magpie26

by First one around 4/2/18. 292.9 Surgery day 4/17/18 SW: 282 Second picture 5/2/18 -15 days post op CW: 268

I think my surgeon told me a weight that was attainable. I took two weights in my head and those are it. I have been as small as 160s (barely and for a short time) but I've been there when I was younger so I know it's possible. I'm 5'5" my hw was 302, had my surgery on 4/17/18 weighed 292.9 on 4/2/18. Yesterday I weighed 269. But I'm 2 weeks out. Anyways here's my goals, I will ALWAYS be overweight by medical standards Female- 38 years old HW: 302 Last dr. Weight 292.9 Surgery weight- 283 CW: 268 GW 1: 180 GW 2: 160 Healthy weight/BMI: 143 With my bone and body structure I would look like I was dying at 143, even 153. I got sick was in the hospital and was down in the 160s and loooked good but sort of sickly and gaunt. So I guess long story short. I desperately want to be under 200 pounds, THATS my goal!! I want to feel and look good. The numbers are numbers. I think BMI is BS.

That's just the beginning post-op phase while your stomach is healing. I'm 16 days post op now and it takes me 30-40 minutes to finish a Greek yogurt, my hospital roommate said the same thing yesterday while we were both eating a yogurt. I'm on blended foods phase. My dietician said by next week I will be able to fit more a little faster and comfortably. So it varies from your post op timeline. I am still figuring out how to eat and drink properly, seems easy, not always. But last night I had 3 oz of chicken (over like an hour) green beans (another 20?) and a tsp of mashed potato. Too much. They say average is 3-5 ounces when healed. I hope for 4 I

I know of 2 people in my support group here in Vermont that are Sleevers and are 3 years post op and they dump. But they say it's like a bypass person's dumping but not as severe, and it's all about the sugar and fat content. So it's not typical for sleeves but it does happen. I hope it doesn't happen to me, BUT if it kept me away from the food that was really tempting. But I have tools, I have willpower, and I (barely post op) still have pain and bright red incision marks to remind me of good choices.

It took me a year and a half to finally get my surgery, I was scared to lose the foods I love. I'm not addicted to food, I am just if I want something I will eat it, if it's bad, meh! But I have the support of a 12 year bypass veteran (who, ps can eat candy now and cake but obviously just a bite or 2) and then I found this site which REALLY helped! I'm 13 days post op today, I have gotten a lot of help and support and suggestions here. I have a sleeve not a bypass so mom is helpful but our surgeries are different. I agree with the caffeine. Thankfully I am not a caffeine person and i stopped drinking soda six months ago. I was probably the only jerk that took forever to quit smoking and they thought I quit but I didn't until a month or so prior surgery, thank God they didn't test me, but i vow never to pick that up again, as I have changed my life completely. Surgery is surgery. Some people seriously bounce back in like 4 days, there was a woman in my support group and I now want to smack her because she was so ugh! Some take a bit longer. Like someone else said. Walk. And get up as soon as possible after surgery and walk the halls, you will hurt some, but you will heal faster AND you may fart which you will really like at the time lol!! I didn't care who, what or where I did that! Gas from surgery can be a bugger.

People knew I was thinking about surgery, but I didn't go on Facebook about it directly and said "I'm having surgery and it's this day" or that I have had the surgery. Not so much about the people asking how much weight I lost, the negative a$$ people (ok, my mom's family mostly) who have an opinion on why or how you could've done things differently. I say that because my mom had a bypass and she had a lot of nasty stuff said or just dumb crap said. Believe me, I have thick skin, but I'm focused on me and my support network now. When I see people later and they ask me how much I lost, I'll say "a lot" or "a Backstreet Boy"

Congrats on the weight loss! Also you seem to be smaller than some bariatric patients right now, I think it's a bit harder to get more weight off the smaller you are, or at least that is what I heard, call it a rumor or whatever I don't know the validity of it.

I ran it through my mind and I don't know what a vcld is...a liquid diet? I had to do a full liquid pre op for 2 weeks and I know I went from 292 to 279 in like 11 days, then I had a bagel, I cheated, I was eating like 600 calories a day like you. I KNOW bagels are not good, I know they are full of carbs and I New better. But they were a favorite, and I wasn't in the mindset that I could never have them anymore but more like, what is the point of having them after surgery. So I ate one, not even slathered with cream cheese! I was good for the next 3 days! My weight stuck at 283 (282.something) everyday! I walked, I hydrated, I ate properly. Ugh. Surgery day- 282 point something Water under the bridge I guess, 13 days post op.

