daadelishopeful

It will get better. This is part of the journey. I had my surgery on June 26th of this year and then spent the next 10+ weeks vomiting and wondering what the heck I had done. I had to have two endoscopes with dilation, before my stomach settled down, but now almost 6 months later I am doing much better. Mind you at the time, I felt the same way you did, and people like Laura V, encouraged me and supported me during those scary and depressing days. I didn't have pain, so I am glad you followed up with your doctor's office and hit the ER(better safe....). It will get better. You are still healing and adjusting to the wonderful world of sleeve life! Keep posting. I found that during that time, having a support system of people who had experienced this journey, helped to anchor me. Keep us posted and good luck.

I had a very similar experience. I was sleeved on June 26th 2013, and for 10 weeks I suffered from constant vomiting and nausea. I had to have two endoscope procedures with dilation after my original surgery and it seemed like things improved after that. But it was a long process and I had "buyer's remorse" for those 11 weeks. I am now 16 weeks out and I am so pleased with my journey so far. I hate vomiting, and still do maybe once or twice a week(progress). But it is so much better. I just think some of us take longer to heal after surgery. Be patient, stay in touch with your doctor if the vomiting persist and don't get too down. Just keep sipping, and eating soups, protein shakes etc..... Hang in there, it is going to get better.

Hang in there. It gets better. I am 13 weeks post op and after many trys I found that premier protein shakes were my salvation. I also drank Isopure in my first few weeks post op. Don't stress too much, as your stomach heals and you are able to eat more solid protein, it will get easier. I still drink a premier shake daily to ensure that I get in my daily requirements. Best of luck.

Hello everyone, I just wanted to share my success. I have had a struggle with my first 10 weeks with my sleeve. It was not an easy initial transition. However I have stayed the course(no other option) and did my part to accept and embrace my sleeve and with good results. I went to my doctor for my 10 week follow up after my 2nd scope/dilation and things are looking up. I haven´t had complications since last Sunday and according to the scale ( I don´t have a scale-just wait until doc appointments to weigh in) I have lost a total of 55+ lbs as of yesterday. I am now 282.6. I am very pleases with myself and am even more motivated to continue my journey forward. I was cleared to go back to work next week too. I am getting better, feeling more motivated and getting ready to really take on the weight loss focus of this journey. I just wanted to share with those of you who may be struggling with adapting to your sleeve, or those recently post op. It can and will get better. We are all so unique and so are our journeys. If you are struggling today, just continue along the journey. It is okay to get frustrated, and even sad, but also know that you will get better and feel better at some point. After 9 weeks of feeling miserable, things finally fell into place for me. Thank you to all of the vets and newbies who offered me support either directly via post or by sharing their own struggles and successes. I would have struggled so much more if I had not had my VST community to support me these last 10 weeks. OMG....I have lost 55 lbs in 2 months....mind bomb! It is so surreal that it takes the mind time to acclimate. Next goal is to work on loosing another 45lbs. That will be a 100lb weight loss. I have to have milestone goals along this journey to enjoy those victories. Doctor wants me to get to 188ish as my goal weight(haven´t been that weight since senior year in HS). He said that is based upon my height(5´7) and wanting me to be below BMI of 30. Of course I had to ask, what the time frame was for that goal. He said within the next year and a half. I figure that is manageable. Before the sleeve, I would have not believed it possible. So onward and upwards. I guess I will try to figure out how to post some pics now. Have a great day my friends and stay positive.

Hi, My NSV this week was that I jumped into my pool midday and just enjoyed myself and my evolving body in my bathing suit(which is getting to big ). Just happy!

Hi Karnie, Thank you for the words of encouragement. I like your 25lb milestone goals. I think I may have to ¨borrow¨ that idea if you don´t mind. We will get there! I wish you continued success as well.

Hi,I have braids for now, but my hair has been natural for 6 years. I am thinking about just taking out the braids but I am not sure. I want to be proactive, but this is a hard one to gauge.

Thanks Amanda...trying to follow in your footsteps! Great job to you....126 down... wow, how has the journey been for you?

Great post and thank you for sharing your updates.

I wish we had a subforum so we could post new topics withing African American Sleevers, and if there is would someone point me in the right direction? This thread is too long and we discuss such a myriad of relevant topics, but it is hard to get to each topic. I have a question for my tenured sleeve sisters. What did you do about your hair? Did you find that you suffered from significant hair loss? And if so, how did you manage it(weave? wig?hats? scarves?etc...) Have you found products that have helped with the hair loss issues unique to our hair types? I am heading towards my 3rd month post op and trying to brace myself for the hair issues. I am planning to weave, but I am in AZ and it is soooo hot here right now.

Hi, I had to wait 2 weeks per my surgeon due to the pain meds.

Hello Vogue, I am a woman of color and like you, I did keloid a bit. Of my five scars, the two smallest scars did keloid, while the larger scars did not. I am actually thankful for that. I plan to just use Vitamin E, and scar reducing meds to diminish the keloids as much as possible. But I am pleased overall with the scarring.

I keep sliced melon and other fruits on hand. I have 3 busy, ravenous kids that demand food all the time. I am 10 weeks post op and find that the fresh fruit is a win for us all.

