Lissa

I write my questions down in the note app on my phone as I think of them. When I go to the doctor, I ask my questions in whatever order they are in and write down the answers in the same app. If needed, I email the doc to myself so I can print the instructions he gave me. I'm sure my doc LOLs when I leave, because I always seem to be asking dumb questions. My last visit, I asked him to look at a lump on my side between where my drain was and the next incision in. After he spent a few minutes palpating the lump, he told me it was a fibroid and that I had lost the padding over it! I felt so dumb, but he was so kind about it that I got over that quickly...then I asked my next "dumb" question. Truthfully, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask and then spend days or weeks worrying over in your mind. I think a doctor would prefer a well-informed, curious patient over a nervous person who is afraid to ask questions. Good luck with your journey!! And, may I offer my sympathy for your mother!

KyGal, Nope, your weight loss isn't average. It's PERFECT for you!! I started at a higher BMI as well and have only lost two pants sizes since being sleeved. However, I have found tons of other changes that make the pants sizes not matter. I can walk better, feel better, have more energy. Even my DH being a Richard Cranium didn't sink me or sent me into a frenzy of eating crap. Being on the way to goal and knowing it has made a huge difference for me, and will make that difference for you as well! You're doing great and working (ROCKIN') that sleeve!! You go girl!!!

LOL, I see you had my old boss at one time!! Congrats on being halfway there already!!

Welcome to the loser's bench!! Congrats and get some rest before you start that new way of life!! And, all the rest of you, good luck with your surgeries! I can't wait to see you all posting!

Oh, yeah, I'm always cold. I have THREE quilts on my bed, and I live in South Florida, where cold is 70 degrees! I can't turn on my ceiling fan at night or I feel like I've moved to the north pole! Aside from being lactose intolerant, lots of food smells bug me now, too. I can't eat spicy food because my sleeve (Rex) doesn't like it. And, I ate a bowl of Beans today that were SO delicious!! I ate beans when I was broke, broke, broke pre-op. Now I love them! I had to go to McDonald's yesterday to meet a customer. I kept smelling the burgers and finally bought a cheeseburger. I ate about half and was DONE. It just didn't have the same appeal it used to have. On the brighter side, I can walk easier, don't mind having to park further out from stores, and I have tons more energy. And, shhhhh, don't tell anyone, but I feel sexy sometimes, even!! I have a long way to go, but I'm getting there! Congrats and good luck on your journey!!

Oh, yeah!! I started seeing a therapist to deal with all of these issues, but I am starting to realize that my food issues MUST change because the sleeve won't let me do anything else! Congrats!!!

I second My Fitness Pal. Just ignore it's daily warnings about starvation. It's not likely to happen for most of us! Lissa912 on there.

Amazing changes, and so quickly!! I didn't see my changes until I started adding face pics to my camera, so I think it's great! You do luck much younger and your face isn't the only thing that's changed. You have such a sleek looking neck now!! Congrats and keep on rockin' that sleeve!!!

Left shoulder pain can mean a TON of things besides just trapped gas, although that's the most common problem for us sleevers right after surgery. I'd say a call to your doc is in order, but only because it could be so many other things than a leak. I'm making assumption here, based on your name, but left shoulder pain could be: back pain that has manifested in the shoulder, trapped gas (yes, still), a sign that your sleeve is too full, gall bladder or other organs saying they need some attention, even asthma, but, most worrying to me, is it could be a sign of a heart attack. Women typically don't have the arm and chest pain that men do when they first have heart pain, ours likes to hang out in other places like our jaws, shoulders and backs. I don't say that to scare you, but just to urge you to call the doc. It's "probably" just gas, but I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on tv. Good luck and please let us know what they say.

I agree with the others, call your nutritionist and let him or her know how you are feeling. Also, some others have had good results by chewing ice. I was allowed SF popsicles while on clears, which gave me something to chew. You definitely don't want to advance without medical guidance, though. Those restrictions are in place to (hopefully) keep you from having physical problems while your new sleeve heals. I know it seems like forever now, but you'll soon be on to the next stage and then back on regular food and this stage will seem like it went by really fast. Good luck!! So glad you're on the loser's bench!!

RNY and dumping syndrome are not pleasant. My sister in law had RNY and she's regained most of her weight. She told me not to even think about RNY when I was researching. I am also a sweet eater, and the sleeve leaves me the ability to eat sweets if I choose to do so. HOWEVER, I chose the sleeve because it limits the amount of anything I can eat. Most of the time, I choose to fill my sleeve with good, protein-rich foods. I can only eat so much in any given day, so I choose to put what I need into my sleeve. There are times, though, that I just really want something on the sweet side, so I'll usually eat a Protein bar, or, if I'm really craving something, I'll eat a bite or two of it. I had some m&m's yesterday. I believe I ate six of them and the rest of the bag is sitting somewhere, unless my son found them, then they are gone! LOL For me, the sleeve was the right choice. I wanted the ability to eat like a normal person without worry that I couldn't have xyz food because it would cause me to have diarrhea/dumping. So far, the sleeve has given me that choice. Despite my little indulgence yesterday, my scale shows the same weight as the day before. I conclude that I couldn't eat enough of the sweet food to make a dent in my weight loss, at least not at this stage. You should definitely choose the procedure that you want, but keep in mind that none of them work if you don't work the dietary plan that comes with your surgical choice. For me, the sleeve has been a Godsend and has allowed me to not feel physical hunger while I learn better ways to eat. Good luck, whatever choice you make!!

