joatsaint

tptacnik, Not to be a critic (it's very hard to type text and not come across critical, maybe someone can teach me to type compassionately ), but I hope you made your post in fun. Because 2/10's of a pound can be any number of things, including whether you weigh wearing socks and shirt (or like me, go commando! ), your scale's calibration, you drank more Water than usual, or you had some salty food. I'm a 2 year Sleeve veteran and my weight loss was never in a straight line downward. Even when I was as strict as possible about my exercise and diet, there would be days or weeks where my weight would stay the same or even go up a little. I just had to let my body do it's own thing. After a few experiences (and a lot of anxiety - I had lots of "Oh My God, is this all I'm going to lose?" moments), I figured out that if I just stayed with what was working, it would start working again... and it still does. Hope this helps, Randy Keep Pimpin' That Sleeve! I'm only 2 months post surgery and woke up this morning and had GAINED two-tenths of a pound...I know in the scheme of things it doesn't sound like a lot but I have worked so hard for the 37lbs that I have lost and I cannot understand how I could have ANY KIND OF GAIN...it made me sick to my stomach to see it. I don't know what could have caused it, not currently having any hormonal fluctuations...having a real hard time just letting it go...I had to borrow money from family to have the surgery and all I want to do is succeed...

I forgot to add, that if you have questions, please post them. There's bound to be someone here that has already gone through anything you may experience during your new "adventure". :-)

Hi Tori, Welcome to Bariatricpal and the Loser's Bench.

My doc never discussed how quickly I would be able to reach the recommended protein goals. And I don't know how many weeks before I finally reached my protein goals. But for weeks, I was only able to eat a can of soup a day. I didn't worry about it - as long as I felt okay and didn't have any health problems. I knew I'd get there eventually. My primary focus during that time was to stay hydrated. I knew I had enough fat stored on me to keep me fed... enough to last me through a Zombie Apocalypse!

I had horrible acid reflux for a few months post-op. I never took anything for it, just rode it out. I had to sleep propped up, on an incline, like in a hospital bed, to reduce the burning. Also, I wasn't able to lay on my back or side for weeks, I'd feel a pulling sensation somewhere inside when I did, so that was a 2nd reason I had to sleep propped up. I've never been able to sleep in a chair or recliner - although my dad could be an Olympic champion if sleeping in a recliner was a sport! So, I took an old comforter and rolled it into a big log - that plus a pillow, gave me enough of an incline to sleep comfortably and reduce the burning.

This may be TMI but when was the last time you pooped? I don't go but every 3 to 4 days and tend to increase in weight a little until I get rid of my payload.

I was reviewing some video surveillance footage at work and happened to see myself. Until then, I only knew what I looked like from my mirrors at home. Holy Sh*t! I look so normal, I could have been mistaken for pretty much any other employee. It feels good to NOT be the guy who sticks out at work - for being the fattest guy in the entire office.

In the beginning, I could tell when I was full when I felt bubbles moving around the food in my new sleeve. During those first days post-op, it would be painful when I took just one bite too much, now it's just uncomfortable. I was eating less than 1/2 cup per meal for months and I had to retrain myself to not let my eyes overload my stomach. The old feeling of fullness has never returned. So take your time and eat slowly.

I was only allowed clear broth for that 1st week post-op and was allowed thicker things like Protein shakes on the 2nd week. But Frankensleeve was having none of it. I couldn't tolerate more than a bite or 2 of Popsicle for 10 days and then I moved onto cream of mushroom soup for weeks afterward. It was months of trying a bite of this and a bite of that to determine what Frankensleeve would let me eat. For weeks and weeks I ate pureed turkey hamburger, refried Beans and salsa. At about 6 months I got to a turning point where most "good for you" foods went down easily. But it was a year before I could tolerate apples, grapes, pineapple and any fibrous vegetables like squash. I always found it ironic that after surgery, the good foods were the hardest to eat, while the processed stuff like Peanut Butter slid down with ease.

I didn't eat any for at least 6 months, only because I was sticking to an 800 calorie diet and didn't want to eat any empty calories. I think I was allowed popcorn after 30 days, my biggest concern was the hard slivers getting stuck in my staple line.

