NurseAudge

My surgery was May 18th. My first week was ROUGH to say the least. The gas pains, Constipation from the pain drugs and dehydration made it hard to recover! I walked about 1/2 mile a day, but didn't get any relief until I stopped the Hydrocodone and relied on chewable Tylenol - the liquid burned the new tummy. I ended up having a couple of days of laxatives and gas-x along with the Tylenol-Worked like a charm.

During the second week, It took forever for the stomach cramps to go away - especially the ones that hurt as soon as liquid hit my tummy. Figured out that hot/warm Water was the best way to go. That helped get me hydrated, at least. The Protein Shakes I had were all cold and felt thick and gross (previously LOVED them and didn't much mind the 2 week liquid pre-op). I ended up getting the ProtiDiet Hot chocolate . It was great! Existed on that stuff for a few days until I could tolerate cold things.

My third week is going very well. No more pains! I did sneeze and get a sharp incision pain, but nothing crazy. I'm freely drinking cold things, which is great. I made a giant pitcher of coffee+Premier Protein caramel to drink at my leisure - that's been delicious. AND....finally eating fooooood! It's great to have a couple of bites of actual food. I know this restriction is temporary, but I'm absolutely loving it. It's the best of both worlds-especially after a month of liquids!
The only thing I'm dealing with now is the reflux. I've read all about other people's battle with this, so I knew it was likely to be an issue - especially while my sleeve is healing. It's no fun. Sometimes it's so bad I can't take anything down for a while. Yay for tums and omeprazole, but yeesh!

Hello!
I got the SADI-s on February 5th of this year, so I'm 7 weeks post op. Let me tell ya, my recovery has been kinda rough. I've had a lot of problems with indigestion/stomach gas that is really uncomfortable. I could hardly eat anything for a month, and I'm really just now able to eat some regular-ish foods. The dietician at my surgeon's office keeps reminding me that everyone's recovery is different and that this could be a 4-6 month process of my body adjusting.
The surgeon said I had acid reflux, and put me on high doses of PPIs, which didn't improve my issues at all. I'm a healthcare professional myself, and I know damn well that acid reflux can be caused by LOW acid production as well, so I took myself off the PPIs. Once I did that, my acid reflux improved significantly. I'd also like to note that what my surgeon was saying was acid reflux didn't feel like the typical esophageal burning or "heart burn"...it's more like a rumbling gas in my stomach with a feeling of having to burp without being able to burp. Just stuck, rumbling gas in my stomach that's soooo uncomfortable.
I also had constant low level nausea for the first month, but that has mostly resolved. My taste buds changed quite a bit and I couldn't tolerate sweet AT ALL...especially fruity fake sweet, so I had a hard time drinking gatorade when I was feeling dehydrated or the Protein Shakes I had purchased. I also had a constant bitter taste in my mouth. All of this is resolving though and isn't nearly as severe as it was that first month.
There are good days and bad days, but overall I am definitely improving. My energy is much better (I was horribly fatigued for the first month and had to take daily naps, which I never did before) and different foods are sitting better in my stomach. I still get pretty bad indigestion sometimes. Like right this second, my stomach is gurgling around and it's SO LOUD and uncomfortable. Luckily, I've found some great digestive bitters that help a lot.
That first month, I was a mess and regretting my surgery decision. I was miserable. Now, I have more hope and I'm realizing that my body is just healing, and that takes some time. Also, healing is not linear, and that's okay.
With all of that being said, I lost 8lbs during my 2 week pre-op diet and have lost 52lbs since my surgery date. I only weigh myself every 2 weeks and it looks like I had a significant stall and only lost 3lbs between 2 of my weigh ins. I wasn't surprised at all about that because I hadn't felt like I had lost weight during those 2 weeks and everyone had warned me about the 3-6 week stall. No biggie. My next weigh day is in a week.
I'm noticing improvements in my mobility and the way I'm able to move my body now, which was my motivation for getting the surgery in the first place. That's incredibly encouraging and makes me feel positive about the surgery and my future.
I hope all of that helped! You said you wanted the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Last week I went on vacation with my parents and usually when I go on vacation I gain 5-10 lbs. We were eating out every meal and my mom likes to make a big deal out of food and finding special restaurants. I was really worried, but I shared meals with my mom, tracked my food as best as I could, and we exercised a LOT (hiking, walking, and swimming most days).
I gained 0.6 lbs, and that includes a pizza party the day after we got home with my cousin, where I only ate one piece of pizza and instead filled up on veggies and salad (I did eat dessert; I'm not perfect!). I'm pre-op, so anything I can train myself into now, rather than having food funerals, makes me happy!

