Macsgrandma03

I realized today that my sleeve deserves a whole new name. I was going with "she who must be obeyed". As of today it it "The heartless, ruthless, soul sucking, b%tch from h3ll." For over a week, I have been having problems. Oh no, "she' that vile creature from h3ll, couldn't let me know right away that something didn't agree with me. "she" had to wait over 30 minutes to let me know. First time, new to me Protein Shake. Vega one. All was well and good and then BAM!! The torture began. Hot flashes, cramps, stomach pain, the urge to throw up and that ever relentless pain. After about 3 hours, it eased off. I did feel like hammered poop the rest of the day, but I got through it.
Today, I went to the grocery store. I had my why bother, Decaf, sugar free, fat free coffee. I get coconut crusted talapia and chicken breasts.
Come home and decide to eat part of a chicken breast ( I was hungry), then go to the consignment shops and find some clothes that fit.
I get there and start trying on clothes. I get 18s, too big. I grab some 16s, a little tight but I know I will fit them soon. (at this point I'm grinning like a loon and looking in the mirror and say you got to a 16).
Then like a cat deciding to pounce, a little pain. Ok, thinking I'm a little excited, I can deal.
Grab more clothes to try on, the pain get worse. Look at my watch, 45 minutes since I ate. Ok, I'll buy the dress I like and leave. Then it really hits.
It feels like someone has grabbed my chest and started squeezing. Ok, play time over, time to go. I give the clothes back and leave, hunched over and gasping like a smoker trying to yell bingo.
While driving home, the pain moves. To my back and lower stomach. I unzip my pants, eases the pain. The upper chest is really bothering me and I pull at my bra. At this point I'm thinking is this a heart attack? Chest hurts, back hurts....the neck doesn't hurt, no tingling in the left arm. Besides, had the old ticker checked in March. All normal.
Pulling on the bra seemed to ease some pain so I think, I could slip the bra off, not pretty, but I'd feel better. I didn't do it. Don't want anybody to look over and go blind while screaming UNSEE!!! I finally make it home and as the garage door is closing I'm ripping off clothes. It eases the pain but what the h3ll?! Not my typical allergic reaction. It feels like an allergic reaction. I get two tylenol. It kicks in and I begin to feel better. Then the diarrhea hits. I'm thinking good thing I didn't fart. We all know not to trust a fart.
So my sleeve is acting like a cat. It ignores me for the longest time, then goes berserk. Why? Who knows why cats do things? Because they are cats. Sleeves belong in the same category. You give cats catnip to make them happy. What do you give sleeves? Maalox?
These new developments are frustrating. That heartless b&tch called a sleeve is constantly changing the game. That reminds me again....sleeves are like cats.

Hello all,
In keeping with my hit and run update posts I offer the following. Today is 74 days Post-Op and as of this morning I am down 95 pounds. I cannot believe it but I am so close to 100 pounds gone. Getting sleeved was the best decision of my life! Good Luck to all...we can do this!

Quite honestly everyone loses weight at different paces as you will hear from responses not to mention the stalls you will experience. Don't be discouraged when that happens though It will be your body's way of adapting and you will find encouragement in the dedicated forum. For me, I lost a lot in the 1st month ~ 30lbs. I have now been averaging 1-3 lbs a week give or take since I have stalled twice. 1st stall lasted 3 weeks and the 2nd lasted 1 week. Good news is that I still lost in inches during those instances and am happy with my overall progress so far: 62lbs lost in 3.5 months. Good luck with your surgery!

Now I'm on my way to the next century...lol...then I'll almost be there! Thanks for all the support, kindness, humor, advice, and tough love that y'all provide! You rock! Every one of you!!

Ok, where is your doctor? Making protein fruit shakes for patients? I'm jealous.

Aria it works with my fitbit

Use to scare me, but I am so happy to say that even at a high weight, I can look at the number and instantly know that this is the last time I will ever see that number I am so happy with my decision thus far. I will be 3 weeks out tomorrow and can't wait to be able to eat a "normal size" portion and live my skinny life

I'm just over two weeks post op gastric sleeve, and I am so happy I finally did this for myself! It hasn't been easy, but all things considered, I've been extremely lucky not not have experienced any complications! I spent one night in the hospital before I went home, had virtually no pain since getting home, started sleeping on my stomach again 5 days post op, no nausea or reflux... I'm counting my blessings!! I'm back on puréed foods, and am truly amazed at the tiny amount that satisfies me! Literally 1/4 cup or less and I'm done! It's true that you really notice the restriction once you enter into more solid foods. The liquid phase made me a little nervous because I was able to drink about 8 oz over 20 min without much difficulty. I'm doing my best to learn what "full" feels like, because again, like people have said, it feels different than before surgery. For me, I know I'm full when I feel that little bit of chest tightness, and I get burpy! I also notice that when I eat or drink too fast I burp more, so that's my queue to slow down. I'm enjoying walks almost every day, usually with my two dogs. Right now I'm cleared for activity for 20 min increments. For me, that's about a 1 mile walk around my neighborhood. I have my two week post op on Wednesday and hopefully will be cleared for 60 min of activity and will be able to lift more than 10lbs! I'll also get my steri strips off. Thank goodness, because those suckers ITCH! I have a couple that are loose, but I haven't pulled them off. My surgeon said that he's found that if they stay on for at least two weeks, it really helps with scarring. He said he'd remove them at my first post op, and I'm ready, haha! I took four weeks off from work (I work as a nurse in a busy OB/Gyn office) and am really enjoying my time off! These last two weeks are really to get into my new eating routine And get in daily exercise. After I go back to work, my plan is to hit the gym across the street from the hospital a few days a week for my cardio and strength training. So far I'm down almost 24 lbs, including my pre op week, and I'm so happy!!
Height: 5ft 5.5in
Start weight (7/21/14): 262
Surgery day (7/28/14): 249
Current weight (8/12/14): 238

