Katie713

It is the most comforting feeling for me to know that I have this little restrictive tool to help me on my path of getting healthy. The surgery was actually a breeze for me. A little discomfort afterward, but not much and they gave me a morphine pump if I needed a little. I was walking the same afternoon, and went home the next morning. Take some nice deep breaths, and they will normally give you something to help you relax before you actually get wheeled into the operating room. It's gonna be fine and you will never regret this decision!

I'm 5 weeks out...I get to start regular foods next week. I had some raw spinach earlier this week though and it went down fine. I decided I'm cutting out as many carbs as I can to speed up my weight loss, it was harder on the soft foods because of hot cereals, soups and alot of beans. Today I'm low carbing it...brought a mushroom 1 egg omelette with mushrooms for breakfast, brought some salad greens, a little cucumber and tuna salad to top it off for lunch, my Premier shake for break, and I'm having a turkey burger for dinner. I really chew everything good...but have already started a week early on normal foods...hope that salad at lunch goes down ok, I love salads in summer!!

Unlike the gastric bypass, I've read over and over that it is rare for sleevers to have dumping sydrome related to the ingestion of fats or sugars. It's not good for you, but an occasional treat shouldn't actually make you sick.

Wow, what a difference!! Good going!

I've come to a similar conclusion...time to start figuring out the "rest of my life" when it comes to eating, and the follow-up appointments with the bariatric department will be a formality only. We've done it, made the decision to move forward with WLS and going through these tough weeks of drinking shakes and having pureed foods, tiring of mashed potatoes and refried beans with a dollop of sour cream. I got into a bit of a stall at 5 weeks, and I'm just about to be released into the world of being able to tolerate most foods, and so I'm planning for next week to lower the carbs and get moving on salads. I'm so tired of soup and oatmeal...as soon as I can get to not needing the protein shakes, the better, but I've done a few days of menu planning using this website, and I can come up with some pretty easy routines, having an omelette for breakfast, a salad with a protein at lunch, snacks of turkey slices/cheese or nuts, and fish or chicken and a steamed veggie for dinner....looking forward, not dreading the future!!

That's what is referred to as the "slimes". I know it sounds gross and it is gross. Are you taking a PPI like prilosec? This happens when you are not able to tolerate certain foods, and it is your body's way of eliminating the food from your stomach. Completely normal, but if you don't want this to happen, eat slower, smaller amounts, chewed very well. And if not already, talk to your doctor about a PPI to reduce acid.

You are right about what kids say...over the years I've been embarrased more than a few times by school aged kids who have commented on my weight - and one of my children has made some rude comments from time time that were hurtful. I let him know and I don't think he will be so crude anytime soon. Losing weight was MY choice and that is why I underwent WLS and not because of the rude comments of kids. This is my journey and I'm taking ownership.

But how many millions die from the effects of obesity? So far I haven't gotten much negative feedback about my WLS but my mother did tell me that my niece had the lapband and she gained back all her weight and then some. So my mother said, "I hope that doesn't happen to you" and I felt like suddenly I was in the spotlight in a weird way. Sometimes I think people want to see you fail. I don't really care, this is my journey and I'm giving it my best shot!!

Same thing happened to me but I tried again each week and I can finally tolerate eggs. Happy cause its high protein, low carb breakfast! Putting cereal on the back burner as I'm about to eat normal not just soft foods.....too many carbs...looking forward to the crunch of salad!

I think frozen yogurt is ok as long as you are on full liquids, as it melts down to liquid as soon as you consume it. Get a non fat version if possible and pass on the toppings.

Try the Premier shakes from Costco or Sams Club. Really fantastic and 30 grams of protein. The price is good too.

Hello my name is Kate. This is my coffee addiction salutation! Just kidding...but I am also a coffee lover. I drank it til the end, even the last day before surgery. I had surgery 4/6 and am 5 weeks out today, and yesterday was my first cup of caffeinated coffee. I had decaf at home a few times, but I never could stand the stuff and I still can't. The real stuff didn't have quite the same appeal at this stage of the game, and I came back to hot tea this morning. I do have dreams of hitting Starbucks for a Skinny Iced Mocha sometime very soon though!! And, by the way, the caffeine did not upset my stomach when I reintroduced it at week 4.

My feelings run very close to what you've so eloquently posted. I have felt so blessed to have finally built a relationship with God thru Jesus Christ as my savior. This happened unexpectedly a few years ago, and my life has changed so dramatically. I did indeed pray earnestly for the opportunity to get healthy, the strength to stay committed, to treat my body with respect. Once I really asked for it, it happened very rapidly...and here I am 5 weeks post op and 60 pounds or so down working thru these changes in my lifestyle and my diet since the Fall of last year. I realize this is not a race, but a daily devotion to myself and my God as I walk this healthier path.

I'm stalled too...and my first week back at work. I feel good too, but hate not seeing that scale move. I keep wondering should I increase my calories, am I stalled because of being in starvation mode? Less carbs? If it doesn't move this week, I'm changing it up...but this is not a race, and I want to lose at my own pace, its hard when you read how much some people lose...and I seem to need a bit of carbs for my sanity!!!

At this stage of the game (4 weeks out) it is tough to get the veggies in. I am pretty sure there will be more room in my new tummy later. I did add a V8 Fusion to my liquids, it's one serving of veggies and one serving of fruit for 50 calories. I eat cottage cheese with canned pears/peaches or pineapple in juice quite often for breakfast. I had a bit of creamed spinach with some talapia...but it is difficult. I have every confidence we will master this over time!!

I am experiencing the same thing because I tend to be a night owl. When I get home from work I am hungry - but thinking of having a cup of soup to hold me over and then have dinner around 7:30, then if I really get hungry later just have a SF jello with light cool whip or a cup of diet hot chocolate. Wondering if having one of my protein shakes later in the evening might help. I have to work this out, I don't want to get off track!!

We got a whole list of meds not to take before surgery, but Tylenol was not on the list. Mostly its meds that affect blood clotting or your blood pressure that are not recommended. I would take the Tylenol.

Perhaps you need to have some blood work done - you could be deficient in iron or something else that is making you overly tired. As we age, our nutritional needs change. I would check it out, its worth a try!

I have another friend here on this website, Iliana82 who is also an RN working long hours. Perhaps you could send her a quick message for some strategies in dealing with the unique aspects of working the diet while keeping up with your hectic schedule at work.

It depends on the protein content of the powder. If your ready to drink protein shake has 20 grams of protein, using half of the container gives you 10 grams of protein. So if you are just using it for flavor more or less, measure the amount you are putting in the recipe and divide it into the total amount of the serving. I have a protein powder that has 23 grams in one scoop but I can mix it into whatever liquid I am using - if in a recipe - I still get the 23 grams. You would have to use the whole container to get high protein level. If your drink is 8 oz with 24 grams of protein, you get 3 grams for each oz.

Could be your gallbladder. You may need to have this checked out. Call your doctor and let them know. An ultrasound is generally used to confirm. If you have episodes of extreme pain that come and go, it's a high probability. I'm about a month out too, I had right hand pain near my ribcage, front...and the doctor said it was probably too much tension on the internal stitches in that area as they have to get thru the muscle to do the surgery and get the instruments in and pull the excess stomach out. I had to rest for 2 days and then I was good...this was 2 weeks out. No pain after that at all. Good luck.

Give it time. The worst of it is the first few days until that gas works itself out of your system. Until then, pain meds!

Are you taking a PPI like Prilosec? Most of us have to take this to prevent the excess stomach acid. It helps ALOT. I take 2 a day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.