swizzly

Definitely I was an ENJOYS FOOD eater prior to surgery. Which has made the transition to the sleeve pretty damn easy for me. I haven't mourned losing food at all. I can still eat food I love, just less of it. It's been criminally easy for me thus far.

I am also hypothyroid, but seems well-controlled by synthroid for these many years -- and I have never noticed any weight gain as a result of the hypothyroidism (seems to have a different effect in my family, where many of the women have had to take it, but few of them are overweight). My resting metabolic rate is a relatively respectable 1880 per day, which is likely how I plateau'ed at my starting weight for over a decade. Now, I'm shooting for 800-1000 during the losing phase and mostly hitting in that zone every day. Working well for me so far, as I'm very sensitive to hypoglycemia. Mind you, my plan calls for three meals and three snacks per day, so I feel like I'm always eating something and trying to push the drinks in between. Should be interesting to integrate work into this...

Mine was in for the first five days I was in hospital, and they removed it on night five, prior to my getting discharged the following afternoon, day six post-op (no complications, just SOP here). Didn't really hurt while it was in, just felt odd coming out -- took about two seconds to take it out anyhow.

They start us on regular food (all but raw fruit and veg) from day four post-op. No liquids or purees stages at all. I haven't had any problems tolerating just about anything, as long as I eat slowly and chew a lot. I know, everyone thinks this is insane -- but it's just a completely different culture and approach. And it's top-notch health care and a definite center of excellence (though those aren't rated as such in Europe -- all my doctors and surgeons are experts in the field and well-published, etc.), so I do as I'm told. So far, so good.

Since four days post-op. No problems.

Yes, my program also didn't require a pre-op (or post-op really) diet -- and that's worked out well for me, personally. Good luck to everyone on liquids right now, you can do it...and it's worth it.

June/July are not that far away, and I agree that you should stick with your existing insurance/medical program if you can, as then you will have after-care and follow-up, etc. Stick with their program and the time will fly by. As people always say, this is a marathon, not a sprint -- no need to rush the up-front part of that journey. It's a great time to prepare and all that. Anyhow, welcome and good luck!

I also like drinking and was worried about taking wussy sips all day. It's really not a problem, I can drink almost normally. Hopefully you will too.

I don't think it's much to do with age, "strength" or pre-surgery weight per se -- it has seemed fairly random to me. Some people just have an easier time of it than others. I am over 40, had 100 lbs to lose, and have had an absolute breeze of it -- never had a problem drinking or eating (my program moves to all regular food from four days post-op). Just be glad you're one of the lucky ones so far!

In the first 72 hours post-op, I vomited a lot and it hurt and it sucked. But that is not normal -- I actually got sick from the anti-nausea meds. And since then, I have not vomited at all. The key thing is, really, know your full signal and stick to it. Don't go past it, ever. I did that once, and it felt pretty yukky (but not like nauseated, more like pain and a backing-up feeling). I know a lot of VSGers have taste/smell changes and that those can make them sick -- but I have had none of that. Things I liked before, I still like; things I didn't like, I still don't. And nothing smells different or extra-bad to me. The only thing I've noticed, actually, is that now I can totally tolerate eggs and they used to make me sick to my stomach. And my husband pointed out recently that I am less sick/less stomach problems now than I had pre-surgery. He's totally right. My stomach does feel a lot better as a sleeve.

I am also not cleared for weight training until 6 weeks. Carbs are on my plan, so I do eat them.

Could they give you an extra blood thinner injection or two to take with you, to inject before the flight? That would likely help too?

I have five, all really small.

I think the scales can really be a trap in so many ways, keeping us tied to a negative thing rather than freeing us to just enjoy being in our (sometimes flappy) skin. I do believe you should go with how you feel and savour being happy and active. You look fabulous.

Hi Jen Jen -- there is a poster on Thinner Times called "shiver", she is a VSG and a breast cancer survivor. She is also awesome, you should PM her on there.

Thanks -- and sorry for dissing surgeons in my ranty post. Ironically, I don't have anything against surgeons -- nor would I normally think they have a god complex, unless proven otherwise. I also really like my surgeon, she's a bit clinical and cold, but I don't need warm fuzzies from the woman who's cutting me open. The only thing she gave me shit about is my bad German. Fair enough, Frau Doktor! In this case, what really lit my fire was the fact that, as obese people, we are/were so used to getting treated badly -- as lesser humans, as objects of contempt, etc. -- that we are easily shamed and put down. And when it's by the very people who are meant to be helping us, whose hands we put our lives into, I just see red. There is something so very unnecessarily cruel and punitive about waiting until the very last minute to do this weighing thing (after surgery prep even!) and then pulling the plug with a heaping pile of shame added on top. There can't be a doctor anywhere on the planet who really seriously believes that some carbs in the prior week or two is going to have ANY impact on a surgery's success. There is no scientific basis for that, and I do want, above all, my doctor to be quite influenced by actual science and fact. Yes, we all want ideal outcomes and we are compliant to that end. And compliance is important, there is no question. I am happy to do apparently dumb things for the sake of compliance -- sometimes they have basis in fact and sometimes they are just hoops. But life is full of hoops we have to jump through, I'm not averse to playing the game. I draw the line -- abruptly (more and more so the older I get) -- at humiliation, lack of dignity and respect, and shaming. I don't play those games and I don't play nicely with those who do. In this case, I'm sure it's also to do with the GD insurance companies trying to do anything they can not to pay for the treatments people need, as well as with the doctors being highly risk-averse so they don't get sued. I just thought the way the doctor himself handled it was outrageous. And now I climb off my soapbox and get back to my regularly scheduled program of swilling down fluids... Good luck, Infernored...here's to a cracker-free week and a quick reschedule!

