lylabelle

Surgery like this is a major life change. You can read the stats on major changes and how they effect relationships. Some will make it through, some won't.

I had to go back 5 days out. I flew to Mexico for surgery. Day 3 was hard, I had pain. But luckily I went to an amazing surgeon that keeps you 3 days so I had mophine in 2 minutes flat. Car rides were uncomfortable for about a week, but not painful - then suddenly I realized I wasn't feeling every bump in my tummy any more. We were given sublingual pain meds. I bought extra at the pharmacy before I left- never took them all. I'd love lots of time off but I work for myself (I do nails). So I had to get back to work. Wasn't overly exhausted.

My tip to water is to keep a water bottle in your hand all the time. Take little sips. Before you know it you will be through it! Many can't stand the taste of plan water, feel free to add flavor with any of the flavor drops.

Are you positive it's hunger??? Thirst is almost always listen for hunger! If you aren't getting in 2L a day, work on that. Also you could have acid, which for sleeve patients often mimics hunger. Try the 5 day pouch test to fix how much you eat.

I agree with the others about slowing down. I've only thrown up a few times and I eat anything. BUT if I eat too fast, it comes up. If I take a sip of water, it comes up. I'm able to stop pretty easy and may not have eaten more than normal. But slowing down is essential!! Use an app or timer. Use a toddler fork. You just have to train yourself.

My surgeon had a 2 week pre op low carb plan (basically Atkins induction). No required weight loss. For liver shrinkage only. We even got a "last supper" the night before since the liver doesn't change that much from one meal.

I'm so sorry you are having complications! I was on clear liquids for 10 days and regular liquids 10 days after that. I couldn't imagine trying to eat. Do they think you ya be just really swollen from surgery preventing things going down? I hope you don't have to bypass and they can figure out the problem soon I'll say this though, hopefully a bit encouraging, even the few of those who have had severe complications eventually were happy they had the sleeve. I think it's like aweful childbirth that doesn't go how you want and leads to more surgery (which I had). Lol. Eventually you are glad you did it

I had to eat out early on too. If I didn't eat slow enough or there were fluids in my stomach (drank 15 min before or after) then it all came up. Its a learning experience for sure!! You made it though. It will just get easier from here!

Wow what an amazing transformation!! You look like a completely different person! And I LOVE your outfit! Your start is near my start. Hows the skin??

Stick to the plan and remember you have a brand new baby tummy - how would a baby like hot sauce?? I think not! lol And you WILL stall, everyone does. Sooner or later, everyone does. And not just one. A ew days here, a few weeks there. Its not a straight path. The nice thing is with the sleeve you can't *really* sabatoge it too much because you can't eat that much! Just keep on your scheduled eating plan so you will heal nice, you dont' want leaks or anything.

Good good. My doc prescribes a PPI for everyone for a full 3 months after surgery just in case. Its important not only for quality of life but for healing! You'll feel much better once your on it.

Im a few months out and so far hasn't been bad. Its the waitresses that say the most!! I eat small bites so I always look like I'm chewing and push stuff on my plate around. I don't take long to eat, a few bites and I'm full. So I just do other things. Today at lunch with my new 7yr old i finished and we played eye spy (while she kept eating her lunch. Hilarious that she eats 3x what I do). Next week I'm glad to be going to the obesityhelp conference where they will talk about this topic. If they share any good tid bits I'll post.

I thought about tapering off but decided the pain meds would help curb any withdrawl headaches after surgery. So I drank diet pepsi like a fish up to surgery. lol It was the last thing I had the night before and I'm not gonna lie, I was a little sad to throw it down the sink when I hit my liquids cut off. I was easily a 2 liter bottle a day person. The plan worked = no withdrawl. And I havent had soda since surgery and havent really wanted it, which SHOCKS me. I love the crisp taste that is lost if its flat so flat soda isnt an option for me. They say tastes change and its true, maybe not right away but they do. After surgery I could drink power ade straight. As time goes things like Powerade zero has to be diluted 3x down. And some people (like my surgeons assistant, who was sleeved) don't like plain Water anymore. I like *some* plain water but im much pickier. Sometimes I kinda want a little before I eat, but as someone said, its not worth the money before you eat. You can't chug it, and you can't drink it after you eat. I thought not drinking and eating at the same time would be the death of me. Its gotten much easier and I barely think about it anymore. A few times I took a decent drink after eating and the results arne't plesant, so my body doesnt go for it anymore after I eat - and thats just water!! I can't imagine throwing carbination into the mix I plan to drink soda again but not for awhile. Doc suggested about 6 months after being at goal, so you can see if it has any effect on sleeve stretch or cravings or weight gain.

I have a hard time with eating Protein first a lot of the time because I get sick of meat, cheese and Beans. Ive easil stayed under 800 calories a day, but its a mixed bag on what it actually is. :/ I'm hoping at some point I get the extreme motivation to get back to just Protein shakes and meat, I'm sure I'll lose faster.

I'm a few weeks behind you and at 33. I think you are right on schedule. Its HARD seeing people 4 months out that lost 80 pounds or something, I know its not going to be me! But I think thats rare. Your doing just fine.

I think a lot of us probably do!! But bravo to you for only eating protein. I need to be better about that.

May he weird but about 7 weeks out, down 33lbs and would love to see some charts. I feel like I'd love to have an idea of the ups, downs and stalls people went through to encourage me on what is normal!

Habsi thank god I'm not the only one! I was aweful this weekend. Liquids only today!

Hi everyone! I'm Jess and I was sleeved by Dr Aceves May 30hth. Love that we have a NW group! My loss has been at a stall the last week or so. Hoping to pick it back up. I figure I lost 38lbs in less than 2 months so a stall isn't a bad thing, it lets my skin catch up. Just hope it gets going again soon!! jjj, are you having your daugther see Dr Beltran? He's who assisted Dr Aceves for years. So sad about him

Are your taking a prescription strength ppi? I don't every have real hunger. Wanting to eat is one thing, actual hunger is another. Many have stomach acid that mimics hunger, the ppi helps with that.

I had to have mine out when I was pregnant because I had a stone that was stuck. I didn't realize I had had gall bladder attacks for about 8 years!! I would just suffer throgh them - the last one though - it wouldn't go away for hours and I couldn't sit down - worst pain EVER. Its not a tough laproscopic surgery and they can probably use some of your sleeve scars. You'll get sent home, set your alarm to take your pain meds before they wear off. Likely it will have to go eventually.... it will be your decision how long you want to deal with getting around the problem before you finally decide just to do it.

I started my period at least 10 days earlier than normal. The head hunger is hard. You are only 3 days out so you have quite awhile until the real food. Its a tough few weeks but you are doing awesome on the water!

The Protein shots are not at all the same quality as isolate protein. Its certainly good if you can't get the other Proteins in but whey and isolate proteins are best as they have the essential amino acids. So while this may be ok to help get numbers up, you might want to consider high quality protein for most of your intake. Found this on another post - Collagen based protein is not a great choice for bariatric patients because it just simply doesn't have the essential amino acids that we need to survive. In other words, its just junk, pretty much like potato chips and soda. There's just not enough nutritional value in it to meet the high demands for protein that our surgery requires to keep us healthy.

Is she taking a ppi? Many have excess acid that mimics hunger.

PS - what do you all think about just doing a monthly group page now. We aren't posting as much so it makes sense.