Minckle

BTW, I wish I had your surgeon. I have to wait until Week Four before I get something as solid as cottage cheese!

Was it bad for you? I absolutely dreaded it and thought it was no big deal at all. The removal didn't hurt a bit, it just felt kinda weird.

Okay, I've been thinking about your post and I can't get over the fact that he left you like that. I've had some horrible boyfriends in my past, but I can't imagine leaving even THEIR sorry butts after major surgery and with all those bills. I agree with Aviiva that you need to get angry. You didn't deserve that; no one deserves that. There may have been good times, but in the end he was a JERK. I think being with your parents is a great idea right now. I'm sure they will help you with perspective and with your healing, both physically and emotionally.

OMG I know! And all my magazines that I love have darn recipes in them! Food is everywhere! No wonder we all got fat!!

The bruises are probably from your anti-blood clot shots. Did you get any of those?

How brave are you feeling? LOL You could check with your doctor, but if you're feeling brave you could do it in tiny bites and go slowly.

The one thing that never made me sick was Cherry Nectar with Bariatric Advantage Berry crystal vitamins mixed in. My sleeve likes it and it gives me tons of proteins and vitamins so that I have plenty of energy. Yesterday, I was a little nauseous so I went back to it and today I feel 100% better.

That side view is amazing! Great work!

How many weeks out are you?

I just had a checkup and I was worried that mine didn't look right, but the PA said the drain hole always looks the worst - that they are usually extra oozy (yuck!). She said to keep it uncovered and to dab it with rubbing alcohol after a shower to dry it up. Granted, mine is closed up. Well, mostly...

What terrible timing! Keep your eye on the prize, girl. You made a big life change for yourself and maybe it's a good thing to shed excess weight in the form of boys, too? I can't help thinking how much he's going to kick himself when he sees you in a few months..... Hang in there! You can do this!

I agree that staying busy is how I slay the dragon. I hadn't cross-stitched in years, but I took it back up again. It totally helps me focus on something else. That and staying super hydrated and staying up on my Prilosec. Something else that really helped a friend of mine is a Vision Board. She made it with old skinny pics of herself and really unflattering fat pics. She threw on a few cute outfits from her favorite store and put it on the board in their kitchen. Whenever she starts to feel hungry, she just walks in there and stares at it for a while - she concentrates on her goal and she swears that helps her.

Well, I just finished irritating someone else by making this suggestion, but I'm going to make it again.... I went and talked to a food counselor and I wholly recommend it. Find someone that specializes in eating disorders and work through this stuff with them. I had food addiction issues in the past, so I was worried that I would end up seriously injuring myself if I had this surgery. It was the best thing I ever did. Now I'm sleeved and I feel completely in control of my cravings. I know how to deal with my Head Hunger and I'm really disciplined. I even rocked out my pre-op diet. There are tons of support groups (like Overeaters Anonymous), too. Let's face it, if everyone here was always in control of our relationship with food, we wouldn't need this surgery! If I can help you find a therapist or group near you, let me know. I'd be glad to help!

That was my favorite snack Week One. I'd get a pop-top can of Campbell's Chicken Soup and just pop it enough that only the broth came out. I'm sure you'll be fine. Was it salty deliciousness?

Lissa, that site is wonderful! Thank you!!

You will feel better every day - I promise. Even when you hit a setback, you can know that it will pass. When the pounds start to come off, you will look back on your Day Two misery and realize it was worth it. Keep the faith.

Your tee shirt is kiling me! That's too hilarious! But, where did all the junk go?

Oh, you will feel so much better tomorrow! And even better the day after that! Keep going!! It's so worth it, too. Being strict about your pre-op will greatly speed up your recovery time and may even result in fewer incisions.

It may just be hormones. My PA told me that we needed to use condoms for several months after surgery because women's hormones can go nuts after surgery. I have a Mirena IUD and haven't had a period for years, but a few days after my surgery, I had the Mother of All Periods and they've been coming and going ever since. When you say "doctor", do you mean your GYN? I'd make sure to talk to him/her as well as your bariatric doc. Being a girl can be so much fun!

You are still bloated from IVs and anethesia and your stomach is still very swollen. Be patient - it will happen!

Just trying to help - there are many folks out there that have benefited from their insurance-mandated counseling. I found talking to a food counselor really helped me get the questions you asked answered, especially around willpower. For me, it came down to decisions as simple as having a cookie or not. So should I be insulted that you don't appreciate my suggestion? Since it implies that there's something wrong with "seeing someone" and that's exactly what I did? My point is that when you ask for people to help you on this forum, they are going to give you advice based on their personal experience. My advice is to talk to someone about your long-term concerns. That's based on my personal experience and not intended to be insulting, just as I'm sure you didn't mean to be insutling. Right?

Personally, I find it pretty easy to stick to the post-op diets because the alternative is: a) being very sick or b ) rupturing my new stomach. "Cheating" on this diet isn't like cheating on diets I've done in the past. There's a lot more at risk. If you really feel that you are that addicted to food, I would highly encourage you to go see a therapist before your surgery. If you think the need for a cookie would overwhelm the danger of eating it, you need to go see someone.

The best thing to do is go to a health food store like Vitamin Shoppe and get lots of different kinds. Personally, I have found the Premier shakes to be the best - they are sold at Sam's Club or Costco, have 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar, and don't taste artificial. I couldn't stand the Isopure or Muscle Milk and I found the Nectars to be too gritty. But, that's just me. Everyone is different. Don't forget you can get plain protein powder to beef up other things.

I asked a lot of questions about his experience: How many have you done, any leaks?, complications I can expect, post-surgery support, etc. I asked about all the meds I was taking and when I could take them again after surgery - if you're on meds that is super important. I also asked him how people fail. I highly recommend this question because it helps you get things right in your mind and know what pitfalls to watch for. Good luck!

Oh, I'm so jealous! My doc won't let me do smoothies until Week 4.