Lissa

Shae, I'm thrilled that you realized what you were doing and stopped it in its tracks!! You are doing great and you WILL succeed at this. I'm counting on you, because you motivate me to stay on track, too. My weight has been stalled for a few days, so I started using My Fitness Pal. For some reason, I do NOT want to log in there that I ate something really bad for me. It's built-in accountability for me. Are you using it? I thought I could do it with a book to log food into, but I caught myself "forgetting" to write things down. Now I log while I'm eating. It makes me stop and think about what's going down my throat. You're doing great and you're working that sleeve! That's a great thing!

Love the name Happy! I'm not bulimic, but I am seeing a therapist for food and other issues. Having been dirt poor as a child, I've always struggled with the need to have LOTS of food in the house, even if it goes bad before it gets eaten. I also had a sibling who ate all of the "treats" that we did get as kids as soon as they came home, so I learned that treat foods must be eaten immediately if I wanted any of them. My main issue was sweets and the sleeve has made them disgusting to me, except chocolate. I had to get rid of the halloween candy I bought this year because it kept tempting me and I ate about six of them the day after I bought them. Then I promptly had potty issues (TMI, sorry). I'm pretty happy that I'm lactose intolerant now, because that means I won't eat ice cream. The results aren't worth it for me. Between hitting this board constantly and talking to my therapist, I'm moving away from the food issues to something that I consider a healthier attitude. If I'm angry, I go walk on the treadmill, or take a walk outside. At one time anger would have meant I'd go buy a package of cannolli and eat it before I got home, or a quart of Ben & Jerry's that I didn't share with anyone but me, myself and I. Is it any wonder I was big enough for 3 people before? I am consciously trying to create a crossove addiction to exercise. I like the endorphins I get from walking, biking, or using the elliptical! And, exercise is not bad for you if done properly. I wish all of us luck in dealing with our head issues.

I'm not a seasoned vet, but my guess would be that it's acid, especially if you're feeling it right after eating. Try taking the prevacid daily and see if that helps the issue. You have nothing to lose except a rumbling tummy. mama, You'll figure out which is acid and which is hunger fairly soon. I make sure I take my Tums morning and night and have very little issue with hunger. If I haven't eaten anything in 4 or 5 hours, I sometimes get a hungry feeling. I carry a Protein bar with me because I do tons of driving and I sometimes miss regular meal times, so the bar gives me something when I hit that point. The bars taste "okay", but they definitely aren't my preferred food, so I know I'm hungry when the bar seems like a good idea! Since I can eat so little food daily, I'd much rather put some yummy protein in Rex (my sleeve) rather than a Protein Bar. Good luck to both of you!

Couple of NSVs today. I went to my PCP, who I haven't seen since April of this year, so before surgery. His nurses actually both commented on how much better I look now, but the nurse who took me into the exam room actually asked for my ID before she would believe it was me. She said my size has changed so much, but my demeanor (happy and smiling) was not what she remembered. The last time I was there, I was so sick I could barely walk or talk. Second NSV, my best friends daughter came into town for a few days. I met them for dinner tonight and the daughter jumped up as I came walking to the table and told me that I look FANTASTIC! She couldn't stop telling me how great I look for quite a while!!! I just enjoyed and basked in the glory. If that's not motivation to keep working my sleeve, NOTHING will be!

I was prescribed Cipro today, BIG pill. I break it in half, just to be sure it will go down. I'm now working on finishing a bottle of water before I go to bed just to make sure it's well dissolved down there.

Have you ladies tried the Mio drops? I like them because I can add a couple of drops to a bottle of water, or really flavor it up if I wish. Wally World has them in the drinks section for around $3. They look tiny, but a bottle will last me for more than a case of water. I don't like the crystal light and other drink mixes because they never seem to dissolve.

Kimma, It sounds like you are having a food funeral. You just need to let yourself know that you WILL be able to eat after surgery. You will be able to eat all of the foods you love, just in smaller portions. The food funeral almost seems to be a natural part of the process leading up to surgery, though. As for motivation to exercise, try this: The more you exercise now, the easier your recovery from surgery will be. You'll be stronger, fitter, and may even lose a few pounds if you begin a program now. Also, you'll have an easier time developing and maintaining an exercise program if you start now. Lastly, I can walk 2 miles on the treadmill at 2.4 mph...and I started at 352. Can you out-walk me? A little challenge is always a good thing, right?

