Plucky

On 8/27/2018 at 9:29 AM, J San said:

I was cleared last week to start light weight work outs. Prior to getting cleared I was anxious to get started. Now that I can I feel like I'm at a loss. I was a gym rat in my youth, I've done tons of research recently, I've even given advice here to others asking for help. But now I feel like I'm clueless where to begin. Just looking for a little insight from fellow WLS'rs on what you started with. All I can seem to do is continue with walks.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so my workout may not be for everyone. I began with walking, elliptical, and VERY light kettlebells. I was working up to 2-30 minute sessions a day, but injured myself after about two weeks. So I've joined a gym and have been doing an hour of Water jogging a day. My fitness tracker tells me it is vigorous, and it seems I have been going further each day. When I get to the shallow end I do swim, but go back to jogging with my fists closed in the deeper sections.

I'm going to meet with a trainer in about a week, but not sure if I am going to change much up just yet.

On 8/29/2018 at 10:12 PM, alioolala said:

How many calories were you/are you consuming at 5 weeks post op?

I average 200 calories a day and I am 5 weeks post-op. I'm not sure I could do much more at this point.

On 9/3/2018 at 6:05 PM, msauerbrei said:

I’m 12 days post op. Should I be worrying about calorie intake yet? I’m averaging about 200 calories a day and physically cannot manage more. Should I be concerned? Do I not need to worry yet?

I'm about 5 weeks post op and I am still averaging 200 calories a day as well. My Nutritionist told me not to worry about the calories or Protein count int he beginning, just worry about healing. She said I would be incapable of having anywhere near 500 calories. I eat 3 meals a day, make sure I get my protein and that's about it.

I'm in a major stall, so hoping I'm not messing up too badly!

It's been a month and I am down three pant sizes so I had to break down and buy a couple of pairs. I have some older (smaller) pants that I am reusing as well, but my jeans are really super loose. Initially, you will be a little swollen from the gas and healing but within 2 weeks I started having issues keeping them up.

Good Luck with the surgery!

We all are all different. I went back rather quickly (3 days), but my job isn't teaching :).

On 8/21/2018 at 1:43 PM, KymmerShimmer said:

Hi there, Just approved for a surgery consult after a 8 month pre-bariatric program of nutrition counseling, exercise testing and psych evaluation. Have some questions for you expert Sleevers:

1. What made you choose the Sleeve over the Lap Band? I have a chronic disease and some of the medicines can cause ruptures. I just felt that the bypass might be more of a long term risk for me

2. Have you had Hair loss with the Sleeve?
Yes but I had already had some with a medicine I take, so I've already mourned my nice full head of hair.

3. What can you absolutely NOT eat now with the Sleeve?
Still beginning my journey, but so far tomatoes (cooked) don't sit well, and canned tuna.

4. At what point did you know you made the right decision with the Sleeve surgery?
I don't really question my decisions once made.

5. What as been the best tool you've used in keeping your weight loss progressing? Myfitness pal for food diary. Excel for my obsession over weight loss (I track against the average weight loss as my goal, and keep track of how many inches etc.

Thank you!!

10

I’m 54, and aside from getting sick from the anesthesia it was an easy recovery. I worked from home the day after I left the hospital, 3 days post op. The following day I started light housework.

Weight loss wise I’m down about 38 Lbs and it’s been about 3 weeks. I am walking and swimming as much as I can to help along.

Good luck!

I think you should document the behavior, and report it to the practice. If you don’t it will just happen again.

The PA should not be working in healthcare with this type off attitude.

Most importantly you do not deserve this treatment. Think of it this way if you were at work and witnessed someone treating a patient in this manner, would you “let it go”? You would likely speak out for the patient. Don’t you deserve the same care?

Thanks for all the support! I made it to week 2 of real food - seafood. I was in Rhode Island, so perfect timing. I've been conservative and had no issues. I can't really tell when I am full right away, so just stepping away before it is completely finished.

