PacoBenn

I'm in too
Sleeve 3/1/2016
Sleeve to Bypass revision with gallbladder removal and hiatal hernia repair due to GERD. Highest weight 298-300. Currently 169
Goal 155-160 and lifelong maintaining. We can do this!!!

Hi Chelsea! What a pretty name! How are you doing? You are further along than I am, so you must be on regular foods? I’m so looking forward to that! How have you made that adjustment? Are you still drinking the shakes?
what has been the hardest for you of going into regular food?
So you got to eat a real Thanksgiving dinner? Small, I know but not puréed! Do you work outside the home? Are you back to work? Did you have a good surgical experience and you’re healing well?
I had a great surgery, but I wouldn’t recommend going to the hospital I went to. I’m senior age, and they didn’t get me up walking til the 3rd shift came on. I kept asking, and they said they would be back to get me but never did til the middle of the night. Fun!! But other than that, maybe all of us getting our surgeries this year have had different experiences because of Covid. It’s a good excuse anyways....

I am! My surgery date is 11/2! My starting weight before my preop diet was 234. I am 5' 5". My goal weight is 145. I am super excited, but super nervous too!

OMG! My dad is going through a Gout thingy. I understand u hv to change ur diet? From what I understand everyone in here had changed their diets. & yes it is painful. Try to soak ur feet in EPSOM SALT. that seems to help my him (he's 83yrs old).
Gotta question...... I want to complete my profile. Wanted to know .. how do u figure out ur BMI?

I am now 2+ years out from surgery and still maintaining my goal weight. VSG has changed my life in so many ways. But there are negative things or challenges I rarely see people talking about. I'm listing mine in hopes others won't feel alone, please add yours if you'd like. I'm thinking this might be a bit therapeutic as I don't talk about this in real life as no one really understands unless you've been through it.
Things that have become very real for me:
*Body Dysmorphia is real. I currently wear a dress/jean size 6 and tops in XS/S. I know those sizes are amazing and I never would have imagined that's where I would end up. BUT...when I look in the mirror I don't see that size. I still see my butt as huge, My sagging stomach doesn't help but I just can't shake the "fat" thoughts when I see myself.
I recently read that part of this is due to the fact that we tend to over exaggerated what we looked like when we were overweight, so losing that weight still doesn't give us an accurate depiction of who we really are. I try and keep this in mind but I don't know if this will ever go away.
*Addiction Transfer. It took me awhile to realize this but I most definitely transferred my addictive eating to compulsive shopping. I've spent way too much money since going through this process. It's a constant struggle.
*Confidence and Self Worth. This is a good thing for sure. But, I have been struggling in my marriage for a long time. And for years I felt trapped because of my fear for being alone forever - which was driven by the fact that I was overweight and told myself no one else would ever want me. I have a different view now. I've changed physically and emotionally. My spouse has always had different philosophies on life than I have. He has never eaten well, never exercised, and has never wanted to become healthier. I had hoped my success would give him some motivation to do better but it hasn't. That combined with other major issues we have had led to my decision to end my marriage. It's ultimately a positive thing for me as I'm in a toxic relationship but finally have the emotional strength and confidence to do this. It's sad, but it's reality.

Oh the irony! After the first few days I was feeling very little pain. I kept telling people it was really an easy surgery given my lack of pain and I could probably go back to work. And then all the swelling went down. Holy moly I absolutely feel like my insides have been rearranged! I have to be so careful when I move certain ways or I’m way over the threshold. Sleep is the worst. I have a fancy sleep number bed that tracks my sleep and it’s been under 70 for the past two weeks! I keep a pillow on my belly when I’m sitting because my cats don’t get it. I take it all back...it was not an easy surgery...ugh.

How’s everyone doing?! 3 weeks for me know. I’m on soft foods which is nice! Down 38 lbs since the pre op diet started. Really seeing a change now?

The easy answer i found is that it takes away your choice. After the surgery you don’t have a choice anymore. It’s not up to you so you follow the steps. Most of the food is available in the stores in individual packages. You won’t be cooking for quite a while and by then you will welcome the chance for some variety.

Surgery completed and out of recovery.

Too late to join in? 10-26 surgery, lost 19 pounds since I got home.

I drink alot of water and try to keep myself busy as to not think about food. Here in Canada we are on an optifast diet so it is 4 shakes a day plus some vegetables. The first few days were hard as anything. But I keep telling myself it is a means to an end. The is a change I wanted and no one is forcing me into. I ate my way into this position, so now I have to deal with things that come with getting out of this position.
Keep your chin up !

Had my first day of eating today. No more clear fluids! I got the sleeve done. Have lost my bloating and am starting to drop. Just nervous I can eat enough lol.