sasicas

Woooohooooo! Hit ONEderland today and I am 5 weeks post-op today Weight was 199.8. Months ago, well it was probably more like a year or more ago I bought aprons as my mini-goal treats so today I will be opening one up FINALLY! Only 4 more lbs til I hit the half way mark and about 10 more lbs til I weigh less than my hubby More and more of my clothes are falling off, my size 20s just fall right off and I was able to comfortably wear a size 16 skirt to Church yesterday My 1x shirts are way too big too and many of my XL shirts are getting to be too big too I'm having some ongoing issues still, I was switched from Prilosec to Nexium and it seemed to be doing the trick til two days ago so I will be adding in Zantac today and if not better in 2 days I will go in and be scoped. Praying the pain just goes away. Also dealing with some major muscle pain in my legs from overdoing it the other day but I was able to be on my feet for a lot longer than I was 41 lbs ago Hoping I can get the hubby to take some pictures of me today too for comparison shots.

Thanks! The pain was figured out too, I've been hospitalized since monday and I have a stricture and hiatal hernia. hopefully I will still be in ONEderland once I get home, been pumped full if fluids.

Congrats!

I have noticed hormone changes too. Im about 5 weeks out and was fine at first but this last week I have been on edge like no other. Ugh very frustrating. Ive noticed a huge change in my hair too, my hair used to get super oily, I had to wash it daily and now my hair is not oily at all. Its been 2 days since I washed it and its still fine. So crazy what this surgery does to us.

Quite the combination, right? Still feeling pretty crappy here at 4 weeks out tomorrow but trying really hard to eat something, anything. A RNY friend suggested eating a cracker or something small every hour I'm up to keep from getting empty, if I get empty, I gag and gag and gag some more, it got to the point where I started to throw up something but it sure wasn't food. Anyways, crackers? Good idea? Bad idea? I had one today, had to go to the grocery store and felt awful, had a cracker and ate it to take the edge off. Pickles-when did you all start on eating pickles? I have two more weeks of mushy/purees and while in the store, I walked by the pickles and just wanted to stop right there and eat them all haha. Drooling just thinking about them now. Sugar-free-how important is it to stick to all sugar free. The taste of the fake sugar substitutes makes me seriously gag. I have never been one to handle any of the fake stuff, not having a problem with sugar free Jello or popscicles but everything else is GROSS. It's not that I want to eat a big huge snickers full of sugar (ok maybe I really would like to do that but know that I cant) but I would really like to add some real sugar to some decaf tea. And I have read a bunch of recipes on eggface's blog it all calls for the sugar free syrups, I bought some, and OH MY GOODNESS ICK ICK ICK! So can I use regular syrups?? Ugh, such a learning process here, so ready to just know what I am doing and get to feeling human again. Thanks...

fatBgone-Thats a great idea. Maybe I will be able to eat something then. MelissaAnd-will have to try the activia, I forgot there was some of that in the fridge. Can you ask your doctor for the pills? Mine is a pretty small pill and it goes down much better than the way too big Prilosec I was on. I haven't dealt with any big stalls yet, I am weighing a couple times a week and twice in this last week the number was the same, figured it was the 3 week stall everyone deals with but still managed to lose the next time I weighed in. I believe Im down 24 from surgery day. Hang in there, Im sure your body is still trying to adjust. This whole process has been hard!

It says to take it 30 minutes prior to eating so that is what I have been doing. They also gave me some zantac to start in a few days if the Nexium isnt doing enough. And said Milk of Magnesea was ok to take as well. He said if it all continues they will consider scoping me this week too. I will have to look into other yogurts, maybe that will help. Right now Im living on gogurts and Yoplait light. I keep wanting to try egg/tuna/chicken salad but trying to get past the making it part, I know it sounds stupid but looking at stuff makes me nauseas, of course I refuse to breathe through my nose when near food now too lol. Stupid body. Didn't think of cream cheese in deli meat, going to have to try that tonight, thanks for the idea! Protein drinks are a no-go for me too. Thanks so much for your help. Oh and congrats on your pregnancy!!

Thanks for the advice on the sugary stuff too

I am having acid production issues. I was on prilosec and it wasnt cutting it, so I was switched to Nexium twice a day a few days ago. It does seem to helping much more with all the heartburn pain. I am extremely sensitive to smells right now, even the site of food at times can make me start gagging again. I'm trying to eat on a schedule, seems I cannot get much down, no more than a few bites down, even slowly and chewed very well to last very long. I just keep feeling empty, which brings on the gagging ugh. Guess my body just needs to keep adjusting to what I did to it. Truthfully right now, I wish I had never had the surgery. I know many say that too, its just frustrating. Burping up pickles sounds disgusting ICK! Might have to try pickle juice at some point though, sounds so good right now. Thanks

4 weeks out here and the left incision pain for me is still here, its indented too and has been since surgery. I did go in to get checked out, ultrasound was done too and nothing seen. The PA decided it was likely a stitch pulled internally. Thankfully its not near as bad as it was, but still uncomfortable and if I move too quickly, I get a very sharp pain.

