katie09/21/2016

I am 3 days post op and still in the hospital. I will tell you that I was not at all prepared for the pain level I am suffering. It is unbearable. I am not. Baby and have a pretty high tolerance for pain but, I feel rather deceived that no one told me this was going to hurt like it does o look at the clock and count down minutes till my next pain med dose and sometimes cry .i can't help but question my decision now!
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I was going to say the same as @@katie09/21/2016 .

I think it's lovely that you are trying to help your friend. I'm envious - I don't have any friends who are close enough to me or my children to take the time to help with anything.
This may or may not be relevant, but I grew up with parents who had extremely healthy strict eating habits & a very active family (we were at sports every day of the week). To this day, my mom has never even been through a drive thru or never had a sip of soda. Around the time I was maybe 12, I started to resent the strict food routine and I would overeat any junk food I could get my hands on at school through my friends and I started to gain weight quickly because I had never really eaten that sort of food my body just went "wtf?" And I gained weight FAST. My parents had no idea what was going on & I'm close to both of them so this is not resentful.
They were just so strictly healthy they didn't consider for a moment that I would get my hands on rubbish! I went on to develop an eating disorder for the remainder of high school (starving myself) so things kind of swung back the other way.
I'm not in any way offering criticism, I just know that as a tween and then teen who had eating disorders (overeating and then the opposite) we can hide the behavior extremely well from our parents & loved ones. This might be worth considering alongside all the physical and hormonal investigations?
I hope you can all get to the bottom of things. This young lady sounds like she has wonderful support so I am sure you will all figure it out. Goodluck
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I was sleeved on 21st
I had a severe reaction to anesthesia. This is not common so no one else should really worry.
I did walk some the first night but I kept getting worse & dizzy
Dry heaves for 30 hours but dos the upper GI test & no leaks - great surgeon!
By day 5 I felt so much better & no nausea at all.
I think I'm getting all my Protein at this point.
Everyone's path is different & as sick as I was I wouldn't go back. This is going to be a great! I'm prepared to stay on track but honestly do look forward to having oatmeal in a few weeks
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I'm getting sleeved also on sept 21
I'm in TX - good luck to is all!
I start liquids on the 15rh
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Got sleeved yesterday felt like I got hit by a bus
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Tomorrow I report to the hospital at 6 am to be sleeved. I spent time today getting a pep talk from a colleague who had the surgery a year ago. I have family support.
Now I just need to suck it up and lunge forward. Nervous but excited at the same time.
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There are people who like to spend time on the computer live chatting, but it's not everyone's cup of tea.
I begged Alex to put the chat button where people could see it and maybe we could get chat going again. We used to have a green button down on the right corner where you could see if people were in chat, sort of what they have on Facebook or facebook messenger.
The server is different now, which I assume is the reason the chat is completely different. You never know if anyone is in there.
i thought we could pick a day . I'd go with Monday. People are always trying to get back on track after the weekend. We have to remember time changes. I can usually look early on Mondays, like 5 pm which would be 8 pm on the east coast. I am not usually fond of day time chatting, but I could work with it.
We don't even have to talk about weight loss, sleeve or anything in particular. We could just shoot the breeze like "how was your day?" type stuff.
I know there are people who used to chat in yahoo chat rooms, or aol chat rooms, so maybe there are others like me that like to chat with their online friends.
What do you think?

That it would be best to have the surgery and then go live on a deserted island for the next year, lol.

I'm 4 weeks out today. I've had some great things happen. I've lost a total of 38 pounds, 19 pre op and 19 post op. 10.5 inches of fat man are gone. Mr. Happy looks longer because the "awning" covering him is smaller. I got out of my van on Saturday at a customers place and my shorts hit the ground. Best of all are in the pictures below.
I went to Hawaii in 2005 and 2015.
This is 2015. That is a 4x shirt that looks like I was wearing a tent. Apparently a 4 man tent...

In 2005 I wore this 3x. I put it on last weekend and it fit great! The pair of jeans that I'm wearing I literally had to pray, lay on the bed and exhale completely to get zipped. Saturday they fit beautifully.

Also I was having blood pressure issues since April. Guess what? NO MORE!

