kjallen

Hi, I am 11 days post op. I’m from Gallatin, TN, but now I live in Atlanta. I was sleeved 10/29/18. I’ve only lost 11 pounds and I’ve been having all kinds of thoughts running through my head. I just hope that I have as much success as all of the stories I’ve read on this site. I guess I just need to trust the process. Good luck on your journey!

The pain is manageable. I made 3 days of hydrocodone stretch 6 days. Since then I used liquid Tylenol day 7 through 9. I am 10 days post op today, no pain meds. Incision pain is not bad until you move in a position that makes the large incision uncomfortable.

Gas pain was by far the worst. Start taking Miralax when you get home. The first BM was a bad experience for me. I should have been taking miralax starting on day 2. Warm showers help.

It gets easier each day. The first 3 days were the most uncomfortable.

I wanted to post this ongoing photo grouping that I've been working on with my sons. It started as a great way to show their aging, but it's also showcasing my weight loss.

2010, pre-band. I was around 370 in this photo.
2014, post-band. I was around 310 in this photo.
2018, post-bypass. I was 237 in this photo.

Just wanted to show everyone that, even just 4 years can change things so drastically, 8 years is even more amazing. Looking forward to going back and taking another update in 4 years, I can't wait to see what 12 years of changes looks like.

So when you are just a handful of days out of surgery and are feeling like nothing is changing. Or when you are stalled out for a week and are super frustrated. Please remember, this is a long term adjustment. Some folks are lucky and do see really fast results, but that doesn't mean anyone that doesn't see fast results is a failure.

Just keep looking at the horizon and taking 1 more step forward. Soon enough, you'll be where you want to be.

Desiring things is normal. And you WILL have them back at some point in the near future. Just stick to what you need to do now, to lay the foundation for later. Do not fall into the whole "I'm failing because I still want XYZ". Trust me, I had moments post-op when my kids were cooking pizza or even just making toast and I'd be in the living room with an oz of some pureed blah almost in tears because of how bad I wanted to eat pizza and toast again. It sucks. Just keep in mind all the reasons why you wanted the surgery and understand that, down the road, you WILL be able to have a lot of things you can't right now. Just stay strong! The journey is rough and has plenty of seemingly impassable moments... but it is doable and so very much worth it!

You’ll be shocked how little you can actually eat if any of those
Foods ever! Just stick with your program and hang on! Results will help motivate you and you can do it! It is not easy though some veterans on here will be militant and act like everyone’s a failure but them. Concentrate on staying alive and moving around. Read: drink Water and move. This short time so soon after surgery will seem like a tiny speck on the timeline of your new life. I’m only 8 weeks out tomorrow and I’m still in the blip of Time phase and it is already easier. Keep going!

Walking and moving is key at this point to alleviate the gas pains. Yes-use the incentive spirometer.

Lots of walking. Did they give you an incentive spirometer? If so, use it! It really does help get those gasses out. A trick I found that worked well for both my WLS's, is to breathe in deeply until you can't, then "press into it" slightly, almost like doing a crunch, this increases the pressure in your abdominal cavity and helps force excess gasses out of the cavity.

Walk as much as you can. Hot showers helped me the most with gas pain. Heating pad helps too but the shower was the best.

I totally understand how you feel. I’m facing the same challenge; therefore, I’m only sharing my journey with my husband. My surgery date is 10/29 also. Wishing the best for you, good luck!!

Congrats sleevemebaby7781
My surgery was approved and I’m scheduled for 10/29/18. I’m 37 with a BMI of 40. I’m looking forward to this journey!!

I’m excited about this journey too! My surgery date is 10/29/18.

-"You've lost some weight, how did you do it?"
-"I had 85% of my stomach removed."

I have been praying about this, and really feel led to do it.
I have been criticized for sharing my faith in Jesus Christ on this website, I truly do respect others feelings because it certainly is their right to believe or not to believe, even God does not force one to believe in Him, it must be of one's own free will.
I feel deeply that there are some on here that would love to be prayed for, before surgery, during surgery and after surgery, so here's what I am willing to do, if I can be of some comfort to anyone, please email me at brotherron98@gmail.com
I assure you that I do have a personal and close relationship with the Lord, he does and always has answered my prayers, and I'm sure as long as I walk in his ways, he will continue to answer them, so please if I can help you in any way, email me.
Sincerely, The Preacher.

