Tracytma

Do it! I had my 3 month check up today. I have lost 50 pounds in that time weighing in at 216 today. I am 45 and 5'10 and can't wear the majority of my clothes . I feel great, surgery wasn't bad at all. I haven't told anyone and everyone is asking me about how much weight I have lost.

Tomorrow is my one week anniversary.
Things I have come to know:
The date took forever and arrived quickly all at the same time!
When I woke up in recovery I was in a lot of pain and wanted ice/water so bad I would have sold my sole to get it. I had to wait on the ice chips, but I did get something for the pain.
I asked for pain meds when I needed them... And took them when offered. I wasn't out to be anyones hero!
The "gas" pain settled in my back... It was as bad as the stomach pain. Thank goodness it was gone by Friday.
Of all the things I carried to the hospital the only thing I used was my house shoes and my house coat for walking. I didn't care about my cell phone, iPad, music, ebooks.... Nothing... I slept, I walked, I slept some more.
Once home a hot shower felt so good... But I stayed in to long.... I was almost sick I have to be careful every day... I love the hot Water but it can't stay in long.
Either from sleeping on my stomach or over compensating for my stomach I had a BAD back ache starting Friday until Monday. Some days it hurt more than my stomach.
Taking my meds (thyroid, BP, and bladder) was easy the first couple of days, now I have to spread them out or I feel sick.
I haven't taken any pain meds during the day since Sunday... Only at night the last two days. I'm going to try tonight with no pain meds and see how I sleep.< /p>
I don't like milk, never have. The first couple of days I was getting in broth or water.... Very little milk. Now I focus on the milk. My stomach is more sensitive now then the first couple of days. Today I will get in my 32 oz of milk and a spoon full of Jello. If I feel weak I drink apple juice/water... About 1/4 cup. But I have to drink the milk! I add sugar free caramel sauce to get it down. Sometimes I drink it cold... Mostly warm.
I went out to Breakfast with my husband and friends Sunday after surgery.. I simply told them that I had surgery and the doctor had me on a liquid diet. I carried my milk in a thermal cup and poured it in the cup from the restaurant a little at a time..... I sipped my milk and had a great time!
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve... I'm glad I had my surgery! People eating around me doesn't bother me... This is my present to myself and my family... I healthier me in the New Year!

Hi Anna, Went in on a Monday & had surgery that morning & out of hospital by Friday lunch. I had no complications (diabetes, gall stones, blood pressure etc), so I had max pain relief with no pain at all. First 24hrs were in High Dependency Unit where they were perfect - couldn't have had better care. Do everything they tell you, i.e. breathing exercise to help clear 'gunk in bottom of your lungs' & trapped gas from surgery. Do them as much as you can. As soon as they remove catheter & it's ok, take little walks often. Sit out in chair frequently. Really, the most important thing is to do what you are advised to do & to take personal responsibility for your recovery. I was on solids by the time I went home. In US they seem to be on liquid for a few weeks. I bought baby 2oz containers (8) in a tray (Tesco) & poached cod & then froze with a little sauce (pureed veg). I also bought a Kl of pure whey Protein with no sugar or anything added (9.3g Protein per 10g) which is invaluable for smoothie breaks etc.. Stock up your freezer a bit before you go in. Take your supplements. This surgery is not a get out of jail card - you have to eat healthily, no take aways, no junk food, high protein, and get exercise every day. Keep a food journal - I think this is so important. You can track how your weight loss tallies with your food intake, if & when you have lows - you will be able to tell your nurse/doc exactly what you are doing AND it keeps you mindful (most important). I have felt fantastic from Day1 out of hospital, great energy, no Constipation, no pain etc, I've been mowing lawn, weeding & hearty gardening. Third week had a few low days (which coincided with no apparent weight loss??) so I started doing some HIT exercising (this is my downfall so I got my son to coach me & badger me if necessary to do some exercise every day). I haven't had any 'radical weightloss weeks' like some people, I've lost a steady 3/4lbs every week which I am now starting to notice (& everyone else). I didn't have to go back to work. I would say ideally, it would be great if you could have 3 weeks to get yourself into a routine, by then you'll have encountered most issues related to early post op & time to have confidence in handling yourself in public situations. Having said that, you could, if you had to, go back after a week home - just make sure your in bed early every night & you get all of your nutrition. A very long answer, but I know I would have welcomed the above before my surgery, so possibly you may too.

This is a great topic! I appreciate you for bringing this up @ellie123. I think that you pretty much answered your question for yourself on what would be best to do. But, if I could offer my two cents I'll tell you how I'm going to handle this. At first I was on the fence about telling anyone (other then my wife of course). The big thing with getting this surgery I find is the mental edge you have to keep. It's already so hard having this issue with food, and worrying about the scale and just the overall stress of the surgery in itself. People are going to judge. That's just want people do. So go into this knowing that. With that being said if I were in your shoes I wouldn't tell anyone who DOESN'T need to know. This is your decision and it's your life. People have to realize and understand that it is okay for YOU to make a decision in your life for yourself. One thing that really bugs me is people who don't have a weight problem and other obesity related issues can actually have the NERVE to even suggest that I should try something different. I told my Aunt with my wife that I was getting the surgery and her and my Uncle just jumped down my throat like if you've already lost 25 pounds you can lose 100 pounds, it might two you 3 years to do it but you can do it. The fact that she said that tells me that she just doesn't understand. I had to tell her because we need her to keep our son during the time I'm in the hospital. But, I will NOT be telling any other family members. The reason why I've done so well with my life change so far is because I have no added stress. People don't know I'm on a change (with my eating and working out) I don't broadcast it. I already have sooo much other stuff to worry about. After the surgery once I start losing weight faster I know that people will ask. And a few of my friends who I know won't judge me I'll tell. Other's I'll just say I've changed my life learning about weight and nutrition. It's not lying because that's exactly what he all are doing. We're changing how we look at food and how it pertains to our lives. I hope you decide to not bring more added stress to your life and keep it between yourself until you get to a point where you can handle telling people. Good luck @Ellie123. Also, congrats on your 5 pounds lost. Keep it up!

