magpie30

I guess that really depends on how much weight you have to lose, and how and where you carry it. Someone who is 500lbs will have much more loose skin than someone who is at 250. It will also depend on what you consider to be an acceptable amount of loose skin.

I agree with Kelsa, you need to stop spending time with the ex. You will never be able to heal from the split with him if you keep spending so much time with him. It's only going to sabotage yourself. I have suffered from major depression since i was 15, it's hard, and i totally understand the "black " feeling. I highly recommend seeing a therapist and your doctor about maybe even getting on some meds to help. I will be on my meds for life, and i'm on a high dose of 2 of them, i don't like it, but it's the only way i can function. Get some help before you get even lower. message me anytime if you need to talk. *hugs*

You can drive as long as you have been off pain meds for 48 hours. As far as the incisions healing, mine took about a month before they were fully healed and the scabs gone. Good luck to you!!

That is a very good question! Along with the intolerance, i also wonder why our tastes tend to change after surgery. I've read many posts where food that people loved before surgery tastes just awful to them after. One thing for me is m&m's I liked them before surgery, and after surgery, i had a couple, and i don't like them, don't like the way they taste. In this case it's a good thing, but it's still curious!

I was sleeved March 6th and the first 2 weeks were the worst. As far as pain, the first few days were the worst, and i think i stopped taking pain meds altogether the end of the first week. I took them regularly the first 2 or 3 days, then, it was mostly at night, because laying down hurt to much, and i wasn't getting good rest sleeping sitting up on the couch. I didn't have much in the way of gas pain fortunately. I mostly felt tired and just wanted to sleep. After the first week i felt a lot better, but the second week was hard with the liquid diet, and head hunger and trying to get in all the water and protein etc. But after those first 2 weeks it started to get easier. Now I am 2 months out and doing great! I have no problems getting in my water or protein, i can eat most foods with no issue and i feel better than i have in years! Hang in there, it gets a LOT better!!!

I have never heard this about popcorn. My NUT and surgeon both said that popcorn was perfectly fine after the first 6 weeks. They only cautioned that it can be a slider food because it shrivels up when moist.

I am 2 months out and i feel great. i've lost nearly 40lbs and it's amazing. The only thing that could be a problem is your wedding dress fitting, as you will be dropping weight rather rapidly. Just keep that in mind. Other than that, you will be able to eat real food, in tiny quantities, but still. So there shouldn't be a problem. Congrats on the surgery and your wedding to be!!

There will be days, and even weeks where you don't lose anything, and they are normal. I recommend NOT weighing yourself every day, as it can drive you batty when you hit stalls.

At my heaviest I was 288lbs, at surgery i was down to 272. I am now at 234 and can fit into clothes i haven't been able to wear in nearly 10 years, some of them are even getting too big! Getting under 200 is a major goal for me, and sometimes it feels like it's all a dream, that i will wake up back at 272 and be miserable as usual. I can't fathom being a size 10 or 12, but i know i will get there, and will probably get smaller than that! It is pretty surreal though, but i'm so glad that it is not a dream, and that i wont wake up 40lbs heavier ever again!!

Support groups are a great resource, as well as this forum. When i get cravings for things, I let myself have it, but the thing is, for example if i'm craving pizza, one small square satisfies that craving. So i can have that piece of pizza, and no matter how badly i was craving it, when i'm done with that piece, i have no interest in having anymore, not even as leftovers. For me it's like that with my cravings. But some people just avoid those things all together, just so they don't get back in the habit. Either way you go the support groups are super helpful, even seeing a therapist can help greatly. WE are all different, so we handle and react to things differently, you may have to experiment around till you find what works for you. Just a warning, the head hunger in the beginning can be just awful, but after a few weeks, it does get better, doesn't go away, but it gets better. One thing i know people do when they are having bad head hunger and cravings, is to go for a walk, or do some physical activity to help get your mind off it. Best of luck to you!

I think that as long as you keep it clean and covered til it can form a new scab that it would be ok infection wise. I had something similar happen with an incision from having my gallbladder removed, except it's cuz i kept picking at it . But it opened, and the weight of my tummy ( this was pre sleeve) kept pulling it open, once it finally did re-scab, and i left it alone, it healed, but i have a big scar there now. Hopefully the doc gets back to you soon!!

I would call your doc and tell him that you do NOT want the bypass, that you want the sleeve. It's worth the wait to get the approval for the sleeve. As for the differences, here is a link to a quick comparison of the 2 procedures: http://www.gastricsleeve.us/gastric-sleeve-vs-gastric-bypass.html

It is a scary prospect, you are voluntarily undergoing major surgery that will remove a large portion of your stomach, and after that your life will never be the same again. It will be BETTER!! There are some very big challenges ahead, and it wont be easy, and at times you will wonder why the h**l you did this. But you know why, you are taking the steps to a healthier, happier you, and it is totally worth this temporary struggles. If you weren't nervous about this, then, i would worry. Best of luck to you!

do you track your protein and water intake? If you are not getting enough of either of those, it can make you very tired and dizzy feeling. Also make sure you are getting your vitamins!

