mnbsleeve

I took two weeks off but was definitely up and around no problem at 4 or 5 days. I have a job where I mostly sit and I was able to focus on sipping my water / protein shake. I think there are several issues to consider. One is physical exertion since your body needs time to heal and you may feel more fatigue due to healing and lack of calories. If your job is physically demanding, you may need much more time. The other issue is that you really need to focus on getting fluid/protein in. If you fall behind it's difficult to make it up since you can only take in so much every 8 to 10 minutes in the begining. At least for me, it was a lot of work. Then you get into a routine, plus your body heals and your capacity starts to increase. I can say that when I hit week two, my energy was great and I pretty much felt normal. The only thing is I was still having to focus on fluid/protein, later food.

I recall that after several weeks on liquids I did literally salivate around food! But when I finally started eating mushies, for me at around week 6, one teaspoon was enough!!! The first time I ate a scrambled egg, I took one bit and by bite two I couldn't stand to look at it! It would freak me out! But things do normalize. I noticed that some foods fill me up way more than others. For sure dense proteins seem to shut everything down. But I have to say, even at 9 1/2 months out, the infamous slider foods do fill me up!!!! There is definitely restriction. Hang in there. Things change daily. In the begining it's mostly about healing, then adjusting, then things settle down and you get a new normal! Congrats on your surgery and best wishes for a super speedy recovery!!!

PS: loving those shoes!!!!! :-)

WOW!!! You look incredible!!! I LOVE the pics especiallyl the last one with your eyes closed, face toward the sky! Looks like a shot in a magazine LOL You look fantastic!!! Congratulations!!!!!

I ride a bike for exercise and I have to tell you this IS a problem! I have purchased new biking pants several times to help and use a special lotion or lubricant called Chamois Butt'r designed just for this! In the other department.... I don't know. I think the bike riding may be "training" and "strengthening" all of me! :wub:

I had thining hair to begin with and I did lose a ton of hair!!!! It stinks BUT... at 9 1/2 months out it has definitely stopped falling out AND it's growing back! For me it was totally worth it!!!! I purchased some really nice hair extensions. I had them done at the salon. They're on these little combs and I add one or two, or the full set, as I choose. I can't tell they are in and they help me feel better and more confident. No one can tell I have them on. But again, it was totatlly worth it for me!!! LOL BTW, not everyone loses hair, or as much hair. It just depends. I bet genetics also play a role ... who knows. But you may not lose any or as much.

Hope you get some relief, and answers, soon Khy!!!

Okay, mine is weird... I call my sleeve "my calamari" because it feels like a small, slick tube with not much flexibility LOL When I use to make stuffed calamari you could get just the right amount of stuffing in the little "tube" and you're done! It just would not budge. Tha'ts how "my calamari" feels! :-)

Wow, wow, wow!!!! LOVE your post!!! You look great!!!! Beautiful family too! What an amazing accomplishment, not just the weight loss and the running but finding your true authentic self and feeling joy and happiness!!! Thanks for showing us how it's done! Hats off to you!!!!!

I just voted for you!!! Congratulations on all you have accomplished. You look FANTASTIC!!!!!

You know, for me it was definitely quantity. I never really liked "junk food" though certainly high caloric food. But even when I was making healthy choices, I ate for three!!!! LOL Especially at my age. I was eating as much as my teen aged son!!! Also, I tended to skip meals alot --i.e., not eat all day -- then really eat a lot, very, very fast at night, often a few hours before bedtime. This surgery has really forced me to change all that. I have to eat throughout the day. And because it's not much, I seem to be able to just have those few bites I need to fuel my body. One thing I do notice though is the amount of food people eat!!! It blows my mind!!! and of course, I am so very clear that I was one of those people!!! :-) But it's just weird now to really see the quantities!!! LOL

I was really fortunate that my dermatologist had a band put in and she said to me that if she had to do over she would no way do the band and that she would consider the sleeve. At that point I didn't know what a "gastric sleeve" was. Thanks to her I looked into it. I think you guys are right about how it's being marketed as such a great thing. Given all the "conversions" as well as failure rate, I find it hard to believe it's still being performed. If you think about it, insurance companies are so hypocritical always touting procedures that supposedly have emperical support and they won't pay for those that "don't have the research." How interesting that there's all this research on how crappy the band is but they push it and won't pay for something like the sleeve!!! It makes me angry so many of us have had to self pay because of it. I am among the fortunate - and I don't take it for granted -- that I was able to swing it. But I'm angry that those that can't pay out of pocket are getting screwed - either because the band gets pushed on them or because they have to forego the procedure all together!! Hey sorry about the rant guys!!!! :-)

Rootman! I just wanted to say that you are always a wealth of information and I appreciat your posts!!! You always have great imput! Thanks! :-)

I agree with Lilee! If you're are getting your fluids in and headaches come and go, it could very well be the cafeine withdrawal. I hope you feel better soon! Mostly I wanted to congratulate you and send you well wishes!!!! Welcome to the losers bench! :-)

TheSkinnyCow73! You are so right!!! BTW, congrats on your sleeve and progress! I can tell you are so going to rock this sleeve!!!

