CrazyJaney

I could have written this post too! I was 4 weeks yesterday. Stalled for 2 weeks. But I've lost 46 total (28 pre and 18 post) and overall I'm glad for this. My diuretic/bp meds have been held since surgery and my leg lymph edema is getting worse. I had my one month today and got cleared to restart it. My legs are so swollen without it. The NP and NUT think this might be the reason for my stall. I know I'm doing stuff right. But to not see results - it screws with your brain. Still, let's stay the course and we'll get there - or at least get somewhere!!!!!

I fantasize about someday being a runner. I was blessed with huge legs and a much smaller torso. Definitely not built like a runner. But I'm always inspired by the stories people tell about the "high". My knees are probably long gone. I'm newly sleeved and have 115 pounds to lose. I wouldn't dare try it til I am closer to goal (simply because I'm 45 and would like to put off my knee replacements until at least 55). I have thought about biking. Any advice on how to get started biking?

I respectfully disagree. I am and RN. I have a bachelors degree. I've been a nurse for 18 years. Prior to that, a monitor tech, a unit secretary and an admitting clerk. I'm currently the nurse manager of a 30 bed tele floor, 2 10 bed CCU's and a small IMCU. I consider anyone who influences, touches, helps heal, encourages, treats, diagnoses, facilitates discharge, provides security, nourishment -ALL THOSE PEOPLE PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE. It doesn't mean I'd ask the phlebotomist for advice on my cardiac meds, but it's unfair to say they aren't in "healthcare". Healthcare is a broad, broad term. One of my CNA's can connect with patients and bring comfort better than some of my new grads and even vets. I may be misunderstanding you, but it takes a ton of different people to make up "healthcare". My husband has been an X-ray tech for 30 years. He knows more about bones than me. If you mean people give unqualified medical advice on these boards and shouldn't? Yup. It's the internet. Everyone has an opinion.

I'm cleared for all exercise today. At one Month appointment now. Went to Water aerobics last night. Felt great!!!!!! Still so hard to schedule exercise into my day. Wish I didn't work and commute. Or I wish there were more hours in the day!

In my pre-sleeve life, I would fight carbs and lose big time. So I just decided to have a total cheat day at least one of the days before I started (maybe more than 1 day if I was honest). My craving was pizza. I am one month post op today and PMSing. I am not craving carbs per se, but I am hungrier. I started my period the day after my surgery so I know I'm close to starting this week. Since my old ways won't work in this new world, I too, am looking for new coping mechanism. I truly don't crave the carbs like I used to but I have looked at food more lustily this week, lol. I am also stalled (for 2 weeks now) and retaining Fluid. I have severe lymphedema and my legs are a mess. My surgeon didn't want me to take my meds post op and I was fine the first couple weeks. But now that I am up and back to normal, running around, plus PMS, my legs are really starting to swell again. I go for my post op 1 month tomorrow. Hopefully me BP will be high enough to start back on half a dose. And GOD HOPE I break this stall once my period starts. Frustrating!

One month today. Back to Water aerobics tonight. Still easily fatigued. And frustrated.

I had a stall from about day 12-25. I'm hesitant to say but I "think" it's breaking. It's frustrating. But they say they go away and to just stick to your plan. Hang in there!

@@CrazyJaney it's terrible u think it would just melt off but def walking I see helps even if it's a little. How are you doing. ?

Stall continued. The 1.5 I lost came back. I'm headed to Water aerobics tonight. I'm praying I'll start my period soon. Off my diuretics and retaining Fluid. I ate 1/2 cup of grits this morning trying to give my body some carbs (First carb meal I've eaten) and then pull back to no carbs tomorrow - just to see if I can shock it back into loss. Still 400-700 cal a day with all goals in line (except water). I'm one month today and frustrated. I'm happy. But I'm frustrated. It's still 45 pounds gone and I look and feel better. But I expected more for the first month (18 since surg 3/13). Anyway, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and it'll get there I hope. I am certain exercise will help. I'm going tonight. I'm gonna do this! I swear - THIS HAS TO WORK!

4/4! You're still fresh! You get a "fetch this for me" and "I need a nap" card! It will get better but I felt the same at 4-5 days out.

