DianaP

I am in general quite comfortable openly sharing, but I am only telling about my WLS if I feel like the people have shown a history of being supportive, or if they have good reason to be curious (i.e. they have their own weight struggle and I don't want to keep it a secret what's finally working for me).
I have told maybe a dozen people in my very supportive social circle, my husband (he's been integrally involved from the initial thoughts of this), and my family (parents, siblings, and their spouses). I have not told any of my husbands' family, and don't plan to at all, because they have shown themselves to be judgmental and not supportive. I also don't want to feel like they're watching every one of my food choices like a hawk for forever. If/when they ask how I am losing the weight (we only see them twice a year, so it will be completely obviously when I do see them at Thanksgiving), I will probably just give them an "eating less, moving more" brush-off.
Ultimately, this is for YOU. I think there are great benefits to sharing this journey with safe people, but healthy boundaries are important, and you don't owe them any information just because they're "family".

I'm a social butterfly with a fun personality and a love for sports and outdoors ... and good cooking (obviously). I've always been the big girl that broke the rules. I was always fiercley confident (or atleast I led the world around me to believe that) and that air of confidence has carried me pretty far. I've dated and married the men who'd never been with big girls before me. I have a job not typically held by big girls or big anyone. I keep up with the latest trends and fashions reguarldless of being a big girl. I am a fat runner. And perhaps the sharpets jab of all ... I'm often described as "so beautiful ... for a big girl".

What I am looking forward to MOST after surgery is dropping that adjective. I want my accomplishments not to be mentioned as if they are in spite of being the fat girl as if fat people arent allowed to break all these "rules"
For the first time in a long time I wan't to NOT be the biggest female or biggest person in the room
I don't want the say give me the biggest you have when signing up for a race and they hand me an XL that obviously will not fit
I want to run at the gym invisibly next to all the other runners with out heads turning and people making comments in awe that i can actually run
I don't want people questioning my ability to perform my job due to my size
I don't want to be "beautiful for a big girl" I just want to be plain ole beautiful
I want to be able to follow the trends without the nightmare that is finding trendy plus size items . Ive become great at it but honestly its a pain in the ass
I don't want my son to feel shame for having the fat mom that people assume sits on the couch and isnt the very active person that I am
I want to talk about the gym or running without people scoffing as if theres no way I could possibly be serious
I want to do all of the things i love that my weight now limits like sky diving, scuba diving, zip lining, bunjee jumping, wakeboarding ETC.
I just want to live my life without that label I just want to be the regular ordinary old me without the need for my size to be attatched to everything i do.

We’re Alive! Husband & I both had VSG done Tuesday. Both VSG were textbook, unfortunately I was found to have a severe hiatal hernia. My esophagus kept spasming during the first two days causing me to vomit 5/6 times in a row every 20 minutes or so. That part sucked but as far as the pain from the VSG there was and still is hardly any just soreness. At the larger incision site. We were up and walking A LOT in the hospital. We are settled at home now sipping on clear Protein. No regrets.

Just want to say congrats to all in here. Technically i'm June 28th (barely feel like a June-er) but just wanted to peek my head in. My post-hospital recovery began July 1st **waves**

Whoa I think we’re being a little tough on @drbriang here. Everyone’s journey is different there’s no reason he needs to sentence himself to a lifetime of bland and boring there are plenty of healthy nutritious options out there. He didn’t say he was looking to eat a pepperoni pizza all he asked for were some tasty suggestions.

Honestly, what I meant by sad is that before this was only a part of the meal. Now, due to the pain, it's more than one meal. The previous state was sad, not the current one.

Nooooo!!! Really stop for a minute and realize what you are saying!! The surgery is AWESOME! It's doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing--providing negative feedback impetus for changing your relationship/behavior with food. Aversion therapy. Give yourself a hug and thank your tool for making you miserable and giving you a teaching moment!!! Isn't it amazing that only 1 mini quesadilla from TacoHell gave you a horrible ride on the pain train? Congrats! 🍾

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

I think you are doing amazing!!! Also, way to go on the breastfeeding! I also continued breastfeeding my children for the same amount of time. That is so AMAZING!!!
Sending continued prayers for a speedy healing recovery. Thank you so much for posting this update!

