SkinnyDown

I was in recovery for 2 hours. My surgery took 5 hours. Some complications, including a stapler that was stuck in the closed position, and adhesions and scar tissue from a previous abdominal surgery. I got an infection in the hospital, and was finally released after a week. I'm doing fine now. I wouldn't say I"m typical. Plenty of people seem to have things much easier in and out.

I think it's pretty clear we all have different triggers. Certain foods that don't work for us. I've found quite a few things I used to love, that are on my approved list, that I just can't eat anymore. I can eat 2 Breton whole wheat crackers or 1 melba toast, with no problems. But if that chicken isn't moist enough, forget it, it will get stuck and won't go down. I've never had dumping syndrome either, so I don't know what it really feels like. I sure don't want it though! lol

Sure it was dumping? It doesn't seem there was too much sugar there. Are you sure you just didn't overdo on portion size? I know it only takes one spoonful too much for me to get very sick feeling. I stay away from any sugar, so I don't believe I have ever had a dumping issue thus far. But I have taken one bite too much, but it was horrible, the pain for like an hour to two afterwards.

Congratulations!

NOW.....you're living! Your joy is contagious. Keep going!

Yeah I bet that chicken got stuck is what happened. Are you supposed to be eating chicken this early? I'd look at all your information or call your NUT, to make sure that's approved food this early. I was still on full liquids a month out and just transitioning to soft foods.

Woot!

@@bradturnbow@hotmail.com Hi Brad, welcome! Sounds like you are doing great. Keep going!

I have a sister who always wears dresses like that, and she finds cute little retro 50's sweaters to go over them so she can wear them year round. The kind of sweaters that usually are 3/4 length sleeves and have embroidered flowers or birds or designs with beads on them. She always wears mary janes and ankle socks, the lace kind. I'd stay away from saddle shoes and neck scarves unless you're going for the sock hop look of the 50's. If you want to remain true rockabilly, check out Pinterest, and do a search for Rockabilly, you'll find tons of ideas! For hair and makeup too! I love the dress! When I get to goal, watch out, I can't even believe I'm saying this, but I am not only going to rock my punk/goth look I love, but I'll do the whole rockabilly psychobilly thing too! I'm ready for some wild fashions! hehehe We want pictures, when you get all dressed up!

I am a food addict too. I spent almost a year in therapy before my surgery working on my addiction issues. I had to get down the real reasons I was eating, trying to fill up this empty space inside me. Why I used food to comfort me, and all the answers were right there. It wasn't hard to figure out. It was a lifetime...48 years or so to finally admit I had a problem. To finally say, this has to stop. This is no different than a heroin addiction or a gambling addiction. No difference at all. I knew it when there was a time before surgery I would start to get panicked, and freaked out if I was getting low, or didn't have junk foods and sweets in my house....I'd start getting really anxious, and because I am disabled and don't drive, I would have to find someone to get me something, like a fix! It was all I could focus on....when can I get more? Donuts, chocolates, potato chips, cheetos ...anything, to satisfy those urges. I was hiding food when I went grocery shopping underneath "good" food so no one would see how much crap I was eating. Boxes of Cookies, and donuts, creme horns, cakes, twinkies, bags of chips, ice cream, ...you name it. My point being....it's a real addiction and needs to be treated as such. I don't have head hunger thank goodness, I don't even have real hunger. I don't even like the taste of food at this point, for the most part, because my taste has changed so much. Things I loved before, even "good" stuff, I can't even stomach now. I can't even drink cold Water now. LOL It's nearing 3.5 months since surgery, and I've lost 81 lbs. Believe me, It's worth it. I'm almost halfway to goal. You have to, imo, stop focusing on food. Start doing other things. I have a list of things I can go to, things to do in my house, even deep cleaning and sorting out things and organizing areas/closets, art projects, crafts, watch movies/series, post more here... if I ever do get to craving anything. Hopefully things will be better for you once you start soft foods. The focus has to stop being on the food, and being on how healthy you are getting, how much better you will feel, how much more active you can be, and how much better you'll feel about yourself. My biggest advice would be, if you aren't already, get into therapy, and deal with those addiction issues, or they will come back and haunt you. Believe me, I know that anytime, any day ...I could slip up, and I could be in serious trouble. I still have therapy twice a month. I do not want to gain this weight back, I need to move forward. I think you feel the same way! I encourage you to join all of us, who are doing the same. Keep writing here, there is a lot of support, and help if and when you need it. Stay strong.

I sure hope you get to feeling better soon! I haven't heard of this, but maybe someone else has. Keep us updated.

That wasn't an offhanded comment or a mistake. As a woman, I know, and most women know, the true cattiness that can happen. We've all been there. I've quite honestly, been on both sides of it. I got my first nasty comment a few weeks ago, about my loss thus far. In a professional setting in front of a waiting room full of people. I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to make a scene, but it took a lot for me not to. I'm still upset I let it slide. This person is bitter because she wants the surgery, and her insurance doesn't pay for it. Not my fault. Not my problem, and not my business. That's my attitude. So I decided, I will not take any more nasty remarks from ANYONE. If that happens, I will get up in someone's face, as I should have done to that receptionist. I'm faster now that I am 81 lbs lighter. So they better watch out. LOL I will say this, the best response after thinking how I will respond to future nasty remarks, is to give it right back to her! I'd say ohhh hmmm, that's weird, I lost another 10 lbs, maybe you need your eyes checked, aging can make your eyes go bad, but now that you mention getting thicker, I was thinking you looked like you had put on a few lbs. And immediately walk away before she could say a thing. That's truly imo the best you can do, give it right back to them. At least you won't walk away feeling bad, and they'll get a taste of their own medicine.

