JustSkinnyMeInside

You just had your surgery last Friday, right? Are you walking any? Walking around the block really helps (even if its at night when its cooler outside). You should be ok for your new job orientation on next Monday......that's still a week away. I went to work after taking off 2 weeks, but I have a very physical job. My friend went back to work after this surgery after 1 week. You will probably still feel a little tired. Just be sure to pack your own lunch and take your water bottle. If you don't get your water in, you will definitely get fatigued. I know you can't get alot of water in now because it takes a couple of days, but still keep trying. Each day will get better and better. Your stomach is probably still swollen from the surgery now, so I know it's hard to get your water in. Just keep sipping, and sugar free ice pops are good too! Good luck on your new job!

I have a friend on this board who originally had sleeve but later developed a leak. She had to convert to bypass amd shes doing great. Her conversion was in jan i think.

I also got sick with every chewable Vitamin I tried (Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate, Trader Joe's brand, etc.). I took my prilosec before and it still didn't help. I finally found a way that I can take them. I put them in my "cheek" to dissolve slowly like a sweet tart. It takes an hour or so to completely dissolve, but I get my Vitamins (slowly) so it doesn't upset my stomach. I like the Celebrate pineapply/strawberry flavor and Bariatric Advantage Orange flavor. Just find one that tastes good to you so you don't mind sucking on it for awhile. Good luck and hope this helps!

I drank ginger tea for nausea and that helped alot for me because I dont like peppermint tea. Also, keep taking small sips of water as much as you can. Its true that after this surgery, dehydration makes you nauseated. Good luck and hang it there....things will get much better day by day.

I think you're not supposed to drink coffee because it dehydrates you. It's easier to get off the coffee habit pre-op rather than going through that post-op. I didn't drink any coffee on my pre-op, and for about 4 months post-op. Now I drink coffee every day like I used to (except I only drink 1 cup, sometimes 2 cups) but I always try to get my water in so I won't get dehydrated.

I was scared to have my surgery too, but I did a lot of reading about it, read through lots of posts on this website and made a list on paper of pros and cons of having this surgery. I'm so glad i did. I knew I would lose weight, but I never quite knew what to expect. It is such a good feeling to buy clothes anywhere now (not Lane Bryant) and to be able to run, lots of activity and energy without pain now. I would definitely without a doubt do it all over again!!! I'm 8 months out now and can pretty much eat anything I want. I still try to eat healthy because I didn't go through all of this to regain again in the future. I'm still trying to learn and stick with healthy eating habits for life. I can still only eat very small portions though, and that's a good thing! i read through the posts on what to take to the hospital, and I walked often from the very first night. I took GasX strips with me to the hospital, and they took my catheter out right after surgery so every time I had to pee, I got up and went to the bathroom. I think all of that moving helped with gas pain (and the dilaudid IV pump) so I didn't really have a whole lot of pain, more of some discomfort. liquid tylenol at home helped too. Good luck on going through the process. I know it takes awhile, but it's good because it's such a mental adjustment for all of the changes you will go through.

Cottage cheese (fat free) is a good high protein low carb non=meat. Also, you can always blend fruit smoothies and green smoothies with added protein powder. There is whey protein powder. If you don't like or eat whey, there is also a soy protein powder. Fat free refried beans are also another protein option. Do you eat fish? Seafood is an excellent choice for high protein, and low cal low carb meals. Hope this helps!

Someone asked about smoking after having the sleeve in our support group mtg and my surgeon said that if you smoke after this surgery, there is a 100% chance that you WILL get an ulcer.

After reading through all of the posts on this thread, I have a question for the OP. There are different types of "sleeve" procedures. The common "sleeve gastrectomy" is done as described previously, where the stomach is stapled and then the excess is cut away, thus removing about 85% of the stomach. This requires activity and diet restriction to allow the stomach to heal properly. There is another procedure called a "sleeve plication" surgery. This is where the entire stomach is left intact, however sutures are used to created folds in the stomach to make the stomach size smaller, however none of the stomach is cut away. This procedure does not require the activity and diet restrictions that the "sleeve gastrectomy" requires. To read more about this new procedures, go to http://www.alighterme.com/gastric_sleeve_plication_surgery.html Given the OPs posts about her being able to exercise right away and her much fuller diet immediately post op, and also given the fact that others who posted on this thread who went to the SAME surgeon as her who had to do clear liquid diet for 2 weeks along with activity restrictions, it seems to me that perhaps she had the sleeve plication surgery and those sutures popped or tore open if you will. This would not pose the threat of a leak, it would just make your stomach larger again so you could eat more. IMHO, the sleeve gastrectomy is a higher risk surgery because of the leaks, however there is much to be said about the role of ghrelin and how it affects your appetite. With the sleeve plication surgery, since you still have your entire stomach, you still have all of that ghrelin production. Again, this surgery is a very personal decision to have. But just based on what the OP describes here, it appears to me that perhaps she had sleeve plication and not sleeve gastrectomy????

