Tracy1978

I ended up sick a few weeks ago and threw up for a couple of days. I've noticed since then I get this occasional spasm-like feeling in my stomach. I can literally see it jerk. It's almost like my stomach gets hiccups. It can last a few minutes to maybe a half hour then goes away. Its happened a good half dozen times. Its not painful just odd. My illness may not of had anything to do with it, but I worried with the act of vomiting maybe I pulled something or god forbid, damaged something. Have any of you ever experienced this?

I know how you feel. I lose in weird increments. I try ask myself when the last time was I actually lost weight. Ten pounds doesn't sound like a lot but try carrying a ten pound bag of potatoes with you all day. Plus, your body is in shock - you have really been through an ordeal. Be good to yourself. I promise your body will catch up eventually. It just needs time to get settled after such a major procedure. You got this and everything will be great!!!!

I was forced to buy about 200 worth of food from my surgeon's office. I ended up throwing most of it away. Maybe its just me but I found the soups and shakes to be gritty and bland. Huge waste of money in my opinion. If I were you, I would buy a container of protein powder and add it to homemade soups.

I totally understand what you mean. I felt like people would be looking at me in the wedding pics like, "Daaaannnnnng that chick is Huuuuuuge! and not at my beautiful niece on the best day of her life.

My Niece and her fiance announced their engagement a year ago this month. At the time, I had only been to one diet visit with the clinic I went to for surgery and I was still debating if I wanted to have the procedure done. A month after their announcement, she asked me to be her maid of honor. But inside I was already dreading it. At that time, I had maybe 2 outfits that fit correctly and was always uncomfortable. I knew I was going to have a struggle trying to find a dress that fit and that I could afford. I was already thinking of how fat I was going to look in the pictures....I felt like I would ruin them. I never said it out loud, but I was certain she would regret asking me to do it due to my size. That is very mean and shallow thinking on my part. I know my niece loves me regardless of my size. But that is the way I thought of myself at the time. I hated looking in the mirror. I hated having my picture taken. I flat out didn't like looking at myself. Being part of the wedding didn't make the decision to have the surgery, as I had already been considering it. But it did help push me in the right direction. Here it is a year later, post op, and lost 40+ pounds. The best part? I went from a size 28 down to a 22 in 2 months. Not only was I able to buy a dress at a regular department store, but I ordered in ONLINE and it FIT!!! Something I have NEVER done!!!! First pic is of me and my niece the day she asked me to be the MOH. I know you can't see my body but that's as good as it gets. I had to approve the photo to be posted and I wouldn't have if my body was in it. lol The other is me in my dress!!!!! (Forgive the awful lighting and basement background, lol)

Well, EFF!!!!! I had no idea. Knowledge is power, thanks for sharing.

4 large chicken breasts and a whole bottle of sweet baby Ray's buffalo sauce in a crock pot on low for 4 hours then turn to high for two more. Shred with a fork and you got a versatile meal you can eat post op. Get Hawaiian buns and make sandwiches or use it in tacos, top as salad with it. Make nachos. It's low fat, low carb and low calorie but full of flavor. It's been one of our go to's.

Went to lunch with my mom today at Cracker Barrel. I got my favorite meal. Pre-op I would have gotten the dinner size with 3 sides and ate every single bite. Today I got the lunch portion with two sides. I don't order drinks at restaurants anymore either, just water. No reason to pay 2.50 for something I can only take a few sips of. Anyway, here is my before and after lunch plate. Ill have the rest for dinner.

Right?!?!? I'll chalk it up to PMS, lol!!!

Today I am 45 days out. I take my vitamins daily, get my fluids in with no problem and am tolerating food very well. I almost feel like I'm doing too well...reading some of the things on here have me perplexed. I have to remind myself that everyone is different, everyone heals differently. I'm down 38 pounds. Whenever I get the thought in my mind that I am not progressing fast enough I remind myself that this is the most weight I have lost in ages. I continue to gain and lose the same five pounds, then it finally falls off. Then I plateau and gain/lose the next 5 pounds. Like I said, its frustrating me to no end, but I am trying to be realistic with myself. Slow and steady wins the race, and I am giving my skin time to adjust to the loss as well. Observations and Weird sensations: Sometimes I can barely finish a yogurt while other times I can eat quite a bit more. (For example, a bean burrito from taco bell or a 6 inch sub on flatbread from Subway) I can feel the food shift in my stomach; I've never had that sensation before. Sadly, the sleeve doesn't get rid of PMS cravings. I still have to fight myself about eating crap. The difference is now I can talk myself out of it 95% of the time whereas before I was 95% sure I would eat it anyway. Since I am not consistently on sugar/carbs like I used to be I can actually feel myself crash from eating something carb/sugar rich. It's enough to make me not want to eat them. I've found if I've eaten a few bites too much, I can get rid of that feeling much faster by walking. Walking actually helps move my food. Before surgery, walking while I was stuffed was sheer torture. If I was overly full, I would feel that way for a long time. a couple hours even, before I would get any relief, I definitely feel restriction. I eat maybe a 1/4 to an 1/8 of what I used to. I can't throw up. I've had the sensation a few times and even tried to on one occasion that I overdid it by accident. I didn't feel the restriction til it was too late. I've since learned to slow down when I eat so I have time for my body to signal to me. But the point is, I used to be able to puke almost on command. Not so much anymore. Its not really worth going out to eat at a sit down restaurant. I cant eat like the rest of the folks. While that is a exhilarating feeling, I found myself sulking because I couldn't eat my favorite meal at Chuy's. I had to laugh at myself like really, Tracy? You have wanted to be thinner for years and now that you have the chance you are crying about a chimichanga? I still have to silence my inner fat kid on the daily. I'm hoping that becomes less and less. I didn't realize just how addicted i was to food and food routines. I'm slowly re-learning how to have fun without food or booze and how to incorporate exercise into daily life again.

