LEILE

So, I really love sushi--love it. A few days ago on my drive home I decided to stop and try a half of a roll-Horrific chest pain, felt like bark dust in my chest. The next day, I tried sashimi--sushi with no rice--and it was truly a slice of heaven. I love raw fish, I bought a few pieces of frozen sashimi and put them in my freezer. I have also been thinking about my personal reasons for this surgery--Why did I get the gastric sleeve? I did not get the gastric sleeve, so that I could go back to eating the way that I had eaten and magically (as if) get into a healthy thin body. I wanted this surgery as a tool to aid in my overall health. Before I had surgery, a woman who works for my husband had said "My sister had gastric sleeve--and she failed, she is close to 300 lbs. again. I was angry, because I felt like she was saying: It probably won't work for you. But, I have been reflecting--and the truth is that this woman wants gastric sleeve herself, but is unable to quit smoking and her insurance will not cover it unless she quits. So moving away from that tangent, I want to eat better foods, more nutrient dense foods--I have a long ways to go, but I hope I can always remember that I didn't have this surgery so I could miraculously eat chocolate cake AND be a thin person. Anyhow, I found an adjustment: Just raw fish (sashimi) and soy sauce. I was so satiated and I felt absolutely amazing. I am having it again tonight. Lots of Protein and low fat.

Hi Comicbook guy! Come up with a mantra--and repeated it to yourself when your father goes ballistic. The mantra I use is: I am a good descent person who is worthy of kindness. And I just repeat it over and over in my head when I am having to face the wrath of a person. It helps to counter the negativity of the situation. You are a worthy, deserving person and everyone makes mistakes--that is what makes us human. You live and You learn. I hope that you find some peace in your living arrangement and inherently know that you deserve kindness. Leilie

I totally weeped during this!

I cannot eat tuna fish with light mayonnaise. So, I thought perhaps it was the mayonnaise. Then I tried to eat some baked salmon and felt so sick. I think I don't do well with fish. I do very well with grilled shrimp, but the two times I have felt violently sick have been after the consumption of fish. I used to love fish. I am a bit sad. Leilie

Hi there, Completely normal. I had my surgery on January 6th--right after Christmas and New Year--I definitely was part of the last supper group. I ate a lot, up until two days before my surgery and then I was put on pure liquids. Tomorrow, I am a month out and I am now 22 pounds down. Be gentle with yourself. Consult with your surgeon.

Thanks, all! I think in my crazy mind--because so much never worked, I have this scary miscalculated picture in my mind that people just got the sleeve, followed the guidelines and constantly dropped the excess weight. I am glad to know that I am not alone in these stalls. I just keep chanting (silently) my mantra: I am not alone. Leilie

For the past week, I have weighed exactly the same, and I have a long ways to go. I have been sticking within the parameters of my surgeon and nutritionists guidelines--but every day I get up to weigh myself the scale says:195.4 lbs. Sometimes I feel like breaking the scale, because I feel crushed by it. I am four weeks out from surgery, and down a total of 20 pounds from the date of surgery--but I have great emotion tied to that scale. I know that it is impossible to keep this weight on so long as I do what is required--but for some reason my body isn't letting anything go. I am aware that the sleeve is a tool and not a full-blown answer to my lifetime struggle with obesity. Today, I am going to try and relax, do what I need to do at work and lean into this process. I know that I have messed up my metabolism from past crazy dieting (only getting bigger and bigger), and there has to be a period of adjustment, but darn it--I want to be better yesterday! Somewhere deep inside of me lingers the fear that this procedure is going to work for all of you--but not me. Please share any of your experiences on how you dealt with this type of frustration, or if you ever dealt with this fear and frustration. I am wishing you all the best on this journey. Leilie

I like the skimmed milk steam with one pump of sugar free vanilla. Pre-surgery I lived at Starbucks--and drank tons of calories. Today, I try not to order anything but that one drink per day only a couple of times a week. The rest of the time I order mint tea and sweeten it with Splenda.

Thank you So much for this post. I am 3.5 weeks out of surgery--and I weigh every morning, for the past three days I have weighed exactly the same. Talk about frustrating. Thank you for letting me know this is normal.

I threw my macbook the other day. Irritable--to the extreme. It just comes out of nowhere. Rage. I am hoping it passes. I am only 3+ weeks out. Leilie

Hi Walkinggirl-- I had the sleeve on January 6th and after the first week--I thought I was SUPER hungry because I was experiencing movement, rumbles and growling in my tummy--it's acid. Talk to your surgeon about an antacid, because that really soothes those sensations, and stay hydrated. The surgeon removes the hunger hormone in the stomach--but it takes about a month for the released hormone to fully die off. I promise you, for me it passed after a few days of prilosac and trying my best to sip Water and sugar free drinks in an attempt to stay hydrated. Remember, you have a brand-new stomach--it has to adjust and heal, so lots of these adjustments feel grumbly--which reminds us of hunger. Good luck on your journey! Leilie