Normal. Remember that you have had major surgery and your body needs to heal. Getting enough sleep is key in the healing process. Not getting enough can hold back your healing and cause other problems for you.

at 8 days out most are still on a full liquid diet, the yogurt is fine, but i'd try the shake for breakfast, the higher protein content should help you feeling fuller longer. It is hard in the early days after surgery, as you don't feel hungry ( except in your head) and it's hard to know what full is. My NUT told me that i should be eating about every 2 to 3 hours. Remember, when in doubt about anything, call your doc!

This is totally normal when you start solid foods. Your stomach is still swollen and angry, so take it slowly. Make sure you chew your food really really well, and wait a few minuets between bites. In the beginning you will only be able to eat 2 or 3 bites, sometimes 1 bite of food is all you can handle, but rest assured that as time go on and your tummy heals and the swelling goes down you will be able to eat more. I can eat about 1/3 of a cup of food right now and i'm 2 months out. It's very frustrating in the beginning but hang in there, it does get better!!

We pretty much avoid buffets now, except for old Country buffet, because with the bariatric surgery card we eat for half price, so it's really cheap, and i get to sample a little bit of everything. We don't go there often though, as it is really hard and frustrating the first 6 months or so ( or so my hubby says) because you can only eat a few bites and very slowly. The best way we do eating out now, is to get take out, or just get the food to go. Then we have left overs for several days worth or meals and don't have to sit in the restaurant with bread staring at us, or the other freebies, or watching and smelling all the food. The head hunger is the worst part, because you don't physically feel hungry, but omg a milk shake sounds sooo good! Avoiding restaurants the first few months is the best option, in my opinion. It takes a while to retrain your head, and it's not easy, by any means, but as the time passes it gets easier and easier. Especially when you can eat real food again and after a few bites you are full and satisfied. Now i was sleeved March 6 and am just getting to that point where i feel mentally satisfied with my tiny portion of food. The key is to eat it slowly and savor the flavor, and texture.

All the things you have listed are totally normal, and nearly all of us have experienced them the first few weeks after surgery. Though i have to say if you were "healthy as a newborn" i don't think you would have been needing WLS ( but i understand what you meant). Most people have trouble with water the first one or two weeks. Try adding some Mio drops to add flavor and help break up the surface tension. Again most people are on some type of antacid the first few months, and the gassy stomach and grumblings are also perfectly normal and there isn't much you can do about them. Just give your body time to heal and recover. You will slowly get your appetite back, though it will be different than before surgery. Instead of feeling the traditional "hunger", you will more feel 'empty', that it's time to put some food in your body. You will feel more normal again, you just have to give it time. While some folks are feeling much better at 1 week out, most need 2 or more weeks before they feel like themselves again. Hang in there, it will get better!!

neither my NUt nor my surgeon gave me any limit on carbs. Obviously i'm not eating bread or pasta etc yet, but they told me the only thing they want me to focus on the first 3 months is water and protein. Most days i do get under 50g of carbs, but a few days have been upwards of 80 and i haven't had any issues with that. If you are really unsure, call your doctor and ask. Since every doc is different in what they want you to be doing, that will be the best way to get your answer i think. Good luck!

I had something similar happen to me at about 6 weeks out. Nothing i ate sat well in my stomach, especially meats. So i cut those out, and went back to softer things for a while, but even those made me feel sick. I just had to tough it out, but if it had lasted longer than it did ( about 2 weeks) i was going to go see the doctor about it. It's finally happy again and i can actually eat with out being uncomfortable or feeling sick.

I would say to have help lined up for the first full week. If you don't need it, great, but if you do at least it's there. The first week post op is usually the toughest. Good luck!

I'm so sorry you are going through this . Maybe for this situation it would help to see a therapist? In times of high stress you need to cut yourself a little slack. I wish i had something more to say to help you. Hang in there, this too shall pass.

*hugs* There is no such thing as a "normal" weight, everyone is different, therefore everyone's "normal" is different. But you know what? Because you are starting at a higher weight than some of us, you are going to drop weight faster than a lot of us have. So you will be seeing changes a lot faster than most of us. This isn't about comparing yourself to anybody else, this is about you getting healthier and leading a better higher quality life. You are going to do amazing! The only one you should be comparing your self to, is you from yesterday. Remember, you decide how much weight you will drop with this surgery, so you can keep going till you are the size you want to be, it's all up to you!! Remember, we are all here for you, and you are amazing!!

Stay off the scale for at least a week, more if you can stand it. Try to focus on other things, like how even though you haven't lost more weight, you haven't gained any either. Remind yourself that this is just temporary, no matter how it feels, and that it will end, and you will lose weight again. My first stall lasted nearly 4 weeks, i was so frustrated, but just kept reminding myself that it was normal, and healthy, and would end. Hang in there!!