Lee

Chrissy, I'm so sorry it hurt! I hope the memory of the pain will fade quickly. Tam, congrats on the appt. Ash, remember that the only important thing right now is sipping, walking and being very mindful that you have three layers of staples guarding your Sleeve right now. Everything is very tender. You have to follow instructions perfectly so that you don't develop a leak. The stories of leak people is brutal and terrifying generally involving weeks/months in and out of the hospital. Measure exactly the food that they have you eating. Are you onto full liquids yet? Trader Joe's box of Bean Soup is fantastic as is the Organic Creamy Tomato. I didn't get hungry until Day 10 when I had 1/4 cup of Cream of Wheat. That was a big mistake as just that much carbs set off the hunger cycle. After that I stuck to thin Greek Yogurt and soup. Feelings of hunger can also be from Sleeve irritation. Get in your fluids and suck on no sugar popcicles. Once you get to the pureed stage you won't be hungry anymore.

I would call everyday Tamra. They'll get to sick of you that they'll give you the next cancellation.

Tina, I think you're doing great with this new motivation you've found. Keep up the good work. You're going to get to goal!! Pam, how is your food plan working for you? John, have a great time camping! Ali - how cool that you found great prices at the thrift store!

Ash, you may do better with warm broth than water. Many people like the warmth. I liked cold on my swollen Sleeve. I got No Sugar added Popcicles and they are 2 oz of fluids each. The first few days I had a glass by the sink and threw my sticks in there to count the ounces. My favorite drink was Sobe Vitamin Water Zero Calorie in the Fugi Apple Pear flavor. It tastes like watered down apple juice and is very yummy. I'd pour a glass of 4 ounces every hour and sip on it. Days 3 and 4 I was getting in 32 ounces. Day 5 I upped it to 64 oz. Sip slowly. I drank and still drink a lot of hot herbal tea. I'm not a big crystal light fan but I do drink it now to get in more fluids. Walk around a lot and it helps the fluids go down and the gas come out. Every time the phone rings, walk around the house while you talk. I slept on raised pillows. I was miserable from the stomach acid until around day 5 or 6. I slept on four pillows until around day 10 because I was afraid not to. My Sleeve is still irritated so I've had to learn which foods I do better with. Spicy things are definitely out now. I tried some jalapenos during month two but it doesn't work for me. For me the irritation feels like hungry so it's hard to figure out. Keep asking questions. One of us will have an opinion.

Congratulations on your surgery and getting out of the 300's forever!!

Anna! I can't believe it's been two months! Congratulations on a fabulous journey. You're really rockin your Sleeve!

Congratulations on graduating out of the WP sizes and into the P's. How cool is that! I hope you're really proud of yourself because you're doing an awesome job.

It really does get better! I'm three months out and just hit my first wall of fatigue. Reading this thread I just realized I changed Vitamins and I don't think I'm getting the Iron right now. Thanks Tiffy for that heads-up. I take 2 Multi, 1 B12, Dry D3, B Complex, 6 calcium citrate chews from Bariatric Advantage, Biotin when I can remember and 2 Protonix daily.

MAMA ASH! So glad to see you posting on here. I can't wait to read all the details. John, 40 pounds in three months. Hmmmm.... I'll trade you my 30 and take your 40! Pam, I've never heard of that but I don't pay attention to Banders unless it's on this thread.

Pam, shrimp and chicken may be considered soft foods for Sleeve but I threw up constantly when trying to introduce foods. I still have difficulty with both of those items. I'm on regular food now. I had two slices thin ham/ 1/2 a string cheese roll up today and was sick for two hours after lunch. I couldn't finish it. Sleeves can be pretty finicky. Mine definitely hasn't been user friendly lately. Dr. Baggs put me on Carafate last Friday to see if my Sleeve would settle down. Ali, I'm amazed you could get down that much food. That would be a big challenge for me at this point. Every sleeve is so different. I think it's great that you're doing so well! Keep up the good work. :biggrin:

ASH!!! You rock girl. I can't wait till you can post that you're home and doing fine. Congratulations and sit right here on the Loser's Bench when you're able to sit up. Analynn, two hours of Liz and two hours of Robin at the class. Bring all of your vitamin bottles so that Robin can check them for you to be sure you're on target. Why two days in the hospital? They tell us all that but so far, everyone has gotten out the next day. The worst part of the sleeve is no water or ice chips until your leak test the second day. My mouth was so dry. They give you these disgusting lemon flavored sponges to wipe your lips. Liz told me not to bring a phone or iPod because if you leave in on a tray or something, they get dumped in the trash. I just brought the clothes I was wearing (no undies) and slide on shoes. It's great to have a pillow to hold up to your abdomen on the ride home in case of bumps. The meds are great, you won't want to do anything except sleep in the hospital. Meds on the hour, BP the next hour, walk every four hours all night and nothing is coordinated so you basically don't sleep. After the leak test they bring you a tray of broth, jello and water and a 1 ounce cup. They say once you've had 8 ounces, 1 every 15 minutes, you can go home. I got down 5 and proclaimed myself done and said it was 8 because it was 4pm and I wanted out of there. I was home alone that night and had no problems. Chrissy, so sorry you've been sick. :biggrin: I'm so sorry you were treated so rudely! That really sux. You've done a great job losing your weight so quickly and being so dedicated to the program. I'm having a blah week. I need some sunshine and swimming!

John, My understanding is that the RNY people have another class at 3 months. Not sure about Banders. For us Sleeve peeps, we see the surgeon and get advanced at the three month checkup so Doc Fisher will do that with you. In reality, Baggs and me didn't even discuss the food plan at the appointment. I think we both forgot but I took out the binder and had a look at it. I did tell him at the apt that I'm still basically eating protein because not much else fits in after that. I had some steak a couple weeks ago. Fatty rib-eye was ok, lean flank steak went in the dump. It's amazing how fatty or sauced stuff can slide right down and everything else slides right back up! I can't wait to hear how you slaughtered me on the scale! :tongue2:

Ash, Good Luck tomorrow! We've got room on the Loser's Bench for you! :tongue2: Ali, fabulous first month for you! Congratulations!

happy birthday mo!!!

I'm so sorry you're not feeling well. At your stage I was just moving to full liquids. I don't think I would have kept down yogurt yet. I discovered that I was reacting to the whey in Protein shakes from day 5 to day 10 and had violent runs. I moved to Protein Shakes without lactose and it started to get better. I had the gurgly sleeve for a long time. When I saw my surgeon on Friday he gave me a liquid called Carafate that is generally given to RNY patients. I'm using it 4x a day and it's soothing my stomach so that things stay down better. Can you drink broth for a day to soothe your Sleeve? Try popsicles, not fudgecicles to suck on. Each popcicle is 2 oz of fluids. You'll get to solid foods but it's still really early out. Be easy on yourself and just try to get hydrated. food will come. I was eating less than 250 calories a day until two weeks out. I promise it will be fine. It's very normal to be low energy after surgery. Feel better!

Happy Sunday everyone! It finally turned into a beautiful day. I took BART over to the Ferry Building in SF to have lunch with my best friend from 3rd to 12th grade. What fun catching up on old times. It felt really great to want to walk around. I had lots of energy and it made me really grateful for my surgery. I hope you're all out having fun! :thumbup:

Tina, I only know what Dr. Baggs gives me so the answer is no, this is the first time he's given me a goal. When I asked him, he said he doesn't go by numbers (protein etc). It's probably different for Banders because you need the follow-up care for fills. Sleevers just get blood work every three months and I guess a visit with the surgeon every three months. I have a feeling that's until Year 1, then it may change to every 6 months or once a year. I like seeing the doc because he inspires me to really go for it. I understand the challenge of vegetarianism. I was a vegetarian in my 20's then vegan for 9 years in my 40's, raw vegan for 3 years in my 50's. You can do this! Are you getting in all of your vitamins? I never took them before surgery until the month pre-op but now I'm all over them to try to stay healthy. Let me know if you're in and I'll send you a PM. Have you ever been over to Obesity Help forum?

I used the homeopathic remedy after my gallbladder removal in November, then again in February for VSG and didn't have trouble with gas from either one. That said, I had my VSG during the Olympics and my son proclaimed my ability to pass gas my own private Olympic event!

Hi Tina, I didn't get to choose my goals for the challenge. This is what Dr. Baggs set for me. I like that he pushes me to do more than what I think I can do. As far as your personal challenge, take time to figure out where you would like to see yourself in three months. That said, put some oomph into it, not just drink 64 oz of fluids a day but something that will personally challenge you. I need to add the 64 oz a day to my own challenge. :thumbup: I need my challenge to be menu, miles, 64 oz fluids and daily vitamins. Summer is the easiest time because the weather is good and it's easier to be motivated. Come up with what works for you. Set mini goals along the way if that works. I'm going to really think about mine.

