Hi, I'm Shanny, and new to the site. I got sleeved 5 days ago - at GBMC Hospital, Dr. Peter Liao, and I've been home for 2 1/2 days. So far it's strange as all get out. Between my stomach making all of these weird bubbling, gurggling sounds, and not being able to tell hunger from nausea pains, the choronic diarrhea, the indigestion pains if I take too big of a sip - I think I may just might think this procedure was worth it.

I'm finally on full liquids. Thank God, if I had to drink broth one more day I think I might have had to take a hostage. This may be TMI, but I noticed as long as I was on Clear Liquids I kept having these watery stools. I couldn't even tell when I had to go. I would think I had to pee, and when I tried, I would end up with diarrhea. That's not a good look. I've been on full liquids since yesterday, and having yogurt, and cream based Soups, and Protein shakes hopefully are firming things up. I can't wait until next week when it's puree food. I want to put everything in the blender! Also, I think I just figured out when I'm hungry. It doesn't feel like a hunger pain, but more like a gas bubble.

I weighed myself today and I've lost 8 pounds since the surgery. In total, since I started this journey that makes 22 pounds all together over the last 7 months. My goal is to lose another 75 pounds. After trying countless diets and being able to keep the weight off for a few months, I finally got tired of the rollercoaster and the feeling of failure. I researched the surgery for 5 years and finally decided on the sleeve.

I'm a little nervous because I didn't tell people at work that I was having it done. They're going to know that i did something because I'm losing so much weight. I mean, over 7 months, it's not that noticeable, but I lost 8 pounds in 4 days. THat's pretty quick, ya know. I guess I'm embarrassed, or I don't want to answer a bunch of questions. I don't want to explain to my coworkers that I'm a survivor of an extremely abusive relationship, where my son's donor tried to kill me on a regular basis, and I thought by gaining almost 100 pounds, I'd make myself ugly and that way no one would want me and therefore no one could hurt me. 13 years and thousands of dollars in therapy later I'm not in that place anymore. I don't want to be invisible anymore. I don't know if the people I work with are ready for that, or if they can understand that. Hell, people in my family have been telling me that "you don't need that" regarding the surgery, or "that's not normal" well, being 5'1" and 247 pounds isn't normal either. I may not have "looked" like I needed to do something drastic but I did. If the majority of my family wasn't supportive, I don't know what I think my coworkers would say.

My son and my girlfriend have been so supportive, though. My girl, (we've been together for 2 years) adores me no matter what size I am. She came to the hospital with me, slept in the hospital room next to me, got up in the middle of the night with me whenever the nurse came in the room and called them if I was moaning with pain. She's taken off work this week to take care of me. She's been blending and straining, and giving me meds and protein like a Nazi - but that's because she loves me and she wants me to be happy. She bought me swanky tennis shoes for exercising, and the Zumba Fitness DVDs for Valentines Day (that's what I asked for). I've never had support like this before, but I can tell you it makes me all warm and tingly inside.

Okay, so I'm going to wrap this up. This is an introductory post, so it's long. I just want to know, how long did it take for you to be able to drink without sipping? For your stomach to stop gurggling and making loud noises? For your bowels to go back to normal? For you to start feeling "normal" again? I'm hoping most of this is because I'm just out of surgery - but I'm scared this may be how it is for the rest of my life.

I look forward to meeting you all!

SW: 247

CW: 215

GW: 135

Congratulations on your weight loss! I wish you good luck and high spirits throughout your journey! Welcome to the group - there are some truly wonderful people here to share and help you along the path to a new you!

Take care, Shanny!

Hi Shanny! Welcome -- I'm so glad the surgery went well and you've got great support with your son and girlfriend

1 - drink w/o sipping: about 5 weeks (everyone's different)

2 - stomach gurgling: (sometimes it still does when I've forgotten to eat!) -- about 3-4 weeks

3 - diarrhea: I had it about 3 weeks (liquid diet/mushy diet) -- at about 4 weeks I was "normal-ish"

Again, welcome to our great community

Okay, so I'm going to wrap this up. This is an introductory post, so it's long. I just want to know, how long did it take for you to be able to drink without sipping? For your stomach to stop gurggling and making loud noises? For your bowels to go back to normal? For you to start feeling "normal" again? I'm hoping most of this is because I'm just out of surgery - but I'm scared this may be how it is for the rest of my life.

Hello Shanny!! Congrats on your new sleeve!! Thank you for sharing your story with us. We all come from all walks of life, and I think it's so important to understand the underlying factors that caused us to eat and over eat. I don't think there will ever be any healing until this happens.

In answer to your questions... I'm 5 months post op and I still have to sip my Water. I can certainly take much larger sips and don't have to wait as long to take the next one, but yeah, I'm still sipping. My stomach also still makes the gurgly sounds - I really don't think that ever stops... I could be wrong though! The bowel thing only lasted until I was able to start doing mushies. You know, it was like liquids in liquids out. Yuck!! I actually didn't start feeling normal until I was able to eat solid Proteins again. Today I feel better than I ever have in my life!!! Just know you have a lot of great things to look forward to. No, you will not be feeling like you are now for the rest of your life.

Enjoy your journey! You just barely begun, it does get better promise. Sip, Walk, Rest, repeat.

Welcome to our awesome group!!! Its so nice to hear you have such a wonderful support with your girl! That's gonna be the key to your success!!! Keep up the good work!!