iegal

Stole this from another poster when I was first sleeved 1 1/2 years ago. Sleevie Wonder

I took off a week - and slept the entire time. Traveled across the country to a business appt one week later with a wheelchair assist. Very tired. I too slept often and felt weak during the first month. So, of you have little ones you may need a little more time to adjust. Why are you worried about puking? This is not the lap band. I only puked when I ate too much or too fast. Not too many people call me a quick lady, but after puking once for each I slowed down and measured all my food. If you can plan ahead, get meals ready easily and let go of normal household duties like laundry, bathroom scrubbing, dishes for a few weeks, then perhaps you could go back quickly. Is it an option to go back for half days that first week?

How exciting that you are moving forward, even with a percieved lack of support. Honey, if any of us could have lost weight permanently without VSG, then I would have gladly skipped surgery and not taken "the easy way out". Sounds like hubby might be scared for you or what will happen if.... Even having outpatient VSG - yes I was home that night in my own sweet bed, I still needed someone to drive me home. Make other plans, perhaps one of your friends? My advice, stick with your plan, talk openly with hubby so as not to exclude him so he knows you are serious about taking care of yourself. When date of surgery gets closer, tell him what time you need to be there and what day you need to be picked up along with how much you need him. He needs support through this upcoming change too. Take him along to next appointment, bring home paperwork of what and how and why. Just don't ask for opinions because you already have his. Chin up. I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

Wow, congrats on the weight lost so far! I would choose none and look further. Stop with the low calorie and focus on Protein with lower carbs than 38 per serving, that tells me it is mostly cheese. Try to get at least 15-20 grams of protein per MEAL. How about a chicken primavera.or meatballs? Ah - go for the beef ravioli if you can pick meat out of Pasta shells. salad gives you NO nutrition. You are no longer eating for volume but for health. So choose protien 1st, vegtables 2nd, pasta last. Good for you for staying away from pasta this far along. YEAH. Good luck.

Nothing. Sit down politely and say - hey I am having surgery and need to take of _______________ days (or weeks) of work on _____________. Hippa regulations allow you NOT to say what you are having done. If boss persists, you can try - "that is personal information and I know you understand" OR I have heard of others say "hernia repair or gallbladder issues. I like to be honest. Even if a cool boss, I would keep your business to yourself to minimize comments. Stop all speculation up front. Congrats on your upcoming VSG.

I recommend you contact "So Cal Kurt" He had surgery a year before his wife and maybe can give you anothers man perspective on sleeve before wife.. While they handled it well, she was not without some issues arrising. I am sure he would be happy to be open to challenges. Are you waiting to be sleeved or just a supporter of your husband? Either way, good luck in communicating your needs while listening to his.

Hi MissMeow; SoCalKurt and his wife both used UCI. Send him a message. I do not know if Dr. Ngyuen was their surgeon. Good luck! PS - I used The New Program in Newport Beach. HIGHLY recommend that group. Dr. Q is the barriatric surgeon of the stars here in SoCal. Also his saftey and success is way above average. Free support groups for life there too.

I hate to admit it, but my first bite of hamburger was so disappointing. After surgery I rarely eat burgers anymore. Now I think - ugh - this is what I used to live for??? And I live in the land of In N Out Burger ... Tastes will change for many of you.

Sad to hear how much you are struggling. Remember you are just a month out with a Feb 4th surgery date. Agreeing with other posters, I did not get my Protein in that first month. Those thick overly sweet shakes make me sick to my stomach. So - what worked for me was Isopure 40gm clear protein from GNC in apple melon. Sort of like a jolly rancher green melon. You can purchase for around $4 a bottle. Grab 2 or 3 flavors. Now, I was not sucking these down easily but I could get at least one in a day, which went a LONG way to meet my protien goals. Also, I use a Protein shake cuppacino which I still use today occasionally when traveling. 15 gm of protein. Can barely even tell it is protein shake. You can pick those up on the internet for 7 a box @ $10 or under. Sounds like a lot of money but so much less than what we were probably spending on meals out prior to surgery. I hear the Hot Cocoa is good. Trick to using these is NOT to use boiling Water but very hot tap water. If water is too hot, the protien lumps. Google barriatric protien Cappuccino Lastly on this, I had a 4 month lactose intolerance so make with water. Now I use hot milk and even up the protien count more. Vitamins. Hmm, I used Flinstone complete the first few months, crushed with a spoon in cottage cheese. If this does not work, you can google "liquid vitamins" or go visit your local health food store for some liquid. Stick in there. Promise that things will get better slowly. At six months it was almost as if I never had surgery. Most of us "oldies" agree that around the 5 to 6 month mark, life dramatically changed overall for the better. HUGS to you.

Welcome to the losers bench. You must be doing well, updating us so soon. Get a good nights rest and remember to sip often, walk every hour you are awake and rest in between. Exciting times ahead!

Look at the big picture - four months so very close. Use this time wisely to be introspective on things that will dramatically change in your life. Cherish every minute because your journey has already begun. Congrats on a start to a new you.

What a big (or little) milestone to reach. Congrats on hitting onederland. It is truly onederful!

Good response. Also depends upon how surgeon does VSG. I was an outpatient for VSG with no tubes, drains, overnight stay. So, I was working on my computer within a few days and back traveling within a week. Too early really. Ask your surgeon how long most patients of his/hers take off after VSG. Congrats on an upcoming surgery.

