lilbearzmom

Hey there! Here's my answers to your questions: 1. If the "most successful diet" you were on was really a success, you wouldn't be resorting to surgery. That's what it is- a last resort to save you from an early death. 2. Sure, complications like leaks are possible. But they are not common. This surgery is safe in the hands of skilled surgeons. 3. If you used the self-pay money for other things your kids could wear the lastest fashions. However, I doubt they will be saying, "At least she dressed us well!" When they are living without you too soon. 4. See response #2. Also, they may be motherless and wifeless- maybe not in the near future, but too soon. The bottom line is, however much you are paying for this surgery, it is a bargain because your health is PRICELESS. Not only to you but your husband, kids, friends, and everyone who loves you. I wish you the best of luck making up your mind. And don't worry, it is perfectly normal to be nervous. I totally was! -Kendra

Do you like greek yogurt? It is very high in protein- 12 grams for 1/2 cup. Add SF preserves to it along with splenda or stevia- sooo good!

I make my own shakes (I am on the regular diet but I make shakes/smoothies twice a week for breakfast for convenience sake). This morning I had 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt, 1/4 cup skim milk, 1 tablespoon vanilla Protein powder, 1/4 cup frozen diced strawberries, and a packet of stevia. Yesterday I didn't have the strawberries, instead I added some vanilla extract. 22 grams of protein. I tried the Slim Fast brand low carb shakes- OMG awful!!!!! I'll stick to my own- cheaper and better tasting by far! I had to add that in the days right after my surgery I used no sugar added Carnation instant breakfast- it's not bad- I thought it tasted like chocolate milk, but only 13 grams of protein including the milk. -Kendra

I personally don't think the hungry feeling is a good thing. Technically you're not supposed to feel hunger (at least not like before surgery). I get more of an "empty" feeling than hunger pangs. It is more likely acid reflux. If you're not on at least something like pepcid, get on it now. Good luck!

Like the topic says, I am five weeks out from surgery tomorrow and in a bit of a funk. I have heard that this is normal, but ugh! It sucks! I am on a regular diet with a few exceptions, and I am starting to realize a few things. I really feel like it is part of the process, but it sucks! Obviously, before surgery I really enjoyed food- too much. I don't or can't enjoy it anymore, because 1) I can't really eat but a few bites 2) it just doesn't taste like it did before 3) I just not hungry like ever 4) instead of an enjoyable activity, it has become a chore. In other words, my sleeve is working perfectly, but it's not happy-happy-joy-joy. Most of the time I think I could just not eat and be perfectly happy. I force it down five times a day because obviously not doing so would really compromise my health. I get the feeling that my thoughts are all the result of my "divorce" from food, but again, IT SUCKS! Sorry to rant, but I am hoping someone out there can relate. I am actually calling the therapist I saw before surgery tomorrow to make an appointment. I feel I need it. Thanks for reading. Sometimes you just need to get it out. Oh, I am also in a stall (for a week) and so that's not making me feel any better. I am having to force food I don't like down my gullet and there's been not much results in awhile. -Kendra

This is one of the things that frustrates me about this surgery. You are supposed to eat enough not to go into starvation mode, but yet I cannot get down more than about 600-700 calories a day. I just can't do it. And yes I am in a stall and frustrated. I am 5 weeks out and annoyed at the irony of it all. But theres no way I'm going to start drinking milkshakes. LOL I forgot to add that I did talk to my NP last week about the stall, and she said I need to up my activity and Fluid intake- nothing about getting more calories in...

So let me get this straight. Your doctor recommended consuming the same foods that made you overweight in the first place because you aren't getting enough calories? I realize he is a bariatric surgeon, but that sounds like really bad advice. There are ways to increase you calorie intake without resorting to milkshakes. Wow.

I thought popcorn was the #1 thing NOT to eat until you are pretty much healed up. I can't have it until at least 8 weeks out.

Thanks! I am trying to focus on the big picture- the weight represented on my ticker is from start to finish- it has taken me about a year altogether to lose 54 lbs- which actually I am proud of- 30 lbs pre-op, 24 lbs post-op. -Kendra

I gotta tell you, when I went to my two week post-op, they took off my steri strips and my incisions looked scary- but were actually fine- they were also red. That means there is plenty of blood flow to the area, which is a good thing. Just make sure you keep it clean until Monday, just in case.

Just as long as you don't announce it (LOL), I think this is fantastic!!!

Your story is somewhat similar to mine- except my mother wasn't super thin or a marathon runner- but she struggled with her weight her whole life. She always made a big deal about how much I ate, and watched everything I put in my mouth. As a result, I became a secret eater, which I continued to do throughout adulthood, even out of her house. She instilled in me a very unhealthy relationship with food. I vowed I would never make food an issue with my kids. Thank you for posting this. I can SO relate.

I hear ya! I am agonizing over buying a new pair of jeans. I am going to try the "buy one item at a time" method. You know you need to break down and buy a new pair when you can pull them down without unbuttoning and unzipping! LOL -Kendra

As soon as you feel comfortable, you can. It won't feel comfortable at first, but a few days post-surgery you should be good!

I am also protein-challenged. I don't like Protein shakes either. Fortunately I am past that stage of full liquids, but I do force a couple down twice a week for Breakfast on the days I have class for convenience sake. I have the unjury chicken powder and I wasn't a big fan, but I'm not sure I gave it a chance. What I do to get extra protein in is add half a scoop of unflavored Protein Powder to my 32-ounce Water bottle which is filled with either diet cranberry juice or crystal light- can't taste it and thats an additional 20 grams of protein per day AND I get my 64 oz of fluids in. I'm really into muti-tasking! LOL -Kendra

I was told no salad or raw vegetables until 2 months after surgery. What did your doctor/NUT recommend? Go with that!

I haven't yet, but I love it, so I'm gathering recipes and ideas for it when I do.

I agree- I would be more worried about them accidentally kicking me in the tummy than anything else.

You would probably know by now if it irritated your sleeve. Also, I hear the reason why they don't want you having caffeine is because it's an appetite stimulant. There are lots of people on here who drink coffee. Just avoid it from now on- no harm done. -Kendra

Not saying this in a mean way, I swear. When the heck was Ralphie May sleeved? The guy has been super morbidly obese for as long as he's been on the scene, hasn't he? Isn't the sleeve a relatively new procedure? To add, I dont know if it's so much stretching out your small tummy as just eating the wrong things. After a year or so, I think you can eat probably twice what you can eat as a new post-op. Eating a lot of empty calories and things that don't stick around in your sleeve as opposed to Protein, etc.

I had it but I still needed pain meds (percoset). The pain wasn't horrible, about a 5. I'm not sure how it would have been without the On-Q.

Oh boy, yet another genius who should not touch this surgery with a ten foot pole. I say this because apparently you cannot read.

You are an idiot to post this here. I don't have any problem wih people posting their stories (even ones with bad outcomes), but in no way shape or form is this kind of situation common. The opposite is true. So stop trying to scare people away from LIFE SAVING surgery with your story. It would have been fine if you had told the story and left it at that. But no, you have to punctuate it at the end with your moronic advice and how you would never have weight loss surgery. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx violation of forum rules. People die from having their wisdom teeth out- should they not have surgery to alleviate their pain? I hate trolls. -Kendra

Better make the best of it. There's no going back. No point in getting mad about it now. Hello, 20 lbs? -Kendra

With purees you probably won't feel too full due to their texture (they "slide" right through not unlike liquids). I would just make sure not to eat more than about 4 oz at once. When you get into soft foods and more dense Protein you will start to get your "full" feeling. Even that varies from person to person. -Kendra