njmomof4kidz

Hi there! I am doing a good bit better. 8 days post op now and I have that feeling of pain or lump in my throat after only a few sips but I am able to get all my liquids and Protein in now. For the last few days I have done everything they said to do. Everyday I feel a bit better but it has not been fun. I liken this to giving birth and the week after. Total shock on my body. Thanks for checking on me.

????????????????????????????????????????thank you thank you thank you! I love this thread! I am a Christian that has prayed and asked God for years to help me with my weight. It has been close to 13 years now, I felt God was silent on this matter and that it was just something I had to bear. A few months ago, I private messages an old friend from my childhood church who had lost a lot of weight and asked her how she did it. She said it was the sleeve. I then went to work that morning and not two hours later met a woman who was about to have the sleeve and I was able to hear all about it from her. I took that as a sign from God about it and I have had a ton of peace. Even typing this gives me peace in my current nauseous situation. I believe this was an answer to prayer. I praise God for it, need to remember this when I get discouraged. He is in the small stuff in life too, not just the big things and he loves us so much. So glad I found you fellow Christ followers. Praise God! ????????

????????????????????????????????????????thank you thank you thank you! I love this thread! I am a Christian that has prayed and asked God for years to help me with my weight. It has been close to 13 years now, I felt God was silent on this matter and that it was just something I had to bear. A few months ago, I private messages an old friend from my childhood church who had lost a lot of weight and asked her how she did it. She said it was the sleeve. I then went to work that morning and not two hours later met a woman who was about to have the sleeve and I was able to hear all about it from her. I took that as a sign from God about it and I have had a ton of peace. Even typing this gives me peace in my current nauseous situation. I believe this was an answer to prayer. I praise God for it, need to remember this when I get discouraged. He is in the small stuff in life too, not just the big things and he loves us so much. So glad I found you fellow Christ followers. Praise God! ????????

????????????????????????????????????????thank you thank you thank you! I love this thread! I am a Christian that has prayed and asked God for years to help me with my weight. It has been close to 13 years now, I felt God was silent on this matter and that it was just something I had to bear. A few months ago, I private messages an old friend from my childhood church who had lost a lot of weight and asked her how she did it. She said it was the sleeve. I then went to work that morning and not two hours later met a woman who was about to have the sleeve and I was able to hear all about it from her. I took that as a sign from God about it and I have had a ton of peace. Even typing this gives me peace in my current nauseous situation. I believe this was an answer to prayer. I praise God for it, need to remember this when I get discouraged. He is in the small stuff in life too, not just the big things and he loves us so much. So glad I found you fellow Christ followers. Praise God! ????????

Three weeks post op - Doing well! Went back to work on July 21! Feels good to be back! I'm a little tired when I go home at night, but am adapting well! Still on the pureed diet until next week. It's really odd adapting to my new food portions! It's crazy how little I eat, and I'm satisfied! Hunger pains are still there, but I think it's mostly head hunger.
I should be able to move on to soft foods next week which will be anything you can slice through with a fork.
I'm still struggling to get my 60-80 grams of Protein a day mainly because I'm just not hungry at night after supper. So today, I'm trying something a little different. Protein shake in the morning when I get to work, and about a couple hours later I having lite yogurt. I'm usually hungry after late afternoon before I go home from work, so I'm going to try having to have another Protein Drink before I leave work tonight. We'll see how that goes...
I'm getting all of my 64 oz. of Water - no problem! I can't believe I'm 42 lbs down already since I started this journey! Time to start getting busy in the gym! Thinking about asking hubby if we can go out on the bike trails this weekend!
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

Hey guys!! I had surgery on August 24th. So today is 2 day post op. I am shocked, literally shocked how hard it is to drink Water. I am drinking my Protein Shakes and they seem to go down better. But I have bubbles in my throat from only 1 oz of water. Anyone else have this from such little water.

