DoOver

I was sleeved in April of this year. I was at 326 when I started my program. I was somewhere around 309 when I started my pre-op liquid fast. As of today I am at 253. I'm happy with my progress and proud of what I've accomplished. Unfortunately, I am a slow loser in terms of those in my program so I get a lot of negative feedback there which is why I've come to this forum. I kept my surgery private. Just my choice. I am a very healthy fat person except that my knees are shot. I will be having 2 knee replacments and I dread it. This surgery was to give those operations and my future mobility a shot. I'm older, at 50, but I have a few good years in front of me and I don't want to spend them all on the couch! The plus side of this surger to me: The restirction. Yes, there are days when I wish I could eat more like I used to but I tell myself to woman up and suck it up. It's not like I didn't have time to eat all the great food I wanted to in my life. I hate to say this (because there are times when I know this just isn't so) but in terms of my relationship with food, I had to face that I simply needed to grow up and accept that this is what I had to do. So far, after 5 months (including the liquid fast before) I'm able to be at peace with this situation. Frankly, that is a great suprise. I wasn't sure if I would be one of those people this threw into a funk or not. Glad to say not at this time. Now, unfortunatly, there are some real negatives. And I think that knowing them and being aware that they will or might happen is a big part of what helped with my acceptance stated above. For me the negatives have been: 1) Serious issue in the first 3 months with low blood sugar. So many have high blood surgar pre surgery that those of use with low blood sugar get over looked and my surgeon couldn't have cared less. I would wake up every morning 2 hours before my alarm shaking and concerned about the walk to the bathroom. Had to sleep with a Protein drink in a thermos by my bed and when I woke drink, and then dose back off until I found my strength. When I finally got to 600 calories a day, this issue resolved itself. 2) Bad headaches, ironically basically hunger headaches, the first 3 months. Again, the surgeon blew it off. He does not like to hear any negatvies. But I had daily headaches and took boat loads of tylenol. My vision would blur and I was really afriad I had just traded disabilities. They also cleared with 600 calories a day so if it happens to you, know it will get better. 3) CONSTIPATION. I can't say it enough, CONSTIPATION. I hate Miralax. It gags me. I have used 3 bottles of the suppositories in 3 months. This didnt' start until 1 month in. Honestly, I know it seems silly, but I didn't think it would be this bad. Like when I was a kid and they told me about having periods every month, I thought for sure I could dodge that bullet. But most of the time I am torn up and in mysery. I only pray I don't die like Elvis minus the drugs. 4) Oddly the bagging clothes are driving me nuts. It's not just about weight loss but all of the spandex. Even if I think I have bought something that fits, it fits at 9 a.m. and is falling off at noon. I'll be glad when i settle into a size and can have things that fit. So that's where I am. I try to stay off of the scales. I really am doing this about health, not looks. At 50, the looks ship has sailed. I want to be in "regular" sizes some day, maybe next year this time. Otherwise I'm not in a big hurry and am trying to just let myself not be driven by food. I think the more I ride the scales, the more I am still living the life of a fat woman and I want that to be behind me some day.

Put the money you would be wasting into something to celebrate your new life and health. Good luck.

I think threads like this are excellent for pre-sleevers. To the OP, you can learn from this and change. That learning and changing is so much easier with this tool. Most of us will never be perfect, but much, much better. This sort of thing just happens sometimes. To pre-sleevers -- and I think most importantly -- every one is very different after this change and you must ease your way into your new stomach. Contrary to what I've read here, breads are one of the hardest things for me. My hubby and I went out for pizza about 3 weeks ago. It was my first pizza since being sleeved in early April. It was the type of place where they cut the pizza into squares and I ate one 2 x 4 inch(approx. guess) piece of cheese only pizza, no other toppings. Knowing it might be an issue I nibbled it down and it was my first dining out experience where I had to excuse myself for 5 minutes. That little and even with eating it slowly, it was like it rejoined into a lump. I find that when something feels like it's in a massive knot in my stomach, taking a walk and stretching out helps me so I went outside, walked to the car, opened the trunk -- which was actually my excuse for stretching the trunk of my body out as far as I could, then I walked back in slowly. It was only about 10 minutes before I felt comfortable again but it will be a long while before I try pizza again.

