ssflbelle

I was belly dancing at 380 pounds before my 1990 injury took away my ability to walk. I have a video of myself and 2 friends belly dancing at a South Florida NAAFA convention. We had so much fun learning the routine and making our own costumes. Now not being able to walk and being much older I do not think I will belly dance again. However when I get to my goal I would love to teach Bokwa to the elderly like myself.

What your fitting into smaller clothing now then when you were this weight years ago? What is going on? Has the clothing industry changed their sizes? When I was 21 I weighed 170 and was in a size 16. What will I be in now a days at that weight. I can't imagine. I have lost 200 pounds as of today, 17 with the new sleeve. When I was 497 I was a size 10X and now my 5X are falling off of me. I am not ready yet to buy new clothing as I just had my sleeve surgery Jan 26th. However by the end of Feb I will be going back to work and know I can't wear these 5X clothing then. I would have no idea in 3 more weeks what I will weigh and what size I would even be wearing.

Have been on the site since June and just now found this group. I have been riding an adult tricycle since April 2014. I can't walk due to a injury in 1990 so I figured with bad balance a tricycle would be best. I just had 3 surgeries on Jan 26th and am healing nicely. When did you all start biking again after your surgery? I would like to do a Bike challenge in Feb 2017 of Biking around Lake Okeechobee in Port Mayaca Fl for the Loop around the Lake for Literacy. They have 4 distance loops and I am going to try to do the 14 mile Loop. Any ideas on how I should train for this? I checked with them this year as this year's Loop is Saturday and they said I could use my Tricycle for next years event. .

You will feel normal again! I remember that was the question I asked myself most in those early days. I'm pretty sure I even posted it on here a few times. "Will I ever feel normal again!??!?!" But I eventually did and you will too! It's hard to believe right now, I know, but you really really will. As for the pureed stage, I never once ate any actual pureed food. I had my Protein shakes, yogurt, and recipes from this page: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html The Baked Ricotta saved me! OMgosh that sounds so good. I bookmarked the page and will be trying this once I get to that phase. Thanks a million for posting the site.

I doubt you did any damage. I just had some of that soup today minus the tomato chucks and basil. I am 9 days post op and it was a nice change from the chicken and beef Protein soup I was drinking. I added some Protein powder to it and had it for my Breakfast. I am looking forward to the day when I can enjoy it with the tomato and basil. I also think this soup might make a nice dish with cheese when I am off of the liquid phase.

I like the The Syntrax nectar Protein Powders and I get them from this site.

Until my injury in 1990 I was a rather active person. I loved swimming, ballroom and belly dancing, played volleyball, miniature golf and went bowling. Once I was injured all that kind of activity stopped and I took up crafts. I learned how to do some basic sewing of clothing until I got so big I couldn't find any more patterns. I also did cross stitch, plastic canvas, made rugs and made a business out of making three dimensional beaded items like clocks. vases, purses, baskets, and all kinds of Holiday items. I also ride my tricycle and do the sit down circuit at the gym. I just had my surgery Jan 26th so once I am able to exercise again I plan to train for a Bike ride challenge around Lake Okeechobee in Feb 2017. i also want to play croquet again like I did when I was a child and go back to some kind of dance like Zumba or Bakwa.

