Thankfulmomof3

John thank you so much for posting this!! My kids and I are going on our FIRST cruise ever this October on the Disney Dream to the Bahamas and I was wondering how it was going to be food-wise with my sleeve (I will be almost 8 mos post-op when we go). I have gone to Disney's cruise website and it looks like they will have a lot of bariatric friendly options! Your post just gave me that much more reassurance!

I average between 400-575 at 4 weeks out. I've been doing a Protein Shake for Breakfast to get a good chunk of the Protein in ( Isopure zero carb vanilla, 25 g mixed with 8 oz simply smart milk, 10 g..30 germs to start day..I drink half at 6 am and half around 830 ish. For lunch I have half a Greek yogurt or a slice of deli turkey and slice of cheese., I usually can't finish yogurt some have as my second snack...dinner has been 1/4 cup refried Beans ( can is going to last forever) or one small bread less meatball, or egg, ham,cheese mini crustless quiches, 40 calories each made in mini muffin pan...sooo yummy

. Would you be willing to share your recipe for the crustless quiche?

Just take it one day at a time! I was four weeks post-op from my sleeve yesterday and how I feel now is night and day different how I felt two weeks ago! When I was just about two weeks out from my surgery I found myself experiencing anxiety attacks, wondering what exactly I had gotten myself into!! I took my kids out to our newly opened Mellow Mushroom pizza place and I wanted to cry because I couldn't partake in the food that was my weakness!! However fast forward two weeks to where I am now, 30lbs lighter, wearing clothes I have not worn in close to TWO years, so much more full of energy, people asking me what I am doing, as I look good and it feels WONDERFUL!! Better than any alice of pizza ever could!! Plus now that I am onto soft foods, I have found some wonderful bariatric friendly recipes on a BE website via Facebook that even my kids enjoy! Things will get better and you will be feeling better! If you do not find yourself feeling better though maybe consider finding a therapist who specializes in talking with people who have had bariatric surgery! It is a life changing process and not any easy one at that, but better health and a longer life is worth it!

I am four weeks out as of yesterday and am down 30lbs and am going to Curves and doing their circuit three days a week and the other days I am walking 3-4 miles with my dog at brisk pace. 60 more pounds to go and amazed everyday at how little I eat and am full and how much more energy I have!! Good for you for losing so much weight, keep up the great work!

Unless you want to take away the effectiveness of your sleeve the answer is ABSOLUTELY NEVER!!! My NUT told me that ANY kind of carbonated drink, no matter what amount is horrid for your sleeve!! I stopped drinking soda years ago (too many empty calories and sugar and artificial junk in the diet sodas) and so that is not a problem for me. The health benefits of having this great tool at your hands, along with all of what you and your body have already gone through should be motivation enough for you not to drink any soda. Good luck!

I was sleeved on March 9th and had my drainage tube for two days. My surgeon was checking the drainage once a day for levels of a certain something (I forget the name), that would indicate a leak. Thankfully everything came back fine. He took my drain out the day I was discharged.

I had my surgery on March 9, came home Wed afternoon and have had a lot emotional ups and downs! I only had some nausea the first day and the morning of the second day. My pain has been getting better and I have not had to use the narcotic pain pills that I was prescribed, except for the first night. I have only been needing to use some acetaminophen every now and then. I am really starting to tire of the Protein Shakes and am trying my darnedest to get my min of 60g of Protein in, which I have been successful with. It's just a weird (and a bit scary) sensation to not feel hunger pains or cravings like I used to. I am anxious to get on some somewhat solid foods like very loose scrambled eggs or cottage cheese. But that won't happen for another week to two weeks. I too have found myself feeling emotional and even second guessing this surgery at times, even though I have already lost seven pounds since my surgery. I know it will get better, it's just hard for me to focus on that right now.

