Peronella

Let me say that the single biggest fear I had was the catheter. In fact, I put off even considering WLS for years because of the catheter issue. I finally decided to have an open mind about the catheter and proceed with the surgery. I am so glad I finally let it go and have the surgery, catheter and all. It was no problem at all. I was out cold when they put it in and I didn't feel it after I woke up. It was only a liitle uncomfortable when I had to walk, (just some pulling). Had I known years ago that the catheter was a non-issue, I would have had surgery long before. So, bottom line: take it from this big scardy-cat-- the catheter is a piece of cake!

I would like to add my voice to this! I am 3 and a half weeks out, and I have been stalled for a week. I am so discouraged (and it is affecting my whole life) that I don't know what to do. I lost 23 lbs right away, and then, nada. I am walking 2+ miles every day, I am on mushies and not cheating on it one single bit! I am pushing the liquids as best as I can. I am plagued by "bathroom issues," and that is not helping... I am taking colace and bulk fiber to no avail... UGGGH!! I am at the point where I am beginning to question if I did the right thing. In undetaking these changed, I have given up everything that I enjoyed (cigarettes, food, diet sodas) and I feel like I should be getting something more in return... I hope that this will pass. I pray that these issues will all resolve soon... But when??

I started having vivid food dreams starting with my pre op diet. I am one of those people who remembers every dream anyway, so having the extra vivid food dreams was very disconcerting. I wake up almost able to taste what I dreamed about (last night it was a lovely crab salad pita with spring onions and sprouts with a side of fries...) I hope when I graduate from mushies to regular food this subsides a bit.

I had the double whammy of constipation and stall this week. I have been so down that I haven't been able to follow the message boards here because I couldn't bear to read about all the people losing while I languished. But, I was able to resolve my bathroom issue and immediately lost 2 pounds. I am hoping that restarts my stall. Time will tell!! I, too, am afraid to go to my next appointment because I have lost little since my last appointment. I hope I can jump start this train. I walk 2 miles on a treadmill every day, which is way more activity than I ever did before! I am still on the mushies, so no bad food going in. Those two things alone should be pointing me in the direction of big losses. What more can I do??

I was told by my doctor to get out and start walking at the end of the 1st week. I was sleeved on 20 December and I walk 2 miles a day on the treadmill. I think you just have to listen to your body and your doctor. It sounds like there are lots of different opinions out there.

I am a high school teacher. I did not tell my department chair, chiefly because she is a gossip and I felt she would be indiscrete. I did tell my assistant principal, in the event that something had happened. I don't think it is bad to limit whom you tell at work. Bottom line: this is a health issue and legally they shouldn't be able to question what kind of surgery you are having. Just my opinion.

I have a dear friend who swears by acupuncture. That was my back-up plan if cold turkey hadn't worked.

I had a $600 non refundable fee. I think, personally, it is reasonable. But, I was a self-pay patient and think every cent I paid was worth it.

Sorry. Clarification needed... What is surgery bulimia?

I was told after a week to exercise as normal, just no abdominal crunches. I wonder if, by normal, my doctor meant "my normal" or regular person normal... In any case, I have been on the treadmill for a week and feel great.

I was sleeved on 20 December. On the 27th, my doctor told me I could eat "food you can chew with your fingers.". I stayed on the liquids until TODAY when I went to pureed food. My first meal consisted of a grand total of 4 ounces all mushy: chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and fat free gravy. The best meal I can remember! Maybe that's because I haven't eaten proper food since 12 December! But, it completely satisfied me, which is a miracle unto itself.

Question: Lentils... I hear an awful lot about refried Beans, but nothing about lentils. Has anyone had any experience with lentils at the mushies stage? I got the go ahead on Monday to proceed to the mushies, but have been afraid and am still on the liquids until I can work up the courage to move ahead. I am trying to psyche myself up to try some different things, and thought that the lentils might be a good thing to try.