I survived breakfast! 1oz of Greek yogurt with a tiny dab of peach/blueberry compote I made. It's staying down I think

Today I'm allowed my first soft foods; eggs, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, cooked veggies, and fruit. I'm a bit nervous! Wish me luck with the next steps. Sadly I don't love eggs and hate cottage cheese but will make this work!

I'm at day 10; It appears as if I have glue and stitches, the doctor told me it is healing nicely. The glue is beginning to flake off and I am starting to get the "healing" itching on the smaller incisions. I'm just going to let it work itself out for now. But if you are concerned reach out to your doctor!

I've been taking a medicine for the last 2 years that does the same (can't wait until I get a few months out with this), and this is what I have learned. I take prescription folic acid, and biotin; and improvement is minimal. You can use Rogaine but it will just fall out when you stop using it. I have the same pattern you describe and work with my hairdresser to minimize the appearance:

I highlight my hair with foils- gives more volume, and lighter hair makes the thining less obvious

like you I baby my hair when I can

I do keep it short, I find towards time for my cut it's more obvious

Good Luck!

Thanks for all the great advice. I did get an under-desk elliptical but was waiting a week before I even attempt it . I guess slow and steady will have to do it for now!

57 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

There is no "goal" that folks should be reaching for... the walking helps prevent blood clots, it helps remove the gas from your system and it prevents blood pooling etc. You are doing fine. Only do what you can, what your are comfortable with and don't worry about what everyone else is doing, because there is only 1 person that heals like you, and that's you.

It does get better.

Thanks! My only concern was that my surgeon was letting me know that the more I walk of course the quicker it will come off. I'm going to try and do a little bit more today and just slowly increase, hopefully, it will build up over time

I was sleeved on 7/24, I was very ill from the anesthesia so I earned an extra day in the hospital. My doctor, of course, encouraged me to walk, and I am trying. I got home Thursday and walked very little (I was still a little iffy). Friday I was able to only get about 2k steps in, and the same for Saturday. Saturday evening my incision pain went from a 3 to a 9, it was extremely sharp, almost knife-like so I called my PCP. I was told to just avoid the pain meds (afraid vomiting would make it worse), lay low on Sunday, and use the heating pad as much as possible. I worked on Monday (I work at home, and it's mostly at my desk), but made sure that I did move a bit during the day, and followed up with an evening "shuffle" of about 3200 steps. I'm concerned that I am going to fall behind due to not being able to get my walking ramped up.

What is the logical walking goal during recovery? I have rheumatoid arthritis and not been taking my treatments because I need my immune system to heal :). Is this normal? Should I just suck it up and walk more?

Thanks !!!

I just had my surgery and am post menopausal, and they made me do a pregnancy test the day of surgery.

12 minutes ago, MeanSleevedMachine said:

Well, I only told my wife and parents. My wife told her mom who literally told the world. So, I would have preferred to keep it close to the vest but my mother in law made sure everyone knew. Still rather annoyed by that because it never fails that I run across people that tell me I took the easy way out but I just avoid those people after that. It has certainly altered some relationships after people found out if they were overly judgmental and a surprising number of people are.

And anyone who has had the sleeve knows it isn’t the easy way out. I have to watch and log every piece of food that goes into my mouth. My sleeve doesn’t get up at 5 am every morning and workout and it doesn’t walk 5 miles a day.

My sleeve undoubtedly made it possible for me to make all of those changes and deserves a lot of credit for that. It doesn’t however get all the credit for my success. Or failure for that matter if I become a giant blimp again in five years.

It is a tool. I don’t give a hammer all the credit for building a house and I don’t blame it if the house collapses a month later, either.

My surgeon warned us that you will get all of that unwanted input. He put it this way, in any other part of our life we would, of course, take the "easiest" approach; how many folks actually say let me try doing task XYZ using the most difficult way. He feels it is more accurate to identify this as the most statistically successful way to lose large amounts of weight... I haven't told my dad, but I am sure at some point he will find my method and we will be having this conversation :).

