The World In My Eyes

I'm excited for this new chapter in my life and also a little sad because I know it will be a long time before I get to really smash some bomb ass food!! Lol. Oh, well I guess I should be more focused on the actual surgery right? Well, I'm not really nervous, more emotional in a happy sense. My family will be right by my side and I chose a great surgeon. I have full faith in my nursing team and also in GOD so I know I will be alright.
I would like to follow you guys progress & also find some sleeve buddies for support vice versa. If anyone is on IG, drop your @ name so I can follow you & we can go through this journey together!
Wooooohooooo!!!!

I was wholly unprepared for the psychological aspects of the journey to bariatric surgery so I sit down to write this in the hopes that you might not make the same mistake that I did in taking this so lightly. When I first started out, I thought this would be similar to the journeys of the other weight loss attempts in my life so I totally discounted the psychology. In fact, I did not even want to think about matters related to the mind. It was the pre-op diet that forced me to take a very long and deep-seated look at the exact cause of my obesity; food is love, relief from clinical depression, and medicine. The realization hit me a week and a half into this pre-op diet that I am no longer going to be able to use the medicine that worked so well. I am a survivor of almost twenty years of verbal and psychological abuse from peers, teachers, parents, and co-workers. Food was what was simultaneous keeping me from suicide and basically killing me. If ever more morbid a paradox existed, I am at a loss for thinking of any. Even the times when I was thin, I always knew if things went downhill, food was merely walking distance away. I have had a range of emotions from anger and hatred towards those whom abused me, to hope and forgiveness.
I write this a day and a half before my surgery as I go through a treasure trove of old digital photos of me in different stages of my life. I also went through and organized all of my music. It was something that necessarily had to be done because it's an important part of closure that I never did. I looked at the albums of photos with the two women whom ever had the courage to love me at one point in time or another. I kept them because I was grasping at straws to keep from going over a cliff. I hoped that one day one of them might be a part of my life again. However both are married now, and hindsight being 20/20, they would not be ideal mates for me nor I for them. I looked back on those photos with a mixture of pride, happiness, and sadness. Purging the photos gave me the closure that I needed. Love was possible twice, it will be possible again. I want to stop the cycle of self-loathing. I am not going into the operating room out of self-disgust, I am going out of self-compassion.

Remember Daylany, our God is an awesome God and you are resting safe in the palm of His Hand!!!

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The three most important elements after surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.
Weight loss is achieved after surgery through meal volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over time increase the volume of your meals. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as Protein Shakes for awhile.
Protein Requirement
75-90 grams of protein per day
Your daily protein requirement is met by a combination of the amount of protein you obtain from food combined with the amount of protein from protein supplements (protein shakes, protein bars).
There are many different types of formulations on protein shakes. I would recommend that you keep experimenting until you find one that you can tolerate. You don't have to like it, just tolerate it. I used Muscle Milk Light (Vanilla Creme) powder blended with Water and a half a banana. That worked for me. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, you might try premixed Isopure.
Without sufficient protein, your body will scavenge protein from other areas of your body, such as your muscles. Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease known as protein caloric malnutrition. Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, Hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediate post op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions.
Fluid Requirement
64-80 ounces of fluids per day
It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. So I experimented. sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink Bai which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate hot drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good.
The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your Vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the protein shakes. It is the water component of the Soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and Decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day.
Vitamin Requirement
Three Flintstone's complete chewable Multivitamins daily (or equivalent)
1200 to 1500 mg. calcium citrate daily
500 to 1000 micrograms sublingual B12 weekly or 1000 mcg. IM injection once monthly.
100 mg. Thiamine (Vitamin B1) weekly.
It is important to put a 2 hour separation between the vitamins that contain Iron and those that contain Calcium. I was told not to use gummy vitamins because they are not absorbed properly nor to use any time release vitamins.

I was just thinking about what I posted and I feel it needs to be said that yesterday was terrible. It was painful and I was nauseous and so sleepy my eyes would roll into the back of my head. Thought this needed to be said because this surgery is no joke and u will be in pain and should take this decision seriously.

Second day in hospital and I feel great!!! The staff here are amazing and I just woke up from the best sleep. Thanks for your support

Putting a cool damp wash cloth over them helped me a bit.

7 months and 70+ lbs down. I'm very happy my first goal is normal weight 30 lbs to go.

