missmagno

Thank you for your reply and book suggestion. I know I have turned to food when I just needed love. I know my family has always shown love with food. Now family get togethers will be different. My Mom has even said instead of going to lunch lets get a pedicure instead. Even now on a rough day I have found myself turning to a food as comfort . Except now it is not comfortable eating 2 ounces of food too fast. I have caught myself thinking why did I do that ? Learning all about my sleeve and my feelings. Every day is a challenge , any one who has said this surgery is the easy way out has no idea what a food addiction is like. I will be getting the book !

Wow! Thank you for posting your pics . Your before photo is like me pre-op and now 5 and half weeks post op. I have lost 34 lbs. and lost many inches. I am wearing clothes that I wore 4 to 5 years ago, yet it is still difficult to imagine a thinner me, your after pic helps me imagine that is more possible. Thank You! When did you start seeing yourself thinner?

I had a stall that started last week too. My surgery was on June 4th. I was frustrated about it because I was losing a pound a day until then. I went back to work and was walking alot more, being more active. I thought for sure I would lose faster, instead the scale would not move or .2 ounces loss. Then finally today I lost one pound, yeah !!! It made me look at what I was eating and did I drink all my water and I stopped a med. that wasn't doing anything for me anyway.

I am going, hope to see you too.

I am from New Jersey too, Old Bridge. It is nice to see so many people near here. I had my sleeve on June 4th. Today I am down 30.2 lbs! Fitting into clothes I haven't worn in four years. Surgery with Dr. Sadek at RWJ. Love the doctor, he did all of my husband's surgeries- band, band removal and sleeve! I have had the worst arthritis flare up since after the surgery, struggling to get pain relief. Been to ER, rheumatologist and soon to orthopaedist. Have a cyst on my left knee causing great pain. I know once I have this behind me my progress will be that much quicker. Some days I feel very discouraged. Going back to work tomorrow, nervous. Going to RWJ support group tonight.

I saw your post and empathize with you. Nearly right after surgery I had an arthritis flare-up. I was sleeved on June 4th. The NSAID's I would normally use to control pain I can no longer take. I asked my surgeon's office what to do and they said extra strength Tylenol. I want to be good to my new tummy as it is still healing so I comply. Then the flare-up takes a turn for the worse, so much I start looking in the medicine cabinet for anything I could get my hands on to relieve the pain. Drug seeking behavior is not my thing but the pain level was off the charts. Percocet and Vicodin do nothing! I go to the rheumatologist and he prescribes me a corticosteroid. I feel some temporary relief- one day, not working and then I go the emergency room. They give me a cocktail of Tramadol, Diluid and Percocet. The pain stopped, high as a kite. They did an ultrasound and found a cyst in my left knee. Relieved to know I don't have a blood clot and I am not dying. I go back to the rheumatologist go on biologics and another pain suppressant/mood enhancer. Trying to be patient with the medicines, giving them time to work. Pain relieved in all areas now but the left knee. Tomorrow I am contacting an orthopedic surgeon. I have shared a lot, hopefully not too much... the point is the surgeon has his specialty- cutting out my tummy, rheumatologist helps me some, the ER revealed the underlying problem and hopefully the orthopedic surgeon can do something about it. See a rheumatologist, they treat gout, maybe there is a new medicine. I wouldn't risk taking what you used to it could harm your new healing stomach. Hope you feel better I know gout hurts a lot- take care.

Surgery June 4th. Down 24.8 lbs! Also waist is down 2.5 inches. Hips down 2 inches. Neck is down 1 inch. Yeah!

I was sleeved on June 4th and immediately after I had a major flare up of my arthritis. Previously I relied on ibruprofen for pain relief day to day and for flare ups I went on corticosteroids and methotrexate. No NSAIDS now and have no relief with narcotic analgesics. I hope to start methotrexate soon. The pain has been unbearable, in fact I went to the ER last night because I seriously started to think maybe I had a blood clot. No blood clot, Thank God! I do have Baker's cysts behind my knee, due to inflammation. I will have to follow up with a surgeon. I have lost 19.6 lbs. and had hoped for more but due to lack of mobility I know I am not burning the calories I could be. I look forward to feeling better so I can make more progress! This will not stop me or get me down, I have come to far!!!!

Well last night I attended a charity ball. It was great to fit into a smaller size dress. My husband really like my dress too! I enjoyed cocktail hour, focused on choosing a few protein dense items. It was nice to not overstuff myself. I didn't feel cheated or left out in any way. I was able to stand the whole time instead of looking for a chair, my feet didn't hurt! For dinner I selected the salmon. I eat about 1.5 oz. chewing it real slow and the inside of a potato croquet. I missed having the salad but that is okay. Not ready for that yet. What a pleasure not to be tempted by the bread basket. I missed the coffee but that is okay too. I tasted the inside of an Italian pastry, but thought it was to sweet! The best part of the evening though was when my husband and I danced to At Last, our wedding song. We were able to be real close, the extra weight on him is gone - he had vsg Feb. 2013, and 19.6 lbs. and counting gone from my body too. Feeling good!

Good luck to all those who are having surgery today, you are making the right decision! Prayers and support are with you.

