InfiniteButterfly

I was nervous too about losing a major portion of my stomach, but really, it's the best decision I could have made. Just the relief at not feeling hungry all the time is wonderful. I can focus on things other than when my next meal is going to be I found this site a few weeks prior to surgery, and honestly, reading on here made me positive I'd made the right decision. Even those who had complications were still more than happy with the procedure. And I was tired of always being the fat one sitting on the sidelines. I wanted to be the energetic one that has Energizer Bunny levels of energy...just keeps going and going and going...

I'm down 50, and I can see the difference in my face and I can feel the difference in my shirts. My pants feel the same (which makes me wonder how freaking tight they must have been when I was at full weight) I was around 45 lbs down when other people mentioned it to me.

My CRNP said not to expect solid BMs until we start eating more solid foods. When most of what you take in is liquid or puree, that's what comes out.

I was five days out. It was funny because I had just called my bariatric support to ask about it and they gave me permission to take Colase. Not five minutes after the phone call, I was running for the bathroom =P If it worries you, call your doctor and see what you can take. Different doctors recommend different things (for example, mine said absolute no to fiber)

I never ate McD's before surgery, so definitely not going to start post-surgery. My weakness is Chinese food, and I do plan on eating it again (pouch approval pending), but it won't be that difficult to cut out the rice and fried won-ton to rid myself of most of the carbs in my favorite foods. I guess I'm lucky that I wasn't a huge pizza/fast food eater before. My NUT actually approved pizza once I get far enough out. She suggests eating the toppings first and having a nibble of crust if I'm still hungry for it afterwards. Of course, I'm still a ways away from that point, and when the family had pizza the other night to Celebrate my son's graduation, I wasn't even slightly tempted. I was a little nauseated at the smell if anything. I hope it stays that way.

Definitely a warm compress and walking (not at the same time ) Those gas pains can be horrible at times.

Mine went away between the second and third week, I think? I was swollen for longer than I expected to be.

Good luck! You're the same age as my mom...she tried to tell me the other day that she thought she was too old to have VSG (or any WLS)...I tried to tell you're never too old to take control of your health. No worries about originality...a lot of people here have similar stories and have been in similar circumstances. Your story is still unique to you

The only time I got calls after my tests is when there was a problem and I needed re-tested.

I just went to my 4-week appointment today, and the doctor cleared me for anything I was comfortable with. He actually suggested I begin with light weights

I don't think it's spoiled to expect your new doc to at least ASK about your surgery/weight loss. After all, it does impact on other areas of your well-being. He doesn't have to be a cheerleader to show appropriate, professional interest in how you're doing.

It's definitely about the air with the straws. The difference with the tube and bite-valve is once it's primed, there's little to no air in the tube. My bf offered to prime it for me so I didn't have to worry about even the initial air And yes, the yoga is more than mere exercise...i always get up before the rest of the family, and it's definitely a way to center myself and clear my thoughts for the day ahead. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I didn't have it, so I'm pretty happy about being able to resume it and my other activities.

Wow. I'm incredibly glad for my regular doctor. He had his nurse call to check up on me two weeks post-surgery, since he won't see me until July and he wanted to know how the surgery had went and if there was anything I needed from him (he also prescribed my Iron at the same time...he'd noticed I was slightly anemic in my pre-surgery labs and wanted to make sure I was covered afterwards). I would think your doctor would at LEAST ask a few wellness-based questions from your weight loss and surgery. It IS a big deal and something he should be monitoring as well.

I do know a few people who have gained back significant amounts of weight post-surgery...but these are people who absolutely refused to follow their doctor's recommendations. They decided they'd rather eat what they want rather than live with the lifestyle change they initiated and at one time craved (this is part of the reason I was so fearful of surgery) Talking with my doctor, he said most of his patients (not all, but most) lose a significant amount of weight and keep most of it off. There's a little regain from the lowest weight, but more in the 10-20 lb range as your body settles into its new normal. I honestly couldn't believe that 86% of people who go through this would so completely disregard their doctors post-surgery and allow themselves to creep back up. I know with just the small amount I've lost I feel so much better, I want to do everything in my power to preserve this feeling. I don't want to ever go back to what I was.

