pumpkin07

Well, I know something about food, just can't address the physical sleeve issues. When you cut a steak a lot of the juices leave the steak, even as it is sitting on your plate same thing is happening and you wind up with something pretty dry to bring home. If you reheat steak that has already been cooked to temperature the first time, you should steam it or reheat it slowly in a little beef gravy (making roast). What happened to you is VERY scarey because of the pain you felt. I guess you met your sleeve today. I guess the advice to back off to really soft warm foods and see how it goes is good. Very scarey indeed. I know you are concerned, but hopefully 9 weeks was plenty of time for a good bit of healing. I've only thrown up twice since the hospital and it was actually so smooth with no pain. That steak must have hit your sleeve or esophagus all in the wrong position or so.

UH YEAAAAHHHHH you are being too hard on yourself. 84 lbs in any period of time is SO WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! I am just so happy for you!!! Aren't you happy for you? What changes have you seen in 84 lbs? How many clothes sizes? How much are you dreading bathing suit weather as compared to last June????? I think you are great.

Sounds so terrific and great fun. You have built a great life for yourself. Sounds like you are in a great place to have this surgery.

I would make my husband go first and take care of him carefully and then let him do the same for me. I would do it with a girlfriend at same time, but not my husband. But that is just me.

I am still trying to find where the sleeve is, so I guess I don't feel it. I have felt my esophagus and my belly button, but where I assume my stomach to be I don't feel it.

You are smart! I never worried about that until I had the sleeve and then went holy crap, what if I can't stop losing weight. But already, 6 weeks out, my weight loss has slowed and I honestly am not worried about it anymore. As my aunt would say, "Give me a little of that anorexia!" Bad joke, not nice, but she really struggled with obesity. But I guess our strength is keeping weight on, and I don't think the sleeve will keep us from being less than a normal weight. In fact, after six weeks I am finding I'm going to have to work a little harder at losing bc eating less was enough for the first 30, but after that it is going to take some harder work.

I had my surgery a day after you and I did have salad a couple times now and I did fine. I couldn't eat much though. I ate it with grilled chicken. It was so great. Some things I eat are very heavy in my stomach like Beans. It is like I take a couple bites and feel like I can't eat for hours. It wasn't like that with salad though. Also, I ate some steamed spinach a little undercooked, that might satisfy you if you cannot eat salad yet. I've eaten tomatoes here and there and that was fine for me. But I just don't feel like there are many raw veggies I could handle and I stopped there. I take prilosec when I need it, but most days I don't. But I also feel hungry. It is hard to describe how things have and have not changed. I eat less, that I know. It has taken a while to adjust to that mentally but I feel like I'm there. I need to focus on Water and exercise because my weight loss has really slowed. But hunger is generally still there for me and feels the same as before, I just don't want the same foods if it feels like they might make me sick. I don't sit around craving pizza or chinese food, but I want food when I'm hungry.

I am soooooooo happy for you. What did that staple wind up being that was in your drain tube, I didn't see another message about it. But seriously girl, I am so happy for you.

Hmmmm....with your history I would think it would be advisable to have a lot of counseling beforehand and during. Believe me, if food is your comfort/security and your fat is a wall to protect you from the world then you could really have some emotional issues after surgery. Food has played a big role in most of our lives. I do not have a sexual abuse history but used food a lot. I was uncomfortable fat, but also a little afraid of being thin. There have been a lot of head games going on. Mostly, I wouldn't hide the problems you are experiencing from anyone. Try to have a good support system and just let things come as they may. I cried a lot in the first couple weeks after surgery, mostly b/c I was afraid of not being able to overeat again. I was very nervous. Now I'm six weeks out and am a littler calmer about it. I think I've tested the sleeve a lot to see what I could tolerate and now I'm not as worried about it. I don't want sweet things often, but I have had a treat and I lived to tell about it. I understand, I was a lot panicked myself. Just don't hide the problems you are experiencing even if it means rescheduling your surgery until you've had time to deal with your emotions.

We just got back from Mexico to Laredo and Monterrey where we traveled by truck. We did get stopped twice in Laredo for a bogus traffic stop (a cop wanting some cash) and a routine check, but I'm sure you will not be in your own car. We saw a lot of army looking guys in camo carrying machine guns. This is normal to us now. I really looked a lot at those guys, and they were not on high alert. They were talking on cell phones, listening to music, and jamming. They are there for the presence of military and it made me feel good to have them there. Just young boys...glad to see they were working and had a job/future. There are random acts of violence in Mexico, mostly one drug cartel against another which may be the norm thesedays, but rarely do they hurt anyone outside of that circle. You'll see enhanced security but think of it as a good thing. I would never travel during the night in Mexico b/c there are petty thieves and bad roads. I know it is scarey, but just get your surgery and come home. Plan your flight times where you will not travel at all during the day and you'll feel more comfortable. You will not see as many Americans there, we didn't see any on this trip. I always plan early morning flights when I'm nervous anywhere cause I figure the bad guys are still asleep from the night before. If totally uncomfortable with the concept, maybe find a doctor here. We got to Mexico often, but I opted to pay more and get my surgery at home. If it doesn't feel right, just don't do it.

