SandyinFL

First week is the worst..... Next week will be a lot better... Hang in there!
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First time poster, but I found this thread very helpful before my surgery and after. It's great to connect with other people going through the same thing. I was sleeved on August 18 and am now 5 days post op.
The day of the surgery post-op was awful, due to the gas buildup. I felt like I was going to die and couldn't breathe. Each day has gotten easier and today has been the best day yet. I've been able to walk about 1.5 miles a day and am getting 100 grams of Protein in a day through Protein shakes and Soups. I hope to increase that to
130-150 grams of Protein soon.
After the 2 week fast and 3 days after surgery, I got to have Tomato Soup. I can't articulate how amazing it was. Plus, I love how full you get not eating hardly anything.
Reading these threads, it appears I'm very lucky. I have encountered issues eating anything with spices in it. It did upset my stomach. I just crossed those items off the list for now.
All in all, I am so glad I made the decision to get this done. I feel better and am so excited about all the fun things I'll be able to do now that I couldn't do before.
As an FYI, my starting weight was 415 pounds. I'm 6"3. I lost 27 pounds on the two week liquid fast. I weighed in on the day of surgery at 388 pounds and am 378 pounds as of today. It's just awesome to have already lost 37 pounds in less than 3 weeks!
It hasn't been easy, but if you follow the rules and stay strong mentally, you can do it! I keep myself motivated and excited for the future by watching before and after videos on YouTube. It is so inspiring!
I feel bad for those that are struggling just after surgery. Keep the faith and you'll make it through!
Ryan
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I had surgery on 7/13/2016.
I weighed 331lbs. on 7/4/2016.
Today I weighed in at 281lbs. 50lbs. lost, I was feeling really great.
I had a post op follow up appointment that I specifically made with my surgeon after seeing his physicians assistant instead of him at the post op appointment. Today the P.A. asked me if I was eating bread or Pasta. I told her yes , but very little. She explained that if I ate more Protein and had vegetables and fruits I would lose weight faster. I do eat a cracker, a half piece of toast, or a spoon full of quinoa and brown rice. Not a portion a bite or two.
50 pounds in 5 weeks!
I told her that and she stuck to her guns as if I said nothing. I played along so I could leave, after being told to follow up with my primary care doctor with my medication management.
So my surgeon doesn't keep his appointments and his P.A.'s work off a script they can't deviate from....your fired.
I have been cleared for full physical activity and am eating normal food. My doctor is more than able to manage my care from here on and I have no reason to return to surgical practice.
I'm a lucky person, I have good insurance and I think thats what their after now. Money and data for an ongoing study.

I suppose I'm just looking to share with others in my shoes. I'm 6 wks out today. I hit the dreaded 3 week stall I assume because the scale hasn't moved in 3 weeks. That's a long ass stall!
I just got home from a business trip in Vegas. My plan allows for crab meat and baked fish at this point and I figured I could share with my husband. It was SO much harder than I anticipated. I had the expected difficulties with wanting to eat steak and all the other wonderful things that got me to bariatric surgery. I did not expect that I couldn't eat anything!! My stomach is not ready for fish or crab. I tried two bites, chewed well and hurt for hours. I was so discouraged. I had Protein Bars packed and ate those, but I really struggled to get any significant Protein or calories in. I wanted to cry. I was so mad at myself for having this surgery! All this and the damn scale hasn't moved in 3 weeks! How do you not lose weight on 600 calories a day max?
Then I went to the spa for a massage. And for the first time in years, I was able to wear the regular robe out the locker. The attending didn't have to discreetly get me a "different robe." Such a small thing, but it made such a big difference in my attitude.
I wish my sleeve was healing faster. I wish I could tolerate a larger variety of foods. But, I know its going to get better. And it's going to be worth it.

