artmama

I have to say that having to do liquids for 3 weeks prior to surgery prepared me mentally for how little food I am able to eat today, 2 weeks post op. I am just wondering if it is normal that I have very little interest in eating right now. It used to be something that I enjoyed and now it is something that I do because I have to. Does anyone else feel this way? Does it change? I feel guilty, my husband is making me all sorts of gourmet puree and I am really not interested.

I was sleeved July 25 and have not been hungry since, but I remember the first few days of the liquid were the hardest. I even cheated, I ate celery, just to have a crunch. It got easier when I decided to always have water in my hand, morning noon and night, if my tummy growled I drank water, Ice water worked best, towards the end I started putting crystal light packets in it, that also helped. The easy part is there are no choices to make. You simply can't eat. It will all be worth it in the end. Just keep your eye on the prize. Good Luck

I was sleeved on July 25. ANd yes you made the right decision. I feel great. Had pain for the first time yesterday because my drain was done and had shifted, Dr. took it out and I am feeling much better, already down 9 lbs from surgery date. Gained a lot of Water weight in the hospital but that was gone the first 2 days home. Came home on full liquids and have not felt hungry in 8 days. THis is awesome. I eat every 2.5 hours because the dr told me to, sometimes I forget. But I have managed to get in 50-60 grams of Protein everyday since my third day home. The water drinking has been a little harder, I really have to be more conscientious about sipping all day long. I know before the surgery I had all sorts of questions about what I would be able to eat etc. If I can help in anyway, I am here. so many people on this forum were so helpful in my decision to take this journey, I feel I have to pay it forward. Good Luck.We are here if you need us.

I just got home from the hospital yesterday and I must say I am doing better than I imagined I would. I have been getting in my water and most of my protein. I even had some zucchini puree. I am feeling stronger everyday. I must say however that the first two days in the hospital were torturous. My mouth has never been so dry and I have not been that sleep deprived since freshman year of college. I strongly suggest that you get plenty of sleep before you go and limit visitation to after the hospital. I hope this information is helpful to those of you about to undergo this procedure.

I am one week out now and I think you are being hard on yourself. We are not used to eating such small amounts and listening to our stomachs, i don't think you did permanent damage, but you do need to start listening to it. I have been eating about 3-4 ounces of baby food, homemade, about 2/3rd Protein (chicken or salmon)and 1/3 steamed vegetable pureed with some boullion to make it more liquid, I even added a little olive oil. It is really delicious and I am feeling satisfied after just a small amount. Maybe you are just not eating deliciously enough. In between I eat yogurt or Protein shakes . As for Vitamins, I bought sugarless gummies @ costco and have been chewing them until they dissolve and keeping them down w/o a problem, I have more of a problem taking my reglan, it never wants to go down with just one ounce of Water. AS for being prepared... can you ever really be prepared for what we have been through? you definitely are being too hard on yourself. As for the pain, is it gas? Walking and raising my arms and stretching as much as I can has helped with that and also...gas x . If it is the incision, I don't know, I have very little pain at the site, just the jackson / pratt drain is driving me crazy, but that is coming out on Wednesday, so I cannot complain. You need to cut yourself some slack, let go of the anger, it is not helping you, and start giving yourself all the support that you have been giving everybody over the past few months. You are terrific and you can do this. It does get better. Hope this helps... hugs

Yay!!! Its so exciting to hear you are doing so well, take it easy and be well! looking forward to typing the same words soon!

Liquid is going Ok, I am doing 2 shakes and one small lean and green meal, that was the choice I was given and it is working and getting easier as long as I remember to drink my water. I am getting excited and nervous and I am really thanking God for this website because it helps to calm my fears so much. I wish I could figure out how to add all the wonderful graphics everyone has on their profiles. I have my pre op testing tomorrow so I am really getting close. Good luck to you and all my July Sleeve Sisters!

