kwikwits

WOOP! WOOP! You and that bikini have a great summer!

Here is to a complication free procedure and a speedy, pain free recovery! See you on the loser's bench (it is really a loser's divan but guys hate it described that way!)!

Hey Day Dreamer!!! Always GREAT hearing from you!!! Hard to believe June has come and gone!!! Time flies when you are SLEEVED! Surgery date: 6/1/11 Weight loss: 33 - 38 pounds (depends on which scale) Pros: no longer huffing and puffing, arm openings in clothes magically roomier, can withstand heat/humidity better, knees hurt less, back hurts less, I feel YOUNGER, started dressing like a teenager, feel sexy (damn that is WILD), more confidence, more stamina, feel more positive about EVERYTHING, normal blood pressure, normal blood sugar Cons: watery diarrhea, food stuck in my CRAW/esophagus, that tightness in my upper stomach when I eat too fast or eat & drink at the same time, food often tastes funny (not like I remember), I can eat so little it doesn't seem worth it (former volume eater can't accept limitations), frequent nausea, frequent "sour stomach", bad taste in mouth, easily dehydrated Eating can be a challenge. When in doubt, have Soup or sugar free ice pops! Would I do it again: Yes, but I would have had a longer "goodbye to food" week!

Wow, you look FANTASTIC!!!

First of all -- once you are sleeved and following the simple instructions (thin liquids for 2-3 weeks; mushy foods/purees for 2-3 weeks) and then when you are eating solid foods -- eating Protein first, followed by "good carbs"/fruits & veggies and lastly whole grains (if you have any room in that teeny, tiny tummy) -- you are going to lose weight. Will you lose 100 pounds in three weeks (extremely DOUBTFUL), in 90 days (pretty DOUBTFUL), in 6 months (DOUBTFUL) in a year -- much better shot at that happening. You can handle the weight loss part of being sleeved several ways -- you could jump on and off the scale 10-20 times daily. Record how much you weigh before and after every time you use the bathroom, weigh your self only standing on your left foot vs. how much you weigh only standing on the right foot. You could pull out every article of clothing you own and see which outfit has you weighing the least. Obviously if you are missing eating compulsively, obsessively, and need a new OCD behavior -- chronic weighing is probably a good one. If on the other hand, you chose to get sleeved because you wanted to get a grip on your health, weight, habits, lifestyle, longevity etc. Then I suggest either pasting your goal weight on the scale so that is what you weigh every time you get on it -- or deciding that there are a lot of NSV that will be happening during the course of the next few years. Stop focusing on the scale numbers as the only measure of "success". Stop communicating that to your friends and family. Losing and maintaining a 100lb or more weight loss is a LONG HAUL JOURNEY -- there are going to be ups & downs along the way -- what you weigh during any one point in the journey doesn't define the journey. What else have you achieved? Have you learned to take better care of yourself? Have you learned that you are allowed to say "no" and take care of your own needs first? Have you learned that moving your body can actually feel good and feel even better when you are trying to sleep, relax, stop thinking about work, money etc. Learning new behaviors are just as important if not MORE important than scale victories. I have a few not that close friends and several relatives that ONLY want to hear NUMBERS -- the chorus of "how much have you lost" makes me a little crazy. One thing I realize is this THERE OBSESSIVE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH WEIGHT I HAVE LOST ISN'T ABOUT ME -- IT IS ABOUT THEM. My 49-year old "MLF" hottie cousin is obsessed with her own looks -- she fears getting fat, aging, and not having "ENVIABLE LOOKS" more than death and taxes. When I got home from the hospital and spoke to her on the phone her first comment was "you sound sooo skinny"! Yes, it made me laugh -- but I realize a) she could NEVER have lived a minute as me in my obese body; she would have committed suicide; looks are the only thing she values period. She is smart, capable, funny, loving etc -- but she sees her own value as HOW GOOD SHE LOOKS. My struggle for my health etc is secondary to how I look -- from her point of view -- it is her obsession not mine. For her the "unweighed life" is meaningless! Most of the other "friends" who are obsessed with my weight loss have similar issues. Value is a number -- be it a weight or a size. When I tell them "I can feel I've lost weight by how my clothes fit" it just isn't as good as saying "I've lost 40 lbs". Once again -- that is their issue, not mine. I am not going to change how I deal with measuring my success in order to satisfy their obsession. You know when they see me they will either figure it out or not. Which leaves me with MYSELF. I know I am burning fat. I feel like I am "melting" because everyday my clothes feel looser. Does it always get reflected in the scale -- NOPE. Does that mean I'm not losing inches? Hell no! If my weight stays the same but I wear a smaller size -- that doesn't count? Who wrote those rules? Why am I paying attention to them? This isn't a race. It is the rest of my life. How ever long it takes me to lose whatever percentage of my weight comes off - is how long it takes. As long as I'm alive and kicking while it is happening is good enough for me.

