BiggiSmalls

Fort Worth! I may live in Cowtown, but I'm working on being lean beef!

I had a calcified Achilles and three ankle surgeries, and I have noticed an improvement. Before surgery I had trouble walking for long, and now I can easily walk three miles almost every day. One thing I did prior to surgery is I got a prescription for Tramadol (pain killer) that was stronger than Tylenol so I had a true pain killer that was Gastric sleeve approved. Before I lost much weight I would use the Tramadol to cut the pain after exercise, so I could keep going the next day. I'm down 50lbs now, and I rarely have to take Tramadol or anything else after exercise now. I hope that helps.

Wow...I'm 5 weeks out and I'm not doing half as well, but I'm still happy with my 40lbs. Congratulations!

food addition, you are obese, or have other food related issues does not mean you were abused. This is my story, and, unfortunately it is many other people's story. I was a healthy kid growing up. In fact, my childhood nickname was Twiggy because I was so lean. I was raised in a middle class home with three sisters, and we were healthy and active. But, when I turned 15 years old I was brutally raped, had my genitals burned by the tip of a knife, and had my life threatened by a friend of a friend. In the year after that happened I became anorexic (undiagnosed but well under 100lbs. at 5'8"). I would eat an apple and a soft pretzel a day many days. I was unhealthy, and I kept my sexual assault a secret from my family due to threats, fear, and shame. I remained too skinny until I went to college. But with all the freedom at college, I began binge eating, and I developed worsening anxiety. I began to binge drink, binge eat, and bulk up my body so I would no longer be attractive to men. It wasn't until my anxiety crippled me in my twenties that I began to go to a therapist. It was a rape crisis therapist at the local women's center because I was a poor college student and couldn't afford anything else. My therapist helped me. She also set me on a path of working on my rape and anxiety. I have been in therapy off and on since I was in my early 20's. I am 46 years old, and married to a kind and gentle man who could see past my anxiety and other issues. I had the gastric sleeve surgery 5 weeks ago. I have lost 40lbs so far, and I bumped up my therapy to address my issues surrounding shedding this armor that caused high blood pressure, fatigue and a myriad of other health issues. I tried losing weight before, and I yo yo'd up and down for years. Mostly I went up in weight and my health declined. On Christmas Day my mother passed away, and I was scared enough of death and this armor that I made the appointment with my surgeon. I don't regret it, but it has pushed me out of my comfort zone. Our society likes to see problems without seeing the causes underlying the problems. All obesity cannot be explained due to sexual or physical abuse, but I would submit that there are many causes which underly obesity. The fat shamers and those with cruel eyes don't always get it. I don't want the fingerprints of the perpetrator on me anymore. I cannot erase the traumatic event, but I can chose to heal in every respect of the word. It took me a while to get here, and I guess I took a long path, but it was the right path for me. I hope I never look at others and judge them on weight, physical appearance, or anything other than the content of their character. I think that is optimistic, but today I am making the decision to try and lose my judgmental tendencies with the weight I am losing. I admire each person who tries to improve, even when they fail. I hope those of you out there who were harmed by someone find peace and health. Best of luck to all.

Thanks everyone. It has been part of my healing to begin to share my story. In most respects I've done most of my healing, but as the armor comes off I will need to wrestle with the demons a bit more.

I got strep throat last week, and it has been rough ever since. I threw up my antibiotic yesterday, I feel exhausted, and I'm depressed. The scale stopped moving, so I stopped weighing myself. I feel alone, nauseated, and I'm having trouble getting my fluids and Protein. I need something to shake me out of this. Logically I know I need to take care of myself, but right now I struggle to do basic things. I'm so tired I am having trouble getting my walking in. I can't seem to force myself to do what I need to. I would appreciate any advice right now.

That's rough, I'm sorry you're going through that. Have you tried those throat numbing lozenges? I've been really cautious with anything that goes into my stomach. I'm also at the three week stall. I'll be glad to get through this amd exercise again.

It sounds like a hot flash to me. I know our hormones get out of whack after the surgery. It's possible it could be hormones.

No but I'm three and a half weeks out and I have strep throat. It's thought to get through all my fluids with a really sore throat. The antibiotic seems like it is sitting in my stomach and slowly turning to acid. I hope I can kick this fast.

I had the same thing. I told my husband I thought the first 12lbs. I lost was all gray matter.

I had to take anxiety meds yesterday. It was a rough day and I usually would find comfort food and chow down. I wanted chocolate so bad! I took my anxiety med and vented to my very kind husband, and then had a less satisfying sugar free Popsicle. I think awareness helps you make good choices, but sometimes you just have to go through that tunnel of anxiety and get through to the other side of it. I feel your pain. Anxiety disorders STINK!

