txfirefly979

I won't lie - I miss the guzzle ability...but buying a size 6 off the rack and my bones not hurting, and being able to keep up in daily activities, staying active without really trying far outweighs the guzzle....

No, doesn't bother me.
And the weird thing is that, 5 pounds from goal, the loose skin is actually starting to shrink. And I'm losing the fat around my tummy and even some from my underarms.
I would NEVER have bet that these changes would happen.
Am wondering now what it'll be like a year from now.

Throughout the process I have been very much encouraged by the before and after photos of other members of BP. However I was reluctant to post any of mine until I was what I considered successful and reached my goal weight. Then I seemed to never remember to take a pic. Well, I just got back from a fantastic ski vacation made possible due to my sleeve, alot of fellow Bariatric Pal support and a year of rigorous effort. So here are some of my before and after pics.

First doc appt yesterday, all is well. Down 15lbs since start of liquids. Got the ok for purée. Now having my first scrambled egg. So comforting to have a warm solid! Took me 15 minutes to eat it. Hope everyone is feeling well!

Patient of Dr. Sommers @ Hudson Valley Hospital. This is week one of post op for me. So far so good, sore throat from incubation is the most uncomfortable element. Belly button pain is minimal. Really enjoy reading about everyone's journey. YouTube videos and forums have been such a great tool!

sleeved the 19th around 10:30am. The first day wasn't bad but as general anesthesia wore off, the IV pain meds were NOT my friend. SO nauseous. powered through it (after puking some yellow bile) and got up and walked laps probably 4x that afternoon/evening. Dry mouth was horrendous... even with the swabs.
thankfully I went for leak test around 8:30am so I was allowed to sip Water starting around 9:30am. finally around the 2pm shift change, nurse figured out it was IV pain meds causing the super nausea (since I kept begging for more anti-nausea and acid reducer, thinking that was the problem). switched to liquid hydrocodone and problem solved (although it did conk me out).
Discharged 2nd day around 6pm, hubby stopped and got Rx filled while I walked around. got a bag of sonic ice and unsweet peach tea and headed home.
haven't really taken pain meds since day #4 (even then, was to sleep) so feeling really blessed of easy recovery. also very lucky (TMI) to have 1st BM on Sunday evening. BUT then tonight, have had watery diarrhea 2x
anyone else suffering with this? Is Imodium safe to take? all I have is pill form but I could chew it up. I know I'll definitely be adding a bit of sugar-free Fiber to Water tonight and all liquids tomorrow but also dont want to be running (literally) to toilet all night .
Also very worried b/c supposed to start back at work in a couple days.... definitely don't want this problem at work!
(I have another 8 days of full liquids before purees..... sigh)
reassurance/advice/suggestions appreciated! hope everyone else's recovery is moving along smoothly....

Thank god I saw this! I been 5 days post op and can't get to the bathroom fast enough.. Hoping it will subside soon.

I am 6 days post op, I know it's frustrating watching TV trying to recover and get fluids and Protein .... Then you have commercials 80% are fast food commercial or food related..so I am focused on my liquid diet for the next week and look forward to mushy food.. Just remember baby steps!! we chose this life change! so don't complain like someone forced you to get surgery... Think about the positive and that we will have to struggle a bit..but then the rewards will be worth the wait and effort.. My suggestion is to spend your free time reading and research healthy recipes... Exercise hang at your park or walk the dog... Around your block...Look for moral support....we are here to get passed those hurdles. If your in pain call your surgeon get liquid meds for pain and chewable vitamins....RELAX!!!! breath

I want to approach her and hand her literature on the benefits of WLS. I want to urge her to drop that doughnut. those fries, that frappaccino and start a lowcarb/high Protein diet NOW NOW NOW while she still has good knees, a strong back, a great metabolism. I want to tell her to get that weight off NOW so she can spend her 20s and 30s looking great in the latest fashions, enjoy shopping at ANY store, maintain her healthy heart.