Yes, it is normal. I am 1 month out and sometimes my incisions still hurt/itch etc.

Of course I can see the difference! You look wonderful!!! Keep on doing whatever you are doing because it is working GREAT!!!!

I have discovered JERKY!!! I love that stuff. Wow, it is even going down pretty easy too. Plus it is tasty, no carby (I'm not an anti-carb zealot just trying to avoid glycogen) and it tastes like real food. I have tried turkey Jerky, salmon jerky (a little to salty), buffalo jerky, venison jerky and elk jerky -- Beef jerky is the bomb! And I feel like I am chewing tobacco!

Here is my deal at ONE MONTH SINCE BEING SLEEVED!!! You have to go very slow eating mushies or anything new! Also I can definitely NOT drink and take in food at the same time. There isn't enough space for both liquid and anything solid--ish. Take very little bits. I call them "morsels". Remember how you might stick a finger into the frosting of a cake? Just enough to rest on the very top of a finger tip. Eat that little bit. Slowly. Let it hang out in your mouth for awhile. Let your taste buds get off on how it doesn't taste like Protein SHAKE!!! Rejoice at that fact alone. I never feel sick in my stomach from soft foods. It always is a tight feeling at the bottom of my throat or top of my esophagus that means I've had enough or most likely too much. Some soft foods are easier than others. I can eat 2 oz. of hummus without problem. I can eat a small container of Fage 0% fat Greek yogurt but it takes me awhile to eat the entire container (5.3 ounces) if I go every slowly. Tuna salad is different -- I can only eat about 2 teaspoons before I feel like I'm being choked by the food. I had a piece of a sushi roll last night, a salmon, avocado and cucumber with rice, wrapped in seaweed. The roll was sliced into 6 pieces. I was able to eat on piece -- very slowly. Next time sashimi and NO RICE. The rice gets stuck too easily!

Morphine on demand every 30 minutes by IV in the hospital. The day after surgery I felt like a junkie. I would nod out when people came to visit! I didn't need or want the morphine after the first day. I didn't hurt that badly. They gave me Lortab liquid for when I got home.

Welcome Pete! VST is the place to learn the nitty gritty about life with the sleeve. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Tomorrow is 3 weeks since my surgery and so far so good. I am finally eating mushy foods and can tolerate about 1 tablespoon of food per meal. I'm sure after my swelling goes away I will be able to eat slightly more -- the key is to remember you can't eat the way you did pre sleeve. You must eat slowly and in little tiny bits too see how much you can have...I find I can go from feeling okay to feeling I'm about to slime in a matter of seconds. The hardest part is realizing that just because the food tastes good in my mouth doesn't mean my stomach is going to feel the same way. Finding that sweet spot is going to take patience. I look forward to seeing you on the loser's bench! EJ

I just purchased the Miracle Noodle sampler and it is on its way to me. I will let everyone know how they are...of course, I will only be able to eat a single noodle or the equivalent of 1 tablespoon of noodle.

Hello to all the Nifty Fifties!!! Maybe life starts at 56? Or it just starts over better? I am planning lots of changes besides sleeving my way to a healthier lifestyle. If losing 30 lbs can make me feel 10 years younger (no huff & puff, no swollen ankles and feet, and walking is soooo much easier) -- I figure I may be a mere child when I reach my goal! Even if I wind up having to tuck my boobs behind my ears when my weight works its way off -- it will be worth it! What was that Clairol, Revlon, Loreal hair coloring ad from the 70's???? "your not getting older; your just getting better!" I can't wait until I'm cruising with Valentina (hear that GF???) in that convertible Mini Cooper looking for young studs who like older women with excess skin!!!

HOORAY!!! Another Jewel of June advances to the loser's bench!!! Woop, woop! imawhodat welcome to the land of sleeves! It sounds like you did great! It will get better everyday. Rest up. And remember "sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk".

