kids05

I pulled out my heating blanket!!! I have been cold for basically the last 27 days! LOL. Today at work I wore a fleece under my fleece!!! I work in a Dr's office...I did not care that I looked like a nut, my fingers and nose were still freezing! Besides, a month ago both wouldn't have fit at the same time...haha! I think our internal thermostats need some time to reset.

My doc said anyting I want once your onto the REAL food stage...just go slow and try one new thing at a time so you know what worked and what didn't. I would personally choose sushi...I miss it sooo much, but can't imagine rice working for me yet. Doc said it can feel 'stuck' because its a doughy consistancy, I'm not ready to have anything feel any worse than I do somedays already...lol. pizza I have been craving so I made a mini one on a piece of a wrap, just added some sauce and mushrooms and low fat shredded cheese. I ate about half of what I made..but it helped quench the craving (obviously "head hunger: but hey, in moderation I'll feed my head hunger sometimes!) Hope this helps.

This may sound crazy...but how on earth do you guys throw up!!?? I have felt GOD AWFUL sick, like there was a lead weight just below my breast bone...sharp pains in my belly when something didn't agree with me, or I didn't chew enough...or I ate too fast?? Heck if I know what causes it...throwing up the offending cusine choice would be heaven...NOT ME! It stays and I suffer! I think my big belly brain is saying..."hey you chopped more than half me off I'm hanging onto everything I can for dear life, God knows what you'll do next" LOL. I did have the heaves once...horribly strong, but nothing came up. Every time I try something I just have to wait a few to feel if its going to churn and toss in my belly like a cement truck rolling and rolling around. Oh, and when I do manage to eat a little something (at luch at work..) My belly sounds like a starving childs stomach for about 45 minutes afterward...is that normal?? Its so embarassing! I have to apologize to my patients, even the doc I work for one day...its SOOOO loud! PLEASE tell me that goes away!?? I have great days that I can eat a little of this and a few bites of that, and days that NOTHING will work. I can't drink any Protein shake without being very ill (tried different ones, milk, lactose free, Water...nothing works!) I'm obviously going to lose some weight but at this point I'm going to be a thinner, bald (not getting all the protein the last 2 days), cranky, hungry version of me! I guess from looking at everyones posts...we all have these crazy issues, none are quite the same...all of them SUCK..but we are all still glad we did this...right? We are still glad right? I think I am...I mean I am...I think! LOL.

I can sympathize! I went to a CHINESE BUFFET at 23 days out last night. Step daughters birthday and thats where she wanted to go! I had 2 shrimp, 4 green beans, a small chunk of boneless chicken and the meat from a crab leg. $10.99....wow, they got the better end of that meal...lol. It really was a pathetic looking plate! I guess maybe I should have bought the take out container...then I would have had some to bring home! Congrats on not wanting the pasta. I have had a few pieces now and then. Mac n Cheese at work...like 4 noodles...lol. But, my doc said if it is tolerable go for it. (in moderation of course) I haven't gone out other than that, I'm sure this will be interesting. The little taste they give you of wine to see if you want to order it....no thanks, thats enough, I'm good...that sip will be all we need to be tooted!!!

Sounds like you're doing good! Water or water consistancy goes through pretty quickly so thats why your not feeling full. I'm 24 days out and honestly have no idea what full feels like. LOL. My doc asked me about it yesterday, but he said its common not to know how full feels yet. He said when I get full, I'll know it! Sooo, guess I'll have to work on it! Good luck...speedy healing! ps, went back to work about 2 1/2 weeks out...rough for @ 2 days then got back into the flow. You have good days and exhausting days while your body adjusts to this HUGE change!

I slept on my side 2 days after surgery...as long as I had my trusty pillow pile in front and behind me I was fine! Now I'm back to flip flopping like a fish all over...all night! I think my fiance liked it better when i was stuck in my pillow prison...haha.

Water goes down way easier for me too. I'm 24 days out, I can take like 4 large swallows of water or like consistancy. Shakes etc...one at a time...with time between. You're not alone!

Oh and btw, my doc said the no pasta, rice, bread rule he has is subjective. Many patients cannot tolerate them...even red meat, but if you can..he said go ahead. Moderation is key!

Hi. I'm 24 days out and I can eat a few bites of mac n cheese, or I take a lowfat wrap and slice it into strips with a pizza cutter. I than roll turkey deli meat (my staple it seems..lol) and some cheese (usually a shredded low fat blend) and wrap one of my mini wraps around it. Its like real food...haha. I get a kick out of being back to food thats normal consistancy. Oh it makes great mini pizza shells too! just some jar sauce (only a little) mushrooms and shredded cheese, now Mom has pizza night too!

