katieTC

Hi no your not doing it wrong, your just learning. I'm 10 weeks out and I still have a ton of stuff to learn. Don't worry about your weight loss it comes off slow for some people. My sister is 2 weeks behind me and has lost a lot less but she is still loosing. I dropped a load of weight really fast and now I've stayed the same for weeks. It really is different for everyone. My doctor told me not to have shakes and just try to eat real foods at a consistency i could manage. I still struggle to drink enough water ( if I'm honest I never drink anywhere near enough water). Follow what your doctor says and just do your best. Try not to stress it's still a long road even with our sleeves but it's going to come off xxx

Any day now Katie and thy should pop!!! Right before mine did it got much more painful! Then the next day "pop" they went!! I'm hoping for you it is any minute!!!!!!

Yes the more activity I did the more pain I was in. I know everyone is different but just in case the day before they finally popped I was in the worst pain of all and felt like I was going backwards and so upset. I was 5 wks out and at shop rite an could hardly move. The next day is when yet FINALLY popped So keep that in mind. It might get worse before it gets better!! I prayed every night to wake up an the sutures popped. It was exactly 5 wks! What a relief!!! It does happen and you will feel much better!!! Hang in there!!!! Ohhh I feel your pain! But I hope I'm giving you hope as someone who went through it!!

Hang in there KatieTC! I was counting the days and minutes until my sutures popped! When they didn't in 2-4 wks like the dr said I cried for a wk! It would feel better than all of a sudden I would be in a lot of pain. For example 5 wks out I went to shop rite and could hardly walk or move I was in so much pain. The next day at one point I got up from the couch and was so excited I could move pain free and I was all better!!!! I didn't feel it pop I could jut bend and move pain free. My point it might not happen when they say it will. I thought they would never loosen but hold in there it does happen and you will instantly feel better!!!! I'm hoping for you everyday they pop soon!!!!!!!!

Thank girls I've called the nurse today she said it'll be my stitches being tight and all my insides fusing and healing becoming tight. Hopefully it shouldn't go on for much longer ten days or so. If it goes on for two weeks I have to call back.
On the plus side I've had great weight loss I'm already over a third of the way to my goal :)
No regrets happy days x x x

My sister & I have both eaten ourselves into oblivion so were going into this together. She's 5 days post op, mines Monday. She's still in pain and still ecstatic & bouncing. We'll get there. Xx

I had my op a week ago today. I was doing great with my recovery, eating well, moving about well and my pain was really starting to ease. Yesterday my pain came back massively, I feel like I've skipped back to day 3! I may have over done it I think as I was starting to potter about at home doing bits of house work and things. I find it very difficult to just sit still when I'm feeling ok. Well now I'm going to have to I'm in a lot of pain again. I'm not losing heart it's all part of the process I'll just go back to day three and start again. Hopefully that will help.
I can't wait to be thin ha ha :-D

Hi, You will find that some days are far better than others - maybe today/tomorrow you will feel like you are on day 9 - just listen to your body and try to take it easy. Rome wasn't built in a day

Try not to let people bum you out. You have a goal set and it will make you happy to achieve it. They're just not used to you seeing you looking different. They'll get used to it, do your thing and the others will catch up with you in time. Do what makes you happy x x x
I'm 5 days post op and my mother told me yesterday she's worried I lose to much weight cause my face is looking gaunt. Block out the stuff that holds you back and hold on to the stuff that pulls you through. X x x x

Try not to let people bum you out. You have a goal set and it will make you happy to achieve it. They're just not used to you seeing you looking different. They'll get used to it, do your thing and the others will catch up with you in time. Do what makes you happy x x x
I'm 5 days post op and my mother told me yesterday she's worried I lose to much weight cause my face is looking gaunt. Block out the stuff that holds you back and hold on to the stuff that pulls you through. X x x x

Hi all my jitters are gone ???????? I'm 4 days post op and I feel so great. I'm super positive and I'm so excited for my future. I had quite a bad time in hospital. My pain relief was negligent and there were a lot of mix ups. It was very stressful and I was really scared about the pain I was having but now I'm home and taking care of myself I am great. I move around as much as I can and rest regularly so as not to over do it. I'm very determined with my eating and drinking and stick rigidly to what my dietician tells me.
I know I did the right thing and I have no regrets at all. I'm so happy ????????????????❤️????

Top is last October at 246, bottom left is about 2 months post op at approx 200, bottom right is about 6 months post op (about 2 weeks ago) at about 161! Currently 158

First time I see there's pics together, just made my day! 238 to 148. . Surgery 3/6/12

What a great thread! Can't wait to be on the losers bench. You are all an inspiration!

I had posted before in a separate topic, but will post here too! I love seeing other pictures and find them inspirational, so I will post mine too!

Here are mine. Still have twenty lbs to go!

This is my before (282) and picture(175) still have about 20 pounds to go! I am almost 15 months postop.. So far total lost 109 pounds!

Hi all my jitters are gone ???????? I'm 4 days post op and I feel so great. I'm super positive and I'm so excited for my future. I had quite a bad time in hospital. My pain relief was negligent and there were a lot of mix ups. It was very stressful and I was really scared about the pain I was having but now I'm home and taking care of myself I am great. I move around as much as I can and rest regularly so as not to over do it. I'm very determined with my eating and drinking and stick rigidly to what my dietician tells me.
I know I did the right thing and I have no regrets at all. I'm so happy ????????????????❤️????

