WalkOnWaking

F*ck her.

You keep positive, supportive people in your life. Not people who will bring you down. It will make your journey so much easier that way. You owe NOBODY an explanation.

Keep on keeping on!

Ok, that made me chuckle. What do they say about 'toxic people' and not letting them bring you down. I'm just going to "Keep on keeping on!"

Wow! Congrats!

I kept busy during that time, walked a lot, slept a lot, and didn't worry about if I wanted something. Bottom line, I wasn't going to cheat and either a) ruin all my hard work to get to the post-op phase, or 2) eat something I wasn't physically ready for and develop complications like a leak that would need further surgical repair.

Lots of puzzles, read a lot, surfed these forums, and listened to some success stories on Youtube.

I still have cravings, but make light of them now. I'd love a big juicy ribeye. Or a York Peppermint Patty. So came up with a recipe that was to bread a ribeye with the patty. Silly, and then I can move my thoughts onto better thoughts LOL!

I am so sorry this happened. It appears that this person wasn't a close to you as you thought. I wonder if it is that she is threatened by your potential weight loss? Whatever the reason it, it is HER problem. Not yours.

Hugs to you right now.

Yes, its not my problem, but hers. Thanks for the reassurance.

And for the hugs!

You can't fix stupid.

And you can't fix ignorant people who want to remain ignorant either.

Onward and upward!

Part of me wants to try to explain why in more detail. But another part of me thinks it would make no difference and just open me up for more inappropriate comments.

I think I have lost someone that I thought was a close friend. She's been kind of 'short' with me lately and I finally asked her if something was wrong (family, job, etc.).

She blurted out that she can't believe I had the surgery done, that there were so many other (better) options for me.

Luckily this was via a text message. I don't know what I would have said or done if it had been face to face. But am glad I was sitting on the couch because my head spun and I felt so ... Fill in the blank: angry/pissed/disappointed.

I just responded that I did what I personally felt was the right thing, for me, and it is a decision that I will have to live with.

I'm not at all unhappy I did this. Sure, there were some bumps along the way, some things I wish could have been different regarding my hospital stay. But all-in-all, I'm thrilled to be off medications that were no longer working well for me.

I don't know how I can mend the friendship, but at this point, I have no desire to.

Lyrics from a song that Celtic Woman sings pop to mind: "I've lost the friends that I needed losing, found others on the way."

I guess only time will tell if she will remain a friend, or one that 'needed losing' in my journey.

I wonder if taking so much Calcium (and so often) could be causing the Iron deficiency that some develop.

My Iron level has always been great (170ish on the lab report which shows 'normal to be 51-212). Labs done every 3 months for 15+ years. I give blood regularly and they test then too.

I started taking calcium supplements per recommendation of my surgeon's office (started 2 months pre-op).

Had my normal quarterly bloodwork done 1 week post-op, and now my iron is 51, at the low end of 'normal.'

I'm going to speak with my NUT and surgeon next week during appointments.

I tell you this sleeve is like a baby.....it wants to be fed and burped (walking).

OMG, that make me laugh! I needed that! (*goes to burp her baby*)

You guys giving yourselves the blood thinner shots?

I did the shots for 7 days. 40cc each, HUGE to me!

Just was worried there! My surgeon does not leave a drain in, and my first thought was there was a complication. Good to know its routine!

I am on my way home. Full liquids for a week then I go back next Wednesday to get the drain removed. I hope you ladies get to go home soon.

Yikes! Drain? Is that normal?

For my doctor it is. He leaves a drain in for a week. It is a surgeon's preference. I am really having to learn this sleeve I drank too much too soon and feeling like crap.

I had mine on 11/19 and remember it was a week until I felt 'normal' as far as swallowing anything. I wouldn't say it was pain, but uncomfortable, and something that definitely concerned me. When I brought it up with my surgeon, he said it was a normal part of the process of healing and should pass. It did.

I had surgery 11/19 around noon. On 11/20, about 4pm (28 hours after surgery), I had an Upper GI test done to see if there were any leaks. The report came back after 10pm, and was surprised that I had Breakfast delivered at 7am. Jello, ready-made Protein shake, broth, and Decaf tea. I could only get the shake and tea down (in over an hour). Just too sore/full for the rest.

But I still remember my first liquid post-op was that horrid tasting crap for the leak test.

Makes sipping Water now a blessing!

My surgeon and NUT both say to do a twice daily chewable Multivitamin, chewable probiotic, and 3 times a day Calcium citrate chewable.

But, everything I read for research is for RNY. For example, must use citrate form of Calcium to bypassing the first part of the small intestines. But for VSG, there is no intestinal bypass.

AFTER complete healing of the sleeve, is there a real need to stay with chewables or calcium citrate instead of calcium carbonate?

Hubby has taken to calling me Zippy. Says when I turn sideways he can hardly see me. But I stick out my tongue, I look like a zipper. I'm sure that is from some obscure movie he saw, but still makes me laugh and keeps me motivated.

Ok, maybe not a big thrill to anyone but me, but I can now look down and actually SEE my bellybutton. I'm only down 17.6 pounds but it seems to all have come off the roll of fat above the bellybutton level.

TMI?

I am stoked. Doesn't take much to get me going, evidently.

Also off blood pressure medication (had been on since age 25). And now completely off both Lantus and Humalog insulins.

Why didn't I do this years ago?

As one of my hero dog people says, the past is the past. Live in the NOW.

All the extracts and concentrated flavorings I found in the baking aisle of the grocery store. Hubby finds a new one every time he stops in. Found Peanut Butter today. Weird enough I will have to try it.

Odd that they cancelled the first date the day before. When did they have the labs that showed the elevated triglycerides?

I was told to fast for mine after 10pm the day before bloodwork (except to keep drinking water).

I hope you get your date this year. I got mine 11/19 and am so glad to be on the road to a new and better 2016!

I use the Premier vanilla and add a few drops of extracts or other flavorings (no calories). My favorite so far is adding cinnamon, mint, or root beer. The root beer tastes like a root beer float if you close your eyes and pretend!

Pre-Op I loved them cold. Post-Op I still can't tolerate cold. So I add a flavor and let it sit out to become cool not cold.

I like that each gives you 30 grams, and 11 ounces of Fluid. So easy to get the minimum you need in a small volume.

I am on my way home. Full liquids for a week then I go back next Wednesday to get the drain removed. I hope you ladies get to go home soon.

Yikes! Drain? Is that normal?

I'll go back to lurking. Nice to meet a few folks. Goodbye.

Won't lie, the first day was rough. 2nd day not much better. But Saturday morning early (like 2am! ) I got a change in pain meds that eased the pain and let me sleep. Woke up sorta refreshed and spoke to the surgeon. Said I was progressing nicely and could go home. Didn't take me long to pack up! Home sweet home!

Surgery went ok, a few hours delayed. Spent Thursday and Friday night and released to go home today (Saturday) around noon.

I was able to doze for a few hours. Still feel like I got no sleep. Showered, dressed, ready to go. 40 minutes till leave.

Can't sleep. Did anyone else just toss and turn the night before surgery?

Going under the knife tomorrow too. So super excited! Aleja908, maybe the post-op forum has better answers on what to expect.

Good luck everyone!