My surgeon told me that the honeymoon period is the first 8 months. However, that doesn't mean you won't continue to lose for much longer! 85 pounds is really great and you can lose those last few pounds. You're in the home stretch and all of the long-term sleevers have posted about how hard that last 30 pounds can be to lose. You can still get to goal. Your body likes where it is right this minute, obviously. Keep doing your thing, Water, Protein, and exercise (if you're doing any) and you WILL get there. Stalls are frustrating, but we are usually shrinking, or so my pants keep telling me. I'm currently stuck at 57 pounds lost, but my pants are getting bigger. I'll take it. Keep going! You're almost there on your journey! I can't wait until I'm that close to goal.

Oh, please don't be frustrated! I know it's hard to do the pre-op diet, and for so long!!! But, you'll be so much ahead of the curve when you have surgery. Your liver will be smaller, and you will be smaller, which both mean less risk for you during surgery. You may experience a slower weight drop right after surgery, but you will have less to lose to get to goal. You've already lost more than me and I'm 2 months post-op!! It's great that you are doing so awesome!! I'm looking forward to seeing you on the loser's bench!

broth. I swear by broth for the liquids stage. Heat it up, add some spices if you want, whatever works. I had less of a hungry feeling with broth than anything else. And, I couldn't STAND the Protein shakes, crystal light, or protein Water. They were all too sweet for me. Warm broth was my lifesaver. Once you're up to mushies, any kind of soup blended up was good, including wendy's chili. Instant mashed potatos, blended chicken noodle soup, and egg drop soup all tasted great, too. Someone here suggested ice chips if the urge to chew was overwhelming. I can't do it because of sensitive teeth, but it might help that urge for you. Good luck! This stage WILL pass and you'll soon be looking back and thinking "that wasn't so bad". It does take awhile to get through it, though.

What you are all feeling is normal! I think we go through stages just before surgery that are very similar to the stages of grief. First we are excited to finally be doing something about our weight, then we are in a hurry to get surgery over with, then we start thinking about what we "can't have" after surgery (food funerals), and then we have the stage where we second guess our decision and worry about "what if". And, the stages don't happen in any particular order, plus we can revisit any stage at any moment. I think it's all normal and is part of our mental adjustment to our new life. Sometimes the stages continue even after surgery because we're so restricted food-wise in the beginning. I'm nearly 3 months out and I am just now starting to feel "normal" again, mentally. I am back on solid foods. I've changed my eating habits because I'm lactose intolerant, plus sweets gag me right now. My "new normal" is to eat Protein and drink Water first, then worry about everything else. It's pretty well ingrained and that's a good thing. But, the first few weeks were a bit of a struggle while my mind caught up with what my body needs. I think going through the mental process is just as important as the physical process of surgery and recovery. The lap banders have a saying about "banding the head". I think our mental process is "sleeving the head". If we don't go through the mental stages, it causes other problems...like not eating properly. And, we didn't spend this much money, or jump through the insurance hoops, to fail! Good luck to each of you as you go through surgery! I can't wait to see you all on the loser's bench!!

I had my 2 month follow-up with my surgeon yesterday and I told him that I suspect the real reason for the liquid/mushie diet is to make WLS patients HATE sweets! I can't stand sweets right now, and I am lactose intolerant as well. I'm 45 and weighed 352 at my highest, so I have further to go than many of you. But, I know I will get there and I'm working as hard as I can. The thing about being sleeved is that it makes it so much easier to do that work. I don't mind eating smaller portions and not snacking between meals because I have very little hunger. Sushe, You are NOT going to be a failed sleever. I'm not sure it's possible to fail to lose initially because our bodies and tastes have changed so much. I know that it's possible to regain if we aren't diligent, but that's why we have to work to always get in our Protein and Water first, then our veggies, then carbs. If we remain diligent at following those rules, maintenance should be maintenance, instead of regain. That's the theory I've developed since seeing others here who are in maintenance. Good luck!

I agree that a 19 year friendship is definitely worth saving, IF it's healthy. You are taking a big step for yourself and your friend may be scared that you two won't be "equal" anymore if you lose weight and she doesn't. Take a good long look at the relationship. Is it based on only your weight(s), or do the two of you have other things in common? At 19 years, I bet you have lots more in common than just your size. Maybe she needs to be reassured that you won't abandon her just because you get thinner. Maybe she truly is jealous that you're getting to do something she secretly wishes she could do. I have several larger friends who are very open that they would like to have the surgery, but can't afford it. They have been very supportive of my efforts and I know they are watching to see how I do with the sleeve. My aunts are also watching and think I don't know that they have a pool going about how much weight I'll actually lose! Good luck on dealing with your friend. I hope that things will get better as she sees that you have changed your weight, but that you are still the same person inside.