Ok, I'm 12 days post op. My pain is pretty controlled and ok, except for that one lower right spot, maybe you all know THE spot. The place they pull out that old stomach lol! So the pain is ok until six o'clock pm on and is brutal getting into bed that I literally cry out and cry. I really don't think I'm overdoing it, I'm puttering around only maybe an hour total a day and I'm not driving because it still hurts to drive and I got really sick today (woozy, nauseous) when attempting to drive 15 miles into "the big city". So I guess I'm asking if anyone has any ideas of any pain relief other than Tylenol (already doing that) and I'm not taking and out of my heavy duty pain killers and don't want those. I can't find anything useful on Google. Thanks!

I make my own (or should say made and froze ) my own cream soups and they were like heaven compared to canned. There's a bariatric app that I like that has some recipes and one was for broccoli soup. But yes, I hate everything too. I like the more fun flavors of light Greek yogurt like cheesecake and I mix in a little of my cabot whey power for more protein but it's still sweet. My problem is that I AM still hungry after surgery. I think it may be going away but I have hunger pangs when I shouldn't. I can have eggs and blended stuff like tomorrow but I have snuck eggs and blended chicken. Ok, 1 egg.

I started the process in 8/16. Psych evaluation a week later,".It took a while to meet with the surgeon that put me into October. Endoscopy in November, another appointment in December. Didn't see my PA until maybe march? Then April, June, august. My weight loss was slow, partly because I didn't give 100% and wasn't ready to give up certain things. Anyway, got my act together, got approved by the surgeon put in for insurance and nothing....I have an $11000 deductible that was almost met and this was August. I waited and waited and I SHOULD have called, but I didn't. I have hope. I gained a little back and then FIVE MONTHS LATER I get the letter that I'm approved (in February when my deductible had re-set) finished my one support group, got my date in march- 4/17/18 @ 10 AM. Year and a half out would've been a year or less if I didn't mess up or cancel and the insurance went through sooner, oh well, lesson learned. I'm sleeved now- 12 days out and grateful for it!

Good luck!! Don't forget to get up and walk!

The only thing I hear about bands nowadays is from the people who had them and are now getting the sleeve or rarely a bypass. Work for awhile but everyone in my groups had gained it all back or had terrible experiences with them. My clinic does 98% sleeves

I was told to bring mine, I "forgot" it. I knew I wouldn't sleep anyway and just no. The respitory therapist came I said nope, all good. Mine is really mild too. In hindsight I should've brought mine as I was Very bradycardic, dipping into 20s sometimes but mostly 30-low 40s. It probably would've messed up the oxygen and besides I didn't sleep with those alarms going off every ten seconds. I was oxygen from 3 pm until 5 am

I have been using a heating pad, not with moist heat though because the steri-strips came off that incision (like they were supposed to) but part of the wound looks/..icky to me, its healing but I don't want the scabby part to open it's weird looking. Luckily my sister and my aunt and other aunt and best friend are all nurses, they said the wound isn't infected or anything, just to be careful of it but at this stage no bandage. Sooo..a heat yes, but not moist as of yet. See the surgeon Tuesday, but the pain is really nasty at night

Everyone swears by premier shakes, they're like $7 for 4 at walmart. I ordered some, supposedly they're not chalky tasting and 30 grams of protein. I did high protein slim fast forever and I'm sick of it (I had to do 14 day full liquids pre-op diet) I do like pure protein powder, I use 12 oz fairlife milk (more protein) and I add a scoop of Cabot whey powder. It's 55 grams of protein total, higher in calories with all the added stuff but I basically make it 2 servings. Pure protein has some sugar but 25 protein.

You're making an awesome choice! I wasn't nervous until peop people asked me if I was nervous lol! Worst part is the heprin shot, jk that's just annoying. My hospital let me bring in my phone and ear buds for music for before you go to sleep. Remember to get up and walk after your surgery, you won't want to but you will heal faster I swear! 8 days post op got in the scale, 284.9 to - 277 . It's worth it. 12 days - 272. Note- I was 292.9 twenty-five days ago, and was 292 home from hospital. Don't weigh yourself for at LEAST a week lol! IV fluids pack on the pounds. seriously, I'm only 12 days post op but if I could hold the band of every nervous bari patient, I would. You'll do great! Everyone here is great

Omg, can we be best friends lol?! RED WEDDING!! I got 2 of those shots, one in the leg, one in the belly the day I went home. I'm currently 12 days post op now I finally was able to sleep maybe day 3 in 4 hour stretches with a weird pillow nest/jungle. After 3 PM my pain in my "big" incision (I'm sure everyone knows the one) is horrible and I literally cry when I get in bed, effing Tylenol. I'm so glad you're feeling better! I honestly would cut your protein drinks with milk (I did for a bit) and wait 2 weeks for vitamins, it's standard in bari world. Most places/people I've talked to it's 4 days clear liquids, then 10 full liquids then 2 weeks (maybe more) blended diet then soft food, vitamins added at 2 weeks post op. All modified as tolerated. Message me anytime, I can always use a buddy too, especially a GoT fan, if you're a Walking Dead fan we are seriously bffs lol. And my staple scars look like zombie bites

