Lissa

I'm 2 months 3 weeks post-op and I saw improvement in my knee pain very quickly, probably in the first three weeks. I started using a bi-pap for sleep apnea about 2 weeks before surgery and my pulmonologist wants 15% of my body weight gone before he will schedule my new sleep study. I'm at 295, looking for 280 to make the 15%, but I think it's improved tons already. I think I will either be off the bi-pap when I have that sleep study, or the pressure will be severely reduced. I was pre-diabetic, my labs are already showing that is not the case anymore. I had also been dx with asthma in May, during a round of pneumonia. My new tests show that I still have asthma, but it has improved nearly 50% since surgery. I imagine that will continue to improve as more weight comes off. I also had blood clots and two pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs). I've been off coumadin once, but had to go back on because there is excess clot factor in my blood. That med should disappear in January, 2012. The clots are related to the pneumonia and inactivity, so my increased exercise should help with that one tremendously! Whatever health problems you have will undoubtedly improve once you have surgery. It's amazing how much better I feel at 57 pounds lost. I'm looking forward to feeling the benefits as I get to 100 pounds, 150 pounds lost and goal! I may literally feel like a whole new person! Good luck with your journey!!

Don't drink Water too close to eating. Wait at least half an hour after eating to drink anything. Also, take an acid reducer of some kind. If your doc hasn't prescribed one, ask about the over the counter version. I think you might also try drinking slower. I kept thinking I was hungry when I was actually having pouch pain from drinking too much too fast. At nearly 3 months out, I'm now actually experiencing hunger, but it's very mild. Good luck on your journey.

Ky, Look up KellyL. She's the one with the full rundown in her profile. I don't know how to link you to her or I'd do that instead. Good luck!

Just what Free2b said, walking and gas x strips. Congrats on being sleeved! Every day will get a little bit easier.

I had mine for 8 days. It's really not as gross as you think. It has to be emptied at least twice a day, but it takes 2 seconds to do it. I was allowed to shower as soon as I went home from the hospital, so I had no issues with bending over the sink. If your doc doesn't give you one, you might want to get a key ring lanyard for around your neck. I wore mine for the entire 8 days and the lanyard helped to support the tubing so it didn't pull. I also tucked the drain bottle into my bra (sports bras are a wonderful thing right after surgery) and that helped hide it when I went out. I'm not sure what the whole purpose of the drain is, but I had to drink some blue liquid when I went in for my first post-op. When the blue didn't show up in my bottle, he pulled the drain. Take a deep breath and then let it out. It felt like the dropping sensation in your tummy when you are riding a roller coaster, but it wasn't unpleasant. I didn't go back to work until my drain came out. I also used some guaze and tape over the hole to catch any excess drainage. You may be able to use a band aid, but I'm allergic to latex, so I didn't. After my doc pulled the tube, he put a bandage over the opening for three days, allowing me to shower. After the 3 days, I removed the bandage and haven't had any problems. Someone here just went back to the hospital and posted about it because she developed an infection, but she's the first one I've heard of with that problem. Research what you're scared about and you'll find that lots of people have had the same fears and have had successful surgeries. Good luck on your journey!!

Look up Dr Kelly on this site. I know that someone here wrote a long and glowing review of her trip to Mexico to be sleeved. She almost convinced me and I had my surgeon picked out very early in my process. Good luck, whatever you decide.

I think the carriage ride sounds terrific! Shoot, I'd be happy with some purty flowers and the lovely gift you're giving her! You're a lucky man to have someone that devoted to helping you get through this journey. I hope she's more than just a "friend". Let us know how it turns out, would you please? So I can live vicariously through you... and, if you want to call my hubby and give him some ideas, I'll be happy to share his number! LOL

One other thing, if you get hives in your mouth, nose or vaginal area, please call your doctor asap! Having hives in those areas means that they can go into your throat, which is similar tissue, and it can impede the ability to breathe.

Ladonna, Are you still taking your pain meds? They might be the source of your hives. Or, if you are using milk to mix your Protein shakes, it might be giving you a bad reaction. I used milk in one of mine early post-op and spent the next couple of hours in the bathroom regretting my milk. I am definitely lactose intolerant, but that is usually temporary. Also, chicken broth has some protein, so you are getting a little tiny bit. Don't worry about the protein this early, just concentrate on sipping your Water. If you are hurting when you drink, you may be drinking too quickly or too large of a sip. Lots of people here report that it's easier to pour the liquid into a small medicine cup (like a nyquil cap) and then sip the liquid from that cup. It definitely makes you drink more slowly. You might also try "drinking" from a teaspoon and waiting a few minutes between each teaspoon full. Let the liquid trickle down your throat. I had lots of pain from drinking too quickly myself. I was over-filling my tummy and that hurts especially bad when you are newly post-op. Lastly, the weight gain you have experienced is probably from all the fluids that were pumped into you during and just after surgery. That will resolve itself in a few days. Good luck on your journey!!! And, welcome to the loser's bench!

