So I had my surgery yay! Recovery in the hospital was hard I'm not gonna lie I was not prepared. I was sleeved 2,15,1012

It say fast but really it has been a lifetime in the making. I have been over weight my whole life. Starting around 6 years old with not much success at losing. I tried and tried but it seems like it would all come back and then some more. I had my daughter 3yrs ago and while I was preggo with her lost 30 lbs because I took such good care of myself while pregnant. Then I gained it all back. I had a trainer and lost about 30 more lbs but then was attacked outside my apt last year and gained all 30 back plus 30 more. On a side note on being attacked. It was an eye opening experience for me. I ALWAYS thought because I am bigger no one would mess with me. In school no one did in life no one had. But I was so so wrong I was only a bigger and much weaker target. This guy came out of nowhere and had me on my back against my stairs punching me in the face in less than 15 seconds and there was nothing I could do. He didn't get anythng but my lunch bag but it was a horrible experience. I couldn't defend myself all I could do was scream and thats what saved me.

I met my boyfriend about 2 years ago. he is an amazing person and has been there for me from day one. I wasn't sure I would ever meet someone who could love me for me but he does. He prefers bigger girls but wants me to be healthy and happy more than anything else so he supports me losing weight. Around mid January at my highest weight ever 320 I was miserable to the point of just beyond help. My weight was effecting me in every aspect of my life. I talked with my awesome amazing man and we decided that Weight loss surgery was the best option for me. So I started checking things out. I found this site and it was awesome. I learned a lot very quickly and decided this was the procedure for me. I found a surgeon in my area who happens to be one of the top 3 in the US. I am self pay so we had to get a loan but we did and got the ball rolling. I made and appt for the following week with my Dr on 1-27-2012. That day I scheduled surgery for 2-15-2012. I was like what this is crazy. No way is this going to happen so fast but it did I met with the nutritionist had blood work done had gallbladder scans and I was ready to go.

When I went into the hospital I was nervous and excited. Things moved fast from there. I went to pre-op first. They started my IV's one in each hand, cleaned up my belly had me change clothes, gave me a heprin shot, and stuff for anxiety and antibiotics in my IV. I started feeling pretty good after that. I remember them talking to me a lot and taking me back to the operating room and seeing the big over head lights and wondering why it was so freaking bright. I also saw on a shelf the alligator staple thing they use they had a bunch of them in boxes and I remember thinking they shouldn't just leave those things around..lol.. Then a guy was like ok I'm giving you some more of the stuff that will make you relax.... The next thing I know I'm waking up in the recovery area and my mom is there. She said (and I do not remember this) that I woke up and told her to take a picture of me which she did..lol and then I asked her if I was skinny yet...lol sounds like me. It was hard to open my eyes and swallow but they gave me ice chips that helped.. I also made sure before surgery I had lots of chap stick on my lips. I knew they would be dry and I'm glad I did that. They also let me swab my mouth with those swab things. I had a NG tube down my throat into my stomach which I HATED!! But in reality it helped me and once it was removed I threw up several times. Mostly blood or whatever I had tried to put in my stomach. Ice, Water, meds, saliva... gross. I'm not sure how long I was in there awhile it seemed but finally they took me to my room.

I had a hard time recovering from anesthesia and the pain meds seem to make it worse. I was so nauseous even with the anti nausea medication I was still throwing up. I was in and out most of that first night and not really able to get around but in the morning I felt better. I always liked t6he way pain meds made me feel before but now no freaking way I hate it. So they took out my NG tube around 6 am and that's when I started to vomit. I tried so hard not to and the nurses were really nice and trying to help but nothing helped. I found that if I spit out all the saliva I was making instead of swallowing it that helped. I had to drink this blue stuff to see if I was leaking and I wasn't but I threw that up also. They took out the cathater around 10 and took me for my x-ray leak test. I had to drink the contrast stuff so they could see my stomach and if it was working. AND guess what I threw that up too...lol.. I came back to my room and they said I could start my Clear liquids so I tried some beef broth and water just a little and it comes up. I walk around some and I am in pain so I get more meds. The dr comes in and says I can go home. I choose to stay because I felt like crap and wasn't sure I wanted to go home vomiting like I was. The nurses suggested I try the oral liquid pain meds so I did and of course it came back up. I had one more dose of pain meds through IV and one more dose of Anti nausea meds and that was it around 9pm. After that I decided I wasn't going to put anything in my mouth until the morning. I was on IV so I was hydrated. So I slept well that night and woke up in the morning early and feeling so so so much better. I was able to keep down water and was home that day by noon. I'm pretty sure my extra day in the hospital is gonna cost me big since I am self pay but it was worth it.

Since I have been home I have felt better by the hour. I am able to keep down all clear liquids that I have tried. Today I started full liquids for 4 weeks. I had a protien shake and some creamy organic tomato Soup it was soooooo unbelievably awesome. I also was able to have some apple sauce and creamy potato soup. It was funny to me to open up the can of soup today and realize how long this will last me! Seriously I could only eat about 2 tablespoons. I am so glad I am feeling so good about food now. My boyfriend even had pizza delivered for dinner and made brownies! I told him to since I wasn't up for cooking yet and I was fine with it. No desire at all to have that stuff. Of course he can eat anything and he is still the same weight.., with about 14 BMI!!!! he has no fat on him at all except maybe his butt...even that has muscle though.

