Rubygirl

Hello, I had my surgery this morning at 1030.......no pain, no nausea.....just a twinge in the small incisions. And some shooting gas pains, Been walking a lot. This is a great clinic and the private rooms are lovely. The staff are very friendly and professional. Be glad to get to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your posts pre-op and post-op I have been reading all of them and have found loads of good advice and suggestions.

Hello, I had my surgery this morning at 1030.......no pain, no nausea.....just a twinge in the small incisions. And some shooting gas pains, Been walking a lot. This is a great clinic and the private rooms are lovely. The staff are very friendly and professional. Be glad to get to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your posts pre-op and post-op I have been reading all of them and have found loads of good advice and suggestions.

Hello, I had my surgery this morning at 1030.......no pain, no nausea.....just a twinge in the small incisions. And some shooting gas pains, Been walking a lot. This is a great clinic and the private rooms are lovely. The staff are very friendly and professional. Be glad to get to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your posts pre-op and post-op I have been reading all of them and have found loads of good advice and suggestions.

Hello, I had my surgery this morning at 1030.......no pain, no nausea.....just a twinge in the small incisions. And some shooting gas pains, Been walking a lot. This is a great clinic and the private rooms are lovely. The staff are very friendly and professional. Be glad to get to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your posts pre-op and post-op I have been reading all of them and have found loads of good advice and suggestions.

AWSOME! Keep walking -- follow your doctors orders to a T and you'll be fine! Good Luck You'll start the losing process very soon.... how exciting!!

Congratulations! It's so nice to hear that you are doing well with no pain or nausea. My date is March 3rd. 2015 I'm scared to death but am so happy to see the positive outcomes. With each one my I feel a little braver.
Here's to a speedy recovery.

@@Rubygirl Oh yay! Glad your feeling good!

Congratulations! I'm glad you aren't hurting too badly! Here's to a happy recovery!

Hello, I had my surgery this morning at 1030.......no pain, no nausea.....just a twinge in the small incisions. And some shooting gas pains, Been walking a lot. This is a great clinic and the private rooms are lovely. The staff are very friendly and professional. Be glad to get to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your posts pre-op and post-op I have been reading all of them and have found loads of good advice and suggestions.

Hello, I had my surgery this morning at 1030.......no pain, no nausea.....just a twinge in the small incisions. And some shooting gas pains, Been walking a lot. This is a great clinic and the private rooms are lovely. The staff are very friendly and professional. Be glad to get to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your posts pre-op and post-op I have been reading all of them and have found loads of good advice and suggestions.

This is a link to my favorite Mexican food recipe. It got me through the puree stage and beyond. I wasn't able to eat full foods (even though I was allowed) for weeks - Frankensleeve didn't approve.
My Favorite Mexican food recipe
http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018/entry-31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/
Here is one link to Eggface's ricotta bake
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/01/ricotta-resolutions.html
And here is a link to other puree safe recipes on Eggface's blog.
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html
If you find her recipes useful, please let her know that Frankensleeve sent you.

Try Torani sugar free syrups......0 sugar 0cals 0 carbs

Now

Protein is good for your kids, too. Plan your shopping and your meals a week ahead of time. If grocery money is an issue, look for what is on sale and plan your meals around that. Have one day a week for batch cooking, like Rachel Ray does with her "week in a day" process.
For example get a couple of whole chickens (You can buy the roasted ones from the deli because they are already cooked.) One chicken you can use right away for dinner that night. Steam some frozen veggies and throw some melted cheese on it. Dessert? Maybe apple slices and Peanut Butter. Sometimes I thaw out some frozen berries and mix it with vanilla Greek yogurt,
Take your other chicken and tear it apart and make a casserole with it or a family pot pie. When it is time to eat, just don't eat the crust. Take the carcasses and loose bits and make a big pot of Soup.
Take a dozen eggs and make a big pan of scrambled eggs and throw in some ham and cheese and whatever veggies you like. In this house itis mushrooms, peppers, avocado, and Tomato. Or you can mix your scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese and make a dozen Breakfast burritos. When you eat yours, just don't eat all of the tortilla. or you can use store-bought pie crust and make a beakfast quiche just don't eat the crust.
If you take a large beef roast, you can have roast beef one night (with your veggies), save some back to make stew or Soup in the crockpot, or take some shredded and re-cook it in some beef boullion and Italian seasoning. Put that on Buns, maybe with some melted provolone, and you have an Italian beef sandwich - just you don't eat the bun.
If you get creative in the kitchen, you can get a lot accomplished in one day, and the rest of the week is just heat and serve. If your boys are old enough to help, they should be helping and learning how to cook and clean a kitchen. You can get them involved in the process by having a little sit down meeting once a week to discuss the plan ahead based on how to adjust their favorites into something healthy the whole family can eat. Maybe let them help with the shopping and pick out one crap item apiece
They can have spaghetti and meatballs, just you don't eat the Pasta. Meatballs with sauce and parmesan hits the spot and I don't miss the spaghetti at all. Yes, you can have pizza. You just won't want as much as you used to eat. Thrown some veggies on your slice, maybe even extra meat and cheese, and then - don't eat all of the crust. I may have two bites, and then scrape the rest off and eat it that way.
I have made fake-out buckeye candies by blending chocolate Protein powder with Peanut Butter, roll it into balls (about the size of a chocolate covered cherry) and dipping them in melted dark chocolate. Shoot, you can even dip strawberries in melted dark chocolate.
You could make a huge pot of chili and it will last all week. Taco salad is good and skips the chips. You could make a dozen hamburgers with cheese ahead of time. Kids like hamburgers. So, find something they like and cook it all in one afternoon. Get creative.
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I've been kind of "out of touch" with the forums for a couple of months now. I had my surgery with Ariel Ortiz on Sept.1 and it went great. I know it's almost impossible to believe with where you are right now, but life gets back to normal or, at least, a new normal. That's why I haven't been around so much. Prior to my surgery and while I was recovering, all I could think and talk about 24/7 was my surgery. I LIVED on these forums. Now that I'm over 4 months out, I just live life.. no more constant obsession. My eating is definitely VERY different from what it was before and it was a little frustrating over the Holidays to not be able to eat what everyone else was eating. But I was able to eat some goodies (just not in very large quantities!). I had Cookies (usually just part of one, which I would share with my husband). I had ice cream, but only about a tablespoon. I shared some pumpkin cheesecake with my husband. On New Year's I had my little smokies w/ BBQ Sauce, but they were turkey and I could only eat six of them.
But I would say that 95% of the time I feel "normal" and I've just gotten used to eating Protein first and very small quantities of everything.
I guess my point is, I remember being where you are now and worrying that I would never feel normal again. I want to reassure you that you will find your new normal and be perfectly content with it in a few months!