My surgery was Wednesday, also, and I have been crying all day. Feeling terrible and wondering how I could have done this to myself. Will spare you the gory details, but let's just say I'm having a variety of pains and problems. I've been sitting alone all day and just trying to get through it. If things get too awful, I will head to ER, otherwise I'll wait and call the surgeon tomorrow.
I did manage to sip some warm Lipton chicken broth a few minutes ago. It made such a difference. Try to find something little to take pleasure in while you heal and await better times. If all else fails, call your surgeon or go to ER. That's my plan for right now.
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I felt that way for the first week. The first week out SUCKS. It gets better. Hang in there. I am now 3 weeks out and I feel back to normal.
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First week SUCKED. By day 5 I was feeling a lot better.
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Tell the waiter you need to pay with your own credit card so please put yours on a separate check. Then make sure you do put your share of the tip in. Let the rest split the check and it's no worries for you.

On the menu at the bar on bike nite, "Tacos, $1.50 each". Me "Perfect, I'll have one taco"! Waitress: "Oh we only sell them in three's. One is too much trouble for the kitchen when it's busy".
What the actual eff? LOL
I did end up talking them into selling me ONE but I don't even bother with food there anymore.

Yes. Willing to get creative. Gotta get there first
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I make "pizza" in a shallow bowl.
A touch of olive oil, with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and garlic powder.
A thin layer of Mozzarella cheese next.
Toppings like bacon, pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, etc.
Another thin layer of cheese.< /p>
Microwave it for 30 seconds or so.
YUM. YUUUUUM.

@@GinaCampbell What a nightmare for you and your friends. I can absolutely understand your frustrations, and agree that the booklet you mention should've been given first.
I'm in the US and self-pay, so the idea of complications is pretty terrifying, since I have to cover them myself. I already have irritable bowel syndrome, and a lot of foods I can't eat, so that's another concern... that it will make it worse. I've heard about lactose intolerance issues post-op and since I love milk and yogurt, that is also a concern.
I nearly died due to my gallbladder issues, and it was removed almost 6 years ago, so I don't have to worry about that. I was aware of that risk, however.
Your story is one of the reasons that I, personally, am opposed to WLS being done on smaller people who don't have any health problems. Because I think that it just invites the risk of too many permanent side effects that people could've avoided. But then I hold the unpopular opinions that fat doesn't automatically equal unhealthy anymore than thin automatically equals healthy. I believe you can be fat, athletic, happy and healthy. I believe you can be thin and terribly unhealthy, and no one ever knows because you "look healthy."
I have fibromyalgia and I'm far heavier than you and your friends were. I have a hard time getting adequate medical care/tests and while I think that's crap, and that people shouldn't have to resort to measures as drastic as WLS in order to get proper care, we live in this world, not the one I think we should live in.
Given my mobility issues, exercise is very hard for me. I have no idea if surgery will make that better or not. I'm not naive enough to believe it's going to "cure" anything. I can only hope MAYBE it helps, and MAYBE I can get some improvement.
Thank you for sharing your story and being so honest. I feel like the people who have experiences like yours are shunned on most WLS forums, and viewed as being overly negative. But your experience is valuable in helping people make truly informed decisions.

"There are good foods and bad foods after wls, just like before. And just like before, your diet should consist of 90% good foods."
Yeah, see. This sort of mentality is a MAJOR problem for me. I don't look at food in a moral context. It's too triggering.

You can always make a pizza alternative or just the toppings. Pizza is the one food I told my Psych I can't live without. ????

Not a sleeve girl but I originally wanted one. I ended up with bypass because I had severe gerd and it was a better option for me personally.
No regret ever, not for one second. I have a whole new life where food does not revolve around it. Don't get me wrong, I love food. I choose to really savor every morsel and I don't eat crap anymore because it actually tastes gross.
pizza, oh yes. I do eat a lovely thin crust piece of pizza about once a month and I love that I can and I love that I am satisfied with that one piece.
No regrets other than regretting I did not do it sooner. Live is full again!

Why can't you eat a small slice of pizza? I don't plan on indulging daily or even weekly but especially 100 pounds down the line I will plan for small indulgences and adjust my calories accordingly. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using the BariatricPal App

I distinctly remember having myself a good cry-fest a few times in the weeks after surgery. You feel like crap, you can't eat anything good, and you still feel overweight- it's a good recipe for being emotional.
If it helps at all, I was not the most happy person before I had surgery, and there were days when I was at home that I would cry for no really good reason, just that I was really unhappy. I'm almost 3-years post-op, and other than a meltdown about a week ago on a work project that would not cooperate at around 2am, I don't remember the last time I cried because I was sad. Being thin may not make you happy, but it certainly did good things for me.
You just need to get through the bad part and then everything else makes it all worth it.