????????????????????????????????????????thank you thank you thank you! I love this thread! I am a Christian that has prayed and asked God for years to help me with my weight. It has been close to 13 years now, I felt God was silent on this matter and that it was just something I had to bear. A few months ago, I private messages an old friend from my childhood church who had lost a lot of weight and asked her how she did it. She said it was the sleeve. I then went to work that morning and not two hours later met a woman who was about to have the sleeve and I was able to hear all about it from her. I took that as a sign from God about it and I have had a ton of peace. Even typing this gives me peace in my current nauseous situation. I believe this was an answer to prayer. I praise God for it, need to remember this when I get discouraged. He is in the small stuff in life too, not just the big things and he loves us so much. So glad I found you fellow Christ followers. Praise God! ????????

I was sleeved 8/4. Unfortunately I had complications that sent me right back into another 2 1/2 hours of surgery. Surgeon didn't find a leak or anything else as he searched inside me, cleaning clots as he went. I will never know why my blood pressure dropped to 70/30 and my drains were gushing necessitating 2 units of blood.

Bottom line is that I am on stage 1 modified for three weeks!! Just Water, milk, Protein drinks and Jello. I can't abide Jello anymore and yes, I am having a "pity party!"

I don't dare cheat for fear I'll end up back in the operating room.

I followed the pre-op rules, seemed low risk and yet here I am. I have really reduced my expectations of when I will be allowed mushies. Maybe late Sept.

Yes, I am lucky to be alive but yet the day really drags as I force myself to observe Step 1. Thank you for listening (as only my boyfriend knows about my sleeve and he's still getting over the scare he had when I went back into surgery.)

I agree sticking together is a great idea .. I would enjoy that's since we were sleeved in the same day. I haven't had to endure Protein yet I can't understand why though . My dietician said they are to high in calories which is weird I've seen some that are low in calories... Idk .. Any way I sill have 13 days 11 days till my 2 week appointment which is when I can have real food again I'm hungry a lot might be head hunger I just keep in mind that soon I will be able to eat.

I had my sleeve done on 8/12/15. I had very little post-op pain in the hospital, but I'm pretty sure they were johnny on the spot with my pain medications. I also warned them ahead of time that I usually am extremely nauseated and vomit after anesthesia, none of that this time! The worst part of the experience so far has been how tired I was in the hospital---no rest there! I have been home for 4 days now, and am dealing with the "head hunger" I was warned about on this site. I am not getting in my recommended fluids, although I am trying like mad. I have not cheated for the fear of damaging the sleeve. I still feel fatigued, but nothing like in the hospital. The whole thing still remains a dream to me. It seems so weird that this will change my life. I have the incisions to prove to myself that it was done, but my brain hasn't accepted the reality yet. I am super excited for the future me to bloom!
My husband and kids have been a great support system these past few days, as have my friends. Some family still thinks I made a HUGE mistake, but it was MY mistake to make, if indeed it is one.
I will be reading all of your posts for support in this clear liquid stage....already can't wait to get to pureed foods, but you won't hear THIS girl complaining!
Thanks for all the support so far and to come.
Heather

Following. I'm active in church activities, but feel I'm missing something in my faith life. I have joined a bible study group that starts next month. I'm hopeful that will be a bridge.

Thank God for this thread. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. We are making the necessary steps to preserve the temples( our bodies) that he has blessed us with.

Britt- I think it's personal. How long have you gone there? Do you feel supported? What are you involved in? Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to try out different congregations if you don't feel you are getting what you need. I wouldn't just switch on emotional day though. Feel it out.

Sounds mirror image to me! I struggled with emotions losing 30lbs on pre-op even a few co workers trying to be supportive telling me I had done so good why have the surgery. I know myself though and Protein Shakes for the rest of my life is no quality. I went on vacation with my family to a Water park on Protein shakes. While I made it through, it was still awkward. I went to church yesterday and it just filled me up to conquer the next hurdles. I'm thankful for this blog to know that other people understand your emotions and the whole complexity of obesity and this surgery!

same here.. I was like .. "You did good pre op so you should have just stuck with that" but I know me I would have just reverted back to my old ways .. I haven't had nausea yet and I'm on a full liquid diet until the 27th yay! Right lol. Head hunger has set in only when I'm preparing food for my family or they are fixing them selves something. I watch cooking channel strangely but I never eat what they eat so I'm fine lol. It's a long hard road but I'm ready and I know God is with me.

