Shells_Almost_There

My doc's program says that carbonated drinks can cause gas and bloating and to consider eliminating all together, but I know of people on here who drink 1 per day - and sometimes let it go flat so that the bubbles don't bug them too much. Sorry, not much of an answer!

Check with your doctor, because I've heard that they don't recommend restrictive garments for a while after surgery during the healing process. Especially while the incisions are healing. If you're talking about what to wear weeks and week after surgery, that's probably a personal choice depending on what fits you best! So far what I've found is not to really pre-buy anything - wait until you actually need it. (I start my 5th week post op tomorrow and am donating soups and whey powder to whoever will take it. I seriously over bought pre-op). Good luck tomorrow!

I waited 2 weeks because I had pain in my large incision area and when I was scrunched up in a car it was a bit too painful. Plus, I found that even as a passenger, the bumps and the natural leaning we do when turning would give me aches and pains. So, I waited to drive until week 3. I found that reaching out to close the driver door was still a little painful, and turning my head and torso when backing up still hurt a bit. I'm starting week 5 post-op tomorrow and all that is gone now. I hope this helps! (btw, I only took the strong pain meds for 4 days post op, then I stayed with over the counter for the rest of week 1. After that, no pain meds).

I've been to happy hour recently - they had a soup on the menu, and they had baby back ribs that were super tender, so that's what I ended up with. I ate 2 ribs and 2-3 teaspoons of soup over 2 hours and no one noticed a thing (I used to always get the nachos but I wouldn't have been able to enjoy them so I skipped them). I did stick with water, though, because I still don't know the effects of alcohol on my sleeve and I had to drive home solo. Good luck!

I can eat a whole egg now, and it keeps me full for a few hours. I tried it with a little cut/mushed up sausage last week and that was too painful. Ended up picking the egg out and dumping the sausage.

Lose - Loose You're - Your Advice - Advise Moot point - not MUTE point... LOL these kill me.

Many people will tell you to weigh only once a month during this early stage, because "stalls" are going to happen and you don't want to obsess with the scale. My personal feeling is that as long as you don't let the scale control your life, weigh when you want to. I weigh each day, and I have for a number of years. Right after surgery, I didn't weigh for the first week and a half because I felt nasty and bloated, LOL but now that a few weeks have passed, I'm weighing each morning like normal. I've been stuck at the same weight for about 6 days, so I started to add calories to my daily intake. This morning, the scale finally moved and it made me feel like adding the calories was a good decision to help break the dreaded Week 3 stall I was in. But again, this is just my opinion - I've seen other post-op people here expressing regret, frustration and depression about not losing weight on a daily basis, and for them I would advocate to stay away from the scale for a while and follow their doctor's plan. It's a really personal decision, I think. Good luck!

I also slept a lot during my 2 weeks post-op. Since then, I've felt pretty lucky because I haven't been fatigued at all. I was getting 500-600 calories, but I just upped that to the 800 range the last couple days. I always take my multivitamins and I really concentrate on getting a large amount of protein early in the workday so my body is fed. I don't know if that's what's helping, but I'm thankful. I was back to work full time this week and had no ill effects. I'm hoping it stays this way!

I crave sweets still, even though I worked hard to break the sugar addiction during pre-op. It's just who I am. So, I am not having sweets at all, other than the sugar-free/no sugar added things I am allowed, because I know I will crave real sugar even more. Carbs are interesting - my head likes the idea of having some, but I don't feel like I need it. So, for now, I'm playing the avoidance game!

It's a struggle for me as well. I think there's only been 1 single day that I've made it to 64oz. I forget to sip - especially now that I am back to work. So, I'm renewing my efforts to hit that goal next week. Good luck!

Wow, very sorry to hear this, but happy that you self-advocated and got the help you needed. I hope that all is smooth sailing from here on out!!!

I had 5 incisions. 3 are tiny (less than an inch). 2 are larger, but by that I mean 2 inches, maybe. I am finishing up my 4th week post op and all the incisions have healed nicely. I think the scars are going to be barely noticeable! I'm really happy with these results. I now have permission to put neosporin on them, and I'm hoping that will minimize the scarring even more.

Sorry to hear this -- hang in there, it WILL happen!

I hope this is how it goes for me! I have all my smaller pants ready - I could probably wait for 100 pounds off before I actually "need" to buy clothes.

Around day 5 I saw serious improvement in the pain when I'd sit or stand. It turned into more of a stitch in my side pain at the large incision site. That lasted another 10 to 15 days for me, but I know other people have had it go away earlier. Interestingly, since surgery I have to have much better posture in my office chair ( I work at a computer all day) because I slump a bit and then the pain in my side will start again. I then have to stretch, or take a short walk to get the pain to abate. One thing is for sure, each day you will see an improvement and it's so exciting! Good luck!

I feel your pain too! I'm down almost 20 pounds since surgery but my belly is still swollen. I have been totally frustrated that my pants aren't looser, but I can tell that the weight has come off my upper thighs and shoulders/arms. Someone said they could tell in my face, but I still see my double chin! LOL If there's one place I want to lose weight, it's my fat belly, so of course it isn't coming off there yet. I bet it will be another 40 pounds before I'll be forced switch pants size, but that isn't stopping me from trying on my smaller pants once per week. Hang in there, it will happen!

Hang in there - these nerves are normal. I also waited by myself (3 hours), and wanted to leave a time or two, but didn't and it was the best decision EVER. It will be over before you know it and all will be well.

My NUT does a calculation, take your weight times .3 - this gives you a minimum protein per day. So if a person weighs 250, the minimum daily protein should be 75 grams. I don't know if this is standard but it's a guideline.

