tmorgan813

I have been getting my protein and my liquids in for the past few days. I am feeling great. I love my smoothies with Greek yogurt and vanilla soy milk. It gives me a lot of protein and I can sip on it throughout the day. I usually get 5oz at a time (mix my meds in it as it's the only thing that makes my meds bearable). Last night I had wanton soup (1 noodle pureed with the chicken broth) and it was soooo good. I feel almost too good for only being out of surgery not even two weeks yet. I think the main reason I feel so good is that I walk all the time. I actually feel bad for saying how well I am doing when I read so many people on here can't get their liquids in at this point.

Way to go. I too have been very lucky!! However, my stall has happened and getting on the scale every day isn't as fun as it was when I first got home. LOL. I plan to keep doing what I am doing and I know it will come off. Keep the positive happy attitude. Can't wait to hear about your progression.

I don't think you're obsessing with the workouts. I walk 2-5 miles a day. I love it and it makes me feel better. It also makes me feel so much better after I eat. It seems to get the food down better. I can also understand why you worry about having to go back to the hospital. I am sure having those issues after surgery is a scary thing. As for gaining weight, remember, you are building muscle from working out. I am sure if you measured yourself, you would see more of a change then you think. As for the stress with everyday life, we all go through it. Exercising will help with it. Just try to not obsess over the things you have no control over. Just do the best you can and continue working on your goals. Good luck. Keep your head up!!!

Don't feel bad. I am in the same boat. I haven't seen the scale go down in seven days. Yes, it's frustrating, but as long as you're doing what you're supposed to, then I would say just keep doing it. I have read on here that there are people who don't loose anything for awhile and then one day they wake up and BAM...they lost 10-15lbs. Everyone's body is different. Also, my husband and I were talking and I am sure our bodied feel as thought we are starving them. When you go to over 2000 calories a day to 400-600 a day I am sure our bodies think we're starving and begin holding on to the food. This will change over time. Keep you head up. I now it's hard but trust that in time the scale will move again and before long you will be at your goal weight. Best of luck to you.

You are so right. I was lucky and have recovered very quickly. However, I noticed on this board that many people reflect a lot of their own issues on to other people. I've had people tell me I was wrong with my opinion, that I was healing too fast, that I was almost a bad sleever for being able to get my liquids and protein in so fast. I even had once person tell me I needed counseling....I'm still not sure why she felt that way. But, the one thing that makes me ignore all this is knowing that everyone is different and that my experience and your experience are never going to the be the exact same. I can't believe your support group "attack" you for saying you were not feeling better. It doesn't sound like a positive support system. I hope you can find one that doesn't make you feel bad for sharing your experiences. I hope it helps others understand that everyone is different and to treat everyone with kindness and understanding. Great job on your weight loss, keep up the amazing work.

11 days ago I was wheeled back to the surgery room (yes, I remember this) and I told all the doctors, "Have fun taking the majority of my stomach out. I'm so ready for this...just don't mess up." The last thing I heard before I was knocked out was laughter. If you ask me, that's a great thing to hear before you undergo any major surgery. When I woke up, there wasn't any more laughing. Actually, I had Nurse Hatchet as my post op nurse. I remember thinking, "this lady is in the wrong field." She wouldn't listen to me when I told her how much pain I was in. All she would say was, "of course you're in pain, you just had surgery." Needless to say, the hospital messed up and didn't give me the right meds and that's why I was in so much pain. If Nurse Hatchet would have listened to the half asleep, babbling girl in post op, she may have noticed the hospital's mistakes and fixed them. Instead, I had to deal with horrific pain for 5 hours before my husband finally said something to the nurse who was caring for me in my room. Due to my chronic back pain, I am on some major feel good drugs. Knowing this, they still put me on medication that was lower than what I normally take. However, thanks to my passive aggressive (sometimes there's no passive about it) husband, I was placed on the correct meds and began healing. Once I came home, I was shocked at all the gas I had to expel. While in the hospital all I did was burp a few times but once I got home, the gas couldn't find a way out fast enough. It didn't care why exit it used as long as it escaped. I learned that walking helped me get the gasses out even faster. The crazy thing is that no matter how long I walked, the gas seemed to wait to exit once I was done and in the house. My husband swears I held it in and let it out in the house on purpose just to prove he didn't marry a woman. He has told me multiple times this week that I am a man with a vagina....because no woman expels that much gas. To be honest, there were times I wondered if he was right. Then came the mood swings. My moods were swinging around like the chimpanzees in your local zoo. Maybe even more accurate would be my moods were going up and down faster than any express elevator I've ever been on and the aftermath of my mood swings was equal to any hurricane that has ever passed through the area. To make it worse, all my anger was directed at my husband. He had a huge bulls-eye on him and I aimed for a perfect score as many times a day as I could. The worst part is that I felt myself verbally attacking the man I love and I couldn't stop myself. He could say, "how are you doing today?" and I would unleash my wrath upon him because he was being condescending or just plain overbearing. The poor man became so afraid to talk that even that began to piss me off. Lucky for my marriage, things have calmed down quit a bit. So for now, we are not headed to divorce, but this journey isn't over yet, so we'll see. The other thing that I seem to worry about more than I ever have is my urine and bowel movements. I never thought I would care this much about how much I peed and what my poop looked like or why I haven't pooped. I feel like a mother changing her child's dippers except the baby is me and the dipper is the toilet. I found myself calling my sister and asking if it's normal that I haven't pooped in five days. Apparently it is. Good to know. Now I can sleep better. It seems like in a week and a half, I have experienced some crazy things. I can't wait to see what other crazy things I experience down the road. No matter what they are, I will try to find the humor in them and share. Good luck to everyone else out there going through this. And, to the people who are just thinking about having this done. It's not easy, but it's not as hard as you might think it is either. Just make sure you find the funny in everything. Because if you can find something to make you laugh at it all, it's much easier to swallow than any crushed up pill you have to take after surgery.

