Cervidae

Getting the drain removed was the end of any pain I had left, especially considering part of my problem is that I'm allergic to the tape they used, so the skin there the tube/staples were was raw, itchy, and painful. But after they took the drain and staples out, I felt great.

I'm a great lover of poetry. This was beautiful.

Congrats! Take it easy and listen to your body.

I didn't know anyone that had had bariatric surgery when I first began this journey. However, I have MANY such role models now in the support group that I attend every month. It's run by my bariatric center at Highland Hospital and a long term patient of the center, and attendance has grown every month I've been. Being surrounded by people who are on every end of the spectrum, from just being curious and attending this meeting before even contacting the center, to people who had surgery 5 or 10 years ago and have been successfully maintaining for most of that time... it's incredibly inspiring and feels so safe and therapeutic. I'm very thankful.

I've had a few changes, but I'm mostly just really happy I can tolerate spicy things and still enjoy them. I would have been sad to never be able to/want to eat spicy again.

I haven't told many people in my life, either. I used to be a part of the kink scene and many of my friends are still very fat-positive and loudly outspoken about loving the skin you're in, and I always felt the same way. People sometimes fail to understand that you can love yourself, find yourself and other fat people attractive, sexually or otherwise, and still want to lose weight. The whole point is that it's your body, it's your choice, and no one has the right to make you feel lesser because of your body or tell you what you should do with it. And that philosophy, which I believe in wholeheartedly, applies to morbidly obese people, anorexic people, and everything in between. Sometimes people are wrapped up in their own insecurities to the point where they defend and justify themselves by judging others. It's a sad trapping of humanity. In the end, even if you choose not to tell ANYONE except the people here at the forums, you have that right and there's nothing wrong with simply removing the drama and judgement of the people in your life before it happens. Conversely, maybe you will be surprised. If you truly want this, and you feel ready for it, and you are willing to really devote yourself to it, it wouldn't be outside the realm of sanity to tell some close friends. Support from these forums is a godsend, truly. But support from people you love is like chicken Soup for the soul. When YOU are ready to tell people, or if you just decide not to, it's all up to you and you will know when the time is right. I did. Good luck! We're all here to support you. Feel free to friend me or message me anytime.

If you had surgery on any of your internal organs, then there was definitely muscle that was cut to get in there. It's just how the body is. It will feel better soon, probably surprisingly so. Take care.

woohoo! You've got this. I'm almost 2.5 months out, and doing great. Keep us posted, and take care of yourself.

they had to give me a strong does of anti-nausea meds every single time they gave me pain meds, becuase I would immediately feel so, so sick whenever they gave me pain meds. Good to hear you are feeling better. Take care of yourself.

Yesterday, I stepped on the scale and was slightly chagrined to find that I was still 1 pound away from a big milestone, as I had been for the past almost 2 weeks. Today I woke up and I lost two pounds overnight, which officially puts me 101 pounds less than my heaviest weight ever, which was around this time last year. It's a surreal feeling, mainly because I still have such a looong way to go, and I can hardly remember what it felt like to be a hundred pounds heavier than this. This time last year, I felt hopeless, worthless, and like I would never feel good about myself again. I was prepared, at age 22, to die young and humiliated because I felt like I had no control over my body whatsoever. I was seeing a nutritionist and a PCOS specialist and they were at a loss for how to help me. Now, 1 year later, 101 pounds are simply... gone. What an amazing life this is! I'm so grateful to everyone here for being so kind and supportive. It wasn't long ago that I didn't even dare to dream that I could get better AND that I could have a whole huge support group to help me along the way. You guys and this site are just as important and helpful to me as my support group, bariatric center, and my kickass surgeon. In the attached pictures, the first one is the only picture I could find of myself before I lost any significant amount of weight (that's my monkey of a little cousin demonstrating that he is a monkey, haha) and the second two I took just now. Thank you.

The amaretto hot chocolate from the BariatricPal Store is honestly the best hot chocolate I've ever had. You can bet I'll be stocking up on it.. low sugar, high Protein, tastes amazing? Yes please. The raspberry and cinnamon ones are very good as well.