I am only THREE days away to go to stage 3, blendeds. BUT I have been on liquids since April 2! That is 25 days! Anyway, a gastric bypass friend of mine said "Oh my surgeon let me have a little mashed potato and blended chicken where you are now! It won't hurt!" I'm desperate to chew something . I have in, happily and willingly thinking that 3 days can't possibly make that big of a difference. WRONG! I thought I learned my lesson from another post. New stomach said "NO THANK YOU!!! LESSON LEARNED . I didn't overeat, I wasn't ready. Baby steps. So all you post op people, I hope you read this before you rush to stage 3. You may not even be prepared for 3 when it comes, I was just so sick of full liquids, I'm going to be much more conscious and follow my journey like l said I would

Oh if you didn't get it...that chicken came right back up.

Omg the gurgling noises for me! Sometimes I open my mouth and it sounds like I have pop rocks in there

I'm officially 10 days post-op and I totally agree with what everyone is saying. I'm kind of sensitive to narcotic pain meds and anesthesia. I was allowed to take my Ambien at home so that helped a lot with sleep at night. Plus sleep is important to heal that new stomach. And only consuming like 500 calories or less can make you super tired. I'm surprised you're on vitamins though? I guess all docs are different but I have to hold off for 2 weeks for my "weird" ones and start a children's chewable next week. my pain was terrible for a week, I took every dose of oxycodone they gave me and I am really very good with pain normally. I'm still in pain but try to avoid any pain meds as I feel like Tylenol does squat. My pain is in the lower bottom right area, where they pulled out that old stomach! And some near my (former) drain site. I also have zombie bites all over from the metal staples lol. Proves I'm a true HARDCORE walking dead fan! I think the fourth of fifth day I final stopped crying trying to get in or out of bed. Last few nights I blubber quietly when I go to bed at night because i sleep on my right side. At least the Ambien kicks in quick.

Oh no! I had my sleeve the day before and have good luck so far, except I do have some pretty severe (off and on, mostly at night or with a lot of movement) pain in my lower right belly area, but I think we all have/had that from where they removed our old stomach. I did get annoyed at my first post op visit when that was brushed off as well as my mention of something for the pain. I made it clear i wasn't looking for opiates, just something stronger than Tylenol! Ugh. I hate when they don't listen! I pray for you to have a speedy and nearly painless recovery! This first month sucks.

I'm surprised your doc didn't put you on a PPI from day one post op? That is like standard procedure for 3 months. Usually its Omeprozole and sadly, that does take a few days to take its full effect. I've been on it for awhile for a medication that gives me wicked heartburn and I definitely know if I miss doses. I also supplemented with mylanta liquid kind (you can ask your doc) for gas and heartburn. Prop up with extra pillows. Don't lay down after eating or drinking (my doc says a 1/2 hour). Artificial sweeteners like Crystal light, etc just do a number on me and bother my stomach and give me heartburn, if I NEED flavor I dilute fruit juice but I don't like juice much. Sugar free in general upsets my stomach. I make jello but do half regular, half sugar free mixed together, calories are few in a few tablespoons. Oh 30 minutes heartburn meds with no good or anything else. That's my "journey" but I can tolerate water. I highly recommend getting a zofran script if you can't keep things down or are very nauseous, or the scolpomine patch as I was very nauseous

The one thing I've noticed (and I'm a newbie post -op but...) Is since the mandatory full liquid diets I've been on (we have 2 trial runs and then the BIG pre-op liquid diet one for 14 days before surgery) I now look at everything and check fruits and other things in my calorie king book (I did find another one that has protein in it) my kid put 2 bananas in her smoothie, that was 60 carbs! Her "healthy" smoothie was 450+ calories (bananas!) Like 80 carbs barely any fiber and 10 protein. I wasn't lecturing, because awhile back that would seem good to me. In 3 days I (FINALLY!!) start my blended diet. My protein requirement is 70 grams minimum. It's ok, I can get 55-65 on full liquids now 9 days pre-op. 64 oz liquid. 1 c fruits, 1 c veggies, startch. It seems daunting. At 8 weeks post-op I will be going to a wedding. I'll be damned if I don't have a bite of cake. I wish I could have a glass of wine, but I think it's too early. oh and cheat days...did you do them before? I did. I went to My weight watchers meeting on Saturdays, then I would go through McDonald's drive through right after (I did only get a happy meal for my cheat) THEN i shopped for healthy food. But I would fall off the wagon hard and would not get back on until I gain the weight back plus more. I am basically paying $14000 out of pocket for this, I'm sick of wasting money this will work, get support, or find it here. I weighed 302 at highest. My last weigh in before surgery was 292.9,(4/2/18) surgery was 4/17/18 my current weight TODAY is 272.2 - 20.7 pounds lost in 24 days. I'm glad I've made the choice.