meamo

I'm questioning what have I done to myself...I can barely handle this pain on my chest whenever I drink water.. went to walgreens and bought some zentac...to see if it helps. I also noticed I was not mentally ready for this surgery (sleeved Dec 18th 2013) I want to eat.. and have tasted sweet potato, mash potatoes. ..but I feel terrible. I don't want any more Protein Shakes or broth. I don't know what to do. All I can do is pray...There is no turning back I know..I just want to feel better and eat what I want without pain..sorry don't mean discourage anyone I just don't know what else to do

I must have missed the negative comments. We are only accountable to ourselves and God, if you want eat a darn cookie eat it!

Okay, I see all these posts where people freak out because they ate something they shouldn't have. Yes, we are supposed to eat ALOT of Protein, which I do. And, we're supposed to drink lots of Water, which I try to do, we're not supposed to drink out of a straw, which I do, I haven't died or had any more pain than not, we're not supposed to eat bread, which I have a couple of times, it hasn't made me sick, if I have a craving for a cookie, I eat it. The bottom line is even if you slip and eat a little of something you're not supposed to , it's not going to ruin your life or end your results. The truth is you will never be able to sit and eat a whole bag of doritoes or a whole package of oreos again. You're stomach will not allow it. So don't freak out because you "slipped" a little, just realize you're human and you're losing weight no matter what.
Now for all you haters out there go ahead and blow me out of the Water with your drama, I know it's coming. ........lol

I just got a like from a fellow sleever on one of my earlier posts I made early in 2012....I went back to read it myself and wow....The confidence and resolve I had at the time was unbelievable!
I was not going to take any prisoners you know....Had a mind set of WLS and was going forward to the completion of a new and improved me....All the struggles I have had over the years of being obese and being laughed at and looked at and made to feel like I was not worth the dirt below peoples feet.. Brought me to this place in my life...
I knew that I was on a downward spiral and also knew that I was headed for a wheel chair or death...i could barely function due to a fall I had a few years before...I was in a desperate place and needed assistance so badly...I was on my way and there was no stopping me. Sorta like a freight train out of control...In my mind I felt that no matter what I would conform to the "normal".
I made sure that only a few knew what I decided to do and they were all supportive....And off I went to do what I so desperately needed done...I was so excited and could not wait to start my new journey..With the wait and see the new me world and **** you!
As some of you know it did not happen that way!!!!!
Fast forward a year and the new me is not the person I had hoped she would be...She is still scared and hurting and working continuously to over come all the set backs I have had over the last year....
My entire world turned upside down and everyone that I thought were my true friends abandoned me and my family. No one was the same right down to the medical personal that I was going to on a regular basis before the surgery...It was as if everyone became strangers and no longer knew me....I was thrown into some kind of warp..And to this day do not understand how I got here....
I am alone in this as there is no one in my area that has come forward to talk to me about all of what they have experienced and maybe we could have encouraged each other I don't know...It's possible that they don't want anyone to know either so I am on my own here...
I really am having trouble dealing with the "new me" and all that it has dished out...I cry at the drop of a hat mourning my old life with friends..I did not know any better back then that they were not real....It was truly like I had died a slow and painful death...One that i am reminded of daily as I struggle with the new complications that came from my decision a year ago....
I will never truly understand all the things that has happened over the year as it was out of my control...and I don't think I will ever get a real handle on WLS as well...There are to many facets to it to be able to fix it all...Hence a life long change...
I am grateful for this forum even though sometimes I zig when I should zag and get attitude.....It has been a forum for me to express my long and difficult journey and changes in my world...
Yes I am smaller, yes I can do much more...Have I gone out and searched for a new life?..Nope! Can't trust it yet. Will I ever get over all that has happened to me? Don't know!
I want to thank everyone that has followed my experience and have been so positive and encouraging to me...
I am glad I did it and would experience it all again for the trade. But I had no idea that this would totally throw my life into chaos and make me a completely different person...That I will never be the same that truly, undeniably the past me did die when I had the complications of WLS
Thank you for hearing me out...
How has your life changed? Please share with me!!!!!!!