Well I had an avocado and two dilaudid. What a mistake. I feel so sick. My arthritis pain is awful , a 10+ on a 1-10 scale. It was so bad I contemplated going to the hospital. I had some dilaudid pills leftover from a previous surgery and was desperate for relief. I coupled it with my liquid extra strength tylenol and then felt calm and sleepy. Woke up in two hours in pain again. This time I took two pills- 4mg total. I don't know if it was the avocado and pill combination or just the pills? I go to the rheumatologist today at 12:30. I need a painkiller that will not hurt my new little stomach!!!! I just want to feel better, I do not know how people live with chronic pain. I regret not insisting on getter a stronger med at my one week follow up from surgery. I have been in arthritic pain since the surgery. The surgery seems like a walk in the park now. I am sorry for my rant. I hope this can help just one person who has pain issues so that they can have a serious plan of treatment before they have surgery.

Well I should have not had the avocado and pain killers. I feel so sick! I don't know if ut was the

Day one of mushies! For breakfast I had 2 oz. of whipped cottage cheese. Felt nice and full but not uncomfortable. For lunch I had two scrambled eggs cooked with a pat of butter and with less than a teaspoon of ketchup. Again feel full but not uncomfortable. I am down 19 lbs- surgery on June 4th. I look back on how I used to eat and before I used to be so hungry all the time, I wish I had done this sooner!

Day 12 post-op and have lost a total of 17.2 lbs since one week pre-op diet. Surgery recovery has gone very well. Besides nausea from my liquid vitamin I have done very well. I wish the weight loss would be more but I know I am headed in the right direction. However two days after surgery my arthritis had a major flare-up. I have not had a flare-up in a year. I am off my feet considerably, coupled with the weight loss there is less pressure on my joints. My diet does not have foods that aggravate my arthritis, no night shade ingredients in my protein shakes! I am starting to wonder if the stress of the surgery brought the flare up on?!$&@@ My surgeon says no Nsaids because of the risk of ulcers. Tylenol does not relieve the inflammation, only dulls the pain for a short time. My sleep is not restful because of the pain. I never the thought the recovery from surgery would have this complication. I have a rheumatologist appointment on Thursday and hope for some relief. There is not much information out there on arthritis and gastric sleeve surgery!

I had my surgery, sleeve, on June 4th. At my highest I was 297lbs. I am 5'4" and at the one week liquid pre- op diet I was 283 lbs. I had my monthly cylce during my liquid pre-op diet and lost 7.1 lbs. Surgery day I weighed 275.8. Today I am down to 265.8 lbs. I would love for it to be faster but I am very happy with my progress. I am wearing clothes I haven't worn in a long time. I feel lighter. My goal is to be between 135 and 150. It will take me a long time but I know it took me a lifetime to put the weight on. My husband had the sleeve one year and four months ago and has lost about 150lbs. He is the greatest support and example to me that it can be done!

Post op Day 6, much more energy. Down 7lbs. ! Discomfort at incision sites. Still a challenge getting up and down, I just take it easy. Tomorrow creamed/ strained soups, puddings and thicker shakes! Just took the longest nap ever, been having a hard time sleeping through the night.

It is good you are weaning yourself off of meds. I am only taking childrens liquid tylenol at bedtime. Last night I slept the most- six hours! I am trying to get back to a normal sleeping schedule after the hospital stay. They woke me up every two hours taking my vitals! This morning I took a nap for an hour, my body needs the rest to heal, so I listen to it. I am getting stir crazy though. I want to go somewhere, eat something other than liquid, and have more energy! I feel like the shakes make me go to the bathroom. Once I feel gas I just go. I am sure once I can switch to thicker liquids and mushies that will change. I will be on a liquid diet for two weeks, this seems like a lifetime. My stomach really doesn 't make noises but I feel the liquid go down, usually by my second sip I feel full, like a ton of bricks. Going to this site helps me alot. Good luck in your recovery.

Continuation of day 3 post op... Feeling challenged in getting the protein in. Isopure is disgusting . I can only tolerate 4 ounces at a time. Drinking my clear baritrack creamsicle, this shake will probably turn me off of ice cream creamsicles for the rest of my life. Homemade chicken broth feels the best. I am actually looking forward to a chocolate shake or vanilla, who would have thought that ! Today's goal is to go for a walk around the block.

Day 3 post op feeling tired, no pain, no nausea

Thank you for your well wishes. I wish you well today with your surgery . It will go fast once they get you in pre-op. Then you will wake up in recovery and hopefully you will get a room soon after that. Speak up if your in pain. Be ready for little sleep in the hospital, they are loud and bright. Bring lip balm with you, it will make you feel better since you will not be able to drink. I look forward to having ice chips and then broth if I pass my upper GI today. I never thought I would be happy about that! Good luck , stay calm and focus on your goals. Take care!

Well I made it through the surgery and now wait to see when I can go home today . Initially the pain post-op was bad. It felt like someone was laying on my chest and kicked my side. After drugs and walking and a nap I started to feel better. I slept very little 2 to 4 hours at a time , hospitals are loud and bright! My throat was sore and my mouth was dry like the desert . I read the boards for support and review before and after pics to keep me inspired. I have a lot of weight to lose to reach goal and seeing that other sleevers have done it successfully makes me believe I can do it too, thank you!

My surgery is tomorrow also, 11 am, I have to be there at 9am. I didn't even think about the no water thing , ughhh! I am so excited and nervous. I will never be this weight again in my life, that is such a great feeling. Good luck with your recovery!

I am on day four of pre-op liquid diet and I cheated too today. You are not alone in how you feel. I felt sick afterwards. It is better we did this before because we will not be able to do this after the surgery without painful consequences. Our bodies are in starvation mode and we reacted the only way we have been for years. We are human and we lost our will power. Soon we will have a tool in place to help us. Stay strong and busy!