Hey South Florida Sleevers how is everyone doing? I had my sleeve on Tuesday Jan 26th and was back home on Jan 28th. I had 3 procedures done, gallbladder removal, hernia repair and the sleeve. I was in surgery for 2 hours and in recovery for 3 hours. They couldn't get the pain under control. They had to give me 30 mg of Dilaudid and then finally I was wheeled to my room. I remember nothing but being wheeled through the door of my room around 6:30 pm Tuesday night. I was so glad when I got to suck on ice chips. I had terrible pain on my left side under the breast. I was not nausea as I had gotten a patch for that the night before. On Wednesday after they took out the catheter I had to go to the bathroom. Of course the nurses helped me out of the bed and I used my walker to get to the toilet but when I was done I didn't have enough strength to get off the toilet. They called for the PT to come with the shoulder belt and the 3 of them lifted me off the toilet. I had a weird new pain but thought nothing of it as I was still in a lot of pain. The Dr wanted me to go home Wednesday but the nurses explained what had just happened and that I was still in too much pain to go home. Beside I still hadn't been for a walk yet. About 2 hours later a PT came back and I did do a short walk. I couldn't eat anything until almost Wednesday dinner, which was the Jello. Spent Wednesday night in the hospital with more Dilaudid and by Thursday 2 am I was switched to Tylenol. By 8 am Thursday I was ready to go home. Very little pain and was released at noontime. On Thursday when I came home my room mate was excepting me to go to my bed but I went to my recliner instead as I felt fine. No pain from the surgeries that all left on Thursday. However on Friday I developed severe lower back shoulder pain whenever I tried to sit up or get down into anything the recliner, bed, the toilet etc. Friday it took me 4 hours but I finished a Protein shake. Since then I have been able to get in 60 to 80 grams of protein Soups and shakes per day and except for the lower back pain I feel great. Went to the followup yesterday, all the incisions are healing well and the Dr thought I looked great. I have lost 17 pounds since Jan 26th. Today I went to the PCP about the lower back pain. He thought maybe the PT fractured a rib. I was able to stand up without my walker to take 2 X-rays.No fractured rib just a very bad inside bruise and was given liquid Tylenol with codeine. I am hoping that stuff will kick in soon as this back pain brings tears to my eyes otherwise I am feeling fantastic. How about the rest of you? Did anyone else have surgery yet? How are you feeling? Lets see if we can't get this group to support each other a bit more. I am still very seriously thinking of starting a meetup group. In fact I would like to do a bike challenge with all of you next Feb 2017. I'd love for all of use to do the Loop Around the Lake for Literacy. We could train together and start a team and probably not only raise some funds for them but give us all a wonderful sense of pride for biking one of the 4 Loops available. How about it, is anyone interested?

This posting hit home especially this part "I encourage everyone to attempt someting different, something out of your comfirt zone, or something you think there is no way in hell you could do it, do it with a friend." Each year in Feb our county has a bike ride fundraiser for literacy called Loop around the Lake. The Lake is Lake Okeechobee in Port Mayaca, FL and they are having it this Saturday. I am still recovering from my 3 procedure surgeries so I can't do it this year. However before surgery I said in Feb 2017 I am going to challenge myself to Loop the Lake. The Lake is huge so there are 4 distance loops. The whole loop is 115 miles. The smaller loops are 68, 34 and the one I will try next year 14 miles. You have to pay to Loop the Lake but if you turn it into a fundraiser and raise $200.00 you get back the registration fee which is about $80.00. I would love to get a team of Palm Beach County people who have had WLS this year to join me in this challenge. In fact i am thinking of starting a group on here for just this very thing. We could train together either in person or post our progress and then all join up next Year for the challenge.

I am so sad to hear people are having such troubles. I hope and pray all those still so sick one week out start to feel better and things turn around for you all. I had my 3 surgeries gallbladder, hernia and sleeve on Tuesday Jan 26th. This was the first surgeries I ever had. It took 2 hours and I was in recovery for 3 hour. I was very sick with pain on Tuesday and even Wednesday. I ate 1 Jello the whole 2 days I was there. I was given a nausea patch the night before surgery for behind my ear. I had 30 mg of dilaudid in recovery and for the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday. I had one incident of dry heaves. By Thursday I was feeling great and was able to go home. Have been able to get my 60 to 80 grams of protein in each day since Friday. I know each person reacts differently but I was very pleased with my recovery and seriously doubt I will need the 4 to 6 weeks the dr told me to take. Tuesday I get to eat my first real food since Jan 24th an egg. I am not the least bit hungry and have no head hunger what so ever. I have lost 17 pounds since Jan 26th.

So sorry to hear you are going through a difficult time. On Jan 26th I had my gallbladder removed, hernia repair and the sleeve and I have had none of the complications you listed. I guess each persons recovery is different. The first 2 days I was sick and in the hospital but since being home I feel great except for my lower back right shoulder which was injuried when the PT had to get the belt to pull me up off the toilet.