Hold your head high, and keep using the tool

I overpacked. I barely used anything I brought and I was kept an extra day. It was nice having my own jammies but I couldn’t put them in until the 2 nd day. I used deodorant, dry Shampoo, tissues, my long charging wire wasn’t enough so packed a battery cell which I used. Slippers. The rest stayed in the bag

Hi
I was sleeved 7/24 and am trying to get prepared.

I will be traveling on a mini vacation during what should be the beginning of the puree phase, I go to the doctor and the nutritionist in a few days, but I'm trying to plan ahead. The first 4 days will be staying with a relative, so I'll have access to a kitchen and am not worried. The second half will be at a small hotel with a microwave and fridge. Would it make sense to buy a portable blender, and a strainer or two? Eat in my room while my hubs and parents get real food :)? Any gadgets that will make life easier?

Thanks in advance!

My circle is small for now. One of the folks who inspired me let his Facebook friends know well after the fact, once he reached goal. I may do that but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Thanks for all the responses to my initial question! sharing my outcome in case someone wants to know how it went.

I ended up having trouble keeping liquids down. I'm allergic to NSAIDS and react badly to opioids. I believe right after the surgery I was dosed with some painkillers, and it made me sick. So I earned an extra day at the hospital. So day 3 I went home, still a little queasy (could have been my husband's driving as well). I was back working day 4, the day after I got home with the following caveats. I'm not on any pain meds, and I am working from home. I'm mainly just catching up on emails in between resting, walking, and drinking.

We are each different, but that has been my experience. I suspect Monday I'll be back on my game mentally.

Thanks for all of the input.

On 7/10/2018 at 11:07 PM, jmccarty said:

So, I've been very selective with whom I have told about my upcoming surgery. Just close friends and family. Most of them gave their encouragements and support. However, one work friend I told (who I thought would be sympathetic seeing as how she is very large and understands what it's like) was very much against me having surgery. Actually against VSG or other WLS in general. Something about her sister having gained all her weight back from bypass (or something to that affect). She keeps telling me I just need to get some willpower and work hard. Sends me diets and workout routines on FB. Doesn't she realize that if all it took was willpower and hard work that I would already be fit and thin; those things just haven't worked for me.

How have you dealt with bad reactions/negativity you received when people found out about your choice to have VSG?

One thing my surgeon brought up, and that it is only women who will do this to other women, we will encounter pressure from other women either not to do it, or later on how you are losing too much weight. Just thank her for her input, and stay the course! I'm very selective about who I have told because I know many who will try to dissuade me.

1 minute ago, Creekimp13 said:

There is absolutely no way of knowing.

Many people are rapid healers with little pain and little to no nausea. I was lucky and had a super easy surgery and healing experience. If you draw this card...you probably won't have any trouble doing a few hours of desk work after a few days.

But there are plenty of other people who have severe nausea, complications, partial stricture, healing difficulties, setbacks, dehydration, difficulty drinking etc. If you draw this card, you could be in trouble for a few weeks or even months.

Keep in mind that people who feel well enough to attend support group at 1-2 weeks likely fall in the first category.

Luck of the draw. Wishing you the very best outcome.

Thanks I guess I have no control over the draw!

7 minutes ago, Mhy12784 said:

Well with the sleeve you can take everything, nsaids included (unless you have allergies of course) . With the bypass you have to be really careful taking anything. And this played a huge role in why I decided on the sleeve over the bypass (as well as some surgeons in close with pushing me that direction as well)

Because I'm allergic I guess I didn't research it completely. I thought NSAIDs were taboo for both. My surgeon stated that the prednisone would be an issue, as it would counteract the hormone benefits of the surgery.

I am scheduled to do an NSAID allergy challenge of one possible that may not cause a reaction, and I was considering canceling because I didn't think I could use it after the surgery. I guess it won't be a waste to go ahead.

I have enough chronic issues with the RA, I don't want to have to worry about long-term issues with the bypass so that is why I opted for the sleeve.

I see that you are below your goal - Congrats!! Do you have an autoimmune disease? If so did the surgery provide you with improvement in controlling it?