I have heard of this, and I think it has to do with both your surgery experience/results and your personal pain tolerance. I found that I couldn't sit up at my computer for very long after surgery (I work at a desk all day) - At first, if I sat up in my office chair for more than 2 hours my left side really hurt. So, I took a couple weeks off work as a vacation (no one at work really knows I had surgery), and I'm glad I did, I think everyone's experience is different, and hopefully you will be able to go back sooner if that's your goal. Good luck!

I also have stomach swelling - I've lost weight post-op but my waist/gut has not shrunk at all. I think my tummy is still in shock. Next week I will finally have my first post-op appointment with my surgeon and I plan to ask her when the swelling will subside. Of all the places I need and want to lose weight, it's my big gut!!!

I don't have any specific revenge fantasies, but I think there will be a class reunion in about 2 years that I hope to go to and look fabulous! I skipped the previous one because I was too embarrassed about how I looked.

I don't have any specific revenge fantasies, but I think there will be a class reunion in about 2 years that I hope to go to and look fabulous! I skipped the previous one because I was too embarrassed about how I looked.

As Bufflehead mentioned, there are a lot of different programs and plans - so what's outlawed by one doc might be perfectly fine for another. My surgeon's rules are very lenient compared to many I've seen mentioned on this site. In fact, I was given ibuprofen while still in the hospital, after my surgery! My doc has no issues with it at all. Concerning Protein, I am a very picky person and what some people say tastes good or great usually tastes terrible to me. I got a bunch of sample packs and finally found just 2 powders that I could stand. I also got the Premier Protein ready-to-drink ones from costco and those are saving my life. In fact, I have a bunch of powder and samples that I will never use because the Premier is all I need. I'm also at my 4th week post-op (tomorrow! time flies) and my recovery has been like clockwork. I had very little pain, no gas pains, haven't puked yet (but it's been close), and while I thought I'd lose my freakin' mind during the 2 weeks of liquids only after surgery, I did actually survive!!! LOL I haven't had any emotional issues, but it's early still for me. What I'm finding is that now that I'm allowed purees/mushies, I am eating more carbs. This is something I need to control. It's also a balancing act, because I am still struggling to get in 8 glasses (minimum) of Water per day - not because I have trouble drinking, but because I just forget or don't feel like drinking. On an empty stomach I can gulp water - it's very surprising. My next steps for week 4 and beyond are to track my water much closer, since the weight isn't magically falling off and I can tell I'm dehydrated. Plus, I will continue to use My Fitness Pal to track all foods, so that I can keep a watch on those carbs. Finally, I have been having a real issue with BMs. I will suddenly realize that it's been 2 days, and so then I drink a dose of Milk of Magnesia -- X number of hours later, I experience the pain of not being regular. It is really no fun. I am planning to get on a daily dose of some sort of OTC med for this, because I hate Milk of Magnesia!!! But, I hate constipation more. (There's just no such thing as TMI on this site, FYI ) I hope some of this helps. This surgery has been my best decision ever ( btw, less than 10 people are aware that I had surgery because it's my health and my decision and I don't want comments/feedback/scrutiny), and I wish I could have done this 10 years ago. Good luck to you!

As Bufflehead mentioned, there are a lot of different programs and plans - so what's outlawed by one doc might be perfectly fine for another. My surgeon's rules are very lenient compared to many I've seen mentioned on this site. In fact, I was given ibuprofen while still in the hospital, after my surgery! My doc has no issues with it at all. Concerning Protein, I am a very picky person and what some people say tastes good or great usually tastes terrible to me. I got a bunch of sample packs and finally found just 2 powders that I could stand. I also got the Premier Protein ready-to-drink ones from costco and those are saving my life. In fact, I have a bunch of powder and samples that I will never use because the Premier is all I need. I'm also at my 4th week post-op (tomorrow! time flies) and my recovery has been like clockwork. I had very little pain, no gas pains, haven't puked yet (but it's been close), and while I thought I'd lose my freakin' mind during the 2 weeks of liquids only after surgery, I did actually survive!!! LOL I haven't had any emotional issues, but it's early still for me. What I'm finding is that now that I'm allowed purees/mushies, I am eating more carbs. This is something I need to control. It's also a balancing act, because I am still struggling to get in 8 glasses (minimum) of Water per day - not because I have trouble drinking, but because I just forget or don't feel like drinking. On an empty stomach I can gulp water - it's very surprising. My next steps for week 4 and beyond are to track my water much closer, since the weight isn't magically falling off and I can tell I'm dehydrated. Plus, I will continue to use My Fitness Pal to track all foods, so that I can keep a watch on those carbs. Finally, I have been having a real issue with BMs. I will suddenly realize that it's been 2 days, and so then I drink a dose of Milk of Magnesia -- X number of hours later, I experience the pain of not being regular. It is really no fun. I am planning to get on a daily dose of some sort of OTC med for this, because I hate Milk of Magnesia!!! But, I hate constipation more. (There's just no such thing as TMI on this site, FYI ) I hope some of this helps. This surgery has been my best decision ever ( btw, less than 10 people are aware that I had surgery because it's my health and my decision and I don't want comments/feedback/scrutiny), and I wish I could have done this 10 years ago. Good luck to you!

Absolutely! I took pictures in a basic outfit that fit me at the time, and then I took pictures in a too tight outfit so that I could track the clothes getting bigger on me as I lose weight. I thought it would be fun to have these mementos! I love it when post surgery people post their before/after photos.