ChristinesNewLife

I couldnt believe the scale yesterday.. 199.5. WOOHOO! I feel fantaztic.. I have lost 23 pounds my first montb, and 29 inches. I font regret my sleeve one bit! I cant wait to see what the next four Weeks will bring.

On surgery day, Jan 2, 2013, I was in a size 20 jeans. Today I wore a size 15! This is so much fun, and I still feel fantastic!

Im on modified full liquids, I walk anywhere from half hour to 45 minutes on the treadmill just about everyday.. I see the Dr in follow up this Thursday the 17th, and will most likely be bumped up to pureed

It is finally here! 1/2/13 is the day! I am prepared mentally for a rough couple of days, because I know everyday after that will be just a little bit better, and on the road to healthy and fit! I am busy packing a bag tonight, and getting ready to shower with my special soap. Going to bed early tonight, because I have to be at the hospital by 6am. Any last advice? Things I should bring to the hospital with me? This forum is great, thanks for sharing all your experiences and advice. It is nice to know you are not alone in this journey. You can have a ton of support from friends and family, but having someone, lots of someones understand just what you are going through is great support. Wish me luck!

Rinrocks1... it gets much better after today, I promise. Gas strips makes a world of difference.. you are probably real tired because ur intake is still real low. Id you can manage to only get 1 3 oz protein bullet down in a day, you will feel the difference in your energy level. I do two 8 oz shakes with dutch chocolate protein powder that is 53 grams of protein per scoop. That gives me more than my required amount for the day.. and it is usually the first thing I start with, and I sip on that all of 5 or 6 hours. And the remainder of the day I try to get in one meal, and get as much fluid as I can... its working, I don't know my weight loss total yet, but I already see a difference in my size Keep up the good work, in a few days you should feel fantastic!

So today is one week post op! I feel fantastic! I can't wait to watch this weigh melt off. I got my drain tube removed yesterday in the surgeons office as out patient, and it was a breeze. So if anyone goes home with one and needs to go a wk later to have it removed.. its a breeze. 2 days in a row I have consumed at least 90 plus grams of protein a day amd have reached the minimum of 48 oz of fluids.. striving for the 64. I am headed upstairs in a few minutes to walk on the treadmill for no set amount of time, just going to walk for a bit til I feel I should stop and then have my 1 of 2 protein shakes today. I had 2 oz of cottage cheese for breakfast this morning. And I'm thinking about a couple oz of mashed potatoes for dinner.. havnt quite been able to do 3 meals a day yet.. I'm sure that will come in time. Getting all the vitamins in has been a little difficult also, but that too should get better with time. I'm not stressing.. I'm excited that I'm on the other side, and that I feel so awesome just one week out !

Its like night and day difference from yesterday to today I had surgery ob 1-2,13 and am scheduled to returb on 1-21-13. My surgeon and I talked about recovery and when I should return to work. Im an office manager for a doctor office, and my job is fairly stationary, so as long as I make sure to get up every hour to walk, it shouldnt be too bad. I still have a drain tube in, and I am scheduled to see my surgeon on the 8th to see about having it removed. My 2 wk follow up is scheduled for the 17 th and e will decide at that time of I shouldgo back on the 21st or wait another week. Physically im sure I could do it 2 1/2 Weeks out, but mentally I want to know that I can stay on top of all my nutritional requirements and do my job well at the same time. Wow, one week off doesnt seem long enough.. Do you not have leave time or short term disability? I made sure both FMLA and short term disability paperwork was filled out and turned in to my employer before surgery, so if I need more time, im covered

Feeling pretty good today, things are settling much better in the tummy, havnt got sick once today, or felt nauseated. Once I finish this shake I'm drinking, will probably take me a couple hours, I will have had 95 grams of protein, and a total of 30 oz of fluid.. so if I can get one more 32 oz of something today then my goals have been met... this is a good day

Wow.. last night was pretty tough. I got discharger about 4, and started feeing pretty nauseated since noon yesterday, was given some reglan and. Zonogran both iv, but switched me to liquid Hydrocodone, which the one time I have been able to keep it down, it worked pretty well for pain control. The pharmacy was having system difficulties, and I wasn't able to stay on my pain and nausea schedule with meds, got them about 2 hours later than I was due to take any, which has spun me off on a bad start. I may have to go to a different pain med, tummy is pretty sore this morning, too one sip of the hydrodone elixir and lost it.. I may have to take my anti-nausea meds first, before anything else every 8 hours.. pain meds is written for every 6, but get nauseated before my next nausea meds are due.. my main goal today is to stay on top of the nausea so I can get most of my liquids in because so far since I have been home, only been able to hold dow maybe 4 oz.

