lauraellen80

I had my 1-week follow-up appointment today. I'm over 10 lbs down since surgery day (June 15th). They removed my steristrips, said my incisions look good. As a side note--I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but since surgery I've had bruises on the outside of both legs just above the knee. I figured it was something from the gurney or bed during or after surgery, but I just happened to mention it to my PA. She said that it was from the strap they put across your legs to hold you to the table during surgery, and that they tilt the whole surgical table so you're in almost a standing position during the procedure! I did not know they did that--crazy!

They will give you anti-nausea meds in the hospital as needed. I only threw up once, and it was after I came home--I will admit that it hurt like hell, but it won't damage anything. The only reason I vomited was because my antidepressant and my sleeve aren't getting along (I'm cutting my pills in half now and taking them a few hours apart).

So happy for you! I will also have a wedding to attend when I'm about 6 months out, and I have a really cute dress languishing in the back of my closet that I'm really hoping I'll be able to wear.

Congrats! Thanks for sharing--we're the same height and of a similar start weight. It's nice to hear from people further out for inspiration! I agree with you that 111 seems too low--I wasn't even 111 when I was a ballet dancer in my teens! I'm setting my goal weight at about 145. If I'm able to get down to 130 or so, I'll be thrilled, but 145 would be fine by me.

Oh, yes-- the other responses made me remember to mention--your fainting could be due to dehydration. How much fluid are you getting in each day? It's super important, especially with it being hot out. You don't want to end up being readmitted to the hospital for IV fluids--it's the most common reason WLS patients end up back in the hospital. I put lots of ice in my drinks, and alternate between plain water, herbal iced tea, and water with Mio. The variety makes it easier to get more in that way.

How long are you supposed to be on Clear liquids? Surely you're allowed to move along in your diet phases before your July 1st consult? I am 8 days out, as well, and I was allowed to start full liquids today (adding in strained cream Soups, yogurt, pudding, plus a second Protein shake). If you don't have any information on your diet stages and when you're supposed to move to the next one, call your surgeon or nutritionist and ask--that's what they're there for! Your hunger pangs might be acid reflux--that can often mimic the psyical feeling of hunger. Did you surgeon prescribe Prilosec or Pepcid or the like? If not, call your surgeon and ask for a prescription, or ask if you can take an over-the-counter acid reducer. As for comparing yourself to other people on Instagram--STOP! I have to keep reminding myself of that, too. Everyone's experience is different, and each surgeon has their own requirements. It's not uncommon to have some depression after surgery. It sounds like you are really low, though, and you might want to get in touch with a therapist. If your surgeon's practice includes a psychologist, give them a call. They might also be able to refer you to therapists who have experience working with WLS patients. I have struggled with depression for years, and I started therapy well before surgery and plan to continue throughout my weight loss, as long as it takes to get my head in a good place. Good luck! Please update as you progress!

I chose the sleeve over the bypass for several reasons: The estimated excess weight lost is about 10% more with the bypass. For me, that was about 10 lbs. In the grand scheme of things, not that much difference. And as @@JosieAppleHead said above, those are just averages and estimates. An extra 10 lb. loss didn't make up for the fact that I would have malabsorption for the rest of my life. And once I found out that the malabsorption of calories doesn't last forever, but the malabsorption of Vitamins and nutrients does, it definitely did not seem worth it. I have a family history of stomach and colon cancers. The idea of having a blind stomach hanging out in there made me nervous because of that. At first, I thought the bypass and its dumping syndrome might be a good deterrent for me from eating sweets and stuff. But only about 1/3 of bypass patients have it anyway. Plus, it seemed to be too unpredictable, and I didn't want to worry when I'm out that I was going to inadvertently eat something to trigger dumping, or end up becoming a recluse because I was afraid. Constipation can be more of an issue with the bypass--I had terrible problems with an anal fissure a couple years ago and had no intention of going back to that hell. Finally, from talking to people who've had surgery, reading, and talking to my surgeon, I came to the conclusion that the sleeve would allow me to live my life the most "normally." But it's ultimately a very personal decision, and will depend on what you're the most comfortable with and any other health issues you might have. Good luck!