I'm so happy

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I was pleasantly surprised to be discharged early. My surgeon said I was doing really well so there was no need to keep me in the hospital. For the next 2 weeks or so, I am still going to take Metformin and Losartin (blood pressure.) I will only have Metformin taken away if I have either two consecutive readings under 70 or reduced if two lows happen in one week. My blood sugar readings are actually really good right now without Metformin but they want to see what happens once I introduce Protein Shakes and cream Soups on Thursday. So far, so good - no nausea and the Clear Liquids are going down smoothly. Slow sips. They also gave me this funky breathing aparatus that I am supposed to use several times a day. It measures the volume of air that I am able to draw in - LOL! I am able to peg the indicator. Still, they want me doing it. Despite the small setback this morning of drinking a little too quickly, I feel tired but upbeat.

I had my surgery yesterday. I woke up after surgery so nauseous and in pain. I try heaved once. My throat is also bloody and swollen. My Dr. this morning told me when I woke up from surgery I was trying to rip the tube out of my mouth/throat, so I probably hurt myself. I'm doing better today. Painful on the left side of my abdomen, but I'm able to get up and walk. It took hours for my bladder to wake up yesterday. I couldn't pee, but am doing fine now.

Hi all! Update here. No catheter while in hospital and made it home around 3. I’m surprised how fast the day went. Around 8am we drank the Fluid in front of the X-ray and upon passing had to drink 8 one ounce glasses of fluid. I was so thirsty that the first 4 (all water) went down pretty fast (drank 4 in 10 min). I was surprised by the size of sip I could take without experiencing pain. It was more than I had expected. The second 4 cups took a little longer (30 min) and included juice and broth. Water was by far the easiest to drink.

After that I felt bloated and went for a walk followed by a short nap. They also gave me some Pepcid to help with acid. At 1130 they got us started on stage 2 diet and we had a choice of cottage cheese or tuna. I was a bit scared but managed to eat half cup of the cottage cheese. Still felt bloated and uncomfortable. There was a group of 8-10 of us and most of us were discharged between 1-2.

When I got home I took a 15 min walk then slept. I’ve felt super bloated all day since drinking on my own. I am burping ALL THE TIME. I took some of the one ounce hospital cups and have been using those to help drink. I can finish one in 3 sips with no pain but need to wait a few min before having another. Occasionally I’ll have a painful wave of gas but mostly just feel bloated and uncomfortable. Took 2 strips of gas-x, one when I first got home and one later when I was trying to drink broth around 7pm. Tomorrow I plan to do lots of walking so hopefully that will help. Taking it one day at a time!

Love this video the title is deceptive.
Sleeve stretching is rare. Some revisions have been done. I feel for anyone who has had any type of complication.
The term "stretched sleeve" misused by many patients to describe the normal volume progression. Your first months healing from surgery your restriction is tight. Further out from surgery you can hold more volume. (volume will be different for each patient)
one month 3 bites six months 3 to 4 oz Year 1/2 a plate 5 to 10 years full plate of food.

Post by @sharonintx https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/411809-i-do-not-understand-no-restriction-left/?tab=comments#comment-4606368
Another post by @Creekimp13
https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/411815-photo-of-stretched-sleeve/

For those of you coughing or sneezing. The same applies to this surgery as a hysterectomy... put a pillow over your stomach. Idk why it helps but it does!

5:30 AM, baby, that's when I report for surgery -- woohoo! I am a jumble of nerves, excitement, and impatience, because mostly, I just want this done so I can start the next phase of my life.

I'm 5 days out from surgery and feeling pretty good now, pretty much this was the progression to getting there.
Day 1: Surgery went fine, but for me I absolutely hated the 14 hours between waking up in recovery and discharge. Things were deeply uncomfortable between the surgery and not being allowed to sleep (1am, 3am, 4am, and 5am wakeups didn't help).
Day 2: I had a long car ride home if you expect this, make sure you are topped off on the Tylenol II for the ride. Pretty much needed to make sure that I was taking my pain meds every 4 hours.
Day 3: Pain was more manageable and drinking was easier (getting down the Protein Shake was tough though), cut the Tylenol II to first thing in the morning and right before bed (with some Chew-able Tylenol when needed).
Day 4: Phased out the prescription pain meds and feeling much better. Weird gut feelings (I'm assuming are gas, but I don't really have a frame of reference).
Day 5: Feeling pretty good starting to feel a little hungry.

