Memily

So a week ago I wrote on hear I heard a popping noise and felt a pop in my stomach area by the larger incision where the tummy was removed. My doctor and few of you on here said that was normal. I am still sore when moving around a lot in the area. How long is that area going to stay tender when bending, moving side to side,laying down, etc??

Goooooood Luck!

Me personally, "normal" will be when I don't have to chop or puree my food. So I can feel "normal" when enjoying dinner with family or friends. Yes, my portions will be smaller, food healthier, and my bites may be smaller BUT it will at least look the same as a "normal" meal on the plate.

OK , thank you all for your help!

I had to get some chicken unjury to mix it up a bit with the Premier shakes. The Protein intake diet is to shrink your liver to make the surgery safe and will help you heal. Protein will be the most important thing you consume from now on.

Split pea soup with some chicken Unjury is good blended to liquefy, Vanilla whey I added to fruit sugar free jello and puddings. I also got frozen greek yogurt bars to have a sweet treat of protein. You will get there, I wake up drinking a half a serving of Powerade Zero and then carry a water bottle with me literally everywhere. You can do it!

Perfect~

Good for you! I also was nervous until the morning of, for some reason I was a peace. You have to remember you are doing this for you and your health, it is worth it. I am 12 days out have lost 11.9 lbs since surgery and extremely happy with myself for making such an important decision in my life. Change is good!

I sat down with my husband and told him how much important this was to me and I really needed his help. He actually started dieting with me. No sweets in the house except for Sherbert or Frozen Yogurt. He only cooks lean meats now. Maybe you need to sit down and pour your heart out. It made my diet and now me new life style so much easier. I did this surgery to be healthy for my family and to make my family healthy as well. Hang a picture of yourself on the fridge or cabinet where your plates are. Good luck!

I am a food addict....I was always excited for the food at gatherings, I would eat alone in my bed watching TV at night. This way I could hoard my candy without having to share....I didn't feel comfortable with being in front of people because of my weight... I am now a recovering food addict, 4 week on Monday without any "cheating" old habits creeping up and 2 weeks post op.

The only reason I didn't order soup was because it was not on the menu for the Christmas party, That is my plan from know on until I get further in my diet.

So yesterday was my first day back to work, I didn't share with any of my co workers what I had done on my vacation. I felt it was nobodies business. My daughters daycare is on sight so I went to see her at lunch time and at my lunch at my desk afterwards. So all and all work when well. My Christmas part on the other hand.........................I am at the puree or mushy food stage. There was chicken I could eat that had a sauce, I was cutting up my chicken VERY small and mixing it with the sauce to make it mushy. My best friend, husband, and a few others were at my table. One lady asked me what I was doing and if I realized I was not cutting up my food for my children. My husband and friend which now........looked at her you b****. I told her I am weird...LOL it shut her up but I got a box and took the rest home to enjoy in piece. How do you handle comments like that? Today I am so sore and tired............I work at a desk most of the day. I didn't realize it would hurt me the next day so bad.

Thank you all, my choice to not tell everyone is because I no longer want my weight to be a topic for conversation even if it is on me loosing weight. I have told the people that are most important t me and that I want to be able to talk to this about. I am very happy and proud of my decision don't get me wrong but some people just don't need to know. I can't wait until I am fully healed and a while down the road able to order "normal" food and just have smaller portions. All of the food I make now is normal but mushed.

I started sleeping on my side at the hospital post op. My back hurt so bad the nurse said, it will hurt getting into the position but once you get settled it will be ok. I wish I still had my pregnancy pillow because I am more comfortable with support when doing so. I put a pillow behind my back and roll up a little blanket to somewhat prop my tummy up if that makes since. I slept on the side that didn't have my drainage tube. Hope this helps.

I was laying in bed and sat up to fast, by the incision where they took out my stomach I heard and FELT a weird popping. Did I do something to hurt myself. I was a weird feeling, like something ripped. It doesn't hurt now but could I have hurt something inside?

Thank you all! I ended up calling the doctor last night. I know me, and I wouldn't have slept until I knew I didn't mess things up. The doctor said it was probably in internal suture that would eventually disappear anyways. He said there was nothing to be worried about and that it was common. Wooohoo! Also survived my first day back to work today.....I am exhausted and now have a Christmas party for work to go to. Uggggg.........so tired.

I am 9 days out, I measure my Protein in 1/4 cup and then add any mash vegg or cottage cheese to make it moist...which adds about a TBLS extra of food. I hardly ever finish it all, as soon as I think my limit is getting close I give it 5 minutes and decide from there. If I get a bit hungry in between meals I sneak a bit of yogurt or a quick drink from my Protein shake I have in the fridge to take a drink with my Vitamins. Hope this helps. Measuring is key...start small add what you need.

