smryan

When I had my endoscopy they saw one but when my surgeon was doing my surgery it was nowhere to be found. I was told this is common in some cases. When they opened me up there was nothing to repair!

I was sleeved on August 26th. Highest Weight = 285 (7/16) Before pre-op diet = 280 (8/14) Surgery date = 266 Hospital release date = 272 13 days post-op = 258

Follow YOUR doctor's pre and post op plans to the letter. Don't be swayed by what others are doing on this sight. I found when I turn that part off, I do better. For example, some will have liquid only pre-op diets, others don't (I didn't). Some will be on liquids/protein shakes only for 1 week and then graduate, others don't. Listen to what your doc/clinic instructs you to do and stick with it. I have followed my instructions to a T and lost 19 lbs. before surgery and 8 lbs. post (including the extra weight I gained immediately after surgery from bloating and fluids). Don't 2nd guess it, just do it. Take all supplements they recommend and drink a TON of water. Be prepared for exhaustion for a while. I'm just shy of 2 weeks post op, have 0 pain anymore but I'm so tired it's unbelievable. I allow myself to nap (which is very hard for me). You can do this!! Once you are through surgery it will be a blur and you can focus on the real work ahead.

I will be 2 weeks post op this coming Monday and I'm right with you! Exhausted and napping during the day (which is frustrating as I'm usually a go go go kind of girl). I'm glad to hear this will soon end (crossing fingers). Best of luck to you!

I'm using the Unjury chicken flavor and love it but going to try the unflavored now. I'm 7 days post op and struggling to get enough protein cuz I'm sick of the sweet flavors. My incision areas are sensitive as well and starting to itch. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but I still hit these walls of exhaustion on a daily basis that are tough! Best of luck to you!

I'm one week post op yesterday and still very tired. I feel great but the exhaustion takes me by surprise. I'll get a little burst of energy and then have to lay down. I hear this lasts a while - give yourself plenty of time. It doesn't "feel" like a big surgery but it really is.

You look amazing and I bet you feel a ton better, too! I'm a week post op and I'm also 5'9"! I appreciate you sharing your meals - I'm still in the liquid phase and cannot wait to graduate 9/19!

Tomorrow will be 1 week post op. I'm more tired than I realized I would be, in fact - pure exhaustion. Since I'm not physically sore anymore, it's hard to stop and realize that I just had MAJOR surgery. My incisions are healing so in my head I'm thinking "I'm fine"! But I'm not. I'm tired. All. The. Time. A lack of calories isn't helping but I'm doing my best to control that with constant shakes at my side. After doing some research to see if I'm "normal" I've come to the conclusion that I'm expecting too much and I'm my own worst enemy. Part of this is my "I'm ok, everything is fine" exterior I've exuded all my life that I'm working on changing (thank you to my therapist). Part of it is "what will everyone think that I'm just laying around" syndrome. Bottom line - I'm at a place where I just don't care. I have to rest. My body is begging me to. So, I will. And I am. And I do. This too shall pass, and I will look back on this period of time and wish I would have slowed down more. But, just in case, I am calling the Center on Tuesday just to touch base and let them know, cuz that's also how I roll. If you need me, I'll be over here sleeping.

I checked in to the hospital earlier than anticipated Monday, Aug. 26th (they called and said they had a cancellation and could I come in early!). After a few hours of prep and waiting and more waiting, I was finally wheeled away. Surgery went quickly, doc said about an hour and NO hiatal hernia to repair after all! Apparently sometimes the endoscopy will pick something up but then when they actually get in there, there's nothing to sew up. Recovery was long for me. I had a hard time waking up from the anesthesia. I was in a ton of pain and almost collapsed when they got me out of bed the first time to go to the bathroom (no catheter for me) but thank goodness for my husband and a strong nurse that held on tight. First night was rough - not going to lie. I wasn't prepared for the pain from the gas they fill your tummy up with. I have 6 2 inch incisions on my stomach and no bandages! I came home yesterday the 27th and took my pain pills religiously thru the night to allow me to sleep. Each hour gets easier and easier pain wise. I'm up and walking a bit and doing 2 oz. or protein shakes at the top of each hour and as much water as I can get in. My daughter just shared her chicken noodle soup broth with me and it was HEAVEN. It feels very strange at first to have anything going down to the stomach pouch but I'm getting used to it. I weighed 266 going in to surgery and gained a few pounds from the gas, fluids, etc. but my weight is going down quickly. I can't eat until 9/19 when I go back for my 3 week appointment but I'm prepared with all my shakes and supplements, etc. I'm so happy to have the actual surgery behind me and be moving on. And I can't say enough about the staff at Swedish Hospital in Seattle - they are AMAZING!

