HumanMerelyBeing

Zoumommy - I wasn't warned away from salsa and didn't have any trouble with about 1 TBLS with the egg. You are right though, it is an acidic food, so maybe there is reason to wait a bit longer.

Yeah, the over-salivation is bizarre and gross. What an excellent governor on eating too much or too fast.

I'm surprised, too. Most of my caregivers have been very supportive if not even guiding me that way. In fact, the reason I ultimately started to even think about and research it was because my cardiologist kept bringing it up. He said that the stats for WLS patients in terms of cardiac instances and other co-morbidities is much better - even if you only lost 50 or 60% of your excess weight. He also said that studies show that once a person has 100+ lbs to lose, the likelihood that they are going to do that on their own is pretty low.

I'll never forget, he called WLS "the 1-2 punch" that my weight needed.

I am also 3 weeks post op. I had 1 scrambled egg w/ some salsa for dinner recently and it took me about 20 minutes to eat. I couldn't quite get throuh the whole thing. My NUT suggests making each meal last about 20 minutes to ensure you are going slow enough but not to stretch it out past 30 because then you can start taking in too much at one sitting.

OK, so I am 3 weeks post op and I think I just experienced my first episode of pain following eating too fast? Or maybe not chewing enough?

I had about 1 oz of very soft turkey, which I have been tolerating fine, but I think I wasn't focused enough on my 25-35 chews and going slow. Ouch! I got a lot of pressure and tightness and over-salivating and general discomfort which passed after approximately 20+ minutes.

OK - I get it! Good reminder, sleeve!! You are in charge right now, not me!

I'm in the same boat. I was sleeved on 2/4 and hoped I would be pain-free by now. Some days are better than others, but bending down, getting up, putting socks on, etc are still hard due to that acute pain on the upper left side.

I read in a few other posts that some people just have this type of pain hanging on and my own doctor said to expect various levels of discomfort through 6 weeks and some have it longer.

As long as it's not worsening or something you've never felt before and as long as your incision site looks good, it's probably just part of the process. I'd say to listen to your body - if it really doesn't feel right, give a call into your surgeon's office.

Wow, this is really brilliant. Congrats.

Hi there - I am also here in CT. Just had my surgery on 2/4/14 at Hartford Hosp. I lost 22 lbs between the pre-op and 1st week post-op but now have been in a total stall for the last 2 weeks. So soon after surgery, this is a bit of a downer.

I am still in some pain so my walking has been minimal. I hope to pick this up in the next week.

You are doing amazing: 75 lbs in 4 months! You go girl!

It's probably muscle gain. Hang in there.

Southjerzjoy: I almost cried for you to read about your slip on the ice. OMG. Winter in the northeast - yikes.

Thanks for the encouragement. The first 18 pounds I lost during my nutrition visits over 4 months. Then I lost 11 on the pre-op diet and now 10 since surgery - but all in the first week. Then absolutely nothing for the last 2 weeks.

I'm thinking my body must be in starvation mode until I can start getting more in.

This is so uplifting. Your list of "non-scale victories" so to speak is so highly relevant, I think I will print it out. It really is all of these small things which add up to contribute to the experience of the 'fat life.'

I look forward to reaping some of the benefits you describe!! : )

I was sleeved on 2/4/214. I've been going along fine, trying to get in my liquids and my Protein etc and struggling at that right up through day 14, 15...then yesterday Day 16 - my appetite returned and I am hungry!! Same thing today.

And now I really want to eat every 2 to 3 hours or so. And I'm not having heartburn and I can drink my liquids without any difficulty. Like - Bam!! It just happened. I do get full after a few ounces of pureed and soft foods, but like seriously a switch feels like it just flipped in my system and it wants food again and can tolerate it. Yesterday, I edged up to about 450 calories and today I'll probably hit over 500.

Wow - I just didn't expect it to be so sudden. A few days ago I didn't think I'd ever get back to real eating again.

Is this normal?

As an aside, in the midst of all this: I am feeling like a WLS failure as I haven't lost one pound since day 7 post-op. I have this lingering doubt like maybe I went through all this and it just won't work for me. I am trying to be more rational, but it's bumming me out.

Phew! I needed this! Thanks for the wisdom.

OK, I really appreciated all the replies. I especially smiled at the overthinking comments. Wow - that's pretty accurate and a great reminder. I suspect I might be an overthinker.