So this isn't really about Protein but an overall lack of being able to tolerate anything? You are not getting Water or decaf tea or anytyhing like that? I was never told 100 oz but 64 oz. My place went with the standard 8 8oz glasses and while I was on liquid it all counted. But if you are not getting at least 64 ounces of all liquid, especially if it's much shy of that -- like you can only take 50 ounces for an entire 24 hours -- then you do need to make sure you are not dehydrated. That is a big concern at this time, not so much protein. Others can chime in about how much Fluid is needed but I think the 8 8oz is pretty standard. And if you feel you are not staying properly hydrated, then a visit to a doctor/urgent care is probably called for.

Agree. Get checked out ASAP.

Surgery can wreak havoc on your hormones. Up to the point of saying you've been feeling unwell, I would have told you to ride it out for another week or so. Years ago when I lost a lot of weight without surgery my hormones were nuts. And I know a lot of doctors warn their younger women that they are ripe for unplanned pregnancies after this surgery. But, when you added the overall feeling of being unwell, then I get concerned. I'm assuming it's not the type of unwell a woman has when she's crampy and such. Do you have any fever? Are you staying hydrated? Are you getting nutrituion? Get back and let us know a little bit more. Thanks.

You'll be okay. You need Protein but you are not going to die if you don't have enough protein for a couple of weeks. Your body is far more resiliant than that. If all you were doing was walking it would not bring on the nasuea. Assuming that was the only physcial thing you did, it's good for you and would not cause damage. Have you taken any pain meds? Day two I took a percocet and it just about killed me. No more of them and only minor windows of upset stomach after that. If you can't go to your surgeon, can you at least call them for advice? Personally, I'd fall back on that old standard and get me some chicken noodle Soup, strain it through a wire strainer to be sure you are only getting the broth and take a day or two with the typical things you do with an upset stomach...broth, decaf warm tea, any liquid you can handle. Forget about the protein for a couple of days and settle your stomach down. Some of it might be anxiety. But really, as much as people preach protein, protein we often forget to remind you that a few days without it won't cause you to die. And odds are very good the stomach will settle down and once you get off liquid - not that far away - you'll have many more sources for the protein you need.

You have lost a huge amount! I was sleeved in early April and not even close to your numbers! I'm still happy with how I'm doing and the upside is that I have lost very little hair. Yours will come back. From what I've read here you'll start seeing some new growth as a New Year's present. We are to carry a medic alert card in our wallet (per our program ) with our license and, if you want, wear a tag on ourselves. I learned with a bad fall and broken collar bone, it's necessary. The alert has my surgeon's actual cell phone number and he answers 24/7 or calls back fast. The ER I was taken to was refusing me any narcotic pain meds. When I was saying I could not take large quantities of nsaids ( for 6 to 8 days it would have been a lot of pills ) they were rolling their eyes. My entire right side was a hemotoma, turning black as we watched it or break, but they still refused any narcotic pain meds. So you don't know what you are going to come up against out there and it helps to have a notice in your wallet. It won't change their minds if they decide that you have jacked yourself up to get 6 days of pain meds but you never know what it might keep them from doing if you are not conscious. I should add this was my first ER experience. I hope it's my last. But my knees are shot and tripping has become a way of life for me.

I have a heart issue that requires antibiotics before dental work and my doctor told me that after the healing process (first weeks only) of complete there should not be any issues at all. So I'd agree with the previous post that you should be fine in regards to absorption.

Every time I read something like this it makes me love my doctor so much more. He is great! He has stayed with me through the ups and downs of my weight. I think I posted here once before that he recently told me he will never judge anyone as long as they are willing to openly and honestly discuss their weight, not getting angry or defense since it's his job to make sure he has tried to educate. I hope you find someone who is willing to work with you and help you down this road rather than tripping you up. No one needs that. Sorry I can't help you out but I sure hope someone can...and I'm very glad you taking this step.

Thanks. I know I can get it. It's the price point that's the issue for me. I will continue to try but I'm doubting I will be able to afford it with the increase this area of insurance is implementing in 2012. I have a councilor through Edward Jones and he pointed me to the ones who rejected me. (Again, rejected at the price I could pay, not overall. If I had $1125 per month, one was happy to have me. ) Not too embarassing......