I had my surgery 7/1, so I guess I'm late responding- you guys are so on the ball! I've been pretty out of it. Still pretty weird to be on the other side of it.
On Monday morning, I nursed my baby for the last time (not really baby, he just turned 2, so it was about time ) then dropped my sons off with friends. Was really nervous going to to the hospital. Once we started the check-in process, the nurse gave me a great cocktail of stuff that included an anti-anxiety pill; my husband got to join me a few minutes later and was like "wow, I can tell you're feeling better!!" . So that was really great.
Surgery was at noon, and went well. The doctor found and repaired a pretty substantial hiatal hernia, so that's good to have that fixed. I guess I'm REALLY sensitive to anesthesia, because I was pretty out of it for the first 18 hours. Like, not staying awake for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. My husband sat with me for the first 6 hours, and though I was aware he was there, pretty much couldn't have a conversation because I would just say something and then go back to sleep. They made me get up to go pee in the evening, and the moving/sitting up was a very sharp internal pain, but other than that, wasn't feeling any gas pain or anything as long as I was lying still. Took my first walk in the hall at 4am (which was later than they would have liked, but I was just so out of it still), and then would walk every couple hours. They also weighed me then, and I was 3 lbs up, but they said that's totally expected because of all the fluids they pump in.
I was surprised at how little I needed to sip to not feel it "slosh" in my stomach. People have talked about an ounce or whatever, but I felt like I had to take an ounce in like 3 sips! Jello was good right away too. They took me off the IV pain meds and started me on oral yesterday about 10, several hours before discharge. I miss the good stuff. 😢 Yesterday when I got home was AWFUL. That's when I started to have the gas pains. Or maybe I just wasn't aware of them earlier because of the higher dose pain meds and anesthesia wearing off. For me I don't feel them in my chest or shoulder, but it just feels like my entire abdomen wants to explode from the inside. The hydrocodone they prescribed is a pill, so I have to crush that and mix it with liquid, which is horrendous. My first 2 doses I actually couldn't keep down, which was terrifying to have my stomach spasm as I spat it back up. But today I just took one *tiny* sip, then waited 5 minutes, another sip, waited, then finished it, and I kept it down.
I also was really concerned about getting enough hydration and Protein, because yesterday I only had MAYBE 8 grams of protein from protein Water and 10 ounces of Fluid (they did have me on an IV until I went home though). Today I've been having a Pure Protein Shake, which has 35 grams of protein in it, and I've already gotten half of it down, so I'm not as concerned about it.
Anyway, sorry for the long post- I wanted to share my experience, and also saw some questions about pain and such immediately following surgery, so just thought I'd include it all. Good luck to everyone!

Good Luck. Tonight and tomorrow morning listen to positive fun music, movies, comedians. I wish all of you the same experience I had; You will wake up feeling positive, excited, tired.
You will love your short walks!

Good luck also

Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

Awww...my "once surgery same day sibling"....I understand. Kind of wistful sitting here since surgery was to be tomorrow but figure that I'd be having mixed feelings if it was still happening. You got this!!
Will be looking forward to your first post-op post!!

My surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow! Feeling pretty positive, and I've been listening to the audio book of Brene Brown's "Daring Greatly", but I'm definitely getting some pre-surgery jitters too!

My surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow! Feeling pretty positive, and I've been listening to the audio book of Brene Brown's "Daring Greatly", but I'm definitely getting some pre-surgery jitters too!

My surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow! Feeling pretty positive, and I've been listening to the audio book of Brene Brown's "Daring Greatly", but I'm definitely getting some pre-surgery jitters too!

My surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow! Feeling pretty positive, and I've been listening to the audio book of Brene Brown's "Daring Greatly", but I'm definitely getting some pre-surgery jitters too!

I'm remember that you were one of the first people I became aware of that was going to also have surgery on July 1st. I miss not being on the same day as my surgery siblings! I will be cheering all of you on though..along with all of our "month of July" siblings.

July 1 here! VSG

July 1 here! VSG