I am actually leaving the hospital in about 15 minutes. So far so good. The healing is def a day by day slow process!! I had some nausea, but not too much. I've been eating chicken and veggie broth and it takes mea good 30_40 min to get those down. I am walking more each day and thankfully it is supposed to be 65 degrees here tomorrow so I should be able to get my walking in outside with no problem. I am on a full liquid diet for the next two weeks, so the Protein Powder and PB2 are going to be my new best friends for awhile! sleep is important too!! My surgeon said that is a huge part of the healing process. One really nice thing my surgeon did for me was to give me pictures of the procedure, that showed my liver (which he said was very healthy), my stomach before and my stomach with the staples (it actually looked like a zipper) before he cut off the excess part! So far I am a happy camper and hope my recovery continues to go well. I hope all of you are doing good too!

I had my sleeve completed yesterday!!! It was a pretty icky four or five hours after surgery for me in terms of how I was feeling. However I slowly started feeling better last night and so far today ( I know it is only 7:30am) I am doing pretty good! Not much nausea or pain (although they are giving me nausea meds through my IV every eight hours). I do have a pain pump, but I have really only had to use it when I get up to ambulate, as I am pretty tender. I have not had hardly any gas pain, just a lot of burping. The ice chips have tasted good, but I have to be sure to suck on them slowly or Ms. sleeve lets me know she is not happy. I got my foley catch out this morning and I am done with my oxygen too! I have been trying to walk every hour as that seems to help with my burping. Today is the first day that I will be trying some Clear Liquids. That is what I am most nervous about, making sure I am able to meet my requirements without making myself nauseated or sick. I am supposed to go home tomorrow, and yes I am nervous about that too because I do not want to get dehydrated! I wish all the rest of you the best of luck with your upcoming surgeries . I will eventually post some before and after pictures and will keep you all updated on my progress.

My surgery is tomorrow morning at 7:30 and while I am ready, i am also still nervous. I have had two previous surgeries, so I know the routine, but nonetheless I am still a bit anxious. I guess I am anxious more so about how much potential pain and nausea I will have and getting used to only being able to eat 1/4 of a cup to 3/4 of a cup and being full. I also worry about getting enough liquids and Proteins in the first two weeks. I have been doing a lot of praying and will continue to do so for all of my March 9 sleeve siblings too!! Can't wait to be a big healthier loser

39 and being sleeved on Monday

Did you have your sleeve done here in the U.S? Did you have a lot of pain or nausea afterwards? I have mine a week from this Monday and while I am excited, i am also a tad bit nervous

Thanks to all of you for sharing your pictures!! You all look AMAZING and make me that much more excited for my surgery coming up on March 9!! Just from looking at all of your pictures and reading the many different stories on this site, I know that with keeping with what my NUT has been teaching me for the past six months and with proper exercise I can look/feel this healthy too for the rest of my life!

You look fantastic!! You make me even more excited for my own surgery which is less than two weeks away on March 9th!! Keep up the great work!!

Two weeks from today for me!! Hope your surgery went great and can't wait for an update!

March 9th (at 7:30am, first case of the day) for me and I just started my pre-op diet today!! While I am a tad bit nervous regarding the potential nausea afterwards, I am so excited to be celebrating my 40th birthday in Nov with a healthy lifestyle transformation! I feel like my surgeon and my NUT have done a outstanding job helping to prepare me! I will be in the hospital for two days and will have a drain for the first 24hrs (my surgeon told me this is to make sure there are no leaks) and will also have a foley cath for the first 24hrs. We are all in this together and I cannot wait to be a spokesperson for this wonderful weight loss tool!

I am from Des Moines, Iowa. I am set to have my surgery on March 16. I am excited but nervous.

Hi there! I live in Iowa City and my surgery is scheduled for two weeks from today on March 9! I am very excited! Where are you having yours? I am having mine at Mercy here in IC

I had my one year follow-up appointment yesterday afternoon and could not be more pleased with the feedback I received and the results of my lab work! It's hard to believe it was slightly over a year ago that I embarked on the journey of WLS. I was and continue to be blessed by the support of my loving fiance who started his journey just 5 months earlier. Together we have lost over 250 lbs and have never felt better. I cannot wait for what the future has in store for us

You and your fiancé are a huge inspiration to me!! I am scheduled for my sleeve on March 9 and I would be thrilled if I look as healthy as you a year from now post-op! Keep up the great work!