I somehow missed this thread when it was first started. I just found it and enjoyed reading everyone's NSVs! I have a lot of similar ones, but here are a few of mine:
I used to have to keep the steering wheel in my car raised to make room for my belly, and it blocked my view of the clock and temperature. Now I can put it low enough to see the whole dashboard. The other day, I climbed 12 flights of stairs like it was nothing. Didn't even have to stop for a break. Amazing how easy it is without carrying a whole extra person! I used to leave a lot of extra time when going to work, meetings, etc. because walking to another building or up stairs would leave me sweaty. I used to carry around a fan and small towel so I could cool off/dry off after getting sweaty. I also liked to be super early to meetings to make sure I wouldn't have to squeeze behind someone to get to a chair. Now I can just get there on time like a normal person and not worry about any of that. I was taking a walk recently (which is crazy in itself -- I never used to just go outside and take a walk!) and I had to move off the road while a car passed, and I tripped and fell in the grass. When I was 300+ pounds, a fall like that would have hurt and it would have been hard to get up. This time, I just jumped right back up like it was nothing. I no longer dread meeting people in person for the first time as I used to when I knew they would think less of me once they found out how fat I was.

Not tripping or falling down because I can see the floor better. My belly was blocking the view of my feet. 😂

NSV's:
No more blood pressure medication
Economy class airline seats aren't that small anymore

I can cross my legs and I don’t have to hold them with my hands to keep them crossed!!! 😁😁😁

I can fit in a bathtub. With my spouse.
I can roll over in bed without having to do it in stages.
I can fit into a theater seat, airline seat, any seat.
Horseback riding on vacation with my spouse.
Kayaking on vacation.
Riding bike to work.
Five marathons. Running across the Golden Gate Bridge.

1. I went into TJ Maxx for the very first time in my life looking for skinny Syrup. I ended up purchasing an XL Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt dress that I found for $19 this weekend and had to go back to exchange it for a L today. I thought I was atleast going to have to hold it for a few more months because I wear XL shorts, some L but XL men/unisex tees. I guess not any longer.
2. When having labs drawn last week I actually fit in the chair and with the little safety arm down in front of me and there was room for a small child to fit in there too. Last year pre-rny, this was not a possibility.
3. I can bend over and tie my own shoes.
4. My belly no longer touches the steering wheel..not even if i move the seat up close.

I might actually go to a friend from college's wedding in June instead of sending my usual gift and excuses.

Now, I must say, I'm still 250 pounds, so I have at least 60 or 70 pounds to go to get to goal and actually more than that to not be considered overweight for my height, but I was almost 400 pounds, so this a huge difference and I'm feeling amazing.
My wedding dress is a size 24. I got married in 2006, and I have not been able to fit into it since 2010. It is now too big! I had to get something notarized the other day and when I got out my driver's license I noticed my weight said 350 and realized I am 100 pounds less than that weight now, which was a lie anyway. Lol That is an amazing feeling. I have never, ever weighed less than what my drivers license said. Even back when I weighed around 150 I never thought I was thin enough and always lied. When I renew it, I will tell the truth, because I accept myself now at any weight. It's been a long journey to get to that point.
I got a new dress the other day and thought it needed a belt and the only one I had was from my highest weight and I can wrap it around me twice. It's crazy!
This might be dumb, and maybe tmi for some, but my belly was so big before I couldn't use a squatty potty, and now I can. I just bought one and it really helps with my Constipation. Lol



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I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

Being able to actually INSERT a tampon.. I couldn't even use them at all at my high weight. It was physically impossible to reach!