That's sad that you and your husband are at each other at the moment. That won't be helping your recovery much, you need as little stress as possible. It's a very intense time and you are both going through your own emotional roller coaster. I was having trouble deciding weather to have the band of the sleeve. I was concerned about the extra cost and the sleeve being more extreme but I didn't like all the risk surrounding a band. My husband helped my chose the sleeve over the band by researching and looking on forums he thought it was a better opp as I did and help me make peace with the struggles in my head. Now he's right on side, he asks lots of questions and I tell him exactly how I feel (good or bad), he still looks into things about the sleeve like after care programs and things and he's really positive about the whole program. He lets me take the reins when it comes to my aftercare and just supports me with the things I tell him I need.
You are very precious to your husband and this op is a very big deal to some people, I think some people really struggle to get their head around what happens next. Maybe if he reads some of the conversations on the forums and chats to a few people. I take my husband with me when I see my dietician or doctor if he wants to come. It helps him learn hearing things first hand. I'm sure your medical team wouldn't mind chatting over the phone with your husband to set his mind at ease and answer any if his questions. Hopefully the extra information will clear out the grey area for him. He may be feel a little useless and less frustrated. More knowledge of the procedure will help him feel confident when it comes to your aftercare.
I hope you both start to see eye to eye soon and both start enjoying your new life together x x x

Hello my lovely sleevevers I'm about 8 hours post opp!! Oh my lord the pain is out of this world but I'm staying strong. British stif upper lip n all that. I can not wait to be healed and really get this show on the road. Good look to everyone. Keep in touch! Xx

Im going for my pre op medical tomorrow then my op is on friday. Ive been getting pretty nervous, this forum has really helped me. I keep reading other peoples nerves and the great responses from people. I know I'm making the right choice but all the what if's and maybe's are creeping in. Does anyone have any tips? Any pointers of what you did post op that was helpful? I have no idea what to expect after my op. Im nervous that its going to be very painful. I am really looking forward to getting past that part and getting into my new life. I am a little worried about not exercising for six weeks after, im worried I start to develp saggy parts in just that short time.
All helpful hints welcome, advice and guidance is much appreciated.
K

Pre-op I focused how excited I was to be taking control of my weight problem, how happy I would be to see the scale going down, remembering how it felt to have clothes that fit, and that getting a sleeve was major but many people have successful surgeries far more extensive than a sleeve.
Post-op I did exactly like my doctor told me to. I set a timer for every 15 minutes to remind me to drink. I drank Protein drinks to kill two birds with one stone. I walked until I was tired or starting to get sore, usually 20 minutes every two hours. I slept in a lazy boy because it was much easier to get in and out of vs a bed. I did not rush to the next stage of food, I did not cheat at all.
After the first two weeks of liquid only ( my doctor requires 3 weeks of liquids) I was really ready for something I could chew, but I waited. I told myself it was a small sacrifice in light of how far I needed to go, and I knew that I had to learn to resist temptation if I wanted the sleeve to work for the rest of my life. I always take my Vitamins.
I weigh once a week at the most, and only if it feels like "a skinny day". I look to the future and sustaining the weight loss as my goal instead of losing X # of pounds. I think of future events and how I want to look, feel, and enjoy those events years down the road. This way of thinking helps me internalize that the sleeve is a life style change for the rest of my life, not just a quick way to get to certain size.

Post op is a little different for everyone. I had a very uneventful recovery, and very minimal discomfort. Recognize that even if you feel great, you are numb inside and need to heal so don't over do it. Take it in stages so you don't get overwhelmed. When I got home, I was on full liquids. The first few days I focused first on getting in all my liquids, then Protein. After about a week with no issues, I wasn't have trouble getting in my fluids, so I focused more on Protein. Which is what I have done since. You may be sensitive to temperatures, warm liquids went down easier initially for me. If you are concerned about anything that is happening - post. Someone is typically around and always willing to help or listen.
Though your exercise will be limited, walking is perfect for those first weeks. make time for it.
Best of luck to you!!!

Just think of it as a nap, and when you wake up, you will be on the road to the new you. If the pain is bad, it is temporary. For many of us, there was little pain, not much. I had no shoulder gas at all. For others, there were challenges, but they will have great advice for you as you come up with questions and concerns.
My best advice aside from get up and walk around, is that you may be more comfortable sleeping in a recliner for a few nights. It will make it easier to get up and down without pulling on your abdomen. Take care. We are here to encourage you.

Hi I know it's very distressing loosing your hair, I haven't yet had my op but I'm a hairdresser. As people have said your body is using all the nutrients in other parts of your body. Your also eating a lot less oils and fats. This has a major effect on your hair and skin. Try including in your Protein essential fatty acids, oil rich food like avocado, nuts and seeds, drink as much Water as you can. If you doctor allows you take additional Vitamins and include some oils like Vitamin E, oil of evening primrose. I don't think you can totally prevent the Hair loss but these things could help to reduce your hair loss and promote healthy Hair growth. Another thing which will help your hair grow is scalp massage. Gently massage your scalp when conditioning your hair, this encourages blood flow to your scalp which encourages cell renewal. For the hair you have left, be kind to it. Don't over use heat styling products, try not to put stress on it which will help prevent breakage and split ends. I hope at least some of this helps. Good look with your journey
K x