LoserMama

Riss you are so beautiful, too! And size 16s? That would be heaven. I can't imagine. I am in size 20's now, though, down from 24s and 26s, so that is pretty awesome. Last Chance Sue -- that is so awesome-- wearing the jeans again! Woohoo! My favorite NSVs: 1. Being able to wear my wedding rings I haven't worn in 10 years (guess I lost weight in my fingers first...LOL) 2. Shopping for a transitional wardrobe at an upscale thrift shop, and being able to buy all "normal" brands rather than just Lane Bryant brands and the such. Still plus size, sure, but before I was beyond the sizes that regular brands make. 3. Less to no pain in my knees going upstairs!

Anyone not taking it? I am supposed to start taking it and the side effects have me wondering. I dont seem to be losing weight particularly fast but I don't know what my gallbladders threshold is for punishment I suppose I will end up taking it, but just curious about others experiences.

happy, don't worry, I feel great, this is just a standard med my surgeon gives after surgery to prevent problems with the gallbladder. Since I seem to be a slower loser, the side effects were troubling me, in particular hair loss, when we already are going to have issues with hair loss :) I was wondering if people get by without it! I don't really want to have another surgery for gallbladder. Hello MrsNewMe my twin, good to hear you are not having side effects!

Hello, fellow December Sleevers. So all of us are sleeved. and we're all in various stages of recovery. For this week how about a couple of questions -- What has been the hardest part so far? What has been the best part so far? How is recovery going?

I am with you on the things I can't have, this is hard. Sounds like several of us experience this. I was also surprised by how much time eating and thinking about eating used to take that I now have to fill up. i've been knitting and crocheting a lot to busy my hands. I agree about the easier ability to do things -- its pretty crazy. The thing that comes to mind for me is that I have noticed that my knees don't hurt as much going up stairs. I had a trouble incision too, I think its finally healing over (knock wood) Hi Catherine, I'm Julie, and I have 4 kids and work for in high tech. I'm in Boise ID :) Glad you are here! I love everyone's updates from sleeve brothers and sisters!

So my update! Surgery date was 12/21/11. I have lost about 16 lbs post op at 4 weeks tomorrow. I lost ~35 lbs preop, so a total of about 51-52 lbs. I have progress pics at: http://losermama.wordpress.com/before-and-after-photos/ Hardest part has been head hunger, and guilt over how many calories I am eating now that I am on a soft diet. 800-1000 calories a day. I have had things that I shouldn't have had and don't have many problems eating whatever. I am getting in with a therapist that was recommended to me as soon as I can. This is worrying me a lot in terms of my ability to be compliant. Best part -- my wedding rings now fit, which haven't fit for over ten years ! I went to a consignment store and brought REAL brand name pants, instead of of fat brands. I am wearing a pair of Eddie Bauer pants two sizes smaller than my normal. I lvoe reading everyone's updates! Are you all using myfitnesspal? If you are, I am losermama73 on there. We can support each other.

Me too, about one month out, struggling with cravings and head hunger. I also label mine as food addiction, and got a recommendation for a therapist. I really think I need that to help.

I'm having the opposite problem of most on this thread. I'm not physically hungry but am having head hunger. I'm having no problem getting in my meals, more problems with liquids. I'm fearful about getting my head hunger under control.

I knew I was a food addict but as royboy said, now you realize all this time you have to fill without food. And how much time you spent thinking about food. I have already made some less optimal choices on soft foods phase, allowing in some treats like chocolate. I have felt guilty that my calories now in soft phase have been 800-900 calories. I am thinking that might be too much. I du my research before habd, knew I had food issues and this would be hard work. I think what I was not prepared for is the fatigue.

So so glad you are home! Ihope recovery goes well and leak is closed!!

Lissa, why are folks with hidradenitis supparativa at higher risk of leaks? I don;'t know if I have full blown HS, but I've always had problems with boils, my whole life. I'd never heard any correlation between leaks and HS.

Another one in the hairy face club. Like a prior poster, I am watching groupons. therew as just one in my area that was a great deal, but I wasn't quite ready so soon after surgery to give it a go. i definitely want to try it.

Count me in, I am losermama73 and would love more wls friends on there!!

Doh I tried to rate this five stars and screwed it up!!

Hello sis, you look awesome, and the NSVs rock the house. I am so happy for you. You deserve it and I agree, megawatt smile!!

Yep it's awful. Never thought other than after babies (post partum poops) i would feel like I was trying to pass a baseball. I really need to try the softener...ouch !

Hi gang, Questions for those down the road what your experience was with your incisions during recovery. Early out my incisions were fine, when the staples were in. A little irritation from the staples on the middle top one from bra rubbing, that was fine once staples were out. Then they took out staples and put on the steristrips and a week out from that, the first set of steristrips came off. When they pulled off I noticed one side of the largest incision on the right was gapping open about 1/4 inch. No infection or pain. They told me to get some wound closure strips and reclose it. Did that. That seems to be doing well. Yesterday, my middle large incision felt like a little twinge when I got up. The steristrips were coming off that one so I thought at first the twinge was from the steristrips pulling away. Later took those steri strips off, and this one has some ooziness that it didn't have at all before. This one had some ooziness in the hospital, but it stopped in hospital and was fine until yesterday. So I dripped some antiseptic wound cleaner over it, let that dry and put wound closure strips over that one too, but wasn't sure if I should do anything to clean the **** out, or just leave it to scab over again -- what's the best approach?

Hmm, maybe we both need to make another call to the doc, bcole.

Mine is yet again different -- Day of sleeve- nothing First week -- clear liquids only (including Protein clear liquids, like Isopure, unjury chicken soup) Weeks 2 & 3 - full liquids -- blended soups. Protein shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese (why this counts as a full liquid, not sure, but its on the list), milk. Weeks 4-5 - soft foods -- eggs, cottage cheese, deli meats, soft/canned fish, ground or canned chicken, refried Beans, veggies soft enough to mash with fork, cheese. (I will be in heaven come wednesday....LOL), tablespoon or so of fruit. Weeks 6 on -- regular diet, no breads or Pasta, careful about tough meats or fibrous veggies, limit starchy veggies to 2-4 tablespoons per week.

it actually doesn't hurt, just looks yuck. I called the oncall for my bariatric clinic, and sent him the picture. he said he felt by my description (clear ooze, not pus) and that it happened at this stage, and that there is no pain or heat or fever, that it is more likely a seroma. I'm supposed to keep an eye on it, and watch for expanding redness, pus, warm to touch or fever.

that is awesome,,, so inspiring, great work!