I had mine taken out yesterday. It is a very odd feeling and it took my breath away. I can't say it was painful but extremely weird, as if you insides are being pulled out.

Well I am 9 days post op....but lets start from the beginning. First I must say I NEVER thought I would do this. I had thought about it several months after having my second child, I was at my heaviest it seemed impossible. I finally called the doc found out some information and called my insurance....finding out it was covered 100% besides my co-pay of $200 and a $50 charge for the nutrition book. So I gathered my information and asked my husband what his thoughts were. His only questions were "What are the risks?" and "Is this what you really want?" I had my first doctors appoint, nutrition class, and psych eval on Oct. 23rd. Leading up to the surgery I was terrified, not about the changes that I was going to have to make BUT the surgery itself and thinking the what if's. I was so afraid something would happen to me. Leading up to my pre surgery diet I went out for a few of my favorite meals, sushi, prime rib, and pizza. I did indulge a bit only because I knew it would be a long until I could "taste" any of this food again. In retrospect I wish I would have had Subway too, darn. Oh well. The morning of the surgery, Nov. 25th, I was more calm then I expected. My husband and I got our girls ready and brought them to daycare together. We waited for the surgeon e for awhile. When the anesthesiologist arrived he explained it all to me, asked if I had questions and then said he was going to give me a shot to make my ride to the OR more comfortable. LOL........my husband said within second I said WOW I feel like I have drank WAY to much and laughed, he kissed me and they rolled me off. They had 1 1/2 booked but it only took 45 minutes, the surgeon told my husband it went really well. Waking up in recovery was the most painful experience EVER. My chest hurt so bad from all of the CO2 I could not bear it, they did an EKG because of how much pain I was in. My husband stayed with me until the girls had to be picked up from daycare. I was in terrible pain for the first 48 hours, not from the incisions just the CO2 still, which moved to my back now. I had a heating pad and kept pushing the pain meds so I could fall asleep. I passed the leak test, it was horrible...the taste of that iodine is horrible. Afterwards I could drink Water, broth, and Jello.........everything went down really easy just small sips. I arrived on Monday and left Wednesday. The first night home was hard but each day got better. I lived off Soups the last week, but honestly I have a new love of split pea Soup. I add Protein powder to all jello/pudding I have made at home and I save my evening snack as a greek frozen yogurt for a bed time sweet treat. Now I am 9 days out had a scrambled egg for Breakfast, yogurt for lunch, crockpot chicken and cooked carrots for dinner. My first real meal, it was AMAZING.I feel I have been lucky because since day 4 I have been able to water as I did pre surgery...no issues at all, no sipping necessary.On a side note... I am not always hungry I have to force myself to eat, but I know I need the protein. Today I had a follow up with my doctor and dietitian. Since the pre-surgey diet I have lost a little over 20lbs. I have no regrets in adding this tool to my arsenal of loosing this weight. I can not wait to be a healthier me. Much love to everyone!

Oh I forgot, I also had a drainage tube in for 9 days. The removal was HORRIBLE, not painful, but the feeling of it you will never be ready for. Glad it is out.

Today I went to the doctor to get my weight checked and my drain pulled, weirdest feeling EVER! Hope I never have to experience that again. Since my pre-surgery diet I am down 20 lbs. Wooohoo! I plan to start walking now that I am off my pain meds so the lbs should start dropping.

I know I am super excited about the weight loss. Today was my first day in stage 3......I had crockpot chicken chopped and mashed carrots.......IT WAS AMAZING! I am so ready for this change.

So I am 8 days post op and thinking of going back to work in 2 days. Has anyone else went back this soon after surgery? I am hoping the doctor takes the pump out tomorrow so I don't have to worry about hiding it as I have not told people at work.

Thank you all for your input, I feel like I am ready. Going to the doctor tomorrow to get my release to go back on Friday. This should give me one day without the drainage tube and then give me the weekend to heal bit more.

So today is my 1 week post op. I have a few concerns. I think I overdid it yesterday my fluid in my JP drain doubled and is a deep DARK red. Previously it was a clearish and light red color. Should this concern me?Could I have injured myself?? The only pain I have is still the larger incision where my tummy came out of. I weighed myself and only have lost 3lbs this week? Is that normal?Don't get me wrong, I am still very happy with my decision to do this surgery. But I am wondering if I am doing anything wrong. Everything I consume has protein in it. I made treats protein filled too like my jello and pudding. I just don't know what more I can do to increase my initial weight loss. My stomach I guess could be swollen by my legs are not....