Texarkolina

I am 5 1/2 months out. I am down 69 pounds. I can eat anything except--believe it or not--salads. I can eat more than what I think I should be able to at this point--probably an entire cup. I have no problems getting all my fluids in now. I have slowed way down on my weight loss. I am now at about a pound a week. I don't exercise like I should, so I am gearing that up.

I am 4 months out and have been losing hair for about a month now. This article explained it well and really helped me accept what was happening--and assured me that it will stop. http://www.slhn.org/...ss.designed.pdf

Yeah--did the food funerals a little myself. Like there were a few baconators involved. Before surgery, I though I was saying "good bye" to my old friend food and giving up my ability to enjoy eating. Now, at 3 months out, I realize that is not how I feel at all. I finally feel free from my huge appetite that has been controlling me my whole life. It is like I have a secret super power--I can be satisfied with a tiny amount of food. Plus...I enjoy eating now every bit as much, if not more, than I did before. It is like I can eat slowly and savor my food rather than gulping it down as my appetite pushed me to do before the surgery. What you are going through is normal--don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck on your sleeve!

That is outstanding! Can you share your daily goals in regards to fluids, grams of Protein, grams of carbs, total calories and exercise? I would really appreciate it.

I so understand what you are saying. I had the sleeve so that I WOULDN'T T have to obsess forever. I know some people do, and they probably are losing faster than I am. I am living my life now. I am careful, but if the group at work wants to go out to eat, I go. I order something soft enough to eat comfortably and eat what I want of it. I don't get all upset and paranoid about the carbs, protein, etc. I am not eating ice cream for dinner or anything, but I think with the sleeve you can find a good balance between being the food police and living a life.

I am 2 1/2 months out so the memories of the post-op weeks are really fresh. I had a pretty rough time, too. I thought I had made a huge mistake, but now I am happy with my choice. It is hard. The hunger-like feeling for me was too much acid--an acid reducer made it stop. I couldn't get fluids in, either. I know they say to do sugar free everything, but a normal Popsicle really helped me. When you get to where it is allowed by your diet, you may want to try egg drop soup. Those two things went down well and gave me some energy. I didn't feel human again after the surgery for 6 weeks. I know most of us don't realize it going in, but it was a major surgery followed by a period of malnutrition. If you get through that without feeling run down and borderline depressed you are the exception, not the rule. I am 10 weeks out now, and I feel good again. I can eat--feel satisfied--and I am losing. You will get here.

So what does everyone's surgeon say about how much you will lose. I am losing slowly and I am trying to figure out if my expectations are unrealistic or my weight loss is less than expected? Oh--and my scale is a fickle little witch.....

That is a combination of pre and post op. I was at 300 pounds when I started the pre-op diet. I was 286 on surgery day, and I am now 256. The majority of my weight loss was during the pre-op and 3 weeks following surgery. Since then....I am losing around a pound a week.

I used it for 3 weeks after surgery. I also used it for 7 months twice a day during pregnancy. Some tips that I learned the hard way.....wait until the alcohol is completely dry.....insert needle quickly (less pain)......push plunger in very very very very slowly (decreases bruising), and do not rub the site at all. It was really no big deal for me, but if takes a little bit to get used to injecting yourself. Good luck!

You should call your doctor---there is no way you can tell if it is gas or a leak. Most of the time the gas is gone by 9 days out. Question---has your drain been removed? I know most have by this point, but mine was still in at 9 days out and was the source of a ton of left shoulder pain for me.

I know how you feel---I could tell a change in my daughter the first day I started to feel better--so did she. I would advise family/friends help--perhaps taking the kids for the afternoon a little. You need rest. If that is not possible--just hang in there--it gets better.

Pre-op diet sucks and is hard for everyone. Do not get down on yourself about it. You will be absolutely fine. I was never asked about the diet after I started it and most people are not. I worried myself to death and cheated way more than that and it was ok. I still lost weight, which was the goal. Stay strong--help (your sleeve) is on the way! If it helps you any, it is so much easier after the sleeve.

I have a super-skinny friend who smokes. She is confused as to how people get really big--but not judgmental. As a former smoker, I was able to draw a comparison--the craving she felt when she needed a cigarette is very similar to the craving I felt for food. However, one cigarette would cure her craving, it took a large meal--like a restaurant meal plus--to make my craving go away. The light came on for her then......she said, "I guess the brain of a big person is wired differently because I never want to eat unless my stomach is growling." Of course, this lady WANTED to understand. She feels compassion for people who struggle with obesity and sees it as something she is very glad she doesn't have to deal with. So, realize that there are people out there that have a good attitude and will be supportive. Your coworker, sounds like a mean, judgmental person who basically needs to F&$@ off. You were nice. I would have said something very rude like, "funny, I don't recall giving a crap what you think" or something equally childish. It amazes me that some people feel free to vomit their opinions about your personal life all over you like that. Stay strong!

Welcome!

I am one of those who had a horrible time with the surgery--lots of pain and complications--you don't want to hear it. I am on day 16 now, and I am on the upswing. I guess my advice would be if you could just wake up tomorrow and be sleeved--without having to go through it--would you want that? If so, go for it. Even though I have had a rough time I can say that my appetite is gone--I definitely feel restriction, and I am excited about what the future holds. I was miserable for 2 weeks--but then again, it was just 2 weeks.......