FrankyG

My diet was different; no caloric restriction technically, but I was to measure liquids (like one 12 oz Protein shake for Breakfast, same for lunch, and then 3 ounces of chicken or fish with a cup of low carb veggies). So I'd do a shake for breakfast and call them as soon as they are open and ask for specific instructions. Every doctor's practice does seem to have a different pre-op diet, so what we tell you may be wrong as far as they're concerned.

Ooooo that's a good one! Although I still like Dolly's version better Dolly can do no wrong. Dolly wrote it, so her version had so much more depth and feeling in it than anyone else could. Whitney's version was great for her vocal abilities, but she didn't have the heartbreak and sadness that Dolly put into it. She's still a pistol, too.

I think everone has the feeling of making a huge mistake the first week or two. You were unlucky enough to have some complicating factors that made it seem even worse (so sorry you went through that!). But you will start feeling better pretty soon, the pain and discomfort and swelling will go down, you'll get a hang of the eating thing, and 6 months from now, it will all be a distant memory and you'll be in a much better place to decide if it was a mistake... or the best thing you could have done for yourself. Stay strong and know what you're going through is temporary - it will get better!

Definitely sorry! Humor is sometimes the only thing that got me through when I was feeling bad. That's my excuse anyway. What you're describing is just being swollen up from the surgery. If you're just a week out, you must be one of the "lucky" ones that swelled up more from surgery than others (I was one of those). Alternate warm and cold liquids. I could barely get anything down the first 3-4 days and was really worried I would have to go in, but warm broth and cold sugarfree popscicles. The swelling will go down but keep up the fluids so you don't get dehydrated.

I am not done losing and my understanding is that plastic surgery isn't done until you've held a stable weight for at least one year. So hit goal, maintain for 1 year, then get consults. I'm definitely hoping my skin rebounds enough to avoid plastic surgery tho. I am pretty sure many insurance companies will pay for some excess skin surgery in the case of it causing issues. I think mostly it's just the pannus area tho (the hanging apron of fat over your stomach). The area under the skin can get infected due to it being wet from sweat/moisture and cause yeast infections, so document any rashes or infections (bring up with your doctor and make sure they add it to your medical records every time) once you start losing as I believe this is vital for you to prove to your insurance that the surgery is medically necessary and not just cosmetic. I personally will just call them after I hit my goal weight to see what they do and do not cover, along with all the requirements to cover any surgery if they do allow.

Awww. You didn't have to delete it. Totally knew it was autocorrect and just thought it was funny (isn't it always funny when autocorrect goes wonky?). Definitely wasn't making fun of you and hope you didn't take it that way. Hugs? Hugs! Hope someone still comes in that can give you some ideas about strictures. Like I said, never had that issue thank goodness, but my understanding is that it can feel like you can't swallow even liquids (swollen and tight feeling), a sudden reduction in the amount of food you were able to eat, or nausea and vomiting. If you have symptoms like that, do see your doctor so they can check.

Can I just say how goofy happy I am to see this thread still going? Cause y'all are all awesome. And Brown Sugar and the Tennessee Waltz and Every Breath You Take and Big Girls Don't Cry and all the songs so far are super awesome too. Those are some GREAT songs there.

Well, I had my first structure back in 2003. Sstill have it - it's about 1200 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bath. Never had a stricture tho. (sorry, couldn't resist)

Oh goody. It is an ambulance chaser law firm posting the information, so take it with a healthy dose of skepticism. I'd just call my doctor if I was really concerned. I would not freak out.

Sort of? Maybe? I feel sexy again, so I'm taking more time with my hair and makeup. I am buying more clothes because I want to. I don't buy clothes at all usually except every few years as things wear out; got out of the habit of shopping for funzies a long time ago. I think it is more that I'm feeling better about myself and like my real self is slowly emerging from the layers of fat she's been buried under for the last 20 years. I feel better about myself and my appearance and have a wider selection of clothes and looks available since I can fit in normal sized things now. It is an exciting time, but I'm not going to go crazy with it. Oh, but my hair is teal blue. Does that count as crazy? I can't believe you bought a new car! Hope you got a good deal!! ETA: sorry, posted without noticing it was in the guy's room. Ignore me!

Nasty stuff. Nothing but chemicals and high caffeine and sugar. They could hurt you due to the high acid content (your stomach will be much more sensitive and you do not want ulcers in a sleeve!) You really shouldn't try to start drinking them again if you can help it. coffee or tea would be waaaaaay better if you need a caffeine fix.

I love siracha and jalapenos and hot spicy anything now... it's like I got a "spicy" switch turned on as I used to be meh about spicy before surgery...

Call them or go in and politely but firmly tell your doctor to give you something (prescription) for nausea/vomiting. That's not right to let that go on for weeks and just tell you to push through it! I can't imagine how awful that feels and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.