You are such an inspiration! I love your spirit and also how encouraging you are to all who respond, and to all you respond to. Such a joy to have around! I would "like" you, but my computer won't let me like ANYONE! Sorry about that, but you are liked , anyway!

HI all! Today is exactly 9 Weeks since I had my sleeve surgery. I have read a lot of post on here pre and post surgery about people being so dishearten over the numbers on the scale when they weigh. I told myself back before my surgery that I was NOT going to fall victim to the stinking scale! That hellacious thing has a way of ruining a persons whole day/week. Now I know some people can weigh everyday and whatever number pops up they can live with but I know me, I know my past, and I know how many times that Sucker has knocked the wind out of my sails and made me feel defeated. NOT this time honey! So what I did do with my daughter help (Partly to make sure I couldn't fudge on the numbers later) was measured every part of my body. Today is the first time we got the measuring tape out and revisited those numbers and I have to say I am astonished! These inches I have lost so far, far surpasses the feeling I got from any scale number! People are always asking me for recommendations of what they should do and my advice is to take your measurements because you can almost bet when that scale isn't moving but your following orders your probably still losing inches. I'm a open book so I will share my numbers with you...
Under bust - 3inches
Smallest part of waist -4 inches
Natural waist -6 inches
Buttock, booty, lovely lady lumps -10 inches!!!!! Yes -10 inches!! Crazy!!(Don't fret there's plenty more where that came from)
Upper arm -3inches
Thighs -6 inches (loving this)
Calves-1 1/2 inches.
Such a long way to go but I am so incredibly grateful for my sleeve and the help it has given me to finally be succeeding at something I've wanted for so long! Hey does this count as a NSV?? ( ps: I do weigh myself but only bi-weekly if I feel like it:)

@@evanter It does get better. The length of time before it does varies with each individual. After surgery and now if you can, make sure your taking your Vitamins. Especially the B's to help you with your energy. I'm not going to lie you will probably be a little tired in the beginning but stay on your fluids and Protein and you will be back in business before you know it. Take your time off to rest your body as much as you can. It's ok to be "lazy" just sleep when you need to. I was back in action at a week post-op. Good luck!