Harley66 we are the same height and weight. My surgery is scheduled for 10/29. My goal weight is 150. Good luck on your journey.

Hello ALL!!!!
i had my surgery back in March 26, 2018. my highest weight which 2 weeks before surgery was at 348. I went on a two week liquid diet (UGH) before surgery and on my surgery date i was at 326. Today i am down to 245 pounds just outside of my 4 month mark. i am extremely happy that i had the surgery. i like a lot of people was very scared and even got to the point of cancelling the surgery the night before but here i am now. it is possible. it is a different life style but its a better life style. to anyone out there trying to get the surgery id say DO IT!!! it is very important to have people around you to support you. i had my amazing girlfriend who has helped me sosososo much and also my sister. i couldnt be more grateful.

hi, Im female, 5’3 and about 230
my surgery date is August 6th 2018
my projection weight is 120 and that just seems so low and unreachable since most people’s goal is around 150-140
is that how much i should loose ? or should i set my expectations lower

Hi @Queen Grandma, I am very glad to meet and greet you. And @ kjallen, I remember you from last winter. So happy to see you v back with us. I was one of the people hoping for a February- March surgery, didn't happen. But I do have a definite bonofide date, a better surgeon, an excellent program to be associated with, and at 7AM September 5th At Ohio State University HOSPITAL-WEXNER Medical Center in Columbus Ohio with my surgeon Dr Bradley J Needleman MD I will finally have my RnY bypass surgery. And this little puppy is Happy Happy Happy, that's 5 weeks from today. MNNM ( makes no never mind) when I get up , I'm being a tad lay-abed, I will start my official prediet. I could wait until August 8th with no harm but I'm 72, this may be the "only invitation I get to the prom" . I could have opted for 2, or 3 but upon their recommendation I am going for the longest, they said:
Smaller less swollen liver, almost every obese person has NASH, so a thin,healthy,liver makes a happier surgeon
Surgery its self will go smoother
Surgery will go quicker
Surgery will be less painful and easier to heal from.
Good practice for post-surgery when I will only,be able to eat small amounts at a time.
Am I going to enjoy my prediet? Probably not, this is stucturalized starvation, a Dietary Purgatory. And like the Real Purgatory,it is going to take a LOT OF PRAYER to be set free.
But am I still going to do it? Oh Yeah, living sad, obese and in pain is No Life At All.
And my surgery could be said to be " Elective" well I elect,to live longer, healthier, and fitter. And I believe this to be the tool that will help ME most.
So. I do venture forth, trusting in Tomorrow more than I do today. Just watch, I will become even more WONDERFUL than I am now!

I think I'll be an October Sleever also! I've got 3 phone visits with my nurse left, a second psychologist appointment and my surgeon appointment. I should be done late August. I've been preapproved, so it's really about setting a date at that time. I'm having some struggles thinking about going into the holiday season. Not because of the food restrictions, but more the activities. I also wait ALL year long to cook that blessed turkey dinner. It's just the cooking the dinner. But, I could put that dinner off until xmas and let my daughters/daughters-in-laws do Thanksgiving this year. I can also play it by ear and see what happens.
But, as stated, I believe I'll be an October Sleever. Getting psyched, scared, terrified and I say all that with a big grin on my face. I'm doing this to help control my diabetes.
good luck on your adventure!

I’m looking for October 2018 sleevers to share stories and best practices.

This has been a long journey and I’m so excited to finally get towards the end. I started in the Bariatric program, September 2017. I completed all pre-surgery requirements and was scheduled for surgery 1/26/18. I was going through this journey with my mother in law. She had sleeve surgery 12/14/17 and passed away one week later on 12/21/17. This was a huge setback for me  and at this point my husband was no longer supportive of the surgery. This resulted in my surgery being cancelled.
It has taken time for my family to put the pieces back together. I have had so many ups and downs over the past few months and became discouraged and depressed. My husband is no onboard and has been a big support to me lately. I reentered the bariatric program on 7/26/17. I am tentatively scheduled for surgery on 10/29/18. I have an appointment with a Pulmonologist Monday to be cleared for surgery. I am very happy and am looking forward to a successful journey.