Sara, you are no nonsence! BTW, I really like your youtuve videos!!! Do another :-) Our experiences are very similar. I tend to process things much the same way you dol

Love your post!!! Talk about a glass half full!!! You go girl!!! Enjoy your success!!!!

That's great Iliana! I have PCOS too! Everything went a little haywire for me after the first couple of months - mostly very,very light cycles. But then everything just normalized! I'm quite a bit older than you though. I bet this is going to be sooooo great overall for your hormones and body!!! I'm really happy for you!!! Don't freak if things come and go for a while. Lets keep rocking our sleeves! :-)

Welcome Carly! I was up and around in a few days but really started feeling my best by the second week. I think that if your job is not physically demanding, you should be okay. The main thing is that you drink your fluids. It took a lot of focus in the beginning to sip, sip, sip and walk. Because you can only consume a small amount of fluid at a time, it's really important to keep it going. If you fall behind, it's soooo difficult to catch up. I was also on protein right from the beginning. So again, if you can keep a bottle with you at all times and keep sipping you should be okay. I felt fine physically. Some people feel a little more fatigue. It just depends. We are all different. Lets see what others post here! Best of luck to you and congratulations on your date!!! Soon you will be on the losers bench!!!

Barbara! So glad you are doing well overall!! and that the surgeries went well. Sounds like recovery is tough but it also sounds like it's coming along really well. Sending lots of well wishes for a super speedy recovery. I too can't WAIT to see the pics. I bet you are looking FAB!!!!!

Like others here, right after surgery I couldn't stand the taste of most shakes. I also developed a lactose intolerance! (which fortunately has resolved) Having said that the most helpful powders for me were "Nectar" which has 23 grams of Protein and just under 1 carb (if that). It comes in lots of flavors. I have the Vanilla Bean Torte but there's chocolate truffle and lots of fruit flavors. This one worked for me because I could mix it with soy milk or sometimes with lemon flavor crystal light and I could get it down. I also got unflavored unjury. Also Soups were VERY helpful. I was recommended these by my surgeon: Good Health Good Health makes soups, some completely liquid and some for later with a few little particles. Those I was given after 2 weeks. There's cream of chicken, tomato cream of mushroom... a bunch. They have 15 grams of protein and they went down pretty well (because they weren't sweet!! :-) and they were warm) Good Health also makes Fruit drinks like lemonade, peach tea and drinks like cappuccinos and hot chocolate - lots of these can be made hot or cold One more brand: Pro-Cal-100: can be a cold chocolate shake or a pudding, it's pretty rich and thick and a nice option to switch around texture These products are all mostly 15 grams of protein, BTW. The issue for me was that a lot of these gave me the runs - because of the lactose. But there's no way of knowing till after surgery. But I was able to consume the ones that gave trouble later! When my system settled down. (about six months out) Like others have said, I would not do too much stocking up but just be ready to try different things after surgery. It can be a chore for a while but one thing I can say is you will get through it!!!! It's a small sacrafice and it's temporary. Be ready to be a little grossed out at times LOL But truly, it's okay! We all go through it and once past it we don't look back baby!!! Good luck with this and your surgery. Looking forward to reading more about your progress!!!!

WOO HOO!!! You go girl!!!!!!

You look fabulous!!!! and very happy!! You are sure rocking that beautiful dress!!! You go girl!!!!

"Somehow I'd lost two pounds in 30 seconds" I want that scale!!!! (LOVE your post!!!)

Hi Rohnk! I don't know how far out you are from surgery. At about 9 months out certain foods tend to "fill me up" quickly. Eggs is one of them! A couple of bites and I feel done! In the begining I became very lactose intolerant so I could not have milk or cottage cheese etc., so I had soy milk with my protein and it worked out. But I know many drank/drink milk with no problem. I now can have dairies without a problem - fortunately. Regardign the amoun, I tend to focus on how I feel more so than the amount I consume. So for example, if I serve myself 8 oz of soup but I start to feel comfortable at about 4 or 5 oz., I stop and save the rest for later. Sometimes just one bite will push me over that edge to discomfort so I take it slow. To give you an idea of quantity, at nine months I am still eating between 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup of food, certain foods like yogurt I can comfortably eat about 1 cup. But again, that is rare for me to go that far. I also know others can eat a bit more at this stage. I hope this is helpful to you. Best of luck!!!