BethinPA

My surgeon was really firm that I am not to take NSAIDs after this surgery period. I was told it was because our stomachs are so small, when we take medication the pill tends to land in the same spot every time, and so we are much more prone to ulceration as a result. I miss NSAIDs, believe me!

You look wonderful! I recognize the flower show background - I was there too!

I've been wondering this too - I'm over 4 months out, and very happy with my weight loss (67 lbs), but I would really like to experience that "energy through the roof" feeling that others describe. I mean I feel fine, but I still have to talk myself into exercise, and I'm not running around doing lots of extra things because I have all this extra energy. I keep thinking that there must be some mysterious weight lost # that will get me to that point - all I know is, I haven't reached it yet!

I had incisional pain for a good 2 weeks, it hurt every time I was upright, so you are not alone!

You are so not alone! I too have lost 61 lbs, and have only gone down 2 clothing sizes. People tell me I look like I am losing weight from my head down, and it doesn't seem to have hit my middle yet, unfortunately. I think the clothes we have been wearing have a lot of stretch and give to them, and so we can wear them longer. It bothers me too, but I tell myself that at least I'm not blowing lots of $ on clothes that I will only wear for a short amount of time.

I vote for the dress! Looks great on you!

I have been really, really lucky with family and friends responses to my decision, and I think it is partly because of the way I presented it to them. They have been excited for me, and are ready to celebrate the milestones. When I told my family about my plans (I waited to tell them until after I had a surgery date), my sister asked me what my goals were, what I was hoping to accomplish after the surgery. I told her many things, among them the desire to fly without having to use a seatbelt extender and ride roller coasters. She immediately said to tell her when I was ready, and we would take a trip to Disney World! I am now about 4 months out, and we are going on Thursday! It will be a girls long weekend - I have 3 sisters and 2 step sisters - all but one sister is going, and we are all so excited! I am disappointed that my one sister isn't coming, and strongly suspect that she doesn't want to go to celebrate my weight loss because she is now the heaviest in the family. We have all tried all we can think of to get her to change her mind, but it just isn't happening. So, I have to hope that she will eventually be ready to take her own weight loss journey, and I will be there with bells on to support her when it happens! So even though only one step sister even likes roller coasters (besides me), we will all be riding them with big grins this weekend! Can't wait!

From what I understand, to repair or not to repair with the initial surgery is surgeon preference, it doesn't mean one surgeon is better or more responsible than the other. Lots of people have hernias that do not cause them serious problems. I'm also told that, even if they do repair the hernia at the time of surgery, most likely that repair won't hold through the significant weight loss, and the person would need to have it revised at some later date.

I tried and tried, but i just do not like whey protein. The taste is just so nasty to me. So I switched to soy protein. Not ideal, but at least I like the taste of it. I drink herbalife shakes - I mix the chocolate flavor with milk, and it tastes like chocolate milk.

The same thing happened to me, and it did get a little better over time, but overall my eyesight is worse than it was prior to surgery. And I had had general anesthesia in the past with no ill effects too. I'm in my 40's, and thought maybe I was just really vulnerable, since many people's vision starts to worsen in this decade....but not overnight, like it happened for me.

A woman I work with had the bypass, and I don't see that she is any better off than me for having gotten it, since she is still very definitely obese. And I understand from folks that have shared an office with her that the flatulence is powerful!

Let's Go by Ne Yo. Gets me energized!

I'm not waiting! I believe I have lost enough that I can feel comfortable in a plane seat and to ride a roller coaster, so I'm planning a trip to Disney in a couple of months! The trip will help to keep me on the straight and narrow through these cold winter months. Can't wait!

I have been using my CPAP for a bunch of years, and think I may be a little dependent on it by now. My sleep specialist asked me to make an appt with him 3 months after surgery to schedule another sleep study. 3 months seems like such a short amount of time for this goal (currently at week 10)! And I will need to conduct the sleep study without the CPAP on, to see if I still need it. It is going to be uncomfortable at first I'm sure, but I am hopeful. I do know that not everyone can kick the CPAP, even with the weight loss.

I had bilateral knee replacements about 3.5 years prior to the sleeve. I lost all interest in food post-op, and lost about 20 lbs. So I would say that you will have to make a concerted effort to get your protein in. It is a very painful surgery, but know that the pain will pass, and that life is so much better when you can walk without pain! Good luck!

I like to start the day with a cup of hot decaf tea - I think my new stomach prefers the heat. Breakfast is kinda tough, and lunch is the best meal for me as far as being able to tolerate the food. I do still have one protein shake a day - I prefer not to drink my calories either, but I can't come near the daily protein target without one.

You are definitely not alone, but it is easy to feel that way, when those around you can't understand what you are feeling through this process. My family tries very hard to be supportive, but they just don't get what I'm doing. I don't know anyone who has had the sleeve, so this forum has been very helpful to me.

Its like you are in my head! I've been stressing over the same thoughts and feelings. I had this surgery to be healthy and to have an active life - I don't want to look and feel like I've been battling cancer, or some such thing. I too was fortunate to be able to take 6 weeks off after the surgery (been back to work for a week), and that gave me more time to figure out what foods would work in my busy schedule. It is still a work in progress, of course. I have to keep telling myself that stressing out about things I can't control is just a waste of my energy. I have set an arbitrary goal for these stressors to work themselves out, but to try not to stress about them until I'm 6 months out - by then I'm hoping that I will have worked out the kinks and have zeroed in on a healthy eating plan that works for me.

I'm starting to feel cravings also - I'm almost 7 weeks out. There were doughnuts on the lunch table at work today, and doughnuts are my crack. I was able to resist, but I did keep thinking about them through the afternoon!

I do too - I'm 7 weeks out. I take lots of long hot bubble baths!

I got the weight loss surgery for dummies cookbook, and tried the banana muffin recipe. I thought they were tasty, so I brought them into work and they were popular with my co-workers!

That is heartening for me to read! I am 5+ weeks out, and eat so little! At best 2 oz of protein. And everything is hit or miss - one day I can tolerate a food, the next day it makes me nauseous. Just feel queazy lots of the time - is this normal?

Trader Joe's vanilla greek yogurt is creamy and not too sour - goes down easy.

I researched the different programs near me and then went to their information session. Most programs should have them. They go over what qualifies one for the surgery, the different kinds of surgeries available, and who is a likely candidate for each one. It was helpful to me when making my decision.