RJ'S/beginning

TY Kathy..... Ruth

TwinsMama..TY for your words of support!

NO! it is not going to always be like that..At first you can only take in a little....all is new and your stomach is cut out so it is like putting liquid in an open wound..... It will heal and you will be able to drink almost like you used to before surgery....On the other hand you will never eat like you used to again..You will start out with very little intake and then your stomach will start to tolerate more...Up to a cup max...no...some take in one cup and a half.... It will get better and better trust me and you will be very happy with the new you......You have started your journey to the new healthier you.....forward girl, it will get much better!!

It's not your issues that are being censored but your swear words....This forum is here to encourage everyone to continue the journey with help and understanding....As I read your post I put all the swear words in their places....You can say everything you need to say without cursing and all will know you mean business..... Personally I don't care how you write your feelings out but they have rules on this forum and there is no swearing allowed....not even short handed swear words...lol

The scale is a liar...You are smaller then you think in inches probably...Too bad it did not count those....I never weighed myself before the surgery and decided why would I after...I see so many on here discouraged because of a number.. I weigh myself at the surgeons office about every 8 weeks....And I feel like I can't breath while I am standing there waiting for the verdict....So far there has always been a loss....yeah me!!!!! But that is not the end all of it....Our minds play tricks on us and we become our own worst enemy by trying to sabotage our sleeve journey..... Your son is right...It is mind over matter...Think of how you are feeling and how your mind set and health is improving and stay away from the scale......It is deceptive to say the least..... Your going to lose it all...You are now geared to do it! There is no way you can't unless you abuse the sleeve.... Your on your way kid!!!!!!! Go girl go!!!!!!!!!!! Ruth

The first time I dumped a half a chocolate cake into the trash was a real eye opener for me......I had never done that before...My hubby could not finish it and I don't eat refined sugar...or sweets of any kind now...Following that has been Cookies and other sweets that are only being eaten by one... Seems that the things are also spoiling, the healthy food....I can't eat it fast enough....I am slowly changing the way I shop but I have still got big eyes and think I will have no trouble eating it......I am learning...slowly but surely too....lol

I am one of those people who did get a leak in their sleeve.....this added to other complications and I spent 5 months in the hospital due to this.. Now 10 months later and everything I went through...I would do it again so far it would make your head spin.... This has been the journey of my life and I have changed so much and am so much healthier now then I was before the sleeve.. It is an every day choice because you are forced to deal with the issues that made you this way in the first place.... I am now okay with eating in front of people and going to restaurants for meals.....I don't care how my choice effects other people..It is my body and my life and even though I had the worst experience...I am here to say it is worth all of it..130 lbs down and moving forward with my plans for my future.. You can do the same......

The people who are trying to stop you are uneducated about the sleeve and how it can improve your life.....They are also worried about the what ifs..... Some are just scared you are going to look better then them.....oops...women for ya! I only told a few people the real story about my surgery...others think I had a scar repaired on the lining of my stomach...Even seasoned nurses have swallowed that one..Can't believe it but it is true... So they realize that my stomach must be smaller so I lost some weight....No one questions me about it at all.. I really did not lie, I just skipped the first part of this journey... This is your life, your body, your future....You are in control...No one really knows what you have been through to get here...... It takes a lot of courage to come to this as it is not for the faint of heart... Go get em girl!!!!!!

Congrats.....Your doing it..Your a success.....I am so happy for you!!!

Your system is not ready for Cheetos...Only liquids like broth and Protein drinks and Water....Your sleeve is still healing.... Rinse your mouth with salt water. It will help with the taste in your mouth......

I was on a Protein drink for 2 weeks prior to my surgery. then the first time it got cancelled...Then I had to do it all again....then I spent 5 months in the hospital on a drip because of the sleeve... If I can do that ...YOU can do this..You already know what its all about...Time to relax and just let it all go by.....Forget about today..Tomorrow is a new day and you are stronger tomorrow then you are today...I can just tell!!!!!

So far 130.4 lbs. lost..That was of 3 weeks ago...I get weighed again in the middle of Sept.....I love that part...I wait because I don't want the scale to drive me crazy! LOL

Well.....after I had the sleeve I got a leak....i went septic four days later and had to have emergency surgery...I almost died...They put me in a coma and I was in it for 19 days....I had a temperature of 104 and it would not break.. 2 done...While I was in the coma they discovered that I had sleep apnea and that scared the living daylights out of them so they gave me a trakia ( spelled wrong) 3 done. After that i woke up and was moved to another floor out of ICU and they put a stent in my stomach to see if they could close the leak... 4 done. Six weeks went by and it did not work. So they put another stent in on top of the other stent 5 done. Another six weeks went by they did not take so they decided to put clamps in to try to close the leak....6 done. I got abscesses in my stomach and had to go under to get them cleaned out and they put a tube inside to drain it 7 done...Crap..I had 9 surgeries.....They decided the only option left was to give me a by-pass sleeve combination and it worked... 8 done! I was in the hospital a total of 5 months and did not eat any food for 5 1/2 months....When I was in ICU in critical condition and on life support..i got an ulcer on my rear end..category 5 which is the worst you can get... So they hooked me up to a vac and after I learned to walk again, write and talk again...I came home...The ulcer would not heal so I ended up going for another surgery to see why...they operated and pulled out a sponge and packing that some nurse left in my butt and it started to heal over but couldn't because of the stuff left there 9 done. Now after 10 months I still have a nurse that comes every day to change my dressings.... The ? is..Would I do it all again? YES! I am a new person and now that I am recovering I am getting healthier by the day.....I can do so much more then I could before the sleeve....I am excited about this wonderful opportunity to get my life back....NO regrets here! I also had to have the pick line removed and replaced in my arm 4 times because it clogged up too much...That was done in a special place in the hosp. So even though they did not put me out for those...I was scared to death for 5 months!

