hugsamber

I also had kaiser but northern is much different than southern kaiser. I went to my overview on sept 10, orientation sept 27 and had surgery on dec 13th 2010. Mine went very quickly. I was lucky though.

I have lost 86 pounds so far...still have 60 to go. I feel the same way. I still feel big, well I still am big but my mind still thinks that I am 291. So yesterday I compared a before picture of my face to a now picture of my face. Looking at that picture was a huge shock. I guess I forgot what I used to look like! There is such a difference. Though I still feel big I need a reminder every now and again on where I came from and where I am at now.

We waited a week and then was just careful. Though I do have to say that I almost passed out after getting off the bed. Either from blood rushing to other parts of my body or because lack of nutrients I'm not sure. But it was a very close call. Was much better after laying down again. Oh and I left a tshirt on cause my bf didn't really want to see my incisions and get out of the mood or worry about hurting me.

Being a woman sucks around that time of the month. I am not hungry but want to eat. Plus I gain weight and have horrible cramps! The weight is what makes me the most mad though, hello I am barley eating and I gain 3 pounds. Wtf! Plus being all emotional and for me a little bitchy and easily irritated is not a good thing when my scale isn't cooperating! I do agree with rootman though, my prilosec saves me big time.

My first cycle after surgery was horrible! I am on bc pills so was not sure if it was the surgery or going off bc and then back on a 3 weeks later. My period was super heavy with lots of clots. It grossed me out! It lasted 7days when normally my period lasts 3-4 days. I also had bad cramping. I am wondering if it is because of all the rapid weight loss as well as the trauma of surgery. I hope my next cycle is not that bad though!

Thanks! I have been upping my exercise so I have been feeling pretty good. Its amazing how much better I can move after losing 75 pounds in total. This surgery has been amazing!

I have had a couple of episodes of vomitting...I am still learning to eat slower...basically it is just the very last bite that you took comes back up. No bile or anything. Just a tiny bit of undigested food that comes up. I think when you eat that last bite too many it sits high in your esophagus which is why it comes up nice and easy. Though I usually feel yucky for about an hour until my sleeve makes room.

At 2 months out I can take a couple regular drinks of water before I have to stop. It seems to get much easier to drink the farther out you are. When I first got sleeved a tiny sip would be too much. As far as for a straw I don't really notice it unless I am at a restaurant. Sometimes I forget and then realize as I am grabbing the glass that I need to take the straw out! Oh and what I was told about straws is that there can be a lot of air in them so when you take a drink you are also taking in a lot of air.

I have noticed mine shrinking quite a bit. They have never been perky, but then at 42DD I was fine with that. I have been avoiding bra shopping even though I definately need a smaller size. I am going to have to invest in a good bra to perk the ladies back up while I still have some. I still have 75 pounds to lose, so you know I will have no boobies once I lose all my weight!

I sometimes get sad that I can't eat more food. Though I know that is the reason I had this surgery. Some foods just taste so yummy that 3 bites is not enough! I hate that! I am still in my honeymoon phase so I am sure I will be able to eat more after 6 months out. I am almost 2 months out right now. My weight loss has slowed down quite a bit. But that was to be expected. I don't think that it is normal to lose a pound a day for a month! I have lost 40 pounds since surgery so that comes out to about 20 pounds a month. I am still trying to get under 200. Only 15 pounds more to go. How is everyone else doing?

I also had bad nausea about 3-4 weeks out from surgery. I would get nauseous drinking water! It went away after about 2 weeks. Now I only get nauseous when I eat too fast, which I am trying not to do!

I had a horrible bruise on my arm from the heparin shot, but when I got the second shot in the other arm that was did not bruise. Go figure. It took almost a month for mine to go all away.

Woo hoo! Great job on losing 20 pounds! That's awesome! I totally feel you on soft foods. They are so much better than pureed. I have even been bad an having a protein shake with half of a banana for breakfast. Otherwise I wouldn't be getting in very much protein! I am currently at a stall. My longest stall before this one was 3 days, this stall has been 4 days! I'm 218. I am oficially half way to go. Just need to lose another 73 pounds!

I think it depends on the kaiser. At kaiser richmond you would not be able to get an appointment with the case manager to schedule your surgery until you got to your set goal weight.

I got some chocolate premeir protein drinks at costco. They taste good but after looking at the protein there are two different kinds added to it. Cassein and whey. I know whey is what we want but is it a big deal if it has two different kinds? The shakes are 160 calorie, 1 sugar, 3 fat and 30 protein. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Yes I never quite agreed with the no protein shake, but I was trying to following orders! I feel much better this week and not so weak since I have been having the shakes once a day. I agree that as long as it is a healthy choice it shouldn't matter. I feel like I am at least getting in some good nutrients!

Per my nut I am not technically supposed to have protein shakes. But figured I would give them a try because otherwise I was only getting around 20grams of protein a day. I just wanted to make sure that since I am "cheating" it might as well be on something that is good for me protein wise. I did read that cassein makes you feel fuller longer. It takes me a good 2 to 3 hours to finish my shake and that is what I have for breakfast. Well I blend half of a banana and some ice in the premier chocolate shake also. Its yummy!

Yeah, it takes some time for the swelling to go down. How are you doing with ice chips? Are they giving you lots of anti nausea medicine? When you try liquids again sip really tiny sips. Sometimes if you drink too much at one time it may make you sick. I know I thought I was sipping small amounts but really I needed to take even smaller sips! Are you still on pain meds? Do you get nauseous from those?

The nausea is probably a bad reaction to the anesthesia. I was pretty sick for about 4 hours after surgery and they kept giving me anti nausea meds. Walking helped me a lot in the hospital. I walked every hour, after my first walk I was still nauseous and got sick but I think the walking helped move the anesthesia from my body. I hear you on the iv sight. Before surgery they couldn't get a vein and poked me 7 times till they got a small vein. Then when I woke up from surgery I had two different iv sights. Things will get better. Each day you will notice a difference. I know its hard to be away from home and family and being in the hospital you do not get much rest. Just try to stay positive. Things will get better.

Thanks! My stalls so far seem to only last 2-3 days then I lose a pound or two. I started working out and lifting some weights to help try to tone up...we will see how that works! We are all doing so great! This is going to be such a wonderful year!

Well I have been the same weight for 3 days now. 229. I think this qualifies as a stall. I'm hoping it doesn't last long. I know its normal but it still sucks! I want to be under 200 so bad, at least by my birthday at the beginning of april! Well on a good note I started this journey at 291, wearing a 3x top and 24 bottoms. I am now in a 1x top and 18 bottoms! I even tried a pair of jeans that my mom gave me which were a 16. I held them up and was like no way I can get these over my butt, the waist looks tiny, well lo and behold, this butt squeezed into them and was able to zip and button! They were snug but at least I could get them on! 10 or 15 more pounds and they will be nice and comfy! Yay!

I have officially lost 73 pounds! I am half way to goal. Yay! I only need to lose 19 more pounds to get under 200! Woo Hoo!!!

Cool. I am from the richmond kaiser and they don't want you doing protein shakes but really there is no other way for me to get in enough protein. I figured that I should at least try the protein shakes and see if they help me with energy and everything else!

I'm in Sacramento. Sleeved Dec 13 at Kaiser Richmond.