Hi! I am really in no position to be a mentor as I am just fumbling my way through recovery and readjustment to this new way of living, but I can share with you my experiences.
I was sleeved apx. 9-10 weeks ago. I am 5'6", weighed an average of 214 with BMI of 34ish. I was 197 day of surgery with a BMI of 32.
I've lost 30lbs since then. Over 50% of my excess weight. I'm down two pant sizes (almost a third!). Recovery was pretty easy...I was able to sleep normal after just two days, drink pretty easily, no pain at incision sites.
Mt two biggest adjustments have been learning when to stop eating/take small bites/chew & eat slow...and learning new stress coping skills since I can no longer "eat my feelings away".
I kept my surgery secret from everyone in my life...at first. The day before surgery I told my best friend and my mother. Just today I told my sister. I feel like I had to do more in-depth explaining and justifying of my decision than perhaps a higher BMI persons who has co-morbidities has to explain.
Here are some of my main points:
1. The science is showing that the surgery has more successful long term results for lower BMI individuals.
2. Low BMI'ers have an easier recovery and less complications.
3. Lot's of people have cosmetic surgeries everyday....this is a surgery with real health benefits in addition to cosmetic improvements.
4. I need something to physically keep me from binge eating. I NEEDED a smaller capacity stomach.
5. Having this surgery has been like hitting the "reset" button on my life-long eating habits and psychological attachment to food. I've been released from a 1000 pound emotional anchor I've been dragging around for decades.
6. It may seem very extreme but it's really not. It's a laproscopic surgery not a full blown operation, quick recovery time, does not reroute the digestive system, and allows me to eat any food in limited quantities. We're not loosing an organ...we're just making it smaller!
7. The research shows stomach cancer survivors who've had a complete surgical stomach removal have normal life expectancies after surgery (bar any other cancer related complications). Living with a smaller stomach will not affect life expectancy.
8. In this worldwide battle against obesity, pre-emptive steps are becoming more important. Why wait until our BMI is 40 and we're 100+ pounds overweight with co-morbidities when the medical profession can now step in before it's gets so out-of-hand?
Today I am still learning so much about my new body. Being aware of my Last Bite has become much better. At first I was eating a few too many bites and felt miserable. Getting in the recommended Protein and liquids is an everyday focus. Eating every few hours has been a challenge, especially when I'm at work. Replacing food with other coping methods has been challenging as well.
There was some time around weeks 4-5-6 that I had moments of regret. Mostly it was when I could only eat three or four bites of food. I just wanted to eat something! I just wanted to take a bite, chew, swallow, bite, chew, swallow without all of the thought and uncomfortableness. Suddenly around week 7 my stomach swelling must have gone down a lot and I could eat more....not a lot, but enough that I can feel almost 'normal' when going out to eat.
I have found so much POWER in the fact that I can eat just a small amount of food and be satisfied, that I can leave food on my plate, and that I can order the healthy Protein rich item instead of the junk-food carby menu item. I finally feel like I control my eating, nit that my eating controls me.
This was expensive...$14,000 out of pocket, but it is the best decision I could have made for myself. I see it as an act of Self-Love. I love myself enough to make this very tough and serious decision. I love myself enough to sacrifice my comfort-zone food habits and embark upon this wls journey.
Good Luck to you in your journey!! I've learned so much from reading other's experiences and have a lot of appreciation for those who've taken the time to be a supportive part of this community. Please continue to share your questions and experiences.

I have been reading posts on here well before my surgery which was on Oct 27th 2014, and reading and posting on here since my surgery. I come across posts that have people struggling and when I read that they have no support system, or barely any support at home it really upsets me.
This is such a HUGE life change I could not imagine going thru this without my support system. I try to get on here and post where I can hoping to make a difference, because I know first hand how just one comment or compliment or Way To Go, can go a long way.
I know how lucky I am. My husband and daughter support me 110% in this journey and have since day one. My parents have also been supportive and very positive. I have friends that encourage me and help me where and when they can. Even my coworkers have been great. I haven't run into one person who has said a negative thing to me yet. (well at least to my face, you never know behind my back, but I would hope not.)
it is just so hard for me to read when people are struggling and the people in their lives that should be lifting them up and helping seem to be tearing them down. That is what I LOVE about this site. I love the help, the encouragement, the advice, and the YOU CAN DO IT attitude. We all struggle no matter how well you are doing. I just want to reach thru this computer and HUG them.
Please for those of us that have done well or are doing well please please continue to post to help out those that need it. Our positive posts can really help you never know who you might be making a difference to at any time.
For anyone struggling be strong, I am not a very strong person, I have always had people to depend on and that made me nervous going into this, but I have found I can do this and you can too!!
And for all you looking into this, starting your journey, remember this site can be helpful and there seems to always be someone here when you need them. No question is stupid, your feelings matter!!
Okay sorry this is so long, but I just had to get that out.
Thanks to all who have supported me with your kind words and encouragement!! And even when it sounds like someone might giving you tougher love than you would like, remember they did take the time to comment and try to help!!!
Good luck everyone!!!!

ok I just now learned how to tell what "forum" I'm in! I always read the "recent topics" and just reply to them. I was unaware that in tiny writing at the top of the page AFTER you click on the topic it tells you where the topic is. So there for I have been posting in the forbidden "men's room" unknowingly God only knows how many times....so sorry to have invaded the man room! It was not my intentions to prance around your manly room! Please forgive me!! To make up for it I'm doing some public shaming to myself(AKA:apologizing) ! Thanks...BRO's ; )-

Hi I'm loaded lmao ok I'm off to la la land

I am just winding up day 3 of pre-op same doc as Kindle...........3 Protein shakes a day sugar free Jello and popsicles and vegs. I had a very shaky day today weak and headachy feel very crappy. I hope tomorrow (first day of the new year) will be better......... looking for a new me in 2015.

Hi! Here's some motivation for those who have or haven't had the surgery!
  
I'm 6 mo post op
HW: 297
SW: 263
CW: 197
-66lbs since surgery
-100lbs from highest

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions...........heading to the grocery store.