Any opinions on unflavored protein drinks? I'm on my 2 week liquid pre-op and the flavored stuff is making me gag. Thanks

I am so frustrated! I know the first weeks are the hardest, I've talked to quite a few people who have felt like I do right now and it just bites! I am 3 weeks out, I have lost quite a bit of weight for which I am trying to be happy for but I am so stinkin miserable right now. I finally am on mushies, so I am getting more but cannot tolerate Protein, even the unflavored stuff right now. I know, I know, I need to get some in but I don't think throwing up the protein would do me any good. I am so sensitive to smells right now, even the site of food when I get too "empty" make me gag like no other. Just looking at a can of Soup makes me gag. Its so stinkin annoying. I really feel like I did in the first months of pregnancy with morning sickness and I'm just frustrated. I'm also annoyed with all the people watching me eat, I get it, its wierd to see some 200 lb girl eating like a bird and then stopping after a few bites but it's embarrassing. And now my husband has training which means I have to get up the nerve to give myself my lovenox shots ugh. I am such a sissy when it comes to stuff like that, I even put a pillow over my face when he does them because the thought freaks me out lol. So now I have to do it myself. Ok I guess I am done with my pity party. I'm just ready to get back to a normal life. Oh and I sooooooooo miss bread, tortillas and rice right now, which makes me cranky lol

I am so glad to have the support of this board! It stinks so many of us are or have gone through this. Its really one of those times right now where I regret the stinkin surgery. Hubby keeps saying I will be thrilled 6 months from now, I sure hope he is right. My heartburn (which I did not have pre-op) is frustrating too, I know its not helping with how crappy I feel. Just talked to a PA and he told me to up my dosage and take another prilosec tonight. I am going in tomorrow and he said they may decide to scope me too because I do get that stuck feeling too often. Man, I knew this surgery would be rough but it is still more than I had prepared myself for. Thanks everyone for the support!

Man! This is tough! I am 2 weeks post-op as of tomorrow. My weight is quickly dropping, clothes are already falling off but I am struggling. I am on full liquids still but am not able to get much of anything other than Water and the occational greek yogurt down. I'm really feeling the affects of it right now too. My body is just very worn down. I feel nauseaous most of the time, the idea of Jello and pudding even makes me feel sick now. I can't tolerate the taste of cream Soups either. Protein drinks are a big no for my sleeve too. Today I did try a little instant mashed potatoes with gravy, maybe an 1/8 of a cup if that (had a few WLS friends suggest it to at least get something in) and still 4 hours later I have this feeling of fullness. My stomach has been rumbling non-stop for a week and its really annoying. I'm just not sure what to do or think, or if I am just being a whiney baby and need to suck it up. I know the first few weeks are the hardest but I was really hoping I could at least get some soups down or something.

Thank you ladies, I really appreciate the support. I knew this would be tough but I dont quite think I was prepared for the emotional part of it too. Tonight I totally broke down over feeling crappy, not being able to eat and being annoyed that I couldn't just lose the weight on my own and having to resort to surgery. Just a total breakdown. thankfully my husband has been really great helping me get through this. I really hope the next few weeks move quickly so I can start feeling human again...

I'm 9 days out and doing ok. Had my drain FINALLY pulled yesterday (thank goodness they let me move my appt up or I would have had it til Friday). I am having a LOT Of pain on the left side, guessing it was from the drain being all the way over there so hopefully the pain will go away soon. Things are not moving yet if ya know what I mean. The doctors put me on 3 different meds to help in that department. Getting off the pain meds will hopefully help too, right now I only use them when I absolutely need them. I'm able to do a lot more around the house, Breakfast, lunch for the family. Thankfully hubby is home til next week so he has picked up most the slack. Not getting in hardly any Protein though, struggling to just move from clear to full liquids. Not hungry at all but trying to move on up and get this protein stuff going.

I started at 240.8 before 2 week liquid diet, 228.8 the day of surgery. I just got sleeved last week, I've lost 12-13 lbs so far.

I am soooo glad to hear it will feel better, that seems to be my only pain and its enough that I still take my pain meds. Its soooo annoying!

I've had this too, especially if I take too big of a sip. I decided to start taking the Prilosec my doctor sent me home with as well and it seems to be helping.

