GACaldwell

From my sister pre-op when I told her I was doing this to control my BP & help avoid the inevitable heart attack with heart disease on both sides of my family: "I'll just have to be fat & if I have a heart attack then I have life insurance & they can bury me." O_o From one of my partners: "No fair...this is so much easier for you than my diet. You're totally going to pass me I. Weight loss and I'll be jealous." From the sister at 2 months post op and 30 lbs down "Have you lost any weight? I don't really see it in your face?"

I tried a free trial of Hello Fresh this week. Can't say I was super impressed. Lots of carbs in the things they sent...Tortilla wraps, rice & Pasta. It was the classic box and there is an option for "fit" meals but the amount of food for what it would have cost was astronomical. just my experince so far! Sent from my SCH-I435 using the BariatricPal App

I tried the Hello Fresh box this past week. It wasn't very friendly for us...lots of carbs. Sent from my SCH-I435 using the BariatricPal App

Welcome @@NYCDreamer! So exciting as you get ready for surgery! By the time I got to my surgery date I was BEYOND ready! LOL Looks like you've already done an amazing job at dropping weight! Good for you!!

One thing no one told me to take but I knew from two C-sections was absolutely necessary..a Pillow! I had an 11+ hour journey back from Mexico and between the wheelchair my husband kept running into walls with at the airport & flying/take off/landing having a pillow to hold over my stomach was a lifesaver. We were given everything we could have needed for me in the hospital..bottle Water, slipper, hospital gowns. My companion had to eat elsewhere though so we made sure we had money for that. Past that: Any meds you currently take Comfy clothes to come home in...seriously pick your most comfortable outfit! Toiletries Info for your travel companion..google translate was a lifesaver for my hubs Gas X for the ride home (for sure!) Protein mixes for the right home..like I said 11+ hours for me so I had to have something to drink on the way home & there are not a lot of options at the airport.

The cravings were hard for me too..but what I started doing was taking small bites and appreciating the taste more of the things I craved. It has never done me much good to deny myself anything because it will overwhelm my OCD brain and I'll binge. But where I used to eat an entire king size bar of chocolate (chocolate is my weakness) I nibble on one square at a time now. I still track it..the calories still count but I'm not overdoing it. Also, Learning to replace it with fruits helps..my new fave snack is sliced strawberries with FF cream cheese & splenda. Also, I've learned to commit to my routines...water, Protein, exercise as an alternative to snacking/overeating. If I can get my BRAIN to STFU first by using one of those then its a win.

I went to Mexico too...My dr removed the drain while I was still there and covered it with gauze/tape...it still weeped a little of the white/pink Fluid but I felt SO much better after the drain came out (admittedly, I thought I was going to puke when it was coming out though!) I didn't have stitched that needed to be removed..they just dissolved. Hopefully you'll get an answer from your dr!

So far..good! I'm down around 30lbs so far...25 the first month and then I've been hovering with the last 5 this past month. Eh..im not worried about it being slow as Im loosing inches a lot faster than lbs these days. I've been lucky in that I've had VERY few complications...I dont have any issues eating or drinking. I am tired more than I used to be but that's ok..it will come back. Im so glad I had the surgery..it's been life changing. The biggest positive is that my blood pressure is down to a normal level for the first time in almost 9 years! I have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family and my dad has his first heart attack at 40 yrs old. I'm 38 and Ive been on BP meds since I was 30...so the impending heart attack was a big factor for me in having this done. I feel a lot better knowing I'm doing everything I can to help keep me here.

I've heard this happens with some Drs. Please look for another practice! I'm Bi-polar and my Dr had no issues doing the surgery on me. If anything it has helped tremendously.

@@henna2010 How are you holding up? Checking in on you!

Hi All! I was sleeved on July 25th 2016..so far I'm down about 29lbs (It's fluctuating right now due to travel/food choices). I've struggled with my eight all my life..and it took me a while to get to the point of deciding to have this surgery. Meanwhile, my partner of 6.5 years struggles with weight loss too and he's (He's trans..non-operative, Female bodied, Male identified) doing a weight loss program through Quick Weight Loss Centers. I do my best to support his choice though I honestly don't think the diet is viable long term. The problem is he is SUPER competitive. So when I dropped 25 lbs in the first month he got really jealous and makes comments about how I'm going to "Breeze past him" on the weight loss scale. I tell him all the time it's NOT a competition but it doesn't seem to help. It's to the point that I don't really share with him any weight loss I have, or I'm tentative about it based on his weight loss/feelings. He's seen the drawbacks..the nausea, the not being able to eat full meals etc. But he still gets jealous of what he considers to be "easy".,..needless to say the whole "easy" thing gets me. Anyone have experience with your partners reactions to your weight loss or dealing with jealousy with it?