When your doctor clears you? Some clear at 4 weeks, some at 6 weeks. I just hit 4 weeks and was cleared to do any exercise as tolerated, including swimming (the PA said my doctor usually clears at 4 weeks barring complications and provided the incisions are healed) YMMV.

Slight movement on the stall front: 259

I am so freaking happy I saw my surgeon today for my one-month post-op visit. Down 26 lbs since surgery (51 since I started my journey), and I've been cleared to go back to yoga and whatever other exercise I want (as tolerated). I can't tell you how much I've missed yoga...it's been a regular part of my morning for the past 7 years, and not being able to do it for the past month has been probably the most difficult part of post-surgery life. My surgeon's happy with my progress, and seemed pretty happy that I asked about exercise. I also asked about my Camelback, since I know straws are a no-no, and I wanted to see if that meant the bite-valve that I use on there was a no-no as well (he said he's never had the question before, but I could try it and see. if it bothers me, don't use it. If it doesn't, hydrate away and be happy ) I was very happy that he said not to worry about counting Protein right now. I mentioned that I was only taking in about 40 grams a day, and he said that's fine, because it's very difficult to be able to eat enough to get the full amount in at this point, and he'd rather I stay appropriately hydrated. In his words, the protein will come, so don't rush and stretch anything out, or hurt myself trying to take in more than I'm comfortable with. That makes me feel good, because I was worried about not getting enough protein at this point. Maybe I'm strange that yoga is the thing I've missed most post-surgery.

I've never been skinny, or small in any way. I was wearing size 16 when I entered high school, and was near 200 lbs when I started college. And I was a pudgy little girl too (although it was PC to say 'big boned' back then). I know what the BMI charts say my ideal weight is, and that's my goal weight, but honestly, it will be one of those wait and see situations. I just want to be healthy. And if I could somehow attain single-digits in clothing, all the better As long as I'm healthy, I'm not too worried about numbers.

I was actually getting more protein when I was doing three shakes a day than I am now on puree (with one shake in the morning and puree for lunch and dinner. Usually a loose-scrambled egg, refried beans, etc). I can't do snacks right now (just not hungry and can't force myself to take in more), so I'm averaging 45 grams of protein. I was getting an easy 60 with three shakes/day. It doesn't help that I can't eat yogurt right now (count me as lactose intolerant post-surgery...although I'm fine with cheese.)

I was sent home from the hospital with Roxicet...I don't know that I could have kept walking without it. Also, a binder or compression band helped immensely those first few days (I had a few pair of compression-top yoga pants that I wore walking, and it kept things from shifting too much) I think day 4 was my worst day...mostly because I walked too much on Day 3 and I felt like my insides were going to fall out the next day (that's when I discovered the compression pants) By Day 6, most of the pain had subsided and I felt a hundred percent better than I had. That gas pain is horrible :/

I wouldn't be able to get my protein in without at least one shake per day (only three weeks out though, and can't eat enough pureed foods to get anywhere close to goal) So Chike coffee protein is my go-to breakfast. It can be really difficult to get enough protein.

I did it to myself with chicken, of all things :/ I did puree it (made a chicken salad), and my insides very loudly protested that chicken was not acceptable. *sigh* I would have sooner mashed something tasty for the amount of pain rather than something so blah that's actually on the puree diet.

My dr said two weeks, and I could have sex as tolerated.

I am currently designing a full back tattoo, which I will get when I reach my final goal (and have whatever plastics may be needed...I don't want to invest that much and have it pulled out of shape) I should have plenty of time to save up for the work to be done, since I'm only three+ weeks out.

This made me giggle, not because you suffered and had to deal with all those things as I can relate. But because I could relate to playing video games until 2am and eating. I was wondering if there were any other munchies/gamers amongst the boards. Don't get me wrong in the evening I do still stay up and play video games until 2am >.> I just don't eat now! I don't even think about food when I play. Liberating! For the horde! Count me as another gamer/muncher! I still game (although not quite as much...I went back to college just before my surgery, so that cuts down on gametime.) but now I have a nice glass of ice Water sitting beside me to sip. I can't wait for Warlords of Draenor (kinda on a WoW hiatus until then, working my way through Borderlands 2 and Guild Wars 2)