The smell of food is my KILLER! I have no will power it seems. I smell chicken, steak, sauce in the crock pot...OMG, I want it sooo bad! I have 5 kids, so we cook constantly or someone is anyway. They are teenagers and 20's so everyone has highschool, college or work schedules that are different. My kitchen is a flurry of activity maybe 18 hours a day!!! Me...I can barely think about eating a thing most days and others I want everything, then nothing agrees with this cantankerous tummy! My stomach reminds me of Walter...ya know the comedian Jeff Dunham...his sour puss old man dummy, yeah...thats my belly. I went to NYC yesterday, my first real visit there ever! It was great, but at 16 days out, exhausting. If any of you have seen my posts I have had a few issues. Post-op mid sleeve swelling=no food, painful swallowing, extra upper GI's...ugh. Not fun. But...some days my belly is not Walter...it's just fine. Easter for example, I ate an artichoke...mushy and soft, a little Protein and FLAVOR. I felt human, it takes so long to eat, that I was eating while the family was eating...ahhh. Since then, no go. Nothing, even another artichoke, will go in well. 2 bites grumble, churn...no more allowed...sigh....grab a protein Water and just try to survive. Yesterday in NYC, I lost Walter...it was great! I had clam chowder for lunch at South Street Seaport on the docks in the sun (about a half cup, but REAL food) I was feeling guilty because it wasn't low cal...but at 16 days out I really cannot order a chicken salad, so Soup it was. Then the smells hit...PIZZA, omg, I would have offered the vendor $25 for a slice...ohhhh, the BBQ smells, the chinese food smells...yikes! I was going to DIE! Pretzel wrapped hotdogs...why oh why would I have put my foot down and insisted my fiance buy one...just so I could have a bite...lol. I don't even like hotdogs??? I couldn't pass it up. So, he bought a hotdog (thank GOD he is skinny or this new diet of mine would kill him..I eat one bite, he finishes...lol) I DID IT! AND...I don't feel guilty! I took a tiny bite of that hotdog with a pinch of pretzel and chewed till there was nothing left....AWESOME! One more tiny bite...heaven, the rest was all his. Did I fail...cheat...or blow it??? I say NO!!! I walked like 8 miles yesterday, I have lost weight and felt HUMAN for the first time in 16 days!!! I look at it as a victory! Those hotdogs were 2 for $5. In the past I would have gotten two, and scarfed them down with a big diet pepsi! Yesterday 2 teeny tiny bites made me feel amazing. I put that in the win column! This will get better..each day! I did this to make my life better, to help me control my portions but to still enjoy food. Will I do that every day? No. But on occasion..ABSOLUTELY!

Ahhh...I have tried everything...even my doc said just go to soft mechanical, my cantankerous "Walter" belly is something of a fuss budget. I ate chicken salad once...sooo sick. Vomited hard! Not cool this soon out. Egg salad, well, lets just say it went right through me. When I say bite of a hotdog...I mean teeny tiny little nibble, and chewed to basically nothing. The flavor was enough though. Did I mention that I basically loathe hotdogs...lol. Another weird twist for me. Prior to surgery I always drank Water, soda anything with no or very little ice. NOW, I fill the glass with crushed and cubed ice and add my drink...it cannot be cold enough!?? Whats with that? Crazy huh? Today my three meals were... some southwest corn chowder, (about 1/2 cup) mmmm amazing. Then I had some low sodium / low fat deli ham (one slice) wrapped around like 1/4oz of havarti cheese with about 1/4 cup of the corn chowder and then third meal was a very thin oval low fat wrap divided into 3, took the one little strip smeared some avacado on it, slice of turkey deli meat, low sodium 98% fat free and some weight watchers shreeded cheese, another yum but kinda filling. Countless bottles of water...couldn't seem to sip enough today. I know I did not hit my Protein requirements today, but I just couldn't stomach a Protein Drink today...I'll definitely try to be more protein conscious tomorrow!

I have had a terrible time of it too. A few bright Patches, but I know what you mean. My favorite flower, Hyacinth...when I had some in my dining room this Easter the smell would be stong at times...yuck. Made me think of dead bodies...don't ask me why?? Maybe cause I'm a nurse...morbid, but thats what I thought of...outside they went. On the flip side pizza, chicken cooking...smell amazing, I die of desire, hunger and wage a willpower war, when they get cooked. I would sell a kid for some...lol. My stomach churns and gurgles...LOUD! My daughter at the other end of the couch will be like, "MOM! is that your stomach??" yup...it is. My persnickety noisy tummy...what can we do??? Endure...hope the good days eventually outweigh the bad...hang in there. Yup heard it all and just muddling through...you are not alone. Hope you feel better.

I like the cheese 'crackers' idea...I need to CHEW! Thanks

Great job...and you have crossed into the land of OK TO WEAR HORIZONTAL STRIPES! You look fabulous!!!