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It's been a while since I did an inventory of my NSV's.
I'm 2.5 years post op, but I can still appreciate all the little things:
Not only fitting into regular-width tall boots, but wearing jeans with knee-high woollen socks over them while wearing said boots AND still have room to spare. I used to hate it whenever Mr. tried to pick me up - as in lift up off the ground, not hit on at the bar! - (dude, I'm 235 lbs, you will embarrass both you AND me in your attempts)...now I find any excuse for him to do it...including jumping onto him at random moments. Sharing (and fitting into) the often fought-over arm chair in the house with the Kid at the same time quite comfortably. Feeling 110% confident in walking around buck naked (in front of Mr. lol). No more quick dashes to my closet after showers (i do a slow catwalk now...lol), no more towels or sheets or strategically placed hands to cover myself. The lights are ON alot during sexy-times hahahahahhaha. Seemingly endless amounts of energy, a perpetually good mood, and an overall attitude of "Sure, let's do it" (whatever it may be)....vs. being tired all the time, cranky and annoyed alot, and saying NO to most things. oh, and ...CLOTHES.

...and easily finding the end of ur tampon string just hanging there, plain as day 😁

How about starting to be able to see certain areas instead of trying to blindly shave there. Much easier!!

Yes!!! And not worrying about pubic sweat (as much) and sweat underneath my gut.

The first time I noticed mine I actually made an appointment with my doctor because I felt a “lump” that hadn’t been there before. 🤦‍♀️ I hadn’t ever had a protruding collarbone so I had NO clue.

Collarbones --- I really love my collarbones now. Such a wierd thing to notice, but I didn't have them/they weren't visible for so long.

🙋‍♀️ ditto!
Also, um how shall I put this...feeling confident that I can comfortably reach the "in-between" crotch spot to give it a good wash.

Being able to buy clothes "off the rack" rather than having to go to a DXL store. It's amazing the difference in cost. When I started the journey I had a 56-inch waist, which non-Big&Tall stores just don't stock.
I've been reluctant to invest a whole lot of money in clothes as I've been losing weight, as ideally I will continue to lose sizes for a bit longer, so why pay for clothes I'll (hopefully) only wear for a couple months. It's like the reverse of being a kid/teenager, when Mom would get frustrated that I outgrew clothes yet again.
However, at some point the old clothes start looking awful, like you're wearing a tent... not to mention heavy and uncomfortable AF. Being in a transition state with sizes and not wanting to spend money, I went to Wal-Mart and bought some $10.97 jeans... first time wearing jeans in over 30 years. Hard to wrap my brain around it... the jeans weren't unbearably uncomfortable. I was able to buy 44-inch waist and now several weeks later, they're already feeling a bit loose. My next shopping trip, it might be 42.
They had a bunch of dress shirts on clearance that rang up at $2. The XL (down from 3XL) fit easily. At that price, who cares if they fall apart in a few washes.
A whole new world: Being able to shop clothing sales and clearance. That hasn't been part of my life in many many decades.

1. Who moved my car seat back? Oh, nobody. My butt is smaller and I'm sitting further back.
2. What? Do gold necklaces stretch? Oh, no. My neck just got smaller and now the chain looks longer.
3. Painting my own toenails.
4. Fitting in most any chair.
5. Not worrying about getting stuck in chairs with arms.
6. Not worrying about a chair breaking (mostly outdoor chairs). Been there, done that.

Crossing my legs!

Being able to help my husband build our new fence. I wouldn’t have been able to help much a year ago. Not sure if this is really a good thing 🙄😂

I also love being able to fold into smaller spaces.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.