I had my one year follow-up appointment yesterday afternoon and could not be more pleased with the feedback I received and the results of my lab work! It's hard to believe it was slightly over a year ago that I embarked on the journey of WLS. I was and continue to be blessed by the support of my loving fiance who started his journey just 5 months earlier. Together we have lost over 250 lbs and have never felt better. I cannot wait for what the future has in store for us

You and your fiancé are a huge inspiration to me!! I am scheduled for my sleeve on March 9 and I would be thrilled if I look as healthy as you a year from now post-op! Keep up the great work!

I had my one year follow-up appointment yesterday afternoon and could not be more pleased with the feedback I received and the results of my lab work! It's hard to believe it was slightly over a year ago that I embarked on the journey of WLS. I was and continue to be blessed by the support of my loving fiance who started his journey just 5 months earlier. Together we have lost over 250 lbs and have never felt better. I cannot wait for what the future has in store for us

You and your fiancé are a huge inspiration to me!! I am scheduled for my sleeve on March 9 and I would be thrilled if I look as healthy as you a year from now post-op! Keep up the great work!

Great job!! What a great feeling to know you are on your way to a healthier life!

March 9 in Iowa

How exciting!! I am scheduled for March 9 and am looking forward to my second chance at a healthy lifestyle!!

I set the group to secret so friend me on Facebook and then I'll add you "Shala Buckner "

I am going to send you a FB friend request as I would like to be a part of the secret FB group that you created specifically for this .

I am a March 9th sleever too!! My pre-op diet starts Monday

Kim,

Not glad for your fears, but glad to see someone voicing some of my same concerns that I have wrestled with during my pre-op months. To answer your big question...I think it's a big YES, it's completely normal. This is a major life change. I will comment on each of your fears as you listed them. I hope it will help to give you some peace of mind or at least something to think about.

1. the right decision? -I personally feel confident in my decision because I know that it is the change that will enable me to regain the health (#1), energy, and self-confidence that will make the rest of my life so much better. I f you are at this point in the process, I suspect that you made your decision for similar reasons and I think it's something we have to keep in the front of our mind everyday, to give us strength and motivation. Keep your eye on the prize, so to speak.

2. scared of foods that you will miss out on certain foods....I have to say I still wonder, myself, how I will feel when faced with certain old favorites. I have spoken to people in my local support group who have said that they no longer crave the same foods at all. I'm hoping that this is the case. maybe we can muddle through this one together. ??

3. scared for pain - Not worried about this one. This is my 3rd surgery in 2 years (gallbladder and incisional hernia were my others). The pain is temporary and easily managed with meds. I don't know what your experience with surgery is, but don't let this one worry you too much.

4. scared of not getting enough Protein - At my most recent appointment with my dietician, she outlined the post-op dietary progression, complete with examples and daily schedules. This helped clarify a lot of my concerns with how this will all play out. She made this document herself and it's an excellent guide. I would be glad to email it to you if you'd like. Also, do you currently use Myfitnesspal app to track your food? If not, I recommend it. It makes tracking so much easier.

5. me too! I know it won't all fall out. It just doesn't...it might thin out though. My cousin had this happen to her. I personally couldn't even "see" the difference in her hair. I could feel it, only because I cut her hair. She didn't love it because at the time she wondered what the extent would be. It was temporary though. Not sure how long....6-9 mod? I forget. She's back to thick, beautiful hair and I'll bet none ever noticed anything different. I hope to be as fortunate.

6. My number 1 fear!!!! My nutritionist and doctor both said that the elasticity of your skin is largely genetic. Age and amount of time overweight and how much does play a part as well. They told me that exercise and toning definitely helps, but no way to totally control it, as far as what I've learned. Let's just pray for the best.

7. That's a really personal one and I think it depends on the degree to which your weight shaped your personality.

Bottom line.... your fears are completely normal. Just keep in mind how much better off you will be and how worth it all the work is. For me, when I compare what life would be like going on the way I am, and what life could be life with the surgery....there's no contest. I'm ready!

Good luck to you!!

Would you be willing to email me what your NUT gave to you?