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Yup.......overthinking for sure. Your health is the primary concern and focus. Everything else is a distant concern.

Felt no different for me. Woke up in recovery and was thirsty. Was given ice chips that first afternoon and they were glorious little thirst quenchers. Began Water and Protein shake intake that next morning. Hunger has never been an issue from that point through now (10 months post-op). The only time I've noticed as difference is when eating. The old tank fills up really fast....like after a chicken breast or can of tuna fast. I feel full and satisfied and can go just fine for 6 more hours until I remember to eat again. Zero complications or drawbacks. The hardest part of it was simply the 2 weeks of liquid only leading up to the surgery and that wasn't very hard. I did 4 weeks of the same diet post-op and it was a breeze. Seeing the scale move daily during this time was enough of an emotional bolster to inspire me to continue. Zero regrets.

My first NUT gave me a an initial calorie total to stay under each day and progressively lowered it each month. I wound up switching bariatric centers on the third month when I opted to self pay and have the surgery much sooner than waiting the 6 months + approval process time. After switching centers on the third month, I stayed with the prior calorie limit, but I went low carb with it. The final 14 days prior to surgery were limited to 4 Protein shakes per day only (under 600 calories). I lost 55 lbs in those 4 months leading up to surgery. I could've done better had I exercised more, but was recovering from a back injury (the deciding factor that nudged me into seeking wls) and simply trying to hold it together and get the weight off and get relief. It was easy and I kick myself in the arse for not doing all this much earlier in life.

Well.....last 24 hours was improved. I took the 3 doses of Tramadol, spaced throughout the day. Made it through and covered all aspects of my job. The ride home was not fun, though. I'm grateful my commute isn't another 5 mins. If it were, then I'd be stopping along the way home to get out and walk around. Stairwells are brutal right now. I even dodged two meetings simply to avoid the stairs that lead to them. I've been wearing a compression wrap but will get my hands on a pair of Tommy Copper "sleeves". This is not the first time I've had folks recommend them to me. I"m also going to begin a more aggressive approach to the diet and push harder to get that last chunk of weight off. It most assuredly won't hurt the cause. For now, my formal cardio is gonna be limited....therefore I'll work on the calorie intake side of the equation. So damn grateful for the sleeve and lack of hunger. Confidence inspiring. Gonna grab some Tumeric and get it in my system daily. Already started with flax seed oil and joint flex pills (chondroitin, glucosamine & other touted joint jazz). I no longer have the apprehensions over replacement surgery that I once had. I'm very grateful for the advice you each gave on your experiences. I agree.....relief now trumps waiting for retirement age for that relief. My biggest hangup over that is the time missed from work to recover from such. I missed a total of 9 weeks from work last year (6 weeks for back injury & 3 weeks for sleeve/hernia recovery) and am hesitant to miss another large chunk again. I'm hoping I can get some relief and grind it out another year or so and I'll be using FMLA to cover the knee replacement surgery. I was an idiot to not seek FMLA for my misses in 2015. In 21 years with my current employer the only times I've ever missed have been for surgery recoveries. The climate has changed there and everything is under scrutiny.....even an old dude who's served them faithfully in every way he could. Different environment for sure. Nobody gives a rip for your historical performance....it's all about what you've done this week that counts.....in my job, at least. I'm sure it's the same for most folks. At least the vacation time is good......just can't seem to use it. I've got 120 hours left to take this year, but no way to schedule it until at least November....which most likely won't be possible. Use it or lose it scenario. Argghhhh. Enough whining. Time to go pour another cup of java and then mix a Protein shake and get my arse on the move. I really appreciate the insight. Thank you !!!!!! #gonnarockthis #newkneedreams

Had my sleeve for ten months and I've yet to dump.

Thank each of you for your suggestions. Just getting home from work and settled down. A hot shower and some sleep with pre-dawn coffee will have me looking further into each reply. Thanks again.

Cool. Thanks. I'll give that a try when I log back in after work this evening.

My only fear was with the high-carb puree choices that were on the "approved list". I didn't want to open the door to that garbage, even though it was in super small doses. I just stayed with Protein shakes for 4 weeks until cleared to move on to flakey fish and moist soft meats and continued to supplement with Protein Shakes.

It's absolutely achievable. Stay on track and adhere to your pre-op diet and lose all you can prior to surgery.....exercise frequently......and don't add in high-carb foods on the puree stage......stay with quality Protein and you'll do just fine. Stay on track. Stay motivated. Eat only to live, not live to eat. Move as much as you can, as often as you can. The one thing you have total control of is what goes into your body. Own this. Give yourself the gift of Onederland for Christmas this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sorta approached it that way, too. I'd done the short term diets and scale monitoring over and over again prior with mixed results and zero long term progress. I decided to have wls surgery and joined here. I was willing to follow the often given advice to "embrace the stalls" and to "not worry about the scale". Well....that didn't work for me. The pre-op diet was where I kicked the who "embrace" attitude to the curb. I knew there would be monthly weigh-ins with my NUT and I couldn't stand the internal drama from anticipation as to what those monthly results would be. I bought a superbadass scale and kept check on it myself. No drama...just a steady move in the desired direction. I was then able to walk into those weigh-ins with a smile on my face...secure in the knowledge of what the results would be as I stepped up on her scale. This weighing was very effective in validating results in food choices post op. There is a good bit of experimentation with our simple post-op diets. The scale helps to show the results of this. I believe, at least at this point, that the scale will be a very effective tool for me once I reach the fighting weight that I want to live at. I will be able to see upward trends and take corrective actions. Simply gauging based on how my clothes fit isn't a good method for me. The scale will identify where I am and help me stay in the narrow weight range that I intend to live. Everyone has different ideas and theories on the scale. I began this process with similar thinking that you describe. I quickly changed my thinking though. The scale is a vital tool. I hope you have successful results and are able to find your stride and get dialed in on what works for you.