I will be sleeved on July 25, getting nervous but still excited, this site has been the best!! Still trying to figure out how to use it fully, tried to get a ticker up and could not, I guess my kids will have to help me, LOL, thanks for the forum and good luck to all you July firecrackers!

Hey, thanks for posting this, I have been getting a lot of that too, "Oh you are not heavy enough for WLS, you can do it on your own, you've done it before, etc..." That is exactly why I need the surgery, I have done it before, and always managed to gain it back plus some. When the suggestion for the surgery came from my primary care physician as an off the cuff comment, I went with it, I talked to the various and sundry doctors that I see for all of my issues and every one thought it would be a good idea. I can't imagine that any one of my skinny friends can understand how much pain I am in. Getting up from a chair, climbing the steps, getting in and out of the car, etc...No I don't look as heavy as I am, but everyday is painful for me and I am tired of living this way, and so when people make that screwed up face and their comments, I just try and remember that they come from ignorance, they have no idea how much I hurt. I like the suggestion someone posted to say that you and your doctor have come to this decision together, that is my line for anyone who asks. I feel lucky and proud to be able to make this decision and to have the support of my immediate family, because, really, they are the only ones who matter to me. Good luck to you and thanks again!

I started this journey 3 years ago, I went to my first meeting to learn about WLS. I left feeling so confused. The diet they needed me to go on for 12 weeks just did not work for me, I had blood clots at the time and was not allowed to have too many greens or Protein shakes containing Vitamin k. It was very frustrating. At first I thought I wanted to go the lap band route, but then several people I know had it done and they all seemed to have many complications and several put the weight back on. I guess I was not really ready. I started yet another failed diet and forgot about WLS. Then a friend of mine decided she was fed up and she was getting "the Sleeve". I had never heard of this procedure, as I looked into it, it seemed like the answer I was looking for. I have been obese my whole life. I remember the first time I actually heard the word used by a doctor to describe me, I was 14. The school doctor said it so nonchalantly as he dictated his notes to the nurse. I was devastated. I knew I was overweight, but obese, those words hurt. My surgery date is July 25, 2011. I am nervous and excited. I am so grateful for this site. Over the past few months it has been the answer to all my questions and fears. My questions were many, as I am married to a Chef. A French Chef. He is extremely supportive, always has been, but I love food and I needed to know that there are others like me who have successfully had the surgery and gained control of their eating. I am not a junk food addict. I love really good food. I am 5'7", I weighed 276 lbs when I started this journey. I am one week in to my pre surgery diet, and BTW starving! I have lost about 10 lbs already. My head is saying "why can't you just keep doing this diet and lose all the weight that way" but my heart knows that it does not work that way. I have lost as much as 90 lbs at a time on various diets and gained it back plus some. We all know the story. This is my last resort, I am 47 years old and it is time for me to start living my best life. I have been living with pain from bad knees so unbearable that I can't stand the thought of continuing this way. I live in a house that has stairs every where that I cannot go up and down. When I told my husband that I was thinking of doing the surgery, he looked at me, smiled and said, "Well, you are not getting any younger, it is time." My children are 16 and 21. When they were growing up I was still pretty active, even and 260-276 Lbs. I managed to ski, camp, bike and it did not hurt. Now the thought of getting out of a chair to answer the door is painful. I teach small children and I know that my weight has limited me as a professional. I am looking forward to having more energy and less pain in my life. I know my family is looking forward to having the old me back. I know I have made the right decision. I thank you all for the support this site has given me.

Thanks, I will try. BTW I love all the graphics you all have, the ticker and other things, I am going to have to ask my daughter how to do all that, my posts look so boring, not me at all really! Thanks again and Good Luck. =)

Thanks Sandra, I am new to the web thing and not sure if I am doing any of this right, but i will try and stay in touch, it is so much less scary to go through this with others in the same boat. t.

I am in the same boat, one week in, and it does suck, but keep your eye on the prize. It will be worth it. We have all dieted before, we can make it through the first few weeks. The reward at the end of this diet will be the greatest ever received. Good luck,