I think they are going to send me home with protonix today

Meal number 2 this morning cottage cheese and applesause ( full liquids today). Got my catheter removed this morning (yeah) and switching over to oral pain meds also. Already walked twice this morning before 6am.. my choice, I felt good, and wanted to move from the bed. Been in the chair a few times today also.. A little more sore today than yesterday because the pain block is wearing off.. but so far very tolorable.. I may go home later today.. my drain tub is still draining a little more than norm, so they may ke me one more day or send me home with it... we will see [ATTACH]7703[/ATTACH]

This is my first meal, 1oz of broth and 1oz of jellow.. so far going down just fine. [ATTACH]7685[/ATTACH]

well fellow sleevers...early I'm on the other side. I feel amazing, no pain, just a little gas pain but nothing intolerable. I have already taken a stroll down the hallways, just ordered some broth and jello for dinner, and think I will take another little stroll when I'm done. thank you thank you for everybody support.

Is the heating pad to lay over your stomach? That does sound like a good idea, my surgery is tomorrow

Thank you everyone! And yes... I have the chapstick I will let you guys know how I am doing in a cpl days:.. see you on the other side!

I can so relate! I have successfully lost 70 and 80 pounds twice in my life, and I can control, what I eat, but its the portion control and the speed of which I eat, has always been an issue.. I have worried about that, but am leaning more towards looking forward to that tool of being unable to eat like that anymore, and hopefully will retrain myself

Protein powder - check Protein bullets - check Baby bowels and spoons - check Bullet blender - check Soup broth, Isopure, crystal light, popcycles - check Comfy clothes and slippers - check Vitamins ( liquid) - check Biotin, collegen powder, nioxin shampoo, firming lotion - check ( started this now, as I want my hair and skin to have all the help it can) Now.. can put the cup warmer on the list after this weekend ( thanks for the great idea ) I know I still have lots to get still, I agree pre-op this is all I think about, really trying not to boar my friends and family with my constant talk and excitement for a new start on life. My day is Jan 2nd, less than 45 days.

Awesome Job! What an inspiration... I am scheduled for Jan 2, 2013.. and It can't come soon enough for me. Keep up the great work!

I have heard from several post sllevers, that they mistaked acid reflux for hunger pain. Does your doctor have you on anything for reflux? If so.. he may want to change your dose or your medicine, that may make all the difference.

I have not been sleeved yet. But very excited for my surgery date, which is 1-2-13. I have been curious how many sleevers, or wls patients have told everyone, or no one in their circles, or just a select few. I told my husband first, earlier in this year, and my boys who are 16 AND 17, soon to be 18 on the 18th of this month. My co-worker/friend knows, who wants to be thiner, and loose her co-morbidities too, so I was hoping to be an inspiration to her, and let her see how much better I will feel with this choice I have made in my life. I have been hesitant to tell anyone else, because like most that I have read here, want to keep the negative away. I have been best friends with someone since the 7th grade, and I told her a couple weeks ago. Her first response was "great! I am glad you were approved, I know how much this meant to you" And then 2 days later, I receive an e-mail from her ( our main sourse of communication due to our busy family/work lives) and she had a million and one questions, and is so against it, and said she was really sorry if she was hurting my feelings, but she was just concerned) I told her this has been a life long struggle for me since I was about 10 years old, I am a year from 40, and 30 years is just long enough. I have a lot of life to live still, and I want to feel good living it. I have proved over and over again that I can loose the weight, but I also have failed , ever time, to keep it off, and end up heavier than when I started to diet to begin with. She has never been more than 130 pounds, and that is at 9 months pregnant with her 1st of 3 babies. She hangs around 100 - 110 pounds ever since I have known her. So I did the best I could to have her see it from my shoes, and gave her links to very informative youtube videos and websites about the sleeve, and how it has changed so many peoples lives for the better. I told her thank you for loving me so much to be so concerned. This is a decision I have pondered for a few years now, and made my decision last Christmas, and have planned all year for this big step in my life, and to start my new journey. I am very confident I am making the right decision for myself and my family. I think I will treat my response on an individual basis.. and share as needed.