. Congrats that was a big decision .. Awesome none the less. Since surgery I missed church but my prayers are none stop I plan on going this week though .. I need that pick me up during the week my church is very far from me.. So I really wanted to start some type of connection here

I'd love one for RNY or RNY and sleeve. Be nice to support one another spiritually through prayer and Biblical encouragement.

I agree.. We need that type of support. Daily for myself at least. It's a battle and why not stay in tune with our father and protector

Or going too have sleeve surgery wanted to start a support thread ????????

Thank you! My hubby called the dr and she ordered me meds for the nausea. I have been taking that. Still so hard to get anything in me without feeling like I may throw it up, but today is better than yesterday. As long as this is normal than I am ok. Love this site, it has helped me so much!!!!!

My first forum post ever. My date is August 11. Looking forward to losing with you!

I also am enjoying your sleeve journey, I get sleeved tomorrow, I can't wait! I went from scare to excited and now thrilled!!! Thank you for sharing, I live in south jersey and my kids are still home for summer break and my hubby took off for the upcoming week. I have a vision of all of us going to the lighthouse in Barnegate and walking the trails there on Friday after my surgery. It's my goal to walk everyday, enough to take a day and do that! You have given me hope, so thank you!

RogofUlm's Story
Vertical Sleeve surgery: June 24th, 2014
Pre-surgery high weight: 265
Weight at surgery: 254
Initial goal weight: 154
Time achieve goal: 8 months (including 2-week pre-op diet)
Stretch goal weight: 145
Time to stretch goal: 10 months (including 2-week pre-op diet)
Total weight loss: 120
I went on my first diet at the age of 7, and sometimes feel like I've started a new diet every Monday morning for the last 48 years. I've done 'em all – from a 40-day hospital stay in a ketogenic program in 1974, to Weight Watchers (3 times), Diet Center (2 times), Jenny Craig, Nutri-System, Atkins, South Beach, Cambridge, Slim Fast, Fen-Phen, grapefruit and egg, and even starvation. I've probably lost close to 1,000 pounds throughout my life, including three or four diets resulting in nearly 100-pound losses. And after all that, at the age of 55, I still found myself 110 pounds overweight; with diabetes, apnea, asthma, arthritis, high cholesterol, and borderline blood pressure. With a wonderful wife and 10-year-old child at home, I was a heart attack or stroke just waiting to happen.
So why was I able to lose weight so effectively at times, but never keep it off? Same as most people, I suppose. When fully committed, I could “flick the switch” in my brain and resist anything… for a while. I'd lose a bunch of weight and start looking and feeling better, and then I'd be at a party with lots of goodies and think, "What the heck. I've done so well, so I’ll treat myself just this once and get right back on my diet." Hello, slippery slope! And then the cycle would begin: pig out, starve myself, pig out, starve myself… Eventually the pig outs would last longer and require more and more fat, salt, and sugar to satisfy. And, of course, each new day brought a brand new commitment to get back on track, so I wouldn't eat anything until 6 pm... and then I'd pig out again. That “switch” doesn’t always stay flicked, you know? So what's the definition of insanity again? Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.
Then, 20 years ago, I lost a bunch of weight and maintained it for quite a while. But because of a bad reaction to a medication, I eventually had to have a hip replaced. Everything went well with the surgery and I even quit smoking in the process. Great, right? Yeah, but then the weight started coming back on, and eventually I gained about 50 pounds. So then I bounced around for a few years, yo-yoing all over the place between 60 and 100 pounds overweight, until I got married and we had a baby. Of course, during the pregnancy I gained 40 more pounds of "baby weight". But unlike my wife, I never delivered mine!
So that brings me to the more recent past, when all those years of being overweight finally caught up with me and I began getting all the "fat diseases”. When the diabetes first came on, I dropped 30 pounds without even trying. But eventually we diagnosed it and got it under control with pills; and then the weight came right back on. A couple of years later, my weight started dropping again "for no reason". Of course I knew what was really going on, but the weight loss felt so good that I rode it down 45 pounds. But again, eventually I had to get it back under control, and again, all the weight came back. So by the time I decided to have WLS, not only was I taking pills plus daily insulin injections for diabetes, I was sleeping with a CPAP machine for apnea, and taking fistfuls of pills every day to manage the other co-morbidities.