Welcome. This blog is dedicated to all the people out there who didn't take the easy way out. It doesn't matter if you had the bypass, the sleeve, or the lap-band, it's not easy going through all the changes associated with weight loss surgery. This is why I wanted to bring some comedy to the table. I can't really bring anything else as I wouldn't be able to get it down but, laughter makes everything better and I hope this blog makes your experience just a little easier during those tough times. I can't promise everything I type will be funny...hell, I can't even promise a little bit will be funny. All I can promise is that I will be honest, blunt, and sometimes I will look at situations a little differently than most people. My name is Tricia and I have been fat my whole life. Even when I look back at photos of myself where I was "thin", I remember still feeling fat in compassion to my friends. However, I was always active and in shape so I didn't really let being the bigger one in my group bother me. Then when I was 20 years old and in college, I developed really bad back issues. In the past 17 years, I put on over 100lbs, began feeling like a blob, and I felt my self esteem fall drastically. Three years ago, I watched my sister, Cherie, go through gastric bypass surgery and I have to admit, watching her loose the weight made me very happy for her but not so happy with myself. I would watch her sit at family dinners and nibble on very little food and then announce how full she was. I remember thinking that I could never give up enjoying food like she did. But, the more she lost the more I thought about giving everything up just too be thin. Then in December of 2010, my back finally gave out and I had to leave work. This was devastating for me as have always been a worker and the idea of going on disability was heart-wrenching for me. After many doctor's apts, I was told that I needed a new disc in my back but the only way to be able to have one is if I lost a LOT of weight. Apparently, fat people can't get new discs as the disc doesn't seem to set right. Who knew a titanium disc was so picky? So, I began the long process of nutrition classes, Life Skill classes, doctor's apts, and finally surgery. On April 12, 2012 I had Dr. Gail Wynn, from Christiana, De., remove a big portion of my stomach. Since then, I have experienced so many funny, strange, crazy things that I figured it would help if I shares some of them. I don't know if anyone will actually read this Blog, but at least I'm getting my thoughts out there. Hope you all enjoy them.

Thanks both of you. I will keep writing and trying to find the funny in this crazy process. Hope you share your funny stories as well.

I was just trying to give some background. I am sorry you it made you feel sad. That wasn't my goal. As for counseling, I am not sure why you feel I need that but I respect your opinion. I am a positive person and even though my weight and back have caused some hardships I wouldn't change a thing. Everything I have been through has made me the person I am. I will try to be funnier...but like I said, i can't promise anything...what I find comical, some people may not...I will just be honest and blunt and just be myself. Hope you keep reading...and I hope I don't make you sad anymore. I don't want to make anyone sad.

Good luck. You will do great. All those thoughts are normal but trust me, you will be so happy once you are home and healing. The worst part is when you first wake up and when they take the drainage tube out. And, what everyone says is so true....you do feel better every day...and every day it gets easier to get more in you. The first four to five days, you don't really feel like taking in much of anything. You will have to force the liquids in but after the swelling goes down it gets much easier. Also, WALK, WALK, WALK. I can't stress how much this helps with the gas pain and your overall healing. Good luck and keep us posted on how things went.

You look AMAZING!!! Way to go!!! It must be great to look at your before and after photos. I took before photos before my pre-op diet but haven't taken any since. I think I need to do it soon as I don't seem to feel any different and I think the photos will help! Keep up the amazing work. You were beautiful prior to weight loss and now you're thin and beautiful.

Way to go!!!! I know how crazy it feels to realize it doesn't bother you. Yesterday I picked up a meal from Burger King for my husband, watched him gulp it down and actually felt sick to my tunny. Usually, I would want my own burger and fries....now, I couldn't wait for him to be done with it so I didn't have to look at it anymore. LOL Keep up the great job!!!

