mnbsleeve

I'm so glad your family is being supportive. I know what a difference that makes. I love the way you listed all your thoughts/experiences!!! I felt better just reading them LOL They are many of the same things I felt!!! I will be three weeks tomorrow. Each little phase has its challenges but it really does get better. For me there was this "magical" turning point around day 6ish where I made a huge jump in wellness. I know it's different for everyone. Sending you all my best and lots of well wishes that this stinky phase is over soon!!!!!!

Hi Tex! I also wanted to chime in to wish you luck. It's already been said, but most of us have the same fears. The morning of my surgery I could not believe I was actually doing it. I am three weeks out tomorrow! I still can't believe I did it! The first day or two are the hardest because you are under medication and things are settling. It's expected. But nothing insurmountable. I'm sure you've checked out youtube as well. There are lots of folks who record their journey. Something that helped me immensely. I think of this option as a blessing, a technological advance not unlike say IVF for infertilily without which many would not have their families. We are among the lucky ones that this new science is available to help us - It just wasnt here for those before us a few years back. In the begining these things do seem scarrier because they are not as well known to the general public so the reactions tend to be crappy LOL. Anyway, I know lots of good people have already posted some wonderful things that I am sure have inspired you. So, I will just say once again, best of luck. I look forward to hearing more about your progress and, like I was told at my begining, we'll save you a place on the looser's bench!!!!!

WOW!!!!! How great is that!!!! And you know what? with 100 lbs. gone you COULD climb on the roof to yell! :-) CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

Hi Karelia, So much has already been said that I don't have much more to add. However, it occured to me, could the IE therapist help you sort out some of these issues and figure out if the sleeve would fit with your lifestyle around food? Perhaps she could be a good resource for understanding the role this surgery would play in your life and if it really is something that would benefit you or set you back - which I'm understanding in essence is a concern for you. I know how difficult it is to make such an irreversible, life altering decision. Regardless of your path, I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you can get some clarity and resolve this struggle! All my best!

Hey guys! I did NOT start this post... but THANK YOU TO ALL!!! Great ideas and suggestions!!!! What a great thread!!! Thanks to the topic starter and to all who commented!!!

LOL!!!!!! Glad someone said somthing!!!! I had the same experience!!! LOL Thanks for the laugh! :-)

There are a lot of great suggestions posted here already. I just wanted to add what has been working for me. I had similar experiences with the chewables. I take liquid vitamines. I use a brand called Blue Bonnet. They also make calcium. Now that I am on mushies (I'm just three weeks out) I have also introduced the gummies everyone is talking about. I'm having some trouble with taste, proteins and such so I found that mixing it up between the two helps me get them in. I'm going to be looking at some of the ideas posted here as well. This forum is just a wealth of support and suggstions!

What a great experience!!! Yay for you!!!! Your post is so helpfull. It's nice to know we can get to this point! Thanks for posting and congratulations on a great success!!!

Sending positive thoughts and prayers that you heal quickly. You will get through this!!!!

Me too!!! I'm almost three weeks out next monday. The first week I WAS HUNGRY! lol I was really worried they didn't sleeve me!!! It did get better. Now I am on mushies and I get hungry but it subsides quite quickly when I eat or have my shake... even when I don't eat. I have to watch that. I was kind of glad to have some hunger because now I know I will still enjoy food and the act of eating. At times it feels like I'm just putting in nourishment but not really "eating". I feel like the astronauts might feel eating out of tubes LOL

I just read all of these posts and I was so happy to read that things are working out!!! sounds like you really set your mind to it and you DID IT!!! Congratulations on your efforts. I also wanted to wish you luck and let you know we will all be here rooting for you and looking forward to hearing how things are going post op!

Hi Tina! Welcome to this board and congratulations on having the procedure done! Yes, there are some very amazing, wonderful people on this board. It is an incredibly supportive community. I've also just been sleeved three weeks this coming Monday. I also can't believe I did it!!!! I am looking forward thought to getting past this phase of mushies and then soft foods where everything tastes kind strange... and mostly tiring! :-) I feel very encourged by all the people here. Glad you're here! Looking forward to reading more about your progress!

Sounds like you're right on target!!! I'm just three weeks out on Monday and it does get easier. Feels like each phase has its challenges. But on this board I've learned that things get better and life gets back to normal... only better! :-) Congratulations!

That's awesome!!! I saw your pics too! What amazing changes in just two months!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

I can't say for certain if I can make it at this point. I have a HUGE deadline I am behind on. But I am certainly going to try! I'd love to mee you wonderful ladies in person. Thanks for organizing!