Not sure where you are in your journey with plantar fasciitis (and yours may be different) but I've suffered on/off with it over the years. I did the expensive foot doctor inserts and still use them BUT I've had decent results with the $50 inserts from New Balance or ones sold at running stores. However, I found that, as ugly as they are, Birkenstocks did THE best job in helping. But it took time to get there. I had to work up to tolerating the artificial arches (mine are flat as a pancake). I wore the Birkenstocks to work (I'm a hospital nurse) and then I'd exercise in either NB or Brooks (the high end, super supportive kind). It took a while but the Birkenstocks really helped. Painful at first as I corrected the fallen arch which causes the heel pain, but eventually it got easier to wear something that rigid. And my pain went away. Such a miserable pain when your feet hurt that bad. Good luck!

I got to leave toenail Polish on but not fingers. I'd check with preop team.

It's harder than a c- sec for the first couple days but by day 6-7, pain was minimal. In only took pain meds for four days. Eating and drinking are the hard part. But by week 2-3, you get into a rhythm. Just be sure to have good plans for eating types of food you can tolerate. I'm just moving to softs. I ordered salmon the other day. Could only eat a small, small amount. But, I'm a believer in getting out there. I wish I had more time off work so I could have gone somewhere this week. I'm definitly ready. Yes, this is a great place to learn. It's been a lifesaver.

I'm 4 weeks (almost) and wishing I was at the beach right now. I believe I could travel pretty easily. Maybe low stamina but I could definitely travel. I had a good recovery though and it appears each one of us has a unique experience. Have you had an abdominal surgery before? That might help you gauge it better. Of course, you'll have to modify and prioritize food. You'll be sick of Liquid Protein by then. I've eaten out a few times (soup mostly) but it's easier to eat at home. That would be a big consideration.

I'll be 4 weeks post on Thursday and have started to feel much better. I have energy until I try to exert myself (like wash the dog or carry groceries) and them I'm pooped. I think I've got some muscle wasting going on. One thing that hasn't changed with surgery? Finding time to exercise. Still haven't gotten there yet. Plans to oh to Water aerobics this Thursday. It's always energized me. Hope it gives me the kick in the butt I need.

Great job! Keep up the hard work!

I had a stall from about day 12-25. I'm hesitant to say but I "think" it's breaking. It's frustrating. But they say they go away and to just stick to your plan. Hang in there!

Hello all -

I know several of us are hitting our 1 month mark this week. Mine is today.

The body is an incredible thing, truly. It's a healing machine quite frankly.

At one and two weeks out:

-you wonder what you have done to yourself and you are pretty sure you will never feel quite normal again

-you can't imagine yourself ever sleeping anywhere but the living room recliner

-the thought of driving or going back to work seems like an unrealistic commitment you made Way Back Before Surgery

-you can get in so little Water and Protein that it dawns on you that THESE are the weeks that will cause hair loss several months from now

-you learn what "sliming" is (ewwww)

-MyFitnessPal tells you repeatedly: "You are getting too few calories. If every day were like today, you would be DEAD in 5 weeks."

At three weeks out:

-you feel better but not really there yet

-you need extra naps on the weekend

-getting in your Water and Protein can be done with the effort of a full time job

-you have a strange painful stitch in your side that you've resigned yourself to bravely live with the rest of your life

-you accidentally sleep all night with the heating pad on your largest incision site on its highest setting

-you walk 20 minutes on the treadmill and then come onto this site and disbelievingly post, "WHEN did they say I should start exercising????"

-your body decides you must be on a grueling episode of Survivor and goes into starvation mode yielding the world's most devastating weight loss stall prompting you to decide that you are a failure and did this all for NOTHING

At four weeks out:

-you sleep in your own bed in whatever position you want

-the fire-hazardous heating pad gets put away

-you walk 2+ miles at lunch and think maybe you could have done more

-you have enough energy to really start cleaning the house again and get totally aggravated at hubby and kids for how little they managed to do for the past month

-you randomly feel happy, mad, silly, sad as hormones and emotions take their toll

-you have to pack up the first set of clothes which are now too big

-you feel healthy....dare I say...normal?

Yep, the first month is kind of amazing.

