MicNic

I am 4.5 months out from surgery and have lost 97 lbs. People keep asking me what my goal is and I feel the same as you... anything under 200 would be great (I have a ways to go for that) but what is most important to me is to start living again! I have 3 kids that I have been "watching". Watch them play and watch them ride bikes but not being with them, just sitting watching. I want that to change and it already has! I bought a new bike and have went with my kids a couple of times (weather isn't cooperating!) and I find myself being more active and ready to go. My self-confidence is boosted! I didn't realize how much my weight was holding me back. Now in the morning I just grab a pair of jeans, a shirt and a sweater ( I am always cold) and I go. I never fuss with my shirts, I never worry about if I look ok.. I just feel great! Like I said, still have another 100 lbs to lose but with the sleeve I know that it is possible and I am getting my life back! Good luck to you!

Well, tomorrow is officially the 4 week mark. I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER than I did the first 2 weeks! Went to the DR yesterday. Everything is going fine. I lost 20 poounds from my one week check up to yesterday for a grand total of 53 pounds since Sept. 2010 when I started my first pre-op diet. I have LOTS to lose so unfortunatly, 53 pounds doesn't show much on me but I can tell a little difference and it is nice just knowing that it is only going to get better from here! I have been horrible at eating and at getting my protein. I know, my hair is going to fall out in CLUMPS but I think the DR and I figured out why eating was making me feel horrible (eating to much, to fast) and today I have slowed way down and eaten much less. She said that 1 piece of shaved lunch meat will probably fill me up right now. I don't like eating now (eat to live, not live to eat!) and food doesn't taste good so I do notice that I try to get through my stuff pretty quick and because I don't really want to eat again- I was eating more trying to get in at least a few calories and some protein! For example- The nurse asked if I was getting all my calories- I asked her how many I was supposed to be getting (I didn't think anyone had ever said anything about an amount) and she said 1200 a day. I was like.. umm... yeah.. no. She said, well what did you eat yesterday? I said.. an individual serving of mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC. And she said ok, what else. I said, ahh- that's all. She was like- oh, I see. So you aren't eating nearly enough! I am just hoping that now that I am off pureeds and mushies, I can start getting in protein! I LOVE LOVE LOVE chicken and turkey. I LOVE Cheese! All high in protein! Now if I can just keep from over-eating, eating to fast and forgetting to eat I will be golden! Hope you all are doing well! Take Care!

Hello! I think it would be hard for anyone to tell you what you can expect exactly from the surgery. I spent 2 weeks on my coach pretty sure that I was going to die there from the pain in my abs. All I did was sip Water and take liquid meds! I am 7 weeks out now and while I do not feel like my "old" self I am feeling much better. I get tired pretty easy (probably lack of appropriate nutrients!) but I have also lost 60 lbs since I started my the pre-op diet in Sept. I would like to suggest that you do not get the lap-band just because of the recovery time needed for the sleeve. When I was in the hospital after my surgery, there was a girl in the bed next to me that had the lap-band system in for 2 years. She said she had lost 50 pounds total. She was there because the band had eroded (spelling) into her stomach. On our first night there she was tranferred into ICU because after the band was removed there were issues. I remember thinking right then- Thank God I didn't make that mistake! You never know how your body is going to handle a foreign object in it and for how long. On the sleeve, I would like to tell you something that I just didn't get when I was waiting for surgery. When they say you are going to eat less, what they mean is you are going to eat about 5 bites of food before you feel full. I am lucky and I don't get hungry. I do however get "empty". When I eat, I make my plate and I still put way to much food on it. I can eat about 2-3 oz at a meal. I still eat way to fast and so I miss the cue that I am full until it is to late. Then I feel sick and just want to go lay down. Now I associate eating with feeling bad and I have a hard time actually eating anything. I must admit tho, I do love bacon! it is the one thing that doesn't make me want to puke. I can't drink the Protein shakes right now or eat cottage cheese or yogurt. My best explanation of this is that the 2 week pre-op and 4 week post op diet ruined it for me. I am sure with time it will be fine but right now just looking at it makes me feel sick. It is a tool and I am learning how to use it! Also, my sense of taste and smell are way off. I had some m&m's the other day at the movies and they tasted terrible. I had about 5 and then I was like- why am I even eating these when they taste bad? And I think that most things smell like a hamster cage. Weird, I know. Anyway- hope that you are able to work it out so that you can have the surgery and not feel like your job is on the line. Good Luck!

