DrmBig4Evr

I just started solid foods 4 days ago and it seems to be going well. I am over 2 weeks post op and can feel a bulge/swelling right where my stomach is above my incision, anyone else notice that?

Thanks Laura!

After surgery when you were in the hospital they didn't take you to an xray area and have you sip something?? And I didn't have a drain, no worries there.

Ok, so I went to the doctor yesterday for my two week follow up appointment. I have lost a significant amount of weight considering I had dropped below 35 BMI by the time I had my surgery. I am officially down 18.6 lbs at 2 weeks! Excited and I can fit into realy old clothes. Also, this is the first time I have been this weight in 12 years. Absolutely ecstatic about that. Now onto why God really watches over me...so many people said I shouldn't get the surgery, yada yada...but the best thing that could have happened to me happened yesterday. The surgeon sent my stomach off to pathology and they found an indicator of a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. This I would never have known had I not gone through this surgery. So that was a Blessing in disguise just as my prior denial from my insurance for lapband was a Blessing also. Anyway, where am I at now. I have entered into the 2nd stage foods for my diet plan. It appears to be a little different and a little more liberal than most. I can pretty much eat alot of different foods now. Obviously with the exception of harsh breads, nuts, etc and of course caffine, sugar, high carbs, etc. At my first meal I measured out 3 oz of food. I was sooo excited to eat and feel normal. Wow, let me tell you I ate 1.25 ounces and I overfilled myself, it was hilarious! I felt like I ate an entire Elephant, but it was such a small amount. It was oddly humerous. What I stepped back and looked at is what others see when I eat and will probably always see. To them, and to my current mind, it wasn't enough, but boy oh boy my tummy let me know. I now at least know my sign of feeling stuffed or full, yep I have the dredded LOUD burp. Hilarious trying to go on dates when I got that going on! Oh well, I digress. Hope everyone here is having a wonderful day!!!

Are you sure the pain is from the biopsy? Mine is an incision on the far right and my surgeon told me both before and after surgery that this will be the most painful as the incision into the muscle is bigger to allow the stomach to come out.

One of the most important things to remember is staying hydrated. I wasn't able to get all the protein in although I tried. I listened to my body, if my body said water, I give it that. G2 gatorade was/is my lifesaver. I agree that you could be lactose intolerant. I'd stay away from it and see what happens. Are you on a daily antacid? Also, are you adding Gas X?

Good luck! So exciting! Congrats! You will be a new person after, its wonderful!

I had my surgery on a Friday, that Wednesday I worked from home, by Thursday I was in the office. I do desk work though.

As you are not eating a lot do you have energy for excersise and general living etc? I have two young kids and go to the gym 4-5days a week. I need energy. I have alot of energy and I am 2 weeks out. The first week, not so much and every once in a while I've done too much, but a lot more energy without caffine! Secondly how is life after the weightloss.? Do you still enjoy goong out for dinner/lunch/coffees etc? I just started back on food and I went out for dinner last night and lunch today with coworkers. Its a little odd at first, but nothing too strange. I just have alot of leftovers Most people with partners order one meal and they take a small portion from the plate for themselves. Saves money and you're not wasting it. Thirdly how slow do you really have to eat? Is it a pain? You have to be conscious about how you eat, buts its not extremely slow. Practice eating like this: take a bite of something, chew it as much as possible, swallow, put your utensil down for 10 seconds, pick it up again and then do it again. Do you miss not heing able to eat a lot? Do you still want to and you just cant? Or does soms of the desire disapear? This is where your mind plays tricks on you. I am absolutely never hungry, but I know I have to eat. Then again there were times when I wasn't hungry and I ate, like if I was bored, etc. I catch myself more now than I did preop. I am more aware of my feelings and this is a process, not everyone is perfect. Do you have to drink slow? Yes, I sip my water. If I noticed I took in a large amount I either slowly traffic it down or spit it out.

Well I would think it is a stupid clause if its pre-existing because everyone on here would be disqualified. Its not like we got overweight overnight. As for insurance, I had one insurance deny me two years ago as I wasn't over the BMI consistantly for 5 years so the years I lost weight and went to the doc and weighed in didn't count. This year I have different insurance and the only requirement was over 40 BMI or 35 BMI with one comorbidity from their approved list. Also, psych, nutritional eval, a list of diets only.

Its a standard procedure, so standard that they sometimes forget to tell you until you sign the consent. They also always send the stomach portion to pathology.

lol! I have those too! They are awesome!

I too get light headed, it isn't always in the morning, but fluids do help it.

I would stay away from the Sprite. I am 2 weeks post op also and my doctor gave me anti nausea medicine that I can take. Also make sure you are getting some protein or food in you. Do not forget to eat. Also, make sure you are taking your gas reliever medicine. Hope this helps!

All of them that you said are hard for you to eat...I'm curious as to why they are impossible for you to eat. Do you vomit? Get nauseous? Gas?

I was cleared to take Advil

Curious as to your reaction to these foods? I had maybe 2 bites of mashed yesterday and I was ok. I'm 2 weeks out.

No, it will feel like forever, but in hindsight is goes very quickly! Good luck!

You must go back to the basics. Cleanse yourself, I would suggest even doing a mini-liquid diet if possible for a week. Then, remember always protein first then veggie, then carb. You won't have as much room for the carbs. I am a carb addict and I know I need to plan my meals ahead of time as to avoid snacking on the stuff there for my sons lunches. Also, excercise more and with intense intervals. Good luck!

I think the deer sensed that you aren't as hungry as you used to be

I wasn't on a liquid preop, but my first week I did have a glass of wine. I would advise against it if you are on a pure liquid diet, nothing to soak it up with. Plus it stores as fat and that is why you are on the diet is to shrink a fatty liver.

Awesome idea!!!

Well I have a similar experience but in the opposite direction. I had an impingement at L5-S1 in 2006-07 and I had to have emergency surgery on it because I didn't know it was my back. I completely lost control of my bladder and my foot was numb. I had a discectomy, but had a complication and 2 weeks later I had another discectomy and hemi-laminectomy. Fast forward to 2011 I slipped and fell on ice and was told that if I didn't lose weight I would need a fusion at that level and at L4-5 since they found issues there from that fall. That is when I started looking into weight loss surgery. I do have lumbago (general lower back pain) quite frequently and I am hopeful that losing weight will relieve it tremendously and I won't need a fusion.

I have been walking daily and yes I do weights 3lb weights and high rep arm exercises. Nothing over 15 lbs. I was sleeved on the 8th.