Radar

I guess the main things I didn't expect the 1st month was:

• I could not sleep flat or on my sides - I had to sleep propped up, like in the hospital bed
• My doctor said I would experience some mild discomfort - I hurt like HELL! for the 1st week.
• I didn't expect how difficult it would be to relearn to digest foods and sometimes it hurt.
• I didn't expect how supportive my best friend, mom and dad, and bariatricpal were going to be.
• I didn't expect to have my food cravings vanish and never return the day after surgery.
• I didn't realize how satisfying it would feel to eat a "normal" portion of food and be full.

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The sleeping thing really concerns me. I have slept on my side since I was a baby. Your post is so helpful. thanks for sharing.

And most importantly, come up with some ideas for family activities that don't involve food, so you can all enjoy it and you don't feel left out. Unfortunately food is a huge part of social and family life, but it's not the only one - if you can't make them give up eating during your family time, meet them half way and get them do something where food is just one of the many things to enjoy. That way you can focus on other aspects and stiil have a great time.

This is much easier said than done in my household. Literally everything revolves around food and nobody is willing to make accommodations or changes to suit you. In fact they will actively try to get you to cheat by saying "One piece won't matter" or "Just have a little bit", or "It's only a light beer".

Also, when you don't do a lot of physical activities, it's hard to plan family things around them. Hopefully once I start shedding pounds and feel like I can do exercises without hurting myself, I can arrange to do family outings where we are doing things rather than sitting around making each other laugh around food and drinks. Until then, I'm on my own. If I asked my wife to keep cooking oil in a different cupboard, she would refuse.

Started my pre op liquid diet only on wed. It has not gone very well first day was a piece of delicious cake. Second day I had a candy bar it was fun sized but still... Next day no cheats. Yesturxay I had bacon...today derailed pretty far its the hardest when I'm home no more cheating for me. I feel like a failure. I hope they still do the surgery for me idk if I can keep up

I have had a few slips too, but remember it's not how many times you fall that matters. It only matters how many times you get up and if you get up just one more time than you fall, you will accomplish anything.

That sounds slot easier than the clear liquid diet

I checked again. It's Clear liquids the day before surgery.

So today is the day! I can't believe it's finally here, it has been a long process to get here,7 months. I didn't think I would sleep at all but I slept all night. I am so ready for this but still a little nervous about the effects after surgery. I am very good with pain but not with nausea, I hope I am one of the lucky ones!

I'm so excited for you!!

So Radar u dont have to do a 2 week liquid diet??

They told me week 1 is 2 Protein shakes and 1 meal of only 3-4 ounces of lean meat and gave me a list of all I can eat veggies. Starting on Monday it's only Protein Shakes until my surgery on the 21st. I wasn't told to do Clear Liquids or anything like that.

I finally got my gastric sleeve video blog started. It's called rebuilding Paul and I have used it for other weight-loss stuff, but have resurrected it for documenting my gastric sleeve experience. Please check it out, subscribe to my channel and share with your friends.

Keep in mind, I'm not very good at video editing and I am using some software I'm unfamiliar with.

Hey everyone,

I had a video blog years ago when I did the Master cleanse, and when I was trying a brand of Protein shakes. I have just restarted my blog to document my gastric sleeve experience. I want to see if I can get some subscribers here. Please subscribe to my channel and share with others.

The blog is called rebuilding Paul! and I hope you'll take a moment to watch it and offer any suggestions you may have. I want these to improve as I go and this community is very helpful.

I started liquids only yesterday for my 22 Sep surgery. I have found that drinking peppermint herbal tea seems to help with the hunger when it hits but I have felt so weak today. I took my Vitamins and had enough Protein and drank my 64 oz of fluids and chicken broth and am not sure what else to do to help. I'm concerned about driving because I feel so light headed and weak.

Any ideas?

I've been drinking a lot of green tea myself. It has always settled my stomach but I also find it helps with hunger.

I am so glad to have found this posting and thank Amber for asking the questions she did and for all of your answers. Two things I would love more info on is why can't some of you take crushed up pills and how do you stop yourself from throwing up?