Thrift stores are your friend! If you need clothes that fit but know you're only going to be wearing them for a few months, Goodwill and other thrift shops are the best. They're just all around better in my opinion since the prices can't be beat and the selection is always changing and there are some amazing bargains. I'll be shopping there even after my weight stabilizes because I love saving money and still get quality items that will last. I find awesome stuff all the time. Just picked up a few vintage tee-shirts including a favorite band licensed tee and a beloved music group's anniversary tee that is selling for like $50 (if you can even find one now - sooo happy!). Got a gorgeous pair of name brand jeans and two dressy wool sweaters and a hoodie jacket in a wicking fabric - all were $6 each, the jeans were $7. I tried on some really cute dresses but decided I didn't need them, but they have a super selection usually and if not, I check out one of the others in the area next time I'm out running errands and usually score something great. The secret is to check out several in different locations and if you're looking for dressy stuff, go to the fancier neighborhoods' thrift stores. Goodwill has discounts on their clothes on Wednesdays in my area, and I never fail to find something amazing and get complements. And nobody judges you in there. I've seen people of all types and sizes and frankly it's a comfortable place for me. Like visiting a good friend's basement garage sale.

I'm so sorry you're going through that! I never experienced any of the trapped gas pain from my sleeve, but I had gallbladder surgery many years ago and can still remember how bad that hurts. If you're experiencing anything close to that level of pain, that is your body telling you something is wrong and you need to see a doctor about it. I can't imagine how it could be trapped gas by this point, but if you're in that much pain, please go get a professional opinion.

Oh wow, I like that... my song is I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash Totally agree with the initial posting. I am shocked (but sadly, not surprised) when someone is so nasty and abusive to any one without reason. I get that the format of text/posting like this - written communication - is sometimes difficult read tone and can be misinterpreted and it's easy to misread things sometimes. But maybe take a moment and think if this thing you're getting offended about might have been meant as advice, help, commiseration, encouragement, or even tough love? Cause that's primarily what I've seen on this forum. And if you don't like what someone has to say, ignore them. How hard is that? Outright attacks and abusive language, or vulgarity for vulgarity's sake doesn't make a person sound tough and cool; it just makes them sound idiotic, and makes me wonder if they flunked out of middle school - clearly a case of arrested development in the brain category. For sure just makes me pity those types of people because they lack intelligence, and will always wallow with in the mud and attempt to drag everyone else down to their ignorant level. I hate seeing that kind of thing happen here, as I really like this place and feel like it should be a safe, supportive environment, and I'm very thankful for all of the wonderful posters that reach out to a bunch of perfect strangers to offer some help or comfort or just a slap up side the head (when needed!). So I'm super glad that most of those @#!$ jerkfaces get booted out after showing their true colors. We don't need that type of negativity and nasty here.

I agree with Inner Surfer Girl; 60 grams of Protein is low. I was told 80 grams ASAP and should be shooting for closer to 100 now that I'm exercising and moving so much. Protein is a Really Big Deal. I adore eating salad, but if your lunch regularly consists of salad (and just a small garnish of protein) you might want to switch that around, so you're not filling up on leafy greens and eat more protein. The largest portion of every meal should be protein and the veggies should be secondary.

I was this person just over a year ago. I joined gyms and would stop going after a month or two. I'd buy equipment and use it maybe once or twice a month if that. I hated sweating, I hated the trying and seeing absolutely nothing for my efforts. But after the sleeve and getting used to eating better and dropping weight regularly, I realized I was feeling a bit better and started having a tiny bit more energy. That coincided with my neighborhood pool opening and I remembered how much I loved swimming, so I started going when I could. I'd drive there, go splash and dive and float and end up exercising without even meaning to because it was fun. I started going regularly throughout the summer, and eventually worked up to riding my bike there and back instead of driving (it is just over a mile round trip). Because I also remembered when I was a kid, how much I loved riding a bike. And it was also fun! And the really amazing part is that I started seeing real progress - I wasn't huffing and puffing riding a half mile or swimming the length of the pool. I noticed muscle definition in my arms and legs. I was measuring each month, and I would see definite inches lost in addition to seeing the scale slowly moving downwards. It was never smooth steady progress, but it was happening pretty often and I was even more encouraged to keep going, push myself a little more and enjoyed it even more knowing I was going to get actual, visual/measurable benefits. If you hate gym exercises, don't force yourself to do them. There are hundreds of other things you could be doing that you'd actually look forward to. The point being, you have to give yourself time to adjust to seeing real actual progress for one thing, and you also have to find something that won't seem like exercise because you enjoy doing it just for fun. Think back to when you were a kid - did you love riding your bike all over the neighborhood? Playing frisbee or catch or some sport in the park? Swimming? Climbing or hiking out in the woods? Or maybe just walking through a pretty park and bird watching (or people watching)? Even stuff like bowling is going to be fun but still gets you up and down, lifting weights, swinging your arms and concentrating on moving correctly and could be a gateway activity that might lead to others that will push you further along (as long as you're not eating the bowling alley food!) Open your mind to the possibilities and you'll never feel mad or stressed about exercise again... because it will just be you out having fun and moving your body! You should be able to find something that you used to love and it can be picked back up and re-purposed into regular exercise. Or at least find something now as an adult that you can grow to enjoy. Good luck!!

