Katcloudshepherd

Gman, too funny : ) If I didn't have a job that I have to dress up for believe me--I'd live in jeans, jean shorts in summer and t-shirts.

CharlieMom24, Hang in there hon--it will get better. It takes time because your body just went through a heck of a lot of trauma and you have to give it time to recover and YOU need time to rest and recover. Unfortunately, your body needs time to do this and some need more time for theier bodies to recover than others. Is there anything they can give you for the nausea, vomiting and pain? I hope your doctor and nurses can help you. Sending positive thoughts your way, Kathleen

LipstickLady, I'm a newbie so I don't have any advice but I did want to congratulate you on you weight loss. Wow! I sure hope I can do as well as you have. Take care, Kathleen

Water Nazi, What an interesting name you have on this site : ) Congratulations on your date. I wish you an routine surgery and an easy recovery. I'm glad my doc didn't limit my salad size. Maybe they're worried you'll use a lot of higher calorie dressing? When I was on my pre-op-I did the reverse of what I do now. Veggies first then protein. I also drank at least 8 oz. of water before I ate. The water and veggies filled up my stomach and then the protein kept me satiated longer. Kathleen

Congratulations! I met my husband when I was engaged to a man I ALMOST made the awful mistake of marrying. I finally woke up and smelled the coffee,(more like something finally hit me upside the head with a 2x4), and all the while I had known my current husband. We were friends before we ever became intimate. I have a cousin who had the same thing happen. She was friends with her long time husband before they were married. That's just my own experience--friends first, then a serious relationship. I've been married for 22 years and even though my husband is 100% disabled vet--I've stuck with him. Good Luck, Kathleen

Jadeysmiling, I think Arts137 is correct about the scale. You seem to be doing very well and I know how difficult it is. At my highest weight I was 368 pounds and my only saving grace is I am six feet tall. I'm still new but I'm glad I had the surgery it has made just moving around much easier for me. I wish you blessings on your journey. Kathleen

Lark60 and Christian Zaccone, Thank you for your posts. I'm a newbie and I'm so grateful for posts like yours to put the seed in my mind that when I'm in a situation like that--Just Say No.

Pat, I started my pre-op diet--2 shakes and one meal as soon as I got my surgery date. So I was actually on it longer than the normal 2 weeks for my surgeon, (about 4 weeks). The actual 2 weeks of the pre-op I stuck to EXACTLY what I was supposed to eat. I lost 10.5 pounds that way--for a female--not bad at all. The surgeon wants you to drop weight to shrink the liver. The bigger the liver, the harder it is for the surgeon to complete the surgery. They inflate the abdominal cavity with CO2 to be able to move the instruments around and the smaller the liver the easier it is for the surgeon to move the instruments around and complete the surgery. Wishing you sucess in your pre-op diet and a successful surgery and easy recovery.

Congratulations!!!!! Wishing you an good surgery and easy recovery.

I love bacon....how far out are you? Turkey bacon or pork? All bacon is yummy...lol Shel BabySheldon, I'm 5 weeks out. Regular pork bacon. It may have been where I got the eggs, cheese and bacon from. I'm lucky, or unlucky, however you look at it, to have a cafe in the 6 story office building I work in. It probably was cooked in oil and it may have been too much oil. When I'm home and I scramble eggs I use very little of the spray for the non-stick pan. Fortunately, the acid reflux wasn't that bad and it didn't last long. By the way, I love bacon too. Like Homer Simpson would say OOOOOHHHHHHH BAAAAACCCCOOOONNNN!

I was very fortunate that my surgeons office gave me a booklet with sample menus for each of the stages you progress through after the surgery. Ask if she/he has any sample menus so you have an idea of what to eat at the various stages and the amounts of the food. Good luck, Kathleen

I'm on solid food. I had a tiny bit of salsa with my scrambled eggs and cheese this morning and I shouldn't have had the salsa. I've eaten the eggs and bacon before so I don't believe it was them. I've got a bit of acid reflux going on. Living in South Texas I've eaten salsa like ketchup. Oh well. I STILL won't trade salsa for how much better I feel.

I am very sorry for your loss. I hope the memories you and your family of your grandfather will bring you comfort in your time of loss. Don't beat yourself up. The stress hormone Cortisol can wreak havac on someone with a normal stomach let alone someone with a small one. Flying also is so stressful anymore--I detest having to fly. Just get back to doing what you need to do ONE DAY AT A TIME. If I learned anyting from Overeaters Anonymous, (OA)--That was it. It is my new mantra. Sometimes I can only do one meal at a time--that is to say, I can only handle eating what I need to eat one meal at a time. Don't worry about tomorrow, or yeterday--live in the present. I'm still practicing those things on a daily basis that I learned in OA. Once you get back on track and follow your plan--you'll be fine. Kathleen

