Malaika

I think it's wise of you to seek someone else - pills are not going to cure your food addictions - it is better to find ways to deal with them aside from pills, IMO. Other than being tiring really easy for about the first month, I felt fine 5 days out ...with the exception of the spasming - but everything else was good - incisions pretty much healed, just tired - I slept whenever I was able. If you follow your surgeon's orders, you'll do great.

Best wishes for a great day - I said a prayer for you. Keep us posted when you're able --- see you on the losing side Sista!

If you have the discipline to stick to what is working for you now, then I say leave things the way they are. I only weight 1x a day, but I know there are others who weigh several times daily -- I don't see the sense in it as your weight is going to fluctuate daily due to Water if nothing else. I haven't been taking my measurements - however, I can tell it in my clothes and that is very rewarding. I would ask your counselor/therapist what she/he thinks and follow their advice as they know you better than any of us.

AWESOME Poem and so right on ... I wish I had your talent.

Get some ice cubes and let them sort of melt and when they are "crunchable" pop one in your mouth - you get to "crunch" without violating your liquid stage. Plus this is one way I get "cold" Water because I can't drink iced water without spasming.

I think I have that flavor left in the fridge, so I will give it a try. The mango melon was good - but too sweet - maybe I'll try diluting that too.

So Cal -- are you only having this feeling at night when you lay down? I had a cough/tickle with excess mucus, every night when I would lay down - never during the day. Dr. Aceves told me to quit eating/drinking 3 hours before bed and to take liquid benadryl -- not only did it help me sleep, which I was having trouble with, it seemed to dry up the excess mucus and in about 5 days the cough went away ... I've suffered with acid reflux for years so I know what I was having was NOT acid reflux. After 5 days of liquid benadryl, I've never had the problems since.

How fun Tiff. My son and DIL brought their Wii over last Saturday and they had a new game pack - it had bowling, table tennis, golf, sword fighting, archery and several others - I think like 16 in all -- they played a few as did Bearded and it seemed like a real work out. I know there are those at work that SWEAR by the yoga, etc. Bearded and I don't even have a Wii (probably one of the few in the world) and when I suggested it, Bearded just gave me 'the look' ... so I guess I'll stick with working out at my friends, and re-incoporate my walking DVDs, pilates and bike riding. Keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Dandi - I found that a heating pad when I wasn't walking really helped the gas or at least the gas pains to go away. Glad you are home and hope you're feeling well other than gassy.

Hi Tabbie - I didn't have the band, I was a virgin sleever, so I can't answer those questions for you. I didn't like the idea of the RNY or dealing with malsborption issues and tons of Vitamins and supplements the rest of my life, so I chose the sleeve and am glad for it. Welcome to our forum family - ask your questions and know that we're here to support you in anyway we can.

Glad you've found a distraction Chancie - thankfully chocolate is just too too sweet for me since surgery - and I really only like dark chocolate, so the other stuff doesn't tempt me. Daisy LOVES her chocolate though, to that I can attest! I am thankful the surgery or whatever it is that caused it has made me totally dislike sweets. Now, give me something salty and crunchy ... luckily if I have 2 or 3 chips or fritos, that's enough to satisfy the craving. ONE day at a time is my mantra!

Dang that's a long time on liquids -- I thought 10 on clear, 10 on fulls was bad enough -- 10 on mushies wasn't bad, except that I was actually on them a lot longer than that -- I am just now venturing into real "solid" food and I do it very cautiously. Hang in there, you'll make it through it and watching the scale move down is always a GREAT incentive!

That sounds great - would love to go to Australia -- will make it there one day! Yes, this is my 3rd one - first one was 5 days, 2nd was 10 (very very long days) and this one will be 7 days. The 10 day cruise was on Holland America -- I think I was the youngest person on the ship ... average age of cruises was 67 ... have found out since it's called the Geriatric Cruise Line -- didn't know that when we booked it. Oh well, live and learn. I think we may do a 14 day Hawaiian Cruise for our honeymoon next October and have heard that Princess Cruise Lines is a great one. Have you joined Roll Call yet? It's great - we've got a meet-n-greet set up our first night on the ship with a lot of other cruisers! (Sorry for hijacking your thread Alisia!)

