shelly77

Thanks guys for the great suggestions!! Appreciate it!!

Thanks for the advice on rice. I figured just a few bites would fill me up! Im about 6 weeks out and haven't had any yet, or diet soda. I was addicted to diet coke before the surgery. I was allowed to have them until the day before surgery, so right after surgery my body was in serious withdrawal! I did away with caffeine ( I don't drink coffee ), carbs, salt, real sugar, everything at once! I still won't try a diet soda not because I'm afraid of pain, but I'm afraid I won't be able to stop. I was drinking Sonic's Route 44s 3-4 times a day. Ha, I was there so much they would even know my order and bring it to me before I pushed the button!

Thank you sooo much! I live in south MS, and there were many, many homes destroyed here mostly by large trees falling. There are still a lot of people without power. Thanks again for the well wishes! We were blessed!!!

I had the same trouble getting in my liquids. I found it easier to suck on the sugar-free Popsicles, like just little bits of liquids constantly going in. It's so important to walk around as much as you can to move the extra gas out. Also be sure you do not use a straw-you'll only be swallowing extra air, which means pain. Hang in there. It gets easier!!

I'm 6 weeks out and still have some very loose, watery-like. My nurse practitioner said it was normal, liquids in, liquids out. Ive also learned too much sugar-free stuff will really upset my stomach, even if it's sugar-free jello.

I'm so glad I found this thread! It's exactly what I needed to read tonight...I'm not the only crazy one! When I was I week post op, I was going through major carb withdrawal, any type of actual food I could put in my mouth. I sucked the salt off of peanuts and then threw the peanuts away! I never knew the full extent of my food addiction until I wanted to lick the seasoning off food. I remember that first week and wondering if I'd ever be able to eat real food again. Now I'm 6 weeks post-op and doing pretty good. I still have many questions, like will I ever be able to eat rice again? I was supposed to have a checkup this past Wednesday in Covington, LA, but Isaac had other plans! I kinda had to eat what I could with no power for 3 days! Anyway, thanks for making this site something we can all learn from but also enjoy. I find comfort in talking to people that truly know what it feels like to have food be an everyday challenge.

I, too, find it incredibly difficult to get the protein. I'm in the soft foods stage. I've tried several different kinds of shakes, but can't find one that is really good. I'm constantly thinking about water, but I'm so full sometimes it doesn't want to go down. I'm frustrated. This is my fourth week post op.

I am little over a week post-op and my doctor has told me I can have protein shakes now. YAY!!! However, I am having trouble finding one that I like. Any comments or suggestions would be helpful. Do you buy them already made? My dr has said find what I like, but try for the most protein and least amount of sugar. THANKS!!!!

I did and felt the same way. Can you have milk on your diet plan yet? I mixed the whey protein powder with almond milk and put just one scoop of fat free low sugar vanilla ice cream. It makes a world of difference. It makes it more like a milkshake!!

I'm a fellow Mississippian, and I COMPLETELY understand! I used to like my fried AND either covered in gravy or ranch dressing! Haha! I'm in southern MS, and I had my surgery almost 2 weeks ago with Dr. Lavin in Covington, LA. He was great!

Your story really hit home with me. I have been overweight my entire life. Coming from a musical family, not an athletic one, I was a size 18/20 in high school. Marching band was my only form of exercise! Now, I'm 35 and had tried every kind of diet and exercise program I could, and would do good, but ultimately fail. I tried and tried, always knowing this time would be different, but I'd end up failing, and feeling like a failure. I know and understand how you see yourself, but when I saw your picture, I didnt see what you do. You are a very pretty person. I thought for years about surgery. I went round and round with my insurance company who refused to cover my surgery. I was on blood pressure medicine, pre-diabetic, and both my parents have died with heart disease...and neither one of them were near as overweight as I am. So, I decided even without my insurance covering, I was doing this. I figured if I needed a car, I would either save or finance it, and my health is more important than a car. I am by no means wealthy. I teach in a public school and my husband is self-employed. With my husband's full support, I had my sleeve almost 2 weeks ago. (July 18th) I am 5'7", 35 years old, and have lost 16 pounds since my surgery, putting me at 266. It has been difficult, but so worth it. You are a beautiful person inside and out. Believe in yourself!!!! I wish you the best.

I am 8 days post-op, and I am thrilled to find this forum!!! I had my surgery in Louisiana and so far, I have lost 16 pounds! It has been very hard at times. I had so many people tell me it wasn't difficult at all, but I did find myself struggling at times. I realized my severe addiction to carbs!!! With that being said, I can honestly say it has been worth it. I am in my thirties and was on blood pressure medicine and facing diabetes. The only pain I'm having now is mild little "pulling" pains from my incision sights, but it's not bad at all. I would tell anyone thinking about this surgery to do it. A little bit of pain in the beginning for a new outlook on life is so worth it!!!

Thank you all soooo much! I had no idea there were so many choices!!

Hey, girl! Wow, you are so ahead of the life change having this done so early! In a few weeks, you'll be able to eat some regular foods. Don't stop going out with your friends and family...just pick places that have food you'll be able to eat. You could order a sweet potato at a restaurant, or scrambled eggs... Don't give up or get depressed. Your new stomach will not want a lot of food. You can still do so many things, and will feel better doing them!

Thanks! I will try those!

That sounds really good and very easy....THANKS! I had bought some whey protein mix and used it with water....and that was next to impossible. I cried at first thinking that this was as good as it got! Haha!

I am in my mid-thirties and have spent my entire life overweight. I should be a lifetime member of weight watchers, along with all the other types of diets. Nothing worked for me, so I started researching surgery. I thought long about the band, but after reading about the problems and complications, and talking with a few people that actually had it, I went with the sleeve...and I'm very glad I did. I am 9 days post-op, and I'm feeling better every day. The first week was very difficult, but now that I can have protein shakes and some soups, I'm feeling much better. I have been faced with lasagna and garlic bread, pepperoni pizza, and many things that used to be my favorite foods. I know it sounds weird, but I really don't want them. I feel full, not hungry...and I was really addicted to food. I wish you the best. I know it's not an easy decision, but I don't regret mine at all.

I was a diet coke freak before my surgery. I would go to Sonic in the morning before work and again after work, both for the Route 44, and in between those times would fill my empty cups with more Diet Coke. I knew having this surgery would break me of my addiction, and I'm thankful it did. I have been putting so much garbage in my stomach. After this surgery and everything I've been through these past 9 days, I do not plan on putting it back in my system. I'm not saying I will never have another diet coke, but it will not be my first drink of choice anymore. This has been a difficult addiction for me to break, but I've made it 10 days without. I'm hoping and praying for a healthier me, and I hope that's why everyone else is on here, too. It's hard, and we need to help each other the best we can.

Thank you for posting and being an inspiration!!! You look great, and I know you must feel that way, too!

I saw Dr.Lavin in Covington at his offices there. I live in MS, and I have several friends that used his team of doctors. I actually saw Dr. Lavin on Good Morning America back in June discussing a new procedure I believe he invented.

I am 8 days post-op and I do feel your pain. Sometimes the very cold would almost make my stomach feel like it was in a spasm. I feel a million times better than I did only a few days ago, so you will get better. I took my pain meds when I could so I could try to rest and make my stomach heal. I was questioning my decision a lot the first few days, but it does get better. I hugged a pillow to help my stomach when I would cough.

I had my surgery with Dr. Lavin 8 days ago!! I love him and thought he was awesome! I have lost 16 pounds so far. Good luck to you!!