How hard is it to stretch my sleeve? This question comes up a lot on the WLS board, so I wanted to share my experience - looking back after 2 years post-surgery. I was worried about stretching my sleeve pre-surgery. I didn't want to go through all of this and then have the possiblity of gaining all the weight back. From everything I've read, the stretchy part of the stomach (unlike the RNY pouch) is almost completely removed and only the tough non-stretchy part remains. How Easy Is It To Stretch Your Sleeve I can tell you from 2 years of experience, you will know when you're beginning to stretch your sleeve - you will not like the feeling and avoid doing it in the future!! During the 1st few months, when I would get close to stretching my sleeve, it would hurt like Hell! On the occassion that I do begin to stretch it now, it is merely really uncomfortable. How to Much Can You Safetly Eat I learned real quick how much I could eat in one meal. I started using a small plastic bowl for every meal. I'd fill it up and know that's how much I could saftely eat. I started with a 1/2 cup bowl for about the 1st 9 months. At 1 year, I moved to a 1 cup bowl, and I've been at 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal for the last year. Signs You're Getting Full I am aware of the signs that I'm getting full - feeling bubbles moving around the food in my sleeve or feeling a poking sensation in my chest where the sleeve and throat meet. The days of that good old, "Ohhhh, I'm sooooo full" stretched stomach feeling are gone for good. And I dont miss it one bit!!!!!!!! I'm sure if someone really worked at it, they could stretch their sleeve. After all, it is tissue, tendons and ligaments can be stretched and lengthened over time. But they would not be enjoying the sleeve stretching process at all.

I was worried about stretching my sleeve too, pre-surgery. I didn't want to go through all of this and then have the possiblity of gaining all the weight back. From everything I've read, the stretchy part of the stomach (unlike the RNY pouch) is almost completely removed and only the tough non-stretchy part remains. How Easy Is It To Stretch Your Sleeve I can tell you from 2 years of experience, you will know when you're beginning to stretch your sleeve - you will not like the feeling and avoid doing it in the future!! During the 1st few months, when I would get close to stretching my sleeve, it would hurt like Hell! On the occassion that I do begin to stretch it now, it is merely really uncomfortable. How to Much Can You Safetly Eat I learned real quick how much I could eat in one meal. I started using a small plastic bowl for every meal. I'd fill it up and know that's how much I could saftely eat. I started with a 1/2 cup bowl for about the 1st 9 months. At 1 year, I moved to a 1 cup bowl, and I've been at 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal for the last year. Signs You're Getting Full I am aware of the signs that I'm getting full - feeling bubbles moving around the food in my sleeve or feeling a poking sensation in my chest where the sleeve and throat meet. The days of that good old, "Ohhhh, I'm sooooo full" stretched stomach feeling are gone for good. And I dont miss it one bit!!!!!!!! I'm sure if someone really worked at it, they could stretch their sleeve. After all, it is tissue, tendons and ligaments can be stretched and lengthened over time. But they would not be enjoying the sleeve stretching process at all.

This is a favorite of mine from my low-carbing days - years ago. I still enjoy it. 4oz. Cream cheese or Low Fat Cream Cheese (whatever you like) 4 small boxes or 2 large boxes of sugar free Jell-O (you want enough to make 8 cups of Jell-O) My favorites are Cherry and strawberry. Put 4 cups of hot Water in a bowl big enough to hold at least 8 cups (plus room to stir) Add the cream cheese and mix till well blended. Sometimes I have to put it in the microwave for a few seconds to keep the temp up. Be sure to blend it thoroughly as any cream cheese pieces will want to float to the top of the Jell-O and separate. Add the Jell-O to the hot water and blend or whisk thoroughly. Try not to make too many bubbles on top... I don't like bubbles on top of mine. Add 4 cups of cold water. To speed the setting-up, I add ice cubes to the water (and subtract a little water to make up for the ice). Keep stirring till the ice cubes melt. Set in fridge till firm. If you've blended the cream cheese and Jell-O well, you should have a firm creamy jiggly dessert. If you have an experience like mine, you get a layer of Jell-O with a layer of cream cheese on top (I wasn't very thorough in my whisking) Calories: 1 cup ~ 50 calories of fat from the cream cheese.