Beautifully written, RJ. I always enjoy your posts. This is a great topic and I can't wait to read the responses!
Though I am still new to this journey (sleeved just over 5 weeks ago), I can already see changes...some good, some bad.
I have discovered I am not a patient person - sometimes I don't want to take 20-30 minutes to eat a meal and I am not losing weight as fast as I want to or as fast as I perceive other people are losing (comparing yourself to others is bad, I know).
I discovered my husband has a lot more compassion than I gave credit. He has been my rock during the past 6 weeks.
I have discovered that with every pound I lose, I become more accountable - more accountable for time I spend sitting on my ass not doing anything. There is a bigger expectation for me to participate in my own life - I wanted this, but now it's a reality.
I discovered I wasn't truly prepared for the post-op journey - I really thought my biggest obstacle would be to get myself to the gym to work out. I was not prepared for the emotional toll this journey has already taken.
I discovered that a 40 pound weight loss doesn't necessarily mean people will notice (no one has..someone commented on my hair this weekend, I think they are noticing something changed about me, but cannot pinpoint it).
I discovered that I have underlying issues with food that I haven't addressed ever in my adult life and I need to address them now.
I have discovered I am still the same person when I wake up in the morning. My attitudes, thoughts and feelings are the same - I think I thought it would be all sunshine and lollipops after I had the surgery and started to lose weight.
I discovered I am still fearful when I pull on my jeans that 6 weeks ago were really tight and I had to lay down on the bed to get them zipped up. I still have that fear that I won't be able to get them on, even though the last time I wore them they practically fell off my body.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I thought the acid meds were like the pain meds and for an " as needed" basis. I'm going to fill my prescription now and if the pain doesn't go away, i'll call the surgeon on monday.
Thanks again! I really appreciate this.

Take your meds. Almost all of us are given the acid reducer for the first couple of months. It doesn't matter that you never had reflux before, you never had your stomach severed before either. It was prescribed for a reason and taking it is important to your overall health and success.

I'm feeling the same thing I thought it was the omeprazole 40mg causing the pain but I don't know...ugh..it's terrible. ..I really hope it goes away

My husband and I both had vsg surgery on 10/16/2013. Together we have lost a total of 128lbs! He's lost 70lbs and I'm down 58lbs. I'm so happy we decided to have the surgery. I had some complications and went through a phase of regret but that's all past me now.

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Hi there
first, I apologise for jumping into this thread - I was posting in haste and didn't realise it was supposed to be for November sleevers I really only posted when I saw this because I had so much to lose and was always keen to see if anyone had lost as much as I had to lose.
So to answer your question, yep, I exercise quite regularly. I never used to of course and it wasn't until I was about 6 months out that I really got stuck in.
I started with weights and a yoga dvd. I did "Yogalosophy" and think it's amazing. I still love it After doing this for a few months, I started the Couch to 5K running app. I love to run now I still do weights regularly though as I feel I need it. I also started adult ballet too which I adore which gives me an ass kicking every time but totally worth it. I can't dance mind you but the fitness it requires of you really pushes you to do more! And it works your core strength which was crucial for me.
Since posting I went to the races and thought that a before and after photo might be good. Please be kind as I still have the last 20 to go



All the best! Cheers, Liss

I was also Dec 18th I am feeling better today...just not looking forward to seeing all the yummy food tonight that I can't eat...whyyyy!! Hahaha

Have not seen that number in a veryyyyyy long time!! Happy Holidays everyone

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Me too! Avoid the table. Tell me how it goes?

I was also Dec 18th I am feeling better today...just not looking forward to seeing all the yummy food tonight that I can't eat...whyyyy!! Hahaha

Omg!!!! You look absolutely fantastic!!! You have done a great job working your sleeve!!! Congratulations on your success!!! May god continue to guide you along your journey! God Bless you!