I am day 17 today....I had one day I did not lose weight last week (I have been a scale obsessor!!) But...I thought about it. I drank way more the day before and I think I was finally on the winning side of dehydration. Some of that weight immediately post op is going to be Fluid loss. I think once we have that IV pulled and its up to us, we all get a little dehydrated (or in my case...alot) Once you get better at the fluids, you're bound to put a bit back on while your body begins to balance and adjust. I don't really subscribe to the 'bathroom necessity' being weight at this point. When your daily food intake is virtually 12 oz...thats less than a pound and Soups and mushies have a Water content that we eliminate...so probably not hanging onto a few pounds of food. (if you are, I think you have a bigger problem...lol) I agree we should weigh once a week but at this point I am replacing my food obsession with scale obsession...lol, and its motivation to me on the days I feel like CRAP! Even an oz, thank God my scale has that...can be an oz in the right direction. A gain of a pound, while crushing...if you rationally think it through, is not really a pound of FAT! Water is key, and get as much of your Protein as you can. You are going to lose! How can you not!?? Can you still eat a cheeseburger? Can you eat multiple slices of pizza? NOPE! Stay positive...good luck! We're a day apart so I totally commiserate! I put up a post about day 16...lol. I was bad, and it was good...and I still lost 2 lbs. I think acceptance is a big part of surviving these first weeks...we made this choice, we'll have good days and bad days, in the end...we'll weigh less! *hugs!*

Its very rare that a laproscopic procedure has to be converted. I worked in an OR for @ 3 years and only saw it once...and it was an emergency. Nothing like scar tissue or a fatty liver. Fatty liver is the biggest deterrent for this surgery I think. When you go in lap, you use a retractor to hold the liver out of the way, if they cannot safely keep the liver up out of the way...well, that would be a problem. It seems that your BMI, adherence to pre op diet and I'm sure your doc has run all your labs...you should be in good shape. I did have scar tissue that was in my surgeons way...he just had to remove it to keep going...still lap! That one incision was a little sore from the work there, but no worse than if you end up having a hernia repair at the same time (lots of people do) You can only know this is what you want...lap or open, and will get through it either way. Your recovery will be a little longer with an open procedure, but the chances are so low that you should be positive (yet realistic) and you will be fine.

HI! I CANNOT do protein shakes!!! I ca get in 2 or 3 sips...then gurgle, churn...and run to the bathroom. Mine is diarrhea though, not vomiting. I have tried almond milk and soy milk so don't ask me, I'm confused...lol. I drink the isopure water from GNC. It's pricey, but 40 grams in a 20 oz bottle, so I think its worth it. My doc does not seem overly concerned at this point...so I'm chugging along! GOOD LUCK.

mmm...pumpkin soup sounds wonderful!

OMG! I am inspired! You look wonderful!

Hi there and congratulations! I had my sleeve on 4/12 and I still get nauseous every time I eat food. I actually get clammy and feel like I can't catch my breath at times. The rumbling and churning can be painful...but it passes in a few minutes. It actually seems to be getting a little better with time, but its really day by day. Sorry I don't have a better answer, but mix it up I guess. I have never been able to tolerate applesauce or eggs, but cottage chesse is usually good. pudding depends on the day and there is NO Protein shake I can handle yet. I have to drink the Isopure protein Water, it takes about 4 hours to drink the bottle, but its 40 grams of protein...so I have to do it. I hope you do better every day, I hear this is the hardest part!!! Stay strong!

sharp pain in left shoulder, neck and ribcage 3 days post-op, just 'wrong' feeling when drinking anything any thicker than water, again starting 3 days post op. Took one sip of a protein shake today lying on the couch, boom! Pulse 112....this is not good. Now my pulse is bounding because I am starting to FREAK out! Anyone have this and have it not be serious!?

Ok, I am pretty straightforward, matter of fact and blunt. THIS SUCKS! I am 9 days out and this narrowing in my sleeve has me screwed, to put it bluntly! Newest revelation...and protien shake, smmothie or even unflavored added to otherwise tolerated liquids gives me diarrhea! What do I do. After 2-3 swallows the gurgling and churning and grumbling begin, within 20 minutes a run to the 'powder room' And I NEED protein! I am getting married! I WILL HAVE LONG RED HAIR FOR MY FREAKIN ST PATRICKS DAY WEDDING!!!! What do I do?? On a second, probably more important note...but bald at my wedding seems kinda worse in my twisted brain....I'm getting dehydrated! What can I do...what if I cannot tolerate protein??? How will I survive? I'm a nurse but can you get supplements, like protien, by injection or anything??? I am in a bit of a panic, but don't want to be a crazy person. I just want to get through this like all of you have! The FIRST person who says or even suggests this is the EASY way out to lose weight will likely get a punch in the puss!!!! Heelllpp!

how do you know if you swallow air? Maybe I do that?

Congrats! Glad you are feeling good!

Pretty quick, like day 3 or 4 for me. Hot shower beating on my back...I could actually feel air bubbles move...ahhhh. Got a good partner, friend, or kid to give you a back rub? That helps too. Heating pad on your back...not your belly, can help too. Feel better QUICK!