Lissa_S

I am a little bummed at the moment. I've been having more and more trouble eating since last Saturday. I know I am drinking more due to the heat but it's getting to the point where it's uncomfortable to eat at all I'd been going so well too. Has anyone else had this? Periods where you can even feel a bit sick after eating? I don't want to push it but on the other hand, don't want to go backwards either...thanks, Lila

I just bought new scales from Harvey Norman. They are the old fashioned type of scales as the last one's I had (WW scales) never worked well after I changed the battery. Anyway, these stupid scales weighed me correctly (or at least close to the scales at work) the first time. I then moved them into the bathroom and checked today. According to them I am now 115kg. Now, I know my weight loss has been rapid, but to lose 15kg in a week? Na, not convinced So I moved them back out to the lounge and I am apparently 90kg. I even double checked that the start point was at 0 (it was). I am thinking that I have a date with the "returns" desk!!

HI - Glad to hear you are okay. I had a leak too and was in hospital for 8 weeks. I was in ICU on a ventilator after the first surgery. I had other complications from the leak too, plural effusions, my lung collapsed etc I had four additional surgeries, twice to put in the nasal gastric tube which didn't work either. I ended up with a PICC line and TPN for 8 weeks. I cried a lot, probably from about week 5 onwards actually. I hated hospital, the sounds and smells. I am so pleased that you are now leak free It is really hard initially but it does get better (when people told me this I thought they were liars though lol). Just do what you can and challenge yourself every day. I am now 7 weeks out since the test showed there was no leak. Some days are still tough...but nothing like what it was at the start. Good luck!! Cheers, Lila

Hi Indigo Thanks for your response! That was why I wrote this blog - not to encourage bad habits but to say it's okay to make mistakes if we're learning from them (which I hope I finally am!)... With regards to the leak, I had quite intense pain following the surgery. Pain meds didn't seem to touch it. I couldn't stand up straight. I was cold but sweating so badly that it was dripping off the end of my nose and running down my face. I was really pale. I couldn't even walk down the hallway of the hospital. My heart rate was about 160 beats per minute and I had an irregular heart beat. This all happened within two days of the surgery. I think you can ask for a leak test to check before you leave which may give you peace of mind. It's hard to do (tastes gross) but you can clearly see if there is a leak or not. They did one after emergency surgery for me (a few days later) and you could clearly see the leak. They redid the test 8 weeks later and it was healed *yay*. Good luck with your surgery and I am sure you will be fine. Be cautious in your recover but don't panic - my experience was the exception not the rule...Cheers, Lila

Thanks Pinky Sounds like these might be American brands - I am in Australia and I haven't heard of these but thanks for the suggestions I do have yoghurt fairly regularly and love raspberry too. My dr has me cleared for all foods now so I can get away with the little seeds. Best of luck to you!!

Wow that felt super judgemental. Firstly while I was in hospital, the dr and NUT had me having ginger ale and lemonade to help with very low blood sugar and nausea. They were okay with this therefore, so was I, in theory. And I am sure that there are other people that have had "wobbles" post surgery to old habits. I have lost 40kg in three months so obviously I am doing something correct. I was hoping to share this so that other people that experienced similar "wobbles" wouldn't feel so bad or so judged.

Does anyone else find it really hard to eat when it's hot? I suspect it's because I am drinking more (even though I stop about half an hour before meals). I have had trouble eating for the last two days - no pain, just get very full and feel like it's sitting like a brick in my stomach for about two hours afterwards. I am not eating a lot - even a few bites can do it. I don't feel weak or sick though so that's a plus!!

Hello fellow sleevers, I hope this blog finds you all well. I am almost 7 weeks out since my leak was confirmed to have healed. Yay. I should get clearance from my surgeon soon to start going to the gym which I think will help with my over fitness (or more to the point, lack thereof). Generally things continue to improve. I still struggle (some days more than others) with a faintly sick feeling and a gurgling in my tummy. This usually means I am not eating quite enough or regularly enough. The less I eat at a meal, the more frequently I have to eat - and that depends on the day. So this blog is about the stupid things I have done, repeatedly, since going back on normal foods. In no particular order (I decided not to rank my stupidity as these are all, quite frankly, ridiculous) are: Drinking soft drinks (soda): Okay so this is mostly my several attempts to drink soda water. I've had a little lemonade and coke but it's so sweet I only did this a few times before deciding it wasn't worth it. What I have been slower in giving up is soda water (sparkling water). I keep stupidly thinking something would change and it would be okay to drink soda water but I've finally realised (after several uncomfortable and frankly painful experiences) that I should leave it well enough alone. Duh. Eating Bread (of any kind): So being the genius that I am, I decided to try bread. I always feel kinda ill afterwards. And yet I continued to try it. White, multigrain, soft grains, wholemeal, sourdough...always left with the same feeling of discomfort and just generally a bit yuck. Thank goodness I have finally decided to LEAVE IT ALONE. Eggs: Oh little eggies, how I loved you before surgery. I could have eaten half a dozen of you little buggers preferably poached, although I wasn't all that choosy. Now you have turned on me and make me very VERY ill. I no longer try to come to some kind of understanding with you...sometimes when you love something, you must set it free. Bye little eggies...you will be missed. Milk: Another before surgery love. Now, to highlight my stupidity, I need to give a teensy bit of background - I am Lactose Intolerant. Have been for years. And depsite this, I would guzzle a 750mL Iced Coffee three times a day. Yes I'd get the runs. Yes, I'd feel pretty darn sick. But I'd still do it. Post-surgery, I am lucky to be able to have the lactose free milk on my cereal for breakfast. Milk (of any kind) makes me sick. As does icecream which is just wrong. No more yummy iced coffee's or frappe's. Gone for good... Although it is taking me a while to work out what my sleeve needs, I feel I am making progress. It's slow. But I am learning to listen to what my body is telling me. Quick weight update - I am 40 kg down from my surgery weight And this Monday (03.12.12) is offically 3 months since the initial surgery date. I am really happy with my weight loss so far and hope to lose another 5kg before Christmas. Hope this finds you all well, sleevers! Talk soon, Lila