Hey DayDreamer! Glad to hear you are doing so well! I am 17 days out of surgery I have THREE MORE DAYS UNTIL MUSHIES! Hang in there. I realize I am very impatient. I want soft savory foods NOW. I want no more nausea NOW. I want the incision on my left side not to hurt NOW (that is the side I sleep on and it is getting old having to deal with that damn incision). Funny I am not as impatient about losing weight but everything else is taking to darn long. I can barely get half a shake down in the morning. The same soup is fine at one "meal" and then at the next it makes my tiny tummy upset or just plain pissed off! I want to be 6 months down the road and ABLE TO EAT SOMETHING ALREADY. By the way am I the ONLY sleever who had to be on thin liquids for 3 weeks not 2 weeks like most people? YES LET'S BUY STOCK IN sugar free ICE POPS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY food THAT I CAN TOLERATE CONSISTENTLY!!!

I can't wait to start mushy foods on 6/22! I did 2 weeks of liquid pre surgery and 3 weeks of liquids post surgery. After 5 weeks of liquid protein I realize that I may compulsively overeat for OTHER PEOPLE'S PROTECTION! I hope I don't hurt anyone before I make it to mushy next Wednesday!!!!

All these lists are AWESOME!!! Here are a few of my top reasons/wishes/hopes/SOON TO BE REALITIES! 1. Enjoying a summer without worrying about parts of my body rubbing against themselves or each other! 2. Being able to wear any style pants and go for a pedicure (I will be able to roll them up over my CANKLES because I won't have cankles anymore! 3. Not worrying that the passenger sitting next to me on an airplane wished they had missed the flight or the fat lady bought two seats! 4. Not having my belly stick out further than my bustline! 5. To be able to see a photo of myself without thinking I look like Buddha, an Oompa Loompa or an old but baby faced cherub! 6. No longer being able to use the shelf on my butt for card playing or resting plants, 7. Dressing so I look good and not good considering my size... 8. Visiting my doctor cousin without him asking me "Are you diabetic yet?" 9. No longer wondering why I knock stuff off of tables, dressers, shelves when I walk past them quickly 10. No longer finding bruises because I've knocked into furniture, walls, moldings whatever because my body takes up so much ROOM! 11. No longer being told "You are so confident for a big gal" and just people seeing I am just confident. 12. No longer thinking people think I'm funny as a defense mechanism but just because I AM REALLY FUNNY! 13. No longer caring that the skinniest women I work with are eating Lean Cuisine because they are a size 2 not a size 0; 14. No longer thinking for even one second someone is chuckling about ME! 15. NO LONGER FEELING BOTH INVISIBLE AND CONSPICUOUS AT THE VERY SAME TIME!

Being nervous and scared are all reasonable reactions to having surgery especially WLS... You did your homework, you know why you have chosen to have this surgery and why you decided to have VSG. None of that has changed. You made your mind up when you did everything you needed to do to make this happen.... Breath deeply, remember you are doing this because you truly LOVE YOURSELF AND WANT AND DESERVE TO FEEL BETTER!!! I am 16 days post surgery. Right now I'm battling nausea and desperately waiting to move to mushy foods next Weds (be still my heart). Immediately post surgery and the following day SUCKED BECAUSE I WAS DEHYDRATED (surgery time got pushed back from 11am to 3pm & I couldn't drink anything) but I made it and I'm drinking fine now. I agree with losingwait -- drink lots of water over the next 4 days so you will be plenty hydrated on surgery day. Plus with all this water drinking my skin looks fabulous and I'm 20 years older than you! Remember you are a Jewel of June -- you are sparkling now and will only sparkle brighter when you move to the loser's bench! Keep breathing and just put one foot in front of the other all the way to TJ! We are cheering you on and are here for you 24/7!

Wow!!! What a 90 day transformation! Is it a guy thing -- but men just melt with simple calorie restriction (sorry guys I'm just jealous)...where women have to endure stalls, balancing carbs, watching sodium intake for water retention, even an old post-menopausal broad like me feels like the planets must align before I drop an ounce! Well, I am only 16 days post surgery and down over 30 lbs including my pre-op diet. So I am not complaining -- and if I become a slimmer butterfly in 90 days I will be sure to post lots of amazing photos too! P.S. With a 30 pound weight loss I no longer; huff & puff walking a short distance; can walk up two flights of stairs and hold a conversation during and afterwards, didn't feel like I was dying when the temperature hit the upper 80s (yesterday), spent over 8 hours on my feet doing errands and my knees weren't killing me, my ankles and feet weren't swollen and my watch was still lose around my wrist (I always get edema in my hands, wrists, ankles and feet when it is hot out). I am learning to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, my sleeve!!!!