I was just telling a friend today how I don't miss the food as much as I miss the drink... I could empty a can of Coke Zero in 3 big gulps. And, boy, was it satisfying. I went to the gym today to walk on the treadmill. When I finished, all I wanted was a great big gulp of something wet. The small sips of Water never really satisfied my thirst and although I have drunk 36 oz. of crystal light since, I am still a little thirsty. How do we get rid of the thirsty feeling? I can't chew gum, because I wear Invisalign on my teeth (yes, I know, I am kind of a mess...). What do others do??

I got my period five days early on the day before my surgery. It was uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing especially since my ICU nurse was a guy. I was glad to go to my own room without the catheter!

I'm a Latin teacher...

I was drinking 8 Coke Zeros a day before my surgery. I never thought I would be able to get through the day without one. But, I just started cutting back. The key is to keep hydrated with OTHER liquids so you stave off the inevitable caffeine headache. I would try switching one full strength for one diet and go that route for a couple of weeks, then to 2 diet, then to one diet then to none. I was told that I should not have ANY the week before surgery. But, I figured that going from 8 to 1 was better than nothing and that if I had one in the morning, it was between me and my god. I had my last zero two days before surgery and I was just fine.

You can get the powder directly from any Smoothie King shop. They are worth every penny!!

I dream of the day I am 100 pounds lighter and I will: (not repeating any already mentioned, because I look forward to all of those things, too!) Wear a Lily Pulitzer dress Climb to the top of the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy. Not wonder if my students are snickering because of me or for some other reasons. Learn to ride a horse. Join a tennis club. Not groan every time I get out of my car. (it is very low to the ground) Not worry about the idiot who parks too close to me and cry because I can't fit in the small space left to get into my car. Go to my 20 year college reunion and not be embarrassed. Be proud of who I am on the outside.

Bilka- dove 6? C'è un Burger King in un Autogrill fra Firenze ed Arezzo E' una malattia che sono informata dove sono tutti i fast food in Italia!

I am not getting as much protein as I should, but I have been drinking one Smoothie King Gladiator shake for 45 g of protein and 180 calories. It is very easy to drink and thank god for them. The Unjury was killing me before surgery.

I did not cheat. My surgeon required one week of Unjury only, and that is what I did. I kind of wish I had cheated a little... now that I have been on the liquids since 13 December.

Absolutely not! In October, I did South Beach. Religiously. I followed it to the absolute letter. I lost .8 pounds. That would be eight tenths of a pound. It was immediately after that that I went to the sleeve seminar and decided that this was for me. In the past, I have done every single diet which has existed. I have exercised by legs to little nubbins. Right before my 30th birthday (at 28) I lost 80 pounds by only obsessively exercising, smoking cigarettes, eating Protein Bars and drinking diet coke. As soon as I took a bite of actual food, I began to gain. As I gained, I stopped exercising. It was a vicious cycle... until I has gained all 80 pounds back + 40 more for good measure. So, now just 6 months before my 40th birthday, I am a week out from having the surgery and have never been more sure that this was the absolute right decision.

I broke my left ankle 2 years ago and had to have a plate and pins. It was horrendous pain. The pain I felt after the sleeve was NOTHING in comparison. I was on the pain pump, but rarely used it on the first day and never used it after that. It took a month before I was feeling better with my ankle, but on the 3rd day after the sleeve, I was up, around, and feeling terrific. I have had no pain whatsoever from this. The only "discomfort" was for the first couple of days I was home, I felt this 'thud' in my stomach when I drank something. It was gone after that, and I have been feeling pretty much normal. The greatest 'pain' I have had has been mental, in that I have not eaten a solid bite of food since 12 December, between the pre-op liquids and the post-op liquids. Not having my friend in food has been the hardest thing... trying to find things to do instead of eating has been a challenge. But, with each new day, there is new hope

The mushies scare me a little: I am losing very quickly now and I am afraid that if I introduce something other than protein shakes, my loss will slow, stop, or even **gasp** reverse... Thoughts? Anyone start gaining after they started the mushies??