But I won't and it kills me. EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
I have two girls in high school and I just see teens getting bigger and bigger and bigger. I remember when I was "curvier" than most of the girls in my high school and I was a size 2! I wasn't fat by any means, but most of the girls had stick arms and legs, no boobs, no hips. Now these girls have big bums, huge boobs, muffin tops that make Dunkin Donuts jealous. There used to be 5 or 6 heavier teens in a grade, now about 40% of them are in the overweight range if not almost obese.

I am not saying WLS is the answer for teens, but I am wondering when we are going to get it together and teach our children good nutrition NOW so they don't suffer with obesity later. I seriously worry about the future of our kids' health.

It's funny that this was a topic of conversation at my support group meeting tonight! I usually get very nauseous in the morning right after I take my first sips of Water. Well, the nurse told us it is because the stomach contracts during the night, with nothing in it all night. So when the water hits it, it kinda goes into shock - like a slap in the face! She suggested to take a couple of small sips of warm to hot water, so it's not such a shock. And then, when you have the first meal of the day, to eat something soft for the first few bites, to kinda "prime" the stomach for the harder textures to come. Makes sense, huh?! I'm definitely going to try this in the morning! And good evening to all...

At the okay from my NUT, I sometimes eat bad foods. Occasionally I take my 5 year old to McDonalds as an after school treat, and according to my NUT, feeling deprived is a quick way to falling off the bandwagon. So what do I do? I lifehack it.
I get the 4 piece chicken nugget kids meal. I get the apple slices as my first side, and tell them to give me a Cutie (a mandarin orange) instead of french fries. I get a light lemonade (just 5 calories and I swear it tastes the same is regular). I don't get any sauce for the nuggets, and I only eat two, even if I have room for all 4. Fortunately, I have a growing 5 year old boy, and he happily takes the extra nuggets off of my hands! I once had a Fresco menu taco at Taco Bell too!
That's right, I just admitted to eating junk food. I'm not ashamed. By limiting quantity, making healthy substitutions, and not eating junk food every day, I keep myself from feeling totally deprived, which makes it that much easier to stick with my healthy diet the other 98% of the time.

@@Laureadolce
Thanks for the well wishes! I spent one night (3/19) in the hospital and got home around 8pm tonight. (Had to fill Rx and also torrential rains here in TX). Day 2 sucked. IV pain meds made me so nauseated. Once I got done with the leak test and could have liquid pain meds - things got soooo much better!
I brought ear plugs but didn't have to use them (private room). I did use phone charger and extension cord. And also fleecy robe (which served as blanket too and was easier than bending down to cover my legs). House shoes also definitely better than the tred socks they give you.
Now just trying to keep down anti nausea pills. I forgot to grab a pill crusher so hubby may have to go buy me one bc Anti Nausea and Acid Reducer are in pill form not liquid.
So glad surgery is over and glad to be home. Now for 2 more weeks of liquids. Haha

I second the "back thumping" technique! I had the hubby do that while I was walking the hospital wings and also when I got in/out of bed. It honestly felt amazing and seemed to help move the gas trapped under should blades/rib cage

I admire all of you for being so honest on your fears. I had plenty of the myself but also did not allow myself months to think about it. I had vsg on Oct 15, 2014. So a little over 4 months ago. I was never worried about the surgery or recovery itself. Which for me, was a breeze. I went back to work also 5 days later with very little pain. My biggest fears were a lot like Lexi. I was worried about my relationship with food. How sad that I can't eat everything on my plate anymore? That's how I felt. And trust me, I went overboard having my last meal! I gained 8 pounds in like 2 weeks. That's scary! And honestly, I was a bit depressed for the 1st month after surgery. I was losing weight quickly but the diet was hard after. Well I take that back...you have no true appetite. It was my head hunger that got me. I almost mourned my relationship with food. But once I got my energy back and lost that first 30 pounds.... my life changed forever. I still have people look at me and make comments about how sad that I can't eat more than that or that I really don't desire any food anymore, but honestly I am fine with it! I am not sorry one bit! 4 months out and 80 pounds down makes it so worth it.
One of our biggest reasons for me getting the surgery was to have children. We have been trying for 6 years, went through fertility treatments and nothing. Neither one of us have anything wrong, besides PCOS, to not be able to conceive. After a lot of talking it was suggested that possibly losing weight will help. So my biggest fear at this time is that, yes I am getting healthier, but what if I still can't get pregnant? That is devastating to me.
But all we can do is keep on taking care of ourselves!!

