bewell

REGARDING WLS:
What didn't you see coming OR what did they forget to tell you?!!@##%^
For me it was:
Water and many foods would taste terrible Brushing my teeth made me vomit ​Extremely sensitive to smell, I would get nauseous at the grocery store from the smells My cat would eat more than me and I'd still survive

Kindle You offer a lot of good council. I didn't know that we can absorb only 20gms of Protein at at time. THANKS! As for vegetables-at 4 weeks i could do really soft cauliflower. Then I tried broccoli which tasted SO AMAZING, I had a second bite(s), maybe 2 small florets and it all came back up immediately. I think if I'd kept to just a few florets to begin with I would have been fine.
At 6 weeks I can eat 1/4 cup over steamed broccoli and it is so good. I also eat my protein earlier just because eating a mushed vegetable is such a treat! (Can't believe I'm writing that.) I can't wait for some raw vegetables but I'm told I am a long way out from doing that, a month or more before I'll try it.
FYI-I use one of those microwave ceramic cookers. It's small and is perfect for just a few steamed vegetables and chicken is very moist in it.

What happened post-op that no-one told you about or "you just didn't see that coming!"
For me:
Vomited brushing my teeth (didn't see that coming....nurse said it can happen) Water tasted terrible....pre-op Water is mostly what I drank...it took 6 weeks for water to taste sort of normal SMELLS....everything smelled funny.....and often made me nauseous. Also 6 weeks before it was better, still not normal Amount of food.....for weeks my cat ate more than I did and I was jealous the way he wolfed it down! ONLY 300-600 calories......OK, maybe someone told me but I was certain I'd starve to death if I only ate 600 calories for days on end. BUT NO and now I accept that a max of 800 calories now and probably 1000 a day, for the rest of my life will be the new NORMAL!! Didn't see that coming.

I got the garmin vivosmart with heart monitor. I bought the garmin because I swim a lot and it can go in the pool and get wet in the rain.
I have used it just 2 weeks. It was great for reminding me to MOVE. If I sit too long it buzzes me to move, so I get up and walk for 5 minutes. It does all the same as fitbit I think. They both link with My fitness pal.
However, I may return it (got 30 days Amazon). The reviews said all activity monitors may not track accurately the amount of exercise. That is my experience. One day I know I got more steps in than it showed, the next I was pretty inactive and it showed a lot more than I did. I can adjust it each day but I"m really not into another device (add it to my phone) controlling my life and time. I also had a hard time getting the heart monitor to work.
I'm not sure it was worth the money.

Yes, at first I was nauseated just thinking about eating. I also vomited very few days from eating 3 tablespoons of food intend of 2. It's getting better now.
The nurse told me that I can eat something that irritates my stomach and cause it to swell a bit creating less room for food. A couple of times I've had to go back on all liquids to quiet things down. She also told me it's pretty hard and pretty unlikely to be get malnutrition.
I have also found that one day I feel hungry and then the next few I'm not.
Best wishes to you!

Kindle and VSGAnn2014 Thank you! Very good to know I will be able eat more calories and still lose weight.
I think I'm just trying to pschyc myself into accepting how I eat has to change now, forever. That way I can accept that the big successive daily binge days are over. And I really won't "starve" if I only eat 1,000 calories.
Thanks again!

What happened post-op that no-one told you about or "you just didn't see that coming!"
For me:
Vomited brushing my teeth (didn't see that coming....nurse said it can happen) Water tasted terrible....pre-op Water is mostly what I drank...it took 6 weeks for water to taste sort of normal SMELLS....everything smelled funny.....and often made me nauseous. Also 6 weeks before it was better, still not normal Amount of food.....for weeks my cat ate more than I did and I was jealous the way he wolfed it down! ONLY 300-600 calories......OK, maybe someone told me but I was certain I'd starve to death if I only ate 600 calories for days on end. BUT NO and now I accept that a max of 800 calories now and probably 1000 a day, for the rest of my life will be the new NORMAL!! Didn't see that coming.

I went to a local WLS support group yesterday. There was a woman who was about 8 yrs post-op sleeve and still looked fabulous. She is a staff member from the WLS clinic I went to.

