Hello, everyone. I'm brand new here and in need of support from fellow sleevers. I'm five days post-op and starting to think that there is no way I can handle this new lifestyle. Will you indulge me as I just lay all my concerns on you?

The fact that I can't freely drink as much Water as I'd like makes me so, so nervous. What if I get dehydrated? Will it take me four hours to drink four cups of water?

Also, everyone said I wouldn't be hungry, but I am. This all clear liquid diet is kicking my behind. I know it's mostly mental, but I'm struggling the same. The prospect of another Protein drink, another half cup of broth...

I've also become paranoid that I've stretched out my new stomach. Sometimes when I drink it hurts or bubbles. It hasn't even been a week and I'm feeling like I've already reversed the procedure.

My main support flew back home today and I had a breakdown as I was mixing chicken flavored Protein powder into my broth tonight. Why did I ever think I could do this?!

There's light at the end of this tunnel, right? I'll be able to eat normal food again, right? I keep dreaming of salads...a nice, fresh, green salad packed with vegetables and crunchy as can be.

???????????? End of rant. Thank you for listening!

I was sleeved on Tuesday and feeling very optimistic. We can do this! I have friends/family who have done this and they all tell me it gets better each day. Try to focus on why you chose this option and follow your doctor's regimen!

Calm down you will be fine. Just do What the Doctor & nutritionist told you to do. You need those protein shakes to promote healing. Drink your water. Soon enough you will progress on to soft pureed foods then onto something more solid later on. The hard part is behind you. You made a decision to change your life. Changing your bad habits is hard at first. Stay the course & reap the rewards. Soon eating healthy will be a habit. Start exercising asap. You will feel & look better soon. Drink the protein &-take the vitamins & drink plenty of water. Welcome to the new you. Be proud of the huge step you've taken. I'm 7 months post op & have lost 125 lbs & I'm no longer diabetic. Best decision I ever made. Hang in there & Good Luck

Thank you for your support! Just writing everything down made me feel so much better. I just had to get it out of my head and onto 'paper'.

I'm new too.. Had mine July 7th.... I know exactly what you're thinking! I thought the same way!! And still have those moments... I was the same way with the water.. I can take good size sips now. I now can eat chicken but very little... I also know what you mean about people saying you'll feel full... I know when my stomach is getting full but I'm still a little hungry & my mind still wants to eat...but that's passing too.. So yes it gets easier... I have a couple of family members that had this done and they all eat normal food just not as much. Good luck!! I'm here if u need to vent

I had similar doubts the days after surgery. Very typical. It gets tons better.

Your ability to tolerate liquids will increase. If Protein shakes are giving you trouble, check with your doctor for other options (For a couple days I refused to eat anything because I HATED the shakes). He switched me to greek yogurts and a special low carb/high protein milk to replace the shakes, and I felt better. Don't be afraid to collaborate with your doctor to find a successful plan for you (just make sure it's with your doc, not solely with random internet posters).

Also, breathe. It gets better, I promise.

It really does get better. And pretty quickly. In a week or two you'll wonder what all the fuss was about

Your tummy is very swollen right now. So don't think that how it's behaving now is how it's going to be going forward. Everything will get so much easier. Just stick to the plan given to you and you won't hurt your tummy.

As far as hunger goes, we all have to learn the difference between head hunger and real hunger. It's a big adjustment, but part of the journey. But if you're having real hunger make sure your doc knows because excess acid can be the culprit and need to be addressed.

You're doing great :-)

To all the newbies ...

(Grinning here) ...

Yes, all this discomfort and inability to drink like you used to and the panic at the temporary (yes, temporary!) newness of everything is going to go away.

And yes, you will be able to eat a lot more food in the future than you can now. And then you'll have to rely on the new behaviors and skills you have to learn in the meantime.

The first month is nothing -- NOTHING -- like what the rest of the journey is like.

Just try every healthy, non-caloric stress-reduction technique you have ever learned about. You're just having a reaction to this (I'll say it again) temporary situation you're in.

Also ... your "hunger" is probably just acid in your stomach that's not going away because you're not eating anything. You won't feel any restriction at all either until you start eating real food.

If your surgeon didn't prescribe a good Rx antacid for you (or if s/he didn't prescribe a stronger one for you than you were taking pre-op), talk to them and ask for a new Rx. Extra stomach acid mimics the feeling of hunger.

Hang in there. This phase will be over soon.

You are going to be fine! Right now and for the next few weeks you are recovering from surgery. Try to take it easy and just heal. Listen to your body and your new little sleeved stomach and most important stick to the surgeons plan! Restriction will come but right now don't worry about being hungry just get your water and protein in as best you can...the best is yet to come!

Let me address your concerns with my experiences. I am six weeks post op.

"The fact that I can't freely drink as much Water as I'd like makes me so, so nervous. What if I get dehydrated? Will it take me four hours to drink four cups of water?" This was a concern for me also and yes I let myself get dehydrated but fixed it easily by forcing myself to drink more. At your stage it took me about an hour to drink a 16 oz bottle of water. I still forget to drink slowly and sometimes pick up a bottle and gulp... And regret.

"Also, everyone said I wouldn't be hungry, but I am. This all clear liquid diet is kicking my behind. I know it's mostly mental, but I'm struggling the same. The prospect of another Protein drink, another half cup of broth..." I was hungry too. All I can tell you is this phase is very temporary. Just keep telling yourself that. SF Popsicles were my lifesaver! You will struggle but the struggle won't last.

"I've also become paranoid that I've stretched out my new stomach." It certainly feels this way when your trying to get in so much liquid. But YOU DID NOT. YOU CANNOT at this point.

"There's light at the end of this tunnel, right?" Absolutely!! And it is bright and great!

"I'll be able to eat normal food again, right?" If by normal you mean healthy... Absolutely!!

"I keep dreaming of salads...a nice, fresh, green salad packed with vegetables and crunchy as can be." You will but probably not until about 3 months out. Ask your NUT when.

You will do great!! I have complete faith in you! Just be patient. You'll get there

Hi. I was sleeved on 5/29/15. I had all those concerns prior to the surgery. My doctor and her staff provided me with all the steps I needed to take to succeed. When I saw the booklet I couldn't believe the limits I had. In order to change our lives for the better we need to follow and before you know it, you will see a difference.

I'm attaching a before and after pic

LemonMarie... I know exactly how you feel! I had my surgery on July 16th and am still wondering if I did the right thing. I am so hungry... I was on a liquid diet for 10 days before surgery and still on a liquid diet..23 days. To top it off, I have only lost about 15 pounds total since the beginning. If I'm going to lose weight this slow, I'm really going to regret doingi the surgery!

I agree with you -- losing only 15 pounds in 23 days is awful.

Horrible!

It will get better each day. I had a really hard time getting my fluid in post op too. I had to play around with lots of different water, flavored waters, and different temperatures of the fluid until I found what worked for me. I could not tolerate plain water at all. I finally discovered propel water cold worked for me. I also poured my fluids in a medicine cup and made three tiny sips from one medicine cup. That's seemed to help me take smaller sips. The little sips added up and as time passed I could start taking real sips.

Hang in there you can do it one sip of water at a time.