dashofsunshine

I am 2 weeks post op and down 37 lbs. sometimes it's hard to see without the side by side photos, so I took one yesterday! Left is being discharged from the hospital 3 days after surgery - right photo was taken yesterday morning ????

@@Ozman I, too, am on 4 weeks of liquids post op, and also did 2 weeks of liquids pre-op ???? it is the pits but I'm sticking to it!! Soooo ready for some food. Two more weeks for me! I woke up around day 12 and felt amazing - now all that's left is slight soreness and a little bit of itching around my incisions. I had a hard time with surgery, though - it was pretty bad ???? but, mostly all better now! Where are you and who was your doctor? How did your surgery go? ????

@@Ozman I was November 20th ????

@@Sweetpea13 don't panic! When I first woke up after surgery, I could barely sip water. Now I can take normal drinks of water no problem. Still can't chug, but I can drink pretty normally. It's just the swelling in your esophagus going down. When you first wake up and for a week or two after, everything is reeeeeeally swollen and so the opening for liquids to pass into your stomach is really small. Once the swelling goes down, it's easier for you to take regular sips. I am only on purees, but everyone says you will feel the resistance of your new sleeve MUCH more once you get to solid and semi solid foods. Even when I get yogurt I can only have a couple bites, and I was drinking broth and water during liquid stage like my stomach was a bottomless pit! Relax ???? everything will be fine! Good luck! ❤️

Oh yay glad to hear it! ????

I do not know Dr. Olsen, but my sleeve was done by Dr. Dyer (one of his partners), so I can speak of my experience with Centennial Bariatrics in general, if you'd like ????

Hi guys! Surgery date: 11/20/14 First doc's visit: 323 After pre op diet/surgery day: 318 Today: 292 Total loss: 31 lbs I am still on mostly liquids but am doing some thin/pureed Soups as well. I cannot wait to have cottage cheese again. And eggs! I'm getting to the point where the Protein shakes are making me sick, regardless of flavor....I had a two week liquid diet before surgery and am now doing 3 weeks after surgery of liquids. It's pretty awful but trying to stay positive! Worried about not getting all my protein in though (due to the shakes making me sick) ???? Water intake is great, though! Hope everyone else is doing well ❤️ it's better every day!

@@Onephatmom yes, everything I drink causes that pain. Great description as I have been struggling to describe how it feels to people. I believe it is gas, because when I use the gas x strips the pains are less frequent. They are driving me nuts, though. So painful and it happens literally every time I take a sip of anything - I haven't even had food yet as I am only 7 days post op. Try the gas x strips and try walking a lot. I told my doctor about it and he didn't seem worried, so maybe it's normal and will go away with time? I hope! Good luck ????

Thanks for the tip!!! That would suck to make it too thick and be in pain!!! I will be sure to thin it down really well ????

@@becweaves thank you so much!!! I appreciate those kind and encouraging words ???? I am so hopeful that things will get better soon!! Fingers crossed!

I am still only 5 days post op, but once I get to purees, I'm going to make some beef stew in the crockpot with lean meat and cook it until the meat and veggies are really really soft - throw it in the blender with a little beef broth and purée until silky smooth! So excited to taste real food again ???? soon!

Hi guys! I hope everyone is doing well with recovery ❤️I finally left the hospital yesterday. No regrets whatsoever, but I have to say...this entire experience was NOT what I expected. I know it was major surgery, but 9 out of 10 people that I talked to before surgery were like "oh, it just feels like you did too many sit ups! I didn't even need pain medication! Surgery was so easy! I was shopping on the third day!" So, I went into surgery thinking I would have some pain, but that it wouldn't be too terrible...I have had one heck of a time since waking up. Tachycardia and bradycardia heart spells, unbelievable gas pains that are still leaving me in tears and sleepless nights despite walking 6 rounds of the hospital hallways every day, difficulty breathing, a pulse of 140 from simply standing up, almost collapsing in the hospital hallway while walking...and that's not even counting the stomach pain. It has been a really difficult journey for me. I still am struggling with high pulse upon standing or simply walking to the kitchen...before surgery, I worked out 4 times a week with a trainer. Now with all these heart and breathing problems due to surgery, I am terrified I will never be able to run or lift weights again. I'm 5 days out now and I can still barely even get up out of bed or take a shower. I just want to know that it will get better ???? am I alone here? I keep reading about how well everyone is doing and I feel like I'm one of the very few people who has had a really hard time! Thanks guys ❤️

My favorite for vanilla Protein powder is: 1 scoop vanilla whey Protein Powder 8 oz skim milk Tablespoon instant coffee grounds 2-3 splashes of torani sugar free caramel syrup 3-4 ice cubes Blend it up in the blender! Tastes like a caramel frappuccino ???? As for the unflavored protein powder, try putting it in - protein gluten free waffles, smoothies, yogurt, cottage cheese, Soups....pretty much anything you can think of!

That depends on what flavor it is? I have lots of protein recipes but they all vary by flavor! ????

I had surgery on Thursday and am experiencing the exact same, as well as lots of shoulder pain. My doctor says it is just gas (even though I've been walking my butt off) and that it will go away with time. But seriously, it is excruciating. I didn't sleep at all last night because these pains were ripping through my chest, shoulder, and upper back ????

Dr. Dyer is also my doctor - I get to go home from the hospital later today! He is an excellent doctor ????