Yikes! I'd be scared to do it right before the holidays...we focus too much on food in my family!! But hopefully yours is different. As it is, I'm worried about holidays and I was sleeved in July. What do you do for work? I have a desk job (Office manager) and I cant stand missing work due to the way they do PTO here but even still I had to be out about a week. Because of the way I scheduled it (I went in on a thursday, had surgery that day & was back to work by the next wed) I had the time off...if you have time off with the holidays thats an excellent reason to schedule it then. I was too impatient to wait and my partner drives a truck so tiem home was a factor.

Didn't read everyones responses but heres my experince: I was sleeved on July 25th of this year..so far I'm down about 29lbs (It's fluctuating right now due to travel/eating choices) I'm ok with that! I've set my one time goal of 135 by next year..but I'm not stressing getting there all at once. Yes, I weigh in every day, but i don't let it affect me mood...i just see it as a tool..like "Huh, I ate xyz yesterday off plan and this is what happened..ok. I know I can't afford that every day" Kind of thing. Also, I work at a desk and I have a crazy busy lifestyle (3 jobs, 2 kids, 2 partners, yadda yadda) so I have found ways to include exercise into my day. I belly dance on the weekends...so I do tummy rolls all day sitting at my desk and that helps tone! You can also look up desk exercises you can do at work. I sit on a stability ball so Im always moving even when Im sitting and typing. The bosses thought it was weird at first but now its just my normal. Take the stairs, park further away, do squats while you pull laundry from the dryer...there are a thousand ways to get some type of exercise in every day even when you dont have time to work out. Also, if no one has mentioned it before..check your measurements...While I haven't lost a ton of weight, Im loosing inches like CRAZY! I've been recording my non scale victories and celebrating them even more than the scale victories. And remember..you can do this!!

I hate this for you!! Especially because it causes emotional pain. My partner had to have one done every time he (He's FtM trans) went to his pain management dr. He'd just laugh and tell they they were wasting their time. I had a hysterectomy when I was 30 yrs old. So when they ask "when was your last menstrual period?" I say 2007.If they are stupid enough to ask if I'm pregnant after that, then I need a new dr.

I had this question at first too because like you, I drink A LOT. I called my Drs and they said there is no way you can stretch on liquids and drinking more than whats suggested is fine as long as you're drinking 0 calories drinks. Look up the "Pyloric valve"...its the valve in your stomach to your intestines that basically lets all liquids go through almost instantly. Once i understood how it worked, it made me feel better.

Fabulous! You're doing great!!

I tried topamax for my depression. It has the nick name "dope-a-max" for a reason. I couldnt function on it (but I was on a high dose!) I echo what others have said about therapy and seeing your NUT. But on top of that, find something you can focus on that helps you. For me thats been yoga and mindfulness. It doesn't make it all go away..this is a serious condition but it has helped me. I journal...a lot..but I always did. And for my birthday this year, (pre-surgery) I had a semi-colon tat placed on the inside of my left wrist where I write the number of days Ive survived my worst days ever/lived in front of it when I need to. It helps me focus and remember that I have a 100% success rate of surviving so far. Lastly..reach out..here, family, friends, whoever will help you. You don't have to do this/suffer alone. See if there are local support groups or even just a friend who wants to help. Go for a walk..grab a healthy lunch, join a gym together. Regardless, don't shut yourself off.

Hi All! A little over 2 months out and I've hit my first stall. I'm wondering how you all track your food/calories/fitness? I've used sparkpeople before but im terrible at remembering to track anything once I leave work.

My tastes changed and I can't drink plain Water anymore...Lately I've been drinking Vitamin Water Zero (Acai-Blue berry-Pomegranate is my fave) I tried the add ins but so far they all give me even worse indigestion. I'm hoping that goes away.

YES!! Strangely, Water tastes funny to me now, no matter where it comes from. I used to drink a gallon a day...now I can't manage without adding something to it.

My kids are old enough to cook for themselves and the SO are long distance soo.... One thing I've learned is to keep a rotisserie chicken and deli thin sliced light turkey on hand. When they are eating something I can't handle yet, those are my go-to items. Also, Imitation crab meat is an easy thing to have on hand. I sometimes wrap the crab in turkey slices or add Light Laughing cow cheese. I haven't had any issues with mood swings but I do want to talk about it alot. Sometimes that can get annoying to the SO's...especially if they are working on weight loss too. I try to limit it but its a BIG deal for me...so i dome here to crow sometimes about what's happening and connect with people who are supportive. One thing, since your little one is of the age to run right into you and want to be held and picked up...make sure you prepare him too to be careful of Mommy's tummy. This was he wont feel put out when you are recovering and wont be able to pick him up or have to be mindful of him running full force into you.

Woohoo!! Congrats to both!! keep it up!

I have a neck now!

Awesome @@GSleeve822!!!

I had one...ONE...well chewed Cheez-it type cracker on the plane ride home from Mexico at 3 days out. The flight attended handed them to me and I just couldn't help myself. Nothing happened...until my partner woke up from his nap and freaked out when I confessed! LOL