VSjrs

Two years ago from tomorrow I made the hardest decision of my life and got Bariatric surgery. This was one of the scariest days of my life. I had been on a three week long “fast” where I was only aloud to drink unflavored protein powder and chicken broth(I cheated a few times and had some milk). I remember waking up at 4am to head to the hospital where my surgery would take place. I didn’t feel scared, I didn’t feel anxious. I felt excited. Everything felt right. Although I had prepared myself as much as I could by reading literature, taking nutrition classes, and watching surgery videos, I had no idea what a huge challenge I would face. I knew the basics, I would get sick if I ate too much, I couldn’t have carbs, sugars or carbonation and it would take about 6 months to feel “normal” again, but nothing could have prepared me for the ups and downs that I would face. We got to the hospital, got situated in my pre op room, I got changed into my hospital gown. It took 15 sticks to get the IV in me (not counting the additional 15 shot of lidocaine before placing the IV) at this point all I could focus on was the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to proceed with my surgery because my veins were so bad from being over weight and dehydrated. Once they got the IV into my vein, I don’t remember a whole lot because they put an anti anxiety “cocktail” into my IV. My mom said when they took me off to surgery I was smiling and excited. My procedure went perfectly, it took about 2 and a half hours. When I woke up I had never been in so much pain in my life. I instantly got nauseated and started throwing up(stomach staples and vomiting really don’t mix. I remember looking around the room frantically for my mom. They wouldn’t let her come in because I wasn’t “stabilized” yet. The last thing I remember before them giving me a big dose of anti nausea and pain meds was wondering if I made a mistake. Once I got to my in patient room all that I felt was relief that my mom was by my side. I was in the hospital for five days before I was finally released. These five days were cake compared to what I was about to experience. For those five days I couldn’t even keep water down. I remember what a struggle it was to even take a shower, I was so embarrassed that I had to ask for help to bathe. In order to be released I had to keep down 4 ounces of water for thirty minutes. My stomach was so small that I couldn’t do this, so me being stupid and just wanting to go home regretfully lied about the amount of water that I consumed and of course this was a huge mistake. I slept the whole four and a half hour ride home but as soon as we got back to Steamboat I was very ill. I remember my dad trying to help me take my anti nausea medication and I threw up all over his recliner chair. This night was the worst night yet. I couldn’t sleep because when I closed my eyes I got so sick. The only thing I can compare it to is getting the spins when you’re drunk. I knew in order to stay out of the hospital I had to keep fluids down but I just couldn’t. I threw everything up no matter how small the sip was. At this point I hadn’t eaten in days and was pretty weak. The next day I decided that I wanted to leave my parents and go home. I couldn’t even walk up my stairs to get to my bed without being winded and exhausted. At this point, I was a week post op and I had lost THIRTY pounds, and not in a healthy way. It took two months and two ER visits to be able to go back to work or start to eat solid foods. I lost a lot of my hair and was learning how my new body worked. I knew what would make me sick and what wouldn’t. I began to eat 90 grams of protein a day and tried to drink as much water as possible. I began getting in the routine of taking all of my vitamins even. Looking back now this all feels like a dream. The most common misconception is that I took the easy way it. This is easy for people to say when they haven’t gone through what I have gone through. There are days that I am sitting down eating and I think, “I really wish I could eat and enjoy this whole meal.” Something that no one can prepare you for is the body dysmorphia. I still see myself as that big girl. I wear leggings and think “I shouldn’t wear this” or “people are going to make fun of me for wearing this.” Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with an extreme sense of panic because I am so terrified that I’m going to gain weight. However, day by day I’m learning to love myself more. Learning to enjoy my new body, and most importantly, embrace my who I am and who I have become throughout this journey. I will never forget the day my life truly began, 1/11/16

I am 2 years post op and sitting at 130 pounds and I still get the weird stomach noises all day everyday.. there’s nothing you can really do to help it unfortunately. They happen when I’m hungry, if I just ate, if I chew gum or drink water. They are always there. They are caused by excess air in your stomach and kind of go hand in hand with GERD.