Unfortunately, there are surgeons interested in money for weight loss surgery and not concerned about the health of their patients. I am sorry for all the pain and suffering you have been through. I was raised a Catholic and even though I didn't get married in the church, I went back to church and started praying big time before my surgery. My faith provides a lot of comfort for me when I am facing a new or unknown situation. I'm not saying run out to a Catholic Mass but if you can find something in the spiritual arena that brings you comfort it might help you get through this. I know reconnecting with my faith helped me. I had my surgery on 12/11/13 and yes it was a challenge and the pain from the CO2 was a beotch! but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I would never change how i feel now with how I felt BEFORE surgery. I had pain in every step I took, felt exhausted ALL the time and was miserable. A short period of pain in exchange for LIVING my life now was so worth it to me. I wish you blessings, a successful surgery and EASY recovery. Kathleen

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing. Good luck to y'all. You won't believe how much better you will feel in the weeks to come, especially when your stomachs heal. Blessings to you. Kathleen

Thanks for sharing that hillarious link. I needed a good laugh today.

Eating slowly. Taking my Vitamins. Every shake is sweet. I've actually gotten tired of sweet stuff! If you had told me that BEFORE surgery--I'd never have believed it. I want something other than sweet in my mouth. Guess it's time for some "alone" time with my dear husband 'wink'---Sorry I'd use smileys and such but the firewall at work stops me from being able to do so. Speaking of which--I'd better get back to work.

Mythbuster1304, Thank you for your service. I was in the Army for 7 years during the cold war. I feel a great deal of empathy for you. I too gained my weight after I left the military--ESPECIALLY after I quit smoking. I exchanged one unhealthy habit for another. I had my surgery on 12/11/13 and I think you'll do great. Because you are a Marine, you have a a higher amount of discipline to do what the doctors tell you to do. That to me is KEY. Do exactly what the doc's say, when they tell you to do it. I pushed myself BIG TIME to walk, walk, walk and walk as much as I could after the surgery--cause the pain from the CO2 was something I had never experienced before. Sending positive thoughts to you and hoping you have a smooth surgery and EASY recovery.

"BrantS1976" You will feel too full, almost to the point where it feels like the food is backing up in the end of your esophagus. It's unpleasant. Eat slow like they tell you, and I know it is hard, and you will get a feel for your capacity in a short amount of time. Thank you. I have had that feeling at times. My primary concern is I had hiatel hernia repair and I don't want to undo the hiatel hernia repair. I've never had anything come back up or haven't experienced dumping with anything I've tried BUT I had some food that was a little spicy and I don't think my new stomach liked it. I'll avoid any spicy food for a few more months.

Kathy, Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes---you are an incredible inspiration to a newbie like me. It gives me hope that I too will be enjoying my life post op as much as you are a couple of years from now.

Thank you so much for sharing that article. It answered all the questions I had about "slider" foods. I'll guess I'll have to put them on the list of "things I just cannot have again". I'm an all or nothing type of person who KNOWS--like an alcoholic cannot have a sip of alcohol ever again---I CANNOT have just a tiny bite of some foods. Oh well. Life is good. I'm enjoying being able to move with less pain--so I can forgo certain things in order to be able to move with less pain.

RJ'S/Beginning, Thank you for your comment. I come to this site because the people here understand. I have not physically attended a support group meeting but I plan on attending one the last Thursday of the month. I'll see my counselor on the 18th of January. This is something I will need to discuss with her. It never ceases to amaze me how just a few years of a rough childhood can have such a lasting and deep impact on a person's life and how much effort it takes to overcome it. Take Care, Kathleen

Today I am just tired. Physicall tired, emotionally tired, spiritually tired. I felt so good after my stomach had healed in 3 weeks. Today---I don't know. I don't have regrets--I KNOW I wouldn't be walking around as easily if I hadn't done this but I guess it just took me longer to reach the point where I feel like--I've got to do this every day--THE REST OF MY FRIGGIN' LIFE.

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME AFTER ALL THIS?????????????????? My BODY is still wanting to weigh 338 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF???????????????? I am more than dismayed, disappointed and disgusted. For Gods Sake. I knew this was going to be a mental thing long term BUT DAMN. I just had my surgery on 12/11/13. I'm getting to the point where the same taste of the same Vitamins, supplements and same types of food is REALLY getting on my nerves. I'm tired today because I didn't get 8 hours sleep last night and I know that wreeks havoc with my abilit to deal with this but you telling me this makes me cry.

toocheeky, I have been in and out of therapy for over a decade trying to deal with the "head" issues which cause me to be a food addict/binge eater and thus morbidly obese. I am stilll in therapy after having WLS on 12/11/13. I'm a newbie and I'm grateful to you for having the courage to post what you did. I'm grateful because knowledge is power when you are a newbie like me. I truly hope you get the help you need. I know I wouldn't be where I am without the support of my husband, my first cousin and my therapist. I've still got a long way to go on my journey but again I'd like to thank you for having the courage to come to this site and post what you did. I wish you only the best in getting back on track. Take Care, Kathleen