@@NewgirlfromMd Get someone to karate chop on your upper back and shoulders. That sometimes shakes it loose.

X-ray looks good! No leaks :') praise the lord, now let's keep it that way! Lol Heads up on the drink they make u drink for the X-ray, it's pretty gross and u can't wash it down after words, u can only wash ur mouth out...she told me I could just gulp it but I didn't wanna risk it no matter how nasty it was lol

@@Laureadolce
Thanks for the well wishes! I spent one night (3/19) in the hospital and got home around 8pm tonight. (Had to fill Rx and also torrential rains here in TX). Day 2 sucked. IV pain meds made me so nauseated. Once I got done with the leak test and could have liquid pain meds - things got soooo much better!
I brought ear plugs but didn't have to use them (private room). I did use phone charger and extension cord. And also fleecy robe (which served as blanket too and was easier than bending down to cover my legs). House shoes also definitely better than the tred socks they give you.
Now just trying to keep down anti nausea pills. I forgot to grab a pill crusher so hubby may have to go buy me one bc Anti Nausea and Acid Reducer are in pill form not liquid.
So glad surgery is over and glad to be home. Now for 2 more weeks of liquids. Haha

Hey everyone! I was sleeved 3/16 and discharged 3/17 around 3pm. First 3 days post op was tough, I am also taking care of my two kids, a 4 year old and a 2 1/2 month old which I'm sure is adding to everything, but today post op day 4 ( I count the day I was sleeved) I am doing really well! I was tired as hell the first 3 days, I would nap on and off with my grandmas help during the day and as soon as my husband got home, I was K.O. And pretty useless lol. Pain was there but not too bad, I just had to take it easy. No nausea, but gas was my main enemy!
1 thing that made things worse for me was the super strong narcotics, I have a high pain tolerance and I'm extremely sensitive to medicine (I'll doze off taking DayQuil ????) first night in hospital they were pumping me full of hydromorphone and I couldn't get more than 25 minutes of sleep at a time when I could sleep, I was high as a kite lol. It's funny now but it was the most miserable time for me! Once I was home I was prescribed Tylenol with codeine and i couldn't tolerate it so I called my doc and was told to discontinue and take Tylenol 500mgs. That works like a charm for me and today I haven't taken any!
Fluids have been my first priority, it seems the more fluids I get the better I feel and the more energy I have, trying to stay away from dehydration! At first Water was the only thing I could tolerate, I tried adding Isopure -no go! Now I can tolerate everything in the first liquid stage, I am so ready to move to full liquids, but refuse to stray from the plan
I'm down 11lbs and the scale keeps moving, but I know it will slow as I progress in to richer and denser foods.
It's nice to have a place to talk to others that don't require a long drawn out explanation of ur situation!
Anyways that's how I'm doin

Shell88, love that last comment, just the valuable info I turn to this group for! Txfirefly979, it occurs to me you are in surgery right now - sending you happy thoughts!

CONGRATS! Just be careful hanging out on the interwebs - you're more affected by those surgery drugs than you may realize - I sent complete nonsense to my boss at work when I tried to let her know all went well

@@kp1971us CONGRATS! I'm so happy to hear yours went smoothly. say a prayer that I make the same post tmrw... mine is scheduled for 10:30am. Keep us updated (and add me as a friend if you want to keep in touch with someone near your surgery date). best wishes for a continued smooth recovery!

I was told too that during the healing process you may not lose much either. It'll pick up yall. We gotta have faith!!

This is my 1st post-op post!!! So far so good. Surgery was completed about 10:00, and I was in my room by 11:00. Gas pain in chest and left shoulder at first, but it's pretty much gone by now. Some soreness on my left side where they pulled my tummy out, but no significant pain to speak of. 1st leak test went well - that stuff I had to drink was NASTY!!!
Now I'm working on my 1st cup of Water - best h2o I've ever had!!! No nausea or discomfort!!!!

Good luck tomorrow @@txfirefly979 !!

You are gonna do great!