Hi everyone! I was wondering when if ever will my nausea stop? I am 12 days post surgery. I am able to meet most of my water numbers if I am diligent. My protein numbers are a different story -- I can't seem to tolerate more than 2 shakes but now I'm doing one "meal" of Unjury chicken soup or some of the high protein soups I found at www.mybariatricpantry.com because I just can't stand the sweet flavors anymore, My issue is I still get bouts of nausea. I am taking anti-nausea medication every morning with my PPI and vitamins. The nausea comes sometimes after I've taken my other medications (crestor/hcz/zolft/welbutrin). Sometimes I wake up nauseous. When it is at its worst I don't want to ingest anything. I just feel like anything I ingest even hot mint tea makes the nausea worse. This nausea has increased since the doctor removed my drain last Friday. I have no idea if that is related to nausea. Veterans -- does the nausea go away or at least become less frequent? Feeling like I'm going to be sick is getting very old. EJ

Hi ABSGirl! Sorry it took me so long to respond to your post. I was in the hospital for 3 days following my sleeve surgery. I would have liked to go home after two days but they are overly cautious at NYU Medical Center. When I got out I did stay at a friends apartment mostly because I live in a walk-up and well we thought we'd see how I felt after a couple of days. I think you could go home to your little girl. You are going to be sore -- my abdomen felt like I did 1000 crunches. You can't lift anything over 10 pounds for 6 weeks. But I was able to do most things. No I wasn't going to be changing linens and dragging the vacuum up the stairs but I could cook, wash dishes, etc. You tire easily until you figure out how to get some protein and you must drink water, vitamin water, suck sugar free ice pops whatever. But staying hydrated is the most important thing that first week home. 2 weeks out and my water drinking is slipping. I have never been able to get in 5 protein shakes -- even pre surgery. I try. Get ones with higher protein counts and then you don't have to drink so many. Unjury chicken soup is great when the sweet shakes are making you gag. Take it easy in the beginning . Even though they just poked holes into your abdomen doesn't mean having most of your stomach removed is like getting a teeth cleaning. Also it is important to get enough rest while you are healing up. If staying with someone is going to allow someone to help you with your parenting responsibilities try it out for a few days. It helps to have help. 14 days and I have no regrets. I was down 30 pounds on 6/10 when I lasted was on a scale. Won't be back to the doctor until 6/23 and I only want to weigh in over there -- same scale and less chance of getting obsessed. Every NSV is a good thing too -- maybe even a better thing! Good luck....your surgery date comes very quickly and your recovery is quick too.