I wouldn't. It has Salicylates (aspirin is derived from salicylic acid and it is prohibited after sleeves). Immodium and/or Tums would be safest. I think you can take GasX strips as well. If you are having ongoing issues you might also want to look into taking a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) like omeprazole for a few months to see if that helps. It is one of those drugs you can get over the counter, and take it daily. If none of those help, check with your doctor to see what they recommend.

Sometimes in the early days, but usually it was when I was not getting in enough Protein or mistaking thirst for Water. Try drinking a few glasses of water, and if that doesn't help after a little while, get something protein-y (meat/dairy/beans/eggs) and see if that helps. Oh and if you are only a month or two out or less, it could also be stomach acid/GERD simulating hunger. Might try taking a ppi (proton pump inhibitor). I was on omeprazole for around 6 months after my surgery and you can buy it over the counter at any store.

I slid into eating too many carbs once I started baking again. Homemade bread is sooo tasty. I had to do a hard reset and went on the 5 day pouch test to detox from the carbs. It worked really well and now when the carbs start taking over, I go do that reset again and it kills the cravings (and I'm tracking the foods that end up triggering the carb craving cycle; some I can eat one time and not feel anything about them and won't eat the again for weeks or even months, some I can eat once and end up craving them for every single meal) http://5daypouchtest.com/ When I'm desperately craving crunchy, I indulge in a serving of pork rinds (Aldi's hot and spicy). One half ounce, 7 grams Protein, zero carbs, 5 grams fat. The sodium is awful, so I make sure to drink extra Water that day, but the crunch and spicy are so satisfying and at least it is carb free! My go to crunch is usually raw red pepper strips with chicken salad or carrots with side of hummus or tzatziki with greek yogurt. Very good!!

Just in case you have trouble with the search functions: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/347700-what-was-the-final-straw-to-decide-this/

I think you're misinterpreting the comments completely. People are not telling you how to feel as much as trying to help you reframe the negative connotations you're posting about - it is support and attempts to help you, not telling you what to do or how to feel. And taking things meant to be helpful as offensive speaks to your inability to hear and process other viewpoints and begs the question of whether you are closing your mind off instead of being open and accepting of what is out there. If you don't want advice or opinions, I'd suggest you post your thoughts in a personal blog instead of a public forum that is specifically here for support and back-and-forth commentary. Not that you're not perfectly welcome to do whatever you'd like, but you should expect others to post their own thoughts on what you post about here unless you specifically tell everyone that you don't want any comments or are at all interested in what anyone else has to say. Something to think about anyway, but I have a feeling you will just find this offensive as well even though I'm trying to help you. Good luck, and I will try to remember not to comment on any more of your posts going forward.

Another thing that most folks don't realize about the sleeve surgery - it removes such a large portion of the stomach that it reduces the amount of the hunger hormone (called ghrelin) that is produced in the stomach. Studies have recently posited that the hormone is over-produced in some people and that absolutely can cause obesity since if you are constantly feeling hungry, you're going to eat more to try to feel sated. Without that hormone overproduction, you get normal feelings of hunger and feel full faster and stay feeling full for longer. The lack of overwhelming hunger is usually a long range effect; some people never regain the need to overeat due to perceived hunger, but most people do redevelop a normal hunger response after a certain period of time (roughly a year). Two other ways the sleeve works: The most obvious is the size and portion control/restriction. You have a stomach that will hold at most 5-7 ounces of food after about one year (it is much less for the first 6-8 months, but will relax (not stretch) after a time. In its natural state, the stomach can hold up to 6 cups, so that is a HUGE reduction of tummy real estate! The portion control/restriction coupled with the lack of overwhelming hunger means you finally have real control over what and how you eat. You get the optimum effect for roughly 12-18 months, and during this time you have to teach yourself how to eat healthy and make smarter choices. The best measure of long term success is how well you do to relearn how to eat - Protein first, veggies next and then complex carbs in small portions. My doctor said that anyone could lose a significant amount of weight for the first year or so even if they ate absolute crap the entire time due to the restriction. But they will eventually have major issues (since most bad for you food is also lacking in nutrition and high in fat, sodium and bad carbs) and regain if they don't completely revamp their diet to eat correctly - protein/veggies/complex carbs. And of course eating "slider" foods - things that break down easily like cake, breads, Cookies, ice cream or basically anything that turns to mush easily - that slide right through your sleeve and never really trigger that feeling of fullness. There are many ways to eat around your sleeve and consume to many calories. These are the people that get fat again and then complain about how their sleeved failed; but it didn't fail - they failed due to poor eating habits and not taking advantage of the time to really get serious about getting healthy. You can eventually eat the junk again - there won't be anything you can't technically eat. But you should cut out all of the garbage foods and only eat them rarely and in small portions. If you take the time to plan meals, revamp recipes to remove the high carb/sugar/sodium, eat healthy small portions of good protein like fish and chicken and get some nice veggies... and you eat that way 90% of the time, in addition to exercise and getting in your Vitamins and Water, you probably will be successful for life. It is a total lifestyle change - ditching the bad habits and excuses and embracing the healthy. If you get your head straight and are able to do this, it will work for you or anyone.

Could make a time/day schedule to officially chat - then at least it wouldn't be just random wandering through.