I hope this is true. But for me it won't matter since the 3 long term care companies have all announced they are no longer accepting new enrollers after 12/31/11. I was holding off applying until the last possible date so my weight would be as low as possible since that was why I was rejected last year. So I called them all and asked after reading this thread and they all said my having had the surgery now "would be reason to deny". And, of course, any company I find next year I won't be able to afford because I will be 55. Glad this thread was posted. It was in the back of my mind but I guess it's just as good I know now.

Wow. I can't imagine this happening and my having WLS was driven primarily so I would qualify for some different kinds of insurance I was being denied. I really wanted to get on with a long term care company before I turned 55 when the rates skyrocket. I will be applying again in December but, to be honest, it's occurred to me that they might reject me. I've given them another reason. Not logical, but a reason. This is why people hate the insurance companies. Talk about playing with a marked deck.

Another powerful sleeve here. I did hold off until after 5 months but I put almost all the same stuff I did before (all raw veggies) and aside from only being able to eat a small amount, no problems. And I still love my salad.

This seems to be a weekly issue here. I always wonder if people are constipated or just wondering if they should go. I can never tell. My doc said not to worry until you could say it was constipation as a lot of people have very rare movements while on liquid. If you're just not going because there's no need to, he said he would not react. I didn't have any constipation issues until I moved off liquid. Until that time, there just wasn't much to pass through. Just be careful that if you are not actually constipated you don't use anything too harsh yet.

My "medical" carbs are in my Calcium chews. I take about 1/2 of my daily reqs in chews just because I like them. And in spite of not needing supplement with the sleeve, I feel like all I do is take pills so I like the break from calcium by taking it in a lemon chew. I agree with most of what you said. I am going to start the cycle routine, ultra low carb 1 day, healthy high carb the next. My place has very few dietary restriction on carbs and encourages their consumption. I think that for most folks carbs are needed for health. But the devil is in the details and I think that's where it's easier for some people to just think carbs are "bad" instead of sorting the healthy carbs from the bad one. Because 75% of the time when I crave carbs, it's the bad ones I'm craving. I rarely crave a green bean.

I understand. 10 years ago I used to work with a woman who was probably a size 4. She ate like no body's business. I can remember a week where she had baked a german chocolate cake and no one else in the family wanted it. So each day she came into my office (of course I was dieting) and sat down with a piece of this cake that was about 4 x 4 inches and ate it. That was between Breakfast and lunch and very typical. And she didn't work out. Now I know she is an exception to the general rule. But what irritated me was that *SHE* didn't get that. She was one of the first people to roll their eyes at fatties. The only excuse I could make was that people like her do not understand they are exceptions. If you could eat like her and were a size 4, wouldn't you assume that people who are a size 26W are eating all day long, 24/7? Of course, she knew how and what I ate. She knew because we were often together on business trips for long windows of time. (And man could she put a dent in a buffet!) But I don't think she was able to really see what she was seeing. Because then she would have had to have admitted that what she had was a gift. In this case, I can honestly say this woman -- if you believe calories in and calories out -- should have been bigger than I was. And she was a hothead, so she had more of a type A personality so maybe that's got something to do with how much your system burns. But I know she is now in her 50's and still thin. So whatever it is she's got, she's hanging on to it.

Everyone is different. For me it's wasn't the surgery but the inability to take calories. As far as the incisions and such, I could have gone back to that level after 3 or 4 weeks. But at that time I was only able to take about 350 calories a day and that was rough when I tried to add physical work. You will be at a major negative calorie level for quite a while. For me, I was shaky and weak. I have low blood sugar issue and they really raised up. I really think it could be 6 to 8 weeks before you are really strong enough to manage it all. But I'm also in my 50's so take that into consideration.