Awesome news! I too start soft food Tuesday and I'm counting the minutes it seems! Have you tried a heating pad on the shoulder/back pain? Hopefully that helps! Thanks a bunch. I only get to eat an egg on Tuesday. Do you get to eat more than an egg? Yes I have tried the heating pad, the ice packs, and various pain lotions like Bengay, Stop the pain and Cool and heat. I am also taking the pain pills I got for the surgery. Have also use the massager and nothing is helping. I will be going to my PCP tomorrow and hopefully he can help. This pain is worse than the surgery pain. It feels like some is stabbing me and twisting the knife.

I am right there with you! I had my surgery Jan 26th and had my week 1 followup today. I feel great except for lower shoulder pain which I think is related to the PT having to use the belt to get me up off the toilet and maybe toring something. As for the surgery there is no pain and the Protein Soups, shakes and all the other liquids are staying down. I have no hunger and the incisions are healing very well. By this weekend I should be in twoterville. I am thrilled and have no regrets either. I am looking forward to all the wonderful things ahead of me.

I had my 1 week followup today. The Dr was very pleased to see I looked and felt really well. The pain from the surgery pretty much stopped on Thursday night. However Friday I developed terrible lower back shoulder pain. I think it is from the PT having used the belt around my back and underarms to get me off the toilet on Wednesday. The Dr didn't seem to address it so I am going to my PCP tomorrow and see if there is a shot or something he can give me as that pain is worse than the surgery pain I had. The surgeon said the incisions were healing well. He was glad to hear I am having no problems with keeping down the liquids, protein soups and shakes, jello and popsicles. He told me Tuesday I can start to eat an egg a day along with what I am doing now. I was very happy to hear I had lost 13 pounds since Jan 26th. I am sure I will be in twoterville by Saturday. So looking forward to seeing a 2?? in my weight.

I turned 60 2 days before my sleeve surgery which was One week ago. I tried 8 years ago for the lapband but was denied. I had 2 days of bad pain but by Friday I was feeling great. I am able to take my Protein Soups and shakes and drinking my Water without any problems. I had lost a huge amount of weight on my own but still have a huge amount to lose and know that I will do it, as there is still a lot of life left in me. I doubt your Mom's age will cause her any issues.

Sounds like everyone is doing well. Glad to hear it I am one week post op and I feel great. I have no hunger and no desire for foods. However I am drinking my Powerade zero, Protein Soups and shakes, eating Jello and the popsicles and have no problems getting them down. The only pain I have is from when they had to lift me off the toilet the day after surgery. They had to call the PT and use one of those under the back shoulder belts, I think they pulled a muscle. I am even getting use to taking my lovenot injections. I see the Dr tomorrow for my 1 week follow up. I will probably do a blog entry after that visit.

It has been 6 days for me since my 3 surgeries on Tuesday last week and I have been off of the pain meds since Friday. The only pain I am having is under my right back shoulder. I am assuming it is some gas that is left but otherwise I feel like I am healing real nicely for 3 surgeries. I am not hungry but I am drinking my liquids, Protein shakes and Soups without any problems. In fact I was telling my room mate that I felt like I could now eat that 1 egg that I am suppose to start eating week 3. However I know my stomach is still healing so I will stick to the liquids. I wish everyone else was healing as easily as I am. I am sad to hear so many are still struggling. Keep pushing it will get easier each day.

Had my sleeve, hernia repair and gallbladder removed Tuesday at 314. My highest weight was 497 back in the 1999. 5 days post op and I am 307. If you follow the high Protein & vegs the weight will come off. I hope to be well below 300's before I return to work late Feb.

Last thing I remember on Tuesday was being moved from the preop table to the operating table and seeing about 6 to 8 nurses doing all kinds of things in other parts of the room. I don't even remember having a mask or counting backwards. I was in there for 2 hours and in recovery for 3 according to my room mate.. The Nurse told me latter they had to give me 30mg of dialudid and that my lower number for my blood pressure dropped to 38. My room mate said he came into recovery but I have no recollection of that. First thing I remember was being wheeled into my room and thinking oh no now I have to switch beds again, however that never happened. I was pretty much out of it that first night to the point that I didn't understand why I wasn't peeing. Found out Wednesday morning I was catheters. Finally got to go home Thursday. Today is the first day I feel more like my old self. Have already lost 7 pounds since Tuesday.