Hi Everyone!!! A am now sleeved!!!! The first day in the hospital was rough. Yesterday was the second day and wasn't allowed to go home till after 10pm. MD wanted to be sure I was pushing fluids and... sorry.... passing gas. I also had /have quite a bit of Nausea. Got home last night around midnight. Hubby went out to a 24 hour pharmacy to get me pain meds. They could not dispense them at the hospital. I have alegies to morphine and vicoden so they prescribed demerol & percocet. Any way, poped one of those and another med for nausea and to sleep I went around 1pm. Slept well and now sipping, sipping,walking ... :-) Feeling much better. I had a substantial hiatal hernia so there was a little more pain. Thank you all so much for your support, ideas, and kind words leading up to my surgery. I'll keep posting and reading your progress as well!!!! MNB PS: sorry if this is a bit sloppy. I'm still a little loopy from these meds :-)

Hi guys, I'm really freaked out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surgery is Monday 7am. Tomorrow I start two days of only clear fluides. I've been on combo of liquid shakes and 4oz lean protein and cup of vegies for dinner for the past two and a half weeks. I'm hungry and I'm scared!!!! This board is full of good info and great experiences. TODAY there appeared to be a slew of bad experiences. Someone that maybe dehydrated, someone that can't eat.... Holly Cow!!!! I got in when I got home and read this and called my husband asking him if I should cancel. I don't want to be "sick" guys. I know it's surgery and it has its issues... I am realistic.... but I don't want to screw up my life. I'm really getting freaked out!!! Are those messages a sign? I know, a little lame. But that's the state I'm in. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amanda! That is fantastic!!! Congratulations!!! and thank you for your post!!!!

Yes, I had to pay ahead of time, at registration. Good luck with your surgery!!!!

Good luck!!! Sending lots of positive thougthts your way!!!

You look AMAZING!!!!! You go girl!!!! Enjoy the new you!!!!!! Thanks for posting, very inspiring.

If you can tolerate "intense flavors" you can juice or blend some green vegetables, such as a few kale leaves and few swiss chard leaves. You don't need much, 4 to 6 oz. It lubricates your intestines naturally and it's full of antioxidants and nutrients. I juice daily. I haven't been constipated AT ALL. I am two and half weeks out from surgery. I strain it now but in the past, and hopefully the future, I drink the whole thing. I think it made a huge differenceion my healing too. Just one more idea to try ... use your magic bullet! :-) Good luck. Hope everything come out alright!

Sorry I wanted to add one more thing. I don't think keeping personal boundaries is telling lies.

Hi Band!! I have to chime in and tell you that I am in my late forties and I have learned alot over the years. When I was younger I dealt with infertility. Pretty much everyone felt that it was acceptable to ask me what I was doing, how long I would do it, was I pregnant yet? etc. They also felt compelled to share what they would and wouldn't do and why it was wrong, too long, just right etc. When my husband and I were adopting, even strangers that needed to be involved for paperwork reasons, felt free to ask why we were adopting, could we not have "our own," why not a baby, will we have more.... Later, are they your "real" children. I'm not sure why people give themselves permission to ask such intrusive, inappropriate questions; why some topics, or mayby certain people, seem no holds bard to them. Does one ask people, acquaintances or co-workers, even strangers and sometimes family how much money they saved, why they bought a new car and could they afford it or how they financed it? How oftent hey have sex, and is it enjoyable .... you get the picture. Equally, it is NOT appropropriate to ask people how much weight they lost, how they did it, why they did it, or anything else. It is especially wrong to "monday morning quarter back." I have no trouble very simply, and as respectfully as I can, to let these folks know that frankly their questions are quite intrusive and completely inappropriate. I help them see their lack of boundaries and vulgarity. . I have no trouble asking them what in the world makes them think they could ask such an intrusive question. I let them know I feel comfortable being this straight forward and honest since they felt comfortable enough to take the conversation to that realm; so intimate and private. I vary my responses accoring to the situation but they are mostly in that range. I don't feel bad "making them feel bad" because they are the ones that need to check themselves and raise their awareness. I know this sounds intense but it's not so much an issue of word as much as it is my own personal mind set, knowing and owning that this is MY business. They have NO right aking ANYTHING like that and I don't owe explanations. I choose who I tell what and when and if ever. And when someone pulls and "I told you so"... which frankly I don't really care since usually I didn't ask, I take it for what it is: a sign of lacking focus on their own personal issues or struggles, which I'm sure they have. We all have to tend to our own garden! :-) (I've been known to point that out as well :-) i.e., I'm sure you have better things to worry about). Good luck with this. Good job taking care of yourself and following up on your dreams!!!!!!!!!!!! I look forward to reading about your progress on the loosers bench!!! :-)