McButterpants

Thanks..I'm down 13 since surgery - and look at you with your 11 pounds lost! We are close in surgery dates. I need to get my head straight - I think that's where the hard work is. Take good care!

The brain...go figure. Lipstick, beautifully written. While I wish I could offer some eloquent words of wisdom, I cannot. Though I am new to my VSG journey, I have lost and regained more times than I care to count and I know exactly what you mean.

I can't county how many times my mom will start talking about food and goes on and on and on, then goes, "Oh, we're not going to talk about food!" I'm like, "Mom, I'm still going to eat food and we can still talk about it. I just really don't care about it like I used to." Or when my husband says, "If I catch you eating something bad, (insert threat here)". I try to remember that they (my family) and that they mean well, but wholly hell they make me angry. Do you feel comfortable to talk to them, not when they are policing you, but at a time when you're not upset? You know a, "Hey can we talk for a few minutes?" type of a thing? Then explain, "I know what I'm doing with my sleeve and my body. If I take a sip of Water when I eat, it's because I need one. I know that drinking while eating is not allowed, but that's not what I'm doing." I wish you luck!

I was sleeved at 8:00 am on 11/14/13. When I came out of recovery at about 10:30, they had me walking right away. Then they took my bed and replaced it with a chair. The chair wasn't comfortable, so I kept walking. I left the hospital at 11:45 that same day. (My doc performs the surgery on outpatient) I did go back to the condo and slept for a couple of hours, but then started walking every hour.

I had my surgery on 11/14/13. I had similar "OMG" moments prior to surgery and was always able to talk myself off the ledge. I always went back to the reasons why I was doing this and that brought me back to being OK. One time I went so far as to list the pro's and con's on paper. Be prepared - they may come back more frequently as you get closer to your date. I almost backed out of surgery the day before. I was having some serious, "What the hell are you doing" moments. Once I went to the doctor's office for their mandatory meetings and I was surrounded by others that were going thru the procedure (including my patient coordinator) I felt better. The next morning at 6:00 am I sat in admitting, truly thinking, "I can walk out of here right now. I'll only be out $500." Then I thought of my mom. She's severely obese, diabetic, has heart issues, blah blah blah - I can see down that path...it's going to be me if I don't do something about this now. So I CHOSE to go thru with the surgery. After the surgery, for about 3 days, I thought again, "What the hell did you do to yourself?" It was miserable. We would drive down the road and all I could think about was all the places I couldn't go to eat. It was depressing..."I'll never eat that again." "I wish I could have a Krispy Kreme." Total pity party. (I think it didn't help that I felt crappy during this time as well.) Then about Day 4, I snapped out of it. Probably correlated with me feeling human again. I actually started to look forward to things. Trying different kinds of foods that are within the boundaries of the sleeve. Taking walks was fun, not laborious like they were before. I had a completely different outlook. Today, 1.5 weeks out from surgery, I have not misgivings or second thoughts. Do I wish I could drink a whole cup of coffee before it gets ice cold? Sure. Do I wish I could finish my 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese in under 15 minutes? Absolutely. I need to find some patience somewhere. But, the 11 pounds I've lost since surgery and the way I feel today is all worth it. (I only wish I could poo on a regular basis - that is really annoying!). So, in summary - you're going to have those "Oh, crap!" moments. Be honest with yourself. If this is what you want to do, then do it. You will know what the right decision is for you. I wish you luck, Harlem. This is a long journey!

I was just thinking about this - I was sleeved on 11/14. I can take in much more Water today than I could 2-3 days ago. So much so, that I started really tracking my intake...I just drank 10 ounces in about 45 minutes. I was 8 ounces in a hour a few days ago. Surprising! Good luck with your recovery.

I am two weeks out and still trying to figure out the coffee deal. My stomach can handle a sugar free, fat free, vanilla latte from Starbucks - as much as I can drink right now, which is maybe 1/2 of a short. I have a Keurig and have been experimenting with flavored syrups, fat free creamers, milk, coconut creamer, etc. I drink about 3-4 ounces and lose interest or it's cold. I've tried an insulated cup, but that's not the same as sitting down with a piping hot ceramic cup. Nothing is upsetting my stomach - I'm more bummed about the coffee drinking experience. (I drank a fair amount of coffee pre-surgery - 3-5 cups daily.)

Sleeved 2 weeks ago - I live that motto!!!!!!!

Hi there. I was sleeved on 11/14, so we're close. I couldn't stand the taste or feel of plain Water in my mouth - by Day 3 I was dehydrated. I started drinking Vitamin Water Zero and that helped a lot. I had no issues drinking that. My doc also approved Propel Zero and Gatorade Zero, but I stuck with the Vitamin Water. I am not cleared for Vitamins until later this week, so I can't help with that. Were you told to take in any Protein at all?

You had me at olive oil! LOL I love the lunch meat w/ cukes idea. Gonna try it when able and if I'm able to find this yummy concoction!

As for the memory loss...I wish I could forget all those fat years!!!!

Congrats on your success and getting thru the stall. Keep working hard!!!!

Last week I thought my back was just bothering me as it does from time to time...Then, I poo'd for the first time in a week and the pain was gone. This week, the same thing. I'm guessing the two are related! :-)

I get mine at World Market. You can go to torani.com to see what flavors are out there. Stores usually don't carry all the flavors - you can buy on the mfg website if you see something you like but can't get it locally.

