TwinsMama

I'm at 6 weeks today and still feel exhausted. I went back to work at a month and have a long commute so that is part of it. By the end of the day I am literally falling into the bed. I read a couple of Vets say it took them 8 weeks or more to feel any sense of normal again. Good luck to you!

You know what, regardless of what you may feel about yourself, looking from the outside in...you've made MAJOR accomplishments. These are things only YOU could do. You decided to work your butt off and graduate, you applied for the jobs, you showed up for the interviews, you you you! Not to mention you also have a husband which alone takes lots of time and effort (even the best of them). So you've done great things with your life and it is a shame you're not able to enjoy/see how really strong and capable you are. Changing self-defeating thinking is tough but it can be done. Have you tried talking to a counselor? Even if you can't pay for one, you can usually find one through community services. We all get down on ourselves at times so we can all relate. One thing I do want to know...do you ever do anything just for you? I mean outside of looking for work and going to school? It may be that you're stressed even beyond what you think. Sometimes taking a few minutes each day to be alone and do something you enjoy, can work wonders. Try that a few days this week and see if you're feeling better about things.

You look fab! Good for you. It amazes me when I hear that people are so judgemental about the surgery. While that has not been my experience it breaks my heart to hear others going through that. Good for you for thinking of your health. The sad reality is that people get used to us the way we are. They worry, get jealous, etc. and that comes out in their hurtful comments. You've gained your life back and that is exactly what you wanted!

My husband did this pre-op. He's always been supportive of the surgery. At first I thought he was trying to sabotage me. Then I realized, food has been literally the 3rd member of our marriage since day 1. He would literally forget that I could no longer indulge. After a few conversations about it, I got him to realize he had to think about my food choices before buying me treats. That seemed to help him (not be frustred when I threw items out) and I.

I was switched to Om. this week. I was taking a liquid version and it was HORRIBLE. At 1 week I would not have been able to swallow it. I noticed that the pharmacy said to not break it. As an FYI, my Dr. didn't clear me to start taking any ppi's until 2 weeks post-op.

Wow, I would love to lose some length but I think if I do it won't be too drastic because when I was a healthy weight I still had big feet. Goes with the territory when you're almost 6 ft. tall. At least they have cute shoes in larger sizes. I can't imagine what women did even 30 years ago.

I have narrow to med feet. Also in the double digits. I wonder if people are losing length or width? I've noticed that my friends have lost width but so far no one I know personally has lost any length.

I had sex at 3 weeks. I can say, being on my hands & knees hurt so maybe try missionary. I thought that would hurt more...nope.

I actually disagree with this. I had surgery not to change my body (or shape for that matter) but to ward-off any potential health problems that were bound to crop up once I got older if I stayed obese. Actually I'm tall (pushing 6 feet) and even with the weight, men (gorgeous ones at that) approach me almost daily. I'm super curvy with a thin waist for my overall size (same shape when I was half this size). Based on my experience, it is possible that he approached her because he was VERY attracted to her now. Some men like a woman with more weight. My first thought was the other way around...what if he does not like how thin she becomes. As she is losing weight and with WLS most lose a ton of weight. What if he prefers that she be bigger? That's my only reason for thinking that she (once more comfortable with him) tells him about her WLS.

TES thank you so much for your kind words. I have really been struggling with this because of the energy. Plus reading about others that feel great and lost so much so soon is a bummer. Wow, a twin. That is truly a remarkable blessing! I love to see twins of all ages interact with each other, it blows my mind how similiar and yet different they can be.

So sorry you're going through this. Hope it gets much better from here!

Perhaps but for me, I don't miss the food. I was never a big eater (part of the reason it was tough for me to lose - slow metabolism due to only eating 2 meals a day). I miss my energy and am disappointed in the fact that in 6 weeks I've only lost 11 lbs. Not to mention the pain, soreness, etc. To have the energy to play with my kids is worth the extra weight I have.

I was told post-op I could have regular Tylenol for pain (outside my prescriptions). I would check with your Dr. first. Feel better soon!