Pic of me at the beginning of my pre op diet and two weeks post op. It's subtle, but I can notice small differences

I never counted calories and never plan to. Like Beaglelover, I had surgery so I wouldn't have to do all that diet stuff ever again. I just get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water and eat smart.
But you need to find what works best for you in the long run....I'm just not a tracker/counter kind of gal.

I never did count my calories. If you're eating the appropriate amounts and types of foods, calories counting is pointless.

Heck no! Isn't that one of the benefits of having the surgery--- getting away from all that dieting shhhtuff! My NUT said, if you count anything, count Protein grams to make sure you're getting enough. I imagine, after you do that for a few months, you'd have it down & wouldn't even have to do that.
Congratulations on your continuing progress. It sounds like you're working hard.

I just saw a mouthwatering commercial for Denny's Red, White, and Blue pancakes. So, since I don't eat at restaurants hardly any at all, I thought I would look up their alleged nutrition. An 11 ounce serving has 490 calories of which 80 are fat calories, 1280 grams of sodium, 94 carbs, and 36 grams of sugar. In my pre-sleeve life I would have so gone for that without even considering the nutritional values. I am so glad for my new post-op plan. I am not sluggish from sugar or ready to fall asleep at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I do not mind at all to eat at home where the ingredients of any meal can be controlled. That's not a burden - it is a release from the influence of advertising.

Too bad the gas can't plump them up a bit!

I hope the photo shows up. 63 lbs in under four months. The ones I'm hiding behind were my largest (26). New ones a 20. Excited about all the 18's I'm collecting!

Here is my version of the very simple rules I have to follow if I want to get to my goal weight and stay healthy:
Consume 60-80 gm Protein per day and 60-80 oz of Clear liquids per day. Every day. Do not drink anything for at least 30 minutes before a meal or snack. If you forget and do drink, re-set the timer and wait another 30 minutes before you eat. Eat dense Protein first at every meal. If you have room, eat a very few bites of non-starchy veggie in addition. Decide how many meals and/or protein Snacks you're going to have per day* (or how many calories) and stick to it. Every day. Do not eat between meals. Wait at least 30 minutes after every meal or snack before drinking anything. If your mouth gets really dry you could rinse after eating, brush your teeth or chew gum. I avoid alcohol because I'm concerned it would decrease my ability to resist bad food choices. Follow those rules at least 90% of the time, and you will succeed. For the other 10%, do not beat yourself up - just get back on the wagon immediately and Sleeve On!
* The two ways I know of to lose weight are 1) Low calorie; 2) Low carb. I chose low carb because I can eat more volume and I don't have to count calories - the Atkins diet. I eat every 4 hours (8a, 12n, 4p and 8p), and I keep my carb intake as low as humanly possible. Both factors contribute to my never being hungry for very long at a time.
Best wishes!

Hello Everyone, I just stumbled upon your group. I had my surgery on 6/9. Will you still let me chat with you? :-) I'm on the same journey as you, just a few short weeks ahead.

We have a secret July Sleevers Facebook. It's already got 110 members. If you add me as a friend on Facebook I can add you to the group of you like. However I'll delete you from my page after, only cause I'd rather get to know everyone through our group before adding you as a friend on my personal page. So don't take offense please! The group is great though so we'd love yall to join us!
Facebook.com / mrs.pamelaclark

LOL! The other day I went in to see the NP.....she said I can tell in your face you are losing weight....I laughed and said "I am waiting for the day that you tell me that you can tell with my butt that I am losing weight"!

Don't obess with the scales. The first month you should focus on letting your body heal...it has been through a lot!

congratulations! everything i've been reading on these forums for the last year have taught me that the most important things to do now are to follow your doctor's orders to a T, get all your Water in, and get all your Protein in. and rest and heal! let us know how you are doing.

Today was day 6 of my liquid diet. I had a really bad, stressful day. I wanted to dive into a 1/2 gallon of butter pecan ice cream.... As I walked through the grocery I started rationalizing that my Dr. only prescribed 7 days of liquids, not 14, so "technically" I didn't have to start till Thursday...What did I do? I had a coupon for $1.50 off a 4 pack of EAS shakes. I grabbed the shakes and checked out. When I got home, I took a French vanilla Advantedge shake, added a few drops of butter pecan extract, some ice cubes, and threw it all in a blender. It was yummy, and I didn't have to feel guilty and remorseful like I would have had I bought and eaten that ice cream. A NSV (non-scale victory).