One of the main topics for the group was fear of failure. We all felt it. Her encouragement was to focus on healing for the first 6 weeks and not worry about failing. Follow your doc's plan and you won't fail. It's normal to feel the fear. ...We've failed so many times before. It's a life time change we've made and it will take a while and some time to figure out how to live our new life style. We didn't get obese overnight, and we won't change our behaviors overnight.
The best advice I heard is that The WLS and new sleeve hit's the pause button for us while we loose weight and figure out how to live our new life. She said that soon enough the pause button starts to move to forward, so make your behavior changes now and get your NEW way of living life (and eating) a solid practice. And stop worrying. We have choices, it's up to us to make good ones to be successful.
I thought it was wise council.

veronica,
There is a lap-band technique I used (as did many lap-banders) when that full, food stuck feeling is there.
Breath deep using your stomach muscles, pushing the air out using your stomach muscles and walk around. For some reason it helps.
I've been using it with the sleeve and it seems to help. Maybe just keeps my mind off the horrible feeling.

Hey all! I haven't posted since the very early days out...I was sleeved on 10/2/13 at 273 pounds. I reached goal in 9.5 months which was 159 pounds which would put me at a normal bmi. At about 8 months post op I started running. That was a game changer! I have since completed a triathlon, a 5k, 2 10ks, 4 half marathons, and on January 25th, 2015 I became a marathoner! I went on to lose and additional 20 pounds and I've been maintaining 20 pounds below goal ever since. From a size 22/24 to a size 2/4. I eat clean and train hard! I am really living my best life now!

I went to a local WLS support group yesterday. There was a woman who was about 8 yrs post-op sleeve and still looked fabulous. She is a staff member from the WLS clinic I went to.

One of the main topics for the group was fear of failure. We all felt it. Her encouragement was to focus on healing for the first 6 weeks and not worry about failing. Follow your doc's plan and you won't fail. It's normal to feel the fear. ...We've failed so many times before. It's a life time change we've made and it will take a while and some time to figure out how to live our new life style. We didn't get obese overnight, and we won't change our behaviors overnight.
The best advice I heard is that The WLS and new sleeve hit's the pause button for us while we loose weight and figure out how to live our new life. She said that soon enough the pause button starts to move to forward, so make your behavior changes now and get your NEW way of living life (and eating) a solid practice. And stop worrying. We have choices, it's up to us to make good ones to be successful.
I thought it was wise council.

I went to a local WLS support group yesterday. There was a woman who was about 8 yrs post-op sleeve and still looked fabulous. She is a staff member from the WLS clinic I went to.

One of the main topics for the group was fear of failure. We all felt it. Her encouragement was to focus on healing for the first 6 weeks and not worry about failing. Follow your doc's plan and you won't fail. It's normal to feel the fear. ...We've failed so many times before. It's a life time change we've made and it will take a while and some time to figure out how to live our new life style. We didn't get obese overnight, and we won't change our behaviors overnight.
The best advice I heard is that The WLS and new sleeve hit's the pause button for us while we loose weight and figure out how to live our new life. She said that soon enough the pause button starts to move to forward, so make your behavior changes now and get your NEW way of living life (and eating) a solid practice. And stop worrying. We have choices, it's up to us to make good ones to be successful.
I thought it was wise council.

My Doctor basically said this is a body reboot. You are going to get the chance to not only lose weight but to also learn how to have Portion Control and learn what you can eat and what you can't. she does not want me to think that I will never be able to have that slice of cake but to think instead of that huge piece a little slice is o.k. and I will be satisfied. That I will never be able to eat the amount of food I use to be able to get but I will be able to eat it in moderation. I suppose it is an unrealistic expectation for me and for most to think you are NEVER going to have that small slice of pizza again or enjoy that piece of toast. I'm completely willing to give it up for 3-6 months but I want to be able to eat those things again and want to know what my limits are so I don't over indulge. I don't drink soda so that is not a sacrifice to me anymore and I'm willing to forever forgo the sugar. I don't want to live my life missing out on things so I'm committed to the change.

I went to a local WLS support group yesterday. There was a woman who was about 8 yrs post-op sleeve and still looked fabulous. She is a staff member from the WLS clinic I went to.

One of the main topics for the group was fear of failure. We all felt it. Her encouragement was to focus on healing for the first 6 weeks and not worry about failing. Follow your doc's plan and you won't fail. It's normal to feel the fear. ...We've failed so many times before. It's a life time change we've made and it will take a while and some time to figure out how to live our new life style. We didn't get obese overnight, and we won't change our behaviors overnight.
The best advice I heard is that The WLS and new sleeve hit's the pause button for us while we loose weight and figure out how to live our new life. She said that soon enough the pause button starts to move to forward, so make your behavior changes now and get your NEW way of living life (and eating) a solid practice. And stop worrying. We have choices, it's up to us to make good ones to be successful.
I thought it was wise council.

