting. My surgeon said to skip the salad altogether. He prefers his patients to choose something like chicken or fish over lettuce bc of the nutrient value. What does y'all doctors say?

I'm a little late sharing this, but I wanted to tell of my experience with my first appointment. My first visit with Dr. Borland (New Iberia, LA) was on May 29th, 2013 @ 4pm. New Iberia is about 1.5 hours away from my home, and thankfully my mother was able to come to the appointment with me-- because after 1.5 hours of driving, I was a little bundle of nerves. Eek! I checked in a few minutes before 4 pm. The receptionist was super sweet. Anyway, we waited for about an hour before getting called to the back where the nurse (Ms Marion, I believe) took my height, weight, and a small bit of medical history from me. She then talked to me about the preop diet (which I think is pretty lenient), postoperative diet, vitamins, protein (they suggests at least 60g/day), and expectations of the surgery. She also told me I would have to stay at least 2 nights in a nearby hotel so that Dr. Borland can keep an eye on me. I'm really happy to not have to stay in a hospital Dr. Borland then came into the room and explained the procedure. Dr. Borland was really nice and had a great sense of humor. He put my mind at ease. He has been performing weight-loss surgeries since the 80's (I was born in the 80's!) He took his time and answered all our questions. My mother asked his mortality rate on this surgery ( absolutely HAD to know)- he said he lost just 1 patient... Not shabby. After Dr. Borland spoke with us, his nurse came back in to discuss my date, preop requirements, and cost. I told her I wanted to schedule as soon as possible- which was June 11th. All of a sudden, I got light- headed and dizzy (LOL). She told me to have surgery on June 11th, I would have to get my lab work done the next day and pay the following day (I'm a self/cash pay). I got super nervous bc I knew I'd be working the next few nights, and I would have a difficult time fitting this into my schedule. It ended up all working out-- lab work, EKG, chest X-ray was all done the next day, and my dear sweet husband sent the payments (cashiers checks) on time. The initial visit cost $200. The cashiers checks totaled $9600. And the preops were $270 ( which I thought was AWESOME). Oh yeah, I was so excited when I left his office -- I turned down a one way street! And continued the wrong way until I nearly hit someone. OOPS!

Thanks y'all! A list? Sounds organized. Lol. Awesome!