I am certainly feeling better in many ways after shedding a good chunk of the unwanted weight. The things that still aggravate me are my knees and back. The back is something that comes and goes....I simply am very careful with it and continue to do my stretches learned in physical therapy. The knees....hmmmmn. Somedays I'll feel really good with them and am able to do some 90 minute sessions on treadmill (uphill walking) or elliptical. Other days....like this past week...I struggle. It was so bad when driving home from work last night that I had to reach down under my knee to lift and guide my leg as I transitioned between accelerator & brake pedals. Crazy, right ? It can be either knee on any given day. Both have been operated on when I was in my late teens. Football injuries. I've not been kind to them ever since. Tendon & ligament repairs, cartilage deterioration, severe advanced arthritis...fun combo. Normal stuff that I accept from living large for so long. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes. 5 years ago I was told by two specialists that I'd need replacements in five years, lol. Was hoping that the lost weight would be more relief. Maybe another 60 lbs will get me to a better state. Overall, I'm pretty much off all the meds I was on prior to sleeve. I am very happy with this development, however, I'm contemplating adding stuff for joint pain. My sleeve surgeon told me that I could use Advil with food...as needed. It was working okay up until last week....then it reach the point where it was not. I've recently seen my pcp, who knows about my sleeve. He prescribed Tramadol. I tried it and found little benefit. Granted, I was spot using it only on days where I was unable to bend either knee more than a few degrees without serious pain. Yesterday I had Advil at an alarming level that I will not repeat. I was simply hoping to make it through the day at work. Today I'll actually give the Tramadol another try. I'll do it with the dosing schedule the doc suggested. I've never tried Celebrex but am considering going back to see him and ask for some next level help. I work 13+ hour shifts with lots of walking (an aspect that I truly love). One of my peers is going out next week for hip replacement surgery and I intend on covering his spot on my scheduled days off. I need to get on top of the pain so I can do so. These next 4 months are going to be a grind and I need to be proactive (seems late in the pain game to use such a term): * Making an appointment to see my PCP this Friday to see what short term relief he can advise * Reverting back to the 2-week pre-op liquid diet, basically living off Protein shakes and Vitamins. Perhaps there is some easy Water weight that I can shed. Some foods seem to aggravate my arthritis, perhaps this will be a good workaround. It'll certainly speed up the rate of loss and get me to goal quicker. * Halting all cardio and preserving the knees for the long hours and long runs of consecutive days at work. * Using compression wraps on knees. * Research otc / homeopathic remedies as well. I have a buddy who swears by drinking a shot of apple cider every day. Sounds silly...but he is adamant that it helps his pain level. He's urged me to the the Bragg brand and give it a go. Hell, nothing to lose at this point. Gonna stop at EarthFare or Fresh Market this afternoon if I can make it there before they close. What's the harm in a shot of cider each day ? Sorry for the long moaning and groaning post. I'm hoping that there is a sleeve friendly medication that you've used to gain leverage of similar pains. Very interested in hearing what's worked for you. I'm not looking to medicate this way long term.....just get myself through the next 4 months and down below goal weight and then have those hard conversations about knee replacement or other preliminary treatments. Thank you !!!

I can see the little red number above the notifications symbol but when I click on it the symbol pops up and simply spins, never listing the notifications. Not sure if something needs to be reset or if there's something else I can do on my end. Thanks

This ^^^^^^^^^^^ I wish I'd done it sooner....much sooner. It would have improved every aspect of my life....only sooner. The sleeve is more than just a survival tool...as I first thought of it. It's a life enrichment tool that I'm so grateful for.

Therapist will be great for when you can get a series of appointments.......but right now you have to consider your safety. There should not be anything resembling food going into your mouth at this point....in my opinion. liquids only this early out. Allow yourself to heal. Please be very careful.

Somewhere prior to three months my surgeon allowed me to have coffee again. It's something I enjoy daily.

Awesome post !!!!! Looking forward to daily maintenance living as you described.

Six Flags has a website with their restaurants listed and some of the menu items.

Calorie free ?????? Wow. I tried one of their bbq sauces and was't impressed. I've had two of their salad dressings that were pretty good. I was unaware they made syrup. Very cool. I may give that a shot.

Yup. Gurgling and all sorts of weird noises occurred with me in the first few months. Very rarely happens now.

As others have said....you are still swollen and nerves are healing. Things feel (and sound) really different now. It'll pass as you heal. I avoided much of this weirdness by sticking with Protein shakes for four weeks and then being cleared to advance to very soft Proteins. Flakey white fish being the biggest food source for me to start with.

Agreed above posts. 30oz Yeti cup is ideal. Also, no need to buy a bunch of stuff. I went through a few 2-4 Premier Protien shakes per day for the first two weeks. Those and lots of Water were all I needed.

You'll be fine. They'll have burgers and typical grill food. You'll be able to grab a burger or grilled chicken salad and eat the meat and toss the rest.

Lmbo. I'm reading these posts thinking "I'm never trying those things" then I read yours and I'm cracking up thinking "hmmm, maybe a little sample". They offer a crunchy snack with 21 grams of Protein and few carbs. Very handy little gem to have at work.

Well said. The precious honeymoon period is quickly passing. Now is the time for adherence and hammering down.

Stay hydrated and on point with meting your Protein and Vitamin requirements each day. You are in the tough part. It took me about two months to begin to feel "somewhat normal". By the beginning of the third month I knew I was back in action and better than ever. It's been that way ever since. Hang in there and be patient. It'll get better really, really soon.