Day 4 post-op and feeling better day by day. Got on the scale this morning and I'm down 21 lbs. since mid July when I first started this journey. I may have overdone it yesterday though. I was feeling so much better that I tackled some paperwork in the office, threw a load of laundry in and walked a bunch (including up the steep driveway and to the mailbox). So today I'm paying the price with very sore muscles. Lesson learned. I'm not one to sit still but I've got to let myself heal properly so I can move on. I'm now able to take on more protein shake at one time vs. the 2 oz. every hour they recommend. That was driving me crazy to try and remember. So now I simply make my 8 oz. shake and sip it slowly all hour long. As long as I get 4 of them in I should be good...and tons of fluids/water. The Unjury chicken soup protein powder is a LIFESAVER. I don't think I could do this if I had to drink sweet shakes all day long. The other thing I did to help keep me on track was a quick Excel spreadsheet of all my meds & supplements I need to take daily. This has helped tremendously and keeps the guesswork out of it. Last but not least, as much as I SWORE I wasn't going to start dunging out the closet, I did grab a few HUMONGOUS sweaters I can't stand to look at anymore and put them in the donate pile. I love clothes and this one is going to be tough for me!

Thanks all! Your support means a ton to me!

I did something I didn't think I'd EVER be able to do Saturday night: I attended a bachelorette party for a good friend, jumped on a party bus with 11 other ladies and didn't touch a DROP of alcohol the entire night. Well, ok, there was ONE sip at a comedy club after my friend sent her margarita back twice claiming it had soda in it so I just had to see for myself how truly hideous it was. And it WAS. But that was it! We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. My FAV food in the world. Not a chip passed my lips. No beans. No rice. Just some grilled chicken with a bit of salsa on it and a few black beans. The moral? If I can spend 7 hours on a bus full of crazy drunk people, pass on Mexican, (oh and did I mention there was cake?), pass on cake (I shall leave the "shape" of cake to your imagination) - I CAN DO THIS. Just how tough was this? Oh so hard. Normally I'm the life of the party, and at my current height/weight I can put it away. Bottom line - WILL POWER. One week until surgery. I've turned down fruit, beer (gulp), chips, etc. My size 0, 19 year old daughter left a 1/3 eaten Snickers bar on the counter the other day (who DOES that?!) and I wrapped it up and stuck it away for her later. I wasn't even tempted to finish it as I would have been a month ago. I want to be healthy more than I want the 2 second gratification of tasting chocolate. The other thing I'm learning is that food is for FUEL, not for emotions. Old me: "Hey! It's sunny! I need a bowl of cereal! Oh crap, it's raining, I should probably make a pot of pasta and have 3 huge bowls. Look at that, I'm sad - better grab some chips and dip" (you get the idea). Now I'm listening to my tummy for cues that it needs fuel. Let me close this post by saying - to know me is to know how hard this has been and will be for me. BUT I'm doing it and so can you. Stay positive - eye on the prize.

I'm almost 50 and was just sleeved Monday. I too am looking forward to a healthier me! Glad I stumbled on this forum.

Good decision, as hard as it may be. With friends like her, who needs enemies? Your TRUE friends are there for you, cheering you on every inch and pound you lose. Sounds like she could just be jealous, too. Move on. And CONGRATS on how far you've come!! Keep it up!