Holly5.3

Wow! That's fantastic! I just posted my current size is a baggy Layne Bryant jeans, I started in a tight 22 in August. My dream is to be smaller than a 10-good work, girlfriend! You did it!

Highest weight (Aug. 2012)- 278 DOS Oct. 11, 2012. - 255.5 5 weeks post-op Nov. 15 - 229.5 Total loss 48.5 lbs. Start size - tight 20/22 skirt/pant, 22 jeans, 18/20 dress, 2XL tops Today - loose 18/20 dress, 20 jeans are baggy, but not quite an 18 jeans. 1XL tops fit a little snug. Shrinking every day weather I see the scale move or not! I'm so excited to hopefully meet my Christmas goal weight if 207 (my recent lowest). Total goal wright is 138 - I am 5'5".

I'm just starting my full diet and need something quick for lunch-these look perfect! I'm going to try some this weekend. I'm thinking a wonton cupcake with a little turkey and Thanksgiving diner sides (potato, veggie, cranberry, etc.) could be awesome for leftovers after turkey day next week!

I was sleeved 10/11/12 and my BC/BS covered all but $1000 and I only had to pay $500 of that (plus co-pays). My dr. said it was a 2 night hospital stay, but insurance spproval letter stated only one. My surgery was at 9:30 am, by 7 pm that night, my dr. came by-said I looked wonderful and would go home the next day. I hadn't had my leak test yet, so I was surprised! My test was fine and I was released by 3:00 the day after surgery. The ride home was awful, but to sleep in my bed with my family there was comforting. At my 1st post-op visit, I asked how he knew I could go home early and he said he does so many surgeries he can tell by how thepatient is doing right away after recovery. (I was watching tv, reading a magazine when he came by. When you feel too sick to read or watch tv-it's a good indication you need more time. Good luck!

5 weeks for me and my taste buds are still confused! I don't know what to eat anymore. If I like it, I risk overeating, or it tastes hideous and I can't eat it at all (oatmeal, pastina) plus foods my sleeve isn't ready for, like tomato sauces, just won't digest. I'm left with such few options, even on no restrictions, my menu leaves much to be desired! I'm still waiting to be able to drink plain water again-I love water and miss drinking it without additives!

I'm grieving over my tiny sleeve, too! 5 weeks post op and I can't eat an entire egg and chicken gives me the stuck feeling! I need at least one shake daily to get my protein in. I miss chewing crunchy foods andsalads, but I'm afraid of how I'll feel afterwards! If tuna and shredded chicken feel bad, can't imagine bread or even crackers! Take care!

I burp when I'm too full or when my stomach is empty, either way. Dr. said I'm doing fine just slow down and avoid bread. I'm at 5 weeks postoperative today and I'm also avoiding eating because of the discomfort-still having 1-2 shakes a say. I prefer softer foods like yogurt; tuna and chicken feel too filling for the tiny amount that I can get down. I take my ppi st thing in the morning as I wake up to a rumbling tummy-then the delightful burping starts! (So attractive to my husband, I'm sure!)

I just had my 1 month post-op dr. visit and can have regular food, but avoid bread! (-23 pounds, yaaaa!) On way home we stopped at Country Rotisserie, I ordered chicken, mashed potatoes and corn. Was excited to have dinner out -havent since August, and to eat non-pureed food again. 3 little bites of chicken, 2 bites potato with corn and done! The belching began (my new alarm clock-too much or too little food and it tells me, and anyone else in ear shot!) so my excitement was replaced with I guess disappointment. I know it takes time, but that feeling you get when the food fills the sleeve too high is plain disgusting! It's hard to breath, and the food doesn't want to move up or down.

I made a huge pot of minestrone soup today with tons of fresh veggies-so excited for dinner. Well, I guess I'm not ready for tomato! First time I got sick since surgery. I pureed the soup in my bullet and after about 4 baby tsps. felt it coming up! It was so good too! Darn it! But maybe too spicy-peppercinos, balsamic vinegar, garlic and onion plus plum tomatoes and the beans snd veggies. So disappointed!

I've read several posts where people take vitamins/supplements right after surgery. My Nut. has me taking them again at stage 3-puree. I miss the sublingual B12-without caffein I could feel the difference energy-wise and I had to stop taking vit/supplements 3 weeks Pre-op. Does anyone know why the stoping and restarting? 