I still have several more months to go before my sleeve and gallbladder surgery. I have been on the site since June and have learned so much and hope to learn even more. I want to be as prepared as possible. I am physically disabled and hope and pray this surgery will not only help me to lose weight but walk again.

Amber is awesome! She's the best sleeve buddy I could ask for. This thread is going to help a lot of people.

I didn't realize how much money my husband and I were spending on fast food/restaurants BEFORE surgery!! We've saved so much and now since I eat so little...things are lasting alot longer!!! Guess I'll just have to spend my money on other things like shoes n clothes!

I'm looking forward to this benefit. I calculated how much we spend on restaurants per month once and I was shocked.

I would be worried about eating Beans for painful gas reasons

That unjury Soup actually sounds great and your husband sounds like he's really trying to help you out. I only have one kid and I feel overwhelmed sometimes. I can't imagine having 6. Do you ever experience privacy with so many kids?.

I have been doing the Premeir Protein shakes 2-3 times a day and I like the chocolate more than the vanilla. I want to try the strawberry.

The pre-op diet is tough and yesterday I was up at 4am and didnt sleep until 1am do Protein Shakes weren't gonna do it for me.

On the way to work, I had to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting someone and my Protein Shakes hit the floor of my car and one broke open. What a great way to start my day!

When I got to work and cleaned up I knew I was 1 Protein shake short so I cheated and had 2 boiled eggs and an orange.

After I got off work, I was craving fish for my 1 meal of the day and wanted to go to Ports O' Call in San Pedro but my wife insisted on going to Westminster to eat noodles in duck soup so I watched my wife and daughter with my stomach growling at me and I was starting to get a little dizzy and angry. Hungry + Angry = Hangry.

After they ate my wife and daughter ate, they said they felt bad and wanted to go to San Pedro do I can eat fish. Keep in mind it's now 10pm. My wife gets off work after 8pm. My last Protein Shake was at 3pm so I'm almost at 8 hours with nothing after barely anything.

Of course all of tge restaurants were closed like I told my wife they would be and she acted shocked because she was wrong... again... even though she knows EVERYTHING!

I ended up going to a crappy restaurant and ordered fish. By this point my hands were shaking. My wife, who just ate, ordered Salisbury steak. The meals came with soup or salad do I got salad and my wife hot clam chowder.

The restaurant was full and it was about 11pm and they had one waiter who was really a bus boy working the whole restaurant so our food got to the table about 45 minutes later.

At this point I had given up. I tried to be good but I ate some of my wife's soup, had a bite of bread, had some of my wife's Salisbury steak with gravy and mushrooms and I had about 3 ounces of fish with broccoli.

I hope today is better. I think my wife is actively trying to sabotage me. I realize it sounds like I am throwing my wife under the bus. I guess I'm still a bit hangry. I really love her and she wants this surgery for me more than I do. I can't expect her to change her life for me. I just feel like she expects me to keep my life the same for her. I can't eat with her anymore. I can't wait for her to get off work so late anymore before I eat... or drink Protein shakes. So much of my family and social life revolves around sharing food and/or drinks. It's really going to make me feel like an outsider or a pariah that can't be around everyone when food is around.

I'm going to start making my rebuilding PAUL videos again on YouTube today to document my experience and progress. I just created a cool video intro for them. I'll post a link when I get it uploaded.

On the bright side I think I'm down about 13 pounds for the week.

Things I have learned:

1. The gurgling is very embarrassing and noisy!

2. I do get hungry sometimes. I am 3 months out.

3. The scale is an angry beast sometimes and a lover at other times.

4. My poops are weird and it's harder and more time consuming to "go"

5. The full feeling is very different from before my sleeve.

6. 93lbs gone and I can run a little with my cardio

7. I love the Protein shakes

8. Torani Syrup is a Protein Shakes best friend

9. I still have 20lbs or more to go but I see it happening more and more everyday

10. Some days I still feel like the 255lb girl

11. Compliments are plenty, and always nice to hear.

12. Carbs are not that important to me anymore

So many more that I could write!