Treequeen, I, too, was pretty nervous about telling people about my surgery but now, almost 2 months later- I feel like I tell everyone! Everyone at work was concerned when I took time off and because I didn't want to lie to my friends and co-workers, I told anyone who asked and of course- word spreads. I have been blessed with tons of encourgment from family and friends. They can't believe how great I look!! No one has tried to make me feel bad and I guess the worse thing I have heard is- "So that is all you will eat for the rest of your life?? I could NEVER do that". I just smile and say, well you haven't had weight issues like me so you are lucky and move on. It was truly the very best thing I have done for myself and my family. I will start working out this week at the gym and I know that this time, the weightloss and toning is not a temp thing. How exciting is that?? Good luck!! MicNic

I had my first hep shot right before surgery. I was so upset because no one mentioned that I would be getting a shot in my abdomen every 8 hours while I was in the hospital. I HATE shots and honestly freaked out and made the nurse wait while I "got ready" to get the shot. I told her ok, she put the needle in and it was out in no time and honestly, didn't hurt at all. None of the heb shots did and they were all in my lower abdomen. Like everyone else, I am a month out and I still have a few bruises. I am glad I had the shots, wouldn't want a blood clot! Also, the first day they took my blood sugar every 6 hours to ensure that I didn't need insuline (I didn't). On those, have them do the needle in a different finger each time and on the side of your fingerpad. When they do it in the middle of your fingerpad it hurts afterward when you use your fingers. Good luck with everything!!

Thanks! I have read on here that in the losing phase people eat between 600 and 800 calories and then move up to 1200. Who knows. What I do know is 53 pounds are gone!!!

I just can't wait until I can but matching bras and undies that have lace and bright colors! I currently wear a 48 DDD and the only bra I like is at Lane Bryant. I have black, white and beige.. there are no other colors in my size with the bra I wear so I can not wait!

Someone told me it was due to hormones being released when the fat was being used. I had them for the first week and a half but I haven't had any in a while so it must have evened out. I would cover my body with a blanket and then turn the fan on to my face. I didn't get hot all over but my cheeks would turn bright red! Glad that is done!

I am SOOO tired of them! Someone did tell me to get a cup with a lid (think travel coffee cup) and use it with the shakes so you can't smell them.

Where is the burning? I have the worst pain at the top of my left ribs today. I am not sure what I did but it hurts!! The pain almost goes away when I lay down and tonight I took some pain meds just to take the edge off. I am hoping I just pulled a muscle or something that isn't a leak!

Oh I feel you!! I was trying to be strong but in my head, I was PANICKED! I wrote letters to all my love ones because I was so sure that I would die. My Doctor was so good when she was explaining the risks. she said 99% of people do fine but who cares about the 99% if you are in the 1%. So I prepared for the worst and was very happy when I woke up from surgery. Ok that is not true, I was hapy a few days later! : ) But here is what I told myself and others when they asked. If I do not have this surgery, I will die early. It might be from a bad heart or from cancer but it is coming for sure. If I don't have this surgery now while I am healthy and the risks are low i will for sure be having some kind of surgery (heart, knee, back, etc) and it will be riskier because my health will be worse. Electing to have the surgery is weird. Who does that to themselves? But you know what- it is too bad that doctors can't mandate you have it like open heart surgery because that is how important this is to your health. So far I have lost about 45 lbs that I know of ( I try not to weight because I don't want to stress all the time) and I am almost 3 weeks out from surgery. It took me about 15 years to get this weight on, slow and steady and thank goodness this surgery is going to help me get it off in a fraction of that time! Now, that said- I am tired most of the time and I am still pretty sore when I hit a bump in the car or if I cough but it is getting better every day. I am struggling with protein drinks and getting as much as I am supposed to but again- every day is getting better! I wish you the best of luck on your new path. It isn't easy but I do believe that is will be well worth it!

hey Deb, it was Dr. Fearing with Malley. They were awesome!