So I am a year and two months post op. Thinking back, a year ago I was wondering if I made the right decision. I couldn't keep anything down, I was so exhausted, and it seemed like my surgery was more of a curse than a blessing. I couldn't eat without feeling overwhelmingly full. However, I weigh 135 lbs now and the saying is so true, nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. although I still vomit after eating, it doesn't happen as often. I have to be on prescription heart burn medication for my gerd and they completely control it if I stay on top of it and other than those two issues my body has adjusted to my new "tummy" fairly well. Of course there is the little things like how I get absolutely and completely drunk off of one glass of wine (such a cheap date haha) and how easily I get dehydrated but that's really the only down side. So if you are reading this and trying to decide if you want I go through with WLS or you are newly post op and feeling discouraged, i have a few important things to tell you. This surgery was the best decision that I have ever made. My quality of life and happiness is so much different. I can do things I've always wanted to do and I can go shopping and get "normal" sizes. This surgery is not an easy way out and it's going to be hard and at times you'll regret doing it, but, if you stick with it I promise you quality of life will improve so much. If you have any questions please feel free to message me, I'd love to answer any questions you may have.

Do not drink carbonation! It makes you feel so uncomfortable. For me even if I let it get flat then drink it, it still hurts. Try sugar free lemonade, juice, coffee. The soda will also slow down your weight loss process.

Everyone's body is different. Stay away from carbs completely. The noodles probably got stuck in your stomach. Also chicken has fibers in it that break down in your stomach weird. Try tomato soup with u flavored protein powder, sugar free pudding, yogurt with less than 10 grams of sugar. Stay as far away as possible from carbs. They will make you sick and you won't loose as much weight.

Haha I call this "gurgling" I'm over a year post op and I still do this all the time.. nothing you can do o stop it unfortunately. It's definitely embarrassing and awkward when it happens. I'm at the point where I know when it's about to happen so if I hold my breath for a few seconds it's not as loud. If you have any questions feel free to message me (:

I am having an extremely difficult time getting the recommended amount of Protein in, "60-80 grams" is so much when you can hardly hold 1/4 cup of food in your stomach! What are some of your tips for getting more protein in? I'm trying the whole, if it doesn't have protein in it, don't eat it, but I am still struggling!

I had lots and lots of tomato Soup with un flavored Protein powder in it. It was easy on my stomach and didn't give me heart burn. I also ate mashed sweet potatoes, and cottage cheese with sugar free jelly. I avoided chicken broth (anyone else hate it after this journey?) Also the best way I found to keep myself hydrated was ice Water. It soothed my swollen tummy and did mess with my heart burn (which room temp. water does)

The best things I've found are chewable and sub lingual vitamins. I have a hard time swallowing pills after surgery and would throw them right back up until I started doing chewables. I started to have hair loss too, I started taking biotin and my hair is feeling extremely healthy and is no longer falling out. Best of luck to you!

Don't be scared! Its just a few weeks of pain for a life time of happiness. I am over a month post op, I feel like "myself" again and can hardly remember the pain and nausea. Good luck girl!! Just take it one day at a time. The best advice I got before surgery from someone who is 2 years post op is, if you feel tired, then rest. Sleep as much as you need and walk walk walk!