Yes! I am about 6 weeks out and I have taken it since I got home from the hospital. I usually take it 2-3 times a week proactively. I have a 7 year old and every little bit helps. It really really works and felt like it helped me heal faster post op. I stir mine up until the carbonation is gone. I haven't had any issues with it.

Thank you!!!! You get it exactly. For 30 of my 40 years I have been obese. I ate and drank what I wanted when I wanted. This has been a major change in my life. This hands down the hardest, most eye opening experience of my life. At this point I have been on a strict hardcore diet for at least the last 6-7 weeks. My husband has been a great support. I felt like we both deserved a night out as a treat. While we had a nice time and it was awesome to find out how cheap of a date I am now (it was good to get out as a couple again) we both agreed it just wasn't the same and that a we could find new things to do together that don't necessarily involve food. And yes, the surgery worked...and I am grateful for it. Part of learning to live again after WLS is definitely a learning curve. Just because you feel mentally prepared doesn't mean you wont have to deal with old habits. Its trial and error and you find what works best for you. Thanks for your words of encouragement.

Maybe I should clarify that at my one month post op I was cleared to resume normal activities as tolerated. You know the saying opinions are like a-holes? This goes for doctors too. If you read these forums you will see just how different pre-op and post op diets/rules are depending on the surgeon or practice. As for beer "eroding" my staple line; Would you say the same thing if I said I drank a fountain coke? I could understand your worry if I had said I drank a six pack. The fact is beer is heavily carbonated, and like soda, we are to refrain from it because it is empty calories and can cause excessive gas - which you have after surgery anyway. Why on Earth would I do that? Because I am a normal human being and being social is part of that. I am not swearing off alcohol for life and I wanted to see how it effected me since I was cleared by my doctor. Thank you for your judgmental concern.

Before surgery my husband and I would go to Texas roadhouse on Wednesdays for date night, They have an 8 oz sirloin special for cheap. We would sit at the bar. Usually before dinner I would have at least 3-4 cans of light beer (so I didn't spend as much money at the restaurant trying to catch a buzz). We would order an appetizer and eat the bread and peanuts while we waited for it. Then we'd eat the app. Then the salad. Then the meal; steak and mashed potatoes. Not to mention I am drinking probably 3 large beers during the meal. Afterward, we'd go home and chill for a couple hours. Then I would go in and snack off anything we brought home. I celebrated a month post op this past week so I told my husband Id love to have some steak so we thought wed give it a try. Going in I knew I would NEVER be able to have what I used to have. But I missed our nights out together and thought it would be a good test. WOW. We sat at the bar and I ordered a beer. I know, I know I know - But I am an adult and I wanted to see how I would react to a beer. I couldn't even finish half of it. I only ordered a salad planning on eating off my husbands plate. I ate some peanuts but skipped the rolls. We got our salads and I was able to take about 3 bites. The meal came out and I literally had 4 tiny pieces of steak from my husbands meal. I was a so full I was sick!!!! It was a lesson to be had. No more beer for me, At least not for a long time. I felt like **** and it kept me from being able to have regular food because it was so bloating. I knew I couldn't drink after I started eating so I don't know why I even bothered. But at least I know now. And any thirst I had for beer is GONE. So, I don't have to worry about missing out on it. I can't believe how much I used to eat and it makes me sad that I let myself get that way. Its been rough replacing food with other things, but that's what I've been doing. I had let my life revolve around food and my next meal so much that I was missing out on actually living. Everyday is a new adventure and a new lesson.

While I agree with honesty is the best policy, you can always use the Hernia/gallbladder defense. You will be on a liquid diet at work, and if people notice that you aren't eating out with them or see you not eating there wont be any question when you say, I'm on my pre-op diet for gallbladder/hernia surgery and it sucks!!!! It shuts down any questions immediately, because most people know that abdominal surgeries require a fast. When you start losing weight you can tell them the dietary change you had to make post op led to better healthy choices and over all you feel better so you are going to stick with it. Just a thought. I know how hard it can be revealing your plans and when you are already vulnerable you don't need other's opinions.