Yes, for me, each day is different. Some days I can get in everything just fine, and others I get full much quicker. Not sure why this happens. It could be the types of food your are eating (like chicken vs. fish), etc. Some proteins just sit longer than others.

My doctor told me to take miralax. Hope you feel better soon!!!

I had a very hard time getting in my Water at 3 weeks, even 4 and 5 weeks out. I had to have IV hydration twice because I was so dehydrated. I am doing much better now on my Fluid intake. My tastes changed after the sleeve, so I no longer liked water, crystal light (all kinds of flavors), and other sugar free drink powders. I finally this week discovered something I love!!! I made my own iced tea like I always do. Then, I make a very tall glass (21 oz) of water, and pour in a little tea (maybe 3 oz) and stir it. It makes all of the water taste a little like the tea. I can drink this just fine, but I still have to take sips (I can't gulp like I could pre-sleeve). When you are dehydrated, it also makes you nauseous. So that may be why you are having a hard time with food "settling." Its really important to get your fluids in, because you also feel weak when you are dehydrated. Perhaps focus on fluids in first, then Protein or soup. If your urine turns dark, you need to get IV hydration to protect your kidneys. I hope this helps!!!

I am 11 weeks out and the same way. Some days I can eat more than others. I just listen to my body (tummy) and stop when im full. I have also noticed a difference in different proteins and how some are much easier to digest like fish vs. chicken, turkey or beef.

At our support group mtg, someone there commented about smoking and asked why we arent supposed to smoke. My surgeon said the reason is because if you smoke post sleeve, there is a 100% chance that you will get a stomach ulcer. Just passing that along....

At our support group mtg, someone there commented about smoking and asked why we arent supposed to smoke. My surgeon said the reason is because if you smoke post sleeve, there is a 100% chance that you will get a stomach ulcer. Just passing that along....

Oh my, you dont even look like the same person. Wtg!!! Beautiful!!!

Sleeved 10/8/12 SW 243, shirt size XXL, jeans 20 12/27/12 CW 202, shirt size L, jeans 16 Down 40 lbs

I was the same, feeling weak and drained even 4-5 weeks post op. I was dehydrated (i still got my Protein in but not enough fluids). I pushed myself to drink more and my energy returned. Week 6 and 7 were better and each week gets progressively better. I thought the same thing as you, thought "what have i done" because i was always high energy person. I have no regrets now (im 10 weeks post op).

Wow! You look fantastic! Thank you so much for posting! My HW was 248, I started at 243 and my goal is 140. I can't even imagine myself at your size. I know you feel so much better and shopping trips are very different for you now, huh? LOL!!!

You are welcome!!!

Here is a thread I copied from this forum regarding weight gain/fluctuations. I'm 2 months post op and my weight goes down then up a lb or two, then drops 2 or 3, but the overall trend is down. I'm not sure how to post a "link" from another thread, so I just copied it here. Hope this helps! (the highlighted yellow words are from my search in this forum...sorry about that). Here's the explanation for the dreaded stall (you can read the full details here, including what to do about it): The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, yourweight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Wow, happy sleeviversary!!!! **great big hug to you** That is wonderful! And I am proud of you too!!! Big happy dance!!!

I am one who weighs every day (yeah I know you shouldnt) but what I have learned from it is that I never really stress about it. I am 2 mos. postop and there have been days that i gain 1-3 lbs at a time and hold it for a couple of days, then start dropping again. It is Fluid Im sure. Overall, thought, you can see the trend down I also measure every month on my sleeversary date and lose inches even when scale doesnt move too much. (-:

My doctor told me to wait until after my 1 week post op appt with him before starting vitamins.