Peony, First of all, hugs to you for having the guts to post about your struggles here. It is TOUGH to admit that we are having problems, much less to ask for help. I am impressed that you were so honest! Second, I agree with Meg that you should take a PPI. Why not start out with the one your doc has prescribed and see if it helps? You may have already tried that, so a stronger one may be in order, but SOME acid reduction should be better than no acid reduction. Are you drinking milk and using regular dairy products? For me, those caused lots of problems. I'm lactose intolerant after the sleeve and haven't been brave enough to try regular milk again yet. Maybe eliminating those would help with the urge to bring everything back up. I commend you for working with a therapist on your food issues. I'm seeing a therapist as well, just because I want to make sure I do as well with this tool as possible. It's tough to give up our friend and comforter and suddenly start doing what's required to lose the weight. And, lots of us aren't fat because we want to be, but we are compelled to eat to try to overcome unrelated traumas. I feel for you. Have you thought about literally starting over with your sleeve? Go back to liquids, either full or clear, and then slowly move up through the mushie stage again? Maybe it will be like a mental reset button for you, allowing you to avoid the vomiting and the purge/binge cycle? Perhaps your nutritionist could give you some written guidelines to follow to help you get through the stages again. My thoughts on that is that people do a "pouch test" when they feel that they are not on track, isn't a pouch reset possible? Sometimes you do just need the mental boost that comes from starting over and knowing you are doing it right. Good luck and please check in and let us know how you're doing. (((Peony)))

I've noticed changes in my gait, and so have several of my friends. At my highest, I felt like I waddled like a duck. I finally asked a good friend about it last weekend and she said that I had indeed waddled like a duck, but she never said anything about it. Now, she says, I stride along. I have noticed that I have less hip and knee pain, both while walking and while resting. I also can walk further than I have in years, with almost no pain. If I remember to put my arch supports in my shoes, I don't have any pain while walking! LOL The major thing I'm noticing is that my balance is affected. I can stumble over thin air right now. That's probably normal since I'm used to being nearly 60 pounds heavier and it has come off in a hurry. Now my body has to figure out where my center of balance is again. At least now I'm not terrified that I'll break my neck if I fall down! I'm seriously considering signing up to walk a 5k at the end of January.. It just feels like that might be a little ambitious right this minute.

You look amazing, and the dress ain't half bad! Congrats on BOTH victories: the weight loss and the confidence boost for yourself.

FYI, I took a host of questions to my doctor today during my 2 month follow up visit. As for the issue of pregnancy, he said that my (our) risk of becoming pregnant after a tubal is the same as the risk for the general population. WLS and subsequent weight loss are NOT additional risk factors for the tubal to come untied.

Ladies, I had similar feelings in my tummy and it stopped as soon as my doc switched me from chewable Calcium to Tums. One of you is taking Nexium in the afternoon, why not try it in the morning? See if that helps. I take 2 or 3 doses of Tums a day. I'm a little further out than you are, but I've been taking the Tums since the beginning of my 2nd month (I think) and it's really helped with that slightly nauseous feeling I had. Of course, if I eat too much, I'll get the feeling again, but that's because I'm overly full. Also, do you stop drinking for a bit before you try to eat? I'm sure you do, but, I try to stop drinking about a half hour before I eat. That way my sleeve isn't full of liquid when I'm trying to get Protein in there. Maybe that would help? Oh, and I'm amazed that you can drink tea, because tea tastes like metal to me right now. Good luck!!

Prayers being sent up for you!! Good luck!!

I vaguely remember something about that at a support group meeting. But, you'll be drinking so slowly after surgery, that you won't be capable of getting too much Protein in one sitting. Good luck with your journey!!

I'm going to Lynda's house to eat!

Thanks for the suggestions! I will just ignore the warnings and keep track of what I want to track.

i just bought some Kashi Cereal for Breakfast and tried it with a little milk. I usually have 1 egg, a small piece of cheese and sometimes a turkey sausage. For lunches, I do lots of different things: a hamburger without the bun, a piece or two of deli meat rolled up with some cheese, cup of Soup, or a Protein bar if I'm out and about. dinner can be anything. I will eat leftovers from another meal, a hamburger (no bun again), a pot pie (mostly because they have veggies in them). I find that if I've worked out too late in the day, I don't really want to eat. Not that I'm working out all THAT hard, but I find that it's a great appetite depressant. The best I can advise is to try the foods you liked before, just in smaller amounts. I don't have to worry about cooking for other people usually, so I don't have kids or hubby at home to worry about. I do lots of stuff on my little electric grill. Good luck on your journey!!

Are you having any pain? Are you going potty normally? If not, then I wouldn't be too worried. Basically, everything you're drinking seems to be liquid, and liquid goes through much faster and easier than solids will. If you're truly concerned, then call your doctor. If you aren't "worried", then wait and see what kind of restriction you get when you switch to mushies and solids.

Sandy, I'm glad you are doing well!! I was worried about you. Glad to see that you still have that positive spirit!