I have used Braggs four years, mixed with honey. Post sleeve 3 years, no problem. I have the Braggs book and believe in it!

I used a cap full in my Water to help with acid reflux and wieght loss pre-op, I've had it a few times post-op to see if it helped with acid reflux and it doesn't.
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I've had Braggs cider vinegar.
I tried the "shot each day" thing for a bottle.
It was pre-op and didn't counteract the bs eating I was doing.
I haven't resumed it post op.
I work with a guy who preaches about cider vinegar like it's the Gospel.
Me......I just rely on it for my homemade BBQ Sauce, lol.

Has anyone used braggs apple cider vinegar after gastric sleeve surgery to aid in digestive problems or help with weight loss? If so, do you take the vinegar before or after meals?

Thank you, TheRealMeisHere, I may have misspoken. Please don't think I'm self-destructive, not at all. I just need to be more pro-active in reaching my goals instead of passive. Not just weight-wise, but in many things.

It's crazy, really. Something for someone else and I'm all over it, above and beyond. Something for me and I procrastinate or let it slide til the cows come home.

Really appreciate everyone who has shared their experiences, advice and photos.
If/when I have it done, I'll share mine also. It really does help. I started imagining what it might look like--what I might look like, how it would feel to not have so much stomach to carry around, to try and work into a pair of pants, etc.
Again, thank you all!

It's entirely my own fault that I'm still so heavy. I'm definitely not a model patient. I feel foolish. It's been nearly 4 years to the day that I had VSG and more than a year since converting to bypass (started gaining). I'm down nearly 150 lbs from where I started, and I'm glad about that, truly, thrilled, just scared of the future (possible regain).
I know it's done and I can't change the past, so I have to stop beating myself up about it. Still, it sits heavily on my heart that I've screwed it up. I hadn't planned to try and have this done, but angry at myself for missing this opportunity. Plus, good grief--why have I sabotaged myself so many times? (singing..l...let it go....let it gooooo)
I talked to the surgeon's office. The nurse actually suggested that I change insurance companies with the new year and get to the good BMI then lie about how long I've been there. With other illnesses and emergency care, our insurance has been good to us, so I don't see us changing, but I found it interesting that they'd suggest it.
As it stands, I'll continue to try losing and keeping it off. I can't guarantee that I'll stay at the same weight for a year, but I can and will get to below 35 BMI and go from there. Hopefully that guideline won't change and when it comes time, I'll meet any other criteria they have. I've told my husband--Guess that means by my 50th birthday (2018), I'll have a new tummy. (I know it isn't, but gosh, 2018 sounds so far away, but goodness, 50!?! Egads!!)

Also, I am a year post op from a VSG. My surgery was 8/31/15. Starting weight 341, current weight 230. My last BMI was 37 or 38. I currently wear a 14/16 from a 28.

Well I am exactly 4 weeks post op from Abdominoplasty and a Brachioplasty. I feel great and plan on returning to work Monday. I could have returned 2 weeks ago. My pain only lasted for about a week. Now, my arms still have a numbness and tingling and that will last for a few months. It's aggravating but not painful or unbearable. I wear under armor long sleeve compression shirts often because it significantly reduces the nerve sensations that I'm feeling.
After about 1 week I was definitely down a pant size. I had a large apron, so it was a very noticeable difference. The surgeon removed 15lbs of skin/fat. After 2 weeks I started taking walks. By the third week I felt like myself, yet still taking it somewhat easy. For instance, I shopped today for about 5 hours. I forgot I had surgery exactly one month ago today.

I have a couple of consults set up for next month. I'm not at goal yet- 40 lbs away- but definitely want the girls back where they belong as well as the TT. Two of my kids were C sections, the first an emergency C, so my scar goes vertical from belly button down.
Even before weight gain, when my tummy was relatively flat, one side of the scar had a droop to it. I'm hoping that will easily be addressed.
At this point, I'm in research mode, so I know what to expect, costs, etc. One in college now, and two headed over the next two years, requires planning financially. My husband couldn't care less if I do these things, but I know I'd catch flack if I dug too far into savings to do so.
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@@JamieLogical I did have muscle repair. he also did Lipo on my back and flanks. I was back at work in 12 days. I have had plenty surgeries and found that the faster i get up the better i am. I had gallbladder surg and was at work in 3 days..... had my lb surg on Tuesday and was back at work on the following Monday.