I was sleeved on 11/14, so we're close. I tire easily and that's to be expected. I listen to my body. If I feel like I need a nap, I take a nap. If I get 1/2 the dishwasher emptied and I'm tired, I stop and I come back to it later. I am walking a lot. I try to walk about one mile twice per day along with my other activities. Some days I don't get both in. Each day I just do the best I can. Yesterday I spent 7 hours in a gym for a basketball tournament and walked more than I had since surgery. I was exhausted and probably overdid it. I came home and took a nap. For the emotions - I worse immediately after surgery. I seriously considered backing out of the surgery the day before. The next few days I was filled with remorse. I kept saying to myself, "What have you done to yourself?" But I find that each day gets better, especially after I accepted the fact that I went thru this and continued to think about the reasons why I did this. I think you'll find the emotions will will lighten up. I know I've been quicker to snap at my husband or son in the past few days. I try not to, but it is what it is. I'm working on it. I wish you luck! This is a long journey filled with self-discovery!

$11,000 with Dr. Thomas Umbach in Las Vegas. Had a wonderful experience there two weeks ago.

My surgeon had me cut out coffee 4 weeks prior to surgery. I did and and I drank decaf. I'm 1.5 weeks out and I will be honest, I had a sugar-free, fat-free vanilla Latte from Starbucks in the airport on the way home last week. I drank maybe 1/3 of the short before I threw it away, but man it tasted good! It didn't bother my tummy at all. Since I've been home, I have had some decaf coffee, but it gets cold before I can finish it, even in an insulated cup. I drink maybe a couple of ounces and kind of lose interest in it. Until tonight...I popped a 1/2 caff in the Keurig and brewed. I added some sugar free vanilla syrup, sugar free salted carmel syrup and some milk. Well hello, Carmel Macchiato! It was heavenly.

I didn't "click" with the first NUT I met with. She was so snarky, she didn't seem compassionate. This was on the initial consult! She put out a 1/4 c. measuring cup and asked, "that's how much food you will get in the beginning, can you live with that?" I said, "I couldn't now, but maybe with 85% of my stomach cut out that won't be such a big deal. I don't know." I quickly got rid of that team, including the doctor. My doctor now is a NUT, so I don't have to see two different people and she's a lot nicer!

M2G, I'm glad you said that about the blurry vision immediately after surgery - I was wondering if that was "normal"! Not that it matters now, but it did worry me when I would look at my phone and it was fuzzy.

I was surprised at how quickly you can start increasing your Water intake. The day after surgery, it would take me a couple of hours to get in 8 ounces. A few days later, it was an hour to get in 8 ounces. I was also surprised at how quickly my surgeon had me up and walking and sitting in a chair - IMMEDIATELY. Like out of recovery and it's time to sit. Then walk. And I was surprised that I was ready and wanting to walk. Most of all I was surprised at my thoughts - I almost backed out the day before surgery. I had some serious second thoughts. But then I would think about all the reasons I wanted to do this. It took about 3-4 days after surgery to be OK with my decision to go thru with the surgery. I was scared those first few days. Best of luck to you!

I make Brussel Sprouts like Arts127 - cook them until they are a little caramelized. OMG - delicious. My husband only had them like his mom made them - she boiled the life out of them. He always said, "I don't like them. I won't eat them." After 15 years, I made them and now he actually asks for them.

I love, love, love the Roadside Lemonade! The Fuzzy Navel is pretty good, too. You can get a sample pack of 10 at bariatricpantry.com and you can choose your flavors. It's a nice change from the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ones, that's for sure!

Wow - your sister-in-law gets a Gold Star! How thoughtful to spend the time and energy. Enjoy your stay there...I would suggest moving in for good! :-)

I'm going to be a party pooper...sorry! :-) I am going to be two weeks out on Thanksgiving Day. The only members of my family that know I had surgery are my husband, son and parents. I've decided to stay home and claim I don't feel well. I just don't want to put myself in a position where I have to explain why I'm not eating and then be around food. I've been struggling the past couple of days and think that if I just don't put myself in that position, it will be safer for me to stay home. I am, however, going to make my famous dinner rolls...60 of them...and send them to the get together along with my husband and son. Christmas will be a different story - planning on attending and sampling and enjoying every minute!

My doc allows two tablespoons of food per day (no sugar added applesauce, scrambled egg, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese). Follow you're doctor's plan - that's your best bet. Walking is the best thing you can do for the gas pains. I also took Gas-X strips. On the walking - really, walk as much as you can, that will expel the gas and makes recovery easier. For the first couple of days after surgery, I roamed around my condo, then graduated to walking around the condo complex (one lap around was .3 miles - you would have thought I walked a marathon!). I eventually got to where I could do 3 laps at one time, multiple times during the day. When I went for the follow up the doc said he knew getting in the Water and shakes is hard, focus on the water. (My plan called for 64 ounces of water and 3 shakes - I still haven't gotten that in and I'm 1.5 weeks out). Getting dehydrated would be miserable, so he said to focus on the water. I can do 2 shakes easily now and I'm about 1/2 way on the water. Best of luck to you!