It will pass - give it time. I was frustrated that I couldn't chug a bottle of Water to catch up to my hydration goals, but it just takes time to get used to taking smaller sips over time.
DO NOT PUSH to get back to big chugs - you will just stretch yourself back out again, negating the surgery you just had.
I cannot eat a whole sandwich (just over 3 months out), but I don't care anymore. I used to worry about that, now I love the fact that I don't eat it all. I eat a couple bites with the bread, then pick out the Proteins and eat as much of it as I can. I love that I have a few chips with a sandwich now to get the crunch...but I cannot eat a whole bag with a meal.
The fact that every week I take a new photo, and see my body changing - that is my motivation! Every day I find myself feeling my arms, legs, neck or some part of my body and finding I can feel bones and structure to my body that I never have felt in my life. I can see definition in my cheek bones now, shoulder blades, etc. I used to be into body building in my college years, and was at 2-5% bodyfat, but at over 300lbs. I was a hulk, and loved that look then...but it is different now. I don't want that look, because I love the fact I can go into a normal store, and buy normal size clothes...and I couldn't even dream of that 3 months ago. Well slap my ass and call me Sally - I will take that any day!
I too had days of regret and thinking to myself, **** I could have eaten less and not had all this pain - yeah right. I have been kidding myself for years with that one.
It just takes time, and over that time, whether you want to or not, you will be losing weight. Take weekly photos and measure yourself weekly like I do. You will be SHOCKED at the difference. It is not that noticeable trying to look day by day, but go a week or a month and you will be motivated.

Oh dear sweet baby jesus I've loved reading this thread! Most especially @abefroman329 the sausage king's input!
I am SO immature! ROFLMAO!

I had my sleeve November. In January started vomiting first a little than a lot. Than everything I ate and drank came up faster than in went down. Why because it was not going down my stomach torsioned and went into my chest. Took one hospital a week to figure it out and than that sent me to the Hospital who did my surgery. Took 3 surgeons to get it out of my chest my lung collapsed and I woke up with a huge fat lip from where I bit through it during surgery. Hernia was repaired again this time they say it ain't going anywhere. Pray their right. Have not lost any weight in 3 weeks but I'm so weak not moving around much. Was in the Hospital a total of 3 weeks.

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I had a hernia repaired when i went in for my sleeve. Didn’t even know I had it till after the surgery was over. I didn’t really have any pain after surgery. 2 years after my sleeve and hernia surgery my gall bladder started acting up. I had to drink this chalk stuff for them to look at my stomach and they found another hernia right where they had repaired the first. Had my gall bladder and the hernia repaired again. I had Intense pain like you’re describing the 2nd time around. It took about a month to settle down. Less than 2 yrs out from the 2nd hernia repair i have started having pretty significant acid reflux. I went Monday to see my surgeon and had to drink the chalk drink so they could look at my stomach to determine if something is wrong. Guess what, I have yet another hernia in basically the same spot and now my surgeon says I may have to have a gastric bypass done because I keep getting hernias.

Agreed...C section is MUCH worse.
I took as little pain meds as the nurses would allow. Told them I didn't want any, but they talked me into a couple shots. One soon after surgery, and one before going to sleep that night. Next day I was off them:) (Did take over the counter liquid Tylenol for a couple of days)
C section was a bear for me.
Sleeve was cake. I've had dental work that was much worse pain wise.
Experiences will vary, though. I've never experienced anyone's pain but my own...so how other people handle and experience pain is very individual.

If you are constantly getting some type of Protein in, and Fiber as well, you should not experience hunger. I made sure that every 2 hours or so, I was eating or drinking something. I never got hungry. Before cooking meals, I had a Protein Shake. I then would not be hungry when dinner or Breakfast (on weekends) was ready.
I did a 2 week liquid diet even though I only had to do 1 week. I lost 25 pounds during this time, because I was determined to make it work. My advice would be to get your mind right. This is for you, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You've just got to look for it. We've tried and failed at every diet we've ever tried our entire lives. This tool is worth the trouble and hardships, because it tips the balance in our favor.
It may sound crazy, but self-talk works wonders. Everyday, wake up and look into the mirror. Tell yourself that you are beautiful...That you will work hard to achieve your goals that day.....That you are worth happiness.....That you are going to SUCCEED!
It will happen for you. Good luck on your journey!!

Can we just take a moment of honor and bend a knee for the benevolent beauty and heavenly taste of Celestial Seasons' fruit Tea Sampler--specifically the cup of hot blueberry tea I'm presently savoring?
kthnx