Well, today has been another great day! No pain meds at all. I worked for the first half of the day and then my husband and I ran a bunch of errands and I got a lot of walking in. I've been thinking of random things that have crossed my mind today that others might find helpful. I went back to the Vitamin Shoppe today because I needed more Protein Powder (ran out of my old kind from months ago) and I decided on the Isopure Dutch chocolate. I highly recommend it and the LOW carbs/HIGH Protein is perfect. Also, if anyone is looking for a shaker, check out the Smart Shaker (I think that's what it is called). It's awesome because two separate parts unscrew from the bottom so you could store Vitamins in one layer and more protein powder in the other. Also, I'm sure that most do this, but if you are prepping for what to buy, the 4 oz. Rubbermaid containers are awesome. I have a week's worth of those filled to the 2 oz. line with French onion Soup broth, Jello, pudding, and refried Beans. Ahhh, refried beans have now been 3 lunches of mine and there are two more baby cups in the fridge. I still cannot even get over that I will have gotten 5 full lunches out of ONE CAN of fat free refried beans. Unbelievably awesome! Oh, and I weighed today... Down 19lbs total. Loving my sleeve! I know there are a lot of negative posts and some people even regret it, but I seriously feel like myself again, am full from small amounts of food, exercising daily, and am losing weight... Seems like a pretty good deal to me. Hope everyone is having a good day with their sleeve!

Sleeved 12/18/13..why is food still so tempting I know I have to have willpower but yesterday my son made him a sandwich and I wanted a bite so bad ..which I did... but then realized I can't...and spit it out. Ugh.. plus I went to my parents house and they had ribs..I also wanted some..but didn't I dont even think i am hungry. to top it off Christmas is in a few days today I have been really good...still tempted but not as bad. I really hope/pray my willpower gets stronger as I heal. Sorry just venting

Part of it is head hunger and that's where the will power comes in. We are used to eating and not needing a reason to eat. I found myself cutting up banana slices for my grand children the first week after surgery, and found myself almost eating them. At this time I was on Clear liquids. I try to be conscious about what I am eating and why. Try to keep yourself busy when the urges hit by drinking and sipping slowly, walking or doing some other activity that does not involve food.
I hope that the good eating habits I am working on become automatic for me. I feel I will always have to be watching or my old habits will sneak back in.
Good luck

I would advise everybody here to not advance yourself... It's best to follow your post op instructions, they are there for a reason.

So here are a few pics i took yesterday before i went to our Christmas dinner Party, i have to say i feel Great, i got ALOT of possitive feedback from friends and family that i had not seen in a while, for those wondering i was sleeved on 9/10/13 =) Merry Christmas 2 All and Happy New Year and Congratulations to us all!

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I was discharged today....I went in on the 18th. TGH took great care of me. It wasn't as bad as I thought...thankfully everything went well.. have to say looking at food on TV does kinda bothers me. But I am focused and my journey has started can't wait to start working out.

I think they are trying to be supportive the best way they know how.....perhaps she figured providing dinner for the kids would give you a break (maybe?).
I told my husband B/4 surgery: "if I'm not eating, I'm not cooking".....he thought I was kidding........he had a rude awakening LOL
Good luck......with my experience, early out every day was different and filled with challenges, but each day got better and better the further out I was......wishing you the best.

I was discharged today....I went in on the 18th. TGH took great care of me. It wasn't as bad as I thought...thankfully everything went well.. have to say looking at food on TV does kinda bothers me. But I am focused and my journey has started can't wait to start working out.

I was discharged today....I went in on the 18th. TGH took great care of me. It wasn't as bad as I thought...thankfully everything went well.. have to say looking at food on TV does kinda bothers me. But I am focused and my journey has started can't wait to start working out.

I was discharged today....I went in on the 18th. TGH took great care of me. It wasn't as bad as I thought...thankfully everything went well.. have to say looking at food on TV does kinda bothers me. But I am focused and my journey has started can't wait to start working out.