Oh hun; Even when you hit goal you will still run into people who will judge you. Why aren't you drinking with your meal? Why are you sharing a meal? Is the food bad since you are not eating everything. Or my favorite - when I went to a "family size meal place" where they served by person at $40 bucks a head and I could only eat Soup. I asked for a bowl of soup alone and the lady charge me...$40 bucks since they don't do a la carte at dinner. Your best attitude is to remember there are bullies everywhere. Don't let them hate you because you are beautiful...oversized or on your way to a healthier version. Smile. You are a lady and ignore those who are ignorant to our battle to overcome.

cheese, potatoes, starches, carbs...all the things you used to avoid. Drink your calories if needed. Go to a health food store and they can give you Protein to bulk up. PLEASE, talk to your surgeon. You had VSG to get healthy, now stay healthy.

Good luck on this two week torture diet. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! So important not to cheat. One day at a time guys, one day a time and your surgery - yes VSG surgery is here.

Sweetie; My surgeon suggested NO RAW VEGGIES for first six months as your new tummy is still healing. Obviously your stomach is rebelling and you have figured out that it does not like cucumbers. Good lesson and now you know. Keep up the great weight loss!

Thanks for the quick update and let me welcome you to the losers bench. Remember to sip often, rest as needed and walk as much as possible. Slimies might be from too much to drink at a time. Try just 1 oz of liquids at a time, then wait 15 minutes. Use a shot glass to regulate if needed. Again, congrats on being sleeved!

Well, going to disagree a little. Most of us after VSG do not feel normal hunger. As mentioned before, drinking will push food through the stomach faster allowing us to eat more. VSG is a restriction surgery. Heck, a 1 1/2 years out I can eat a whole snack bag of chips without any problems. But I am limited when eating dense Protein like chicken to 3 or 4 oz. But, if I drink with my meals or take a long time, I can fit more in. Don't learn bad habits in the beginning. Soon bad habits will derail your weight loss. To keep weight off, learn not to drink with meals. Wait about 30 minutes before or after meals. Good luck!

Doing the happy dance for you. Amazing results - you rock the sleeve! Keep up your great success.

Are we related? Wow, I didn't tell my mom until 3 months AFTER surgery just because I knew she would be all doom and gloom. Remember, you did this for you - so you could be healthy, happier, enjoy your beautiful child and hopefully have more children. Tiffykins got pregrant and so did many others after VSG. You did nothing to diminish your ability to get pregnant. I have learned only to nod when my mom speaks and listen to white noise...like the teacher talking in the Peanuts cartoon. ARGH Hopefully your mother will eventually become your biggest supporter after she sees all of your accomplishments. Congrats on your sleeve. Being a new improved you is the way to silence other doubters. Hugs.

My surgeon said not until 6 months out as stomach has a hard time digesting raw vegtables. As you can see almost everyone has different opinions. I have a few bites of salad every once in a while. Yes, I actually miss it like soda but just say "no". You know lettuce has almost no nutritional value so, until you get in all of your protien daily, skip it. Think health first. Congrats on your sleeve!

How much work I had to do after surgery to learn new eating habits. Sleeve FORCES you to have good habits. Also I should not to expected to be "normal" soon after surgery. I consider myself to be tough bird. Ignorantly compared VSG to shoulder surgery where I thought in six weeks, I might be back to semi "normal." Reality was it took me six months to learn habits and feel normal. Never said I was smart. I love my sleeve and have no regrets. But, it was a journey to goal.

Big YEAH to you. Congrats on making that sleeve work for you!

Hi Emlefe; Sad that this has not been an easy recovery thus far. Good news is that you are reaching out at all. Remember you are not alone. I too had a lactose intolerance (I love cheese) but grew out of it at about month four. Looking back, I can tell you that those first couple of weeks, I thought - "Did I know VSG was going to be this difficult? Was I really prepared for the changes?" Things you need to understand - things are different now. Your taste buds have changed, what you can eat has changed, what you can tolerate has changed, your body has changed - in reality you are searching for a new normal. Total assurance that you will find a new normal. Most likely this will take several months which is why we call this a journey. Have you ever had a horrid vacation and now you can look back and see the humor or at least laugh at how you survived? Equate this with the VSG journey. Some bad days or weeks and some good days. You are still healing, so you are eating to survive. You are eating to allow your stomach time to heal. I used the lactose free milk in my decaf tea. In time slowly a new normal will emerge. You will be able to eat non sickingly sweet foods. You will be able to have tuna, vinegar, tomatoes and all else your brain is screaming for now. Call your doctor in the morning and see if you can move to the mushy phase. If yes, puree the (*^% out of some tuna with a little plain greek yogurt - if your diet plan allows to satisfy your tastebuds. Also - have you tried just eating some plain chicken broth? I used Lipton Chicken Soup - the dried kind and threw out the noodles. Added in roasted chicken for addl flavor and then pulled it out. NUMMY after all that fake sugary thick shakes. If you like Starbucks and surgeon okay's - try a Decaf Latte, soy milk...or if too costly make your own version at home. There are some good online replacement foods besides sugary stuff. Google Barriatric foods. Expensive, but a lot cheaper than groceries. Lastly, do you have any VSG diet plan from your doctor? Google VSG diet plan and a whole bunch will come up. Read those for tips before talking to your doc tomorrow and see what you can have that is not on your diet plan. In a few months, try adding back in a food like dairy. The sun will come out soon. At 6 months it was as if I almost never had surgery minus the totally new body. Give yourself time to heal and don't think what is happening now is forever. Hugs to being willing to open up. Hope my words have comforted you in some small way.