And that brings us to last year. In addition to all the diseases, I was exhausted and achy all the time, and had trouble dragging myself out of the recliner to play with my kid like I should. I'd take naps after stuffing myself at lunchtime, and exercise as little as possible. We all know the drill, right? And I’d gotten myself hooked on chicken wings with high-calorie sauces, a mountain of French fries, blue cheese dressing, and four large glasses of tea. I'd go out 2-3 times a week for wings, but I'd go to different restaurants because I was so embarrassed by how much and how frequently I was eating them. And gradually, I got more and more disgusted with myself.
During that time, two of my co-workers had weight loss surgery: one bypass and one sleeve. Every day for about a year, I watched them get smaller and smaller. They didn’t keep their surgeries a secret, so when I asked about their experiences, they graciously shared all the details with me – the good, and the bad. And gradually I got to the point where I said, “I WANT THAT!” So my inspiration to have weight loss surgery was a direct result of my co-workers’ successes, and their openness about having had weight loss surgery.
Once I decided to get sleeved, I went "all-in". I followed all my doctor’s post-op rules to a tee (with the exception of coffee – my one remaining vice). But this time something was different from all those past diets. Because of the restriction in my stomach, instead of losing momentum and giving in to temptation, I was able to stay on the horse. My new “tool” gave me the strength I needed to consistently make the right choices. I lost 110 pounds and made it to goal in 8 months. And in the two months after that, I lost another 10 pounds to give myself a comfortable buffer. I put away the CPAP machine; I’m off all diabetes, blood pressure, and asthma meds; and I'm on the lowest dosage of my cholesterol meds. In a few more months, I hope to be off those too. So now that I’ve reached my final goal weight, I don’t need – or want – to lose any more. I’m exactly where I want to be for the first time in my adult life; which, quite frankly, is a totally mind-blowing thought!
My big secret? Just follow the danged rules – all of them! (And mind you, I’ve been a rule breaker all my life.) If you do exactly what your doctor or nutrition program recommends, the weight will come off. After a month or two of making good (but difficult) choices, the cravings for the foods that got you to your pre-surgery weight will start to fade away, and the pride in your accomplishment will have a stronger pull than the food. That’s when you really get on a roll!
Here’s the formula I used to get to goal weight quickly:
Start every morning with a Protein Shake for Breakfast.< /li> Eat 60–80 or more grams of Protein daily. Drink 64–120 ounces of fluids daily. (I drink tons of Crystal Light, or generic, sugar-free/decaf iced tea.) Do not consume any starches or sugars. Get all carbs from green veggies, legumes, and dairy products. Do not consume empty liquid calories/sugar (fruit juices, ice cream, etc). Try to avoid alcohol. It’s empty liquid calories that turn to sugar in your body and can lead to poor choices. All Snacks must be protein-based (Jerky, nuts, cheeses, Greek yogurt, deli meats). Get some exercise 4-6 times a week. Never leave the house without a plan for what you can eat and drink while you’re out. If necessary, bring food and drink with you. Restaurant eating is not hard: 1) skip the bread; 2) order a meat (or legume/bean) dish; 3) replace the starch with a second vegetable; 4) skip the dessert. You’ll probably end up taking some of the meat and most of the veggies home for another meal. Beef/turkey Jerky is my secret weapon. It’s saved me more times than I can count, so I try to always have some in the car for emergencies. You can buy a bag of jerky almost anywhere. It’s kind of expensive and not great for sodium-restricted diets, but it’s also high protein, low fat, okay sugar, and a 3.5-ounce bag is a meal by itself! If you fall off the horse, get back on immediately – at the next meal. Not tomorrow, and definitely not next Monday. That’s what got us here! Go to Bariatric Support Group meetings in your area, if possible. Participate actively in online forums like BariatricPal. Read as much as you can about the process and the journey; and especially, read posts and articles from those who had their surgery a few years ago. Try to understand what lead to their successes