As someone who has had years of therapy for my issues, I can say this also applies to people who are getting mentally healthy. I sometimes want to intervene and give advise or support, but I know that respecting people's boundaries is important. I'm just at the beginning of my weight loss, and I hope that I can be empathetic, but when you're healing, mentally or physically, we often want to intercede or judge others for not doing what we are doing. With alcohol and drug addiction people have to be ready to kick the habit, and they still struggle. I think that trying to remember that people are where they are at because they are not ready for change, and may never be ready to change, is an important thing to remember. I hope that I will remember that as I become more successful in my journey.

When I had mine they told me the sutured it back in place. I don't know if that is the standard practice. You may in with the doctors office about the inversion table to make sure it isn't contraindicated, or they may want you to wait a bit. Having said that, that's only speculation. I hope that helped.

I'm a newbie, and I will miss your posts. You represent, to me at least, one of the best models for my goals. When I was in the hospital about to get the surgery, the nurse told me that she could tell I did a lot research prior to surgery. She also told me a lot of people don't seem to know what they are getting into. I respect your decision, and I, too, have been shocked to read people eating bacon, pizza, etc. shortly after surgery. I selected my doctor because she had a low complication rate, and she was very conservative. I have to keep reminding myself that the restrictions are temporary. I also go to therapy to discuss my food addictions and stress eating. I hope that when I am as far out as you I can live my life in a manner consistent with your apparent values. Good luck to you and THANK YOU for sharing part of yourself on this website. I have already learned from you.

Feel better Maggie143. I hope all is well.

I started walking after surgery, and I was up to one hour (2.5 miles) by just under two weeks. You can walk until you get clearance to do more from your doctor.

I'm so sorry to hear all that you went through. I hope the worst of it has passed. I hope you regain your strength quickly.

I was able to eat the entire egg, but I felt full after I ate it. I feel so much more satisfied. I have no regrets, but I will probably take it slow for now. Me too. I had a soft scrambled egg today and a spoonful of hummus. Both went down fine, although I realized my new stomach only holds 3/4 of one egg. Weird thing is I find it much easier to drink Water now that I've had "food". I've gotten a lot more water in today. And the egg and hummus improved my mood considerably. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm dabbling in puréed food a few days early. I tried a little bit of hummus, but no chips, and mashed up a hard boiled egg. So far so good. It's been Almost five weeks since I had food between the liquid pre-op and post-op. I just felt so very weak. I'm ready to chew!

I did, especially around the time Shark week started. I felt unhinged for a few days there. It will pass. Try not to make big decisions right now.

Well, I'm less than two weeks post-op, and I walked for an hour. I got 2.6 miles under my belt. It felt good, but I had a few stomach spasms afterwards. One more week, and I move on to puréed foods! Everyone, keep at it. It gets easier as you go.

We have the same wait then? My doctor has a really low complication rate, so I have to take comfort in the fact that the strict diet is necessary to keep me safe. Stupid logic, I hate it when it overrides my emotional wants!

I think my expectations are out of whack. I expect things to taste good, or that it should taste like "real food". I need an attitude adjustment. I went back to square one with the liquid diet--like pre-op square one, and I'm forcing myself to drink my shakes. I don't want to lose muscle more than I don't want to drink the shakes. I see the doctor today and I'm going to see if I can grab the NUT for a minute and get some recommendations. Good luck everyone.

I'm here. I am getting back into the swing of things, and I had a rough time the other day because I tried soup I clearly was not ready for. It made me retreat. I got a fit bit and put my food journal and realized that I'm under eating. I'm drinking these shakes more now, but blurg...I don't have to like it. I even bumped up my milk, as I had been using ice and not milk. I'm glad you all are doing pretty well. I am happy to report I am off blood pressure meds, but I have to monitor my blood pressure three times a day to make sure I can stay off them. Wow I still haven't had a whole pill yet. They are making me crush. I have to take ursodial for the gallbladder night and day and that is a big yucky pill I have to split in half. Uuugh I wish I could swallow that! You are doing great! I have a contractor coming over this afternoon... I just said to my husband - Oh God I hope I don't have gas or burps in front of this man.... lol I feel for you!BiggiSmalls where are you! How is your stomach doing and are you still getting sick? I hope you are doing better and on the mend. Thinking of you.

I'm a little over a week post-op, and I would love to know how many of you long timers eat bariatric foods/shakes regularly. I hope to go whole foods as soon as I am able, but I worry about hectic schedules. What food habits do you have know that you're proud/not so proud of? I really have been choking down the liquid diet and artificial sugars, and I'm hoping to hear what works surrounding whole foods. Thanks!