Well, I had my first son at 34 and my last at 43. It can be done! They are both healthy. I just wasn't ready before then. A few people have made comments, but for us it works. Hang in there...you'll be nuts like the rest of us soon. It does help to be a smaller weight to chase them.

The thing is, everyone needs sweats and just run around clothes, and it was always such a shame I could not just pick them up at Sam's bc the XL, and if they even had an XXL it was also too SMALL. Plus I'm short and it is hard to find petite women's sweats that fit. And who wants to hem a pair of SWEATS??? Not me!! Yesterday, 5 weeks out of surgery, picked up an XXL capri sweats at Sam's Club and said, "ooooohwwweeeeee these are big". Then grabbed a XL pair of sweats/capri cut and walked off with them to purchase. Stood in a long line and kept looking at the pants and finally realized..."Holy CRAP, this size is still too big." So then I HAD TO walk ALLLLLL the way back over there (with a big smile on my face) to get a size LARGE and took them home and they fit JUST RIGHT. Even if they shrink a bit they will still fit fine. SEVEN BUCKS, WOO HOOOOOO. Not to say a large would fit in every style, but second time I've bought something since surgery and both times it was NOT in the women's dept. THANKING GOD FOR THAT. I can't wait to be able to buy some petite low waist JEANS that are not Women's Petite...but not yet. My husband and sons sing "Pants on the Ground" after I've worn my jeans for a while. They get really baggy. But like someone else said, the waist isn't falling off. I'm still a bit swollen around the belly so until my bottom "row" of fat" deflates I'm trying not to wear new pants that are too snug there.

Sleeved February 9th. I've lost 29 lbs. I haven't exercised really and don't really follow a diet at all b/c I just can't right now, although I tend to focus more on Protein, a little carbs, a little fat. Kind of eat what I can. I'll buckle down if I need to, but I'm not particularly interested in losing super duper fast b/c I don't want any issues with hair, gallbladder, etc. I'm hoping to be down another 10 lbs by my husbands bday in early June. I also LOVE seeds, like sunflower seeds, like crazy. Maybe I need the sodium and protein? It is possible. It is something I can do that doesn't really fill me up, so every couple days I have some. I'm happy with my weight loss. I'm still a little sore around belly button some days from the moment I wake up (my surgeon cuts there as the major site, just 1 other short cut somewhere near my ribs). I think it is b/c I sleep on my stomach, kind of like when you are pregnant and not sure if you can/should be sleeping there. But it is no big deal. I have my 6 week follow up next Tuesday so we'll see what he says, but I think I'm fine. Still wondering where the sleeve is, since I only feel my esophagus like if I eat too much or my belly button. Funny how I never felt the sleeve itself so I guess that is good it is working fine.

I was sleeved right before you and I get empty stomach hunger too. It is a physical need for food, which is different than a craving for pizza after eating a hot dog and oreos lol. Of which I've had none of those. lol Nor do I intensely crave these type things. Just walk your arse off and it will fall off on its own.

I too have very dry skin. AND it feels like winter will never end...in Houston...whichi s really weird. Your weight loss is great Lee!

