BriDawn

Mine started with feeling like I had no energy at all. I was in high school and missed day after day because I was literally falling asleep on my desk. Then I woke up one day and had terrible upper back pain as well. I only had two actual attacks. It felt like a horribly stabbing pain right under my left breast. It would make me double over and just sob for the half hour or hour it lasted. Super unpleasant.

Sleeved 4/22 and down 15 lbs. Stalled the last week and a half now.

Are you drinking a lot of milk? My first couple weeks on full fluids, I drank a ton my milk to get my Protein in and the back of my tongue turned white from it.

I had mine removed when I was 16. I had been on the Bernstein diet, lost way weight too fast and ended up with gallstones. I'd definitely get the removal. Honestly, the gallstone attacks I had were the worst pain I'd ever experienced. And I had very little complications after removal. I sometimes get diarrhea if I eat a fattening meal (before my sleeve that is!) but other than that, I wasn't feeling any different.

First photo is day before surgery on April 21. Second one is from today. I didn't notice the difference until I put then side by side!

Left photo from April 21 (day before surgery) Right photo from today!

Definitely! And you're talking to someone who had several HUGE panic attacks the first week. I was full of regret and feeling so depressed. I had no energy. Now I'm back to work, walking an hour a day, eating pretty regular food. It gets better fast!

I remember feeling similarly. Scared to put anything in my mouth in case I threw it back up or had it get stuck. Just start slow with whatever you're comfortable with. Some apple sauce? Yogurt? Soup? Something that will slide down easy. Then slowly progress to the things like mashed veggies, egg salad, etc. I'm 3 weeks out as of Monday and I'm eating fish and chicken, potato salad, egg salad, cooked veggies, lots of low fat cheese! Life is feeling normal again.

Highest weight: 260/ BMI 40 Surgery weight: 240/ BMI 36.5 Today's weight @ ~3 weeks post op: 225/ BMI 34 Right now my only exercise is walking. But I love working out so I'm impatiently waiting to start back up. I take boot camp and kickboxing classes and am also going to start the couch to 5K with my sister. I eat ~1000 calories a day right now with 65-75g of Protein, low carb and fat. Try to get at least 8 glasses of fluids a day. I've been stalled at the 15lb weight loss for over a week now! Just waiting it out...

I was sleeved 4/22 and lost 15 lbs in the first two weeks, which I was thrilled with. Now I've been stuck at the same weight for the last week straight. I walk daily, drink ~7 cups of liquid a day, get 60-75 g of protein, and am sitting around 1000 calories usually. I know this is normal and my body is playing catch up and everything. Just wondering everyone else's experiences with this. Anyway for me to help that scale move? Or about when did it start moving for you again?

This is getting out of control guys. Seriously, just stop. I didn't think asking this question would actually end in me unsubscribing from my own thread because it's getting THAT annoying. I don't see why anyone cares what another person chooses to say... I just wanted some thoughts on good cover stories since I feel that it's not the world's business to know. I would really rather my coworkers didn't define me by my surgery. But either way, to each their own. It's starting to sound like angry children in here. Thanks to those that actually helped me. I'm officially done with the thread though!

Phew, this sure blew up. I think I'll probably end up telling them that I've had some abdominal surgery because I had stomach issues. And that I'm now on a medically supervised diet. Not really untrue. I don't want to tell them about my sleeve because honestly, I don't feel like talking about it all day long. I don't need the constant questions about it. This is something I've done for myself but it isn't something that I want to take over my life. I just don't need coworkers constantly eyeing what I'm eating, asking about it, asking how much weight I've lost, etc etc. especially if I stall or anything else.

My household had a cold going around. I'm two weeks post op and due back at work next week so is obviously like to avoid getting sick. Are we allowed to take Cold Fx?

I asked something similar a few days ago too. I'm two weeks out today and I've been having pains like that for about five days now. For me, it feels like it's in and around the muscle where my stomach is. Kind of under the bellybutton incision area. When I stand up from sitting, it feels kind of like a hot poker is stabbing me. Anywho, I called my nurse today and she says it's all normal. My muscles are healing and there's also an internal stitch in there that can cause that painful ripping feeling. I feel better everyday and feel worse if I overdo anything, like bringing in groceries yesterday (bad idea) or playing with my nephew. Take it easy, take some Tylenol. And I found a heating pack really helped too. Also, if it's bothering you a lot or you're worried then call your doctor/surgeon!