They checked the line at the end of my surgery, then the morning after my surgery. Kansas City, KS

Welcome to the group Beth. I was also sleeved on the 17th and returned to work on Wednesday. Although I have to admit, I didn't do much. Just felt tired and sluggish! I did take the b12 this am and I am hoping that I will start seeing some energy come back!

Well all, I return to the working world tomorrow. Luckily my boss wants me to work from home for at least another week to avoid the flu everyone is passing around. Got a question for you all- anyone feel like your mind just inst working at top speed? I feel hazy and tired! I reduced my nausea meds to am and bedtime and I only take. Pain meds at night ( have too, my sides and back are killing me). Just wondering if anyone else was feeling this way! Take care!

Hey Dawn. I gained 15 lbs in the hospital and let me tell you, I was hot! Lol. I had orginally planned to only weight at the dr's office or monthly but tomorrow is my two week mark so I decided to sneak a peak. I have lost the reminder of the gained Water weight plus one pound. I like you am thinking that it may not be fast but it is progress! I am finding it so hard to get my Protein and fluids in. I love to drink, I just get busy and realize that it has been two hours since I drank anything. Then I try to drink slowly but efficently for the remainder of the day. Does that ever happen to you? Today I bought some different soups, snack size cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt with fruit on the side. I am hoping that having access to this "easy" protein will help. Also, have you started back with your supplements? I did only take bc pills. Now I am trying to take the nausea meds, bc pill, Multivitamin, b-12, vit d and Calcium. I just don't have the room for it all so it usually ends up being nausea meds, pain med at night, and bc pill. Just curious if you are taking supplements, how are you dividing them out? Hope you have a great day!!!

Hey Coop, I have no words of wisdom but I am sending you my best. I am new to all of this but I could totally see how frustrating that would be! I hope someone has some good wisdom for you and your SHORT-TERM situation!

Ok, I read, read,read everything I can on here and I am so jealous! I am not a wimp, I swear! But I am almost two weeks out from surgery and I am still moving slow! While I am steady making progress, I stil can't bend over to pick something up off the floor. I still walk somewhat hunched over like I am elderly. My back is killing me from all the weird ways I sit and because even tho I hate sleeping on my back, it hurts when I try to sleep on my sides. Seriously, it's like everyone else on here got a different surgery than me! Luckily, no sickness yet. I just had to vent. I am really happy for you all, just wishing I was healing as quick and back to normal so fast. Right now, I can't even imagine signing up for plastic surgery ever!!!! Take care of yourselves! Micnic

Sorry for the typing errors- using my blackberry to post!

Steeler, nothing like a little dose of - omg- what did I do to myself! I have noticed it getting worse. I told mu hubby tonight that if I end up with buyer's remorse, don't jump on and start telling me it waqs a mistake! I am so tired of eating. I feel like my whole day is broken up into shifts to drink and eat and I am so tired. I also don't think I am getting enough protein but even with 4 types of nausea meds I just feel sick putting the spoon to my mouth! I am also thinking that I might be catching a cold. I am starting to get congestion and the sniffles- I really want afford that right now. My kids are due home from my mom's within an hour. I am so excitied to see them but also nervous. Since surgery I have only had to take care of me (well, my husband and me looking out for me). Now reality is back, kids will be home and I go back to work on Wednesday. And I have no energy!!! Hey, I have all the unjury protein shakes- I don't ming them- they aren't thick like other shakes and the chop really does just taste like choc milk. Take care sleeve buddies!

Just checking on you all. Hope you are doing well.

Hey Candy, i had surgery on the 17th and had the drain removed at about a week not as lucky as you, both sides hurt like hell but when the drain came out I felt a big difference on that side. The drain was way longer than I had expected! Call your doctor just to be sure.

Yeah for you and your family!!!