I have a self-imposed rule of waiting at least six months for any alcohol. My surgeon's guide does not address alcohol but says wait at least 2 months for orange and tomato juices because they can cause stomach irritation. I think alcohol in any form would do the same, and possibly be even more irritating because it's usually more acidic and thinner than those juices. So, I picked six months as a good timeline before trying any alcohol. FYI, I have had both orange and tomato juice in the last couple of weeks and had no problems. Maybe try a sip or two of the alcohol when you're ready and be prepped to switch to something less acidic if needed.

DallasMom, I have the cure for your buyer's remorse. Go the the VSG Success Stories section of this site and start reading. There are tons of posts from people who have lost 100, 150, 200 pounds and more after having this surgery! It's not a fluke. Granted, those people have done what was required and changed their eating habits and added exercise to their routines. You're doing all of that, right? If you aren't, now is a good time to start walking. The sleeve is a tool, which we all know, but WE affect how well the sleeve works for us. The weight IS really coming off super-fast. How many times before have I lost 57 pounds within 3 months? How about NEVER! It just seems slow because we read these huge numbers on here and go WOW. But, look a little deeper. When I see someone who has lost a tremendous amount of weight compared to me, I always look to see what their starting weight was and what gender they are. Inevitably, the person who has lost 140 pounds three months out is a MAN and he weighed over 400 pounds. Men lose faster than women. Men also seem to work out more than (most) women and they get results faster, IME. And, those who are super heavy to start with lose faster than those who were in the lower BMI category. I lose faster than many others on this site, but I started at 352 with a 54.9 BMI. I'm working my sleeve and doing all I can to be successful with my weight loss. But, I know that I will still be working harder than many of my thinner sleeve sisters, and working for longer to reach goal, just because of my weight. And, I will reach the point of diminishing return. Right now, I get great results from working out 3 times a week. Soon, I will have to up the number and intensity of my workouts to get the same results. I'm not complaining...that's just the way it works. The closer you are to goal, the harder it gets. I read stories from people all the time who are less than 30 pounds from their goals. They all say something similar about the last few pounds. It is hard to get those last few pounds off and they are working 10 times as hard as I am right now. We WILL be those people in a few months! I am looking forward to it, personally. Lastly, it took me literal years to get this fat. I've worked very hard at it. I know that I will have to work very hard to get un-fat. I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm looking forward to being un-fat!

Janet, I was sleeved Aug 30, 2011 and I've only lost 44 pounds post-op (57 total with my 13 pounds before surgery). I think I'm right on track and I think you are as well. How are your clothes fitting? Mine have been getting steadily bigger, but slowly. Then, last week I added in walking on the treadmill because I can go further and faster than I can on the sidewalks around here. Lo and behold, yesterday I put on a pair of pants that fit just a couple of days ago and walked right out of them!! They fell off my bottom! I hit Twoderville at the beginning of the month and haven't dropped much poundage since then, down to about 295, but those pants falling off me just made my whole month! I really get it now that our bodies are getting thinner and tighter even if the scale isn't dropping rapidly. I didn't measure before I started my journey, but I really need to measure now and see where I'm at so I can track it from here on in. Even when the scale doesn't seem to be moving, we're still getting tighter and smaller!! Good luck! And, you are doing very well!! Keep up the good work.

Oh, can I add one? I bought "Hungry Girl's 300 calorie Recipes", which has some great, small-portioned foods, including a bunch of recipes that need a mug and a microwave. She seems to lean towards the vegetarian side of cooking, but the few I've tried have been good. And, there's always Egg-face's blog. She's got a ton of WLS friendly stuff on there, including tons of shake recipes for Protein drinks.

Sandy, Prayers and good thoughts going out to you! Do they know why you got infected or is it just "one of those things that happen sometimes"? I know I worried about my drain site for a while because it kept draining for a few days. My doc actually put a wound care bandage on mine and told me to leave it on for 3 days after he pulled the drain (which I had for 8 days post-op). Also, I'm praying that the breast image was just a shadow. If not, then thank goodness for this mild complication if it leads to early detection of a problem! (((Sandy))) Good luck and best wishes for fast healing!!

Shae, I think that's an awesome list! You're doing well with your sleeve and it does just keep getting better every day! I agree about being able to walk by food and not want to have some of it. When I'm satisfied, that's it. No more, "Gee, if only I could have a bite or two of that." Thanksgiving will be interesting because I'm planning to visit family after we do dinner here. My family should be Italian or Jewish with the way they push food on you, so I'll be practicing my "No, thank you" a lot that day!

meggs, I'm about 2.5 months out and started taking Biotin at 2 months out. I also have read from several people here about their use of hair extension (Sleeve 4 Me uses them, I believe). I spent an hour in Sally Beauty Supply last night looking at the hair extensions and hair pieces and I've been exploring the internet looking at wigs. I've decided that, if I develop a bald spot, I'm buying a dolly parton-look wig! I'm gonna buy the biggest, trampiest looking hair I can find and wear it every day and enjoy the heck out of it! I haven't had long hair since I was 16 and I miss it. I had the true Farrah Fawcett look, with feathered hair and curls. If I have to deal with a wig, I'm gonna do it in style! Besides, it's so different from what I've been doing, that I'm sure it will be a blast. I'll post pics if I go that route. My mom had a really cute wig that she wore when her hair fell out due to cancer. She was always really into her hair, but she said the wig was much easier to style because she could put it on the stand and do it instead of trying to do the back of her hair in the mirror. There ARE benefits to wearing a wig. I'll be following this topic. Maybe someone who has lots of experience will chime in with better info?