Lots of sleevers have some pain in the side where the largest incision was done. That's the one where the extra stomach was taken out and, often, is the incision where most of the equipment was inserted. I believe there is also a stitch inside that incision which dissolves over time, but can feel painful with certain activities early on. I did not have a lap band, but I've read that some have pain where the port was, possibly because of adhesions/scarring from the port. You mentioned a drain, so I assume you have one still. Your doc will remove that at your first post-op appointment, which will give some relief. Hang in there, it will get better very quickly! Good luck!!

The minimum number I've heard is 64 ounces per day. You should also be working toward getting in your 70 grams of Protein per day, although that's tougher in the early post-op stages. How do you know that you are low on potassium? If it's from a lab test, your doctor should be able to tell you how s/he wants you to supplement. There are tons of ways to add some potassium, from liquid/pill Vitamins to foods. Bananas have a good bit and work well blended into a shake if you're on full liquids. Orange juice also has some, but my doc doesn't allow citrus juices until much later because it can create acid problems in the sleeve. Good luck on your journey!!

Yay, Renee, you posted!! Now I can officially welcome you to the loser's bench!! Just keep working at getting in your Water. It will get better!

I agree, also. If necessary, write on your tummy with a magic marker "Insert Sleeve here please!" Your PCP can write anything he wants, so long as your surgeon knows what procedure you are supposed to have. Prayers, good wishes and good luck to you for tomorrow!!!

I just dealt with it by eating what I could and putting the rest away, either as leftovers or as garbage. I hurt when I get too full, so I learned really quick to avoid that issue! As for watching others eat, my 21 year old son gags me when he eats. He is 6'3 and can put away two or three plates of food and then finish mine most of the time. He's also skinny!! It's not fair! LOL I try not to sit at the table when it's mealtime. He inhales food, almost literally. He chews 2 or 3 times and then swallows. Meanwhile I'm trying to look anywhere but at him!!! We're getting there! Good to "see" you!

I liked soups when I was on purees... and mashed potatoes, the instant kind. My absolute favorite, though, was Egg Face's Ricotta Bake. Google it and you will LOVE that stuff.

I agree that she didn't do her research. I find it interesting that she didn't post any more questions there...and I googled, looking for similar details to her story and do not see that she went anywhere else online looking for help. BTW, that site makes me think this place is HEAVEN!!!

I can tell the difference, too! Amazing!!

I'm not Julie, but I started with 2 oz at a time, so a 1/4 of a cup. Often, I couldn't even finish that. Don't be nervous, just chew very very very well and it will all be okay. Good luck!!

Well, my wedding rings fell off, but for a whole different reason.... :::: strolls off while whistling ::::::: LOL

I picked the weight I was when I graduated high school. It's also what I weighed when I got pregnant with my first child. However, I'll drop until I feel like it's "enough", then reevaluate what the number is at that point!

Lifting 3 pounds of weights isn't really vigorous, but it does make my arm muscles a little tired after all the reps I do. My doc said no weights until I was six weeks out, to make sure I didn't injure my new sleeve. Ask your doc for his recommendation. Mine is helping a bit. I can see some definition starting. Of course, I think anything would help me since I was so heavy before!

Your hubby's diet doesn't sound that bad to me, except for the part about getting in 80 grams of Protein in one shake. I have also heard that we can only absorb up to 25 g of protein at one time. However, it looks like he's adding other Proteins in throughout the day and that he is taking his Vitamins. If you or he are really worried about his intake, you can always ask the doctor to do labs and make sure hubby's nutrition goals are being met. That's the proof as to whether he's eating well enough. I will just add that our diets after the sleeve look very different to outsiders. My son is always commenting on how little I eat at one time. We had wings the other night and 3 filled me up completely! The waitress even asked if there was a problem with the food. This is why many of us learn to push food around our plates and cut things up very tiny, to make it look like we've eaten more than we have when we are in social situations. Yes, your hubby isn't eating a lot of variety, but it looks like he's meeting his protein and Water goals. SF popsicles are liquid and, as long as he's staying hydrated, aren't a problem. As he gets further out from surgery, he may add in other things, but he may not. Good luck to him and to you as you start your own journey!!

Afro Cyster, I looked up your Protein shots and they have collagen in them. Ingredients: Purified Water, Proprietary Protein Blend (Hydrolyzed Collagenic Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Casein Protein Isolate), Malic Acid, Branched Chain Amino Acids (Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine), Natural Flavors, FD&C Red 40, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose. Contains Milk Ingredients. Protein from Collagen is not available to our bodies. Since it's the first protein source listed, I assume that more of the protein comes from that than from the others. I did some research on the weight lifters boards (since they're the ones who are REALLY into nutrition and body-building), and they all say that collage is NOT good protein for the human body. What I'm saying is please don't rely on those shots for your protein needs. We need to get our protein from sources that make it available for our bodies to use for rebuilding and protecting muscles, especially the heart muscle. I believe that Tiffykins posted about collagen protein as well. She's the uber-researcher here, from what I've seen. You might want to look for that post by her and get more information. I'm an amateur when it comes to the research compared to her!