and/or struggles. Share your story and reach out to help others who are behind you in their journey. By helping them, you’ll help yourself as well. Have a goal weight in mind and strive to get there. (I weigh myself every single day.) But also set lots of smaller goals. It’s fun and inspiring to achieve them. Believe that the slimmer person in the mirror is the real you. Always be looking forward. Don’t look back over your shoulder waiting for the heavier person to drag you back. Let that person fade into history. A little vanity is okay. Enjoy how you look. Accept compliments graciously and don’t deflect them. Have fun trying on smaller-sized clothes that fit now. Compare before and after pictures. Take pride in your accomplishments! Accept that this is a somewhat selfish process. That’s okay, too. You don’t have to apologize for it. And don’t let other people interfere with your progress. We have to make our weight loss program a priority in our lives. But at the same time, recognize that your journey affects your friends and loved ones as well. Be sensitive to their reactions and their emotional needs, without allowing it to derail your program. And finally, try to have fun losing the weight and getting healthy! Now, I’ll admit that many people think this much rigor is unreasonable and unsustainable. They believe that you need to learn how to “eat normally” on your way down. I get it… but I don’t buy it. (And believe me, self-discipline has never been one of my strengths.) My philosophy has been that there’s plenty of time to learn how to eat for maintenance once I get to my goal weight. That way, if I add something back in my food plan and it causes me to gain a few pounds; I only need to re-lose those few pounds. I don’t need to lose them PLUS all the rest that haven’t come off yet. That’s a whole lot harder and more daunting than just losing a few. I also believe that we get a 9–12 month “honeymoon period” (when the weight comes off more easily and the hunger is more manageable), to get our heads in the right place for the long haul. I firmly believe that people who take maximum advantage of their honeymoon period are far more likely to get all the way to goal weight; and hopefully, to keep it off.
And now my theory will be put to the test...
Over the next few months, I’ll need to start experimenting with what works and what doesn’t. I’ll need to add back some foods that will stop the weight loss, without causing a gain, and without putting me back on the slippery slope. But what are those foods? My doctor suggests that if you want to increase your carb intake, to add only foods that you would eat cooked as part of a meal (like brown rice, whole wheat Pasta, sweet potatoes, barley, quinoa, oatmeal, and green peas). No white bread, pasta, rice, or potatoes, no refined sugar, no fruit juice, soda, or ice cream, and nothing that would tempt you to go to the fridge or pantry for a handful or bowlful as a snack. That sounds reasonable, so that’s what I’m going to try.
But what about all those yummy foods I’ve been missing? I don’t know yet. Maybe the day will come when I can have one small scoop of ice cream, or four cheese crackers, or a mini chocolate bar, or a sandwich. But today is not that day. For now, it’ll be baby steps until I’ve maintained my weight loss for a good long time. If the truth be told, since I detoxed completely from starch and sugar, I haven’t really craved the stuff.
So how do I feel about my weight loss journey so far? Believe it or not… it’s been a total blast! And see... that’s another reason to follow all the rules and lose the weight quickly – the compliments, your reflection in the mirror, clothes that fit and look good, the extra energy for family and friends, and most of all, your new-found health – are a thousand times more fun and motivating than anything that could ever go into your mouth!
And here’s one final thought… Several months ago I ran into a woman I hadn’t seen for a while. She’d been thinking about weight loss surgery, but was afraid to take the first step. But when she saw the “new me”, she said the exact same words I had said a year ago, “I WANT THAT!” Well, a few weeks ago she got sleeved and she’s doing great! And that’s how this wonderful story continues…
I wish all of you great success, and a healthy, exciting, and fun journey to good health!!!
Rog (of Ulm)

I'm glad you feel better than yesterday. Those fluids are nearly impossible to get in right after surgery. It will get a little easier each day. Keep your chin up!

I'm still in the hospital. A 2 day hospital stay plus 2 days at the recovery house was included in the Mexico package through Bariatric Pal. I'm up moving, sore, the only pain is when I burp or hiccup.