Hee hee - In fact, I am also an over-researcher. For example, on Day 4 or 5 post op, I almost lost my voice (probably just post-anesthesia stuff) but of course, I googled it and found a number of sites that said some people never regained a normal voice post-op or could never sing again. Immediately, I imagined my new voiceless life. I was going to be like the Little Mermaid who had gotten her much wanted feet, but would never speak again. Quite a trade-off.

Of course, 2 days later my voice fully returned and that was that. It's probably good I am back to work this week - too much time to think = bad things!!!

I haven't had more than 300 calories/day since I was on the pre-op diet. I am two weeks out of surgery as of tomorrow. I really feel that my body has gone into total starvation mode, which of course, causes a stall so early in the process. I am really trying to get in more Protein and all my Water, but the Proteins feel so thick and I can only drink so much before major discomfort. Two weeks out I am still in some fair amount of pain both with movement and with swallowing.

Additionally, I can really feel the atrophy that has occurred in my legs, arms and my overall endurance level. I have been walking and using the treadmill - but wow...I really feel the physical decline of my body since surgery.

1st seminar: 283 lbs

Post nutrition visits (4 months): -17 lbs (266)

DOS (2/4/14): -11 lbs (255)

Week 1 Post Op: -11 lbs (244)

Week 2 Post Op: 0 lbs (244)

Well, that is all for my little pity party. I know this all will pass and recovery is happening, though slowly. I am amazed at those of you who reported no post-op pain, laying on side first night home from hospital and drinking with no issues. It makes me feel like a bit of a failure to realize that my body didn't go that way.

Ah well, brighter skies ahead, friends.

Thanks for posting this...I'm 2 weeks post-op and still cannot comfortably sleep on my side (either one). I have been wondering the exact same thing. I am a major side sleeper and so staying on my back makes for a pretty crumby night's sleep.

I'll be interested to see what others say who are further out.

Ahhhhh yes, see my post from a few days ago entitled, "Liquid Colace is the Devil!!". It's no joke. I am never having that again. Someone turned me on to Miralax which I have found effective since trying it.

Also, as I have started to get more active with walking since the pain is diminishing (10 days post op today), that has helped too.

Good luck and by all means throw your $17 bottle of colace into the pit!

Seriously people...doc said go with a liquid colace during these first few post ops days. But it is soooooooo gross even with Water or juice and with my pain I cannot afford to be dry heaving. It is like the makers of this product didn't even try to make it palatable. What else can I take.....

Oh, forgot to mention that switching from cold to warm fluids helped me a lot too. The warm just seemed to go down easier and provoke less violent reactions.

Yes, first day post op I couldn't get the sips in due to this gagging, over salivation state of nausea that I would go through. Horrible feeling. 2nd day it didn't happen at all and I feel I can actually get the fluids in.

It should pass soon.

I am 3 days post op and I too came to grips with the fact that this is really a major surgery. Just because a lot of people have done it and the risks are low doesn't make it less intense...so I hear you. Also, I had some thoughts that I might return to work in a week, but seeing as how near that is, I am starting to have doubts based on my pain levels. I do feel that I am getting better each day, but it feels a little slow.

Keep up the great work. We are strong enough for this and we are not alone.

The Superbowl has become a national holiday of sorts, hasn't it? I don't know how or why this has occurred, but the amount of shopping, planning, cooking and eating that occurs in this country rivals Thanksgiving, I think.

My husband made a bunch of delicious smelling items that filled the house and overwhelmed me on my 10TH DAY OF PRE-OP DIET. Seriously??? I mean, I haven't had more than 650 calories a day for the last 10 days. Man, was I fighting the head hunger and the physical response of the nearness of the food and for a few seconds I had a good old Pity Party and then....

I remembered! I remembered reading on one of the many wise posts on here, that sometimes you just have to get yourself outta there. And that's what I did - I took my Water and myself upstairs and closed the bedroom door and absorbed myself in other things and yes...it passed. And I got through it.

I have had to do this a few times during the pre-op and I hope I will be able to apply some of these skillful behaviors once I've post-op.

So, how are you doing? Looks like you are a few days out now. Hopefully, you are feeling good and no complications. Check in when you can.

Tomorrow is my day too!!! Get your liquids in today! I wish us both luck and I'll look for your posts after the fact!