CheleLynn45

I am almost 5 months post op and I am down 85lbs. I am working hard to be at 100 (or more) lost by my 6 month check up on April 28th.

I am a big baby, let me say that first. LOL And I thought my recovery would be horrible. I hate pain and hate being uncomfortable. I am not a very good patient. But my recovery went great with barely no pain, for that I was grateful! I only work part time (2-3 days a week) and I took 5 weeks off. With my job I could have went back after 3 weeks, but it was nice to have the additional 2 weeks off. I was into a routine and felt really good when I went back. I truly believe if you can afford to take what time you can. Your healing is so important in the beginning you really shouldn't push yourself if you don't have to. In the beginning it's sometimes tough mentally that you don't need the added pressure of working and pushing yourself. Good luck!!!

It can seem VERY overwhelming when you are starting out. So much info, so many changes, it's crazy. That is one reason I was so glad that I had to do a 6 month diet supervised by my doc. It really gave me time to wrap my head around how my life was going to change. I needed that time to understand how and why I was eating the way I was. some of it was pure lazinesss, some was emotional and some was just because I liked it. I didn't lose much weight during that 6 months but I didn't gain any either. So when my surgery date came I knew I was ready, especially when they moved my surgery from November 3rd to October 27th. Yikes!! I am a planner and that thur me off a little. lol The first few months I know for me I wasn't sure if I was doing things right, if I could have been doing more, but I trudged on thru and now I know I was doing everything right. I now have a NEW normal for me. I don't feel weird or different when I am out, I'm just me living my life the way I always should have. I am also very lucky because my husband and daughter are great about meals and try to help plan around what I can eat. And when I make them something that isn't the best for me I always have either tunafish or chicken on hand for me. As you go thru it day by day it will be easier, it does take planning and being prepared but it just makes it easier for you. I just got back from a 6 day trip to Disneyland and I had a blast, I ate at the parks, I brought my Protein powder and Quest bars with me and you know what when I got home I got on the scale the next day I had lost two pounds. Life after gastric sleeve surgery is DOABLE!! It might not be always easy but it is doable. Sorry this is so long I could go on and on, but remember why you are doing this. Good Luck with your journey!!

You can do it! Seriously just put your mind to it. I decided when I started this journey at 314lbs that I was going to work this tool for all it is worth!! I don't know when you were sleeved, but good luck!! Funny story, the very first ride we went to go on, my daughter who is thin was first in line to go thru the turn style, I wasn't worrying at all, especially after fitting so well on the plane. Well the first thing out of her mouth as she goes thru and I am right behind her is, "wow this is tiny!" Yikes!! But I went ahead and I fit thru just fine. But we all had a good laugh at it!!

Thanks!! I'm a Teacher and am off in the summers so I'm hoping for 3rd week in May so I can take the summer to recover and get adjusted That sounds like a great plan. I took 5 weeks off of my part time job after my surgery, and I am so glad I did. I definitely didn't need all that time healing wise, but it was nice to figure things out and get into a routine. I wish you the best of luck with your journey!! Watch out Disney.....Here she comes!!!!

@Martene81 Good Luck with your surgery!! Do you have a date yet??

Thanks so much ladies!! @Kindle I think that might be what has surprised me most of all thru this journey, is how normal I do feel. I wasn't sure what to expect after surgery. That is one reason I post like this is for the newbies, I know these were the posts that helped me the most!!

HAHA......okay not really but maybe that I am being silly??? We are leaving on this Friday for vacation. We are flying out and this will be the first time on a plane since my WLS. Now in the past when we fly I would always ask for a seatbelt extender as I was getting on. That way I was all prepared and ready to go. If it was just me and my daughter flying I would always put her in the middle so I wasn't oozing (for lack of a better word) onto someone I didn't know. Well it is me, my husband, my daughter and my mom going this time. My daughter and my mom will sit together and me and my husband will sit together. I have asked my husband to let me sit down and see how I fit and feel in the seat and if I am comfortable I will sit in the middle, if not he will let me sit on the aisle. Isn't he sweet?? (because of my husbands job when we fly, we preboard and he should sit in aisle seat.) Now both my husband and my daughter say I will be just fine and I shouldn't be worrying about fitting, but I just can't seem to not. This is the only part of the vacation that bothers me. I am so excited otherwise, we are headed to Diseyland and being 80lbs lighter I cannot wait to go and enjoy myself and not have to watch everyone else having fun. So I know once I board the plane sit my butt down I will be fine, it's just doing it. Everytime I fit some where that was tight before I get so excited and amazed. So this will just be one more of my NSV's I am hoping!! Thanks for letting me get this out!!

I have used My Fitness Pal in the past, but now I use my journal book I was given at my previous op class. I'm almost ready for another one. I like that I can customize it and log and track how and what I want to.

I just wanted to let you guys know that I got on the plane and fit just fine (had a little room on each side even.) As happy as I was with that I had another NSV that I wasn't expecting. When they came around with drinks I ordered my Water with no ice and then reached out to put my tray table down. And low and behold it came down and laid flat!! I was amazed. I usually always had to use my daughters or husband's tray on previous trips. I can tell you it felt great!!