Veronica I think your Doc is wise to encourage eating the way will do for the rest of our life.
They do all seem to recommend a different plan. They told me no potatoes, rice or bread ever cuz it stretches the stomach. I'm OK with no rice and potatoes and with my lap band I couldn't eat bread so I'm OK with that. Although I do love shush. Guess I'll be doing sashimi.
Someone on here tried soda with no problems. Just want to add that just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should. Carbonated beverage can STRETCH our new tiny stomach and put pressure on our incision. You may not feel it but it might not be good for you. Sorry for the lecture.
Bottom-line, just like our recovery, pounds lost and what and when we can eat is individual. That is so interesting to me as of course I am tempted to compare myself TO EVERYONE!! HEHE

SYNTRX fuzzy navel saved me during the liquid phase. It's the only thing I can eat for the 1st few hours every AM. It tastes great. Trying other flavors now.

I went to a local WLS support group yesterday. There was a woman who was about 8 yrs post-op sleeve and still looked fabulous. She is a staff member from the WLS clinic I went to.

One of the main topics for the group was fear of failure. We all felt it. Her encouragement was to focus on healing for the first 6 weeks and not worry about failing. Follow your doc's plan and you won't fail. It's normal to feel the fear. ...We've failed so many times before. It's a life time change we've made and it will take a while and some time to figure out how to live our new life style. We didn't get obese overnight, and we won't change our behaviors overnight.
The best advice I heard is that The WLS and new sleeve hit's the pause button for us while we loose weight and figure out how to live our new life. She said that soon enough the pause button starts to move to forward, so make your behavior changes now and get your NEW way of living life (and eating) a solid practice. And stop worrying. We have choices, it's up to us to make good ones to be successful.
I thought it was wise council.

The human body is so interesting.
The way our bodies respond to a pretty serious surgery and a tiny stomach and how fast everyone recovers from surgery is so individual. So is the weight loss.
I try to remember this is an individual journey before my crazy human mind jumps in and tells me I'm not doing it right, I'm bad, I'm never gonna get it, and then I get on the downward spiral of depression. It's going to take some time and my journey is most likely going to be different than anyone else's.
Seems I can get as crazy eating 4000 calories a day as I can 400 calories. LOL I NEVER in my life thought I'd only eat 400-500 calories a day and not be hungry AND NOT LOSE WEIGHT.
I do think I am getting some muscle back. I was pretty much a sleeping or sitting for the 1st 3 weeks after surgery. Muscle weighs more than fat so I just figure I'm getting muscle. Clothes are getting looser. Even got a ring on my pinkie that I haven't been able to wear for 20 years.
Best wishes to you all and I know we can all do this. It's just gonna take some time and patience.

Hello January Sleevers! Can you believe that all of us have been "together" in this journey for 3-7 weeks. Still just newbies really. This blog is such a support for me.
In general I'm very happy with how I am doing at 5 weeks. (I was a band to sleeve revision) No regrets but I am learning every day that life will be very different now, especially how, what, and when I eat.
I am still struggling with what I can eat and how much. I still vomit if I eat too fast or too much. (And too much is over 1/2 cup of food. And too fast is about 1000 times slower than I ate pre-sleeve.) It's hard to get in 800 calories a day. Water still tastes weird and the only liquid I can get in is watered-down no sugar Fruit drinks. When I see all of you taking long walks, hikes etc I do get a little envious. I can walk about 1/2 mile before I get kind of tired. I am older (63) and have an arthritic hip from carrying this excess weight so long. Weight loss will make it easier but as my Doc said, WLS isn't going to heal that worn down hip. I can certainly do more than before the surgery and weigh loss but I am not running any marathons just yet. (I am so happy when I see some of you in your younger years losing this weight before you ruin a hip)
Today I have to share that I am missing the feeling of over-eating and the haze/daze it gave me. The brief emotional feeling of fullness and satisfaction of some binge food.
Of course I am overjoyed that now I can be outside more, be more active, feel better, look better, etc. I am still learning to accept this activities as my new satisfied full feeling.
However, I've used food as an emotional support for so long, I am feeling some loss that I can no longer eat to get that feeling from eating. It's great that now I eat to stay alive. But still, if I'm honest, at least today, I miss that old eating experience. (I know it was always followed by the self-hate, but there was a few moments of feeling pretty darn good.)
Hummmm, is the honeymoon over for me? I had a lap-band so I am well aware of the initial high of losing weight and feeling so great. I know it feels like it will last forever. I'm a little leary of that high because at some point we will all be past the easy weigh loss (and even now some are struggling) and we'll have to work a little harder and be more aware of the downs and find the inner emotional means and external support to get thru them.
I know this loss I'm feeling today will pass, and I'm not looking for advice just sharing where I am. Maybe someone else might the same. Rather than having this feeling of loss and emotional changes trip me up now or later in my weight loss, I think I may look for a councilor that knows about this stuff.
All the best to you all. baj

