joatsaint

I guess I was lucky in that I have a hate/hate relationship with food. Since at least 2012 I have been discusted with food, didn't have anything that I really "wanted" to eat, but I was taking in around 3,000 calories a day. So when a friend asked me if I wanted to go to a fancy buffet and have one last feast, it was easy to say no. I still don't like food and am very happy that the sleeve stopped that constant nagging sensation that caused me to eat so much.

I've read those, "I lost 60 lbs in 2 months" posts and feel like I'm way behind on the weight loss curve as you do. But I keep telling myself that as long as the weight keeps coming off, it's a good thing and just be patient. Everyone's body reacts differently when losing weight and is dependent on your calorie intake and your exercise habits. For all we know, these guys losing tremendous amounts of weight per month are eating 1/2 a Pop-Tart and are living on the treadmill 24/7.

How can you make it taste better? Toss in a scoop of ice cream! Seriosuly though, I bought the EAS low carb shakes and they were too watery for me, so I bought a bag of soy based chocolate meal replacement and put one scoop of the mix in the shake. Made it taste like a thick chocolate milkshake. You might try something similiar.

My 1st week back I was eating cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup. And a little bit of creamy peanut butter. Lately I've been eating re-fried beans with salsa and a little cheese mixed in.

My doctor left out a LOT of details about the pre-op tests and I only found out about them through his staff later on. But his standard tests included scoping my stomach, EKG, blood work and chest x-ray. One thing that was really a pain was finding out that I had to have the blood work done a 2nd time within 3 days of surgery (I gave the hospital permission to give me blood if necessary during surgery). My hospital required that blood work be done within 3 days of surgery if there is a possibility that the patient needs blood. I read on this forum one poster who said he was back at work after 3 days. I wasn't in any shape to go back until 7 days after surgery.

I didn't have a sad phase, but towards the end of the 1st week post-op I was thoroughly pissed off at the world!

Is this it? Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery

I am the same way. I can't tell if I'm full until I take one bite too many - NOT FUN!. So I usually eat 1/2 tsp at a time and wait a few seconds between bites. I also have some 4oz Glad containers I bought at Wal-Mart and I eat out of them. I know that at this stage 4oz is about all I can hold.

I bought a bottle at my local convenience store. Mine wasn't low carb (I don't know if it comes in low carb) but it tasted like over priced chocolate milk to me. I could have put a scoop of chocolate protein mix in with chocolate milk and got the same thing.

They put me under ansthesia, it took about 30 minutes, but the doctor did not allow me to drive that day. I felt fine as soon as I woke up.

I'm #1 - Nana Nana Boo Boo, stick your head in doo doo

Congrats on the switch from being a lurker to being a poster. I too was nervous about the whole process. I don't like to do anything that is permanent to my body and had 2nd thoughts right up to the point where they knocked me out on the operating table. But I have not regretted any part of the process so far.

I started substituting the EAS low carb shakes for breakfast and lunch about 2 weeks before I was officailly told to start my pre-op diet. I did it to ease myself into the habit of being on a liquid diet. I was only required to be on a full liquid diet for 7 days pre-op.

I was eating Campbells Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom soups and finely chopped boiled eggs by day 6.

I found the Black Mountain resistance bands worked well. After seeing over 600 reviews, it was a no-brainer for me. Here's the Amazon link if you'd like to read some of the reviews. http://goo.gl/8AYBy

Just the thoght of having part of my intestines removed creeped me out to the point that it wasn't for me. My doc said the sleeve, in his experience, was just as successful as RNY - with fewer surgical and food absorption complications.

I was never "diagnosed" with high blood pressure - since I never went to a doctor about it. But my blood pressure was 142 over 96 at the time of surgery and it didn't bother my doctor. His only real concern was the prevention of blood clots in my legs - so he had me on a blood thinner for the day of surgery and the day after.

As far as I know, they are all done laparoscopically. The incisions people talk about are the holes the doctor pokes into your stomach for the laparoscopic tools to enter. I have 5 incisions - 4 about the sized of a dime and one 2 inch incision where they pulled out the removed part of my stomach.

My recovery was not an easy one. I couldn't have driven myself home, even if I had stayed in the hospital 3 or 4 days after surgery. I had a friend drive me home and he went and got my prescriptions filled. Once home, I was able to take care of myself. If you still plan to do this on your own, please make a backup plan of who to call in case you can't drive yourself home. And stock up on the foods you plan to eat for the 1st week.

Congrats on having such a successful surgery and on starting a new phase of your life. I was sleeved about 10 days after you, but I wasn't in any shape to do anything but lay around for the 1st 4 or 5 days. I try not to look at the scales as a nemesis. I know I'll reach my target weight eventually and weight loss is not a smooth process. So will you.

I understand where you're coming from. I was tempted to back out right up to the point where they knocked me out for surgery. I just kept reminding myself of all the positive things that were said by the people on this board, in youtube videos and the people I talked with in person. No matter what they had to go through, they all said they would do it all over again. I'm in that crowd too.

You might check these threads and see if they apply. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/36261-medical-expenses-in-mexico-tax-deductable/ http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/30352-wls-and-taxes/#entry261931

Everyone's stomach is a little different, so I can only relate my experiences. I test a new food by eating about 1/4 teaspoon and waiting 5 minutes to see if I feel any discomfort. If none, then I eat a 1/2 tsp and wait another 5 minutes. I was able to eat boiled eggs, Vienna sausages, re-fried beans, yogurt after 14 days. But everything was finely chopped or put in a blender. My stomach still doesn't like sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles or chicken.

Congrats on your weight loss. Keep pimpin that sleeve.

I was back at work after 5 workdays off. But if you want to count the weekend, I was off for 7 days. I had no problem going back to work. Having said that, my job is a desk job and I didn't have to do anything strenuous like lifting boxes or climbing ladders. I didn't have any problems driving or walking around the office and I didn't have to take any pain meds.