Thank you for the post. I like knowing what could be ahead of me and will probably read this over and over. I have had multiple surgeries, including 2 total knee replacements and that was hell. I am thinking positive and hope that I will have a great recovery but at least with your post, I know what could also be normal. We are all different. We heal different and eat different. We got to this point in our lives for different reasons. It's nice to know what could be ahead. My surgery is Tuesday morning. Can you or anyone tell me what to really buy at the store for the week I am back home? I hate to buy things or quantities that I won't need. I am all set on the protein shake end.

sugar free Popsicles were a lifesaver. I bought a ton of Soups and didn't use half them but I was glad to have those cans that I used. I quickly got sick of the fake sugar taste of EVERYTHING and craved savory, salty stuff. You eat such small portions. I puréed French onion Soup and broc/cheese Soup from my favorite rest and that was delish. Oh - and tea! I detoxed from coffe the week before surgery (it was hell). I like tea so I went and dropped some cash at a nice tea shop and bought two Decaf teas that I drank a ton of the first week. Really hot stuff is hard but warm liquid is good. I won't lie to you, the first 5 days, it's major surgery and you feel it. But each day gets quickly easier (al least for me, not all). Hope this helps. No regrets here. It's a game changer to say the least, but I'm down 46 total, 18 of those since surg 3 weeks ago. Be prepared for your energy level to be pummeled but it gets better. Good luck! This site has been a godsend. Keep reading and asking questions. It's been a big help to me.

Thanks, y'all. Feeling better today. I decided not to weigh this morning. I went about my day wearing some baggy clothes. I stuck to my plan. It is what it is and it'll move eventually. Thanks for the video!

I'm on purée stage but I'm finding it hard to consume a full serving (3 oz) and that makes if really hard to track my nutritional intake. Anyone else ?????

Usually depends on what I am eating. I was allowed scrambled eggs on pureed and I could only stand a couple bites. But then if I was eating, say, Tomato Soup, I could definitely get in 3oz or so.

For me, I eat until I am full, and that's it. Even if it is only two bites. I'm not going to force down 3oz and be uncomfortable just because a piece of paper says so .

I measure everything. Normally I fill up my 4ounce (1/2 cup) bowl and it just depends on whether I eat it all. I can definitley take in more with Soup. Eggs are the easiest for me. One egg, a dash of milk, low fat cheese - I can only finish about 3/4 of the egg but it sits well and keeps me full. Eggs and chicken salad are the easiest by far. Im so ready to move beyond puréed and mushies.

I was on Miralax for days before I finally went. It took adding MOM, Smooth Move tea, and Fiber gummies to cause the dam to break. I started on Probiotics last night and I had my first "normal" poo since surgery (just over 3 weeks ago). I also had cramps from it but I guess it's a trade off. For me, the Constipation made it so much harder to get in fluids.

I can't wait to stop being the "fat mom" - Love all the reasons you listed. I'm looking forward to chaperoning the kiddo's band trips and being able to stand without being exhausted.

From one Band Mom to the Next - AMEN! I was at my worst last fall. I won't be to goal this coming fall, but I'm gonna feel so much less self conscious, have less pain, walk to and from the band buses without feeling like I'm gonna die, I'll fit into the bus seats. I'm looking very forward to those things. I hate being the fat mom too!

I'm stalled too. I refused to weigh this am. It's do frustrating. You're prob not doing anything wrong. Just your body going nuts. It's the dreaded 2 or 3 week post op stall. I'm 400-700 Cal a day and scale won't budge.

I'm snarky, grumpy, discouraged and generally just over this whole sleeve thing tonight. I think I'm PMSing too. I've been on these boards for months. I've read everything to prepare myself. Yet I wasn't exactly prepared for just how frustrating this first stall was gonna be. Please, tell me cutting 80% of my stomach out was a good idea and that this will eventually work. I know I'm whining. How can the human body eat so little and not lose weight???????

I'll go to bed now and hope for some kind of improvement in mood tomorrow. It's gonna get better. Right?

scale didn't budge. I don't understand.

I'm in the honeymoon stage. So I don't really have accurate perspective. But yes, it does get better in the early weeks. Desire for food and cravings are there, but much easier to manage. So much of this is mental. But I will say that I feel HOPE-FILLED. And that a good feeling. I feel stronger and more capable. You do have to change the negative messages that go through your head. You have to really be objective about food. You have to be honest. But it is the most doable thing I've ever done in regards to weight loss. Don't be discouraged. You'll have more bad days but you just might see the world differently when you retrain your brain and stomach. Of course, I'm in the honeymoon phase so it's easy for me to feel that way. Still, the thoughts of going BACK to eating the way I did is a miserable thought (objectively). I minimally miss food. I miss pizza but I'm stronger than that.

Welcome!!!! It's very exciting! I'm 3 weeks post op tomorrow. This is a great place to learn!