Hi guys - I was sleeved Thursday morning (so 2 days ago) and woke up feeling great - mostly soreness in my tummy muscles, but that was it. Gas pain started to kick in a little later, but I have been walking, so even that part isn't terrible. The worst part is that I keep having these spells of a sort where I get incredibly nauseous and my pulse drops to 30 every time. It slowly climbs back up and the nausea goes away. It happened 8 times yesterday. Also, when I go out to walk the halls, I walk at literally a snails pace and my heart rate is 130. They did an EKG and an echo and the cardiologist said I have "a gorgeous heart and everything looks perfect"...he thinks it may have something to do with vasovagal syncope. No one can give me a straight answer about what is causing this, or how long it will last, or if it will go away eventually - they said if it doesn't resolve itself we may have to look Into a pacemaker? I'm only 26 and never had a single heart issue at all before surgery. Now I feel like I've basically destroyed my heart with this elective surgery ???? has anyone had anything like this happen?! I feel so alone. The doctor said this was very uncommon ???? thanks!!!

My surgery was the morning of the 20th. All you guys who have had barely any pain or complications...I am so jealous ???? surgery went fine until Thursday afternoon when my pulse started dipping down into the low 30's with extreme nausea. It happened 8 times yesterday as well, and once this morning already. My pulse is also like 130 when walking at a snails pace in the hallway. I have NEVER had a single heart issue before this surgery. They did an EKG and an echo and found absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. So basically, they don't know why I'm having these spells. It is exhausting and discouraging. I'm 26 years old - I don't want a pacemaker. I chose to have this surgery electively and apparently destroyed my heart in the process, which absolutely devastates me. I've been walking 6 times a day but still suffering from horrible gas pains as well - it just doesn't seem to want to leave my body. Also, lots of chest pain when I breathe deeply ???? good luck to you all...may you have better odds than I....❤️

So, I have seen several posts about being on your period when surgery comes around - I know about the no tampons thing, the menstrual pads, the granny panties, etc. However, no one has said anything about the catheter. If I'm on my period...will they still put one in? ???? I don't mind a catheter and I know nurses have seen it all, but...that seems like it would get really messy really fast. Just wondering what to expect! My surgery is the day after tomorrow ???? thanks guys!

I knew my insurance didn't cover it (my insurance is through my husband's work and they just don't include it - simple as that), but I tried anyway and of course, got denied. They told me that I could try to pay more for a different plan, but even then, I had to have been morbidly obese for 5+ years (apparently that is standard for BCBS TN across the board?) I have been overweight all my life, obese for about 5 years, but only MORBIDLY obese for 2 years. My BMI is 49. I guess they just want you to wait until you keel over from heart disease and diabetes before they will cover it ???? anyway, I chose to self pay. It is a lot of money, but I would rather get it now while I'm young and have no co-morbidities than wait 3 more years and gain another 100 lbs and diabetes and THEN have it....there is nothing in this world better to spend your money on than your health. Good luck!!! ????

I'm 11/20 too ???? good luck guys!!! Keep us updated and I will, too!!! We can do this!!

Hey Matt! I'm a 26 year old singer/visual artist from Nashville, TN. I have spent my entire life being overweight (except for a small period in high school when I was anorexic). I have never had a healthy relationship with food. In high school, I lost 70 lbs and was absolutely terrified of food. Now, it is my best friend. I wake up in the morning thinking about it. When I'm bored, I get on yelp and find local restaurants to try out. Food has been my comforter for so long...it doesn't care what I look like or how much I weigh and it is always there. But it has destroyed my life - I love to travel, but can no longer fit in an airline seat. My body aches every night when I go to bed. I used to run five miles a day and now I get out of breath climbing a flight of stairs. I would love to have children with my husband sometime soon, but my weight does not allow for that. Obesity has stolen so much from me....so I'm not waiting any longer. My surgery is this Thursday and I am so nervous. There is no going back. I am so excited but also, a part of me is sad. Because I AM addicted to food, and the way I view food is going to change forever. And that's scary to me. But spending the rest of my years like this is even more scary. I totally understand where you are coming from. I'm so afraid that I won't be able to do this. That my mind is going to ruin everything. That I won't be able to lose the weight, even after surgery. So many fears! But this is necessary for survival, and happiness. For both of us, it seems! Be brave! And I will, too ???? Best wishes and good luck! -Kati

@@kimmerzj29 I felt the same way at my wedding ???? it was the happiest day of my life, except I didn't feel beautiful. Everything around me was gorgeous, but I felt huge and undeserving. I've decided that after my sleeve and weight loss, we are going to renew our vows at some point so that I can really enjoy the day and feel beautiful ❤️ good luck with your sleeve!!! ????

@@raquel_c He said that technically, the sleeve and/or gastric bypass should have nothing to do with delivering a child - he said it might be a little more touchy if you get pregnant right away and have to deliver before your stomach has completely healed, but if you wait the recommended year, your stomach literally grows back together and around the staples - making them part of your body, basically. So he said natural birth shouldn't be a problem and never has been for any of his patients. He DID say though that after you have bariatric surgery, a lot of other doctors/surgeons are a little freaked out by you (go figure - I guess because not all doctors know everything that bariatric doctors do about the surgery?) and that could lead a doctor to want you to have a C section just to avoid "possible complications." Of course every doctor out there now days prefers C sections anyway because they can schedule them and it's "less of a hassle" or whatever ????

Girl, I am right there with you. I had a small piece of chicken and some veggies yesterday (my two week diet is liquids only) and I cried for like an hour, doubted my decision, beat myself up, etc. I am so miserable (today is day 6), food has ALWAYS been my comforter and I am addicted to it (duh). But nothing worth having comes easily! We can do this!!!! Keep your chin up and I will, too!! ❤️