I have problems with my lower back, S/I joint, and hip, which was one of the reasons I decided to get surgery. I was caught in this cycle of not being able to exercise (or even take a short walk), and then gaining more weight, which made the pain worse. Like you, I was also concerned about being able to walk after surgery like they wanted me to. But since surgery (just 1 week ago) I've actually been able to walk better than I have in a couple years without pain. I lost about 25 lbs under the dietitian's monitoring for a couple months prior and on the pre-op diet, so maybe that was enough to get some of the pressure off my back. I only took pain meds in the hospital and before bed for a few days after, so I don't think that's it. The recumbent bike may be a good way to get exercise in, but part of the reason that they emphasize walking right off the bat is to help work out the gas that's pumped into you during surgery, so I don't know if the bike would help with that or not. Good luck! Here's to no more (okay, less) pain! Edited to add: Like @@kimby1029 said, Water aerobics is great for joint pain. I cannot wait to get back to my classes at the Y. If you can find some deep-water classes, even better, because you won't be pushing off the floor of the pool, so it's even less stress on your knee.

Remember that broth, popsicles, and Protein Shakes all count toward your 64 oz. of fluids. I have a small "sippy cup"-type tumbler from Target that holds about a cup, and I just keep sipping from that all day and tracking how many cups I drink in My Fitness Pal. I switch between ice water, herbal decaf iced tea (Tazo iced citrus bliss), and water w/ various flavors of Mio squirted in it. I find that ice-cold tastes better to me, so I throw a couple of ice cubes in, too. My week 1 plan allows me to have 1 Protein shake per day. I'm not supposed to have dairy yet, so I'm using unsweetened almond milk to mix with my powder. Then I measure out 1/3 cup at a time and drink some in the AM, some around lunch, and the rest in the evening. Tomorrow I can bump up to 2 shakes a day.

I'm doing pretty good--I was actually able to bend down and pick something up off the floor today! I am feeling a bit more rundown, though, and slept until after 10 this morning. Maybe it's all just catching up to me now. I start full liquids tomorrow, so I'm hoping that a little higher calorie intake and taking my Vitamin will help with my energy. So jealous of you guys who are already on soft/pureed foods!

I'm 1 week out from surgery today, and I am not ready to go back to work yet. I'm still kinda sore at my larger incision--today is the first day that I've managed to pick something up off the floor. I'm also pretty darn tired still and don't start my full liquid diet phase until tomorrow. Less than 150 calories a day is just not conducive to being up and alert all day. My job is a weird combination of mostly sitting, with some days that I'm up and moving a lot. And there are two flights of stairs between my office and the bathroom (I work in a 250-year-old historic mansion). So I'm glad I took 2 weeks off. But there are other folks who had no problem going back after one week. It varies from person to person.

I had a couple meltdowns and freak-outs during my pre-op period, but the day before surgery and the morning of, I was much less nervous than I thought I would be, even as I was sitting in the pre-op prep area waiting (and they hadn't even given me any happy drugs yet!). The couple hours immediately post-op were the worst, I'll admit... but once you are able to get up and moving (and peeing), it gets much better. And remember, you don't need to be a hero--take the pain meds and anti-nausea meds if you need them! Good luck, you'll do great!

You look amazing! P.S.--Is the last pic the same dress as the other two, or is a different color of the same style? Is this one of those "is it blue and black or white and gold" things?

I bought a cup at Target that is working great for me--it's basically a sippy cup, but it's not plastered with Dora the Explorer or anything. http://www.target.com/p/circo-double-walled-travel-mug-red-blue/-/A-15372250#prodSlot=large_1_15 I just keep it filled with ice Water, decaf herbal iced tea, or water with Mio all day. When I empty it, I log it in My Fitness Pal so I keep track of how many cups I've had.