Of course you can still be funny. I've seen comedians, including Ralphie May and Lisa Lamponelli, incorporate their weight loss surgery adventures into their routines. How about normal sized comedians - Amy Schumer, Chelsea Peretti, Maria Bamford and Margaret Cho. Can you tell I'm a female comedian fanboy??? As far as food goes, I can eat anything I want, just less of it. After the 9 month post-op mark, I was back to eating anything I wanted - except Taco Bell taco sauce (for some reason it still makes Frankensleeve unhappy!) And you can still go out with friends to eat. I started going out again at around 6 weeks. I already knew that I wouldn't be eating as much as them, but I was going out for the company, not the food. So now I make fun of how much they are eating while I eat like a bird. The rest? Yes it is major surgery, so I won't B.S. you about the risk, no matter how slight. But I only wish I had had the nerve to go through with WLS when I was in my 20's instead of 46. It's a whole new life.

Thanks for sharing your story. I have gone through some of those same worries about how I was going to deal with being "not fat".

I don't remember how long it was before I transitioned to milk and cheese. I could have had them on week 3, but I went through my first month eating cream of mushroom Soup for the majority of my meals. My new sleeve didn't like anything. Be careful when you start trying milk and cheese. Frankensleeve didn't care for them at first. Milk was one of the hardest things to readjust to after surgery - eggs and chicken breast were hard too. When I was still adjusting to regular foods post-op, I'd always take a test bite (about 1/2 teaspoon) and wait 5 minutes. If Frankensleeve didn't have a bad reaction, I'd slowly eat a little more.

I pretty much keep to myself, so I don't volunteer the info or suggest WLS to anyone, unless they specifically ask me if I've had WLS surgery and have questions. My 1st year post-op, I wouldn't have felt comfortable talking about it, but now, it's no big deal.

My surgeon normally has a 2 week pre-op diet, but I wanted to be fast-tracked - sorta like the pit crew operates on a race car. Jack me up change the tires, sleeve the stomach, and I'm back on the road. So I was approved and scheduled for surgery within 30 days. Being so short on time only allowed enough time for a 1 week pre-op diet. Good thing too, I don't know if I could have lasted for 2 weeks, seriously. The pre-op diet, for me, was so much harder than any pain or adventures I had post-op. I think it was so hard because I've chased one dream or another about becoming a normal sized person (and failed) for so long that I couldn't seriously believe that WLS was going to work for me. But it was so worth it!!!

I bought a box of Gladware 1/2 cup containers early on. Fill one up and you know exactly how much I'm allowed to eat per meal. Around the 1 year mark, I moved up to a 1 cup container.

Yep, you are normal. I was cold as hell after surgery. I stayed wrapped up in my bathrobe and a comforter. Recovering from surgery, detoxing from the anesthesia and blood thinners, and not being able to eat is a big one two punch to the body. Every resource is going to healing.

I was living on Cream of Mushroom soup for weeks post-op. Nothing sat well with Frankensleeve... as in 1 teaspoon of anything (boiled egg, scrambled eggs, milk, pureed meat, any fruit or vegetable) would send him into cramping and seizing. You mentioned a few things I know were hard on me for weeks or months post-op - oatmeal, pudding, Medical Quality Protein, almond milk, and squash - all of these are tough to digest. At the time, I thought it was kinda ironic that processed foods went down pretty easy (especially peanut butter) but the healthy stuff took a lot of getting readjusted to.

You think you got it bad?!! Listen to my story. Here I am 2 years out from WLS and finally work up the nerve to talk to a pretty girl I see in a bar. So I sit down next to her and try to talk a little. Next thing I know, she starts crying, jumps up and runs away??? WTH...... But seriously Ky89, I know where you're coming from. I'm finally at a weight that I feel thin enough to start dating. This dream of finding my life partner has been in my head for over 20 years. And now that I feel like I look good enough that a woman will find me attractive, I'm afaid to start a conversation because I don't know what to do after I finally find a lady that wants to go out with me. I've spent so many years just trying to get replies on the online dating sites that when I do get a reply, I'm scared cause I don't know what to do next!!!!!!!!

Well, I'm kinda weird and like the anti-motivational quotes. My favorite: "The beatings will continue until moral imporves." and I like the drill sargent's quote from the movie "Aliens" - "Every day's a vacation, every meal's a banquet" (Lay that one on a coworker 1st thing in the morning and watch their face! ) My favorite motivational song: Chaz Jankel - Number One (from the movie "Real Genius")

I have to eat a bite or 2 before taking some vitamins, some are fat soluable and can't be digested without some fat in my sleeve. Try a few sips of (non fat free) chicken soup or a piece of ham (or lunchmeat).. anything with some fat in it. You don't have to eat a lot of fat, just a teaspoon or 2 should be enough.

Thank you, I love him.