Wow.. that is terrible about the physicians over looking your med dosage. I'm sorry . Congrats on November 28 surgery date I bet you are excited. I started out this past December planning for surgery in January 2013. I knew I was going to have a full year with 5 teenagers here, always always something going on to take focus away from myself. But I was determained to get the ball rolling, and plan, plan plan.. I am a planner, and do well when everything is mapped out, and organied.. so it hasn't been stressful at all to this point. Everything has worked out as planned, the nutrion appointments, counselor (extra of those because I lost my mom this May) neuropsych, labs, 6 month Dr monitored weight loss visits.. and the approval took just a couple weeks. So I am able to finish out the hear with my pre-op testing and visit with the internest, and the nutrician class and the nurse visit. With all that and a couple birthdays this month, Thanksgiving and Christmas, it will be here before I know it. I have started a little book with things I have, things I need, tips from previous sleevers, foot recipies and shake ideas etc, I will have a work out plan in there eventually and mini goals.. after I meet with the nurse and nutrician class on the 30th of this month. I am so ready, and so excited to begin this next chapter of my life.

From what I am learning from watching hundred of youtube videos from post op sleevers is if you are unable to eat very much and hungry shortly after, you are probably eating too fast and your bites are too large. They used the example of your sleeve is like filling up the inside of a highlighter marker. Your bites should be very small like half of a calcium chew.. chew , chew chew that up very good, and wait 2 minutes before your next bite. You will be able to get much more in at a sitting. And if you feel like you are at a stall... make sure you are drinking plenty of water 60 - 80 oz a day.. sip, sip, sip all day.. and make sure your protein intake is high enough.. and do atleast 30 to 45 min of cardio a day... you should get past the stall. Hoe that helps a bit.. Keep your head up, I'm sure you are doing great, and will learn your sleeve as time goes on.

I have been watching a lot of youtube videos. There is a gal on there who shared a lot of her foot she ate. I'm not where I can look her up, but I will try to tomorrow and you can go to her "what I eat" video.. I was so glad and took down some notes. She talks about turkey meatballs.. 3 of them , microwave for a few minutes, and its like 18 calories. She also found at sams club, chicken stuffed with broccoli, and a couple others and it was like 29 grams of protein for 6 oz. She went to the appetizer section and found little beef bites wrapped I. Bacon, that was high in protein also.. she talked about loving mexican food and using a can of chicken, some fat free refried beans and some cheese, a few minutes in the microwave, and had a little mexican cassarole. She also made several diff types of lettuce wraps that sounded rrsl easy. Hope that helps, and I will try to find her on youtube and repost with her screen name.

Glad to see you are taking the big step of regaining control of your life for good. My name is Christine. I decided in December of 2012 that I wanted to do the sleeve. I, like you, have been on a roller coaster, yo-yo ride on my weight my entire life. My first memory of being neavy was about 10 years old. Lost it all when I was 15.. and stayed pretty small until about 18 when I got on birth control. I gained 70 pounds in a year ( the norplant) had that removed after 1 year, and dropped about 40 pounds of that weight in about 5 weeks, and became pregnant with my first child. I gained over 50 pounds with that pregnancy.. and 8 months after giving birth, I got pregnant again, barely had lost the weight from the first pregnancy. I managed to loose all that weight and then some after my 2nd child, about 9 months later.. I was all the way down to 40, 20 pounds lighter than my pre-pregnancies weight. I struggled with that weight and bounced around between 140 - 170 for a few years.. and then from 2000 - 2002, I ballooned to 233 pounds. I was miserable. I carried that weight about 3 years.. and in 2005 I did a combination of the adkins and south beach diet and dropped 70 pounds again.. and looked and felt great. And once I tried to incorporate other foods in my diet, I quickly lossed control again and by 2011 I was back up to 241 pounds. I am so onboard to have a perminant tool in place to assist me in loosing this weight for good and keeping it off, I am 39 years old, I have a lot of life to live, and I want to feel good living it!

How exciting for you! Good luck with everything!