Yes, they are very painful. Early out I felt like even Water was getting stuck. That is why I had the Upper GI when Bearded had his sleeve surgery - I'd dealt with it for a month and it wasn't getting any better - that is when they found the spasms ... I didn't say anything in the hospital because I just assumed (dangerous!) that it was normal and part of the surgery. When it didn't get better, and in fact got worse, that is when I started complaining to Gaby. I did have a hiatal hernia repaired so that may be what caused the problem -- Dr. Campos said one month out I still had swelling and that there was some scar tissue. I'd say the past 2, maybe 3 weeks, things have started improving -- or I've learned to deal with it -- I ONLY drink WARM beverages in the morning until lunch time - I don't try to eat anything before then. At lunch I am able to eat pretty much anything as long as it is very moist (scrambled eggs still don't go down well and neither did potatoe skins). The same is true for dinner. I've also found that drinking something really cold will start me spasming, so I've turned to sucking on ice cubes-- I get the cold, but the liquid trickles down my throat and doesn't cause it it spasm. Hang in their SoCal it does get better -- I think, finally, at almost 3 months out I am no longer having the thought "WHAT THE HELL DID I DO?" and am leaning more and more towards "loving my sleeve". I am down 42.2 lbs. as of this morning and my surgery was 6/12/09. Any other questions, feel free to ask - I'll be honest!

This is the one and only drink I have found that I am able to tolerate - and the ONLY flavor I have found that I do not find too sweet is FUJI APPLE PEAR ... Hayley, give it a try -- just buy 1 bottle and see what you think -- they have other flavors, too, but they were too sweet. Bearded says it's th FUJI APPLE PEAR is not sweet at all and I find it absolutely perfect ...just a very subtle aftertaste of pear. I found it at Wal-Mart for $1/bottle - unfortunately they only had 5 bottles, but I'll be back to get more this week. All the other Protein drinks are just too thick and too sickening sweet. I guess since I'm almost 3 months out from surgery that this too sweet situation is going to remain with me -- thank goodness the supersonic smelling has dissipated somewhat. Good luck on finding a beverage/protein drink you can tolerate.

Sounds like a great way to spend your day. As for your boss - to heck with her, she can just get happy in the same clothes she got unhappy in - it's not her choice and she CAN'T fire you for being out on medical leave - if she does - SUE HER! you'll be able to do the 3 days of liquids - if it gets too difficult, just remember to focus on the prize - anything worth having is worth fighting for ... and the sleeve is worth having! Hang in there and keep us posted.

carnival - victory

Welcome to the forum Iluvthesun. I haven't read anyone saying they had surgery in Canada; I know there is a post from Canada having it done in Baltimore (I think). I love your "area" of Canada -- have never been to PEI; however, did have the opportunity to visit Montreal, Quebec City, The Sagnay (?), all the surrounding areas, and Iles de la Madeleine. BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY --- even got pretty good at reading a menu in French! If you have any questions whatsoever, don't hesitate to ask, someone (or lots of someones) will have a response for you.

Well that's a positive note Hayley - glad to hear something good is going your way ... let's hope and pray that the next 6-7 weeks is nothing but positive!

Go into User CP and edit signature - you can add the information in there under your ticker then click preview signature and if you're happy with the way it all looks, then be sure to click on save signature before exiting.

Oregon Rose - congrats on your surgery - glad it went well and you're home. Sorry to hear you are in pain - I didn't have anything like that - didn't take pain meds after day 1 and most definitely didn't come home with anything -- my incisions were a bit sore- more like sore muscles for about 1 week ... just keep doing your walking and hopefully things will begin to feel normal again, soon.

WOW SoCal so sorry to hear you were in so much pain -- I can sympathize with you on the spasming - it sucks big time and you gave a great description of how it feels. I'm glad I didn't have the pain - I do remember wondering in recovery what the heck had I done as I was in some pain; however by the time I was fully awake, it was more uncomfortable than pain. Hope you get to feeling better soon -- walk walk walk is the best thing to do.

Welcome to the forum and our family ... can't speak for the test study - but wanted to welcome you.

We're going to the southern carribbean and we leave on 9/5 for San Juan. One week from tomorrow -- woo hoo!!!!

Being in Las Vegas where there is no humidity my skin is always dry and itchy so can tell no difference - gonna love what the humidity is going to do to my skin while on the cruise ...