karen44

WOW, I did it! I have reached my personal goal of 100 lbs gone by 1 year. I had my sleeve surgery on July 26, 2013. I still have 30 lbs to go, but this is the moment for me!
I often get asked would I do the surgery again. OF COURSE, I would. If I had to do surgery every year I would do it. NO DIET WORKS. It has to be a lifestyle change (yes, we have heard that before, but did we every believe it?). I spent years thinking it was my fault I couldn't stay on a diet. It was my fault I couldn't keep the weight off. Well guess what? It isn't my fault. Without the surgery I can't even think where I would be right now, probably spending $100s of dollars on a diet plan that "works" for a short period and going off of it because I am too hungry. And then gaining more weight because my body is in "Feed Me" mode because I starved it.
It is soooo wonderful to be off that roller coaster! When I tell people "I used to be hungry all the time" they just can't comprehend what that means. Unless you have been in my shoes, you don't understand. But you do! We are the only people that can understand what it means, how it makes you feel and what a struggle it is.
So, my next goal is to take off the 30 to reach my total goal. However long that takes, is fine with me!
Happy Friday!
Joan

I'm 5 days out. Day 1 fine. Day 2 omg what did I do , buyers remorse . Nausea vomiting. Day 4 felt good. Day 5 omg ! Feel wonderful . New chapter starting for all of us. Best of luck!

Hi! I'm just nervous but know it's for the best, I can lose but never keep the weight off and I'm tired of this, been heavy since 12 and I'm 40!

I'm 5 days out. Day 1 fine. Day 2 omg what did I do , buyers remorse . Nausea vomiting. Day 4 felt good. Day 5 omg ! Feel wonderful . New chapter starting for all of us. Best of luck!

I'm 5 days out. Day 1 fine. Day 2 omg what did I do , buyers remorse . Nausea vomiting. Day 4 felt good. Day 5 omg ! Feel wonderful . New chapter starting for all of us. Best of luck!

Hang in there! Breath in as you acknowledge the fear.... then breath out with the knowledge that this will pass and you, along with thousands before, are on your way to a transformed new life; honor this tool, and handle it with reverence, and it will serve you greatly!

I am 7 weeks post op today and like the other ladies I get so full on so little. I love that I can just share with my husband if we go somewhere. Before i would have to eat a lot to feel really full and then not only did i feel really full, but it was heavy on my stomach as well. I really love being able to feel full on little BUT without the heavy feeling. I would feel really full after half a pudding too at first, now I can at least get a whole pudding down, even a yogurt for Breakfast, even though it takes me a half hour, lol. But i love that just a yogurt will fill me up. It's been very much worth it! I had no complications, everything healed nicely and i am so glad i did it! I have lost 20 lbs so far. Good luck with your surgeries, hope all goes well

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS POST!!! I'm having surgery in a few weeks and it's great reading posts like yours Congrats on the loss and feeling of fullness. This also just made me realize how much money I will save when eating out! One Panera Soup will last me 4 meals!

It feels so good! I never knew how much I craved that feeling. I just almost never felt it before the sleeve. I know I'm still newly post op and will be able to eat more later on , but I feel like I have more control now. food does not run my life anymore.

i know! i couldn't finish a puddin cup and i was full. I was Never full!

i know! i couldn't finish a puddin cup and i was full. I was Never full!

Okay, this liquid diet is tough.... So I've been trying to come up with some variations. What have you been having?
Peanut Butter Malt
Tonight's dinner is a vanilla Protein Powder, skim milk, cocoa powder, Davincis sugar free peanut butter Syrup and a whole ton of ice mix in the Vitamix. It turned out like chocolate peanut butter soft ice cream..the consistency of a Wendy's malt.
Jello dream
Sugar free Jello mixed with greek yogurt
Puddin' dream
Sugar free pudding mixed with greek yogurt
( I'm going to try this frozen)

I went through that, for me it was a combination of a swelled stomach (given a steroid to reduce swelling) and my pain med making me sick.

I'm sorry to hear that you are so sick. I know it is very painful when you are vomiting. I had surgery almost 4 weeks ago and I feel completly normal now. (Besides my diet) I also had buyers remorse the first week but each day you will feel better and better. I was thinking that was the worst week of my life.
Remember why you did it and try to imagine the end result. Keep your chin up!!

Although I didn't have an issue keeping anything down, I, too had buyers remorse immediately after surgery. I think it's normal.
Be kind to yourself mentally - it's done, there's nothing you can do about it anyway.
Take care of yourself physically - you're healing from major surgery. I found walking was the best medicine for me. I wasn't fast and I couldn't walk for long periods - in the beginning I just paced around the condo, then added a trip around the parking lot.
As I felt better - around day 3 or 4, my 2nd thoughts started to subside. However, even now, 7 months out I do have thoughts about "Did I do the right thing?" "What did I do to my body?" Those thoughts are few and far between, but I do still have them. On the whole, barring marrying my husband and having my son, this was the best decision I've made in my life.
You're going to do fine...