You already know the things that caused you to gain weight..You are well on your way! I hate change as well, but when I gained all that weight I changed then too...Now I am going to let the smaller but stronger me out and kick ass! Go girl go!!!!

That's not to bad hun......you will feel much better when that is over as well.... I have had 8 surgeries since I had my sleeve done in Nov.2012. Make sure you treat yourself with tender care K and you will be back on the road again very soon!

trust me..the first time you over eat or drink on the sleeve you will never forget the feeling.....You will probably only do it once and you will not do it again! That happened to me and probably everyone of us who learned how much we can consume according to our sleeves....

Welllllllll! After your surgery you will be on liquids....And protein drinks....That part of the program was really hard for me. I did not eat for 5 1/2 months because of my hospital stay....But now 10 months out I eat what I want in small portions of course......2 to 3 weeks on liquids and you will be ready to start puree food.... It does not feel like a diet to me at all......I am glad it feels this way...I hated dieting!!! That is one of the reasons I failed so many of them.....oops!

500-700 calories a day is not enough......up the calorie intake to 1000. Make sure that you are putting good solid calories in your body...not empty ones.... Stalls are normal and happen when they happen... I only weigh myself at the surgeons office about every 6 to 8 weeks...That way I don't drive myself crazy over numbers.... scales are for fish! How much did you weigh yourself before you did this....Just let the sleeve do its job..You are geared now to lose and you will...Don't be in such a rush...It will happen...Your on your way!!!!!!!!!

This surgery is a tool for you to use and maintain your weight loss....It is not like any other diet or program you have been on...Your sleeve will force you to eat less..And if you keep it that way and eat lots of Protein and then veggies, fruit and limit carbs....You will succeed.. I am not saying that there won't be rough times..Addicted to food is like any other addiction..It will always be in the shadows.... Figure out what brought you to this place in your life and work at it every time it rears its ugly head.....You will succeed.....You have taken the first step and that you should be very proud of!!!!!

Yes of course your physical work counts as exercise.....You already have a plan for September so you really have it figured out well... I hope you are going easy on yourself....It takes at least 3 months for the sleeve to heal and longer for the incisions...Make sure you are well hydrated K, get some G2 if you are not already drinking it.... Congrats on your loss so far....Please remember that it is not just the scale that counts success but how you feel and the improvements in your health and life in general!!!

My Surgeon told me to eat in this way....Protein, Vegetables, Fruit and last but not least true carbs.... I eat fruit as a snack and keep the veggies and Protein for meals....Very few carbs like bread, Pasta, rice and potatoes etc. I am always looking for new things to try....and I love grocery shopping now because I take the time to read everything.... I am addicted to food like all of us are...i don't want to replace my food addiction with another food addiction....constantly worrying about what I am eating.....I enjoy my meals now and eat what I want... No refined sugar though..That is the only rule I have made for myself..10 months out and still have not had any refined sugar....Have not wanted it either....

That does not sound like a leak to me...That sounds like a restriction. They are going to fix it, you'll see! You will be back on your journey in no time....... When you do get home take some G2 Gatorade. I mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with Water and it keeps me hydrated...It will help you too.... I hope all the best for you!!!!

I am sorry you are returning to the hospital because of complications with the sleeve...I had a leak too and I spent 5 months in the hospital because of it......i know it does not feel like it but this will pass and you will soon be on your way again......I am 10 months now and doing and feeling great!!! Just don't think about it too much.......If you do have a leak there are a lot of options for you out there....You and your Surgeon will find the best way for you to heal!

If you like a crunch, try seeds and or mixed nuts....These are very high in protein and fiber and really good for you...Costco carries 3 varieties of these mixed nuts and seeds...I personally love them...Pepperage Farm makes cracker chips...20 for 70 calories....salt and vinegar, BBQ and plain...All good to me....and since I cannot fit 20 in my sleeve, I only eat a few at a time.....yum!

Garden hose.....now that is a little extreme...lol....Most people have minimal discomfort with this surgery....They are doing it with only 4 or 5 little incisions..No huge scares on your stomach... It is okay to be nervous...it is a big deal...but so is getting your wisdom teeth out....All surgery is a risk....All surgery is uncomfortable.....Look at your future and remember who you are striving to become and the sleeve is the tool you have chosen to assist you on your incredible journey...... You can do this.....Go!