Hope by now you've called your doc with your symtoms.
I had a similar experience and yes acid reflux caused nausea for me.
I started vomiting often when I started mushies. Made my new stomach very sensitive. Had the fever, chills and vomiting. My doc had me come right in for the swallow test to see if there was a leak. There was nothing showing but they saw acid reflux. Had to go back on liquids, and kept taking the prilosec.
Took 5-6 days but everything settled down and I'm OK now. I have to be real careful not to eat too much or too fast. Introducing new foods slow and one at at time. Still doing mushed food really cuz I chew tills it pretty much liquid.
RJ is right on, my fears are most often way out of line with whats really going on.
Keep up posted and take care.

I haven't got it done yet, my first appt is in 2 weeks, but I will be self pay. It will cost me about $26k. I know it's a lot of money but we just spent almost that on a car so why wouldn't I spend that on my health.

The human body is so interesting.
The way our bodies respond to a pretty serious surgery and a tiny stomach and how fast everyone recovers from surgery is so individual. So is the weight loss.
I try to remember this is an individual journey before my crazy human mind jumps in and tells me I'm not doing it right, I'm bad, I'm never gonna get it, and then I get on the downward spiral of depression. It's going to take some time and my journey is most likely going to be different than anyone else's.
Seems I can get as crazy eating 4000 calories a day as I can 400 calories. LOL I NEVER in my life thought I'd only eat 400-500 calories a day and not be hungry AND NOT LOSE WEIGHT.
I do think I am getting some muscle back. I was pretty much a sleeping or sitting for the 1st 3 weeks after surgery. Muscle weighs more than fat so I just figure I'm getting muscle. Clothes are getting looser. Even got a ring on my pinkie that I haven't been able to wear for 20 years.
Best wishes to you all and I know we can all do this. It's just gonna take some time and patience.

The human body is so interesting.
The way our bodies respond to a pretty serious surgery and a tiny stomach and how fast everyone recovers from surgery is so individual. So is the weight loss.
I try to remember this is an individual journey before my crazy human mind jumps in and tells me I'm not doing it right, I'm bad, I'm never gonna get it, and then I get on the downward spiral of depression. It's going to take some time and my journey is most likely going to be different than anyone else's.
Seems I can get as crazy eating 4000 calories a day as I can 400 calories. LOL I NEVER in my life thought I'd only eat 400-500 calories a day and not be hungry AND NOT LOSE WEIGHT.
I do think I am getting some muscle back. I was pretty much a sleeping or sitting for the 1st 3 weeks after surgery. Muscle weighs more than fat so I just figure I'm getting muscle. Clothes are getting looser. Even got a ring on my pinkie that I haven't been able to wear for 20 years.
Best wishes to you all and I know we can all do this. It's just gonna take some time and patience.

The human body is so interesting.
The way our bodies respond to a pretty serious surgery and a tiny stomach and how fast everyone recovers from surgery is so individual. So is the weight loss.
I try to remember this is an individual journey before my crazy human mind jumps in and tells me I'm not doing it right, I'm bad, I'm never gonna get it, and then I get on the downward spiral of depression. It's going to take some time and my journey is most likely going to be different than anyone else's.
Seems I can get as crazy eating 4000 calories a day as I can 400 calories. LOL I NEVER in my life thought I'd only eat 400-500 calories a day and not be hungry AND NOT LOSE WEIGHT.
I do think I am getting some muscle back. I was pretty much a sleeping or sitting for the 1st 3 weeks after surgery. Muscle weighs more than fat so I just figure I'm getting muscle. Clothes are getting looser. Even got a ring on my pinkie that I haven't been able to wear for 20 years.
Best wishes to you all and I know we can all do this. It's just gonna take some time and patience.

Just had a revision band to sleeve Jan 13. It was done in same surgery. It was my preference and also of my surgeon. It took 3 hours. 1.5 to remove band and 1.5 for sleeve. There was a lot of scare tissue around band, the most doc had seen but he got that bugger out.
I am also 64 and was concerned. I had a few rough days but at 8 days out now I'm doing oK. Still a little sore and tired but getting around OK. Slept a lot the first 4 days and had a few other issues but so far, so good.
Would be happy to answer your questions anytime. Best wishes on your process.