Hi honey - hang in there! I'm on day three and feel like I turned a corner. Still a little discomfort, but I'm surprised at how much better I feel today. I have a good friend that went before me and she said that the first week is the hardest, but she never looked back after that. As you probably heard from others you need to walk, walk, walk. I'll walk and then rest and then get up and walk some more. Sip your drinks slowly but stay hydrated. I had a small Protein shake this morning with 10 grams of Protein. I was only able to get 1/2 down but I finished it a few hours later. You are going to be ok and even happy with your decision when you get past this. Think of why you did this and tell yourself that it's only a few days to a week of this feeling. I'll pray for you sweetie. You can email me privately if you want to talk

I didn't have those problems, however, I did feel like crap. I did have a few moments of regret. Then I thought, I chose this, I can handle this. I've thrown up twice. In recovery and earlier this month.
Try to remember, it will get better. It's only day two and surgery is traumatic. It was major surgery and it takes time. The anaesthesia can affect you in many different ways. Give yourself time to adjust. Try to sleep and recover now. Also, call your doc. They should know you aren't keeping anything down.

This may sound lame, but it gets better.
Can you take anti-nausea medication? Try ice chips, cold or warm Water, Gatoraide 2. See if anything works for you.

I had the same thing. It was just a matter of finding the right combination of anti-nausea meds. Are you still in the hospital? I ended up being there for 3 days because I couldn't get off the iv due to the constant vomiting. BUT once they get the meds right I stopped and haven't been sick or nauseous since. And I was only on the meds for 2 days at home then I stopped because I was fine. I am 2 weeks out today and doing well! Don't regret your decision - it will all be great!

ME ME! June 3rd! I am so excited! Having at the University of Chicago. I'd love to follow and be friends with anyone within the same time frame, really ANYONE who has gone through this or is going to! Support is everything!

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled for June11th. I do not have a support system and would love to make friends on our journey towards health.
Karen.

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled for June11th. I do not have a support system and would love to make friends on our journey towards health.
Karen.

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled for June11th. I do not have a support system and would love to make friends on our journey towards health.
Karen.

You are getting advice from some Very Wise Folks here! I'm a recovering binge eater too. I was bulimic for 15 years then 'upgraded' to the binging only. :-) Vsg has been an excellent tool for me so far. My tastes have changed, esp with regard to sweets and chocolate. I actually took a bite of my song's Bosco stick the other night and ended up spitting it back out. Weird, funky, yeast nastiness. It's literally just how I felt when I was pregnant, during my first trimester.
I have had a few minor binges, but we're talking a tiny fraction of what it used to be. Not be able to alternate between sweet and savory REALLY puts a damper on things for me. I used to chase pizza with soda or ice cream. Now I cant imagine the stomach discomfort of drinking soda, and ice cream just reminds me of a frozen Protein shake! Who needs that?
Of course, the head hunger issues have to be dealt with constructively. After all, I just spent 45 years medicating all possible unpleasant emotions with food. Now I do things like getting on Bariatric Pal. I also find that exercise, my increasing strength, huge decrease in physical pain, better sleep, and increasing confidence are fantastic mood boosters.
I am so glad I made this radical commitment to my health!

I agree with PDXman ,,it won't cure binge ester. However I find it helps tremendously. ..I was a binge eater. I saw an eating disorder psychologist for 8 weeks prior to surgery. And seeing her every other week after my sleeve surgery. I use food when I am stressed, too tired or feel very anxious. The sleeve has def curbed my physical hunger ..but I have to still be aware of my head. When head hi pungent raises it's ugly head. I analyze myself ..figure out why I feel this way..and take action.. Either by slowing down, lay on soda and rest. I started a consulting job and this made me so anxious..nervous feeling. I had to talk to myself and say that my health i pis much more important than any job. Putting me as priority..not a job that I doing to fill up time I gave on my hands,
I can honestly say that I had a 'small binge" only one day. since surgery. Nothing could fill me up..mentally. However , physically I was sick.I ate the wrong foods. After I analyzed myself.,and understood what made me ear unhealthy foods. I got composed and went right back with eating my nutritious meals the rest of the day. In the past, I would intake about 2,000 to 3,000 calories of junk during a binge Mostly sweets. The "binge I had with the sleeve was about 500 calories. I did not beat myself up with this...cause I understood myself as to why it occurred. I did post on this website that day for encouragement. It helped tremendously. Prior to surgery , the all or none attitude (perfection) with my setting would send me on a binge for days.. I would say..oh I will try again on Monday.
One more thing, the sleeve has decreased my appetite tremendously, when I eat my Protein first, then veggies..I am very satisfied and I usually don't want another bite. Prior to surgery , I had a bottomless pit and never felt full..even after a binge.