@@britt1511 I am almost 5 months out, and I do feel actual hunger sometimes but it's not bad. You may want to up your Protein intake and make sure you are eating high protein calories. I did no snacking the first 4 months but now I find having a protein packed snack between my meals really helps and I am still losing weekly. Good luck and I hope you can find what works for you!!

I log my weight from my home scale. That is the weight I use for how much I have lost. Before a check in appt with my surgeon's office I always get back on my home scale once I am dressed and then compare it to my doc's scale weight. So far it has read me almost exactly 2lbs or 2.3lbs different so I chalk that up to my clothing and move on.

Hi......I am in Tucson, was sleeved on Oct 27th. @2/2015RN Who was your surgeon?

I don't think I am losing weight to fast, but I am super happy with my weight loss so far. Tomorrow I will be 19wks post op and as of today I am down 80lbs. I lost 9lbs on my one week pre op diet and the rest since surgery. I have been losing consistently every week since surgery. I am trying so hard to work this lovely tool for all it's worth before I hit my 6 month mark and things start slowing down.

@@Bluesea71 @@MichelleTN What do the vita melts taste like?? I use the Bariatric Advantage and I take one in the morning with my Protein tea and one around 2:30 in the afternoon. They are quite large but I can get them down without any trouble. I don't know if I am going to buy another bottle of them or try something different? I am the worse when it comes to taking pills. I have to place the pill way back in my throat and just swallow. I can't stand having them in my mouth touching my tongue.

Awesome NSV!! Love to hear it!!

As you transition thru your food stages you will definitely notice a difference in how full you feel. I am almost 5 months post op and weigh and measure things still. I learned the difference between full and one more bite discomfort early on. When I started with more solid foods I would feel a full feeling between my breasts, it was weird to me. Now that I know how much of what works for me that full feeling is down lower in my tummy area. Much more comfortable. Good luck with your journey!!

I will be 18 wks post op tomorrow and on Friday nite I was shopping with my daughter and we took a selfie to send to my mom. I have a before pic on here of the both of us and when I looked at it compared to the new one I was amazed at the difference. Just thought I would share it on here to help encourage anyone who might be struggling or help inspire those just starting out. I know stuff like this really helped motivate me in the beginning!! I am sorry that the second pic is sideways, I have tried everything I know (which isn't a lot when it comes to computers) to correct it.

Thanks so much everyone!

I was also worried about excess skin in the beginning. But like @@Babbs stated above, it's the obesity related issues that will get to you before the loose skin does. I am down almost 80lbs and I have to say I am quite surprised at how my skin is doing. I am starting to see some loose skin but I thought it would be way worse with this amount of weight loss. Now we will have to wait and see how it does after the next 60lbs come off. The last time I lost 80+ pounds in a year and half I had no sagging skin whatsoever. But I was also 14 years younger and lost it slower. All I know is for right now today.......I am ESTACTIC with my progress and LOVE how I am doing. I feel GREAT and am going to try, (that's all we can do) to not focus on what some might consider my flaws. I am amazed at what my body is able to do and handle now. Some days I actually say WOW out loud, my daughter thinks it funny how I do that. LOL I know reason #1 that I had this weight loss surgery was to get my butt healthy before I got to out of control, the way I look and feel would be #2 & #3. I was preaching to my dad that he had to start controlling what he had control over and realized I had to do the same, so I did!!

@gabby_megs thanks for the info......I was wondering about the drain thing too. I was sleeved on Oct 27 2014 and didn't have a drain either. When I started seeing people asking about drains I was wondering why some do and some don't?

I have followed my docs plan pretty close to the letter. But basically it is just my new lifestyle, I do not feel deprived or that I might be missing out on something. I was determined to follow the rules and work this tool for all it was worth. This way when I get to goal I can just continue on with my lifestyle with maintenance. Well that's the plan anyways!!

I had an issue around the 5 week post op mark and it was terrible. I started using Miralax in my decaf tea at night and have not had an issue since. I was so diligent about making sure I had my tea every night I did not want to go thru that again. For the past month or so I only use the miralax 2-3 times a week and I have still been fine. I go every morning right before I get on my scale.

Congratulations on your loss!!! You look great!! Here's to continued success!!

I would have to say the hardest part of deciding to have to surgery for me would have to be the belief in myself. I had to do a 6 month doc supervised diet per my insurance, and though most people hate this requirement I welcomed it. I took those 6 months to work on me, to figure out why I wasn't keeping the weight off in years past, figuring out if I could do the hard work that is required with the sleeve. So when my time came for surgery on October 27, 2014 I was ready!! I was confident I could do this and with my support team could tackle any obstacles that came my way. I believed in myself. Now I am 18wks post op and I am loving life!!! I am succeeding and I KNOW I will do just great!! I'm not perfect, but I am living the life I want and I am losing the weight. I TRULY BELIEVE that I can and I will be successful!!