@@FocusOnMeNow Thank you so much for the clarification! This has been troubling me since surgery and no one has answered me before! Thanks So let's remember to remind people who are in pain that walking helps to dissipate the gas they blow you up with, not farting! LOL But if you are having side pains you might need to let one rip. hehehehe Hey we've all been through this surgery or going to be going through it. It's good to just clear the air.

RNY is reversible. Sleeve is not. They toss out all the stomach that gets cut off, with sleeve surgery. I did NOT want that surgery, I wanted something that if need be, could be reversed. I also have a large amount of weight to lose. (approx. 200 lbs) So it was the clear choice, for the amount of weight I need to lose. I'd consider how much weight you have to lose. If you have GERD/Reflux, and read on people who had to have revisions from sleeve to RNY later, due to the gerd/reflux issues. I really let my surgeon advise me, as to the best thing for me, because well, he's the expert. Good luck with everything. The right answer will come to you.

I still don't get how gas that is put into your abdominal cavity to expand your belly so they can do surgery, is supposed to find it's way into your intestinal tract and be released. Can someone please explain this to me? lol It doesn't make any sense at all to me, unless our colons are that porous! Anyone?

I am experiencing serious hair loss. I also have not been getting in my minimum requirements for Protein daily. There is a direct correlation I believe. At my 6 week checkup, the NUT said no more Protein drinks. I've been struggling since then to get all my protein in. I don't have hunger, so it's hard for me to eat enough. Yesterday at my 3 month checkup, they started me back on two protein drinks a day. I hope this helps, not only to get 60 grams of protein daily that they want me to consume, but to stop this terrible hair loss. My surgeon said in the 1000 or so bariatric surgeries he only had one patient who lost all her hair and it never grew back. I sure hope I'm not patient #2! lol

10 days

@@MisforMimi I love it! That sounds like a great look!

This is why I told very few people. Even some people in my family were not supportive. I hope things go better for you. There is always the option to tell the woman you don't want to talk to her about weight loss anymore. Blunt, to the point, and honest. She doesn't get it, because she doesn't want to get it. Believe me, this is NOT the easy way out. But I was off 2 oral diabetes meds and 2 insulins by the time I left the hospital, 1 week after my surgery. That's a truth you can reverse your diabetes, that quickly.

The psychologist I saw is big, at first I thought, oh wow, ok, someone who's had the surgery too, but over the course of the time I spent in the program (8 months) she got even bigger. I'm not quite sure how she is handing out advice, with her Fruit drinks and lattes in hand everytime I see her, and maybe that sounds bitter, and it is....but, she was not impressed with me, because of my psych dx, and wanted a letter from my therapist and my psychiatrist, because of my OCD and BPD (borderline personality disorder) diagnoses. I got glowing recommendations from both, and she signed me off, for surgery. But I spent nearly a year in therapy working on food addictions before my surgery. I also spent a year taking Dialectical Behavior Therapy classes for my BPD too, a few years prior. I work hard on being the best me I can. These Psychologists, in these bariatric programs who see you once for an hour or two, have no clue who we are, and what we are all about. What they need to be screening for is people who have food addictions. I see way too many people starving after surgery, when they should not be. Head hunger, addictions to foods....people not even making it through their liquid diets without cheating. Sorry for those who fall in that category. This is all just my opinion, of course, but addiction to food, is where people slip through the cracks in these programs. @@Sajijoma I hope it all goes ok for you. Best of luck!

I was inspired to make a special Pinterest board, after considering this question. I just started it, so I don't have too much on it yet, but this is a representation of the styles I want to wear when I get closer/reach my goal. The more I add, the more excited I get! I really never got this excited about fashion in my life. From a distance yes, but for myself...this is a very new sensation! I added my main pinterest page too, with all my boards. In case anyone would like to follow, I will follow back. My Special After Style Pinterest Board MY MAIN PINTEREST BOARDS

I'm a punk rock, new wave, industrial, goth girl at heart, I don't care that I am almost 50. I am looking forward to wearing my collection of Doc Martens, and adding to that collection....and I want a great leather jacket, and tutu's and whatever other crazy combinations of weirdness I can find. I'm seeing all kinds of fun clothes I just can't wait to get into. I have never been afraid to wear what I wanted, or have whatever color hair I want, but it's going to be a whole lot easier as I get smaller and smaller. Wearing Docs with swollen feet and ankles, is just not fun. I really don't follow anyone else's fashion, I have my own style. As an artist, I also like the idea of some DIY fashion. I'm like Sid Vicious and Hello Kitty mixed up together. It's fun! I'm trying to think of what to do with my fat clothes....I might be able to make new fashions out of them! I don't know, but I'm just crazy enough to try. lol

@@Babbs omg you make me laugh so hard. Keep up the fine work, we need you here!

I think this is a troll.... Even if it's not, I'm thinking....if you can't say the word SEX, maybe you shouldn't be having it. FFS...yes, I said that. While on the subject, as soon as my blood sugars got normal, my sex drive increased dramatically, in a positive, 'I want it now, and often' kind of way. Thank The Universe!! I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to talk about sex, it is something that is normal, human, and ok to do in this world. I'm not sorry for my bluntness, I'm just astounded...if you can't even say the word, sex, how does someone actually manage to have sex? Feeding the trolls only makes them come back for more. They live to get others flustered and upset. Unfortunately trolls are part of being a part of the internet. The key is recognizing them early, and ignoring them. I've seen some posts go on for pages and pages with trolls....and believe me, they are loving every minute of attention people give them. My opinion doesn't have to be your truth.

You shouldn't feel physical hunger. If you are getting enough fluids, then it's probably head hunger.