Weight loss is such a personal journey...a hairball of the bliss of eating favorite foods, complex emotions, compulsions, defeating behaviors, shame, embarrassment, resentment, and the list goes on and on. No one wants to admit that they can't control what goes into their mouth. I'm coming up on my surgery Nov 2nd...and frankly, if I could, I would tell no one at all! Some of it is the former, but also, from having my lapband surgery, it added sooo much pressure, having people watch everything I ate, asking me how much weight I've lost each time I saw them, saying insensitive comments and remarks, etc...and then it was what they did not say, as I put the weight back on slowly but surely...I could almost hear what they were thinking while watching me eat. My mother falls into the category of people I don't want to tell. I love her dearly, but she's a stoic, non understanding person, who, when I had the lapband, called up each and every one of her thousands of friends to "in confidence" express her fears over my decision, and to ask their opinion. I was mortified at how many people knew, way before I was willing to share...
When I loose weight, folks will surely ask how, and I'm not sure how to circumvent lying. I don't want to be dishonest, but then again, I don't feel like I need to share my personal and medical choices with certain folks... I will need all my mental energy to focus on learning to use this tool to loose weight, rather than appease peoples curiosity and deal with their remarks and opinions.
So in short, just wondering, if you decided to tell or not to tell. And if not, how you coup with the inevitable questions that will come.

I had eggs at 2 weeks post op. I was allowed eggs once I hit purees. I made them really soft, almost custard like. I added a tiny bit of greek yogurt and some shredded cheese and cooked them really slow, constantly stirring. They were divine! it took me an hour to eat them, but man was I happy not to be having a liquid meal.

I was sleeved on 2-25 I tried scrambled eggs today and it went great but I couldn't finish a full egg lol it was more like 6 pieces of the egg and little ones at that and I felt like I had eaten a huge meal

I ate eggs at about 3 weeks post because I had 3 days of clears, two weeks of thickened ect.. My advice would be start slow to see how your sleeve handles it. Also add a little Milk into your eggs when you beat them. It makes them softer, more fluffy and easier on your sleeve.@@melhach

I got a lot of cravings for fruits in the 1st few months post-op. I had gone so long without eating any pure sugar that I think it was my brain trying to trick me into eating carbs.
But I did eat some fruit, it was literally one 3/4 inch square of pineapple. And Frankensleeve had a fit. It felt like he was trying to roll himself into a ball. It was a good 6 months before I could tolerate any kind of fruit - apples, grapes, and pineapple. And even after 6 months, I wasn't able to hold more than a slice or 2 of an apple or eat 1 or 2 pieces of pineapple per hour.
Frankensleeve was so picky that he guaranteed that I stuck to my recommended diet - 75% lean Protein and 25% low glycemic carbs (Beans, lentils, squashes, cauliflower..).

I'm 59 and I would have done sooner. It's so worth it.

@@CountryGirl5584 I've been thinking that too! Lol. I told my husband he just went in there and fiddled around and left me with my stomach. I know it lol ????

I'm so glad you posted this because I have the exact same feelings - I was sleeved on 1 March. In hospital with nothing but daytime TV to keep me occupied, every single food advert made me crave. And although it can't happen (and that's why I need the sleeve) even right now I would love nothing more than to be tucking into some delicious fried chicken or a nice burger.
Like others, I'm trying to keep away from adverts. If you don't like to read, then DVD box sets (broken up with walking) or Nteflix might help reduce the torture of the food adverts. The bizarre thing is, though, as much as I am craving bad foods, I do also feel physical hunger pangs. As in I feel like my tummy is actually empty.
But I just keep telling myself that this is temporary. That doesn't make it easy. But I am so looking forward to grilling a breast of chicken and actually eating. If it helps - I occassionally tell myself that I am just at a 6 week boot camp, and the hunger is normal but temporary.

@@kmc1986 I keep thinking the same thing, just 4 weeks and I'll feel normal lol

I got sleeved 3/3 too, and today I want food, would never think to eat it because I know I would be in so much pain. But the thought is killing me. Just 4 more weeks and I can have a more normal diet. I understand. ????

Awww. I'm sorry. I really hope I'm not hungry, that is one of my fears, is that I'm going to be starving and I don't want that!! I really hope that it gets better for you! Try to drink your Protein, hopefully that can help. Good luck

@@NikkiDoc I think you might be right about the tv thing. The commercials are torture. Flying back home today and it will be a long trip so I'm thinking today will be better. No time to think of food lol. I start full liquids on Tuesday. I can't wait
Thanks Nikkidoodlebug :-)