To those of you who are pre-surgery and just now meeting your surgeons and asking questions, could you please ask about the carbonation issue and report back to us? If you've read here for a while you know that many people say their surgeon says carbonation stretches the sleeve. You also know that a lot of us who are 6 months plus out think that's nonsense. Not all, just quite a few of us. Now that I'm on the other side, I think it's such nonsense that I might change surgeons if he told me that and seemed to believe it. On the other hand, I completely understand the "it's bad for you and can lead to other issues...eating too soon after drinking it, craving junk food". For me, it wasn't relevant. I knew that I would not drink it as much as possible but maybe try it somewhere down the road. I have and it didn't seem to do anything at all to me. In fact, it seemed to substitute for food in terms of satisfaction and I actually tend to eat less on Sunday (the day I have a diet caffeine free coke) because I sip it over an hour and then apply the same wait time for more food as if I'd eaten. And I'm not at all hungry doing this. (I'm one who still experiences hunger. So this issue is a real curiosity to me. I'm going to ask my surgeon on my next visit but I'm a ways out and it's going to be another 3 months before I see him. To be exact, I don't want to know your program's line on this. I know they all have a "company line" they share. But I'd love for people to ask 1-on-1 with their surgeon and report back what his specific answer was and if he/she is willing to explain why. I'm really curious about this one. And assuming they say the bubbles do stretch the sleeve, I would love to understand why they think that is when solid food that is larger in scope does not. Thanks! Now get out there and solve this mystery for me!

It's funny the things you come to realize are gifts. I have anxiety about eating out now. So the eating out days are very easy for me. I would do best if I ate every meal out! It's at home when I'm relaxed that I can eat the most. Luckily that's easy to control by not having any junk food here...and again, a gift, because I live alone right now so I don't have anyone else brining stuff in. I'm still not able to eat a cup of food most of the time. But I'm okay with that because I can eat a reasonable amount of about 3/4 of a cup most of the time. I think that once I was able to eat an entire egg and a couple of other bites of food I was happy. I had a food I was able to order when out at and actually eat so I wasn't so obvious.

I was very happy when I was able to get between 800-1000 easily. But I'm rare here. I guess I believe I need at least that much to stay healthy and if I stay fat at eating that little then I was meant to be fat. My fear for the first months was that I would be frozen at 350 calories. I had the same issues. I felt horrible until I finally was able to take a more reasonable amount of food. It will happen for you. To not fear it, remember to keep the healthy foods you love available to you. We all have them. Not all foods we love are bad or bad for us. I also do not fear carbs so I keep frozen homemade veggy soup in the freezer. I love it. There are foods like that I consider healthy and yummy that I make sure I have at the ready so that if I am having a moment where I want to eat "more", it will also be healthy. Good luck!

Out like a light, I didn't remember a thing. And that's not always been the case for me. I remember moving to the OR table and then waking up in my room. Not going to lie, my throat was wicked sore. But it wasn't swollen at all, just raw. I was able to sip water and warm tea right away and it was very soothing. I am very similar to you. This was a worry of mine but in spite of how sore my throat was, it was not a big issue and I didn't have any moments of extreme panic or concern and was always able to breath with no issues.

At 5 months out I had a change in what seemed to be overnight. I am still about 6 ounces at max, but prior to that 5 month shift I was more like 4 ounces. I have read several places that the sleeve "matures" and what you get at that point is pretty much what you've got. I think that advance from 4 to 6 ounces was my maturation. I'm glad for it. At 4 ounces I felt I had to rely on supplements too much for anything other than Proteins. Now I can easily get all of my Protein and still have the ability to have some veggies and fruit. Not a lot, but enough that I don't feel like I'm dangerously omitting them from my diet. About once every other week I have a "cheat" day. It's amazing how different that is for me now as it's typically a day centered around salad and veggies and I ignore my protein. I would not make any assumptions about things until you are 6 to 8 months out. Up until that time I think your capacity can change. Not a lot, but certainly compared to what we are used to. As a frame of reference, at 5 months out I could eat about 1/2 of a lean cuisine. At 6 months out I could eat about 70%. Big change in just a couple of weeks. It happens.

Protonix? I looked through with a search and that's the only item I saw mentioned I wasn't previously familiar with.

I love my compression garments. I do make sure to use a quality powder under it. For me, it keeps any rashing under control that could happen due to sweat. However, I am at BEST walking up a sweat, not running and certainly not 1/2 marathon distance. But I do love my compressions shorts and tanks.