Hi guys! Any sleevers in northern Colorado? I love to get in touch

So it all started June of 2015, I weighed myself for the fist time and realized how much I had let myself go. I had always been a chunky kid but growing into a "fat" adult is hard. So I did my research and found the perfect doctor. I proceeded to make an appointment for July, they told me that I was a candidate and went to my first class the next day. I finally felt a wave of relief. The next few months were challenging but I finally had my final class as well as a surgery date, which was supposed to be December 29th. However, there was an error made and I was denied by insurance. I was heart broken because I felt like it was not realistic for me to get the sleeve, one because I had a whole new deductible in January and two because I just felt defeated. Well I resubmitted any ways and ended up I couldn't pass this down. I was on Monday the 4th of January and my surgery date was the 11th of January. I was so excited and ready for this journey that I was about to start. The 11th rolled around and my nerves didn't kick in until I was in the pre op room. It took 10 different tries and 4 different nurses to get the IV in my. I am a baby about needles as it is so of course my nerves started to kick in. The next thing I remember after signing the consents is waking up in recovery in the worst pain I had every felt in my entire life. I could actually feel where my stomach was gone, soon after that the nausea kicked in. The next 4 days were filled with being poked with needles, vomiting, being woken up to walk, and not being able to eat or drink anything. I had the support of my family, and my boyfriend was there helping me every step of the way. Helping me to the bathroom, helping me in the shower, getting nurses for me. Without him and my family I wouldn't have made it through this. On the 4th day I was released from the hospital and had a 4 hour drive home. It was awful. The next two weeks consisted of still vomiting, lots of tears, and lots of regrets. Finally at week 4 I started to feel normal, I was not longer nauseated and I could keep everything I consumed down, including Vitamins. I am sitting at exactly a month post op and there are so many things I've learned. 1. It is worth it 2. Regret is normal 3. Listen to your body 4. You will feel normal again Of course this is very trial and error, I am figuring out what I can tolerate and what I cant. I have lost 35 pounds and I feel happy again. Of course this surgery isn't an easy fix and its just a tool, but so far, I've never been so sure of a decision I've made than I am at this moment.

The night that I got out of the hospital, I had a 4 hour drive home. IT WAS AWFUL. I wasn't able to keep liquids or medication (including sub-lingual, the taste made me sick) down for a solid week after returning home. I regretted my decision because of the nausea. It felt like it was never going to end. And that mixed with heart burn made me feel like I made the dumbest decision ever, although I kept that to myself. What helped me was ice Water. That soothed my heart burn and felt nice on my heeling tummy. It took until week 4-5 for that to mostly go away for me (thanks to prescription heat burn and nausea meds). Now I am a month post op and I can drink water pretty normally, as well as eat normally. I no longer regret my decision. Everyone has the initial regret because there is no way that you can be prepared for how truly hard it will be. Just stick with it and stay strong, eventually you will look at it as the best decision you have ever made.

I've definitely had a hard time telling when I am full. I realized that it is a very different feeling from before surgery. For me 1/4 seems to do the trick. Sometimes I can eat a little more, most of the time I have to eat less. Just listen to your body. Good luck (:

I am so sorry to hear that it has been such a rough go. I also had an extremely hard time with recovering, although there were no complications at the time of surgery, there were definitely some red flags after. I couldn't keep any liquids down, I was constantly vomiting and constantly nauseated. It took until week 5 for me to start feeling semi normal. Here are my tips for you: Chew your food to the consistency of apple sauce take lots of time in between bites do not drink 30 min before or 30 min after you eat listen to your body I also have the "bubbling feeling" and it hasn't gone away for me. Whether I eat or not, it is there. I agree, it is extremely annoying. Don't psych your self out too much. Most likely when you start eating solids, you will be just fine. Just be careful of foods that will cause extra gas in your stomach. Good luck!

I think all of us got that feeling (: it is quite an adjustment and a trial and error process but I promise, it will all be worth it!

I am week two post op. So far, it's hell. I'm having such a hard time getting in Protein, let alone any food. I'm definitely feeling exhausted from lack of food. I am in the full liquid stage. Pulease help me out and let me know what worked for you. Any secretes? So far organic tomato Soup with unflavored protein power is all I can do that doesn't make me nauseated.

How long will it be until I can drink water normally again? I'm week 2 post op and am able to drink more water than last week but I don't feel like I'm hydrating myself well enough.

Awesome I'll have to look into buying one!

I've definitely noticed that ice water is much easier for me!

The pre op diet was super rough for me. If you Doctor lets you, drink tons of 1% or low fat milk mixed in with you unflavored protein and stay hydrated with lots of water. It'll all be worth it in a few weeks! Best of luck to you!

Did you guys have a hard time breathing after?