Nikki I was the first one to have surgery on Tuesday. The not being able to drink anything for over 13 hours was really getting to me but I managed to get through the time. They might have taken me earlier but they had some trouble with the EKG equipment registering and had to change the pads and the lines twice. I was very cold but they put blamkets and a heating hose under the blankets. I remember being wheeled into the operating room at 1 pm. Saw all the nurses in there, must have been at least 6 to 8 of them. Then I was out. Didn't even have to count backwards. My room mate was able to keep track of my where abouts with a display the hospital has set up for each patient. He told me surgery was 2 hours as I had the diseased gallbladder removed, hernia repaired and the sleeve. My roommate told me I was in recovery for 3 hours and that at one point he came into recovery to see me. I had no recollection of any of that. I was in a lot of pain and had 30 mg of Dilaudid in the recovery room. At one point the lower number on my blood pressure read 38. I had a lot of pain under my left breast and in my left shoulder. I was very nauseous and had a lot of dry heaving. I also had a urine catheter in me which I didn't know until Wednesday morning when they took it out. Within an hour of that coming out I had to use the bathroom. My legs had compression stocking, yellow canvas wraps that had a pressure hose attached and also nonskid slippers. I hate anything on my toes and when they got me up they rolled back the toe part of the compression stockings. They had to help me out of bed as I have mobility issues. I use my rollator to get to the toilet. Once down I didn't have enough strength to get back up so a PT person came with a shoulder belt ad three people lifted me up. They helped me back to bed. The Dr came in and said I was ready for home. The nurses and I disagreed and I stayed another day. Was not able to drink anything but Water on Tuesday. Wednesday evening I was still getting the strong meds and was able to keep down some Jello for dinner. Early Thursday they switched me to an IV of liquid Tylenol. At one point during the early morning I again had to have help to get to the bathroom but this time I was able to get up off the toilet. I couldn't eat any Soup of jello as I didn't want to be sick during the 45 minute ride home. Today Sunday is the first day that I am finally beginning to feel good again and was able to drink some Protein soup this morning and have been surfing the website. Each person experience will be different so please don't think this is how it will go for you.I had and still do not have any regrets for doing this and I have no hunger at all. I do have to take my injections so I don't get blood clots but once they showed me how to do it and I did it twice in the hospital I was good doing it. I see the Dr again on Wednesday for a follow up. Since Tuesday I have lost 7 pounds and know by the time I will be ready to return to work I wlil be under 300 pounds for the first time in maybe 30 years.

Today 5 days post op I was finally able to drink the Protein beef soup I bought from this BP store. I really like them a lot better then trying to find a powder protein to add to the Swanson soups.

I had a diseased gallbladder so the Dr removed it and repaired a hiatal hernia and gave me the sleeve as well I was in the hospital for 2 days. Just had it done Tuesday and came home Thursday. Have been slowly recovery as I still have some pain and discomfort but I am glad he did all three in one surgery.

Wednesday afternoon the PT came back and I did a short walk with the walker. I have yet to have a BM. I am finding that powerade zero is going down easier then the protein soups and shakes. After my follow up I will post the first weeks results.

I didn't shave and wasn't shaved either, and I had a catheter. I didn't even shave my legs either as I couldn't find my shaver.

I lost 38 pounds during my 7 months supervised diet. Had my surgery this past Tuesday and came home Thursday afternoon. My 1 week follow up is Wed. I also found that checking in monthly and starting to practice the habits I need to use now really helped me as well. The Doctor just wanted to be sure that I could follow the high Protein low carb diet and never gave me an amount I had to lose. I had a difficult 3 surgeries at once I am glad I had lost the weight as I don't know how many more days I would have been in the hospital if I hadn't lost those last 38 pounds.