@ Cheri...I know that everything you say is true....BUT, (come on you knew there would be a "but" LOL). it is very hard for me not to worry about my protein goals. Like everyone on here, my classes pounded protein in my head. I wish I liked cottage cheese, but I've hated it since I was a child. My sister, who had by-pass, and I spoke last night about my options, and she recommended "tasteless" protein to mix in with other foods. I love beans, so I will start preparing more than Lima beans to have. I also thought about chili with beans. That way I get some meat and some beans in me at the same time. I also thought about chicken and white bean soup. I am going to try some new things today and see how I do with them. I am also going to try to not focus on getting my protein in as much as I have. I don't want to resent my decision so I need to "calm myself" and just do what I can. Thanks for the motivation words....I will try to keep them in my thoughts.

@jdherin, I am allowed any food as long as it's liquid or pureed. No sugar is even better. LOL

My husband was the same way. I have to say, my husband was more attentive than the nurses. He is the one that would unhook me so I could go to the bathroom or for a walk and then hook me back up. I had told him I didn't want him there all the time, but now, I don't know what I would have done with out him there. He showered me with love and care and trust me, he's not the nursing type so it was nice to see his soft side for two days.

@lilajane I thought the same thing before surgery. I will say that I have only had one real craving that caused me to have to get up and leave my surroundings. My husband and my father were both eating a peppermint patty and I wanted one SOOOOOOO badly. Other than that, I don't really crave anything. Once you have this done, you are full almost all the time, so the idea of taking in any other food doesn't really happen that much. Good luck on your surgery and let me know how you do. It's so exciting to finally get to the point of getting it done....I only had one regret...when I woke up post op and the pain was so bad (becasue they messed up my meds) I thought, "Why did I do this, I shouldn't have done this." It was mostly because of the pain. Since then, not one regret. I figure the months of being a little uncomfortable is nothing compared to the years of feel uncomfortable around strangers or when I was out with out with my thin friends. And this time, I will feel so much happier once it's all done that the little bit of pain and gas I feel are NOTHING. Good luck and remember, it's not easy but it's not the hardest thing you've done either.

I am so going to have to try the isopure. It will give me something else to drink besides the smoothies I make that can give me protein. I have never heard of them...thanks for letting me know about them.

My doctor has me doing the same thing. She just wants me to "loosen it up" if I can't handle it. I've been lucky and I can get things like that down with little issue. If you are having issues with what she has you eating, call and ask for other options. Good luck.

I am 10 days out today and I am doing really well. I have been able to get my protein and liquids in the past three days. I have never had any really bad pain (after the first two days in the hospital)....to me it felt like bad menstrual cramps. I am finding that I have to remind myself that eating 2-3oz of food will take me 30-60 minutes. It's such a HUGE change from the way I used to eat. The feeling of the food "dropping straight down to your stomach" seems to get better every day. I walk all the time and I feel that has helped me with all the gas and the pain. It really helps to walk after you eat as it seems to get things moving and not just sitting in your tummy. It really is neat how much better you feel every day. I remember my first day (right after surgery), thinking "why did I do this? The pain is HORRIBLE!!!" And now, I have no regrets and the pain is more or less gone. I was even able to sleep on my stomach last night!!!!

my smoothies are made with greek yogurt and soy milk...so I get lots of protein in with those. I totaly understand that the repetitiveness and boredom will help me in the long run...it's just hard. I never really ate much prior to surgery...but I enjoyed large meals and I liked to snack. Now, I don't even like to eat my "meals". I know with time, I will feel better with it all. I just need to accept the repetitiveness of it all. Thanks for your post...it helps to know it gets better.

my husband stayed in the room with me. The had a pull out "bed". We live 1.5 hours away from the hospital we used. We got lucky as there are only two rooms on the whole wing with them. It was not comfy at all and he did not sleep well. The hospital where I was has hotel vouchers for family. They are local hotels that offer a big discount for family members. He was going to stay at the Hilton for only 70 a night (it is usually 170) but he decided to stay with me. You can see if your hospital offers the same type of thing. He didn't really bother me at all. He played on the Ipad and phone and watched TV most of the time while I walked or slept.

Sounds like you're doing really well. My first day home was the worst. I couldn't get anything in me except some crystal lite. I started walking as soon as I could and have built up to between 2-5 miles a day. I walk after EVERY meal as it's the only way to get the fullness and gas pains to go away. I believe my walking has really helped me heal faster than I expected. Keep up the great work!!!! I have one question...what is isopure? Also, you are handling more iquids than I can at one sip. I can barely get 1/2 an ounce down at one time now. I usually take the ounce cup and it takes 3-4 sips to get it all down. Good luck and keep up the great job!!!

I had my surgery eight day s ago and a couple of days ago I noticed myself going from one extreem to the next emotionaly. I have no history of this before the surgery. I was wondering if anyone else expierenced changes in emotions after surgery and if it's something that "works itself out" or something I need to worry about. I do not feel depressed. I am not craving food. I have no regrets about doing this..... I am sick of liquids and pureed food but not to the point of depression. I feel so sorry for my husband. I think if I don't get myself emotionaly stable, he may leave me LOL. The poor man seems to get the majority of my "moods". Is this normal? How did other peopel work through it? I exercise 3 times a day with walks and it helps while I am outside, but it doesn't last long. PLEASE HELP. I love my husband, and I hate knowing I'm keeping him on egg shells. Thanks.