I also had the hellish nausea for three days post-op, it was SO AWFUL to wretch so hard on that new ouchie tummy!! Every nausea drug they gave me...immediately made me throw up more. UGH. But like you, I just suddenly felt better and things improved rapidly after that.

I would have asked her why she thinks you don't deserve to take "the easy way out." Is there a reason you should be somehow "punished" and have repeated weight loss failures, followed by weight-related health issues, for the rest of your life?

Sounds horrific, I'm so sorry to hear about it. I really hope the pain resolves quickly!

Sorry, certainly didn't mean to come over as hysterical. This just hit on a huge personal nerve and I ranted away freely instead of being more measured in my response.

Yes, true -- diet change is the primary line of treatment for actually diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, in terms of treatment: gradual weight loss may improve the process in obese patients; rapid loss may worsen NAFLD. And just as with any obesity-related issue, not all obese people will have the problem. We read of so many people on the boards who were otherwise completely healthy, just overweight to some degree. Presuming that all fat people have a fatty liver is inherently prejudicial and not based on ANY EVIDENCE. Makes my effing head spin it does. So this raises two questions for me: first, was the OPoster even diagnosed? Or just "presumed guilty" as it were, by the very crime of being obese? Did they run her liver enzymes and know she had NAFLD? Second: A two-week crash diet -- which is precisely what liquid diets or severely calorie/carb-restricted diets are -- is every bit as likely to worsen the problem, if it's present, or to have zero effect at all. It's more of a compliance hurdle IMO -- which is fine, but don't dress it up and call it something else. Using very thin (disingenuous) science as a rationale for kicking people who are already down (often, way down) is the worst kind of sadism IMO. I think there are some seriously sadistic assholes working in the bariatric field -- some real fat-phobes. No kidding. I had such an outraged reaction to the OPoster's situation that I seriously will have to wait until later to do my BP check. I about stroked out reading that. What an irrational, asshole thing to do. Man of science? Neutral, objective god/surgeon? I think not. Punitive, petty, power-hungry, sadistic bastard, more like. Humiliate and shame her for gaining a couple of pounds or eating a few carbs?!? Does that seem like a reasonable reaction to ANYONE?? I'm completely outraged. I respect the fact that you said you couldn't lie, Infernored -- but I have to say, given the circumstances and the utterly biased and unfair nature of the entire situation, I would have sat there and lied right through my teeth, with a smile on my face. What an asshole. I'm SO sorry you were treated like that. You didn't deserve it. Even if you ARE completely and intractably "addicted" to carbs (ie, like 90% of your fellow humans), you STILL don't deserve to be treated like that. Yes, now you'll have to play along and jump through a few more hoops, but I really hope you won't beat yourself up over this. Feeling shitty and down on yourself and like a failure is NOT the way to start this new journey. Hold your head up high, and stick to non-white carbs and Protein as long as it takes. And if you don't lose weight again the next time round? Please, just lie. You don't deserve this. Hugs and good luck to you. (I'm going for a nice vigourous walk now, to try and calm down.)

I can drink anything in any temperature, and though the thickness/foaminess of a protein shake is not something I enjoy, I can even drink that without difficulty.

Try lots of different ways of getting in fluids -- different flavours and temperatures? Maybe warm or hot tea will go down easier than cold Water or drinks? The water is the most important thing, you have to get that down. Bottom line is: You might just have to really force yourself through it, despite the unpleasantness. It's a self-perpetuating thing -- the more you don't eat/drink, the more you don't want to (any anorexic knows this), so you are the only one who can make yourself get past this. It's literally a matter of using your own will to overcome the problems. Hold your nose and drink, if that's what it takes. No one can save you, but you. The good news is twofold: One, it does get better -- it seems a huge mountain, but once you're on top of it, you realise it wasn't anywhere near as high as you thought it would be, nor as difficult to climb, and Two, you CAN TOTALLY DO THIS. So do it. Good luck and hugs to you.

I agree -- I can't believe how wildly varying the programs are. It has caused me a lot of confusion -- though I of course at the end of the day follow my own clinic's program. My program calls for no pre- or post-op liquid diet at all. No Protein shakes or supplements. Any and all foods (except raw fruit and veg) from day 3-4 post-op. I've been eating "real" food up to the night before surgery and from day four after surgery. It has caused me angst to put real food (though obviously that was pretty mushy at first lol) in my wee sleeve when everyone else was drinking clear or full liquids still. I have to say, though, that I have not had a problem with eating and haven't eaten anything that didn't agree with me really. I've had an amazingly smooth time of it (touch wood) and have lost ~22 pounds in 3.5 weeks. I can pretty much eat half a cup of food at a go -- like half cup of chili for instance. I can eat meat and chicken. Bread, not so much -- but I use wholegrain crackers instead. My program demands that you have a balance of protein, fruit/veg, and carbs -- which is also counter to most other programs. It's totally confusing and sometimes stressful, but I just shut out the questions and follow what I'm told to do. At least my entire clinic/practice is completely aligned, so when I see a different nutritionist or doctor, I get the exact same advice and guidance. I was also prescribed a twice-daily PPI for the first month, and I'm allowed to use ibuprofen. So random.

Love your intro, you have made a great choice. Good luck on keeping the dermatitis at bay, and good luck on the surgery -- you will love it! (Well, maybe not the first day or so....