I had a revelation this weekend right in line with what others have said. What used to be comfort food now is the food that gets stuck. For instance, we eat a lot of Mexican eggs, Beans, and tortillas. B/c I can't eat salsa well, so it is like trying to get cardboard through my throat b/c I guess it is all thick. Even if it is without the tortilla, it is just too dense or something. Beans by themselves are better, but no eggs. Just no satisfaction there. Same with Chinese, which was a major part of my diet. It just doesn't work for me right now and I did stop trying totally b/c I would gag on it. It has been a bit difficult to know what to eat. We went to Mexico this weekend and I didn't want to be a problem or create a problem for myself so I was pretty careful. drinks were tough and I drank a lot of Water. Halfway through the trip I had an AH HA moment and I finally just stopped trying to eat like I always have there before (sniff sniff). I am such a hardhead. What tasted GREAT was the natural orange juice, fresh tomatoes with anything, the flavor was incredible. Things more mild in spice but a bit crunchy worked too, like chilequilas. I did have a corn cob and didn't have the problems Tiffy has had with corn. The corn wasn't served hot enough for me and I couldn't eat much, but that appears to have a lot of flavor to me now. Seems like veggies, but not cooked, are on my list of good things now. Just real fresh produce. I have not had a lot of fruit the past 5 weeks, but that orange juice (fresh squeezed) was like heaven. I had my first lettuce salad on the way back (probably 2-3 oz) and it was great too and I wish I could have eaten more. It is true it is a total re-evaluation of what works and what doesn't. I am 5 weeks out and really just now accepting this. It seems like the lighter the meal the more full and comfortable I feel whereas the heavier stuff just doesn't want to go into my stomach and I suffer for 20 minutes or so and never really feel full. I keep trying and trying to drink coffee b/c I have always LOVED coffee but now find the brand I always used (100% COLUMBIAN) is way too heavy now. The sweet breads from Mexico - totally don't appeal to me much. I'd rather munch on sunflower seeds. I gained a lb on the trip. But I'm sure it was just too much salt on those darn seeds which I gotta get away from for a while. I was just having too much fun tasting things. I never liked salty/vinegary things much, whereas now that seems to be something I like and I may find a good pickle soon. It is weird and interesting how things really do change. I guess it is okay just to eat totally differently. Too late to go back, gotta go forward. It is just so weird after a lifetime of eating a certain way. I'm thinking no more seafood gumbo either - shrimp just has the wrong texture now for me. And forget the rice. Wow - it is hard to imagine that I could live without these staples in my diet. But honestly, they don't taste so great to me anymore. I haven't totally given into it, but I can see I'm on my way.

I got a kidney infection about 3 weeks afterwards - got antibiotics. It worked. Similar to bladder infection, but further up. I know mine was from such drastic changes including not enough of the right fluids.

Stacie - well, maybe this will be part of the answer as to why it didn't heal. Let us know what happens.

I have a favorite chicken and veggie dish at my chinese restaurant and I have gagged both times I tried to eat it even if I puree it. Their chicken is very course for some reason...and a few other times I've gagged on chicken. Slimes and all... I gag on eggs too. For different reasons. I have somewhat of an aversion to eggs, coffee, chicken, whey Protein, and Vitamins. Dunno why...but the chicken I know where that aversion came from...it was that chinese food I tried to eat. And it is in sauce. But still very course.

I know, I lose weight every few days...but I fear that will stop if I don't get my crap together. My head is just not around this yet and I have no plan for the day. Plans don't work for me right now at all. Seems like one day I want something, and after that I never want that again but something different. And I just kind of ride the ride. I've wasted so much money on food/supplements trying to buy some of things everyone says they do - but ugh most of it just awful to me. Like I bought the 'case' of shrimp won ton Soup from costco...ate one and gagged my way through it and threw away the other 7. Have eaten a little Greek yogurt out of the Costco 'case' but UGHHHHHH, can't touch it now. Can't drink anymore shakes to save my life with any form of whey Protein. Even the unflavored. The artificial sweeteners are just worse than ever to me. If I only get 2-3 oz of something, I want it to be something I like. So after I didn't poop for 10 days...I just cut out all the what-I-call fake food and just started eating more normally for me, and figured the weight loss would stop. It has slowed, but it seems like if I eat a lot one day, then the next day food just seems gross and it offsets itself. And still I'm not eating many calories. But so many of you are so organized and compared to you all I feel like just a total bomb. But things are 'regular' again and I stopped crying and I'm just sort of trying to let my head catch up to my stomach so to speak. My head is rebeling against the physical changes. I tend to go through things this way - sorta sloppy but I get there all the same.

haha. I'm not there yet.......still fighting this thing. People say...you are doing so great and I snicker to myself. I'm thinking - you don't understand...I'm being controlled. I hope eventually.

Me too - I was sleeved February 9th and my waist line is slightly more comfy, but definitely swollen at the belly button area which is where my incisions are. The WORST thing was my first period, which hurt the incision as it swelled even more I guess. And the cramping felt especially bad to where I really wanted to be home but didn't stay home. But it really was aching. I think this is all normal. After C-sections and then a tubal the last time I know it takes a while. It is swollen in there! And scar tissue.

Oh that is soooooooooooooo great. I love hearing people feel they are (now) living life to the fullest....YOU GO GIRL!!!!

WOW - really proud of you and happy for you! I would love to see the pics. Do you know what size bougie you have and how much you can eat at a meal in ounces? Just curious a year out how that played out. Thanks!

What is the 90 day challenge?