OHhh soooo many things I miss right now...just about anything with bread, french bread, sourdough bread, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, tortillas, all fast food, taco bell, Subway, McDonalds, Del Taco, Jack in the Box. Big huge burritos from my favorite mexican restraunts, Pasta, Snickers Easter eggs, peanut M&Ms, ice cream, Thin Mints. Oh yes, I am a classic fat girl lol. I know I can have many of these agains eventually in moderation and altered but not for a LONG time...Goodbye my lovely food, I miss you

Yeah it is very interesting to see the differences in requirements. Our surgeons all have the same requirements post op but some require pre-op diets and some don't. My surgeon was one of the only to require a 2 week liquid diet and I know people who had him only months ago and didn't have to do it. He normally only requires it for those over 400 lbs, but for some reason had me do it. Very odd. Everyone goes home with a drain here. Its so annoying. I wasn't allowed anything for 24 hours after surgey, when I had a leak test done, then clears for 3 days, with the exception of greek yogurt I am still doing clears as I dont feel ready for full. Then we do 2-3 weeks of full liquids. 2-3 weeks of mushys and purees. Then real food.

I'm 6 days out as well. I totally know the feeling of wanting to just taste the food! I don't want to eat any of it, but I really, really want to taste the food and spit it out Even foods I don't like I just want to taste haha, like bacon lol. I was able to get up and do a little clean up and making lunch for the family. Able to get in plenty of fluids but not enough Protein, Im trying some more Isopure today in hopes it helps me with some energy. All my pain is on the left side, not once have I had pain on the right, it does feel like I did a million sit-ups. So ready for this stupid drain to come out but its not coming out til Friday. Also still taking the pain meds too. I did get really lucky and lost in the hospital, I was totally shocked by that so the weight is still coming off quite rapidly right now. I can still feel where everything is in my sleeve, from greek yogurt to meds and Water, hoping that stays the same. Only felt sick once so far too and that was after taking a laxative the doctors gave me yesterday. OH MY GOODNESS! If you don't need it, don't take it. I still need to take more since it hasn't worked yet but I all of a sudden felt like I was going to pass out and/or throw up. I got up and took a hot shower, then took a nap for a few hours. And my stomach started making all kinds of crazy noises. Anyways, glad you are making such great progress!

I had surgery on Monday as well. Like the others have said you HAVE to get up and move. Walk around the neighborhood, walk around the house. You will not heal near as quickly if you just lay in bed. and you will deal with gas pains worse if you do not move to work them out. Try different temps of drinks. Try ice cold, cold, room temp, warm, and hot, find what works best for you and your sleeve. If I take too big of a sip I will get a quick pain in my chest, enough that it stops me in my steps, I burp after that and try again. Get a medicine cup and put your Water in there to sip from, it helps you to control how much you get. If all else fails, get a baby spoon and drink your water from that to force yourself to take small sips. Stay on your pain meds! If you dont take it consistantly, you will have a much harder time playing catch-up on the the pain. Make sure to drink some water before you take the meds. Chances are you are very dehydrated and will need an IV of fluids anyways, so call your surgeon or just go to the ER. Dont play around with this, if there is an issue, it needs to be resolved or you WILL get worse and that will worsen your recovery time.

I have many friends who have done the gastric bypass. My aunt-had the bypass about 4 years ago, lost tons of weight and was able to walk again, fast forward 4 years and she is regaining at a fast rate Friend-had the bypass probably 5 years ago, spent a month in ICU, had multiple surgeries since to repair issues she had due to the bypass. Now she is regaining 2 Friends-lost all the weight and then some, both are having to eat junk food daily just to keep their weight from continuing to drop Friend-Had bypass about a year and a half ago, a few months in she was rushed to the ER for severe pain, she had an ulcer form at the staple line where her intestines were, the ulcer burst. She was immediately brought in to surgery, where they had to repair the damage, remove more intestines, and basically do the surgery all over again. Not long after that, she again had a similar situation and they had to redo the surgery AGAIN! Then she was unable to eat, could only get certain junk foods down, went under 100 lbs. After lots of testing they decided to go back in, they decided that instead of producing too little acid, she produces too much acid, and that was causing her ulcers. They went in AGAIN, did some repairs and now she is on a PPI that seems to be helping and she is finally able to eat real food and gaining weight back. The surgeons told her that if this happens again, she will be on a feeding tube for life. The biggest issue I have seen with my friends that have had gastric bypass is the food intolerances, I have not seen this with my sleeve friends. There are plenty more who are doing just fine with the bypass, no issues at all but it is not something I wanted to risk. I did have to laugh at my surgeons intern, he came in first for my consultation, he asked what I wanted and I said sleeve. He then goes on telling me that the RNY was probably a better option, I would lose 10% more weight. Im sorry but a lifetime of issues with Vitamin levels is not worth losing another 8-10 lbs as I started out "low" on the BMI scale. He said I needed to be open and my surgeon would discuss it with me. Surgeon came in and the first thing he said was the sleeve was a good decision and the sleevers lose just about the same amount as the RNY patients.

Have you tried Isopure to get Protein? I had surgery the same day and Ive been drinking that. the grape one tasted like grape koolaid to me, though I have noticed my taste buds have change since pre-op, so wierd. I also tried the punch yesterday, was very bland so I added some orange popsicle to it to give it some flavored, worked like a charm. Isn't the gas pain annoying? Thats my biggest complaint too, though I have noticed I am not able to bend and pick things up like you can, but it will come with time