I am two weeks out today and started "soft solids" which is the stage that does allow easily dissolvable "breads" such as saltine crackers. (For me, that is, all doctors are different.) I had two saltines with about 1 t of light cream cheese on each and then two smoked oysters on each. Went down easier than my salmon filet did! Just chew it up and it turns into mush. Was really tasty.

Wouldn't that make you three weeks out? Next week will be my three weeks and I'll still be on soft foods like fish, mashed potatoes, Beans, etc. I was told to avoid raw fruit and veggies until the 4-6 week mark.

All right. So I'm due back at work next week and I'm definitely ready to get out of the house! My question is, what did you guys tell people when you didn't want to reveal the real surgery? I'm at a loss. Some coworkers can be inquisitive. I won't say "nosey" because they're all very nice, but I'm sure they'll ask where I've been for 3 weeks and notice the ~15 lbs lost! My thoughts were to say something about stomach ulcers. Or maybe something about my PCOS. I DO have PCOS and that's a major cause of my weight gain, so it's not a huge lie. And then part of me wants to just tell the truth... Worded in a way like "my PCOS was bad and my insulin was skyrocketing (all true!) so I had this surgery to help me lose weight and fix the issues." I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing but was just interested in what you guys told others. I'm a "lightweight" so I feel like this may confuse some of them or even insult some of the ladies who are larger than me. Any tips?

I think it's because some people find it harder to digest the skins. Can make their stomachs upset. Kind of like how you need to be careful with breads or sweets.

Thanks guys. I'm not too worried. I feel fine otherwise and just checked my temperature to be safe and it was good. I'm gonna call my nurse tomorrow to double check though!

I'm only two weeks out so right now I obviously feel different than others. But does that mentality go away? When you're able to eat "normal" food, do you still feel funny when you're, say, out to dinner with friends or at a work lunch or something like that? Or do you feel like you can eat a smaller meal that appears quite average? I just hate that feeling of being the odd one out.

Just wondering if it's normal. From what I've read, it seems to be. It's near the incision by my belly button, and it's like a tearing, burning pain that is worst any time I use my abs, like getting up from sitting, turning in bed, etc. Is this something to do with the inner sutures, muscles healing, scar tissue, or what? I'll be two weeks out tomorrow. About when should I expect it to stop? I'm taking Tylenol and using a heating pack but it's still bothersome.

I keep waking up with a sore throat. Not like scratchy but sore in an achey, punched-in-the-throat kind of way. It goes away within a half hour of waking up. I'm 8 days post op. Could it still be related to the anesthesia? Or could it be acid reflux (something I've never had before). I don't feel like I'm burping anything up or anything. Or is this just normal when I'm adjusting to getting my liquids in? Hmm.

Down 12lbs. Yes I'm happy about that but right now it doesn't feel worth it. Maybe because I can't see the weightloss yet or maybe my hormones are going wild. I dunno. Just feeling miserable today.

I had my surgery last Monday, so 7 days post op now. Still on full fluids with some apple sauce and yogurt and such added in. I felt fine up to yesterday when I just had NO energy at all and then again today, along with some nausea. Haven't been able to eat much of anything today, just trying to keep liquids in. I know people says its normal to feel regret in the first couple weeks. Did you? Does it really get better? I just want to eat a normal (smaller) meal. I do want, and need, to lose weight. And I'm trying to keep reminding myself why I did this but it's getting really damn hard and depressing. How did you feel early post op? How is your life farther out now?

I bought a chocolate powder at Walmart and I got the Fuzzy Navel and Latte powders from Syntrax. No matter how much I shake them (with the blender ball bottle) or stir/whisk them, there's always lumps floating in it. And the powder settles to the bottom of the glass. Blending it does help but it leaves a lot of foam in the drink. And foam = more gas I don't need! Advice???