Cecilia

Congratulations!!! I lost 15 pounds the first week, and it's been a pound every 2-3 days since. And that's considering I've added walking daily in this last week. Like I said earlier, I'm a slow loser! On the bright side, I have 4 pair of jeans in my closet, and all but the tightest pair is looking baggy on me. When that last pair gets baggy, I get to break into my smaller clothes sizes (yes, I have a stash of multi-sized clothes from all the weight loss/gain cycles)

I think I may be one of the exceptions... I was off narcotics by day 4 and off Tylenol the next day. However, before you feel jealous, I think I'm one of the slow losers... this happened to me too when I did Atkins many years ago and lost 80 lbs. They came off soooo slooooow! Geez. My body doesn't like to part with its fat! I'm so jealous! Scrambled eggs sit very poorly with me. I did find out I can eat an egg if it's in egg drop soup, which is fun to make. So that's how I get my eggs... Still I miss scrambled eggs! My back felt awful for almost a whole week. I don't know if it had to do with the positioning during surgery or if it was gas escaping, but geez! I was glad to be done with that! Also, I did feel a stitch-like pain for the first week or two, but that has mostly gone away too. I hope it goes the same for you!

Good morning everyone! I'm so excited! The scales moved!!!!! (well, so to speak, as in the age of digital scales the only thing that changes is the LCD display, but I'll take it!) I guess you could say I'm in the "honeymoon period" because I don't feel hungry hardly ever, and I can cheerfully take my kids through the drive-through at McDonalds and not feel the least bit tempted by the sights or smells. All my bruises are gone, and all but one of the lap incisions scabs have fallen off. I can move without pain and don't tire easily. My only problem is getting all my nutrients in. If I focus on the protein, I come up short on the water. The next day I focus on the water, and miss the protein by half. I'm so glad I'm off work for another few weeks while I learn how to do this. I think I'll have to really develop a schedule that I can "memorize" at home, so when I go back to work I can take it with me and not come home from a 12-hour shift dehydrated and weak (and I could see this happening). How are the rest of you doing? Can we have a check-in of everybody? Those doing well, and those needing support? I'd love to hear from all of you! Cheers! Cecilia

Yurielisa, do you have someone who can help you? It's shocking how soon they send you home from the hospital, I think. To hold down medical costs they send you home as soon as you're off IVs it seems. I wish they had a transition unit, something minimally staffed but just with people to help you do things like fetch your meds, or to keep you from overdoing it or whatever. Don't get me started! Wishing you quick relief from pain and onto the "I feel fantastic" stage!

Remember to ask for pain meds before your planned walk (to make it more comfortable) and then be sure to have someone walk with you (to steady you if you get woozy). The pain will pass, although I remember when I was in the middle of it I thought it would last forever! Just repeat the mantra "this too shall pass, this too shall pass, this too shall pass." Best of luck to you and to others in recovery this week!

Hey everybody! I wanted to write to tell you that I'm so excited I have gone for a solid 30 minute walk four days in a row now! But unfortunately, I also have to share that I threw up for the first time today. I've been sticking to strictly purees, but tonight I saw the shaved Turkey deli meat in the fridge, and I thought "one bite?" So I took half a slice and chewed it until it was mush but I don't think it even hit my stomach before coming back up again. Damn. That was quite unpleasant. Sorry for the icky share, but I felt like if I only bragged about the exercise, I'd be lying. LOL! Cecilia

Hang in there, post-op ladies! It gets easier, I promise!!

I agree. Somewhere around day 10 I turned the corner. I swear I could go all day without eating. Yesterday was the first day I realized I'd been lazy with my Water, so I'm having to make myself drink. I guess this is what they call the honeymoon period? Congratulations!! Welcome to the other side! You are in my thoughts! I hope everything goes well for you!

Wow!!! That's amazing! My mom said she lost 30 pounds the first month... I just hope the scale starts moving again some day. Kat, you sure have had more than your share, haven't you. My heart goes out to you and my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

If you mean after the surgery, I think most hospitals step you down. Right out of surgery you're in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) until you wake up and they determine you're stable. From there you go to a regular hospital floor. I shared a room with a lady that did nothing but sigh and complain and talk to people on the phone all day!

Wow. How interesting! It's good to know I'm not alone!

You're a better woman than I am! I have walked 30 minutes each day for the past two days. Today I went to the gym and did the elliptical for 30 minutes and it WHIPPED me, LOL!

I agree! I'm currently not speaking to my scales. I jumped on this morning and could have SWORN it said 208. I got again later in the day just to confirm, and no. I'm still stuck at 216 for the past week. The betrayal! In limited quantities, if and only if I get my protein in first. The goal is roughly 90 grams protein (which would be 360 calories) then there are modest portions (one or two ounces) of vegetables mostly. Everything still has to be pureed, which is fine by me, because my pouch can't seem to pass anything larger. So glad to hear you're back home again!! Take good care of yourself!

Have any of you tried this? Best pureed thing I've had so far. Delicious, full of veggies, and I can put it in my purse and eat it a little at a time when I'm out running errands. (Otherwise I was getting off schedule)

Gotta love that good German stock. My mom always jokes that we have "square peasant hands"... even thin, I still had to buy my gloves in the men's section. Honestly! Your mom sounds like an inspiration, though. I hope she gets the kidney soon!

Do you have My Fitness Pal? We could at least support each other that way... I'm trying to walk every day! I'm cecilialibra on MFP

Yes! Love the pictures!!! LOL!

I'm almost 50, and have been wearing cheaters for quite some time now. However, since the surgery, I feel like my vision has gotten (is getting?) worse. The distance at which I need to put things on to read is getting farther and farther from my nose. Has anyone had this happen? I wonder if I should see my eye doctor when this is all done...

You know where I notice it? When I lay down to sleep. It feels like my belly is sagging in a way it didn't before. I wonder what it will feel to have a ton of loose skin just hanging there... <cringe!>

Wow! What a difference! You look fabulous!!! I should go look in the bathroom mirror. I took some "last pix" the day before surgery. My kids say they can see it, but I'm still blind to it. Funny how looking at a picture makes it easier to see... And to answer your other question, I'm taking a weekly shot of my face, just because I'm up there in age (pushin' the big 5-0) and I'm curious as to whether the weight loss will make me look younger or older...

Depends on your modesty. And on the weather. In the cooler months I wore them under my sweats. In the summer, I wore them solo. (see my photo gallery)

I think I shall become known as "the Queen of the Plateaus." Good grief. Two weeks into this and already losing weight in fits and starts. I don't care, however. What I notice is the change in my face already. And my daughter said my butt looks smaller. LOLOLOL! (I'm adding new pictures to my album weekly.)

How interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Is white wine a clear liquid? I wish I'd had one last glass of wine before surgery... Best of luck to you!!! Congratulations and welcome back!!! Wishing you the very best!!! I've had a few surgeries before, and there's loads of admission paperwork, changing into a gown, getting your IV started, and waiting for the OR to be available and cleaned from the previous patient. I was told I could go in even later if the surgery ahead of me ran long due to complications, or if an emergency came in and the OR was needed for them first. Does this help to reassure you? Chin up! All will be well!

Best wishes to both of you!!!