OH MY GOODNESS: IT'S a sign!!!! I must go back to yoga. I have been so embarrassed of my body I stopped going years ago, but I am going back. Thank you for all of your beautiful posts. Leilie (Healing, mentally and physically)

I might be late, but BLACK AND WHITE! Leilie

I don't even have to know you personally to tell you this: God does not make mistakes. You are a worthy and deserving human being--just by being born. We have all suffered with our weight with different details--but I am certain that probably most of us have never gotten better with our weight by a significant other berating us, being cruel to us, or emotionally abusing us. I hope you develop some friendships and find some people you can trust (maybe a support group) who can support you through this process. If he cannot see your basic goodness, he isn't good enough to lick the shit off your shoe--let alone be married to you. You are not alone. Millions of people have suffered at the hands of abusive partners--you can make it out on the other side. May God be with you. Leilie

Hi there, I was sleeved on January 6th--I had nausea for the first three days and then my surgeon prescribed me anti-nausea medications that dissolved under my tongue. I have had no nausea since. I am three weeks out and able to eat three to four times a day plus liquids. My meals consist of four ounces of cottage cheese, four ounces of plain yogurt and bananas etc. I cannot eat a lot of volume, but I don't really want to. What you are experiencing I have not heard of nor experienced--it sounds a little abnormal. I really hope you are going to be alright. Leilie

So sad, but I went to the URL for the meet up group and it doesn't exist. What happened? I am in West Palm Beach Leilie

So, I had my surgery Wednesday in the morning and left the surgery center Wednesday around 6:00 p.m. I have been so tired and having to keep fluids in and get up every few hours and walk around has been really a serious job. You all give me so much hope. I have no clue as to how you all were able to consume 64 oz per day--I cannot do it yet. And I haven't been able to get 50 grams of Protein in either. Every day is getting better. But my first day home I cursed out my husband twice--and had a wicked attitude. I have since apologized and I am learning that I do not do so well with pain. I am off heavy pain medication now and am just taking ex strength tylenol as needed--and that seems to do the trick. I wanted to know if any of you made your own smoothies (not store bought) and what you put in them. Even though this has been so physically painful, I am so glad that I allowed medical professionals (surgeon) to help me with my medical problem (obesity) and I am forever grateful that there is a community of those who have walked this journey before me. Thank you everyone for sharing your paths. Leilie

Well here is the update on this post. I was sleeved at noon yesterday--went home at 5:30 p.m. It is difficult to drink, and the gas discomfort is pretty awful--but I am up and walking around, making my own decaf tea, drinking watered down sugar free drinks, urinating regularly etc. My surgeon is very reputable. He is a Manhattan, NY surgeon, who went to Albert Einstein Medical School--one of the best in the country. I also have a finger-tip pulse and oxygen count, another item that measures my in breath and I have my surgeon's personal cell phone number. I should also note that I had non co-morbidities. I am 90 pounds over weight and 36 years old--which was a huge reason I opted for the out-patient. Also, I paid for myself--and in NY it is not cheap. I saved 4,000 by using a surgical center instead of staying over in a hospital. Thank you for all of your experiences, I am very sleepy, haven't thrown up once--even though sometimes I feel a little nauseated, and I am working hard to keep up with my liquid/protein intake and managing my pain just fine. I feel so glad that I have found all of you on this forum, Even though we are all combating obesity, I think it is important that we are not all the same in every other health aspect. I'll update you all soon, Leilie

Thanks so much, I always find that I have one more question in this process. I am so glad that this forum is here!

Thanks so much inner surfer girl, i actually want to try Isopure--it has 20 grams of Protein per bottle of 20 oz of liquid. I also can have clear broths and clear liquids. How long until you could have something like almond milk? Leilie

I emailed my surgeon with my fears and I feel a lot better. I am so glad that i found this website because I love hearing about other people's experiences. Sometimes I feel so isolated and afraid. I am terrified of blood clots and leaks--but I guess most people are. Any advice on how to lessen the chances of blood clots or complications is also welcomed. Also, what kind of liquids did you all find most helpful to have on hand? Could any of you actually drink a Protein shake? Thanks, Leilie

My surgery date is January 6--so I am in. My starting weight is 215 lbs and my goal weight is 200. Leilie

I am so glad to know that many people have done this on an out patient basis--and have been okay doing this. I am of course both terrified and really glad about having the gastric sleeve. On this coming Wednesday I am having my surgery and I am so glad I found this site. Thanks for all of your responses--I sincerely appreciate it. Leilie

I'm having my surgery on Wednesday. Of course, I wanted to do this (permanent weight loss) on my own, but I couldn't. I am 36. I tried everything. I am so scared and excited at the same time. I wish you a lot of goodness in this process. Obesity is a medical problem, and I am really glad that the medical technology is there to help. Leilie

The very next morning I go back for the leak test. Glad to hear it Brown Eyed Tx Girl. I cannot believe my surgery is this coming Wednesday--I feel terrified and grateful at the same time.