Thanks The support I had during that time was invaluable and really got me through some pretty bleak times! I'm indebted to you all!

Wow!! Congrats Kell that is amazing! What an achievement!

Hi Mimz - 4 is such a great age Good luck with all the kids - the play centre is a great idea. I had 22 7 year old's at the movies this year Thank god for my family to help me ride herd on that lot! And that I live in a small town with a tiny cinema (one screen lol). I soak the cereal so it swells before it gets in my belly And normally it works pretty well. I have been eating sultana bran for a week or so with no problems. I just think it's really hot so I am drinking more than usual and my belly is at capacity. And you're right about milk - can't drink it since the surgery. I was already lactose intolerant before the surgery so have had Zymil milk for quite a while and even that is tough these days. So the only milk I have is in the morning. cheese is okay and yoghurt (small amounts) is fine too. Actually the BEST thing I had as a treat was some frozen yoghurt with berries the other day. admittedly I could only fit in about 5 spoons but it was a good 5 spoons! So I just think it's food that is the problem today. drinks go down a treat I might have an iceblock or two today as well and try again tomorrow... Cheers, Lila

Ugh...having a tough day with food today. Had a brilliant week really until today. Just trying to eat cereal and it's uncomfortable. Doesn't seem to wanna go down. Looks like it might be a crackers day today

Wow that is great - a size 18! Congrats on your awesome loss. It's a lot of weight in three weeks!

Sorry to hear about your dad, Lilly. Thinking of you in this tough time!!

Welcome Kelly Nice to meet you!

Awwwww thanks Kelli

My hair has been coming out more than before the op and I am only 3 months out (but I didn't have a normal experience either and had lots of extra operations - anaesthetic doesn't do wonders for your hair that is for sure). It is noticeable to those who know me as I've always had thick hair. But no bald spots and I've been going to get regular conditioning treatments at the hair dressers which seems to be helping.

I agree with Puppyphat and Shell, you guy's are awesome And thanks for the props! I am starting to "enjoy" the sleeve!!!

Wow I can't imagine going through this as a teen. And then having complications on top of it. I hope you are well now and enjoying your new life with the sleeve!

Thanks Well done with your marathon shopping!! I still have to go back on Monday and shop for gifts but the end is in sight now

Thanks Jules It's pretty great!

Ugh been there Deano It's nasty. I did the same thing the other day when I had a little bit of a meatball sub. Delicious but I ate too damn fast and paid for it with the worst indigestion and burping ever...*feeling your pain*

Hi guy's, So I weighed myself today on the "heavy" scales at work. At first it was hovering between 115-124kg and I got really excited lol. But the nurse who was there told me to step all the way forward and yep, it bounced back to 130.2. 0.2kg off the damn 120's - curse you scales *shaking fists at the sky* I know these scales can weigh me between 4-5kg heavier than the new electronic scales over in the dr's surgery so when I go next week I will weigh myself over there and see the difference. But at the worst, this means my weight loss is 37kg since September. I even went shopping for the first time since I had surgery - that is 3 months people. And it was nice because I felt pretty good walking around - admittedly it was just an hour but it's an hour I couldn't have done even a few weeks ago. And I am not sure if I mentioned this already (sorry if I am repeating myself) but I tried on a size 20 dress at Target this week. Size 20! Considering before surgery the 26's in the Moda (Target) branded stuff often wouldn't fit, this is an awesome experience!! Now, I am not saying that the dress wouldn't have looked better with another 10kg off but I could wear it and in a pinch, in public lol Totally cool! Hope you're all well! Cheers, Lila

It might change for me as I get better about eating :0 At the moment, it's just so much effort to eat enough Protein etc to keep me going the thought of wasting any "space" in the belly for "non-essentials" makes me feel a little sick I won't knock it though lol

Thank you so much!!