Thank you Pookeyism. This post was perfect. I needed that!

That is it! Laura you are correct, I am one of the ¨ lucky"ones whose initial experience in the form of an ¨ emergency shut off valve¨ . Thanks for giving me an appropriate title for it, because I tend to call it something a little less polite most days. But I truly believe that if I´d had an easier transition to my sleeve, I may not have had as much weightloss in these 10 weeks. I figure this is just a part of my personal journey... trust me, those first 9 weeks I envied everyone who celebrated their easy transition. I had a few pttty parties and had to find a way to accept my reality because the other side would have left me reeling with my new shut off valve talent. Sorry Cindy for my hijack... back to the topic at hand.

Congratulations! Keep up the great work.

Well you never disappoint Ms. L! I appreciate your candor and honesty. Yeah we are experts and minimizing the impact of "just one little bite...". I am not afraid of food(today), as I am only 10 weeks post op tomorrow and still on sorta mushy foods due to complications. It will be interesting for me once I am no longer restricted by nausea and vomiting. When I can eat anything I want. But I do eat without the "oh I can't have carbs", or carbs are evil mind set. I have an occasional 1-2 tablespoons of rice with a meal if I want it...which is a far cry from the non measured amount before. And for me, that is how my sleeve as a tool works for me...not depriving, but rather helping me to control the amount of what I eat. It will be interesting to see how that evolves as I move to maintenance. At that point, I may have a very new mindset. We shall see.

Thanks for this post. I agree, that this journey is unique to each of us and although I think people on this forum try to support each other, there does appear to be those who are extremely judgmental and forget that their journey is unique to them and that even when offering "advice", that they need to check what is motivating that "advice". I don't feel like my sleeve is to restrict me from eating those "bad" foods. I feel like it is a tool and nothing more. I like that I can only eat a bit at a time, and I realize that protein, then veggies, then carbs are my life. I can only get in my protein in most meals and then have to eat a bite of veggies/carbs later after the protein. I guess it just seems to me that this all or nothing approach to the sleeve is as extreme and somewhat obsessive for some. Perhaps the obsession they had with food is now applied to their sleeve. I think for many of us, our relationship with food is about control over our body. Now with the sleeve, for some of us, this need to control our body is now manifested in this other way. From one extreme to another for some of us. I look forward to revisiting this subject as I become more tenured in this journey. I think Laura may be on to something when she mentions that we are new. Laura V. Did you find your mindset shift around your do's and don't during your journey and relationship with food post op? Just curious and I appreciate your insight(and humor ).

Hi fellow AZ sleevers, I know what you mean about the support groups. I went to my first last month. Trying again tomorrow.

LOL...I politely refrain from responding to that question Ms. Laura .

Congrats,but no need for details. Assume you burned a 1000 calories!

No guilt! You just had major surgery and the healing process is both physical and mental(emotional as well). Give yourself grace. You will know when you feel up to doing more. I would suggest you just take it easy. The kitchen and cleaning can wait a bit. You don't want to over do it. Recovery happens at different speeds for everyone. I thought I would be back to work 4-6 weeks post op, but I am just now getting to a point were I can keep food and fluids down and have some energy. I am getting bored to be home, so that is a good sign that I am getting ready to go back to work. Plus I think I have become addicted to this forum, and I think I need to redirect my focus a bit. But take your time to heal.

Hi Ready4...., First off, congratulations. You look great! I hope you feel as good as you look. Your post brings me to something I have been contemplating since my own journey started 9 weeks ago. I think that so many of us detached from our bodies a long time ago, so as we are loosing weight so rapidly and starting a new relationship with our bodies, it is difficult to recognize our own accomplishments. I read daily on this forum people posting about how they have lost tons of weight, but who can't see it. It is really an interesting thing. I struggle with it too. I have lost 49 lbs, but I struggle to see it. I sometimes find myself focusing on the other 93 lbs I want to loose. I have to check myself mentally. I remind myself that I hadn't lost this much weight in 15 years and to be patient and to celebrate my accomplishments. I would offer you the same....CELEBRATE your victory! Go buy a cute new dress and go dancing or do something to show off your great new body! No matter how far you feel you need to go, don't forget how far you have come! CONGRATS.

Hi, I was sleeved on June 26. Highest weight -341 Current weight - 292 as of last week. I still struggle with vomiting and nausea, and had to have 2 scopes, but getting better. I have lost a total of 49 lbs as of last week. I don't get on the scale every day or week. I am focused on getting my eating and drinking goals down. Congrats to all of you June sleevers.

I did not like any of the powdered protein shakes that I tried and discovered I now have an intolerance for milk products post op. But the good news for me is that I actually found that I like the premier protein shakes. I get a case from Sams club and they last a few weeks. I have only tried the vanilla(plan to pick up the chocolate this week), but it is great. If you can find it, I would suggest trying it. I drink one a day (30 grams of protein) and then try to eat the rest of my protein. If I feel like I still need a bit extra I will have half a shake at night before bed , so atleast I know I have gotten in 45+ grams a day (not including my meals).