I'm over the weight PERIOD.

I'm over my hips hurting when I sleep and even walk. I'm over having difficulty breathing because I'm too fat! I'm over hating the way I look in clothes. I'm over not going places and seeing friends because I'm too ashamed of how I look. I'm over not being able to do the physical activities I want to do because I'm too heavy. I'm over about being worried about my future because of my health.

I'm over back and hip pain, and being super skilled at hiding that I'm out of breath after 2 flights of stairs. That shouldn't be a skill anyone is proficient at, unless you're a ninja trying to protect your cover.

Today isn't a good day.. I'm OVER wondering if I'll feel sick after any new food I'm about to try. I am OVER forcing myself to drink Water when I'm not thirsty, I am OVER the fact my 1lb chihuahua eats more food than me.
Had to vent, the hubby just had a McDonald's and I looked at it with tears in my eyes, I miss you buddy.
What are you OVER today?
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My surgery was Wednesday, also, and I have been crying all day. Feeling terrible and wondering how I could have done this to myself. Will spare you the gory details, but let's just say I'm having a variety of pains and problems. I've been sitting alone all day and just trying to get through it. If things get too awful, I will head to ER, otherwise I'll wait and call the surgeon tomorrow.
I did manage to sip some warm Lipton chicken broth a few minutes ago. It made such a difference. Try to find something little to take pleasure in while you heal and await better times. If all else fails, call your surgeon or go to ER. That's my plan for right now.
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Im so proud of what I have accomplished so far in 5 months and 50lbs down that I just wanted to share my Before / After pictures that hopefully they can encourage and inspire you to keep moving forward. Be and Stay Blessed my friends!  

My mom has invited me over for dinner, then ordered pizza. Wtf. It's as if she's trying to rub it in my face. I also get frustrated when my bf wants to go out to eat, which is totally fine, but wants to go to places that have nothing I can eat. Or decides we shouldn't cook, he wants takeout. Come on. Get take out or go to grease ball restaurants with your friends. I think it's a little insensitive to do that in front of me, especially because I'm only 2 months out. It's going to be tough forever, but eventually we need to get used to being around food we can't eat or social events that aren't ideal for us. But I think it's reasonable to expect the first few months my family and close friends try to think about me when making plans. I feel selfish saying this, but this year is about me and I need to do everything I can to get the results I want. Sometimes it would be nice for a little more support

First let me start off by saying I'm am a pretty happy and content girl these days. I'm thrilled with my progress thus far. I wouldn't change not even one thing! Not the good, the bad or the ugly (barium swallow test still ranks pretty ugly, I know simple yet traumatizing all the same) but I've noticed there are a few things that just really drive me crazy. Like, my Aunt who has also had WLS (gastric bypass almost 10 yrs ago). She has gained most all of her weight back. She insist that I send her update pictures via FB messenger and raves about how happy she is for me but then turns around and sends me a picture of a fruit pizza she made with the caption "yummy I bet you wish you had some". What the crap is that?! Is it suppose to be funny? Being as I'm a southern Christian woman and she's my aunt I don't elaborate on where she could fit that pie in her nether regions. I just say oh looks good. Puke. Also my lovely family (kids and husband) always make little remarks like "she's not going to be able to eat more that 5 bites" when ever I talk about cooking something or they make bets on how much I'm going to actually eat. Now, when it comes to them I know they aren't doing it in a mean spirited way they are just a bunch of smart a**'s which unfortunately I can't get too mad over because they got it from me. In fact the other night I had a small piece of tiramisu cake left and I heard them whispering about how they would end up with it because " mom won't be able to eat it all" so after a few bites they were right I couldn't so before they could say anything about wanting it I tossed it on the floor for the dog (see where the a** part comes in?) anyway those things are a few of my pet peeves I've acquired over the last 9 months. Anyone else care to elaborate on some of your own?