McButterpants

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!

Be patient, Gelica. It will get better. This is the toughest time for you, but better days are right around the corner. (I had serious 2nd thoughts for the first 3-4 days, too.) I had real issues getting plain bottled Water down - it was gross and made me gag. I turned to Vitamin Water Zero for help and wow, what a difference. My doc also suggested Propel Zero or Gatorade Zero. I allowed myself to get dehydrated, which made me feel worse. sugar free popsicles may help as well - I had one or two the first couple of days. I wish you well!

I'm one week post op today and we are heading home tomorrow from Las Vegas. I told my husband that there are 3 pairs of pants I can leave here because they no longer fit. I'm not even looking back!!!!! LOL. I can't wait to get home and clean even more things out of my closet. I will, in no way, shape or form be able to compete with you! Good God that's a lot of clothes! But know that someone else is getting a bounty when you give them! Your good deed.

How are you feeling about yourself physically? Sometimes we are hard on how we look, yes, even after losing 127 pounds - sometimes that old fat girl comes back and plays tricks on your mind. I would also talk to your doc about the hormones. There's a lot of changes the body is coping with since losing an entire person! I wish you luck, sweetie.

Hey, Fluff. You're further along than I am, but I have that same fear about eating too much too quickly, when I'm eventually allowed (I hope puree stage is OK'd on Wednesday). Right now, I can feel that sensation that says, "Whoa, what the hell are you doing?" if I drink too quickly. It's like someone is squeezing my tummy. I think I felt full after my 2 tablespoons of egg last night - I looked at the next bite and just said, "that isn't happening", but I can't say that it was a feeling of full coming from my stomach. Enjoy your trip and have a great Thanksgiving!

I am wearing my Fitbit Flex right now - I love it. I also had the fitbit one and was equally impressed. I will purchase a Force probably next year maybe after they introduce the new sensor. My only complaint is while bike riding - it will log steps if you're wearing it or even if it's off and in a bad. I leave it home while bike riding, then manually enter the ride. That's not a deal breaker. I love the sleep function - it tracks your sleep efficiency. I had a Body Bug and I liked it, I just didn't like how visible it was. I didn't purchase the scale...am tempted, however.

I agree with the above - I think the preference is get your protein from food and not shakes

My doctor allowed scrambled egg right away (along with no sugar added applesauce, sugar free Jello and pudding). He OK'd introducing very small quantities (only 2 T of one of the choices daily) immediately after surgery - like the day after. Scrambled egg is awesome - I even added a little shredded cheese yesterday (I'm one week post-op). It was great and I have had no issues - it fills me up. I've also read a lot about refried Beans with some shredded low-fat cheese - I'm actually looking forward to that. Your comment about pureed cheeseburger made me laugh. I had a friend in high school that was on a liquid diet because her jaw was broken. She DID puree a McDonalds cheeseburger and actually ate quite a bit of it!!!!! It can be done - I'm a witness. Best of luck to you!

One complaint I have about drinking coffee right now...IT GETS COLD BEFORE I CAN FINISH IT!!!!! Currently it takes me about an hour to get down 8 ounces! LOL I'm getting faster, but will probably have to purchase an insulated cup for the future.

I kind of crapped out on my fitness challenge prior to surgery (11/14). But I'm going to finish November strong...I will walk a minimum of 2 miles each day for the rest of the month for a total of 20 miles.

Not my VSG surgeon, but it reminds me of the new doc at the OB/GYN's office when I was very pregnant with my son. He was a beautiful man with an awesome Southern accent. I had to go in because my hands and feet were swollen...He wheeled his little chair over and gently picked up my foot so he could look at it. I said, "Uh, those aren't my ankles. Just so you know. Oh and there is no way I'm having my baby when you're on call."

See if there is a way to discretely remove it from the room and put it in your car! :-)

Beautiful! Congrats on your success. Wishing you the best as you continue your journey.

Thanks for posting! I'm 5 days out, so I can't make this for a while...but, believe me, I'll be making it!!!!!

Thank you for sharing your story. It's heartbreaking to say the least. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I wish you the best.

Wow - what a powerful story. Good for you for taking control of your life and health. You were a success story before you started this journey and now look at you - more successes are heading your way. I wish you continued success and send much love your way. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

I got dehydrated on Day 3 post op - I tried a Vitamin Water Zero and that did the trick. Plain water makes me gag right now (pre-op, I drank plain, room temp water all day long). I'm on Day 5 and have not gotten in my water goal or my Protein goal - I just do what I can. Once I started drinking the Vitamin Water Zero, I felt better immediately - within hours. I talked to my doc and he said if that's the way you can get fluids in, then do it. (they originally said, 80% plain water and 20% flavored sugar free water). He also approves of Coconut Water - I just made a chocolate shake made with 4 oz of Coconut Water and 4 ounces of plain water. That did the trick for me - it's easier to get the shake down. Best of luck to you!

I am 5 days post op and just had my first cup of decaf today. I enjoy a cup, even if it's decaff. I mixed mine about 1/2 and 1/2 with a Protein shake - not my favorite, but it did in a pinch. I drank about 1/2 of it (you can't mix hot stuff with the shake mix) If you like 1/2 and 1/2, So Delicious makes a Coconut Milk creamer - it's not exactly like 1/2 and 1/2, but it's close and, after a year of using it, I hardly notice the different. Calories are good and 20 calls per 2 T.

I know - a lot of people are shocked that it was done outpatient. My doc uses a local injection to numb the abdomen and it's on time release (I have no idea how it works). I didn't have to have a pain pill until day 3 and that was just to help with sleep. I also had a patch behind my ear for nausea, so I didn't have to deal with that. Knock on wood - I have been very fortunate in my recovery. I'm on day 5 right now and almost feeling normal again.

I agree with Lynda (Isereno)...Nagging isn't going to make anything better. I had a frank conversation with my husband about 2 weeks before surgery. He bluntly said, "Please don't become one of those people that tries to make everyone eat healthier just because all of a sudden you are." He wasn't nasty, we were just having an open dialogue. And he is right. Since then, I can see subtle changes in what he is doing - he still eats 1/2 bag of Cheetos in a sitting, but he also is drinking more Water, walking with me, and making better choices. I try to remember, he never ever tried to change me, even when I was at my heaviest. I can only control my behavior and my reaction to his behavior. Good luck to you. This isn't easy, I know. You will find your way.

Mine was done on outpatient - believe it or not, surgery was at 8:00 am, was out of surgery at 8:50. I left the hospital just before noon that same day. Slept comfortably in bed the most of that day.

Beautiful! You have been thru so much and you have such a great outlook on things - I admire you; you are one tough lady! Thanks for sharing your pictures today. Most of all thanks for sharing your journey with us - you are a true inspiration!

Amazing transformation! thanks for sharing.