I agree that there is no way I could get that much in at a time. My surgery was on the 15th, too. I'm only allowed 1 protein shake per day and drink (sip) 1/3 cup at a time. But... 12-16 oz of Fluid a day does not sound like enough! What is your total when you include Protein shakes, broth, popsicles? Over the course of the day, I've been getting 56-60 oz. You have to be really careful to avoid dehydration--you don't want to wind up back in the hospital on IV fluids!

Most grocery stores carry it now, with the other peanut butters. But I just bought some on Amazon--a 1 lb pack of each the regular PB flavor and the chocolate--because with my husband and I both drinking a lot of Protein shakes, we go through it fast! http://amzn.com/B00ABKWSTA Amazon also has smaller sizes if you just want to try it, not buy enough for an army.

I'm doing well! I came home Tuesday afternoon. The worst part was definitely immediately after surgery, when I was pretty nauseated (and out of it). Once they gave me something for the nausea, it wasn't so bad. I was up and down a lot during the night to pee and uncomfortable from the gas. I used my heating pad behind my shoulders for the gas pain, and that helped a lot. I've been able to get down my Protein shake, broth, Water, etc. without problems. Occassionaly I'll get kind of a spasmy, burpy thing when I take a sip, but it passes quickly. I'm still sleeping in a recliner, as my deeper incision pulls when I try to lie down in bed or on the couch. Definitely looking forward to moving on to my full liquids phase--I've never been so excited to eat pudding!

A small number of people with the sleeve end up revising to RNY due to acid reflux problems, also.

Yup, I've been sleeping in a recliner because I can't get comfy in bed or on the couch. I'm a side/stomach sleeper, but if I try to lie on my side, my deep incision pulls and bothers me.

My surgery was Monday, also... but I'm not allowed full liquids yet until next week, except 1 protein shake per day. I've been having 1/3 cup protein shake (made with powder and unsweetened almond milk) for breakfast, 1/3 cup shake for lunch, 1/3 cup Mrs. Grass chicken soup broth (made w/o the noodles, of course) for supper, and the last 1/3 cup of the protein shake later in the evening. Yesterday I also had about 1/4-1/3 cup of a sugar-free Italian ice. And then drinking herbal iced tea, water, and water w/ Mio throughout the day.

Not yet! My surgeon's phase diet doesn't allow for raw fruits & veggies until after 6 weeks. Your new tummy will not tolerate raw fruits right now, especially ones with seeds like strawberries. What Protein shakes have you tried? My favorites are Unjury's Vanilla and chocolate Splendor flavors, and Syntrax Nectar's "Sweets" flavors, especially Double-Stuffed Cookie. Syntrax offers a sample pack of their Nectars, including a bunch of fruity ones (not my thing, but lots of people like them). My surgery was the same day as yours, and right now I'm doing 1/3 c. of a protein shake at a time, finishing 1 shake per day. My surgeon's PA said I could use soy or almond milk during the first week, when I'm not supposed to have dairy. I'm using unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and it's good. Edited to add: I do have to admit that I'm also tired of Clear Liquids already, too! I am going to be so excited to have pudding and yogurt and strained Soups next week! And I'm already fantasizing about refried Beans and scrambled eggs on the soft foods phase...

Well, that nurse sucks. Mine kept checking to see if I needed pain meds and nausea meds. I was up and down a lot the first night peeing... it'll happen, and then you'll wish it would stop! I only had a few ice chips, but they pumped a lot of Fluid in me. Then the day after surgery, one of the nurses asked me how many times I'd urinated that morning... but instead of asking like I was an adult human, she actually said, "How many pee-pees have you made this morning?" My mom and I had to avoid eye contact with one another, and we lost it once she left the room.

Congrats on being with it enough to post on the first day! Accept pain meds, no need to be a hero--they will make the first night much better! I concur with @@bengaldude, the first day is the worst... it gets better rapidly. The morning after surgery, I was still iffy on going home that day, but by late afternoon, I was rarin' to go!