I slept in my own bed the first night home! My butt was so numb from being in the same position for so long there was no way I was sleeping on the recliner. I have lots of burping I mean manly burps that can put some of the best to shame..lol it's kinda funny though. I have been able to poo (sorry if thats TMI) with no problems at all. I have very little pain and havent had ANY pain meds since the night before I left he hospital. My big incision is a little tender but nothing I can't handle and my belly is pretty bruised and banged up. My sense of smell has gone crazy. I'm not sure if anyone else has had this problem before but everything stinks to me. I walked in my house from the hospital and was like nope that trash needs to go out this house smells gross. I can smell everything and things I used to like really are bothering me now. like the smell of my boyfriend is grossing me out, I feel so bad and I'm hoping that changes. I won't tell him though I don't want to hurt his feelings.

I spent today doing some light laundry and cleaning up the kitchen and airing out the house(hoping it would smell better) It does.

Oh and just for kicks I got on the scale expecting to weigh more because of all the fluids and swelling from surgery and I'm down 13 lbs since the day of surgery. 22 lbs since pre op!! I no longer snore!! I was a bad bad snorer before my boyfriend had to wear earplugs and he says I make no sound now.. HOW awesome...

My daughter was a little weird around me at first I think she wasnt sure what to think she is only 3 but she has been with my parents and today they came over for a visit and she was touching my tummy and asking if it hurt and what did they do. :wub: She is a sweet girl.

The pic is of me pre op before meds..

So that Is my story. It started out rough but I'm doing great now. And well on my way to needing smaller sized clothes.

Welcome to the board! I was self-pay, too, and it included 2 nights in the hospital. So you might be surprised and have your second night covered. I sure hope so.

Congrats! LOVED your story!! I have been sleeved for 3 weeks now and love love love it!!!!!!

Thanks for all the info! Cant wait till my weight loss surgery next month!

"My sense of smell has gone crazy. I'm not sure if anyone else has had this problem before but everything stinks to me. I walked in my house from the hospital and was like nope that trash needs to go out this house smells gross. I can smell everything and things I used to like really are bothering me now. like the smell of my boyfriend is grossing me out, I feel so bad and I'm hoping that changes. I won't tell him though I don't want to hurt his feelings"

This is a hoot! I am going through the exact same thing. I am constantly saying, "I smell so-in-so," or " Do you smell so-in-so?" or gagging at something. I can also smell my husband too..lol. I can smell everybody! It really grosses me out. I hope it gets less sensitive with timeoh my!

Love ur story, I can't wait to get sleeved

Great report! congrats on making it through so well.

That was great, I threw back my head and laughed at the 'smells'.

I think the smells is a side effect of the anesthesia. I haven't been sleeved yet, but for a couple of months after my hysterectomy I could smell everything and it sucked! It's better now, but it sounds like the smells will be back soon.. LOL Small price to pay I guess.

You are a beautiful lady. Pls continue to post your progress and After pictures.

Very real, I loved it. I feel more prepared when I read experiences like this.

Thanks everyone! It feels good to share. I've not always been open about my weight and how it has effected my life. I feel comfortable here though. Thanks

Congrats on being sleeved!!! Sounds like you're doing better. I hope you can stand the smell of the BF soon hehe. I think a lot of us are more sensitive, but it's not bad for me now, so it settles down. You're already doing great with the weight loss too! Look forward to more updates from you.

Welcome to the loser's bench. Congrat's on your surgery and the weight you have already lost.

I am 10 weeks out today and there are still some smells that bother me but not near what they did after surgery, thank God.

I loved your story you did great. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.

Congratulatons on getting sleeved! Thanks for sharing your story. It is hard to share weight struggles but the community here is a great support system.

Dear Merydia710,

Thank you so much for sharing your story.! There isn't one of us here that hasn't felt shy about discussing our weight issues in public! But most of us feel so comfortable here, because everyone of us has had the same problem, struggle, issue, etc!

I am 62 years old (OMG that sounds OLD!) and can not remember a time when I did not have weight issues! I can remember my Dad yelling at me "just HOW much DO you weigh now Kathy?" when I was a child of 8 or 10! Sadly, he did not live to see me almost at my goal weight! I know he loved me, and his questions were voiced out of concern, he too struggled with weight when he was older. But it hurt me deeply when I was a child and even more when he kept on criticizing my weight when I was an adult!

I have tried EVERYTHING since I became an adult to lose the extra weight. And I mean EVERYTHING! I have spent a fortune on weight loss products, gimicks, equipment, etc. And nothing worked till I got sleeved 8 months ago. I am SO thankful for my sleeve!

I too was self pay, and went to Tijuana, Mexico to have my surgery. I cashed in one of my retirement 401Ks to pay for the surgery. I will probably never be able to retire now, but I don't care! I am finally at a size where I love the way my body looks and feels. (Well I can't say I am in love with how I look naked, way to much saggy skin!!! But I keep my clothes on most of the time! Sorry if that is T.M.I.!!!) I am 8 months post op, and have lost 100 pounds. I am 8 pounds from my goal. The last few pounds have come off SO slowly, but I keep plugging along, trying to get rid of them.

Please keep posting, telling us how you are doing. We are all encouraged by progress reports. It gives us all the needed motivation to "keep on keeping on" when we get discouraged. and we love to see progress pictures! Keep posting. And let me welcome you to The Loser's Bench!

Love and Hugs and Prayers!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)