It is such a personal experience that there is no one right answer. I told everyone that needed to know (at work and in my personal life) and tell others if they ask. Turns out that was the right answer for me because I had complications and the support has been great. No one (even pre-op) had anything negative to say. I guess since I could care less what others think that comes across and no one protests. Sure I know where my family and friends stand on the issue but I told them matter-of-factly so that shut down and potential judgement. I feel really free having told people and through telling others I have helped many people I knew who were on the fence decide yea or nay. I appreciate a good friend trusting me with her decision years ago and now I hope that by me telling I'm helping others. I do have to say though that I know people who are on both sides of the tell/not tell decision and it has never seemed someone was necessarily ashamed that didn't tell. More like they were much more private a person than I am. I'm willing to share it all if a person asks (I'm also a big researcher so I always feel people ask due to being curious rather than judgemental).

My Dr. also told me not to worry about the Protein the first week. The concern was avoiding dehydration. Then I tried the shakes (every kind imaginable) and couldn't keep any down. So literally until I could do mushy foods I had no protein. I never did get dehydrated, but know I lost out when it came to protein. I'm still working my way up.

I had hunger pains too (never went away for me post-op). It feel the same as pre-op but the only difference is that my stomach doesn't churn (feel like a knot). At almost 6 weeks out I still get it so, yup, it was hunger all along. Some of us are not as lucky when it comes to getting hungry early on.

I'm also on ppi 2x a day. I have a 6 month script. It made me feel much better once I could take it. I worry about what happens when I come off it.

Please ask your Dr. for something stronger. It will make life a lot easier for you. I had to insist that they give me stronger meds (and I normally don't take anything stronger than Aleve). It made all the difference in the world.

Sounds like a pulled muscle. I had one after my surgery (insane vomiting) while in the hospital. I would say give it about a week and see if it gets better. Mine lasted for 4 weeks but then one day I realized the pain was gone. Hope you feel better.

Same problem and mine made me throw up. So I'd take and then throw them right back up. My surgeon finally cleared me to take them with a small sip of Water. Then at 5 weeks she approved me to take ones I can swallow (if I break them up). To be honest, I don't always break them up but that's because I found the smallest ones I could.

I had the same pain you describe. It was gas. I didn't think that was possible but I had it for a very long time. Now at almost 6 weeks out, I no longer have it. But it took a good 4 weeks before the back pain stopped.

No, I've had complications, have no energy, lost only 11 lbs in about 6weeks post-op, and can't eat even the "safe" foods (protein shakes, yogurt, etc.). So for right now...no way!

I guess I'm going to be Debbie Downer because I do regret having this surgery. I'm a month and 1 week out and I am miserable. My experience though is not ideal so that could be the problem too. First, I've never had self-esteem issues regarding my weight, had no comorbidities, etc. I did this because after having my twins years ago, no matter what I did to lose the weight it didn't work. This surgery was to be a tool to help me lose weight and prevent me from ending up with weight related issues down the line. My PCP didn't want me to have the surgery so it took 2 years to get her to even write the referral because she said there had to be *something* that would fix this issue with my weight. I mean when I say I tried everything I went low cal, low carb, glutten-free, vegetarian, you name it. Finally she wrote the referral and thus began my (supposed to be 6 months) year of getting qualified. It took a year because of paperwork nightmares with Kaiser and the surgeons in my area being months behind due to long waiting lists. During the pre-op year I stuck to everything and followed all the rules. Lost great weight during the pre-op year. When my date of surgery came I was excited, nervous, etc. Then I hit complications during and after surgery. As a result I was out of work for a month, could not keep anything (including water) down. Became lactose intolerant (normal for many with sleeve) and now cannot eat/drink most anything. Right now at over a month out all I can keep down is mashed potatoes (about 2 tbsp), grits, shrimp, and scallops. All other foods make me either throw up or cramp badly. I am finally able to drink Water and not throw up (only with MiO). I'm absolutely miserable and what's worse, I don't miss the food, I miss having any energy. I used to walk at least a mile (most days more) every single day. Plus, I experienced hunger starting at 1 week. Yes, those who say hunger is not real after the sleeve, well, maybe not for them but I'm constantly hungry. I am tired of the few foods I can eat, tired of water (and I used to love water), and to top it all off...I've lost only 11 lbs. post-op. I miss my engery (and yes even with all the Vitamins I'm taking) and more than anything I miss being able to play with my kids and puppy. Not to mention the amount of extra work it puts on my very patient, supportive, and loving hubby is horrible. I am one of the ones that would gladly accept back those 11 lbs. in a minute.

Congrats..toot your own horn. That is a real accomplishment and worthy of being proud of.

Best wishes with this. I hope you are able to change the date. Approval is a hard and lonnnng process for some of us. Keep going, you're almost there.