Please do write more.

This is all really great! I feel like I'm really learning what to expect. Thank you all for sharing.

I'm doing much better today. I don't feel weak or dizzy or jittery. I don't feel super hungry either and I seem to have a bit more energy. I am surprised I was able to adjust this quickly. I can't really say the worst of the pre-op diet is behind me because next week, it's liquid only.

Wish me luck!

I'm feeling much better today. I dont feel dizzy and it was longer before I started feeling hungry.

I would say the worst of the pre-op diet is past me but next week I go from one meal a day to none with 3 Protein shakes instead of 2.

Wait a minute!!! We have to cut out caffeine?!? That's a deal breaker! I have no problem giving up soda or other stuff, although giving up beer makes me sad.

Oh I forgot one!

I guess it may be TMI for some, but after reading all the threds about irregular/ disappearing/never ending periods, I was so surprised to get one on time.

Immidiately there was a new surprise: it sucks not being able to take ibuprofen.

I don't think there is such a thing as TMI when it comes to this. The more information we can share the better. This particular information doesn't apply to me, but it helps other people.

I had my surgery yesterday too and won't be out until at least tomorrow morning. I'm exhausted though, nurses come in every 30 mins it seems like lol.

About 10 years ago, I discovered I had high blood pressure when I was at work with chest pains. They brought me to the hospital for a "stress test" which is supposed to be either getting on a treadmill with electrodes on your body or getting a shot that speeds up your heart... with electrodes on your body. I had to stay overnight. They woke me up every half hour to an hour throughout the night. I asked if that was really the stress test because if it was... it was working.

@@magicalwoman Congratulations ! Welcome to the Club !!!

@Radar My sleeve was outpatient ... I had it done at 8am and was home by 3pm ...

I had no idea you could do that! I thought it was a huge serious thing and they had to keep you for a few days.

Thank you so much for making this post! I really want to know every detail of what I should expect before and after surgery.

You had the surgery yesterday and you're home today!?!? Wow! I thought it was 2-3 days in the hospital before you can go home.

Hey September Sleevers, just wanted to update you guys. Tomorrow makes one week post op. I'm gonna ease my way into full liquids, starting with some Soup for dinner. TMI, but still haven't had a bowel movement, not sure if this is normal or not considering I've only been consuming liquids, but I've been drinking Water like crazy! I would imagine well over 64oz of Water alone plus my Protein. It's been hot in LA, so I've been drinking tons of water. My urine is almost clear so I'm nowhere near dehydrated.

It's still been a struggle to get in the Protein. I had about 40-50grams yesterday between the shakes, and my mom used two of my premier vanilla Protein Shakes from costco and made me some sugar free vanilla pudding out of it. The concept was splendid although it was kinda thick, so I didn't want to eat much of it yesterday, but I'll try more today.

I weighed myself and I'm officially in the two's again! I'm 298, which is awesome considering my starting weight was 343 in April. I was 301 the day of my surgery, 310 two days after, so the excess water weight is finally gone plus a few extra pounds, so I'm ecstatic! I would be highly pleased if I made it to 280 by the end of the month, but I'm not putting pressure on myself.

I'm still having pain in the incision site where they removed everything, but otherwise I'm feeling better overall. I'm planning to start a new thread called "things you didn't expect during your first month post-op" because I've already had some experience unexpected and I think it would be helpful if we shared them with each other. We can post them here too, but I'm also wanting to hear from people who've been sleeved for a while too, as they can help us be better prepared going into our first month. Anyways, I'm still alive and well guys...carry on ✌

I'm super happy to hear you're doing better and excited to see your weight loss. It won't be long until you are in one-derland. I haven't been drinking enough water. My pee was so dark it was almost brown. I can't wait to see your unexpected things post either. Try to get it going before the 21st!

Good luck to those having surgery today! You're probably already in recovery. On to the next step of the journey!

Excellent post. My thoughts are with everyone getting surgery today. Just remember while the pain does suck, getting healthy and looking great are worth it. The pain is temporary but it will add decades to your life.