WOW!!!!!!!!

I've been able to drink fluids with no problem since about post op day 5. I was told the pyloric muscle opens to let fluids through. Fluids alone do not stretch your stomach. (aside from drinking while eating). At the point you are post op, I wouldn't worry about restriction yet. Focus on staying as hydrated as you can and stick to liquids no matter what the temptation. Once you are on purees, stick to a half a cup or less per serving. I know its hard but eat slow. The chances of a leak are rare and from what I've read, if you have a leak you will know it without a doubt. Apparently, it's flu-like symptoms and horrible abdominal pain. Stick to your plan and you wont have anything to worry about. Prayers for quick healing!

I am 3 weeks out from surgery today. I have gained and lost the same five pounds the last two weeks. I am the type of person that needs to see results. Not seeing them was getting really discouraging. I read about the plateau and that it can last anywhere between a week to over a month. That was slightly reassuring to find out it was normal but I caught myself last night stressing that I did the surgery for nothing and slipped into a state of self pity until I fell asleep. Thankfully, I got up this morning and I am down 2 pounds from my lowest weight. I am hoping that is the end of the plateaus for a while. It pisses me off that I still l crave all the garbage that got me where I am. I have pretty much been on a soft diet. The only foods I am supposed to avoid right now are steak, pork, white flour products, soda, alcohol, nuts, seeds, raw veggies and processed foods. I have around 800-1000 calories a day and a ton of non calorie, non carbonated drinks. I'll be cleared for a normal diet on Aug 21. I am getting in my fluids without any problem. Part of me felt like there was something wrong with me because I have been able to drink without issue since about post op day 5. I've read many posts where people can barely get down 2 oz of water at a time and here I am able to guzzle a 20 oz bottle without any issues except maybe some gas pain til I burp. I am tall and I have read that taller people have longer sleeves and it can make drinking much easier. My doc doesn't seemed concerned about it...it's just crazy how different people's bodies react to the surgery. I am not sure exactly what I expected to happen, but I am still dealing with head hunger and having to push old ways of thinking out of my head. I'ts hard and I guess I thought I had a pretty good handle on it even prior to surgery. I spent a year pre-op going to diet classes and researching the net to prepare for surgery. I must have been so busy preparing myself that I forgot to deal with my actual relationship with food. I know it will take some time and it will finally become second nature. But I would be lying if I said this isn't the hardest thing I have ever done for myself. The good news is reaping the benefits makes it all worth it.

You are my hero! I stalk your posts for good food ideas! That's where it's at!!!!!

I am a side and stomach sleeper. I asked the nurses at the hospital if I was allowed to sleep on my side or stomach at home. They told me to lay however was comfortable. I wanted to lay on my side so bad when I got home but it took 3 days to get there. I found that laying a pillow under my gut to support it helped make me more comfy. I am two weeks out today and can lay on my stomach without it hurting.

So, how often do you guys weigh yourself? I dropped weight post op everyday until today - I actually weighed a pound heavier. (I'm on post op Day 6) How can that be when I am on a liquid diet? I figure my stomach is still trying to adjust to what happened. But I am honestly freaking out about it. Has anyone else experienced this?

I am one week post op tomorrow. My experience is similar: 1. Walking is what got me feeling better. I can also tell that it helps with digestion. 2. I have had some constipation as well but was lucky enough to read that ahead of time so I made sure to have a stool softener on hand. 3. Burping was very bad on post op days one and two. Days 3 and 4 was gas rumbling in my stomach with was somewhat relieved with Gas X. Days 5 and 6 I have some burping and minimal gas. 4. I haven't felt full on hunger yet. I've tried to stay ahead of the curve. But that doesn't mean I still don't crave everything else. I wanted to slap my husband for eating the pizza I ordered for him and my daughter for dinner. lol 5. I am able to tolerate liquids very well and am able to keep down all meds and vitamins. I haven't thrown up. 6. I've experience sleep changes. It takes me a lot longer to fall asleep than it used to. 7. I am healing nicely but have one spot that is bigger than the rest and much sorer than the others. I have trouble sleeping on my side due to the uncomfortable way it makes me feel. I am set for my post op visit tomorrow and hope to be cleared for the next diet phase yogurt, cottage cheese, pureed foods. Sounds like you are on the up and up as well! Congrats!!!

Yay!!! Here's to the next chapter in your life!

Me toooo! I am able to drink with no problems. In fact, Last night I picked up my cup of ice water and took a normal swig without even thinking. the second I felt it going down I was like NOOOOOOO!!!! lol but I was actually OK. I burped a couple times and I was good. I did a massive google search myself because I have friends who could barely get in the fluids they needed and I felt like something was wrong with me. Apparently liquids alone will not stretch or damage your new stomach. Which is a freaking relief. lol

Curried Salmon salad?!?!?!?! I need to look that one up!! Yummo! And very high in protein and good oils!!!!!