I ate refried beans with mozzarella cheese melted on top for my first meal. Start with something still pretty soft, and go slooooowly. I also found that I could get 4 ounces of pureed food down no problem, but when I first started back on soft solids, 2 ounces was my usual, and even that was a stretch sometimes. Listen to your body, it won't steer you wrong.

Stalls come with the territory. Don't sweat it and try not to obsess about it. I'm currently in one (another one) myself at about 9 weeks post-op. Hang in there!

I never experienced anything like this, so I have no real comfort to give you other than to say we're here for you. I'm so sorry you're having these problems.

The fact that you're able to eat that much so soon after surgery has nothing to do with the opinions of this forum. It's like eating something with 30 grams of sugar after surgery... It is never a good or healthy idea. I'm sure they are just trying to cover their asses. But you went through all that work, risking death, dealing with pain and recovery... That can't just be swept under the rug and their mistakes can't be ignored just because they don't want a lawsuit on their hands. I wish you and your gf the best of luck!

By the way, yesterday was 9 weeks post op, and I stalled all last week, so I'm still down about 43 pounds, which is far, far slower than many other people my stats who have had the same surgery. Still when is the last time I lost 20 pounds a month (um, never)? I consider myself lucky and whenever I feel impatient or discouraged about how much (or how little, comparatively) I've lost, I just remember that my body is going through a huge change, still healing, and it's working so, so hard for me. I knew before I started that there was a chance I might lose slower due to my hormone disorder. I knew it would not be overnight. So I'm just taking it one day at a time and trying to always be greatful that I've come as far as I have.

Telling it like it is!

Definitely check that out then! Mine is so incredibly helpful.

butt and boobs were the first things to start shrinking for me. XD

it there a support group that is connected to your bariatric center by any chance?

Like I'm almost 9 weeks out and I can barely eat 500 calories. I've had nightmares where someone offered me a spoonful of rice or a cracker and I ate it happily, then remembered about my stomach, and my stomach would like tear apart or something. Just thinking about putting that much food into a pouch that's only able to hold 2-3 ounces is giving me so much anxiety, I can't even tell you. D: If you start feeling feverish or sick or if your abdomen starts feeling more tender than it has from your incision sites, go to the hospital!

It's also possible that you're actually REALLY hurting your pouch and don't even know it, because when everything is rerouted during surgery, the nerves are severed, and it takes time for them to reconnect and heal. Imagine putting your hand on the stove while it's on high but you can't feel it burning - it is definitely still burning, and you are definitely still damaging yourself. Talk to your surgeon asap! And seriously, I know it's hard because old habits die hard and it doesn't feel like there is any problem with how much you are eating but you really should measure out your food, eat EXACTLY what your NUT says, and generally just eat a lot less than you are. I would hate to find out something happened to you. Just because you CAN does not in any way mean you SHOULD. Take care, get help soon.

@@CowgirlJane - "why I haven't lost 100 pounds in the first month" I don't know why, but this is hilarious to me. XD

I haven't tried it yet, but it is on my list of approved foods. Maybe put some lemon juice in with it? Let us know how it goes, I'm curious but a wuss about trying it, hehe.

I had a really hard time in the beginning, too. It gets better. Try experimenting with different temperatures of Water. Some people like it ice cold (like me) and some people need to even warm it up a little so it doesn't make them nauseous. It's possible that the temp of the water might be what's bothering your tummy. A couple people at my support group even make the water mildly hot, like tea. Whatever works for you. As for 13 pounds in three weeks, I know that seems like less than some people, but it's still such a good amount to lose. I'm almost 9 weeks out and I've lost 43 pounds... so much less than a lot of people do, and I started in the high 300s. There's no telling how your body will work, or if you start slow and suddenly speed up, or if you speed up then stall for a week or two, or anything else. Look at the big picture (easier said than done, I know) - you have lost 13 pounds in only three weeks. You're doing great. Just continue to try to take care of yourself, and if you need to be admitted to get a bag of fluids, try not to be too discouraged. These things happen to a fair amount of people, and it's not the end of the world or the end of your success, it's just a little bump in the road. Give yourself time, and cut yourself some slack. You're doing well.