Pam_2-06-2017

I say put your body to the test. If you feel hungry go ahead and eat. Your body is hungry when it needs nutrition. Feed it something good and healthy. If it's still hungry it's in your head. Go for a walk, journal, clean something:-) I'm 6 weeks out and make a conscientious effort to not feed my head junk. I just feel like even one nibble will send me down the wrong path. Good luck!

You are an inspiration. Can't wait to see your progress!

So excited for you Fab!!! You will be amazing!!!

Protein post op. It is a rare person who can get all 60-80g of protein 1-5 days post op. I would say concentrate really hard on staying hydrated first and foremost. Your tummy is swollen and healing. Holding too much of anything down will bring it right back up. The few days after surgery I was sipping water an ounce every 15 minutes with a sporadic ounce or two of protein shake. I premeasured 2 ounce container with protein shake. I started with premier protein shakes but switched to muscle milk (the one with 40g protein) because it is a bit thinner. I am now back to premier because I think it tastes better. Most of all, don't beat yourself up about not getting enough right now. Not everybody can at first but always keep trying. By 2 weeks out I could finally drink 3-4 ounces of shake at a time. Now at 6 weeks out I can drink a whole shake in about 30 minutes. Concentrate on staying hydrated and healing. Be easy on yourself and your new, sensitive, healing tummy. Pretty soon it will become your most valuable tool to life long health. Enjoy the experience!!! Take care

I had those! Ugh...they hurt me. I called them stomach spasms and were less intense when I didn't drink cold things. I drank room temp water and premier protein shakes that whole first week. Warm, clear broth feels good too. Thankfully they pass. I don't have them anymore. Whew! Take care. 6 pounds!!! You rock!!!!!

Yes! I'm going to define my hungry then and now. About two weeks after surgery I felt hungry all the time like Christina describes. Cooking, seeing people eat made me feel hungry. Knowing that I just had 80% of my stomach removed which included severing nerves to my stomach and removing most of my grelin hormone didn't change my hunger feeling. Genuine hunger is the body craving nutrition not the head craving something that tastes good. Because of my new physiology I know it isn't empty stomach hunger because my small tummy doesn't know it's empty. Now my first step to hunger is to add real, good nutrition. If I'm still hungry I'm sure it's my head and I clean something in my house or go for a walk Good luck

Your welcome:-). Not completely my advice. I was in your shoes and on here soaking up as much info as I could. Keep reading it helps to prepare yourself physically and mentally. :-)

I took very little and did way more prep work at home. Hospital bag: Hair brush and ties, toothbrush and paste, cellphone and charger. The hospital provided everything I needed for comfort. I wore really loose comfy clothes there and wore that same comfy clothes home. I bought a pack of plastic 2 oz containers with lids from Costco. At home I had my shakes prepped and in two oz containers. I made up small sf Jell-O shots:-) premeasured 2 oz of water in same containers. The first couple days 2 oz at a time is all you can manage and it's easy to count fluid intake if premeasured. Not to mention wanting to rest and on pain meds. Gas-x was a lifesaver. My surgeon had me on an acid reflux bed for two weeks (Nexium) and it helped tremendously. I cleaned the heck out of my house, prepackaged my son's lunches for school for a week, and ordered everyone to prepare to be on their own for dinner (hubby stepped up to the plate). All that prep was worth it. My first week home was comfortable and I could concentrate on my recovery. Good luck.

I feel your pain. I love to create beautiful meals in the kitchen. As my fam ate I would look down at my plate of delicious mush with a bit of sadness. I can only say this experience is a journey with numerous phases. I continue to look with longing at the next phase. I actually counted the days like a Christmas countdown. Yesterday ay my 6 week check I got the go ahead to eat normal. Yay!! It was a long 6 weeks. Good luck

I just read your entire thread. What an amazing and difficult journey. I look forward to reading all of your continued successes. Your thread has to be an inspiration to many who are just beginning the process to approval. Congratulations on being on the right side of good health and future amazing family vacations! Take care

Yay! So proud of you! The journey to approval is really tough. Congratulations!

LadyFurBall you are amazing! What a wonderful perspective. Thank you so much for sharing it.

I finally broke through my stall. My husband was amazed that you could cut out 80 percent of my tummy and I would not lose weight:-). Our bodies are designed to hang onto resources during famine. 600-800 calories a day is famine. It will adjust to this new way of eating and break through. The scale was 8/10th of a pound down this morning after gaining and losing the same pound for a week. Keep doing it right. This first stall won't last long.

