MzPecanBrown

My normal period came on the week before surgery. Then I had the mother of all periods come less than a week AFTER surgery. It was awful! Do a search on the subject here and you'll find that it's quite common. My Feb. period was normal but March was super late and super long.

I had my gallbladder removed 10 years ago and felt SOOOO much better afterwards! I dealt with those attacks for over 2 months before discovering what it was and having surgery. Each attack was worse than before with the last one sending me immediately to the ER. I thought I was having a heart attack! It was absolutely terrible! I didn't have any side effects that were unbearable. My only issue was frequent diarrhea after eating. This stablized after a period of time and then I had no issues. I also didn't have any comorbidities before being sleeve, thankfully. In terms of God giving us gallbladders....He gave us whole stomachs but we've had the majority of it removed. He gave my mother two breasts but she didn't flinch when told that one needed to be removed due to breast cancer several years ago. My uncle is next in line for a kidney transplant - you see where I am going with this. I didn't hesitate to go through with my gallbladder removal. Hopefully, you'll go with your doctor's suggestions and have the surgery. I wouldn't want you to experience those attacks. Girl, they are no joke! LOL!!

Hey!! I'm here *waving* I will be 3 months out next Tuesday and am now down 51 lbs. It has truly been a roller coaster for me so far. I lost 38 in the first month and then stalled for the rest of February, right after introducing solid food. That was SO frustrating to me! I was doing everything but exercising and NOTHING. I felt like I was on the hardest diet ever if that makes sense. I was counting everything, being sure to get enough Protein and Water, avoiding things that I shouldn't, etc. And no scale movement! I'd hoped to be down 60 lbs by my 3 month follow up, which is next week. By the first week of March, I had enough energy to begin going to the gym. I am now up to walking around 3.5 miles in one hour. That may seem like nothing to all of the true gym rats, but it means the world to me! I haven't exercised regularly since before my wedding in 2008. I also think I was not eating enough calories. I noticed on a week that I would "cheat" a little with some things that I shouldn't have (chips and cake at a baby shower, a little Peanut Butter, half of a hot dog), I lost 3 - 4 pounds. I'm not saying that we should eat these things regularly, but I believe the extra calories helped with the weight loss. I was only getting in 500-600 calories. I have upped my calories and lost something each week since. It's not going as fast as I'd hoped, but I am thankful for what I've lost. For some people it's just effortless! I feel like I wasted some of my honeymoon period with the stalls. UGH! But my pants are REAAAALLLYYY bagging and I have more energy. As of the 2 month mark I was down over 17 inches all over with 6 of those being from my hips. My best NSV was receiving some recent test results. I had some renal issues in 2009 which left me with insufficient kidney function. Nothing that was near dialysis level, but still very concerning. Well guess what?! My kidney function was actually in the NORMAL range for the first time in almost 3 years! My Nephrologist couldn't make any guarantees but thought the weight loss could improve things. Just 50 lbs and the change in what I am eating has made this SO worth it so far! I cried when I received those results! It sounds like everyone is doing great! I am sorry to be so long winded but I know that you all truly understand what it's like with having so much to lose. We got this!!

I had to do 3 weeks of clear liquids, too! I was so jealous as I read about people eating yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, etc at a week or 2 out. Towards the end I moved away from broth and strained clear soups. That stock tasted much richer to me and helped me make it. But it was SO HARD!! I didn't cheat at all; I was afraid to! You'll get through it! It made me hate protein shakes for a few weeks afterwards. I am back to drinking them now.

I really didn't start to feel energized again until almost 2 months out and I was taking my Vitamins the entire time. I returned back to work after 2 weeks but I was dragging each day. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other at times. I would get dizzy in the shower, also. I felt like I needed a nap daily and it didn't help that I returned to an 8:30 am to 8 pm work schedule. But close to the 2 month mark it started to improve tremendously. I started working out 3 weeks ago. I am up to a little over 3 miles in an hour which is FABULOUS for for me. I am hoping to push it to 3.5 miles today . It will get better. I felt COMPLETELY wiped out for the longest time.

