thesuse2000

A lot of people find it easier to drink water with something mixed in - like crystal light. Not sure why that is, but it totally worked for me too. Or broth or tea or other flavorings that work for you. It does get easier in time!

Hi there - pain levels really seem to vary widely, so not sure you can accurately predict. I felt uncomfortable in the 24 hours or so after surgery, but really wasn't in a lot of pain. I was hitting my pain button mostly because it would help me sleep. I just couldn't find a comfortable position, so that was annoying, but not the end of the world. By day three when I went home I didn't need any pain meds at all. That said - some people in the groups I've been to have talked about experiencing what they considered to be extreme pain in the days after surgery. That doesn't seem to be the norm, but a few people really find it difficult to get through. My guess is that if you're someone who's been dealing with chronic pain, you probably won't have too hard a time. I really didn't have any awareness of internal pain from the cutting of my actual stomach. I think most of the pain is from the incisions through the stomach muscles - and some people experience more internal gas-related pains, which can be pretty bad. Wishing you the best!

Cool. I'm certainly happy with the sleeve, as are many of us. BTW - I love your screen name!

For most people it's a struggle to get to goal. There are a few people who do struggle with stopping the weight loss, but that seems far less common. Over time you can eat more and more in one sitting, so it's not actually too hard to eat a lot of calories after 6 months even. Certainly eating higher fat or carb foods will generally take care of that. For me I can say that I could easily maintain where I am now if that was what I wanted to do. It's a bit of work to keep the loss going. But I was band to sleeve, and have a slightly larger sleeve, so my experience may be different from yours. Actually - I can't tell what surgery you've had (or are planning). That makes a big difference. With the band you can adjust it. Not sure if bypass patients are more likely than sleevers to lose more than they wish...

Mine is similar to Kindle - store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough, eaten right out of the package. I think that's the indulgence I feel most shameful about. Wait - no, the worst was frosting right out of the can...

I appreciate the warnings! Cowgirl - was your injury knee-related too?

183. No change this week. Alas...

I use journey. Have also used transformation and adventure in different contexts. For me journey feels right because, as others have said, I'm still in the process and frankly not quite sure where I'll end up. Sometimes I feel a little lost too. Where I HATE to see the word journey is in healthcare marketing - as in "your cancer treatment journey". Treatment for a disease is not a "journey" anyone wants to take.

I was told to avoid serious exercise until 6 weeks out. I don't think you should push yourself too hard at this stage if you're feeling tired. Listen to your body and let yourself heal. I agree with Beaglelover's suggestion to focus on walking for now.

Just seconding (or thirding?) the squats/lunges recommendation. I've never had a nice ass - wide but flat, but at 46 I've got more of one than ever! Thanks to a personal trainer. It really works! Not "there" yet, but making progress. Just did 60 squats today.

Have your thyroid levels been checked out? I've got an under-active thyroid and my levels got way off after surgery. Had to reduce my dosage actually. But when my levels are off I experience changes to my cycle, joint pain and changes in energy levels (among other things) so might be worth checking out.

Drinking chicken broth can be helpful - not much calories, but it's warm and kind of satisfying and feels like soup. I like drinking a big mug of tea with a little milk - same idea as the broth. Fills you up a bit and makes you feel a bit nourished.

Could be! Although lots of people who haven't had WLS are doing the low carb, high protein thing these days.

Thanks for sharing such a lovely story! Wonderful in terms of how far you've come, and also such a nice example of people being kind, generous and appreciative of each other.

I chose lap band first, and revised to sleeve after complications with the band. I agree with the points above about the sleeve - the only thing I'll clarify is that while there are more minor complications with the band than the sleeve, there are more risky complications with the sleeve - and more with the bypass. But really I think you should discuss options with a qualified surgeon. At 500 pounds you will have different factors that will need to be considered than someone under 3-400 would. I would strongly advise that you find a surgeon who has a lot of experience with surgery on larger patients. Apologies if this sounds insensitive! Not trying to offend. But there are increased risks of surgery with patients over 400 pounds, and the more experienced surgeons generally have fewer complications. There are also different factors to consider in terms of longterm success, so what works for others on this board may not be appropriate for you. In order to get to your goal weight you may need the malabsorption of the gastric bypass. Another possibility to perhaps discuss with a surgeon is the duodenal switch - in this approach you could start with the sleeve, and then if your weight loss slows before you've hit goal, you could add the duodenal switch, which adds a malabsorption factor, so you don't digest all the calories you eat. One of the benefits of this is that the sleeve is a shorter slightly safer surgery than the bypass or duodenal switch, so it would be a safer first surgery, and then you do the 2nd one once you've lost some weight and it can be done more safely. I wish you the best in your journey!

I agree with the concerns mentioned above. Have you discussed this with your surgeon? I would discuss with them to see if they have any suggestions for how to make it work, or to find out if it's just a deal breaker. You want to set yourself up for success, so even if you have to wait a little longer, just make sure you plan this out in a way that will be safe and healthy for you. You'll get there!

Gotcha. Your surgeon didn't give you amounts to follow? I couldn't eat applesauce that early - that's an approved food on your diet? I could only have smooth liquids and thin purees.

I got maybe one compliment before 50 pounds down. Most came after that. But early on I was frequently told how good my skin looks, my hair, a few more compliments on outfits. I agree - people notice a change, but can't put their finger on it. Hey - I'll take it!

Hi there - every surgeon has different rules. I would drink up to a cup of Fluid in my first two weeks - but very slowly for sure. Some surgeons say to limit to a half cup or even a 1/4 cup. But 2 T seems super minimal! But don't expect to feel too satisfied from liquids. They do go through your stomach quickly. I assume the burning twinge is acid. Keep taking the prilosec. It should help. Good luck - it all gets easier with time!

183 - moving right along!

Great questions above. Also good to ask how many of these surgeries they have done. Statistically, the more times a surgeon does a surgery, the lower their rate of complications is. You may not want to go there, but I also asked about death rates. And if there were deaths, what the cause was specifically. Also good to ask questions about diet before and after surgery, just so you know their perspective. Good luck!

Congrats! You're off to a great start. I'm sure your positive attitude will really help your journey too.

two weeks before surgery I had bloodwork, an EKG, a chest x-ray, they looked down my throat to make sure all was clear that they'd be able to access my windpipe after I was under. Lots of questions about my health history, etc. I may be forgetting something else. I was there for a few hours seeing different people/depts. It was very thorough. And I don't have any real comorbidities. When I had my lap band surgery in Mexico they did similar stuff - but it was all the day before.

No pre-op testing at all? I agree, that doesn't seem right.

I went for laser hair removal a few years back - partial brazilian, so most, but not all is gone. It's kind of awesome not to have to shave anymore. I just trim what's left once in a while. Hubby and I both love it. I like having less hair personally, but I also totally admire those who embrace what nature gave them!