Two pregnancies so i had to have it done.

@@Googler My suggestion to you is do your research... don't go with just any dr. I wanted a dr that didn't use drains... and that i had 24 access too. Which i did via his personal cell. I could also go to his office anytime with any questions or concerns. I also looked at his other patients before and after. what the scar looked like and i wanted my as low as possible. I also didn't want to come out with a fat cat...or ugly navel...... lol

for me it was worth every penny of the $8800. I took these two weeks ago i think... i was fixing to take a shower and it was steaming up... thats why they look edited...

I think I am the one you are referring to when you say 9 months to return to normal. But you need to understand, I had a complication. That is not a common outcome for people. I had soft tissue swelling in my lower back that made it painful to sit up in a chair for more than a couple of hours at a time and caused massive Fluid retention with physical activity after my extended Tummy Tuck. It did improve over time, but took a full 9 months to be completely resolved. Complications are a risk with ANY surgery, but they are by no means the norm.
Were it not for that specific complication, I would have been back to work full time at 4 weeks post op. Though I would recommend 6 weeks off if you can get it.
For the first 2-3 days, I couldn't care for myself, due to the severe abdominal pain and restricted movement. I needed help getting up and down out of bed, using the restroom, showering, etc. It was about 12 days before I could stand and walk fully upright. I would say it was a good 3 weeks before I could laugh, cough, and sneeze without soreness. My incisions were closed and I was able to shower immediately post-op, but it was a good 6 weeks probably before they were "healed". It was about 2 years before they were faded to the lightest they ever got. I experienced extreme amounts of phantom pain and itching for the first year and it took about three years for that to fully subside. I think all of that is pretty normal and had nothing to do with my complication.
For compression garments, you should be able to get your stage one garments through your surgeon. These will be the most restrictive and you will need to probably wear them for the first 3-4 weeks post-op. Stage 2 garments you may get on your own and they are less restrictive. You will wear these for a few more weeks. And then stage three garments are just normal compression-wear like you would by in a department store. Spanx is a major brand here in the US.
As for clothing sizes, it's really hard to predict. It depends on how much skin you have, how it's distributed, and how much swelling you have. It will be a good 3 months before the swelling is completely gone and you see your true results. But if you have a lot of skin removed, you could drop in clothing sizes immediately, despite the swelling.
I think it is INSANE that they do this as an outpatient procedure in the US. As I mentioned before, I was useless as a newborn for the first three days or so and had a very hard time getting up and moving around for a good while after that. I had my surgery in Mexico and stayed at a recovery house for two full weeks post-op. I am SO grateful to have done it that way. I had nurses to tend to me 24/7 that whole time instead of relying on family members or friends to do truly humiliating personal hygiene tasks for me.

Ricotta Bake (google it - Bariatric ricotta bake) No sugar added applesauce Cottage cheese Scrambled eggs Greek Yogurt Real fruit and vegetable smoothies Tuna (From a can -- it's typically chopped small enough for puree stage) pureed Veggies (steam them first...then they're easy to puree) Refried Beans oatmeal Sweet Potato (mashed) Mashed Cauliflower There's a lot more but that's off the top of my head remembering what I ate at that stage. You can look on this forum and find many more recipes by stage that will be helpful also.
Just make sure you meet your liquid and Protein goals every day!!
Best of luck!

Well I just passed my 6 months out from my WLS. I almost can't believe that it's already been this long. I've lost 82 lbs in that time frame. I am still having trouble seeing the new smaller me. Is anyone else having this issue as well? All those around me, tell me all of the time that I am that I am getting "skinny". Each time I blow it off and say whatever. I am afraid I will never see myself at the weight that others see me. I want to feel like everyone see's me.
For those that are further out, have you had this problem and if so has it gotten better along the way? Anything I can do to help change my mind's eye to see my true self?
Also, here are my current journey pictures.

Thanks everyone
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I was SO sad after my surgery! My coping mechanism, food, was no longer an option. I also had terrible nausea and didn't see an end in sight. It gets better! If it seems to be more than just a temporary funk, tell your doctor! Don't suffer in silence. I'll be praying for you.
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