Hi Ash, I bought the GasX strips but really didn't need them. I use a homeopathic product called Carbo Vegetabilis which you pop a few tiny balls (homeopathic) under your tongue and it works great. You can put a few balls into your drinking water and just sip it. Health food stores should carry them. I also use a homeopathic remedy post-op to promote healing.

Happy Saturday everyone! I just finished my 3.5 mile walk so now I can relax. It's windy and beautiful on the lake today. I'm gearing up for the 25 pound challenge Dr. Baggs laid down for me. I have until my 6 month checkup around August 20th to shed 25 pounds. I'm going to need more than an hour a day of exercise and perfect eating. ACK! I've always given up before the challenge even started but this time I'm going for it. His goal for me is a 30 BMI which is 174 pounds. I was 198.6 on the Kaiser scale yesterday so I have 25 to get there. Anyone up for a good summer challenge? Pick your goal and plan how you're going to achieve it. Anyone want to play? 2010 Summer Challenge 1. My goal is 25 pounds by August 20th 2. Exercise a minimum of 1 hour a day at least 6 days a week to include walking, hiking, biking, swimming, gym and anything fun I can come up with 3. Weigh Daily - except while in France 4. Track on Myfitnesspal.com Calories - 800 Carbs - under 40 Protein - over 70

I saw Dr. Baggs today for my three month follow-up. He was really pleased with my progress and said that at 30 pounds down, I was ahead of the game. I asked him for a goal for my next three months which he refused to say, then later changed his mind. He said he wants me to be "overweight" for my 6 month visit. Owie, that's another 25 pounds in three months. He said that the weather is good and I will want to exercise more than 60 minutes a day. He attributes my success to following the plan and exercising. I told him that I'm adding that occasional protein shake to keep my energy up. I didn't want to feel like I was hiding my eating behavior. All my blood work looks great and he said to just keep up my routine. I thought that I was producing too much stomach acid and that's why I've thrown up and had some problems. He said the Protonix was the best thing for me but he did a liquid med 4x a day to sooth my Sleeve. He thinks it irritated and that's why it's complaining at me. I was glad to hear that it's most likely not actual hunger only a short time after eating. So now I guess it's up to me to kick butt the next three months! :thumbup:

Reggie, I'm so glad you came to say what's up for you. Please keep coming back for a few reasons, first we all miss you and second that it can be helpful to share what's going on and realize that you're not the only one. You might read something that clicks for you and helps you move on in your journey. The problem with the surgery is that it works on our insides but not on our heads. I spent over 15 years in OA. There are other groups out there. You might like to check out one. They're anonymous and free. Good luck and please keep coming back.

WTG Chrissy! ASH, you're so close. How are you doing? Riley, how did your surgery go? So many upcoming surgeries... so exciting for everyone! YAY!!! The conversation yesterday was great. Pam, I loved the small goals that you posted. I haven't been below 189 since I was in my 20's. That's my next goal. This morning 196.8. I'm hoping to see it before vacation on 6/11/2010 because it would rock my world. As far as the pouch test. What I have been thinking the last few days is that some/many of us spent years dieting. If we screwed up the diet, first we'd binge, then we'd punish ourselves with the strictest thing we could do, like the pouch test. It's not really a pouch test because we can't break our tool. What gets broken is our eating, not the tool. It feels like another punishment for being obese and needing something to please work for a change. I think the change has to be internal. It has to be that for once we have a plan and we trust that if we work our plan, it along with our tool, will work for us. I've punished myself with food for close to 50 years. I'm done with that. I pray to just be able to continue to log my food, eat the right combination of calories, carbs and protein to do what my body needs to do and exercise doing fun things. I hope that one day, these calculations will include how to maintain the weight because it will be gone. Our journey's are so different. I feel like my 15+ years in OA gave me the foundation to follow a plan and ask for help when I need it. So if you ever see me talking "pouch test", please remind me that nothing is broken and that I just need to go back to basics if I get off track. :laugh: Wishing everyone a great "planned" day.

Good Morning! Just a reminder that tonight is the Kaiser Support group meeting. I hope to see some of you there! :w00t: