Bethson

I had a spinal cord injury about 8 years ago and as a result have a bladder that doesn't empty completely and I have to straight catheterize myself 5 times a day. In addition, my bladder will leak at times, especially at night, so had to wear incontinence products. Managing this stuff was embarrassing at first but now it is old hat for me and I don't hesitate to tell medical people about the issue. I don't see it any different than letting them know you need to wear your glasses, put your hearing aid in, etc. It's part of a bodily function. That said, about a year ago I found out that botox to the bladder had been approved for my condition so that I don't have leakage anymore. My first round lasted three months before leakage began, the next round longer. My quality of life improved tremendously. Yes, I still have to cath and always will but the leakage was more of an issue for me. And bonus, after the sleeve and weight loss, the stress incontinence is significantly improved, even when the botox is wearing off!

I'm having real difficulty with the perception change too. I have avoided full length mirrors and being photographed for years. I was sleeved May 26 and now down almost 65# and still avoid mirrors. When I do look, I don't recognize myself. It's a very weird feeling, almost like dissociating. I am getting ready for my son's wedding on October 17 and have had to shop for a dress. Found one that I think is flattering. Don't want to look "frumpy" but still very uncomfortable with what I see. I am obsessing about the wedding photos I will have to be in and wondering if I should "practice" posing. Didn't plan on the sleeve success and wedding coinciding as started the process before engagement even happened.

For the love of God, thankyou to everyone who posted all the above thoughts ! I just want to scream every time I read a post from someone who's whining because they cant eat /drink/party/celebrate/couch surf etc like they used to ! And loose weight too !! Really ? Seriously ? (No shit Batman ! Ya'think???) My favorite one was the person who actually updated her status with the whine fest of "I've gained 3 ounces, so depressed !!!" You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me............................rant. over...............have a good day ! Happy 4th of July to all !!!

I try to be patient but the repeat questions over "when can I do all the things that I am told not to?" or "when can I go back to eating anything and everything?" Those get me and drive me insane.
Also not gonna mention any names but the post I see every week that says something to the effect of "I walk 2-3 miles a day and only eat 500 calories but I don't lose" What a lie, not even possible.
I look at my husband and read them to him and he says "walk away" but it is like a train wreck and I have to look lmao

When your car gets low on gas, do you stop and fill it even when you don't feel like it?! food is just the fuel we need to keep our bodies healthy and able to perform tasks and even to lose weight. An underfed machine will not perform at peak performance, you will not be as active and you will slow your weight reduction. If yo don't want to mess with preparing meals, at least get some Protein Shakes down. From one Iowa (Manchester) girl to another, don't let your energy level and mood dictate the care and feeding of your new body under construction!

That was the case for me. I would be hungry and not able to eat. The idea of putting food in my mouth and chewing it up sounded so unappealing for many months. I literally had to make myself eat. I would take a bite here, a bite there...total grazing which is not really allowed. But it was all I could do to get food in me.
Eventually things got better, little by little. Some days were fine. Others were nearly impossible to get in 500 calories. I did notice that the longer I went without eating, the harder it was to do. It is still like that now, 12 months post-op.
At four weeks out I think it sounds pretty normal. It was about 6-8 months before I started feeling "normal" about eating again. You are in the very early stages still. Many stages and changes are to come. Just settle in for the long haul. How you feel today is not how you will feel 3 months from now. Things will normalize.
Good luck!

I am four weeks out from surgery and 59 years old. Waited a long time to make the decision but so far am glad I did. Have had no significant issues related to my age through the process. A bonus is my son got engaged and has the wedding set for October 17. I am hoping to look pretty good for the wedding photos! I am down 33 lbs.

I went for my second leak test after my surgery and I was shown the x-Rays. I was horrified to see clamps running the length of my sleeve and part of my esophagus!! I asked the doctor, "are those normal?" "What are those." He very calmly says "your bra." Thank God for his extensive medics degree!! Needless to say I felt very silly.

Looking great! Brave man to do the pics…I can't even face a camera yet.

I showered next day in the hospital. Got ok for tub bath at 2 weeks after surgeon looked at healing. Told me to wait one more week before swimming.

I am 9 days post gastric sleeve. Talked with my pharmacist about my Lotrel, which is a combination pill for high blood pressure. I have opened the capsule and there is another smaller capsule and a pellet. No problem opening the little capsule and taking the contents but the pharmacist thinks I should not crush the pellet (which I have been doing) but to swallow it whole. The pellet is tiny, perhaps half the size of a small garden pea. Am I at risk if I swallow it whole to have it get stuck in the staple areas of my stomach? I know I am not to have anything that has seeds like strawberries for some time. Any opinions or experiences will help.

I was sleeved Tuesday and I have defintely thought that made a huge mistake....but its over with now, I am home, and hopefully on the mend. It will be worth it in the end! I hope!

Morning.
This, too, will pass. I have been on this site for almost 7 months now and almost everyone has gone through this feeling. I promise it will go away and you will be fine afterwards.

@@Bethson I totally agree with @@Vikingsfan8178 about the meds and the life changing decision. If you can get off the pain meds and do OTC if you can. I am only 3 weeks and 1 day out and I have read about this a lot on these forums. I personally didn't feel this way. My thoughts were more about losing my hair. I am not a girly girl but my ONLY attribute I did manage to hold onto was my hair. Its grey now and thinner now that I am 52 and now in menopause, the thought of losing it (because of the sleeve) just kind of freaks me out. I was assured it will come back....so I have decided I may join the pink ladies (Red Hat) and start wearing some funky pink hats:D
I It will get better and you will be thankful for the "tool" you decided to get to help you get healthier and live a better life