<p> I personally VOWED to never drink another protein drink after doing the 3 weeks of liquids after surgery. And my 3 weeks of liquids were just that. No yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, purees - just water, protein drinks, clear broths and strained soups. I didn't chew for 3 weeks. I don't think anyone hated protein drinks as much as me at that point. But after 3 weeks on soft foods I am now back to a Premier shake on many mornings for breakfast. Thankfully, they taste much better to me now. Hopefully, you'll be one that won't have to continue with shakes ever. As for the grocery bill, it has gone down some. I see savings in not eating out as much. I didn't realize how much I ate out until I noticed how much extra money I've had since January. Maybe I'll add the reserve to my shopping fund. :-)

Things have not been this simple for me. I lost 38 lbs during the 1st month after surgery. Then I pretty much stalled almost the entire 2nd month. I NEVER reached protein and Water goals during the first month. It seemed like the moment I began getting in 60-70 grams of protein from solid food, the weight loss stopped. I was highly frustrated because I was doing everything I was instructed to do food wise. I also started with a high BMI so I didn't expect the weight loss to slow down so soon. I was getting in between 500-700 calories per day. Last week, my stall finally broke. I lost 4 pounds. I went to the gym 3 times last week, walking about 2.5 miles each time. This was the first week that I had the energy to do any physical activity. I also ate some things I shouldn't last week and still managed to drop weight (I attended a baby shower and had chips, fattening dips, and cake). I am so confused. Stay within a recommended calorie range - no weight loss for weeks. Splurge and go over recommended calorie and sugar ranges - lose weight. I am certain that the exercise helped with the weight loss, but why wasn't reducing calories enough for my body to use up all this lucious reserve I've packed on for years? UGH!

I LOVE this thread! I can't wait to.... Have a child. Be able to cross my legs. Wear a sexy, black, above the knee dress. Have someone I haven't seen in a while not recognize me. Walk in ANY store and be able to shop. Weigh less than my husband. Get my swagger back with sexy pumps and strappy sandals. Trade clothes with my sister. Not have to question whether I'll be comfortable in a chair with arms. Say goodbye to my chronic knee pain. I could do this all night! My imagination is running wild!

I see you, Diva! You look AMAZING!! I can't wait to say I've lost 100 pounds!

I was told no aspirin or NSAIDs anymore by my surgeon and the providers who run my pre and post op groups. I'm not taking any unnecessary chances with an ulcer.

I ate hummus with about 8 corn chips this week!

Premier Protein in Chocolate from Sam's or Costco. Lately, I've gone back to drinking one of these a day. I was sickened by most everything else, especially right after surgery. The Nectar worked for me for a few days but then it became too sweet. I would literally gag at even the smell of it and had to force it down. I could probably tolerate the Nectar now because my taste buds have settled down some.

YAY! Making room on the loser's bench for you!!

I normally had bad cramps pre-seleeve but the period I had the week after surgery was KILLER! That period was not expected at all and the cramps came with a vengeance! My next period after that was surprisingly mild compared to that one and any average cycle before being sleeved. I hope your next one is better, also! I completely feel your pain.

I was told in my first post op group to not color our hair during the first 6-8 months after surgery. We were advised to avoid any stress on the hair at this time. I don't plan on doing anything but washing and conditioning it. I'm avoiding all heat and letting it air dry after washing. Just what I'm doing. Hair loss scares me terribly because my hair is already fine.

I loved the Buffalo Garlic. Those things were like sex to me! LOL! I agree on BW3. I like them but Wingstop was special! We have a few other local places that are good, too.

I had baked Beans with a little lean ground beef mixed in. I'm more excited about dinner. I made lemon pepper salmon last night and will eat the other half tonight. YUM!

Ahhh! Wingstop! They closed the one in my area a couple of years ago! I miss them. *back to topic*

WOW! I will be 7 weeks out tomorrow and thought I was bad on Saturday by eating 2 ribs over the course of an hour! LOL! I am still not allowed to have the things you ate on Saturday and I'm further out than you. No rice (I'm assuming the Gumbo had rice in it), no Desserts, and no fries. I've made deviled eggs and tried a little potato salad. Sweets are my weakness and plan to wait until I'm 4 months out to even sample anything like that. I'm proud of myself for not deviating from my NUT's plan. I do not want to sabotage myself which I have done so many times in the past. The more that I read, the more I realize that my sleeve must be small. Someone posted the other day that they ate 8 buffalo wings in one sitting. I went out to dinner on Friday and was STUFFED after 3 wings!