I used to think, "when I'm finished with --- (WW, Jenny Vraig, etc.), I'll be normal". If course, only to gain every lost ounce snd then some, back! But what is normal? My sister who is built exactly like me never let's her weight go above 145. She works at keeping her shape every day of her life snd it shows! If she gains a pound or two, she cuts down on her carbs and sugar and steps up her fitness a liitle. She has never ever said she was on a diet-she say's, "she's watching!" (She's my hero!) if that's what it takes to be normal, then that's what I've signed up for with this surgery! We are also married to brothers and it's been hard being the 'big' one! I feel bad for my husband, too, because he's had to live with me and my weight issues since we've been married, 22 years!

I'm 4 weeks out and my gurgling tummy is my alarm clock! When it's empty or getting full, it tells me! Annoying but it does remind me to eat otherwise I could go hours and hours now without eating/just don't feel hunger the same as before!

I wish I read this post earlier today! I'm tentative to take something that may upset my stomach, so I had baby food-pureed prunes with applesauce with lunch hoping that would help. So far, nada! I also bought fiber gummies, recommended on another thread and ate 2. Let's see what tomorrow brings...

Love B/A pix! Like they say, a picture is like a thousand words (or for us sleevers-a hundred pounds!) thanks for the inspiration!

Hope your doing better this evening-your story is very scary! Thankfully you don't have a leak but I hope they find out why you still have a fever. Saying a prayer for you, sweetie!

I over-packed-pj's, robe, toiletries, reading materials, etc. I used my slippers, chapstick, brush and toothbrush. I never used heating pad-I had too many wires going from here to there! I read one magazine over the 36 hour stay. No cards or book-too tired. no Internet or wi fi for iPhone, only hospital phone-boring! TV and sleep when able to, when not burping and walking, then on day after surgery-sip, sip, sip! Oh yeah, GasX saved the day. After broth or Soup of any kind (still-even now 4 weeks later and I'm on puree!) I would have even more gas so I woukd eat a chewable (haven't found strips yet) GasX before eating which seemed to help. Be sure to have Protein shakes, Jello and broth for when you get home. Have add-ins for Water in case you can't tolerate it (I still can't-it's like I ate a dinner roll in one bite that's stuck in my chest! I love and miss my ice cold water!) One last thing-ask the nurse or aid for those sponges dipped in something, I don't know what, but they saved my life between the no food or water just ice until upper GI test next morning and the CPAP machine that was drying me out so bad I thought I had sand in my mouth. Good luck!

I bought a package of plastic baby feeding spoons at supermarket. I tried only eating 1/2 a tsp. or so at a time with regular teaspoon, but I still took too much at once and would get that rock in the throat feeling. The baby teaspoons are perfect! They go great with my little bowl and Gerber Oatmeal that I had today for lunch! Goo goo, ga ga!

Just bought some baby food-fruit (prunes with applesauce) and oatmeal. Also found Greek yogurt with strained fruit for toddlers! Yaaa! I do have my checkup w/ surgeon and nut this Tuesday, so I'm hoping to add more foods. Texture is still bothersome to me, like regular oatmeal and pastina. But if I can have mayo, then I'll have tuna fish. I'm so tired of having shakes to get most of my protein in. I need tomato based sauces and soups in my life again! (So dramatic, I know! But chicken and eggs aren't cutting it for me! I need beans and shellfish!)

I too loved my bullet for Pre-op shakes with ice and frozen fruits, etc. Didn't use at all on liquids stages 1 or 2-used a shaker cup with blender ball. Now on puree, the tiny amount of food I'm pureeing gets stuck in the blades of my Bullet. I think I'ld like the Ninja-the new one out on commercials now has a drink cup, small and large bowls. It looks like it does everything that my 12 other alliances do. (Christmas gift hint!)

OMG!! I just came back....dying right now! Thanks a lot now my side hurts!

Purees are certainly more filling than full liquids! I'm struggling since I'm not allowed string cheese yet. It's hard getting in 64 oz. water and 60-80 protein without shakes since meals are so small (1/4 cup and I'm stuffed!) A friend who had bypass last year suggested baby foods-I'll get some fruit and oatmeal (regular oatmeal doesn't sit well in my stomach!) today but I really miss my veggies! Try Hormel chicken and white bean chili-really flavorful!