My highest weight ever was 386 But for now, I'll focus on recent history.

Preop diet: Nov 27 -344lbs
Surgery Day: Dec 11- 321lbs
6 months post-op: June 11- 268.6
Total loss so far: 76 pounds
( I don't have a picture of me exactly at 344 pounds but the first two pics are me at 331 lbs- to give you an idea)
Then the last pic is me today,6 months post op @ 268.6lbs

Awesome 👏🏾

I find myself in the same situation. I began this journey 9/5/17, surgery was scheduled for 1/26/18. My mother in law had vsg 12/14/18 and passed away one week later. My husband is now totally against surgery. I have tried to give him time to heal, but he is still not onboard. I have gained 20 lbs since December. I have an appointment with my doctor Thursday to get back in the program. I saw all of that to encourage you to put yourself first. I’ve had to make this decision to put myself first or I will not be good for myself or my family. It is hard not having a support system, I’m just trying to focus on the positivity that it will bring to myself and family.

I find myself in the same situation. I began this journey 9/5/17, surgery was scheduled for 1/26/18. My mother in law had vsg 12/14/18 and passed away one week later. My husband is now totally against surgery. I have tried to give him time to heal, but he is still not onboard. I have gained 20 lbs since December. I have an appointment with my doctor Thursday to get back in the program. I saw all of that to encourage you to put yourself first. I’ve had to make this decision to put myself first or I will not be good for myself or my family. It is hard not having a support system, I’m just trying to focus on the positivity that it will bring to myself and family.

5 days post op and I went for info session 6 years ago! My husband was totally against surgery! So I waited. Now I'm 62, have diabetic neuropathy in my feet, can barely do more than two things in a day - like laundry and grocery shopping. Desk job made it even worse. Got turned down for long term care insurance and am taking care of my 90 year old parents! I finally said, enough! I would rather have this surgery - my very last resort- than have toes amputated. My Dad had open heart surgery in April 2017 and I spent a lot of time in the hospital. I saw it all and knew I didn't want to end up with major problems! I didn't want to be the person that it took 5 people to get me into an ambulance ! I didn't want to keep asking for seat belt extenders on a plane. I wanted to play with my grandkids. I couldn't do anything for anyone else until I took care of me!! You have to do this!! No matter what!

I am a secret sleever, I only told a few friends and my doctors (one of whom is a very good friend of mine). I won't get into all my reasons why, but I just decided to keep it to myself.
I always knew that when I started dating, I would have to decide when I was serious enough about someone to tell them. It's been 9 months and a lot of bad dates, but I met someone in October and he is incredible. I knew right away he was a keeper, and I pretty much dreaded the "so I've got this thing to tell you" conversation. I don't know if I just thought he would be scared off by the idea of meals always revolving around my restrictions, or that he would think I was a lazy failed dieter who took the easy way out, or if he'd see me as someone who was sick or something. But I finally told him the reason I only have a side of veggies or a cup of Soup or a few bites of my dinner when we go out is that I had most of my stomach removed. And of course, he was relieved. He said he noticed me eating like a bird and worried I might have an eating disorder, because he knew I used to be much heavier a year ago and now I'm not. I explained everything to him and that I really don't have much in the way of things I can't eat except bread and drinking milk which both give me tummy issues, so I avoid bread and I've switched to almond milk in my coffee. But other than that, nothing really is different except the amount of food I can eat. He was very accepting. When we eat out together, he confers with me on his order so we can just split his meal. He gets the veggies instead of fries on the side. He's just been lovely. And the first time I stayed over at his house, I tip-toed downstairs in the morning to find that he had bought some almond milk for me to have in my coffee.
I'm so glad I told him and I feel so silly for worrying over what he would think. This was a big step and the first "new" person I've told besides my initial support group of close friends. It was a big deal and I'm very glad it's behind me!