Thanks everyone for all the anti-nausea tips. Tomorrow I'm going to call my doctor/physician assistant/whatever and ask about the nausea. I have decided my nausea could be related to my adding restaurant broth to my diet. I was craving better flavors especially NOT SWEET flavors so I have gotten some miso at one local Japanese restaurant, that one was okay. The other day I had a little bit of a spicier Asian broth that may have had too much seasoning for my blandness loving tummy. Then I tried another mushroom based broth -- that was so good. Not salty like miso just savory and delicious. I don't think that one was problematic. Today I sort of pushed the limits and paid the price. I spent most of the day in Manhattan -- I had a medical appointment and then I decided to try out a new mattress, the whole time I wasn't drinking Water and I bet I was getting dehydrated. One thing about not feeling hungry or even worse feeling that if you did have something in my stomach it would just make me feel sick -- time passes and it is suddenly 4pm (I'm still not at work) and I only had one Protein shake in the morning. I get it into my head to walk over to Republic on Union Square West -- a little ultra modern place known for noodles and broth. I decide to get something simple. They have this delicious lime chicken broth -- with noodles, pieces of chicken too -- but I'm just going to eat the broth because even those it is 13 days since I've been sleeved I don't get anything other than thin liquids through June 22! I arrive at Republic just as the sky is about to open up and pour down rain on all the Manhattan locals and tourists (Union Square is a popular tourist attraction because there is an outdoor food market everyday--plus it is the beginning of the Village). I sit down and of course order a small plate of mini dumplings and my lime chicken soup. I also order a cup of green tea because I finally realize how dehydrated I am feeling. YES, I KNOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE ORDERED THE LITTLE MINI DUMPLINGS (they arrive in a small bowl almost like a salad -- but there is shredded cabbage, bok choy,, cilantro and a black bean sauce over these itty bitty dumplings that look more like orecchiette Pasta (ear shaped) . Of course I taste the cabbage, cilantro and a mini dumpling. It tastes incredible. I push the dish over to the side. Eyeing longingly at the tasty veggies and mini dumplings. The soup arrives. You know they serve very big portions at restaurants even in NYC. It is a very large bowl of broth, noodles, little pieces of boiled chicken, scallions, bonito flakes and for some reason chopped salted peanuts. I start sipping soup with the ceramic spoon. Just broth and nothing else. The broth is mild -- chicken stock with a touch of lime. What a great combination. I look at the two dishes in front of me. The small bowl of ear shaped dumplings with black bean sauce maybe there is 2 ounces of food in that dish; maybe 2.5 ounces. I look at this HUGE bowel of soup with thin noodles, bits of chicken, bits of scallion, bonito flakes and chopped nuts. I can't believe I ordered so much food and I'm only supposed to be drinking thin liquids. I decide I'm going to have to bring most of this home. I can't touch the dumplings again -- I move them far away from me. I am still sipping soup, sipping green tea, and sipping the cold water. I taste a little bit of the chicken -- chewy, not very flavorful. I chew it until it is nearly liquid. I swallow it. I take one round slice of scallion in my spoon and put it in my mouth -- that tastes a little better, a little taste of spring onion. I chew that little piece of scallion like it was a porterhouse steak. I keep chewing and chewing until I swallow the little shreds. More broth. A sip of tea. I feel like I stop for days between tastes. I decide to taste one long thin noodle --(very thin rice noodles like vermicelli). It feels like it takes me 20 minutes to eat this one thin noodle. I try to let it just dissolve in my mouth. Suddenly I realize I am too full. I feel a tightness in my upper chest and esophagus. The tightness is very uncomfortable I keep swallowing my saliva to make what ever it is that feels stuck go down further into my stomach. It isn't doing that -- I reach for the water take a sip and realize there isn't enough room for the water. Now I feel slightly worse. I calmly ask the waiter to pack everything up. I want to take a picture of the plates of food because I've never eaten so little in a restaurant in my ENTIRE LIFE. I want documentation. No one I know or who knows me would believe this in a MILLION YEARS. I would take a picture with my phone but I am concentrating on not throwing up something to make room for what needs to go down. I decide I can sit it out and wait. I get a call on my cell phone. My good friend Brian. I tell him I'm at Republic and had a taste of mini dumpling, a few spoonfuls of soup, a piece of chicken the size of a pencil eraser, a slice of scallion and a noodle and now I feel like I need to throw up. I ask him to talk me down -- if I just sit still and wait it will move along out of my throat, esophagus and move down into my stomach. He starts to tell me about his oldest daughter's prom and I say -- Brian I have to go I am going to be sick. I see there is a handicapped bathroom about 5 feet away to my right -- I see the waiters, hostess and other employees use it rather than going down the stairs to the guest bathrooms. I lunge for the door and tell the waiter, I hope it is okay if I use this bathroom because I am going to be sick. I get into the bathroom raise the lid and just wait. I don't vomit -- I spit up from my esophagus, not vomit from my stomach. I do that twice. Mostly water, saliva and the remains of that noodle I think. I try to do it again but it isn't happening because I don't need too. As much as I HATE THROWING up -- this wasn't traumatic -- no force, or spasms, no heaving at all. Just spit up like a infant. I wash my face and see if I feel better. I feel slightly better less like I am being choked or gagged. I leave the restaurant and make it on to the street. I am still feeling a bit stuffed. I decide I can walk it off. I start walking towards Union Square park and head towards the subway. Nothing better for a sick stomach than a subway at rush hour! I walk along the stone wall of the park because I'm feeling like I need to spit up again...good thing about NYC is it is very easy to discreetly throw up on the street. Once again I just spit up -- this time it is all saliva -- a decent amount of it but saliva nothing solid (how can there be anything solid I have been on liquids since 5/18!!!). I am feeling queasy and decide I need to move around before I head down the stairs to the subway. I walk around talking on my cell -- I'm telling my BFF that if you don't like throwing up on the street WLS may not be for you. Now I know you can't drink too many liquids all at once - broth, tea, water. I also know my mouth is bored but my stomach is not ready for cuisine -- it wants everything very simple. Most important thing I realize is I have to order food for the me that is in the restaurant NOW not the me that was there nearly two months ago. My eyes, nose, mouth, brain all want food...delicious, savory, tasty food. My stomach is only 13 days from being chopped in quarters and 3/4 removed. That sleeve is a very little space and probably even smaller because it it still swollen. Remember how you used to describe being full as "I am stuff up to my eyeballs". This is how the sleeve works. There is a FINITE amount of space and once it is filled the food will just pile up oppressively sitting on my esophagus and do whatever is necessary to make room. I. E. spitting up. I got sick and survived. I even got sick on the street and survived. Right now and who knows for how long i can only eat a very little bit of food or drink some liquid. I can't do both if I'm drinking and not taking a sip. I am not sure how I feel about eating like a baby bird. It is a very new experience. I hope I don't make myself sick every time I eat because that would really SUCK.