Just visited with my surgeon today. I was in a week long stall so I thought I was gonna go in there and hear some kind of reprimand that I hadn't lost enough weight! Felt like I was going to the principal's office:-). Well, not so. They made me feel like I just broke through the banner on the football field. I was surprised how wonderful it felt to have people who do this every day so excited and proud of me. -29 pounds in 6 weeks. I know I'm not the best but they sure made me feel like it. I have 52 lbs more to lose. Since I feel great with no complications I was given more advice than medical care. My surgeon told me that family and friends care about me and begin to make comments about my weight loss. Things like, "You've lost too much weight, you need to stop." Or "You're too skinny, you need to put on a few pounds." He said, they're not used to seeing me at a healthy weight and it can be a little scary for them. They're not intentionally sabotaging me but it can. He used an example. If someone you love kept telling you that your haircut does not flatter your face how long would it take you to get your hair in a new cut? Or put you at you're ideal weight in a room with 10 strangers and every one of them will say you look healthy. His advice. I am to listen to one person about my weight then he pointed at himself and said "me". I almost wanted to cry at his sincerity. So why share here? Because it's good advice for all of us. When it comes to your health your Surgeon is the best one to tell you what your healthy weight is. Not you're mm, sister, brother or spouse. Go to your follow up appointments even if it feels like you're going to the principal's office. Take care.

Resha how are you doing? Better, I hope?

How many carbs are you eating? I try to stay below 30 and only healthy carbs. I use MyFitnessPal to track what I eat. That way I can see my protein and carb take. Simple carbs make you hungry before WLS and after. When I started this journey I committed to giving up all sugar and grains. I have zero hunger. I've learned to cook a new way and I save tons of money on food. If you get a chance check out "The Perfect Human Diet". It's a documentary on Hulu. Netflix may have it also. Good luck

Yay! I've seen all your encouraging posts on here recently! Not only will you be fabulous for your health you will be a fabulous example of success! Congratulations! It's completely normal to be nervous all the way up and until they put some happy juice in your IV:-). Stand strong in your conviction for good health. I have regretted not being able to chow a burger or pizza but I've never regretted making this life altering change. My surgery was over 6 weeks ago and I'm down 30 lbs. my new, tiny tummy is my life saver as far as I'm concerned. You will do great!

Slightly86 is absolutely right. Thank you for the candor. Same happened to me my first bm after surgery. I used miralax but also drank smooth moves tea. The combination of med, tea and warm liquids got things going but it really hurt. Stay hydrated. No problems now. I go about every 3rd day. Pre surgery it was everyday.

I am never allowed to chew gum again:-(. During the liquid phase I chewed sugar free popsicles. It was somewhat satisfying. Weird as it may sound I got all chewable vitamins and savored the ones that tasted good. Like I was chewing on candy. Lol. Now that I can chew and swallow tablets I've given up my hankering for chewable vitamins.

I left the hospital with more than I took:-). I anticipated staying one night. So I wore comfy clothes and brought my phone and charger, toothbrush and hair brush. That's it. I had everything I needed at home and the hospital staff provided me everything I needed there. Warm blankets, extra pillows, pain meds (ha!). My husband brought me an sweater when he picked me up. I took the plastic wash bin (for my canning), 4 pair of sticky socks (my son loves them). Lol Home is where I wanted to be so I decided I'd get out of there quick:-) I also got a gift bag from my NUT.

Yes! I could not drink anything cold for about 2 weeks. Kept my premier protein shakes on the counter. I may have been able to tolerate cold sooner but I wasn't taking any chances. Forgot my water one day on a drive to town and sipped my son's cold drink and it went down easy. Lots of these issues resolve themselves. Good luck

Hi Walter, Me thinks doth worry too much:-). If I understand correctly you have not been evaluated to determine whether you have a hernia yet are very concerned that you will. The potential for two surgeries is a game changer to getting WLS. If your surgeon recommends two surgeries I recommend getting a second opinion. Many people have the repair and sleeve during the same surgery. You are right that WLS requires a huge commitment and you should self evaluate whether or not this is right for you, irregardless of the decision your wife made. Gather all the facts before conclusions. Speculation or "what ifs" get nothing done but stress you out. Take care

I take a regular multivitamin. I also take biotin, calcium citrate, omega 3 and b-12. None of them are bariatric and all ok with my surgeon.

Week 5 I came to a screeching halt. Haven't lost anything all of week 6. I weigh once a week so it was a bit of a shock. Thankful for this support board and it gives me confidence that I'll move past yet another phase in my journey.

I agree that spacing your pills will help. You are so early out that your tummy is swollen and not nearly ready to hold to full capacity. I thought that I was doing something wrong also. At one week out I couldn't get my protein or my water all in. Have since learned that this is normal but keep trying. You won't be completely officially healed until 6 months out. I am 6 weeks out and can now easily get all my protein in. I'm still working on getting more water but I am plenty hydrated with what I am getting now so I don't beat myself up about it. I will get there though:-) Congratulations on your new tiny tummy. These first weeks are tough but you can do it. Take care