lkcraig316

I was so happy to get down to 191 by my fifth week. My weight had been moving steadily downward since my two-week pre-op diet. I really thought I was going to avoid that famous stall. Well, ever since I got a lower respiratory infection I have gained and lost from 191-193 over and over for a little over a week. I have had to cut back on exercise, because when I get hot I start coughing until I gag. I am having to force myself to eat because I just don't want it--especially in the mornings with all the drainage. I'm coming to the last four days of my steroids and two more days of my Zpak. I really thought I would be much better by now. Has any body been sick like this with something completely unrelated to surgery and found that it really put a wrench into their weight loss? Other than making sure I get all my fluids in, any ideas? I was able to get down 1/2 egg with diced ham, cheese and tomatoes for Breakfast, so I really am trying to make sure that what little I do eat is Protein rich. I had some pulled beef for lunch by itself. It was BBQ flavored but only had 1.5 carbs in the amount I ate. Encouragement and advice is welcome!

Thanks for your replies! Actually the 50 pounds total is from January until today. But, yes, the majority came off during the pre-op diet and now. I guess I've gotten spoiled with the rate it was falling off! I had not even thought about the steroids causing the problem. But that really does make sense. I know when I had my "big tummy" and would take steroids, I would eat like a pig. I guess since I can't eat, the steroids are just hanging on to everything I have.

You look fantastic! I can really tell a difference.

Great job, Shanny! You are working it!

I have caught the crud from my daughter. I have been coughing nonstop for three days. I am now taking a zpak and a steroid dosepak so I should be better soon. But does anybody know if all that coughing can cause a leak? I am five weeks out.

Mine is March 1. Just a few days apart. Let's make this our best birthday EVER!!!

Keep rocking that sleeve! Congrats!

Congrats, BeadingNurse! You are doing amazing! I am about where you are. I am 5 weeks out and halfway to goal. My birthday is also in March and I plan on being at goal by then, too. That would be a super awesome 49th birthday present! Wish I had done this years ago.

You look amazing!!! Hope your swelling resolves itself soon. I'm only 5 weeks out, but I am still having to take hyosciamine (the anti-spasmodic) twice daily as I tend to get spasms where my esophagus empties into my stomach. He said my tube was very "tight." I'm sure I will eventually appreciate that!

I am five weeks out from surgery. I'm losing steadily, and have fortunately not had any stalls that last more than a couple of days. Hope I didn't just jinx myself. Here are some of my NSVs: I had knee caps under all that padding I had to sleep last night with a pillow between my knees (I sleep on my side) because my knee bones were crunching each other. LOL. I walked laps at the hospital where I work today and not once did I feel out of breath My knee arthritis is not hurting me at all right now. Before surgery I was so in pain that I dreaded going up and down the stairs in our house. My seat belt doesn't ride up into my neck because of so much stomach and boob. It stays nicely in place. Getting out of the tub doesn't take 10 minutes anymore. I have a lap for my dogs to sit in. I am down from a 3X to a 1X and even they are starting to get baggy. My bra straps keep sliding down to my elbows (shopping this weekend!!!) I don't want to cry when I go to find clothes. I'm still in the plus size, but I know they will fit now. I used to get so upset and give up when even the 3X clothes felt tight. I'm sure there are more, but these are the things that I was excited about today. This is such a wonderful adventure. Now that I am eating soft foods and tolerating them well, I am starting to feel so much better. It's easier to get Protein in and I'm doing better with fluids. I think I'm going to make it!!! My mid-term goal is to be in regular ladies sizes when I buy a dress for my cousin's wedding in August. Hope you are all having great NSVs too! Lisa

Such awesome news. Good luck with the one on one interview. Knock 'em dead. And you are right about the confidence. My boss keeps joking with me that while I am losing weight I am gaining a sassy 'tude.

Thanks for the kind words. This is an adventure with a new discovery every day!

I think you will be fine. A 9 year old should be able to help you out if you need it. My husband took a week off work, but ended up going into work several days because of reviews he had to write. But I was fine to fix my own liquids and walk around the house. When I got really tired, I just laid down on the couch and watched daytime crap TV. The first week it would be nice to have someone fix your daughter's meals for her. Other than that, you will be perfectly fine.

Miralax did the job for me.

Bump. I want to try again to see if I can get some responses this time.

So, I am finishing up my first week of soft foods. I have had chicken salad, tuna salad, fried egg with cheese, a low-carb casserole I found a recipe for, chili from our hospital cafeteria (where I work) and everything has gone down just fine. But I've noticed yesterday and today I do not want to eat. I made a fried egg with cheese for Breakfast this morning, took two bites and felt like that was it. I'm not hungry for it. When you feel that way do you MAKE yourself eat or just let it slide until your next meal? Plus I feel like I need to sip something while I'm eating. Like I chewed my bite of egg until it was nothing but mush, but I just didn't want to swallow it. There's no pain, no queasiness, I just don't want it. But I feel like if I could sip some Water or unsweet tea I could swallow it easier. I hate to complain because one of the side effects of surgery that I was excited for was no more hunger. But I know I've got to eat. Any ideas? Lisa

Thanks so much for all of your advice. After I posted my original post I came down with some crud--cough and laryngitis so I am going a little easier on myself for right now. I even allowed myself a little fruit juice. Weird to say but I seem to enjoy really strong spicy flavors right now but have trouble with the bland stuff.

That is FANTASTIC! Go you!

I love my Magic Bullet. It so fast and convenient for all my purees. I even took it with me on our trip to the Smokies this weekend. It would have been a pain to lug around my full-size blender.

I have had the same thing. I had it really bad last week (my 3rd week out). I called my doc and he put me on hyasciamine (sp?) twice a day. It is to calm spasms, which is what he thought it was. It has helped greatly. One night it was so bad that all I could do was pace the floor. It lasted about 15 minutes that time.

Hey Barb! Mine has slowed down too. I'm still having a very hard time getting my Protein shakes down. They cause spasms in my esophagus. Dr. Spaw is having me take hyosciamine (sp?) for those, but I still have trouble. He just told me to keep trying, that it would get better. Purees are my friend. They are warm and feel good going down. I start mushies the day I go back to work, but I'm a little bit scared about that. I think I'm going to stick with purees at work during the day and then try new mushie stuff at home in case it doesn't want to stay down. We are going to Knoxville this weekend to visit my oldest daughter. It will be the first time away from home since surgery. I plan on taking my Magic Bullet and if the restaurants we go to don't have anything I can eat, I can get something to go and puree it when we get back to the hotel. I'm really nervous about this trip. See you tonight!

Sorry about your dad. But congratulations on making it to ONEderland. I got there yesterday!

I can't even tell you how long it's been since I've been under 200 pounds. Years and years and years. I weighed yesterday and was 198. OK, I was excited but I didn't want to post until I knew it wasn't just a blip. 198 again today. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! What an incredible milestone!

I was prescribed Bactrim for a possible staph infection. (My lucky day!) These things are HUGE! I broke it in half, but now I'm worried that the sharp edges on the broken side might cause damage. Should I just suck it up and swallow a whole one next time? With my gag reflex it's very possible I will never get it down. Another question: Some of the Soups I have been pureeing are pretty spicy (and taste DELICIOUS). I just want to take a sip of Water while I'm eating it. Is it OK to drink water with meals while I'm on a puree diet? Whew, this whole process requires so much thought!