(((Trixie))) You have indeed had a tough year! You didn't sell your soul to become a lawyer! It's obvious that you have a huge caring and compassionate heart! Here is hoping that Ms Karma gives you back the love and caring that you have given your family! Good luck with your surgery!! I know you'll do great and you'll be at goal in a short time.

I haven't had a real salad yet at 2.5 months out. I have had a few cucumbers, some raw tomato, a celery stick (de-stringed), a few bites of raw broccoli, and some cole slaw. The cukes were okay, but my sleeve doesn't like the other stuff yet. I'm also on medicine that nixes green leafy veggies right now, so I haven't tried a lot of veggies. I used to love any kind of green, but haven't tried them since surgery. I think that salad and raw veggies are an individual thing. Start slow and small and see if your sleeve can handle the various salad parts, then put them together if that goes well. I know that several people here eat a piece of fruit each day, but I haven't been that brave yet. Since I live in FL, I'm anxious to get back to eating citrus soon. Good luck on your journey!!

I was okay on the bed or my regular couch, but my bed is higher than most because it's a pillow top and I did NOT have a hernia repaired. I actually preferred to sit in the outdoor chairs from my patio set because they were a bit higher and have arms. It might be a smart move for you to look for a recliner. There are some that will actually help lift you up to a standing position, which might be nice. That might not be easy to find on CL, but may be available for rental through a medical supply store. The lift chair might be overkill for some, but it sounds like you've had a couple of recent abdominal surgeries with a good bit of pain and could use the help. I would look into the chair rental first. It might be less to rent it for a month than you'd pay for a recliner on CL. That said, my tummy area wasn't where the worst of my pain was at. My legs actually hurt more after surgery because I was trying not to use my stomach muscles to get up and down. That pain only lasted a couple of days, though. Good luck with your journey!!

I keep a bag of whole roasted almonds around here too. It makes a great quick SMALL snack. A small palmful of them satisfies my urge to crunch something, tastes good and has some Protein, without loading me up on salt. I buy mine at Sam's. If I'm really craving chocolate, I'll have some. I don't keep it in the house, though, so getting it involves a drive or walk somewhere. I don't often follow through on that craving. I also like the Premier Nutrition Protein Bars that Sam's sells. They have a yogurt crunch flavor that works really well for me as a candy bar substitute. I keep one in my purse and use it as a Meal Replacement if I'm really busy during the day. I admit I had to get the halloween candy out of the house quickly. I had NO self-control over it, but I luckily realized it quickly and gave the whole bag to a neighbor with small kids.

Sounds like you are doing GREAT!! Yes, you are probably still having residual gas from surgery. Walking helps, which I'm sure you are doing. Try taking smaller sips and do your best not to swallow air while you are swallowing the Water. My sips were too big for the first couple of days, which caused me to have more pain than necessary. My upper left incision looked the worst right after surgery, but that one has healed faster than all the others. It will be unnoticeable soon. The higher weight is probably because of fluids and gas given during and after surgery. It will come off quickly. Welcome to the loser's bench! Good luck on your journey!!

Good luck! I know you'll do great!!!

I definitely feel like I can. I was actually going to ask this question a few days ago. Thank you for asking it!

I haven't made it a secret that I'm seeing a therapist. I have other issues (marriage related) that I'm dealing with, but she's also helping me address my addictive personality. I HAVE a food addiction that I cannot indulge since being sleeved. She's helping me motivate myself to exercise and do other things. One of my favorite frustration busters is to take my tiny little 3 pound weights and do some arm work. The arm exercises let me feel like I'm hitting who/whatever is frustrating me. Walking also helps, even on the treadmill, because it lets me feel like I'm walking away from the problem. I was told by my pre-op psyche doctor that I WILL be an alcoholic. I'm working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen. I wasn't a person who drank before and I have no intention of starting now. The best advice I can give to emotional eaters is to find something else to do with your frustration/triggers for eating. Love on your kids, exercise, SHOP if that's what does it for you. Just find something to use so that you don't sabotage your weight loss.

Wow! What a concept! I had a tubal 18 years ago and haven't had a ghost of a worry about pregnancy. Mine were cut, tied and burned. I know, because I was conscious and feeling it all! My cousin's daughter was telling me recently that the "new" tubal procedure involves adding silicone blocks to the fallopian tubes to make sure an egg can't get through. I'd think that would just create more of a blockage if the tubes shrink around it. That would be a good question to ask your doctor, though, if you're really concerned about it.